Nov.8 (GMM) The next step for F1 is a Vietnamese driver. That is the claim of F1 chief executive Chase Carey, after Liberty Media announced that Hanoi will host a street race starting in 2020. Some think the news is actually an embarrassment for Carey, who had earlier tried but failed to take Miami to […]
Lauda aims for Abu Dhabi comeback – Ecclestone
Nov.8 (GMM) Niki Lauda has targeted a F1 return for the season finale in Abu Dhabi later this month. That is the news from the beleaguered F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman’s friend Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone, the former F1 supremo, says 69-year-old Lauda telephoned him after leaving hospital following a lung transplant. “He is doing […]
2019 wings will not improve overtaking – Marko
Nov.8 (GMM) The new front wings for 2019 are costing teams a lot of money but overtaking will not be easier. That is the fear of F1 officials including Dr Helmut Marko, Franz Tost and Andy Green. For next year, the regulations mandate wider front wings that are designed to improve the chances that a […]
Vettel ‘made more mistakes than Ferrari’ – Massa
Nov.7 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is mostly to blame for not winning the 2018 title. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, after German Vettel said losing to Lewis Hamilton was due to a combination of driver and team errors. But Massa told Globo’s Bem Amigos programme: “Vettel and Ferrari missed a chance […]
Stroll can be ‘great’ for Force India – boss
Nov.7 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer thinks Lance Stroll will be a “great driver” for Force India. The news has not been announced yet, but it is an open secret that the son of new team owner Lawrence Stroll will be Sergio Perez’s teammate from 2019. “I don’t know him well yet, but from the outside I’ve […]
Sainz’s father says McLaren ‘hit rock bottom’
Nov.7 (GMM) McLaren is determined to pull itself up from “rock bottom” in 2019. That is the claim of Carlos Sainz, the world rally legend. His son, 24-year-old Spaniard Sainz jr, is switching from Renault to the beleaguered Woking team next year. Sainz senior thinks his son did well with Renault this year. “At the […]
Monza gets F1 funding boost for 2020
Nov.7 (GMM) Monza’s chances of keeping the fabled Italian grand prix on the F1 calendar have received a boost. According to Corriere dello Sport, the local Lombardy region has committed to allocating an extra EUR 25 million over the next five years to keep the event at Monza. The current race contract with Liberty Media […]
F1 ramps up security for Brazil GP
Nov.7 (GMM) F1 is ramping up security ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian grand prix. In recent years, the race at Interlagos has come under scrutiny for a string of violent robbery attacks on F1 personnel. Last year, a planned Pirelli test was called off for that reason. Britain’s Sun newspaper reports that, in response, the […]
McLaren to race Red Bull-like car in 2019 – report
Nov.6 (GMM) McLaren is busily working on a Red Bull-like concept for its 2019 car. That is the claim of the Spanish sports newspaper AS. Spaniard Carlos Sainz will switch from Renault to the Woking based team for 2019. “According to several sources, engineers and designers (at McLaren) are adopting various aerodynamic concepts that Red […]
Force India eyes top 3 target in 2019 – Szafnauer
Nov.6 (GMM) Force India wants to break into the top three teams in formula one next year, according to its boss. Actually, the Silverstone based team almost collapsed in 2018. “Without Lawrence Stroll coming in, we would not have got to the race in August,” team boss Otmar Szafnauer told Brazil’s Globo. He said he […]
Hamilton not ruling out Ferrari move
Nov.6 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out a move to Ferrari some day. The new five-time world champion said he is aiming to “get close” to beating Michael Schumacher and becoming the most successful F1 driver of all time. And it could happen in red. The Mercedes driver told Italy’s Autosprint: “At the moment […]
Schumacher ‘not as crazy as Max’ – van Amersfoort
Nov.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has a more meticulous approach to motor racing than does Max Verstappen. That is the claim of Frits van Amersfoort, who worked with both drivers in the junior categories. Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, is now knocking on the door to formula one after winning the European F3 […]
Famous name no guarantee for Schumacher – Sainz
Nov.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s famous surname is not a guarantee of success in formula one. That is the view of Carlos Sainz, who also has a famous motor racing surname. Recently, Lewis Hamilton said he is “100 per cent” sure new European F3 champion Schumacher will follow his father Michael’s footsteps into F1. But Sainz, […]
‘No progress’ on budget cap – Camilleri
Nov.6 (GMM) Liberty Media’s proposed budget cap is no closer to being ready to implement. That is the claim of Louis Camilleri, who earlier this year took over after the death of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne. F1 owner Liberty wants to improve the sport by limiting the huge budgets of the top teams. “I think […]
Ocon tips Leclerc to be 2019 title charger
Nov.5 (GMM) Charles Leclerc could be in the running to be world champion in 2019. That is the view of another highly rated young F1 driver, Esteban Ocon. While Ocon looks set to sit out next season, 21-year-old Leclerc has landed the plum second race seat at Ferrari. “Charles will fight for the title next […]
Efforts begin to raise Dutch GP funding
Nov.5 (GMM) Efforts have begun to raise the money needed to organise a Dutch grand prix for 2020. It is reported that Zandvoort has been selected by Liberty Media as the venue for the race, even though the MotoGP circuit at Assen is not giving up. “If formula one goes to Zandvoort, it would be […]
Arrivabene denies Binotto dispute ‘fake news’
Nov.5 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has slammed suggestions he is locked in a bitter power dispute with fellow Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. The conflict has been cited by some in the Italian media as a reason for the Maranello team’s failure to win the title in 2018. But team boss Arrivabene told La Repubblica: “Let’s clarify […]
Webber worried about Ricciardo’s F1 future
Nov.5 (GMM) Mark Webber says he is worried about Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 future. After another technical problem in Mexico, the pole sitter hinted that he would be prepared to sit out Brazil and Abu Dhabi. Ricciardo is switching to Renault for 2019, which fellow Australian Webber described as a “strange decision”. The Red Bull driver […]
Calderon hopes for another Sauber test
Nov.5 (GMM) Tatiana Calderon says it is possible she will return to the wheel of the Sauber before the end of the year. The female Colombian driver tested the Swiss team’s 2018 car for a ‘filming’ run after the Mexican grand prix. Asked by Radio Marca if she will get another test soon, Calderon said: […]
Engines staying the same in 2021 – Steiner
Nov.5 (GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks the engine regulations are staying basically the same for 2021. In recent months, scepticism as to the extent of Liberty Media’s plans for vastly different engines in 2021 has circulated in the paddock. And following the most recent team bosses meeting, Haas chief Gunther Steiner says the sport looks set […]