Feb.18 (GMM) A controversy surrounding the clandestine return of tobacco advertising in F1 is deepening. Ferrari’s main backer Philip Morris, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, is being investigated by Australian authorities ahead of the 2019 season opener in Melbourne. The investigation surrounds the use of the new ‘Mission Winnow’ branding, and after the launch of […]
‘Everyone’ saying F1 is for sale – Hembery
Feb.18 (GMM) Paul Hembery, the former F1 boss at Pirelli, says he has heard rumours that Liberty Media is trying to sell the sport’s commercial rights. Liberty, headed in F1 by Chase Carey and Ross Brawn, completed its $8 billion acquisition in 2017 but in recent months has come under fire for its management and […]
Formula E boss not ruling out F1 ‘merger’
Feb.15 (GMM) Alejandro Agag, the boss of Formula E, is not ruling out a “long term” merger with formula one. Once dismissed as slow and quiet and obviously eclipsed by F1, Formula E has been gaining in popularity and now boasts high level drivers and top car manufacturers. And series driver Lucas di Grassi, a […]
F1 will not scrap Friday practice – promoter
Feb.15 (GMM) F1 is not about to scrap Friday practice. That is the claim of Francois Dumontier, boss of the Canadian grand prix in Montreal. This year, negotiations over the 2021 Concorde Agreement will be front and centre. There have been rumours the race weekend format, the points system, and restrictions on engineers’ working times […]
Alonso is de-facto ‘reserve driver’ – Brown
Feb.15 (GMM) Fernando Alonso might be regarded as a de-facto “reserve driver” at McLaren this year. That is the news from team boss Zak Brown, even though earlier speculation that the newly-retired Alonso might drive the 2019 car in winter testing was wide of the mark. “Fernando is still part of the team with our […]
Stroll aims to avoid ‘war of words’ with Williams
Feb.15 (GMM) Lance Stroll has hit back after his former boss accused him recently of arriving in F1 “too early”. Stroll, now 20, spent his first two seasons in F1 at Williams. Last year, the once-great British team finished dead last overall, and technical boss Paddy Lowe said Stroll had “arrived in F1 too early”. […]
Perez ‘will not change’ with Stroll as teammate
Feb.15 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he has no problem teaming up with Lance Stroll at Racing Point in 2019. The Perez-Stroll dynamic is a fascinating one, with Perez being the highly experienced ongoing driver but Stroll joining the team as the son of new team owner Lawrence Stroll. Perez and Stroll also have history, with […]
Lack of partner team no problem for Renault – Prost
Feb.15 (GMM) Alain Prost says Renault is not missing out by not having a ‘junior’ partner team. Red Bull and Toro Rosso have moved much more closely together for 2019, while the ties between Ferrari and Alfa Romeo are obvious. But F1 legend Prost, an advisor to the works Renault team, says not having a […]
New Alfa Romeo has ‘revolutionary’ front wing
Feb.15 (GMM) Sauber’s Alfa Romeo-branded new car for 2019 turned heads when it hit the Fiorano circuit for a shakedown on Thursday. On display was not only the striking camouflage livery, but a front wing design that many are calling “revolutionary”. “It has not been seen on any other car,” said Tobias Gruner, a writer […]
Three teams late with 2019 cars
Feb.14 (GMM) At least three teams might not be ready with their 2019 cars for the start of winter testing early next week. Although Renault said it launched its 2019 car on Tuesday, the black and yellow machine was actually the 2018 chassis with this year’s bodywork. “We have an incredibly tight schedule,” boss Cyril […]
Future ‘depends’ on Ricciardo duel – Hulkenberg
Feb.14 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he does not fear Daniel Ricciardo. The pair’s Renault boss, Cyril Abiteboul, says 31-year-old Hulkenberg is “enormously underestimated”. The German holds the unenviable record of being the longest-serving F1 driver without a single podium. And now in 2019, he is facing the top driver Ricciardo as his teammate. Hulkenberg’s Renault […]
Raikkonen does not feel too old for F1
Feb.14 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he does not feel too old to still be in formula one. Although dropped by Ferrari for 2019, the Finn surprised the F1 world last year by announcing that he is moving over to Sauber for the next two seasons. Subsequently, Sauber sponsor Alfa Romeo – with close ties to […]
No winter testing for Alonso
Feb.14 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will not test McLaren’s 2019 car in the forthcoming winter tests. Although the Spaniard retired from F1 at the end of last year, McLaren boss Zak Brown said he would be welcome to drive anyway. “We have an open mind and would love for Fernando to get in the new car […]
F1 drivers wait for 2019 helmet approval
Feb.14 (GMM) F1 drivers are waiting to have their new helmets approved for use in 2019. Last year, the FIA announced that a mandatory new standard for 2019 called FIA 8860 would have ballistic protection and a smaller visor opening. F1’s governing body said it worked closely on the new regulations with Stilo, Bell, Schuberth […]
Michael Schumacher spent holidays in Mallorca
Feb.14 (GMM) Michael Schumacher spent his recent 50th birthday at a new family home in Mallorca. That is the claim of the German publications Bunte and Bild, claiming that the seven time world champion was flown to the Mediterranean island by helicopter. It could indicate a significant development in Schumacher’s recovery from brain injuries sustained […]
Marko thinks Red Bull-Honda can be ‘at the front’
Feb.14 (GMM) Recently, former F1 driver Robert Doornbos said he would be watching Max Verstappen’s face after he steps out of the 2019 Red Bull-Honda for the first time. “Max will know immediately how successful the new car can be,” said Verstappen’s Dutch countryman. “So I’ll be curious to see his face after a couple […]
Perez eyes ‘maybe even a win’ in 2019
Feb.14 (GMM) The team formerly known as Force India is targeting fourth place in the championship this year. Although a highly competitive midfield runner, the Silverstone based team ran into financial problems last year and was taken over by billionaire Lawrence Stroll. And so for 2019, those money problems are over. “Anything less than fourth […]
PM hopes Malaysia returns to F1 calendar
Feb.13 (GMM) Malaysia’s prime minister hopes formula one returns to the country. The Sepang Circuit near Kuala Lumpur was built specifically for F1 ahead of its 1999 debut. In 2017, the government pulled out of its contract with a year to run, with sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin declaring: “Costs too high, returns limited”. But PM […]
Williams could miss start of winter testing
Feb.13 (GMM) Williams’ car might not be ready for the start of winter testing next week. On Tuesday, Renault ‘launched’ a newly liveried and modified version of its 2018 car, with boss Cyril Abiteboul saying the 2019 machine is still “in pieces”. Williams’ 2019 car might also be delayed, according to Polish media sources. Sport.pl, […]
Mercedes dominance could now be over – Rosberg
Feb.13 (GMM) Nico Rosberg thinks Mercedes’ utter dominance of the ‘power unit’ era may finally be over. Before retiring, Rosberg won the 2016 title for the German team. And since 2014, when the turbo V6 era began, Lewis Hamilton has won every other championship. “This year, everything resets to zero because of the rule changes,” […]