Jan.11 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted to having “talks” with Ferrari. Reports suggest the former Manor and Sauber driver, who recently split with Mercedes and is now a Formula E driver, will work in Ferrari’s simulator in 2019. “The situation is that talks are taking place, but nothing has been confirmed yet,” German Wehrlein told […]
Vettel will struggle to beat Leclerc – Rosberg
Jan.11 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s arrival at Ferrari will be one of the most fascinating aspects of the 2019 season. That is the view of 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, referring to the fact that Sebastian Vettel will be joined at Ferrari next year by the 21-year-old youngster. Many think that with his friend Kimi Raikkonen […]
Arrivabene axed to keep technical boss – Piero Ferrari
Jan.11 (GMM) Ferrari had to oust Maurizio Arrivabene to ensure that Mattia Binotto stays with the great Maranello team. That is what Piero Ferrari, the only living son of founder Enzo Ferrari, has hinted in the pages of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. Ferrari has axed its team boss Arrivabene and installed technical boss Binotto […]
Rookie Norris backs changes at McLaren
Jan.11 (GMM) Lando Norris has backed the changes that McLaren hopes will put the once-great British team back on track in 2019. McLaren had a dire season in 2018 but heads into this year with a new driver lineup in the form of Carlos Sainz and the British rookie Norris, the F2 runner-up. The latest […]
Ocon determined to race again in 2020
Jan.10 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he is determined to return to racing in 2020. Despite his talent and his strong form in 2018, the Frenchman has lost his place at Racing Point Force India to Lance Stroll, the son of the team’s new owner. But Ocon, 22, continues to enjoy the strong backing of Mercedes. […]
Rivola hopes Leclerc given chance to win
Jan.10 (GMM) Massimo Rivola thinks Ferrari will give Charles Leclerc a fair chance to win the 2019 world championship. Many insiders think highly rated youngster Leclerc, who is replacing Kimi Raikkonen at the great Italian team this year, can give Sebastian Vettel a run for his money. But others think a clear number 1 policy […]
‘Weak’ Bottas loses main F1 sponsor
Jan.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has lost his major personal sponsor. Billionaire Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, boss of the Finnish conglomerate Wihuri, told Ilta Sanomat newspaper that sponsoring formula one has become “too expensive”. He also admitted that Bottas’ poor performance at Mercedes last year was another reason for the decision. “Partly it was not his own fault, […]
Arrivabene linked with Juventus CEO role
Jan.9 (GMM) In the wake of his Ferrari ousting, Maurizio Arrivabene looks set to step into the world of football. Already last October, the Italian denied he was about to leave formula one and accept a role at Juventus, the Italian football club connected to the Ferrari-linked Agnelli family. “I’ve been a member of the […]
Lauda still scheduled to leave hospital next week
Jan.9 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s doctor has played down rumours the Mercedes team chairman is back in a life-threatening situation with pneumonia. Earlier, it emerged that while on holiday with his family in the wake of his 2018 lung transplant, the F1 legend had to fly back to Austria to be treated for influenza A. It […]
Monza boss backs Arrivabene axe
Jan.9 (GMM) Monza boss Angelo Sticchi Damiani has backed Ferrari’s decision to axe team boss Maurizio Arrivabene. Following a power struggle between the pair and the loss of the 2018 world championship to Mercedes, Arrivabene has been replaced by technical boss Mattia Binotto. “The message is clear,” Sticchi Damiani told Corriere dello Sport. “There can […]
Sauber to debut 2019 car at Fiorano
Jan.9 (GMM) Sauber’s new car is expected to hit the track for the first time on February 14. France’s L’Equipe reports that the Swiss team will give its 2019 car a shakedown at Ferrari’s private test circuit at Fiorano. The first outing for the Ferrari-powered, Alfa Romeo-sponsored Sauber team will take place on the same […]
Wehrlein to be new Ferrari test driver
Jan.9 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein will be Ferrari’s new test driver for 2019, according to international media reports. L’Equipe says the former Manor and Sauber driver, who recently parted with Mercedes’ development programme, will take over the role at Ferrari from Daniil Kvyat. Kurier newspaper says the 24-year-old’s main role will be in the simulator at […]
Red Bull expects engine penalties in 2019
Jan.9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is expecting to take engine penalties in 2019. The team is confident as it switches from customer Renault power to a new works engine partnership with Honda. Marko says Honda has already overtaken Renault, but a gap remains to Mercedes and Ferrari. To close that gap, Honda […]
Hartley’s father slams Ferrari ‘rumours’
Jan.8 (GMM) Brendon Hartley’s father has slammed “rumours” the ousted Toro Rosso racer will become a simulator driver for Ferrari. After a year on the grid, Le Mans winner Hartley has lost his place in Red Bull’s F1 programme but remains in Porsche’s motor racing stable. However, Italy’s Corriere dello Sport reported this week that […]
Hospital says Lauda to be released ‘next week’
Jan.8 (GMM) Niki Lauda is scheduled to be released from hospital next week. It’s a shot of good news after the Mercedes team chairman was re-admitted to intensive care in a Vienna hospital shortly after New Year, having contracted influenza A. The 69-year-old F1 legend had been holidaying in Ibiza following his long recovery from […]
Perez a good comparison for Stroll – Dumontier
Jan.8 (GMM) Sergio Perez will be a good benchmark for Lance Stroll at the team formerly known as Force India in 2019. That is the view of Francois Dumontier, promoter of the Canadian grand prix at Montreal. 20-year-old Stroll, the son of Canadian billionaire and new team owner Lawrence Stroll, was born in Montreal. Dumontier […]
Mekies favourite to replace Ferrari’s Binotto
Jan.8 (GMM) Laurent Mekies has emerged as the favourite to replace Mattia Binotto as Ferrari’s technical boss. After a long power struggle, Binotto has been announced as the new Ferrari team principal, replacing the ousted Maurizio Arrivabene. “The decision was taken after lengthy discussions related to Maurizio’s long term personal interests”, part of the Ferrari […]
Brawn eyes ‘solutions’ to Schumacher injuries
Jan.7 (GMM) Ross Brawn is confident there will be “solutions” to Michael Schumacher’s brain injuries in the future. The F1 sporting boss is a close friend of F1 legend Schumacher, whose family is keeping the health condition of the seven time world champion secret. Brawn says Schumacher’s wife Corinna and children Mick and Gina-Maria have […]
Ferrari to sign new simulator drivers – Vettel
Jan.7 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is sure Ferrari will sign up some good new drivers for its simulator. The Maranello team has lost its 2018 development drivers Antonio Giovinazzi to Sauber and Daniil Kvyat to Toro Rosso. “I’m not a big fan of the simulator,” race driver Vettel is quoted by Corriere dello Sport, “but it […]
Marko plays down early trouble at Honda
Jan.7 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down reports of trouble at Red Bull’s new works engine partner Honda. Auto Bild reports that Honda and an Austrian technical partner, Avl, have split due to a disagreement between engineers. Red Bull’s Marko confirmed the split, and also that Honda and ex-Mercedes engine chief Mario Illien are […]