Apr.24 (GMM) Alexander Albon says he is used to the pressure of the Red Bull environment. The Thai-British driver has been hailed by Dr Helmut Marko as the surprise of the 2019 season so far. But it was not always smooth sailing, as Albon was actually once kicked out of the Red Bull development programme. […]
Prost slams Senna movie
Apr.24 (GMM) Alain Prost has slammed the 2010 movie about Ayrton Senna. “I hate the Senna movie. I really hate it,” the F1 legend said. In the film, British film makers depicted a strong and personal rivalry between Prost and Senna, who was killed in a crash in 1994. “They could have made something fantastic. […]
Giovinazzi wants more ‘time to learn’
Apr.24 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi will soon look better alongside his Alfa Romeo teammate Kimi Raikkonen. That is the view of team boss Frederic Vasseur, after the Italian struggled to shine early in 2019 during his first full season on the grid. Giovinazzi actually raced twice for Sauber in 2017 when Pascal Wehrlein was injured, but […]
Renault to have ‘best’ F1 engine – Prost
Apr.23 (GMM) Renault is on the right path to having “one of the best engines” on the grid. That is the view of the French works team’s famous advisor Alain Prost, even though Renault has started 2019 with high-profile reliability problems. “We know we are very close to the limit right now,” he is quoted […]
Verstappen has right approach in 2019 – Marko
Apr.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen is being patient as Red Bull-Honda ramps up in 2019. Rumours that the Dutch driver is in talks about a switch to Mercedes have been denied by all sides. Rather, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko says Verstappen is comfortable. “Max knows what our programme is, how things are going, and what […]
Raikkonen took beer sponsor to Alfa Romeo
Apr.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen took a personal sponsor with him to Alfa Romeo. Until last year, the Thai beer Singha appeared on the Ferrari livery. It was not widely known that it was Finn Raikkonen’s personal sponsor. The brand now has a much larger presence on the Alfa Romeo livery. Voravud Bhirombhakdi, the Singha vice […]
Gasly ‘too aggressive’ with Red Bull car
Apr.23 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he has identified how to change his driving style for the rest of the 2019 season. Gasly stepped up from Toro Rosso this year to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, but so far has struggled to shine alongside Max Verstappen. After China, he acknowledged that he needs to adjust […]
Leclerc ‘calm’ amid Ferrari rumblings – Danner
Apr.23 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is “calm” even though he is making big waves at Ferrari. That is the view of former F1 driver Christian Danner, referring to how Leclerc is being backed by the Italian press as the Ferrari number 1 of the future. The 21-year-old was moved aside for Sebastian Vettel in China, and […]
Marko happy with rookie Albon
Apr.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is more than happy with new Toro Rosso driver Alexander Albon. Thai-British driver Albon was surprisingly drafted into the junior team following Pierre Gasly’s promotion to Red Bull Racing. “For me, Alexander is the surprise of the season in terms of speed and race management,” Marko, the head […]
Magnussen sponsor affected by Sri Lanka attacks
Apr.23 (GMM) A sponsor involved in formula one is grieving the loss of three of his children after the Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka. On social media, Danish driver Kevin Magnussen paid tribute to three of billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen’s children, whose first names all start with A. Povlsen backs Magnussen via his Bestseller […]
Horner does not ‘suspect’ Ferrari cheating
Apr.23 (GMM) Christian Horner says Red Bull is not accusing Ferrari of cheating. With Ferrari so fast on the straights this year, the Red Bull boss recently revealed that the Shell fuel being used by the Italian team in 2018 smells like fruit. “Suspect is the wrong word,” Speed Week quotes Horner as saying. “Obviously […]
Russian company denies buying Williams
Apr.23 (GMM) Reports that Williams could be acquired by a Russian billionaire’s company have been denied. Last week, we reported that amid the British team’s performance and financial crisis, Dmitry Mazepin is interested in buying it. His 19-year-old son Nikita is a Formula 2 driver. Mazepin’s company Uralkali, a Russian potash fertiliser producer, tried to […]
Three teams to test 18-inch tyres for Pirelli
Apr.23 (GMM) Three teams have emerged as the favourites to provide cars so that Pirelli can begin on-track testing for the 18-inch tyres for 2021. “If everything goes to plan, the first tests with the new tyres will take place in mid-September,” Pirelli’s Mario Isola told Auto Motor und Sport. The German report said Ferrari, […]
Opinions split over ‘Q4’ qualifying idea
Apr.18 (GMM) Opinions are divided over whether F1 should tweak its qualifying format for 2020. It is believed Liberty Media wants to add a fourth qualifying segment – ‘Q4’ – to the current knockout-style format. However, some have raised doubts about whether the current allocation of Pirelli tyres can handle a four-segment qualifying. “I think […]
Russian billionaire eyes Williams buyout
Apr.18 (GMM) A Russian billionaire could buy Williams. The once-great British team is in a desperate performance crisis, but multiple authoritative outlets are now reporting that Dmitry Mazepin is interested in buying it. Earlier, we reported that Mazepin’s 19-year-old son Nikita, who races in Formula 2, will conduct a series of F1 tests in a […]
Malaysia could return to F1 calendar in 2022
Apr.18 (GMM) Malaysia could be set to revive its grand prix for 2022. Arguing that it is no longer good value for money, the government pulled the plug on the Sepang race after 2017. “Cost too high, returns limited,” said sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin at the time. But Fox Sports reports that the return to […]
Vasseur wants ‘podiums’ for Alfa Romeo
Apr.18 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur is targeting “podiums” for Alfa Romeo. After the Italian brand linked up with Sauber, the Hinwil based team’s boss said he is aware of the successful history of Alfa Romeo in F1. “It’s difficult to feel, but there are some external signs that it is the case,” Vasseur told France’s Auto […]
‘No reason’ to sign Verstappen – Wolff
Apr.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen insists he is happy at Red Bull-Honda. In recent days, rumours have been swirling that the Dutch driver is in talks with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff. Verstappen, his father Jos, and now Wolff have denied it. “When I heard that, I had to laugh,” Wolff is quoted by Speed Week. “I don’t […]
Ferrari not interested in Formula E – Agag
Apr.18 (GMM) Formula E boss Alejandro Agag thinks it is possible there will be “a cooperation” between the electric series and F1 in the future. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone recently warned that the city-based Formula E series could pose a threat to formula one. “If the head decides and not the heart, I would […]
Top three teams ‘unreachable’ for Renault – Prost
Apr.17 (GMM) Alain Prost has conceded that top three teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are “unreachable” for Renault this year. The F1 legend is an advisor to the French works team, which had targeted getting closer to the top teams in 2019. “You have to be realistic, and the three top teams are unreachable,” […]