Oct.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could justifiably be called the “best of his generation”. That was the view of quadruple world champion and F1 legend Alain Prost, after the Mercedes driver raced past his own title tally by securing a fifth drivers’ crown in Mexico. Prost said it makes Hamilton “one of the best, if not […]
Ferrari supports Vettel despite title loss – Arrivabene
Oct.29 (GMM) Ferrari is still “together” even amid waves of rumours and Sebastian Vettel’s failure to win the drivers’ world championship. That is the claim of team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, after Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton wrapped up his fifth crown in Mexico. “It’s a horrible moment,” German Vettel admitted amid Hamilton’s title celebrations. Both Vettel and […]
‘No point’ finishing 2018 season – Ricciardo
Oct.29 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo sounded ready to quit Red Bull immediately, after yet another disappointing day in the 2018 car. “I’m a very positive guy,” the Australian said after another technical problem in Mexico, having started the race from pole but ultimately watching teammate Max Verstappen win. “But I can only be that positive for […]
Winning ambition ‘not arrogance’ – Leclerc
Oct.28 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says Ferrari has prepared him well for life as a race driver with the fabled Maranello team. The highly rated 21-year-old from Monaco started his climb to Ferrari with the team’s driver ‘academy’, before this year making his F1 debut for Sauber. Now, in 2019, he will be Sebastian Vettel’s teammate. […]
Vettel lacked Ferrari support in 2018 – Ecclestone
Oct.28 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says Lewis Hamilton is a God-send for F1 amid a “not so exciting” time for the sport. Mercedes’ Hamilton will almost certainly wrap up his fifth drivers’ world championship on Sunday in Mexico. “The guy is just phenomenal,” former F1 supremo Ecclestone told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “He is simply the […]
Renault on track for 2019 podiums – Bell
Oct.28 (GMM) Bob Bell says Renault remains on track to race to podium finishes in 2019. The French team has made progress this year, and signed up Red Bull’s Mexico GP pole sitter Daniel Ricciardo for 2019. “Everyone has highlighted our progress on the track,” technical boss Bell told Ouest-France. “We wanted to be fourth, […]
Rival teams eye Ferrari’s disgruntled Binotto – report
Oct.28 (GMM) Mattia Binotto could be eyeing the exit door at Maranello. Recently, amid Ferrari’s mysterious 2018 championship slump, rumours of an internal conflict between team boss Maurizio Arrivabene and Binotto, the technical boss, raged. But it then emerged that Arrivabene has secured a new contract through 2021. “Ferrari’s competitors have quickly reacted and Mercedes […]
Magnussen to get married next summer
Oct.27 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has revealed he is engaged to be married. Denmark’s Ekstra Bladet newspaper reports that the Haas driver proposed to his girlfriend Louise. “Yes, it is true that we will be married in the summer,” Magnussen confirmed in Mexico. Danish media said the wedding will take place in the August break next […]
Alonso says no Formula E switch
Oct.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down suggestions he could switch to Formula E. Both series boss Alejandro Agag and new Formula E driver Felipe Massa have suggested the Spaniard would be a good fit in the all-electric category. But Alonso told AS newspaper in Mexico that he does not “contemplate” the full season in […]
Verstappen determined to win in Mexico
Oct.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen says his only focus is on winning the Mexican grand prix this weekend. When asked about Sebastian Vettel’s recent championship troubles and driving mistakes, the Dutchman said he is not at all interested. “I need all my attention for my own performance,” the Red Bull driver told De Telegraaf. He also […]
Sainz wants early McLaren test in Abu Dhabi
Oct.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is hoping to get his McLaren career off to a fast start next month. The Spaniard currently drives for Renault, but he is switching to McLaren for 2019. He hopes to get his first taste of the Woking team’s Renault-powered car in the post-race Abu Dhabi test. “It will be a […]
Ocon looks set to sit out 2019 season
Oct.27 (GMM) Esteban Ocon looks increasingly likely to sit out the 2019 season. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, said the Frenchman’s chances of securing the second place at Williams for 2019 are “minimal”. “Over the past two months the situation has not changed,” he said. “We are already thinking about 2020. “Esteban will help us […]
Toro Rosso to announce Albon deal after Abu Dhabi
Oct.27 (GMM) Alexander Albon looks to have definitely secured the second Toro Rosso seat for 2019. Daniil Kvyat is already signed up, and team boss Franz Tost admits that Brendon Hartley has not done enough this year to guarantee the other place. “He has 4 points, Pierre (Gasly) has 28. That means he has to […]
FIA gives green light to Mercedes wheel rim ‘holes’
Oct.27 (GMM) Mercedes has got the green light to resume using its preferred wheel rim design. In Austin, amid rumours Ferrari had prepared an official post-race protest, Mercedes filled the controversial holes in its wheel rims with silicone. But in Mexico, the German team asked the stewards if it could resume using the hole design. […]
F1 considering camera technology for mirrors
Oct.27 (GMM) F1 is considering revving up its rear view mirrors. It emerged in Mexico that drivers are pushing their bosses to use camera and monitor technology to give them a better rearwards view than their cars’ traditional mirrors. “For sure it’s possible,” said Sauber team boss Frederic Vasseur. Haas’ Gunther Steiner agreed: “The technology […]
Doctors not ruling out Abu Dhabi return for Lauda
Oct.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s doctors are not ruling out a return to the F1 paddock for the Mercedes team chairman in time for the season finale in Abu Dhabi. It emerged this week that, after two months in hospital following a lung transplant, the F1 legend has now left hospital and entered a rehabilitation clinic. […]
Ricciardo, Alonso defend Vettel ‘mistakes’
Oct.26 (GMM) F1 drivers have defended Sebastian Vettel amid suggestions multiple driving mistakes have cost him the 2018 title. Most recently, three spins have raised eyebrows about the Ferrari driver’s mental state and skills. “I’ve looked at his on-board and I really can’t say he did anything out of the ordinary,” Daniel Ricciardo, who clashed […]
Steiner plays down Rich Energy scepticism
Oct.26 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down scepticism about the identity of Haas’ new title sponsor. Next year, the American team’s cars will have a different livery after signing a naming sponsorship deal with British energy drink Rich Energy. Earlier, Rich Energy was linked with the buyout of the Force India team, but there were […]
Bad second half of 2018 ‘incredible’ – Ricciardo
Oct.26 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says his poor second half of 2018 has been “complex and confusing”. The Australian had a strong beginning to the season, even winning in China and Monaco. But since his 2019 switch to Renault was announced, Ricciardo has struggled. “I don’t remember a black cat crossing my path,” Ricciardo, who reportedly […]
F1 should scrap penalty points system – Grosjean
Oct.26 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has hit out at the ‘penalty points’ system in F1. The Haas driver is on the verge of a race ban, because his F1 super license has accumulated too many penalty points for infractions over the past year. Grosjean says he didn’t really deserve the last penalty for his clash with […]