Nov.9 (GMM) Niki Lauda may need more time before he is ready to return to F1. That is the view of Lewis Hamilton, after Bernie Ecclestone said F1 legend Lauda’s “secret plan” is to be back from a long layoff in Abu Dhabi late this month. According to Lauda’s doctors, the Mercedes team chairman will […]
Smedley exit won’t hurt Williams – Sirotkin
Nov.9 (GMM) The departure of Robert Smedley will not overly hurt Williams. That is the view of Sergey Sirotkin, the British team’s Russian driver who says he is not sure if he is staying for 2019. “I think every driver will always say he deserves another year,” he said in Brazil. “Hopefully I will get […]
GPDA to discuss F1 future in Brazil
Nov.9 (GMM) The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association will get together in Brazil. According to France’s Auto Hebdo, the meeting is a reaction to the drivers’ concerns about F1, including fuel saving, the Pirelli tyres, and other aspects of the ‘show’. “We have a meeting after the drivers briefing with all members of the GPDA and […]
Wehrlein linked with Ferrari test role
Nov.9 (GMM) More pieces of the 2019 jigsaw puzzle could be about to fall into place. It is believed Robert Kubica’s future could be decided in Mexico. He is reportedly tossing up between signing as a Ferrari test driver or waiting for Williams’ second race seat decision. Also in the running for a Ferrari test […]
Ricciardo plays down Mexico frustration
Nov.9 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has played down the frustration he expressed after the recent Mexican grand prix. The Red Bull driver says 2018 has been tough mentally, but he was surprised his outburst after retiring in Mexico was taken so seriously. “Honestly, I was more frustrated after Austin,” Australian Ricciardo, who is switching to Renault […]
Marko says Stewart claims about Vettel ‘nonsense’
Nov.9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit out at F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart for comments made about Sebastian Vettel. Stewart suggested that Vettel’s title loss this year, as a result of driver errors, indicates the Ferrari driver is past his prime. “Vettel’s mistakes were not about mental weakness,” Marko, the Red Bull driver manager […]
Sainz not expecting big McLaren boost in 2019
Nov.8 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is not expecting to make a big leap up the F1 grid in 2019. In fact, the Spaniard said that even if McLaren improves, he should be not be any higher in the field than he is at the wheel of his Renault this year. Sainz told EFE news agency that […]
Brazilian ready for McLaren reserve role
Nov.8 (GMM) Sergio Sette Camara says he is ready for formula one. The 20-year-old Brazilian driver, who will stay in Formula 2 next year, will also be a McLaren test driver in 2019. He is backed by team sponsor Petrobras but insists Brazilian drivers are still “taken seriously” in F1. “We are recognised as a […]
Carey now wants Vietnamese F1 driver
Nov.8 (GMM) The next step for F1 is a Vietnamese driver. That is the claim of F1 chief executive Chase Carey, after Liberty Media announced that Hanoi will host a street race starting in 2020. Some think the news is actually an embarrassment for Carey, who had earlier tried but failed to take Miami to […]
Lauda aims for Abu Dhabi comeback – Ecclestone
Nov.8 (GMM) Niki Lauda has targeted a F1 return for the season finale in Abu Dhabi later this month. That is the news from the beleaguered F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman’s friend Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone, the former F1 supremo, says 69-year-old Lauda telephoned him after leaving hospital following a lung transplant. “He is doing […]
2019 wings will not improve overtaking – Marko
Nov.8 (GMM) The new front wings for 2019 are costing teams a lot of money but overtaking will not be easier. That is the fear of F1 officials including Dr Helmut Marko, Franz Tost and Andy Green. For next year, the regulations mandate wider front wings that are designed to improve the chances that a […]
Vettel ‘made more mistakes than Ferrari’ – Massa
Nov.7 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is mostly to blame for not winning the 2018 title. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, after German Vettel said losing to Lewis Hamilton was due to a combination of driver and team errors. But Massa told Globo’s Bem Amigos programme: “Vettel and Ferrari missed a chance […]
Stroll can be ‘great’ for Force India – boss
Nov.7 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer thinks Lance Stroll will be a “great driver” for Force India. The news has not been announced yet, but it is an open secret that the son of new team owner Lawrence Stroll will be Sergio Perez’s teammate from 2019. “I don’t know him well yet, but from the outside I’ve […]
Sainz’s father says McLaren ‘hit rock bottom’
Nov.7 (GMM) McLaren is determined to pull itself up from “rock bottom” in 2019. That is the claim of Carlos Sainz, the world rally legend. His son, 24-year-old Spaniard Sainz jr, is switching from Renault to the beleaguered Woking team next year. Sainz senior thinks his son did well with Renault this year. “At the […]
Monza gets F1 funding boost for 2020
Nov.7 (GMM) Monza’s chances of keeping the fabled Italian grand prix on the F1 calendar have received a boost. According to Corriere dello Sport, the local Lombardy region has committed to allocating an extra EUR 25 million over the next five years to keep the event at Monza. The current race contract with Liberty Media […]
F1 ramps up security for Brazil GP
Nov.7 (GMM) F1 is ramping up security ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian grand prix. In recent years, the race at Interlagos has come under scrutiny for a string of violent robbery attacks on F1 personnel. Last year, a planned Pirelli test was called off for that reason. Britain’s Sun newspaper reports that, in response, the […]
McLaren to race Red Bull-like car in 2019 – report
Nov.6 (GMM) McLaren is busily working on a Red Bull-like concept for its 2019 car. That is the claim of the Spanish sports newspaper AS. Spaniard Carlos Sainz will switch from Renault to the Woking based team for 2019. “According to several sources, engineers and designers (at McLaren) are adopting various aerodynamic concepts that Red […]
Force India eyes top 3 target in 2019 – Szafnauer
Nov.6 (GMM) Force India wants to break into the top three teams in formula one next year, according to its boss. Actually, the Silverstone based team almost collapsed in 2018. “Without Lawrence Stroll coming in, we would not have got to the race in August,” team boss Otmar Szafnauer told Brazil’s Globo. He said he […]
Hamilton not ruling out Ferrari move
Nov.6 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out a move to Ferrari some day. The new five-time world champion said he is aiming to “get close” to beating Michael Schumacher and becoming the most successful F1 driver of all time. And it could happen in red. The Mercedes driver told Italy’s Autosprint: “At the moment […]
Schumacher ‘not as crazy as Max’ – van Amersfoort
Nov.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has a more meticulous approach to motor racing than does Max Verstappen. That is the claim of Frits van Amersfoort, who worked with both drivers in the junior categories. Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, is now knocking on the door to formula one after winning the European F3 […]