Oct.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen is keeping his mouth shut about the new female-only open wheeler category. When the ‘W Series’ concept was launched, some said it was a great opportunity for women. But others think it is a sexist idea based on the notion that women are not good enough to compete with men. “Everybody […]
No ‘splits’ at Ferrari – Arrivabene
Oct.20 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has played down rumours that Ferrari is splitting apart. With the Maranello team’s 2018 title hopes in tatters, some believe Arrivabene could leave the team while Sebastian Vettel could be ousted after 2019. “To me this story is a bit funny. As soon as things do not go in the direction […]
Schumacher should not skip F2 – Hulkenberg
Oct.20 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg thinks Mick Schumacher should do a season of Formula 2 next year. Some believe the 19-year-old son of Michael Schumacher should skip Formula 2 and snap up an opportunity in F1 next year after winning the European F3 title. “It depends on the offers he gets,” Max Verstappen said in Austin. […]
Pirelli simplifies tyre colours for 2019
Oct.20 (GMM) Pirelli has simplified its system for colouring and naming the tyres for each grand prix. Currently, there are various compound names and colours brought to each race, which some believe is confusing the fans. So in 2019, despite the continuing existence of different compounds, the three tyres at each race will always be […]
Vettel says Austin penalty ‘wrong’
Oct.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has hit out at the penalty that has further dented his small chances of keeping his championship hopes alive. In Austin, where Lewis Hamilton can mathematically clinch the title, Vettel has been penalised 3 grid positions for not slowing down enough for a red flag. “I saw the flag and went […]
Lauda ‘will come back’ to F1 – Hamilton
Oct.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has revealed he spoke to Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda earlier this week. F1 legend Lauda has been in intensive care for over two months following a lung transplant. “He called me two days ago. I was shocked to hear from him,” Hamilton told Austria’s O3 radio. “I said ‘You sound […]
Sirotkin not worried about Williams rumours
Oct.19 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he is not worrying about suggestions his F1 career could be cut short after November’s Abu Dhabi finale. Speculation in Austin suggests Robert Kubica and Esteban Ocon are vying for the second seat at the British team alongside rookie George Russell in 2019. Russian Sirotkin said: “At every stage of […]
Bottas not worried about Ocon threat for 2020
Oct.19 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has dismissed suggestions his Mercedes adventure could end after 2019. The Finn is signed up for next year, but there is speculation Esteban Ocon is happy to sit out 2019 because he is lining up Bottas’ full works seat for 2020. Asked if that is a worry, Bottas said in Austin: […]
Stroll investment will boost Force India – Perez
Oct.19 (GMM) Sergio Perez thinks a cash injection will push Force India forwards in 2019. Although it was an open secret in the F1 paddock, the Mexican was in Austin finally announced as a continuing driver for the Silverstone based team for next year. Earlier this year, Perez was instrumental to the shake-up that resulted […]
Arrivabene to get new Ferrari contract
Oct.19 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene looks set to have his contract renewed at Ferrari beyond this year. There had been speculation that, amid Ferrari’s failing 2018 title campaign and an internal conflict with Mattia Binotto, the Italian could lose his post as team boss. But sources inside the Italian press say Ferrari is shaping up to […]
Raikkonen hopes Leclerc ‘does well’ at Ferrari
Oct.19 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has wished Ferrari’s new generation of drivers well. The Finn has lost his place at Ferrari for next year to Charles Leclerc, the 20-year-old that Raikkonen now replaces at Sauber. And the newly 39-year-old Raikkonen’s new teammate at Sauber next year will be another Ferrari junior, Antonio Giovinazzi. “I know a […]
Verstappen questions Renault’s new 2019 engine
Oct.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen has cast doubt on Renault’s ability to be competitive in 2019. The Dutchman has been vocally critical of Red Bull’s departing engine supplier at recent races. Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul has announced that, due to limitations with the existing design, the French manufacturer will use an almost completely new power unit […]
Williams targets signing Ocon for 2019
Oct.19 (GMM) Esteban Ocon and Robert Kubica look to be tussling with incumbent Sergey Sirotkin for the second race seat at Williams for 2019. We reported this week that Kubica has secured $10 million in backing by a Polish oil company that puts him in the running for the promotion from reserve driver. But Williams […]
Hamilton among F1’s greatest drivers – Sainz
Oct.19 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest F1 drivers ever. That is the view not only of Fernando Alonso, but also fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz. Alonso said in Austin that Hamilton, who could secure his fifth drivers’ title on Sunday, ranks among “Michael (Schumacher), Fangio, Senna and Prost” as the five greatest drivers […]
Barcelona to host all winter tests in 2019
Oct.19 (GMM) F1 will stick with Barcelona as its exclusive winter testing venue ahead of the 2019 season. There had been suggestions the teams might agree to head to an overseas location like Bahrain to guarantee better weather. But El Mundo Deportivo reports that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will in fact host the only winter […]
F1 split into two categories – Grosjean
Oct.18 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says fighting in the unofficial “B” championship in formula one is nonetheless enjoyable. The Frenchman drives for Haas, the small Ferrari-linked team that is locked in a close battle for fourth with Renault. But not too far behind Renault and Haas are McLaren, Force India, Toro Rosso and Sauber, and Grosjean […]
Bottas hopes for better tyres in 2019
Oct.18 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he hopes Pirelli supplies better tyres next year. The Finn says tyre wear and blistering has been excessive in 2018, forcing drivers to overly manage their races rather than race flat out. “We have had a lot of management to do in practically every race this season and especially in […]
FIA tells Ferrari that Mercedes car is ‘legal’
Oct.18 (GMM) The FIA has declared the latest configuration of Mercedes’ 2018 car to be legal. Brazil’s Globo reports from Austin that Ferrari had suspected a regulations breach and requested that changes be made to the Mercedes for what could be the title-deciding race. “The stewards did not accept Ferrari’s arguments,” correspondent Livio Oricchio reports. […]
Vettel could leave Ferrari after 2019 – report
Oct.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s future at Ferrari is suddenly in doubt. That is the claim of Luigi Perna, a respected correspondent for the respected Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. Perna said that with Vettel’s title hopes in tatters despite having a match for Mercedes’ car this year, the German is losing support and […]
Kubica to get $10m boost for 2019 race seat
Oct.17 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s chances of securing the vacant Williams race seat for 2019 have received a massive boost. Sport Express, a Russian daily, reports that Polish oil company PKN Orlen is prepared to pump $10 million into the current Williams reserve driver’s sponsorship coffers for 2019. It gives him a fighting chance of competing […]