Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is concerned about the success of Formula E. The former F1 supremo, ousted by Liberty Media in 2017, says he can imagine the city-focused, all-electric series resonating with people. Asked by France’s Auto Hebdo to say what he wishes for F1 in the future, 88-year-old Ecclestone said: “To be better. “I […]
Williams situation ‘terrible’ – Ecclestone
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has described Williams’ current situation as “terrible”. And the former F1 supremo, who was at the sport’s helm for the entire duration of Williams’ 9 constructors’ and 7 drivers’ championships, is concerned the British team will struggle to recover. “Williams is in a terrible situation,” he told France’s Auto Hebdo. “Just […]
Ecclestone not in China for 1000th race
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone will not be in China this weekend for F1’s 1000th race. Liberty Media, the sport’s new owner that ousted long-time chief executive Ecclestone in early 2017, is making a lot of noise about the historic milestone. Ecclestone, 88, said someone told him recently that he has attended “more than 800” of […]
Hamilton says Netflix series ‘good’ for F1
Apr.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says the recent Netflix series about F1 was a “good thing”, even though he did not take part. No Ferrari or Mercedes driver, or the top two teams as a whole, took part in the popular series called Drive to Survive. World champion Hamilton says the producers actually wanted him to […]
Alonso not sure McLaren can win Indy 500
Apr.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not sure he will be able to win next month’s Indy 500. The Spaniard, who quit F1 altogether at the end of last year, almost won the fabled event in 2017 as he pushes for the ‘triple crown’. He tested his car, operated by McLaren and painted in the orange […]
Red Bull building team around Verstappen – Villeneuve
Apr.10 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has applauded the way Max Verstappen and his father took control of the Red Bull team. But the always outspoken 1997 world champion also said that fact will make Pierre Gasly, Dutchman Verstappen’s new teammate in 2019, struggle to get up to speed. “Red Bull is built around Verstappen, so Gasly […]
Monza boss says Liberty negotiations ‘difficult’
Apr.10 (GMM) Italian grand prix boss Angelo Sticchi Damiani says he is locked in “complicated and difficult” negotiations with Liberty Media over the future of Monza’s F1 race. With the race in doubt beyond 2019 for financial reasons, we reported this week that the Lega political party introduced a bill to parliament pledging EUR 10 […]
Red Bull could axe Gasly in 2019 – Villeneuve
Apr.9 (GMM) Pierre Gasly could lose his seat at Red Bull within the 2019 season. That is the warning of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, following a difficult start to Frenchman Gasly’s first year with the senior team. Gasly impressed during his first full F1 season with Toro Rosso last year, and received the […]
Silverstone set for new F1 contract – sources
Apr.9 (GMM) Reports that Silverstone is set to secure its place on the F1 calendar are gaining more steam. Last week, we reported that after race organisers terminated the contract for financial reasons, Liberty Media was now ready to ink a new deal within the month of May. The Financial Times, citing “multiple people familiar […]
Schumacher tipped for Friday morning F1 seat
Apr.9 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s F1 aspirations are racing ahead. Last week, the 20-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher made his test debut at the wheel of the Ferrari and Alfa Romeo cars. And now, Kolner Express newspaper claims the Formula 2 driver will drive a Ferrari-powered F1 car in the Friday morning practice session […]
Father denies Verstappen talks to Mercedes’ Wolff
Apr.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has slammed suggestions Mercedes boss Toto Wolff calls the Red Bull driver “repeatedly”. Earlier, Red Bull driver manager Dr Helmut Marko told Auto Bild that the calls have been going on for “months”. It is also rumoured that Verstappen’s Red Bull contract contains a team performance clause that could allow […]
Five-year Dutch GP race deal reports ‘premature’
Apr.9 (GMM) Dutch GP spokesman Jan Lammers has dismissed as “premature” reports that Zandvoort will definitely be on the 2020 calendar. On the day before a Liberty Media-dictated March 31 deadline, we reported that the race had finally received the green light. The same news is now being reported by authoritative Dutch publications and sources, […]
Miami GP vote delayed amid corruption rumour
Apr.9 (GMM) Plans for a grand prix in Miami remain dead in the water. Liberty Media had wanted to put a second US grand prix on the calendar for 2019, but despite delays F1 CEO Chase Carey insisted negotiations were still “going on” regarding 2020. However, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt reports that local lawmakers […]
Wolff calls Verstappen ‘repeatedly’ – Marko
Apr.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen has emerged as a shock contender to switch to Mercedes in 2020. Dr Helmut Marko, the driver manager at Red Bull, has admitted to Auto Bild that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff regularly calls Verstappen and his father Jos. “Toto Wolff calls him and his father repeatedly and has done for months,” […]
Ferrari fuel ‘smells like grapefruit juice’ – Horner
Apr.8 (GMM) New questions about the legality of Ferrari’s 2019 engine are beginning to be asked. In the winter test season, following a spate of FIA announcements clamping down even harder on the regulations, the general consensus was that the top engines in F1 were now all close in performance. But then came Bahrain, where […]
Cars easy to drive and too heavy – Hulkenberg
Apr.8 (GMM) F1 cars should be harder to drive and lighter, according to Nico Hulkenberg. For 2019, Liberty Media and the FIA introduced tweaks to the aerodynamic regulations designed to make overtaking easier. Kimi Raikkonen, the most experienced driver on the grid, gave the changes a tentative thumbs-up. “We can drive a little closer than […]
‘Q4’ qualifying could favour big teams – Steiner
Apr.8 (GMM) Another F1 team boss has warned the sport to think carefully before changing the qualifying format. Last week, Red Bull’s Christian Horner warned that adding a ‘Q4’ to the current system might be problematic due to a shortage of Pirelli tyres. “At first glance, we don’t have enough tyres for a qualifying format […]
Monza to get government funding boost for F1 race
Apr.8 (GMM) Monza’s hopes of staying on the F1 calendar have received a financial boost. Earlier, the future of the Italian grand prix looked in doubt. But Germany’s SID news agency claims that the Italian right-wing political party Lega brought a bill to parliament in Rome last Friday. The bill called for Monza’s race to […]
Norris swears off alcohol for 2019
Apr.8 (GMM) No alcohol could be one of the secrets of Lando Norris’ early success in 2019. Despite McLaren’s earlier run of poor form, the 19-year-old rookie has had a great start to his F1 career by getting into Q3 in the opening two races and finishing sixth in Bahrain. But Norris told Auto Motor […]
Vettel-Leclerc battle ‘good’ for Ferrari – Binotto
Apr.5 (GMM) Mattia Binotto continues to support struggling Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel. Already heavily criticised for mistakes last year, Vettel returned to old habits in Bahrain when he spun. It was after a full weekend of being outpaced by his young and new teammate Charles Leclerc. “Charles was faster everywhere,” Vettel admitted. The German says […]