Apr.2 (GMM) Like the roundly-criticised Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas has also denied feeling the pressure in 2019. After a disappointing 2018 season, the Mercedes driver emerged from the winter with a new attitude and a new beard. He duly won in Australia, declaring “f**k you” to his critics on the radio, and told Italy’s Automoto […]
Leclerc ignored team order by passing Vettel
Apr.2 (GMM) Charles Leclerc dodged a team order by passing his number 1 teammate Sebastian Vettel in Bahrain. Just before mounting the overtake of the sister Ferrari, the 21-year-old dubbed “golden boy” by the Italian press said on the radio: “Guys, I’m quicker”. His engineer replied that he should wait at least two laps. “Then […]
‘No room for Vettel’ in Ferrari future – press
Apr.2 (GMM) Huge pressure is mounting on Sebastian Vettel. Following Charles Leclerc’s impressive performance in Bahrain, Ferrari ‘number 1’ Vettel denied that being overtaken by his teammate and then spinning was due to pressure. “To be honest, I think it’s not about pressure,” said the German. “Obviously my race could have been better, so I […]
2021 agreement now ‘very close’ – Brawn
Apr.1 (GMM) Liberty Media is getting “very close” to finalising F1’s plan for 2021 and beyond. That is the claim of Ross Brawn, days after key meetings with the teams over the next Concorde Agreement. F1 owner Liberty is eyeing a big raft of changes for 2021, including new cars, standard components, income distribution, governance […]
More tyres key to qualifying format change – Horner
Apr.1 (GMM) Christian Horner has warned F1 to think carefully before changing the qualifying format. In recent days, rumours have suggested Liberty Media wants to tweak the current format for 2020. The key change is the addition of a ‘Q4’ segment. “We’re open to ideas,” said Red Bull team boss Horner, “but everything needs to […]
Boss backs struggling Gasly to improve
Apr.1 (GMM) Pierre Gasly’s boss has backed the Frenchman to improve. For only his second full season in F1, the Frenchman was drafted onto the Red Bull Racing lineup to replace Daniel Ricciardo. So far, he has struggled, but he at least scored his first points of the season in Bahrain. “It’s positive, but still […]
No regrets after quitting improving McLaren – Alonso
Apr.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has denied regretting his decision to quit McLaren and F1. While some expected the once-great British team to again struggle in 2019, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz in fact look likely to fight for Q3 places all year. “We spent the second half of last year trying to understand the problems […]
Bahrain test key moment for Williams – Kubica
Apr.1 (GMM) This week’s test will be a key moment for Williams. That is the view of Robert Kubica, who is really struggling with the British team on his return to F1 after an eight year injury layoff. “From the beginning I have been struggling to keep the car on the track rather than actually […]
‘Same Vettel as last year’ – Rosberg
Apr.1 (GMM) Huge pressure is back on the shoulders of Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari granted the German full number 1 status for 2019, but it was new teammate Charles Leclerc setting the pace all weekend in Bahrain. And then Vettel spun in the race. “It’s the same Sebastian as last year,” 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg […]
Ferrari advantage could be even bigger in China – Bottas
Apr.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may have won in Bahrain, but he says Mercedes has serious work to do ahead of round three in China in a fortnight. Immediately after winning on Sunday, the reigning world champion got out of his car to commiserate with Charles Leclerc, who should have won from pole. “He’s got a […]
Schumacher needs ‘time’ to speed up in F2 – Rosberg
Mar.31 (GMM) Mick Schumacher needs more time to adjust to life in Formula 2. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, the retired 2016 world champion. In Bahrain, just days ahead of his maiden F1 tests for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, 20-year-old Schumacher qualified tenth and finished his first F2 race eighth. “That was definitely […]
Leclerc pole ‘good for the fans’ – Rossi
Mar.31 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s first pole in F1 for Ferrari is “good for the fans”. That is the view of Valentino Rossi, speaking from Argentina for a MotoGP race. “I’m happy because Ferrari is strong and it’s nice to see a young guy like him going so well,” the Italian is quoted by La Gazzetta […]
Brawn hints at more than 21 races for 2020
Mar.31 (GMM) Ross Brawn has suggested Liberty Media’s plan to expand the calendar to 25 races is on track. Currently, there are 21 races, but most teams argue that they are on the limit in terms of being able to cope with that logistically. And it is rumoured that a Dutch GP at Zandvoort is […]
Steiner aims fire at Renault over B teams debate
Mar.31 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has aimed fire at Renault, as so-called ‘B teams’ come under assault. With Ferrari allying with Haas and Alfa Romeo, and Red Bull with Toro Rosso, teams like Renault and McLaren think the rules should be changed to make strategic alliances more difficult. And no wonder. In Bahrain, while Haas split […]
Red Bull can fix car in ‘two or three races’ – Verstappen
Mar.31 (GMM) Red Bull has work to do on its 2019 chassis. That is the view in Bahrain of Max Verstappen, who only narrowly stayed ahead of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in qualifying rather than challenge the top teams Ferrari and Mercedes. “We are actually better than best of the rest here,” Dane Magnussen said. Verstappen […]
Haas sponsor targets world championship
Mar.31 (GMM) William Storey, the top sponsor at Haas, says he wants the American team to be world champion. The long-bearded Briton caused a stir earlier this year by saying he wanted the Rich Energy-branded black cars to beat Red Bull in 2019. “We don’t just want to beat Red Bull,” said Storey, referring to […]
Vettel, Ferrari, not yet committing to F1 in 2021
Mar.31 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not committing to F1 beyond 2020. The Ferrari driver says there is too much uncertainty about what the regulations will look like under the new Concorde Agreement. “I’m certain I really want to drive this year and next year, then I don’t know what happens to the regulations,” Vettel, a […]
Ferrari engine ‘goes like hell’ – Marko
Mar.31 (GMM) Ferrari literally powered its way back to the front in Bahrain, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. “It goes like hell,” Marko said, observing that five of the top ten runners on the grid have an Italian-made engine. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff admitted: “Yes, we are lacking top speed on the straights. “Whether […]
Surname ‘only positive’ for Schumacher – Verstappen
Mar.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks a famous surname will only benefit Mick Schumacher’s quest for a F1 cockpit. Earlier, Carlos Sainz – whose father was a rallying legend – and Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, said the Schumacher name is a burden for the 20-year-old son of the F1 legend. Corinna Schumacher, who is Mick’s […]
‘Green light’ for 2020 Dutch GP – report
Mar.30 (GMM) Zandvoort looks set to get the green light for a F1 race in 2020. Speculation about the return to the calendar of a Dutch grand prix has been rife in recent days ahead of a March 31 deadline imposed by Liberty Media. Kolner Express newspaper now reports that the deal is essentially done. […]