Mar.13 (GMM) Liberty Media bosses admit they thought it would be easier to attract sponsors to F1. Chase Carey, the new CEO, and Liberty chief Greg Maffei took over from Bernie Ecclestone believing they would quickly be able to monetise the new $8 billion acquisition. Actually, revenues are declining. “The perception was just there are […]
Mission Winnow to return to Ferrari livery after Australia
Mar.12 (GMM) Mission Winnow, an initiative linked to title sponsor and tobacco giant Philip Morris, insists it will remain on the Ferrari livery in 2019. Recently, amid investigations in both Australia and Italy, Ferrari removed the word ‘Mission Winnow’ from its official name on the 2019 FIA entry list. It also emerged that the branding […]
Mercedes could change aero concept for Spain GP – Wolff
Mar.12 (GMM) Mercedes could re-emerge after the opening four ‘flyaway’ races with a Ferrari-like aerodynamic concept. That is the news from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who admits that after winter testing, Ferrari heads into Melbourne this weekend with the faster car. “By the end of the test, we had a better understanding of our […]
Williams exit gives Stroll ‘hope’ again
Mar.12 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is much happier after leaving Williams. The Canadian and his backer-father, billionaire fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll, dumped Williams after the once-great team’s abysmal 2018 season. And now the British team could sink even lower in 2019, even though Robert Kubica is now in the cockpit. “Kubica was nine tenths […]
Renault ‘can afford’ to pay Ricciardo – Abiteboul
Mar.12 (GMM) Renault “can afford” to pay Daniel Ricciardo a front-running salary. That is the claim of the French works team’s boss Cyril Abiteboul, despite recently denying that Renault had paid “stupid money” to lure Ricciardo from Red Bull. “Renault has made a significant financial commitment,” he is now quoted as saying by Finland’s Iltalehti. […]
Verstappen says no win for Red Bull-Honda in Australia
Mar.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down his chances of winning this weekend’s 2019 season opener. His boss, Dr Helmut Marko, has been ramping up the Dutchman’s hopes, predicting “five wins” this year and a potential tilt at the world championship. But at an event in Japan prior to heading to Australia, Max said: “We […]
Schumacher duo ‘needs time’ before F1 – Ralf
Mar.12 (GMM) The next Schumacher duo “needs time” before they are ready for F1. That is the claim of Ralf Schumacher, the former F1 driver who has joined the Sky Deutschland team as the German broadcaster returns to the paddock. However, Schumacher – whose brother Michael is the most successful driver of all time – […]
Future tweaks to Melbourne circuit possible
Mar.12 (GMM) Australian grand prix organiser Andrew Westacott has revealed tweaks could be made to the Melbourne circuit for the future. Amid constant suggestions that Albert Park is a poor circuit for overtaking, Speedcafe reports that Charlie Whiting will inspect the track after this weekend’s 2019 season opener. “It is likely the circuit might need […]
Mercedes weaker without Lauda – Horner
Mar.12 (GMM) Mercedes is weaker without Niki Lauda at the track. That is the view of Christian Horner, boss of the German world champions’ rival Red Bull. Lauda, 70, is still recovering from a 2018 lung transplant, and will not be in Australia this weekend. “Looking in from the outside, Niki’s absence is felt,” Horner […]
Binotto admits he almost quit Ferrari
Mar.12 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says it is Mercedes who should be regarded as the favourites heading into the 2019 season. That is despite the fact that it was Ferrari, the team now led by Binotto, that looked clearly fastest in pre-season testing. “I think the team to beat is still Mercedes,” the Italian told Corriere […]
F1 driving not ‘natural’ yet – Albon
Mar.11 (GMM) Alexander Albon says his driving in F1 needs to become more “instinctive”. When the 22-year-old Thai-British driver got the call to replace Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso for 2019, he had never driven a formula one car. Therefore, he admits to still adjusting to life at full speed. “I am progressing quickly,” Albon […]
Gasly must have ‘more discipline’ – Marko
Mar.11 (GMM) Pierre Gasly must demonstrate “more discipline” when driving for Red Bull in 2019. Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s mercurial F1 driver manager, scolded the Frenchman for disrupting the team’s pre-season development programme in testing. “We brought things to the test that we could not fully develop due to the Gasly crash,” he told […]
Giovinazzi should make cautious start – Fisichella
Mar.11 (GMM) Former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella has urged Antonio Giovinazzi to make a steady full-time debut in 2019. Giovinazzi is the first full-time Italian on the grid for eight years. With Ferrari backing, he will race for Alfa Romeo. “It’s best if he can stay ahead of Raikkonen,” Fisichella told automoto. “Kimi is a […]
Montoya told Steiner about Magnussen
Mar.11 (GMM) Juan Pablo Montoya was the first to tell Haas boss Gunther Steiner about Kevin Magnussen’s talent. Magnussen joined the American team after stints at McLaren and Renault. But Haas boss Steiner says he first heard about the Danish driver from former F1 winner Montoya. “Kevin is friends with Juan Pablo,” Steiner told BT […]
Ericsson put on 7kg since leaving F1
Mar.11 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson is disappointed F1’s driver weight rule change arrived a year late for him. The Swede, whose 2018 teammate Charles Leclerc progressed from Sauber to Ferrari for 2019, has switched to Indycar this year after losing his F1 seat. He admits to putting on some weight. “My height was always a handicap […]
Only top 10 eligible for fastest lap point
Mar.11 (GMM) Only the top ten finishers will be eligible for F1’s new point-for-fastest-lap system. We reported last week that Liberty Media is introducing a system whereby the driver with the fastest lap of the race also gets a point. “They think it will increase the tension to the end of the race,” said Roger […]
Verstappen unsure over 2019 title tilt
Mar.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not ready to declare himself a real challenger for the 2019 title. His boss at Red Bull, Dr Helmut Marko, has named the Dutchman alongside Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel as the main three contenders this year. When asked if he agrees, Verstappen told Ziggo Sport: “It’s just so difficult […]
Hamilton ‘thinking about’ MotoGP switch
Mar.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is “thinking about” a switch to two wheels. Before travelling to Australia, the five time world champion spent a day in Qatar to watch the MotoGP action. Hamilton even tested a high performance racing motorcycle recently, and is now targeting a MotoGP test. “Switching to two wheels? I’m […]
‘Calm’ Ferrari can win 2019 title – Brawn
Mar.11 (GMM) Ross Brawn thinks a “calmness” that has descended over Ferrari could deliver the world title in 2019. Sebastian Vettel made mistakes last year, but Liberty’s F1 sporting director insists that the German is “more than capable” of winning again. “With the calmness the team now have, they have every chance this year,” he […]
Silverstone future still in doubt – Brawn
Mar.11 (GMM) Silverstone’s F1 future remains in doubt. Rolling the dice on renegotiating their contract with a lower annual fee, organisers of the British grand prix have terminated the deal. “We want to find a solution,” Ross Brawn, Liberty Media’s F1 sporting boss, said. “But we are differing in our views of what’s reasonable. We’re […]