Oct.5 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he would like to stay at Williams in 2019. Days ago, the boss of the Russian driver’s major sponsor, SMP Bank, said he is not sure if the backing of the struggling British team will continue. And at Sochi, Sirotkin’s management was spotted in conversation with Dr Helmut Marko, triggering […]
Ricciardo not expecting podium in 2019
Oct.5 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that he is unlikely to score even podiums in 2019. The Australian surprised the F1 paddock with his decision to switch from Red Bull to Renault. An alarming twist for Ricciardo is that Honda, Red Bull’s next engine supplier, is apparently speeding ahead of Renault in the horse power […]
Red Bull stopped Sainz deal – Abiteboul
Oct.4 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says Red Bull blocked Renault’s efforts to re-sign Carlos Sainz. Sainz was merely ‘on loan’ from Red Bull this year, but the Spaniard will instead move to McLaren for 2019. “It was strange,” Russia’s Championat quotes Renault boss Abiteboul as saying. “In the end it was easier for us to sign […]
Bottas ‘more disciplined than Barrichello’ – Todt
Oct.4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas handled the team orders saga of Sochi last weekend admirably. That is the view of FIA president Jean Todt. Back in the Ferrari heyday, former Ferrari boss Todt famously ordered Rubens Barrichello aside for Michael Schumacher, triggering the ire of the fans and a team orders ban. But the practice is […]
2019 rules no overtaking ‘fix’ – Tombazis
Oct.4 (GMM) FIA technical official Nikolas Tombazis has admitted the 2019 rule changes will not ‘fix’ formula one. There is widespread scepticism about claims the car design tweaks for next year will make overtaking easier. “Honestly, after our work in the simulator and the wind tunnel, we do not believe it will become easier to […]
No ‘Q4’ qualifying for 2019 – Brawn
Oct.4 (GMM) F1’s plans to tweak the qualifying system for 2019 appear to have failed for now. Liberty Media proposed adding a ‘Q4’ to the existing format, shortening all of the segments so that drivers have less time to perfect their laps. But Auto Motor und Sport reports that the teams did not unanimously vote […]
F1 should slash car weight – Abiteboul
Oct.4 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul thinks F1 should think seriously about slashing the weight of the cars. The Renault boss says it is an alarming development that, year on year, the cars get heavier and heavier. “Next year it will be 850 kilograms in the race,” he told Auto Motor und Sport. “Even in Singapore the […]
Paul Ricard wants longer F1 future
Oct.3 (GMM) Organisers of the French grand prix are seeking a contract extension. This year, Paul Ricard meant that after a ten-year absence, France returned to the F1 calendar. The current contract is for five years. At this year’s event there were notable traffic problems, but promoter Christian Estrosi said the issue can only be […]
Russian driver’s father arrested
Oct.3 (GMM) One Russian driver’s chances of making his F1 debut next year have taken a hit. At Sochi, Formula 2 driver Artem Markelov admitted his chances of a 2019 race seat – ostensibly with Williams – was “50-50”. “I will find out in a month and a half,” he said. But those hopes have […]
FIA sensor causes Ferrari power drop – report
Oct.3 (GMM) Ferrari may have lost its power advantage after the FIA further clamped down on the questionable performance of its power unit. Earlier in 2018, the governing body installed a sensor in the energy recovery systems of the Maranello team’s car, following suspicious about legality. Auto Motor und Sport reports that a second sensor […]
Verstappen thinking in races more now – father
Oct.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father says the young Dutchman is now thinking more during F1 races. The Red Bull driver had a tough start to 2018, but his father Jos said the 21-year-old is now racing more smartly. “You can see the progress he has made during the year,” the former Benetton and Minardi driver […]
Ocon situation not Renault’s fault – Abiteboul
Oct.3 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has hit back at rival team boss Toto Wolff over the plight of French driver Esteban Ocon. Recently, Wolff slammed the chiefs at Renault and McLaren for suggesting Mercedes junior Ocon might find a place at their teams for 2019. Instead, Ocon looks set to exit F1. But Abiteboul, the boss […]
Verstappen backs Kvyat’s F1 return
Oct.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen has backed Red Bull’s decision to resurrect the career of axed Russian Daniil Kvyat. In 2016, Red Bull demoted Kvyat from its senior team to Toro Rosso, and by the end of the following year, he was dropped from F1 altogether. Now 24, the Russian has been rebuilding his career with […]
Next step for Schumacher is F2 – Brawn
Oct.2 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should not be rushed into formula one. That is the view of Ross Brawn, who worked closely with the young German’s famous father Michael during the ultra-successful Ferrari era. Now, Brawn is the sporting boss of F1, and he thinks Schumacher needs more time even though he is currently dominating European […]
Advisor Prost worried Renault ‘regressing’
Oct.2 (GMM) Alain Prost says Renault is struggling because its focus is now firmly on 2019. The French team is worried about being passed by Haas for fourth place, despite signing Daniel Ricciardo for 2019 and targeting wins for the year after. “It’s very difficult at the moment because we are not going to bring […]
Massa supports Mercedes team orders
Oct.2 (GMM) A famous victim of team orders, Felipe Massa has nonetheless backed Mercedes’ decision to rob Valtteri Bottas of victory in Russia. At Hockenheim in 2010, Ferrari famously told Massa to move aside for his teammate by declaring on the radio: “Fernando (Alonso) is faster than you.” But Massa told Corriere della Sera that […]
Former Ferrari drivers hail 2019 lineup
Oct.2 (GMM) Charles Leclerc will give Sebastian Vettel a run for his money at Ferrari next year. That is the view of two experienced former Ferrari drivers. Gerhard Berger told Tagesspiegel newspaper that the Maranello team’s 2019 lineup is “very interesting”. “Leclerc is an excellent driver. However, I think in the first year it will […]
Whiting likes new qualifying format
Oct.2 (GMM) F1 is edging closer to installing a new qualifying format for 2019. Recently, we reported that a ‘Q4’ segment could be added to the format in a bid to spice up the action, with shorter segment durations meaning drivers have less laps to perfect their time. Q4 would then end with a ten […]
Ferrari ‘too Italian’ for title – Ecclestone
Oct.2 (GMM) Ferrari could be set to lose its team boss. After Sochi, the Italian media largely agreed that the Maranello team’s bid for the 2018 title is now definitely over. “How Ferrari loses a world championship in three months,” wrote La Repubblica. “One own goal after the next.” However, the Italian press also criticised […]
Hankook buys Williams car for F1 tyre testing
Oct.2 (GMM) Hankook appears determined to become F1’s next tyre supplier. The South Korean company has joined Pirelli in responding to the FIA’s tender for the role of official tyre supplier starting in 2020. Auto Motor und Sport reports that experienced F1 engineer Hirohide Hamashima, formerly of Bridgestone, has been retained as a consultant. The […]