Oct.27 (GMM) Alexander Albon looks to have definitely secured the second Toro Rosso seat for 2019. Daniil Kvyat is already signed up, and team boss Franz Tost admits that Brendon Hartley has not done enough this year to guarantee the other place. “He has 4 points, Pierre (Gasly) has 28. That means he has to […]
FIA gives green light to Mercedes wheel rim ‘holes’
Oct.27 (GMM) Mercedes has got the green light to resume using its preferred wheel rim design. In Austin, amid rumours Ferrari had prepared an official post-race protest, Mercedes filled the controversial holes in its wheel rims with silicone. But in Mexico, the German team asked the stewards if it could resume using the hole design. […]
F1 considering camera technology for mirrors
Oct.27 (GMM) F1 is considering revving up its rear view mirrors. It emerged in Mexico that drivers are pushing their bosses to use camera and monitor technology to give them a better rearwards view than their cars’ traditional mirrors. “For sure it’s possible,” said Sauber team boss Frederic Vasseur. Haas’ Gunther Steiner agreed: “The technology […]
Doctors not ruling out Abu Dhabi return for Lauda
Oct.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s doctors are not ruling out a return to the F1 paddock for the Mercedes team chairman in time for the season finale in Abu Dhabi. It emerged this week that, after two months in hospital following a lung transplant, the F1 legend has now left hospital and entered a rehabilitation clinic. […]
Ricciardo, Alonso defend Vettel ‘mistakes’
Oct.26 (GMM) F1 drivers have defended Sebastian Vettel amid suggestions multiple driving mistakes have cost him the 2018 title. Most recently, three spins have raised eyebrows about the Ferrari driver’s mental state and skills. “I’ve looked at his on-board and I really can’t say he did anything out of the ordinary,” Daniel Ricciardo, who clashed […]
Steiner plays down Rich Energy scepticism
Oct.26 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down scepticism about the identity of Haas’ new title sponsor. Next year, the American team’s cars will have a different livery after signing a naming sponsorship deal with British energy drink Rich Energy. Earlier, Rich Energy was linked with the buyout of the Force India team, but there were […]
Bad second half of 2018 ‘incredible’ – Ricciardo
Oct.26 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says his poor second half of 2018 has been “complex and confusing”. The Australian had a strong beginning to the season, even winning in China and Monaco. But since his 2019 switch to Renault was announced, Ricciardo has struggled. “I don’t remember a black cat crossing my path,” Ricciardo, who reportedly […]
F1 should scrap penalty points system – Grosjean
Oct.26 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has hit out at the ‘penalty points’ system in F1. The Haas driver is on the verge of a race ban, because his F1 super license has accumulated too many penalty points for infractions over the past year. Grosjean says he didn’t really deserve the last penalty for his clash with […]
Alonso leaving F1 ‘not because I have to’
Oct.26 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at suggestions he is only quitting F1 because he could not secure a competitive race seat. As the Spaniard’s long career winds down, many paddock insiders say it is “sad” that Alonso could not win more than his two world championships. “I think it’s something for formula one […]
Vandoorne refusing to be more ‘aggressive’
Oct.26 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has denied he needs to become more “aggressive” to succeed in motor racing. McLaren has dumped the Belgian driver after two years, with boss Zak Brown saying Vandoorne was not “aggressive” enough. “I don’t have an opinion on that,” Vandoorne, who is moving to Mercedes’ new works Formula E team, said […]
Arrivabene says Raikkonen axe ‘my decision’
Oct.25 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene says it was his decision to oust Kimi Raikkonen. Some believe the shake-up, with Raikkonen to be replaced by young charger Charles Leclerc next year, was actually decided by Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne prior to his death in July. But Ferrari team boss Arrivabene told Sky: “It was my decision.” He […]
Perez tips Mexico to sign new F1 contract
Oct.25 (GMM) Sergio Perez is confident Mexico’s place on the F1 calendar is secure. The race in Mexico City is now one of the most popular and for 2018 it is again sold out. But the contract actually expires after the 2019 race. “It is a matter of time before we have confirmation of the […]
Alonso may consider Formula E move – Massa
Oct.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s former F1 teammate Felipe Massa thinks the Spaniard could seriously consider a move to Formula E. Alonso, who is quitting F1 after the Abu Dhabi finale next month, has for now ruled out the all-electric series. But Massa, who was Alonso’s teammate at Ferrari some years ago, thinks the double world […]
Source says Vettel having ‘family problems’
Oct.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s end-of-season slump may be due to “family problems”. That is the claim of the Italian broadcaster Sky, as the German driver’s championship rival Lewis Hamilton stands on the cusp of wrapping up the title in Mexico. Ferrari and Vettel looked the favourites for 2018 spoils earlier this year, leaving many scratching […]
Lauda leaves hospital after transplant
Oct.25 (GMM) Niki Lauda has left Vienna’s general hospital after a three month recovery from a lung transplant. “Yes, Niki Lauda was discharged from the AKH and now he goes into rehabilitation,” professor Walter Klepetko told Osterreich newspaper. A few days ago, the Mercedes team chairman and F1 legend called Lewis Hamilton on the phone […]
Vettel mistakes ‘no coincidence’ – Brawn
Oct.24 (GMM) F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn thinks Sebastian Vettel has driven his own 2018 championship campaign “off the track”. The Ferrari driver is being roundly criticised for the kind of mistakes he has made at recent races, despite often having the fastest car in the field. It means Lewis Hamilton only has to finish […]
Vandoorne did not show talent in F1 – Boutsen
Oct.24 (GMM) Former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen says fellow Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne has lost his race seat because he did not perform. Before Vandoorne made his McLaren debut as a highly rated junior category champion in 2017, grand prix winner Boutsen predicted that he “might even be a world champion” in F1. Two years later, […]
Team making ‘jokes’ about Ricciardo plight
Oct.24 (GMM) Members of the Red Bull team are making “jokes” about Daniel Ricciardo. That is the news from Max Verstappen, the energy drink-owned team’s continuing driver. Ricciardo is switching to Renault’s works team, but ironically he has been bearing the brunt of the problems with the French manufacturer’s customer engine at Red Bull lately. […]
Vandoorne not ‘aggressive’ enough for F1 – Brown
Oct.23 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne’s F1 career could be over because he was not “aggressive” enough with McLaren. That is the view of McLaren team boss Zak Brown, who is replacing the Belgian with rookie Lando Norris for 2019. Fernando Alonso, Vandoorne’s teammate for the two years of his F1 career, says the move to Formula […]
Kubica eyes Ferrari role as 2019 ‘plan B’
Oct.23 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s ‘plan B’ for 2019 could be a test driver role at Ferrari. That was the rumour as the paddock packed up in Austin, amid reports the Pole is also still in contention for the race seat at Williams. The Williams rumour was ramped up after his recent visit to the headquarters […]