May 3 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is being “more aggressive” with his team in 2019. The Finn ended the 2018 season under a serious cloud, given his poor performance and the ominous presence of potential 2020 replacement Esteban Ocon. But after four races in 2019, the newly-bearded Bottas has won twice and actually leads […]
Alonso ‘not really’ missing F1
May 3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is not missing Formula 1. The two-time world champion quit at the end of last year, with many believing the reason was Alonso’s struggle to find a competitive seat. But Alonso insists that was not the reason. “I would return if I wanted to,” he told Spanish reporters. […]
Ecclestone backs difficult Pirelli tyres
May 3 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has backed Pirelli, amid criticism of the Italian supplier’s 2019 tyres. Recently, Haas boss Gunther Steiner slammed the tyre situation this year as being “not Formula 1”. “We should not be constantly talking about whether a tyre works,” he said. The big complaint is that the so-called tyre operating ‘window’ […]
Lance Stroll ‘damn fast’ – Szafnauer
May 3 (GMM) Lance Stroll, an often maligned Formula 1 driver, is actually “damn fast”. That is the view of his boss at Racing Point, the former Force India team that is now owned by Stroll’s billionaire father Lawrence Stroll. Since leaving Williams, 20-year-old Stroll has scored just four of the team’s points in 2019, […]
Alonso to decide on F1 return ‘in July’
May 2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he will decide “in July” whether to push for a return to Formula 1 in 2020. The Spaniard has announced that after this year, he will not return to Le Mans and the world endurance championship for now. “Committing to the new season until June 2020 meant closing some […]
Spanish GP negotiations not dead yet
May 2 (GMM) Barcelona has not yet been locked out of the 2020 F1 calendar. This week, reports suggested that with Zandvoort set to host a race next year, the new Dutch GP could actually replace Spain. Indeed, Barcelona’s contract runs out this year, and the negotiations with Liberty Media were believed to be fraught. […]
Senna could have been Brazilian president – Boutsen
May 2 (GMM) Former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen thinks Ayrton Senna could have gone on to become president of Brazil. This week, the worlds of Formula 1 and sport more generally are marking the 25th anniversary of the Brazilian legend’s death at Imola in 1994. One of Senna’s best friends in the paddock was Boutsen. […]
No ‘Q4’ qualifying in 2020
May 2 (GMM) The ‘Q4’ qualifying format proposal for 2020 has been scrapped. Earlier, we reported that authorities were considering adding a fourth segment to the current ‘knockout’-style session. Concerns were raised about whether the teams could cope with the extra segment with their existing allocation of Pirelli tyres per race weekend. “There is a […]
Mercedes denies ‘deceiving’ with practice pace
May 1 (GMM) Both Ferrari and Mercedes have urged F1 fans to take little notice of the results of practice sessions. In Baku, it appeared that Ferrari had once again gotten the upper hand in 2019, only for Mercedes to cruise to a 1-2 in both qualifying and the race. One theory is that Mercedes […]
Webber worried for Ricciardo’s F1 career
May 1 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo’s career is at risk of losing momentum. That is the warning of his Australian countryman Mark Webber, who even before the start of the season questioned whether quitting Red Bull was the right move for Ricciardo. And after four races in 2019, Webber said it is now clear that Renault […]
F1 drivers shouldn’t ‘judge’ Formula E – Lotterer
May 1 (GMM) Top F1 drivers should not “judge” Formula E before trying it. That is the view of Andre Lotterer, a multiple Le Mans winner who even did a race for Caterham in 2014. But now he drives in Formula E, and responded to the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton who have […]
F1 adds to standard parts list for 2021
May 1 (GMM) Brakes and wheel rims have been added to the list of standard components for 2021. We reported recently that, as part of Liberty Media and the FIA’s cost cutting drive, other parts including the steering wheel, pedals, pit equipment and driveshaft will also be on the standard component list. “I believe there […]
News emerges about future F1 calendar
May 1 (GMM) The F1 calendar of the future is now shaping up. Earlier, there was doubt about the future of the historic races at Monza, Silverstone and Barcelona, and reports that Zandvoort will be the host of a 2020 Dutch GP. Dutch commentator Olav Mol said on Ziggo Sport this week that an official […]
Spa promoter says Dutch GP deal not ‘done’
Apr.30 (GMM) The promoter of an existing F1 race has cast doubt on whether a deal for a 2020 Dutch GP is in fact done. Olav Mol, a commentator for Dutch television Ziggo Sport, said he saw Sean Bratches in Baku and F1’s commercial boss said of Zandvoort’s race hopes: “We have a deal”. But […]
2019 tyre situation ‘not Formula 1’ – Steiner
Apr.30 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says the current tyre situation is “not Formula 1”. Steiner is the boss of Haas, the American team that despite having a fast car is struggling desperately with Pirelli’s new tyres in the races. “It’s a question of who is fighting the most with it, and that’s us,” he told Ekstra […]
Williams ‘uncontrollable’ in Baku – Kubica
Apr.30 (GMM) Williams’ 2019 car is not only slow, it was also “pretty uncontrollable” in Baku. That is the view of an increasingly forthright Robert Kubica as the British team’s woes continue this season. He crashed in qualifying and calls the Mercedes-powered car “very uncomfortable to race in”. “I almost drove into the wall at […]
Gasly getting ‘a lot’ of Red Bull support – Horner
Apr.30 (GMM) Pierre Gasly is now “coming out of this delicate period” at the beginning of his career at Red Bull Racing. That is the claim of team boss Christian Horner, apparently putting a stop to speculation that the French driver’s seat is in doubt. On paper, Gasly had another difficult weekend in Baku, but […]
Binotto denies need to make changes at Ferrari
Apr.30 (GMM) After Baku, the Italian press is once again highly critical of Ferrari. Following yet another Mercedes 1-2, Sebastian Vettel called the situation in F1 “boring”. Championship leader Valtteri Bottas replied: “There’s nothing boring about it, especially when you’re in the fight for the title.” So the Italian press wonders if it is already […]
Simulator driver leaves McLaren
Apr.30 (GMM) A developing driver has left McLaren. In February, Dutchman Nyck de Vries said he hopes that after George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon, he will be the next to graduate from Formula 2. “I don’t want to sound arrogant at all, but Norris and Albon were really no better than me,” the […]
Red Bull pace ‘not yet frustrating’ – Verstappen
Apr.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen says his situation at Red Bull-Honda is “not frustrating yet”. Team boss Christian Horner has denied there is a risk the talented and maturing Dutchman might switch to Mercedes. And there are signs of frustration. Ziggo Sport quotes the 21-year-old as saying finishing fourth in Baku was “better than finishing last”. […]