Sep.28 (GMM) Toro Rosso is expected to imminently announce Daniil Kvyat’s return to the team. Sources say the Red Bull junior team will say this weekend at Sochi that the Russian driver is returning from his Ferrari test role to replace Pierre Gasly in 2019. “If he does return then I think we will see […]
Ocon visited Williams factory
Sep.28 (GMM) Esteban Ocon’s chances of staying in formula one remain alive. It emerged at Sochi that, between Singapore and Russia, the Frenchman visited Williams’ headquarters in Oxfordshire. “I met Claire and Frank but there is nothing on the contract side,” the Force India driver, set to be replaced by Lance Stroll, told RTBF. Ocon […]
Giovinazzi must learn from Raikkonen – Liuzzi
Sep.27 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi must be meticulous as he represents Italy in formula one. That is the view of Vitantonio Liuzzi, who along with Jarno Trulli was the last Italian driver in F1 way back in 2011. Now, with Ferrari’s backing, Giovinazzi has been signed to race full-time for Alfa Romeo-sponsored Sauber from 2019. Liuzzi […]
Haas still quiet over 2019 drivers
Sep.27 (GMM) Haas is still staying quiet on the identity of its 2019 driver lineup. With next year’s grid now taking shape, neither of the American team’s current drivers have been confirmed. But every indication is that Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean are staying. Denmark’s BT newspaper reports that Haas’ contract ‘option’ on Magnussen expires […]
Red Bull focus ‘clearly’ on 2019 – Marko
Sep.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull’s focus has “clearly” switched to 2019. The energy drink owned team started the year with championship ambitions, but key official Marko admitted that Mercedes and Ferrari have raced ahead. “The euphoria has given way to reality,” Dr Marko told Kronen Zeitung newspaper. “We have fallen behind Mercedes […]
Vettel rejects need for psychological coach
Sep.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he does not need a psychological coach. In recent days, as his and Ferrari’s 2018 title dream looked to be falling apart, some pointed the finger at Vettel’s questionable calm under pressure. But the German says he is not giving up. “The road is still long and there are a […]
Bottas says title dream still alive
Sep.27 (GMM) Despite failing to win a single grand prix so far this season, Valtteri Bottas insists that his championship dream remains alive. The Finn is teammate to quadruple world champion and runaway championship leader Lewis Hamilton, but he says he is happy at Mercedes anyway. “I wouldn’t change my position to anywhere else now,” […]
Gasly not out to ‘destroy’ Verstappen
Sep.26 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is not approaching his new role at Red Bull as a mission to “destroy” Max Verstappen. The Frenchman has been signed up to replace Daniel Ricciardo from 2019, but he insists his only initial goal is to settle in and do a good job for himself and the team. […]
Salo questions Sauber’s Giovinazzi pick
Sep.26 (GMM) Mika Salo is not sure Sauber has made the right choice for 2019. The former F1 driver was commenting on the news that the Swiss team has ousted Marcus Ericsson – who is staying in the reserve role – and replaced him for next year with Ferrari junior Antonio Giovinazzi. Many have hailed […]
Ocon ‘negotiating’ with Williams
Sep.26 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has admitted Williams is his last shot at a F1 cockpit for 2019. The Frenchman is disappointed not only that he is losing his Force India seat to Lance Stroll, but that options to switch to Renault or McLaren both vanished recently. “It’s a bit strange how it turned out, because […]
Trulli slams current state of F1
Sep.25 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jarno Trulli has slammed the way the sport has changed since he stopped racing seven seasons ago. The Italian, now 44, contested over 250 grands prix, but now laments the state of formula one today. “What has formula one become?” he told the blog of Italian journalist Leo Turrini. “Do […]
Liberty eyes adding ‘Q4’ to qualifying
Sep.25 (GMM) Liberty Media could be looking at adding another segment to the current ‘knockout’-style qualifying format. Auto Motor und Sport reports that under consideration is the addition of a ‘Q4’ segment in order to add excitement to the Saturday session that determines the grid order. Each of the new Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 […]
Schumacher happy with Ferrari interest
Sep.25 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is happy with Ferrari’s interest in his flourishing formative career. After a moderate start, the 19-year-old’s progress in European F3 is now in its highest gear as he dominates and now leads the championship with just one round to go. The driver he has passed in the standings, Red […]
McLaren, Alonso ‘interested’ in Indycar – boss
Sep.24 (GMM) Indycar looks set to secure three big names from the world of formula one. One is the famous team McLaren, who are considering an Indycar entry for 2019. And the others are Fernando Alonso and his ousted 2018 teammate Stoffel Vandoorne. “McLaren is very interested in having a team,” Indycar chief Mark Miles […]
Sauber set to name Raikkonen teammate
Sep.24 (GMM) Sauber boss Frederic Vasseur has denied that taking on Kimi Raikkonen for 2019 is part of the Swiss team’s deal with Ferrari. Sauber is now a steadily improving midfield team backed by Alfa Romeo, a Fiat brand. This year it ran Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc, and for 2019 Antonio Giovinazzi is tipped to […]
Leclerc could beat Vettel at Ferrari – Marciello
Sep.24 (GMM) Charles Leclerc could emerge as Ferrari’s number 1 driver as quickly as 2019. That is the view of racing driver Raffaele Marciello, a former member of Ferrari’s driver ‘academy’. Today, 20-year-old Leclerc is Ferrari’s top academy member, and has received a promotion from Sauber to the top Maranello team for next year. And […]
Mayor shoots down Copenhagen’s F1 project
Sep.24 (GMM) Advanced plans to bring F1 to Copenhagen have been scrapped. The Danish capital’s lord mayor Frank Jensen told the local Politiken newspaper: “We cannot participate in the planning of a project that carries so much risk.” Earlier, Copenhagen had been planning for a street race to begin in 2020. But Jensen explained: “I […]
Monza, Silverstone still in doubt after 2019
Sep.21 (GMM) A question mark continues to linger over the future of the historic Italian grand prix. The fabled race at Monza has been under a cloud for some time, but after the latest meeting of the organising club the Aci, president Angelo Sticchi Damiani says that uncertainty persists. “We wanted to inform the officials […]
Beating top teams ‘ridiculous’ goal – Budkowski
Sep.21 (GMM) Renault is not ready to charge for the world title. That is the admission of Marcin Budkowski, a former leading FIA official who has controversially switched to the French carmaker’s works F1 effort. He has recently been restructuring Renault in the background, but says those efforts will need to continue even after Daniel […]
Vettel misses Schumacher amid 2018 struggle
Sep.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel thinks he would benefit from the advice of his old friend and mentor Michael Schumacher. One analysis of recent events is that, despite finally having the best car, the German driver and Ferrari are self-sabotaging their chances of finally beating Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Vettel admitted to Sport Bild that he […]