Apr.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he has not been surprised by the early success of Charles Leclerc’s move to Ferrari. The pair were wheel-to-wheel back in their karting days, with Leclerc now joining Verstappen in challenging the likes of top F1 drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. But Verstappen said of Leclerc: “I knew how […]
Kubica ‘exchanged things’ with teammate Russell
Apr.13 (GMM) Robert Kubica is happier at the wheel of his Williams this weekend in China. In Australia and Bahrain, the Pole – having returned to F1 after an eight year injury break – suspected that his chassis was not the same as his teammate George Russell’s. “The balance is completely different here but we […]
Sainz urges Renault to improve reliability
Apr.13 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has backed Renault’s efforts to improve the reliability of its power unit. Renault, supplying engines not just to its own works team but also customer McLaren, has taken a big step forward with its 2019 unit. But works driver Nico Hulkenberg, for instance, had to have not just his combustion engine […]
Hamilton doesn’t care about ‘triple crown’
Apr.13 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton insists he “couldn’t care less” about the so-called triple crown. Fernando Alonso repopularised the triple crown achievement by declaring that he wants to add victory at the Indy 500 and Le Mans to his Monaco GP win. He won Le Mans last year, and next month will try for the second […]
Gasly struggle could benefit Kvyat – Petrov
Apr.13 (GMM) Another former driver thinks Pierre Gasly is at risk of being demoted at Red Bull. After a difficult start for former Toro Rosso driver Gasly in 2019, Jacques Villeneuve said he can imagine the Frenchman being dropped by Red Bull this year. But for now, Dr Helmut Marko is backing Gasly. “In Bahrain, […]
Wolff not denying Racing Point ‘B team’ rumour
Apr.13 (GMM) Toto Wolff has not completely denied wanting to make Racing Point a sort of Haas-like ‘B team’ for Mercedes. It has emerged that Racing Point will stop working in the Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne after signing a wind tunnel deal with Mercedes. Racing Point denies becoming an outright Mercedes satellite. “Our aero […]
Ferrari could ‘change’ driver status – Binotto
Apr.13 (GMM) For the first time, Mattia Binotto says Ferrari could “change” its number 1 driver in 2019. But for now, he is backing the heavily criticised Sebastian Vettel, who in Bahrain struggled to shine alongside newcomer Charles Leclerc. “As I said at the start of the season, if there is a 50-50 situation then […]
Binotto denies not having Ferrari backing
Apr.13 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has slammed as “completely wrong” claims he could become isolated at Ferrari. Binotto took over as team boss for 2019, but former president Luca di Montezemolo told La Repubblica newspaper that bigger bosses John Elkann and Louis Camilleri are inexperienced. “This year, Ferrari will fight until the last for the title, […]
Mercedes tweaks illegal new front wing
Apr.13 (GMM) Mercedes in Shanghai had to tweak a new front wing design after the FIA declared it illegal. Auto Motor und Sport confirmed that the German team had to add a small piece to the endplate because its original shape did not conform to the regulations. Reportedly, Red Bull and Williams made similar tweaks […]
Stewart unsure Hamilton best ever driver
Apr.13 (GMM) F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart is not sure Lewis Hamilton is any more talented than the other top drivers on the grid. The triple world champion says Hamilton was a “lucky boy” to have made the move to Mercedes just before the German giant started to dominate. “Lewis is a very lucky boy […]
Hard to overtake at Zandvoort – Hamilton
Apr.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has welcomed F1’s speculated return to Zandvoort for 2020, but notes that the former grand prix circuit is hard to overtake on. With official confirmation still lacking, it is believed race organisers have inked a five-year contract with Liberty Media for a Dutch grand prix starting in 2020. Speaking in Shanghai, […]
Verstappen ‘surprised’ to hear Mercedes switch rumours
Apr.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has joined his father in slamming suggestions he regularly talks on the phone to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The rumours, triggered by Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, sparked suggestions the 21-year-old Dutchman might try to exercise a break clause in his contract and switch to Mercedes for 2020. Verstappen’s father Jos […]
Steiner plays down claims about sweet-smelling fuel
Apr.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down claims the secret of Ferrari’s success in 2019 is a sweet-smelling fuel. Although the Italian team is yet to win a race, rivals including Mercedes and Red Bull-Honda were stunned in Bahrain to see Ferrari so much faster in a straight line. In the days after, Red Bull’s […]
Three teams eyeing improvements in China
Apr.12 (GMM) Three struggling teams are determined to bounce back this weekend in Shanghai. Haas went into Bahrain two weeks ago looking inferior only to the top three teams, but the American outfit’s pace collapsed in the race. “There were many reasons, but we highlighted three,” said Kevin Magnussen. However, the Dane expects Red Bull […]
Leclerc not denying he wants to be number 1
Apr.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has refused to deny he thinks Ferrari should switch the order of the team’s number 1 and number 2 drivers. Prior to the season, boss Mattia Binotto said that despite Leclerc’s obvious promise, it is Sebastian Vettel who will get Ferrari’s full support for the title. But Vettel is now under […]
Weber slams Ecclestone over Schumacher comments
Apr.11 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager has slammed Bernie Ecclestone for comments about the F1 legend. In an interview with Sport Bild, former F1 supremo Ecclestone said of Schumacher: “His problem was that he had no limits.” The 88-year-old was referring to incidents like Jerez 1997, when Schumacher turned in on his championship rival Jacques […]
Forghieri says F1 should ‘get rid of DRS’
Apr.11 (GMM) Legendary Ferrari designer Mauro Forghieri says F1 should “get rid of DRS”. Best known for his scarlet F1 cars of the 60s and 70s, the now 84-year-old is using the occasion of this weekend’s 1000th grand prix to consider where the sport should be heading. “I think the move to hybrids is correct,” […]
Sweet-smelling Ferrari ‘not illegal’ – Marko
Apr.11 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed claims that Ferrari’s 2019 car is illegal. However, the Italian team stunned rivals Mercedes and Red Bull in Bahrain with a power unit that was superior to the tune of a huge five tenths per lap on the straights alone. In the days since, Red Bull team boss […]
Ferrari should have kept Raikkonen – Ecclestone
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone still thinks Ferrari should have kept Kimi Raikkonen in 2019. A friend of Sebastian Vettel’s, former F1 supremo Ecclestone thinks Finn Raikkonen was a better number 2 driver than Charles Leclerc is. “I thought Ferrari made a mistake by releasing Kimi,” he told France’s Auto Hebdo. “He was a good teammate […]
Hamilton causes Vettel ‘mental block’ – Ecclestone
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says that despite Sebastian Vettel’s four titles, the German remains “underestimated”. Many are predicting that the arrival at Ferrari of Charles Leclerc is basically the end of the Vettel era. But former F1 supremo Ecclestone, who remains friends with the 31-year-old, told Sport Bild: “Formula one needs a Sebastian who wins. […]