Oct.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso slammed Williams backmarker Lance Stroll after the US grand prix. The McLaren driver’s race in Austin was cut very short due to a clash with the French Canadian, whose father is the billionaire fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll. “When you’re in the middle of the group the truth is that the low […]
McLaren split helped Honda progress – Verstappen
Oct.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen admits he is getting excited about 2019. Recently highly critical of Renault, the Dutchman finished second behind Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton in Austin. He says Red Bull’s chances for 2019 look good as the team switches its customer Renault engines for the new works Honda […]
Raikkonen happy to leave Ferrari after win
Oct.22 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he is “very happy” to join Sauber for 2019, even though he finally ended his winning drought on Sunday in Austin. The Finn, who just turned 39, hadn’t won for years until he triumphed at the US grand prix. But he only has three races left for Ferrari before switching […]
Ocon race seat ‘up to Williams’ – Wolff
Oct.22 (GMM) It is up to Williams whether it selects Esteban Ocon to complete the British team’s 2019 driver lineup. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss who says he has done his best to try to keep the French driver’s F1 racing career alive for next year. “The decision is […]
Vandoorne to be Mercedes simulator driver
Oct.22 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne will keep one foot in the world of formula one next year. The Belgian has lost his seat at McLaren and will instead race for Mercedes’ works Formula E team from 2019. But he will also stay in touch with F1. “We like Stoffel a lot,” Gwen Lagrue, who is the […]
Vettel ‘hurts’ as title falls apart – Glock
Oct.22 (GMM) Former F1 driver Timo Glock says he feels for Sebastian Vettel. Although delaying Lewis Hamilton’s 2018 title win for now, German Vettel’s campaign nonetheless continued to fall apart in Austin as he spun early in the race in a clash with Daniel Ricciardo. “This is the third time,” the Ferrari driver told the […]
Raikkonen move means ‘Sauber is now Ferrari’ – Ecclestone
Oct.21 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has applauded Kimi Raikkonen’s move to Sauber. Raikkonen, 39, surprised the F1 world by signing up with the small Swiss team for the next two seasons after being dropped for 2019. Asked if it’s a smart move, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone answered: “Absolutely. “I think a lot of Kimi,” he […]
Wolff may consider another Bottas team order
Oct.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes might consider imposing ‘team orders’ yet again this weekend in Austin. The world championship looks certain to fall eventually to Lewis Hamilton, but Mercedes boss Wolff admitted that if it can be wrapped up sooner rather than later, Valtteri Bottas may be asked to move aside. “We discussed […]
Alonso not ruling out 2020 return
Oct.21 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out a return to formula one in 2020. Many think the Spaniard is tired of F1 and “retiring” from the category. But now it emerges that, contrary to speculation, he doesn’t want to do the full Indycar championship next year. He remains open to a one-off Indy 500 […]
Albon leaves Formula E to join Toro Rosso
Oct.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso looks to have made its decision about Daniil Kvyat’s teammate for 2019. It appears it will be rookie Alexander Albon, a Briton with Thai heritage who raced in Formula 2 but recently signed a long-term Formula E contract with Nissan. Formula Spy reports that Red Bull has managed to negotiate an […]
Kubica not waiting long for Williams decision
Oct.21 (GMM) Robert Kubica has repeated his claim that he will not wait too long for Williams to make its decision about 2019. Claire Williams has admitted the British team is considering the Pole as well as Esteban Ocon or Sergey Sirotkin as candidates to be George Russell’s teammate next year. “We’re taking our time […]
Honda progress ‘scary for Renault’ – Sainz
Oct.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says it is “scary for Renault” how much progress Honda has made in recent races. Previously, with Ferrari and Mercedes speeding ahead at the front, Renault at least had the edge over F1’s fourth-best engine supplier, Honda. But Sainz, who is switching from the Renault works team to Renault-powered McLaren in […]
Brazilian to be McLaren reserve in 2019 – report
Oct.20 (GMM) Formula 2 driver Sergio Sette Camara looks set to enter F1 for 2019. The Globo broadcaster reports that the 20-year-old Brazilian is expected to become McLaren’s third driver, replacing Lando Norris. The deal should be announced at the Interlagos race next month, with Sette Camara tipped to drive in some Friday morning sessions. […]
Alonso slams wet tyre rules
Oct.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit out at F1’s wet tyre rules. So often in modern formula one, drivers are reluctant to practice in wet conditions as in Austin because they do not have enough wet tyres for the weekend. “It would be as easy as bringing 20 or 40 more sets of tyres to […]
No Indycar season for McLaren, Alonso in 2019
Oct.20 (GMM) McLaren has decided against entering a full-time team in the Indycar series for 2019. It coincides with related news that the retiring McLaren driver Fernando Alonso is also saying no to a full-time Indycar campaign next year. “I would like to do it someday, but not next year,” El Mundo Deportivo quotes him […]
Force India planning new EUR 80m factory
Oct.20 (GMM) Force India is planning to build a new factory. That is the claim of Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that new team owner and billionaire Lawrence Stroll is prepared to spend EUR 80 million on the project. A location will be found by the end of October, and the factory will be ready […]
Magnussen vows to keep pushing boundaries
Oct.20 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he is blocking out continuing criticism of his driving style. Many of the Dane’s rivals are on an ever-growing list of those who think some of his on-track attacking and defensive moves are beyond the pale. But Magnussen is not backing down. He told Ekstra Bladet in Austin: “I do […]
Kubica a contender for 2019 seat – Williams
Oct.20 (GMM) Claire Williams has confirmed that Robert Kubica is a contender to complete the British team’s 2019 driver lineup. George Russell has been confirmed for one seat, and deputy boss Williams said last week that Esteban Ocon is in the running for the other. So too is Sergey Sirotkin. “We have a shortlist and […]
Vandoorne arrived late after Formula E test
Oct.20 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne arrived late to the paddock ahead of the US grand prix. The Belgian has been ousted by McLaren, and so he got his new Formula E adventure off to an early start with a test in Valencia last week. “It’s true that I arrived here quite late but I think there […]
Stroll to race out 2018 with Williams
Oct.20 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is staying at Williams for the final few races of 2019. Earlier, it seemed clear that the Canadian would leave the struggling British team to join his new team-owning father Lawrence Stroll at Force India. “There are a lot of politics behind the scenes,” Lance told Le Journal de […]