Sep.6 (GMM) Michael Andretti says he hopes Fernando Alonso makes the switch to Indycar for 2019. Disenchanted Spaniard Alonso is quitting F1 at the end of the year, but it is not known how he will divide his time between Le Mans, Indycar and other racing projects next year. On Wednesday, he tested an Andretti […]
No more ‘winners’ at McLaren – Villadelprat
Sep.6 (GMM) Joan Villadelprat is worried about McLaren’s future in formula one. The Spaniard is a former top F1 team official, working for Ferrari, Tyrrell, Benetton and Prost. But he started his career at McLaren. “I saw the birth of McLaren. I was one of the first to enter with Ron (Dennis),” he told El […]
F1 not going all-electric – Todt
Sep.6 (GMM) Jean Todt has played down suggestions F1 could switch to an all-electric formula in the future. Recently, Liberty Media sporting boss Ross Brawn said there is “nothing to stop” the pinnacle of motor racing following the lead of Formula E. But FIA president Todt said that notion is “nonsense”. “That will not happen,” […]
Ferrari to formalise Raikkonen news on Thursday
Sep.5 (GMM) Thursday is decision-day when it comes to Ferrari’s driver choice for 2019. At Monza, it was rumoured that after extended internal wrangling, Kimi Raikkonen had been told he will be replaced by Charles Leclerc next year. It might explain why the Finn was suddenly arguably uncooperative on-track, receiving a slipstream from Sebastian Vettel […]
Ten drivers on Toro Rosso ‘long list’ for 2019
Sep.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is putting together a “long list” of potential Toro Rosso drivers for 2019. Pierre Gasly is being promoted to Red Bull Racing, while Brendon Hartley has underperformed this year. “There needs to be a significant increase (from Hartley) in the last races this season,” Marko told Speed Week. […]
Vandoorne not speaking after McLaren axe
Sep.5 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is not yet commenting to the media about McLaren’s decision to dump him for 2019. Once McLaren’s highly promising development driver, the 26-year-old is reportedly now pinning his hopes on a Toro Rosso seat after being replaced by Lando Norris. McLaren issued a positively worded statement about Vandoorne’s impending departure, but […]
Kubica unexcited by race seat ‘speculation’
Sep.5 (GMM) Robert Kubica sounds only mildly interested in stepping up to the Williams race seat in 2018. It is expected that Lance Stroll will shortly quit the struggling British team in order to join his billionaire father Lawrence at Force India. Williams boss Paddy Lowe says reserve driver Kubica will step up to the […]
Red Bull future riding on Honda success – Marko
Sep.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull will quit formula one if the Honda project doesn’t work out. Disenchanted with its customer Renault relationship, the energy drink owned team is joining its junior outfit Toro Rosso in using works Honda power from 2019. Marko, Red Bull’s top F1 official, told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that […]
Vandoorne manager ‘confident’ after McLaren axe
Sep.4 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne’s manager says keeping the Belgian on the grid is still the “priority” for 2019. McLaren has announced that its junior driver Lando Norris will be replacing Vandoorne next season. But Allessandro Alunni Bravi, Vandoorne’s manager, insists he remains “confident” about the future. “It’s good that the situation is now official and […]
Grosjean ‘back to normal’ after 2018 struggles
Sep.4 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is back in the game as he fights for his future in F1. In recent weeks, the Frenchman looked set to lose his seat at Haas amid a season of notable mistakes. But circumstances have suddenly swung back in his favour. It is believed Ferrari tried to place Charles Leclerc at […]
Leclerc says Ferrari will decide future
Sep.4 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says it is up to Ferrari to decide if he is ready for a plum seat with the Maranello team. It is believed that although new boss Louis Camilleri wanted to keep Kimi Raikkonen, a previous decision made by late president Sergio Marchionne to sign Leclerc for 2019 will be honoured. […]
Ecclestone laments Alonso’s ‘wrong decisions’
Sep.4 (GMM) “Wrong decisions” mean Fernando Alonso will not be considered one of the true greats. That is the view of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who agrees that the possibly Indycar-bound Spaniard is one of the “best drivers” ever seen in F1. “He is definitely one of the best drivers, but sometimes he made […]
Vettel mistakes to cost Ferrari title – press
Sep.4 (GMM) The Italian press has questioned Sebastian Vettel’s ability to win the 2018 world championship for Ferrari. The German has made some mistakes so far this year, including on Ferrari’s home turf at Monza with a clash against championship leader Lewis Hamilton. Vettel is now 30 points behind the leading Mercedes, albeit with clearly […]
Leclerc back on pole for 2019 Ferrari seat
Sep.3 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is back on pole position for a plum Ferrari seat in 2019. Before the death of president Sergio Marchionne, the young Monaco born driver looked set to be promoted by Ferrari from his current seat at Sauber. But after Marchionne died, new Ferrari chief Louis Camilleri was believed to have preferred […]
Now Gasly hits out at ‘aggressive’ Alonso
Sep.3 (GMM) Yet another driver has hit out at retiring F1 driver Fernando Alonso. After a qualifying run-in at Monza, Kevin Magnussen said the Spaniard “thinks he’s God”. “I’m looking forward to his retirement,” the Haas driver added. Pierre Gasly, the Toro Rosso driver who next year is stepping up to Red Bull Racing, sounds […]
Magnussen happy ‘God’ Alonso retiring
Sep.2 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he will not miss retiring F1 driver Fernando Alonso. The duo have had run-ins in the past, and their latest was during qualifying when they grappled for track position. “I don’t care about why he did it but I think it was pretty stupid and unnecessary,” Haas driver Magnussen said […]
2020 Danish GP ‘entirely possible’ – Whiting
Sep.2 (GMM) Charlie Whiting says Copenhagen could be the next venue on the F1 calendar. Many potential hosts are regularly eyeing F1 projects, but FIA race director Whiting says plans for a Danish grand prix are serious. He recently visited Copenhagen, and said Hermann Tilke has been brought onto the project to advise about the […]
Pole ‘no guarantee’ of 2019 seat – Raikkonen
Sep.2 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s future remains completely unclear, even though he drove his Ferrari to pole at Monza. “Of course if you could choose, the best place is in front of your home crowd,” the Finn said at Monza. “But that’s no guarantee,” Raikkonen told C More, when asked if pole moved him closer to […]
Not just Pirelli on list for 2020 – Todt
Sep.2 (GMM) Jean Todt has confirmed that more than one manufacturer has applied to be F1’s official tyre supplier in 2020. Some have speculated that Pirelli is the only real candidate, given that the successful bidder will have to make two completely different tyres in 2020 and 2021. But although Michelin ruled itself out, it […]
Williams says Kubica would replace Stroll
Sep.2 (GMM) Paddy Lowe says that if Williams makes a driver change within 2019, it will be Robert Kubica who steps up to the plate. It is strongly rumoured that either by Singapore or Russia, Lance Stroll will leave Williams to join his father at the newly Lawrence Stroll-owned Force India. When asked about the […]