Jul.28 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he is getting on with his job even though Force India is clinging to survival. Sergio Perez arrived in Hungary saying the Silverstone based team’s financial situation is “critical”. “I don’t know what Checo meant by that, but hopefully it will be solved soon and we’ll get back to operating […]
Abiteboul admits Renault could sign Ocon
Jul.28 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that Renault could swap Carlos Sainz for Esteban Ocon in 2019. The French team has been saying all year that it is happy with Sainz, who is ‘on loan’ for a year from Red Bull. And boss Abiteboul said keeping the Spaniard is “an option”. “I agree that we […]
Claire Williams considers quitting F1
Jul.28 (GMM) Claire Williams has admitted she is still thinking about quitting as the struggling British team’s boss. Former team champion Jacques Villeneuve declared recently that Williams is “dead”, with founder Sir Frank Williams having made a grave mistake in putting his daughter in charge five years ago. The team is the slowest on the […]
No early release to McLaren for James Key – Marko
Jul.27 (GMM) Red Bull says it will not give James Key an early release from his duties at Toro Rosso. Earlier in Hungary, McLaren announced that Briton Key is joining the struggling British team as technical director. But Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost hit back: “James Key has a long term valid contract with the […]
Vandoorne gets different chassis for Hungary
Jul.27 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne will use a different chassis this weekend in Hungary. For the past two races, the Belgian has struggled immensely alongside his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso. “There is something wrong with his car,” Alonso insisted at Hockenheim. However, McLaren could not find the source of the problem, and so the decision was […]
Hospital says Marchionne died of ‘serious illness’
Jul.27 (GMM) A Swiss hospital has defended itself amid wild speculation surrounding the death of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne. Some have reported that the 66-year-old Italian Canadian may have died after a routine operation on his shoulder. Il Giornale newspaper reported that there had been “sudden and unexpected complications”. “One does not die of a […]
Grosjean needs consistency to keep Haas seat
Jul.27 (GMM) Romain Grosjean must be consistent in order to keep his Haas seat. That is the warning from boss Gunther Steiner, as candidates line up to replace the erratic-in-2018 Frenchman Grosjean. “Consistency is the magic word and he knows it, it’s nothing new to him,” Steiner is quoted by Brazil’s Globo. “We know what […]
Alonso hopes James Key joins McLaren soon
Jul.27 (GMM) McLaren and Toro Rosso are engaged in a tussle over a highly respected F1 technical figure. McLaren announced in Hungary that James Key will be the struggling team’s new technical director. But he is currently at Toro Rosso, whose boss Franz Tost declared: “James Key has a long term valid contract with the […]
Force India financial situation ‘critical’ – Perez
Jul.27 (GMM) Sergio Perez says the financial situation at Force India has become “critical”. In recent days, there have been reports that the Silverstone based team may soon enter insolvency proceedings, or be bought by Lawrence Stroll, the father of Williams driver Lance Stroll. Auto Motor und Sport reports that while the risk of insolvency […]
Lauda to miss second consecutive race
Jul.27 (GMM) Niki Lauda will miss a second consecutive race this weekend in Hungary. The red cap wearing F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman was a notable absentee at Hockenheim a week ago. It emerges that Lauda was in bed in his home in Ibiza with the flu. And a source in Hungary confirmed that […]
Ferrari move big risk for Leclerc – Vasseur
Jul.26 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says he is unsure how Charles Leclerc would adapt to life as a Ferrari driver. Monaco-born Leclerc is clearly one of the most highly rated F1 rookies in history, and some think Ferrari is ready to promote him to the Maranello team for 2019. But Vasseur, who runs the Alfa Romeo-sponsored […]
Red Bull not questioning Ferrari legality
Jul.26 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is not joining those who are pointing fingers of suspicion at Ferrari. For the first time in the ‘power unit’ era, Ferrari is now clearly ahead of Mercedes with its F1 engine. It is believed the Italian team has devised a clever but controversial system to get […]
German ‘alliance’ tries to save Hockenheim GP
Jul.26 (GMM) Talks to rescue the German grand prix are continuing apace. Hockenheim and Liberty Media have so far failed to negotiate a mutually acceptable race fee for 2019. But the delayed plans in Miami means Germany is suddenly back on Liberty’s agenda. The rescue talks have the backing of Germany’s two automobile clubs, ADAC […]
Alonso defends Vandoorne amid Sauber rumour
Jul.26 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has leapt to the defence of his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne. It is believed McLaren is considering ousting the struggling Belgian in favour of young charger Lando Norris. And Auto Motor und Sport reports that a representative of Vandoorne’s management team was spotted in the Sauber motor home at Hockenheim. The Swiss […]
Williams to buy Mercedes gearbox in 2019
Jul.26 (GMM) Williams will take a step towards becoming a Mercedes ‘B team’ in 2019. The once-great British team now has the slowest car on the grid, with its last champion Jacques Villeneuve saying Williams is effectively “dead”. Mercedes could be the solution. “The Ferrari-Sauber model shows that such alliances can be very important in […]
Ricciardo ready to announce Red Bull deal
Jul.26 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull are now ready to make an announcement about the future. Earlier, the Australian was flirting with a move to Ferrari or Mercedes, but it appears a new deal with Red Bull has now definitely been done. Hungary this weekend is the last race before a much-needed gap in […]
Hamilton portrays himself as Jesus – Villeneuve
Jul.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton should not be surprised when he is sometimes booed. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. At Hockenheim last weekend, Mercedes’ British driver was booed at times during the driver parade. “Lewis should not be surprised,” Villeneuve is quoted by Auto Bild. “He confuses formula one with […]
Magnussen backs Haas’ Hungary test decision
Jul.25 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he understands Haas’ decision to skip the post-Hungary test. Ekstra Bladet newspaper reports that, as of the summer break, the American team’s full focus will be on the 2019 car. That decision was made due to the 2019 aerodynamic rule changes, and the knock-on effect is that Haas does not […]
Zetsche worried about Marchionne exit
Jul.25 (GMM) Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche is concerned about the change at the very top at Ferrari. With Sergio Marchionne reportedly gravely ill, Ferrari has appointed a new chairman as well as CEO. The new bosses, John Elkann and Louis Camilleri, met with the Maranello team’s boss Maurizio Arrivabene on Monday, according to La Gazzetta […]
2019 German GP rescue talks underway
Jul.25 (GMM) Germany could still have a formula one race next year. With no 2019 deal in place for Hockenheim, a wild rumour did the rounds last weekend that the Nurburgring has made a daring bid to entice Liberty Media to organise a race on the famous Nordschleife circuit. “I would love it,” Lewis Hamilton […]