Jul.9 (GMM) Renault has not outright denied a rumour suggesting Fernando Alonso could drive for the team in 2019. The French team currently runs Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz, but the latter is in doubt as he is merely ‘on loan’ from Red Bull for a year. “We are not in a hurry and we […]
Alonso needs Indy for ‘motivation’ – Verstappen
Jul.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen suspects Fernando Alonso is looking outside of F1 because the Spaniard’s motivation has gone. Many have hailed Alonso for not only continuing to focus on formula one, but also expand his horizons by targeting the ‘triple crown’ including Le Mans and Indy 500 wins. But Red Bull’s Verstappen says he is […]
Arrivabene slams Mercedes after accusations
Jul.9 (GMM) Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has hit back with fury at Mercedes, after an accusation of deliberate foul play at Silverstone. There had already been Ferrari vs Mercedes trouble in Austria a week ago, so when Kimi Raikkonen hit Lewis Hamilton at the start of the British grand prix, tempers flared. “To word it […]
No ‘triple header’ in 2019
Jul.8 (GMM) F1 will not schedule an arduous ‘triple header’ in 2019. Even though Liberty Media is hoping to add Miami to the calendar next year, teams have reported that staging France, Austria and Britain on consecutive weekends was too much in the past month. “Everyone’s tired. Everyone’s powering through it,” said McLaren’s Zak Brown. […]
Silverstone bump caused Vettel neck tweak
Jul.8 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel thinks a bump in the track surface at Silverstone could have tweaked his neck. The Ferrari driver struggled through qualifying on Saturday with sports taping on his neck, admitting he earlier feared he might not be able to race. “It wasn’t the most enjoyable session,” Vettel admitted, after qualifying second. “We’ve […]
Vandoorne sidesteps McLaren future rumours
Jul.7 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has dismissed as “part of formula one” a run of paddock rumours about him. Earlier, it seemed possible that the British team would oust the Belgian, who has struggled to shine alongside Fernando Alonso both last year and in 2018. Youngster Lando Norris is waiting in the wings for a seat, […]
F1 engine makers form ‘cartel’ against 2021 rules
Jul.7 (GMM) F1 manufacturers have thrown a spanner in the works of Liberty Media’s engine rules for 2021. Earlier, it seemed clear that the sport would drop the complex MGU-H element of the hybrid systems in order to bring down costs and make the engines simpler and louder. In turn, this would entice carmakers like […]
McLaren success will ‘take a while’ – de Ferran
Jul.7 (GMM) Gil de Ferran agrees with McLaren boss Zak Brown that it will “take a while” for the British team to win again. With the Honda era now over, McLaren hit rock bottom in 2018 as it became apparent that, even with a better engine, the team is still not competitive. What followed was […]
No ‘negotiations’ with Raikkonen yet – Brown
Jul.7 (GMM) Zak Brown says McLaren has not yet opened contract talks with former team driver Kimi Raikkonen. It is rumoured in the paddock that Fernando Alonso could quit F1 or the beleaguered British team at the end of the year. Daniel Ricciardo and now Raikkonen have been linked with the seat. McLaren executive Brown […]
F1 considering new points system for 2020
Jul.7 (GMM) F1 could be contemplating a new points system for the future. Force India’s Vijay Mallya, on a rare paddock visit at Silverstone, reportedly revealed that Liberty Media is currently thinking about reforming how points are allocated at the end of races. Auto Motor und Sport said the points from 2020 could be allocated […]
Wolff wants Hamilton beyond 2020
Jul.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff has revealed he wants to keep Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes even beyond 2020. Although not yet announced, it is now common knowledge in the paddock that the four-time world champion has signed up again for 2019 and 2020. But Mercedes boss Wolff says the team wants him for even longer. “Lewis […]
Ricciardo putting pen to paper ‘soon’
Jul.6 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo now appears certain to be re-signing with Red Bull for 2019 and 2020. Earlier, the Australian was linked with moves to Ferrari, Mercedes or McLaren, but now it appears as though an announcement about him staying put will be made before the August break. “It’s not on paper yet but soon […]
Raikkonen will accept ‘team orders’
Jul.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he is happy to eventually accept Ferrari ‘team orders’. In Austria, many were surprised when the Italian team did not order Raikkonen to let Sebastian Vettel past so that he could boost his championship lead. But Finn Raikkonen says no one should be surprised. “Nothing has changed. We follow our […]
McLaren scraps Indycar plans for 2019
Jul.6 (GMM) McLaren has reportedly scrapped its plans to enter an Indycar team for 2019. The move was being planned by Zak Brown, but a performance and management crisis within the Woking based team means the Indy dream is the victim. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the plan is “on hold” on the instruction […]
Williams braced for Silverstone struggle
Jul.6 (GMM) Claire Williams has admitted the once-great British team will struggle at Silverstone. Driver Lance Stroll has already called the 2018 car “slow”, and deputy boss Williams says it won’t get any better than that on the team’s home circuit. “We’ve brought our handkerchiefs,” she joked. Not just that, Williams woes will be even […]
Vettel questions new DRS zone at Silverstone
Jul.6 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has questioned the FIA’s decision to include fast corners in the new DRS zone at Silverstone. Normally, a DRS zone is a straight line simply to improve chasing cars’ overtaking chances. But for the British grand prix, a third DRS zone will include Silverstone’s first two fast corners, Abbey and Farm. […]
Mercedes ‘fixed’ reliability problems – Bottas
Jul.6 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is not worried about car reliability ahead of the British grand prix. That is despite the fact that the reigning champions had an awful Austrian grand prix mere days ago, with both Bottas and Lewis Hamilton retiring with failures. But Finn Bottas says Mercedes has put everything right for […]
Mercedes tried to sign Verstappen – Lauda
Jul.6 (GMM) Niki Lauda has revealed that Mercedes tried to sign Max Verstappen last year. Ultimately, Verstappen was retained by Red Bull, with Mercedes team chairman Lauda saying that only happened because “Helmut Marko was faster”. “Yes, we really talked to Verstappen,” Lauda told ORF broadcaster at Silverstone. “We had conversations with his father and […]
Sainz set to stay at Renault
Jul.6 (GMM) Carlos Sainz looks set to stay at Renault next year. The Spaniard’s place at the French works team was in doubt after Red Bull elected to drop customer Renault power for 2019 and switch to Honda. Sainz is ‘on loan’ to Renault from Red Bull, with the energy drink company wanting him in […]
F1 to meet over 2021 rules at Silverstone
Jul.5 (GMM) F1 is now on the cusp of finalising its rules for 2021. It is believed a meeting between Liberty Media, the FIA and the ten teams will take place ahead of the British grand prix. News of that meeting comes after top team bosses admitted their concerns about the extended negotiations over the […]