Oct.1 (GMM) Toro Rosso has ruled Stoffel Vandoorne out of the running for a 2019 seat. Belgian Vandoorne admits his hopes of keeping his F1 dream alive following his McLaren axe are close to “zero”. Red Bull has now ruled him out of the running for the second seat at Toro Rosso. “We will not […]
Uncertain Williams future for Sirotkin, Kubica
Oct.1 (GMM) Williams’ driver lineup for next year is not set in stone. The struggling British team is set to lose Lance Stroll to Force India, but it was believed Williams would need to at least retain Sergey Sirotkin and his backing by the Russian bank SMP. But SMP boss Boris Rotenberg told Tass news […]
Hamilton questions Ferrari’s Raikkonen axe
Oct.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has questioned Ferrari’s decision to axe Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn and 2007 world champion is keeping his F1 career alive at Sauber for the next two years, but Hamilton thinks Ferrari is making a mistake in letting him go. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, Hamilton was asked if […]
Fellow boss backs Wolff over team order
Oct.1 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer has backed fellow team boss Toto Wolff amid the team orders controversy of Sochi. Pole sitter Valtteri Bottas was upset after the Russian grand prix, as Mercedes handed victory instead to championship leader Lewis Hamilton. Wolff defended the decision to swap the places. “It’s better to be a villain today than […]
Ticktum not ready for Toro Rosso – Tost
Sep.30 (GMM) Toro Rosso has ruled Dan Ticktum out of the running for the second Toro Rosso seat alongside Daniil Kvyat for 2019. Ticktum, a 19-year-old Briton, is a title contender in European F3, but at Sochi he was chided by Red Bull boss Christian Horner for recent comments made about Mick Schumacher. Horner also […]
Russia could have own F1 team – deputy PM
Sep.30 (GMM) Russia’s deputy prime minister thinks there could soon be a Russian F1 team on the grid. Next year, Daniil Kvyat could be joined on the grid not only by Sergey Sirotkin but another Russian driver Artem Markelov, while Nikita Mazepin is also knocking on the door. Russian deputy PM Dmitry Kozak says motor […]
Ecclestone wants Pirelli to stay in F1
Sep.30 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he wants Pirelli to remain the official tyre supplier in F1. It is believed Hankook, a South Korean tyre manufacturer, has responded to the FIA’s tender about taking over from Pirelli in 2020. Pirelli is also in the running, and former F1 supremo Ecclestone – who was in charge when […]
Team orders could end Bottas win hopes
Sep.30 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas could be asked to give up the race win at Sochi to help championship leader Lewis Hamilton tighten his grip on the 2018 title. Finn Bottas is on pole in Russia, but with Sebastian Vettel behind them both in the fast Ferrari, Mercedes team tactics are arguably wise. “If you start […]
Ocon could be reserve driver in 2019
Sep.30 (GMM) Esteban Ocon could keep his F1 aspirations alive with a reserve role next year. Although once in the running at Renault and McLaren, the current Force India driver now looks set to exit the grid. Williams is more likely to sign another pay driver for 2019, while Dr Helmut Marko said Red Bull […]
Kvyat ‘changed’ at Ferrari – Marko
Sep.30 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is back in F1 because he “changed”. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, who has decided to bring the Russian back to the grid next year to replace Pierre Gasly. “It’s simple — Daniil has changed,” said the Red Bull official. “His speed was always there, but he had […]
Verstappen responds in Abiteboul war of words
Sep.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul are locked in a war of words. In recent weeks, and especially since Red Bull’s switch to Honda power for 2019 was announced, Dutchman Verstappen has stepped up his criticism of the Renault engines he uses. Renault boss Abiteboul hit back at Verstappen at Sochi. “We […]
F1’s 2020 Miami plans in tatters
Sep.29 (GMM) Miami’s formula one plans are in tatters. Earlier, Liberty Media had targeted a street race on the South Florida coast, but those plans were delayed until 2020. “We aim to run the first Miami grand prix in 2020,” F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches said in July. But now a dark cloud is hanging […]
Kvyat return now set for Saturday
Sep.29 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s return to formula one with Toro Rosso next year will be announced on Saturday. Earlier, it was reported that the Russian’s 2019 contract will be unveiled on Friday. But sources at Sochi say it will now happen on qualifying day ahead of the Russian grand prix. Asked if it will be […]
Magnussen’s Haas deal for two more years
Sep.29 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has revealed that his new contract with Haas is for two more years. The American team finally announced at Sochi that it is keeping its same driver lineup for 2019, following a period of uncertainty about Romain Grosjean’s place. “My task was to consider all the candidates and choose the best […]
Haas could announce drivers at Sochi
Sep.28 (GMM) Haas is edging ever nearer to announcing its full 2019 driver lineup. Kevin Magnussen, who is almost certainly staying, admitted at Sochi that the delay is frustrating. “It’s a little frustrating to wait,” he admitted, “but the team wants to announce both drivers at the same time. “But from my side there is […]
Sainz to drive with eye infection
Sep.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he expects to race in Russia this weekend even though he has an eye infection. The Spaniard says it is just his latest adventure at Sochi. “It’s funny, I’ve been evacuated by helicopter and this is one more experience,” the Renault driver smiled, referring to his huge crash of 2015. […]
Alonso rules out Formula E move
Sep.28 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has ruled out switching to Formula E. The Spaniard announced at Sochi that, despite earlier not ruling out a return to F1 in the future, his time in the category “is over”. Alonso’s next step is unknown. It is believed he will definitely contest the Indy 500 in order to complete […]
Company sues Force India administrator
Sep.28 (GMM) The administrators who approved Lance Stroll’s recent Force India takeover are being sued. Last month, a Russian fertiliser company called Uralkali said the Force India administrator, FRP Advisory, did not take its “competitive bid” for the team seriously. Now, Uralkali says it is suing the administrators in London’s High Court for “substantial damages”. […]
Vandoorne set for Formula E switch
Sep.28 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne looks set to keep his motor racing career alive in Formula E. The Belgian has lost his McLaren seat for 2019. He told the Belgian broadcaster RTBF at Sochi: “At this moment there is nothing decided but in my head I know exactly what I would like to do. “I think […]
Zetsche retiring in 2019
Sep.28 (GMM) Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of F1 team Mercedes’ parent company Daimler, is stepping down. The Financial Times reports that the 65-year-old is retiring next year and will be replaced by fellow board member Ola Kallenius. Daimler said the change, with Zetsche returning after a two year period to be supervisory board chairman, is […]