Dr Helmut Marko has slammed the brakes on reports that F1 is now close to reaching an agreement about a 2021 budget cap. In recent days, it was reported that at the January meeting of the strategy group, the big teams basically agreed with Liberty Media and the FIA about the imposition of maximum annual […]
Vettel ‘massively overrated’ – Irvine
Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine thinks Sebastian Vettel is “massively overrated”. German Vettel was criticised on all sides for his performance in 2018, having failed to win the world championship despite having a car widely regarded as a match for the Mercedes. “I think Vettel is a good driver, but as a four times world […]
Haas ‘better and better’ every year – Grosjean
Haas is getting better at the formula one game. That is the news from leading players at the small American team, including driver Romain Grosjean, and chief engineer Ayao Komatsu. Komatsu says the biggest change in 2018, compared to Haas’ first two years on the grid, was how the car was developed. “It was the […]
Newey’s 2019 car on schedule – Marko
Jan.24 (GMM) Red Bull is on schedule with production of its 2019 car. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, the closest team official to owner and fellow Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz. Some teams have already announced that their 2019 chassis have passed the mandatory crash tests, while others have revealed a reveal date. Red […]
Correspondent says McLaren ‘lost focus’
Jan.24 (GMM) One of struggling McLaren’s biggest problems is that it “lost focus”. That is the view of Peter Nygaard, a correspondent for the Danish newspaper BT. McLaren is one of F1’s greatest ever team names, but last year failed to recover in the wake of the Honda divorce and for 2019 has lost Fernando […]
Verstappen ‘in the fight’ in 2019 – Hamilton
Jan.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton thinks Max Verstappen could be “in the fight” to win the 2019 world championship. Verstappen’s 2018 teammate Daniel Ricciardo has fled to the works Renault team, but has also admitted that the Dutchman could have a title winning car this year. “Max drove very well throughout last year, showing his consistency,” […]
Schumacher needs super license points in 2019
Jan.24 (GMM) The system for awarding F1 ‘super licenses’ to aspiring drivers could see Mick Schumacher left off the grid for 2020. Many are tipping the 19-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher to make his debut next year, having signed up with manager Nicolas Todt and the Ferrari development programme. He will race in […]
Liberty official says F1 wants second Chinese race
Jan.24 (GMM) Liberty Media is looking to add a second Chinese race to the F1 calendar. A race in the important Chinese market was introduced in 2004, and still takes place at the expansive circuit in Shanghai. But Murray Barnett, who is Formula One Management’s head of global sponsorship, says Liberty would like another race […]
Sochi to make F1 track surface more abrasive
Jan.24 (GMM) Organisers of the Russian grand prix are looking into ramping up the track action at Sochi. Promoter Rosgonki’s CEO Alexey Titov says the actual Sochi track layout will not change. “We are inside the Olympic Park and surrounded by stunning views,” he said. “To alter the route inside the Olympic Park is quite […]
Pirelli to test 18-inch tyres this year
Jan.24 (GMM) Pirelli will start thinking about the low-profile tyres for 2021 in the second half of this year. Despite competition from Hankook, Pirelli last year won the FIA tender to keep supplying the only make of tyres to formula one teams for the 2020-2023 period. In 2021, the regulations stipulate that 18 inch wheels […]
Norris wants to beat Sainz in 2019
Jan.23 (GMM) Lando Norris has admitted he wants to beat his teammate Carlos Sainz in 2019. The British rookie is making his debut this year alongside Spaniard Sainz, who debuted for Toro Rosso in 2015. Sainz switches from the works Renault team to McLaren for 2019. “Every driver tries to beat his teammate,” Norris, 19, […]
Raikkonen’s book ‘best seller’ of 2018
Jan.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s book was the Finnish best-seller of 2018. The 2007 world champion’s official biography, written by Kari Hotakainen and called ‘The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen’, was hailed for its sensational revelations. Ilta Sanomat newspaper reports that the book sold over 191,000 copies, making it “by far the best-selling book of 2018”. “It’s just […]
Force India not confirming end of pink livery
Jan.23 (GMM) Force India is not commenting on reports that it could drop its pink livery for 2019. SportsPro reports that the newly Lawrence Stroll-owned team has secured a $18 million deal with SportPesa, an African sports betting platform. In 2017 and 2018, Force India – to almost certainly be renamed ‘Racing Point’ for 2019 […]
Ferrari ‘perfect’ for Schumacher – Stuck
Jan.23 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will get a “perfect” preparation for life as a formula one driver with Ferrari. That is the view of Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former racing driver and now president of Germany’s motor racing federation. This week, the 19-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher started work at Maranello after being signed up […]
Gasly vows to ‘try’ to win races in 2019
Jan.23 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is in formula one “clearly to win”. Despite it being only his first full season on the grid last year, 22-year-old Frenchman Gasly was chosen to replace Red Bull’s Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo for 2019. He will be paired with Max Verstappen this year but Dr Helmut Marko insists Gasly […]
Leclerc arrival ‘alarm’ for Vettel – Zanardi
Jan.23 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s arrival at Ferrari this year is an “alarm” for Sebastian Vettel. That is the view of famous former F1 and Indy driver Alex Zanardi. He was asked by Corriere della Sera about the arrival at Ferrari of youngster Leclerc, after Vettel failed to win the 2018 title. “It is a very […]
2019 McLaren livery to be ‘papaya’ again
Jan.23 (GMM) McLaren’s F1 car will remain orange this year. Last year, the once-great British team reverted to its iconic ‘payaya’ livery, which dates all the way back to 1968. And on a recent visit to Woking, new McLaren driver Carlos Sainz let slip on social media that the 2019 McLaren will indeed be coloured […]
Brexit would be ‘very negative’ – Zetsche
Jan.23 (GMM) Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche has warned Britain against completing its ‘Brexit’ deal. Amid the controversy about the British people’s vote to leave the European Union, F1 teams admitted late last year that they are worried. “We are monitoring it very closely because we have a large operation in the UK,” admitted Mercedes team […]
Time short to build new Vietnam circuit – Tilke
Jan.23 (GMM) Hermann Tilke says he has enough time to build the new formula one circuit in Vietnam. The street track in Hanoi, set to host its first race in April 2020, represents the first new race deal concluded by F1 rights holder Liberty Media. Construction will be tight, with F1 circuit architect Tilke’s company […]
Gasly ‘not the number 2 driver’ – Marko
Jan.22 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has allayed Pierre Gasly’s fears that he might be Red Bull’s ‘number 2’ driver in 2019. Gasly has been promoted from the junior team Toro Rosso to replace Daniel Ricciardo from 2019. Many believe Ricciardo has fled to Renault because Max Verstappen is now regarded as the top Red Bull […]