Jul.2 (GMM) Mercedes’ chief strategist will keep his job after a serious blunder during the Austrian grand prix. Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas retired with technical problems on Sunday, handing a 1 point championship lead back to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. But amid that, Mercedes strategist James Vowles admitted on the radio to Hamilton: “I […]
Marko tips Ricciardo to sign Red Bull deal
Jul.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is confident Daniel Ricciardo will stay at Red Bull in 2019. The Australian driver is currently delaying his decision, amid rumours he might switch to Mercedes, Ferrari or even McLaren. But Marko, the Red Bull consultant, thinks those moves are all unlikely. “Where would he go? To Mercedes? […]
No 2019 German GP ‘frustrating’ – Bratches
Jul.1 (GMM) Liberty Media has confirmed that Germany will be missing from the 2019 calendar. Hockenheim boss Georg Seiler revealed in the week that he has failed to reach a good commercial deal with the F1 owner. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says that’s a pity. “The conditions are not easy for the circuits in […]
Ferrari seat ‘too early’ for Leclerc – Villeneuve
Jul.1 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve thinks Ferrari is promoting Charles Leclerc too soon. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Maranello team has signed up the 20-year-old Sauber driver for 2019 and 2020, to replace Kimi Raikkonen. “I think it’s too early for him,” 1997 world champion Villeneuve told Auto Bild in Austria. “On the one […]
Grosjean thinks 2018 slump now over
Jul.1 (GMM) Romain Grosjean thinks his 2018 slump could finally be over. Although driving the competitive Haas car, only the Frenchman and Williams’ Sergey Sirotkin are yet to score a single point so far this year. But Grosjean qualified an impressive sixth in Austria. He said afterwards he is not worried his points slump will […]
Sainz pardons Vettel for Austria block
Jul.1 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has excused Sebastian Vettel after an incident in qualifying. Renault’s Sainz went off the track and broke a wing when he encountered a slow-moving Vettel on the racing line in Austria. “It made me break a wing, which obviously costs our team money, but he didn’t do it on purpose,” said […]
Renault wants quick decision over Sainz
Jul.1 (GMM) Carlos Sainz could be let go by Renault if Red Bull does not quickly sign up its drivers for 2019. That is warning of Cyril Abiteboul, the Renault team boss. Currently, Spaniard Sainz drives for Renault but he is ‘on loan’ for a year from Red Bull. He is first in line to […]
Mercedes keeping same drivers – Lauda
Jul.1 (GMM) Niki Lauda says Mercedes is definitely sticking with its current drivers beyond 2018. It is believed Lewis Hamilton’s long-delayed new contract is now signed, and that the Briton has asked for Valtteri Bottas to also be retained until 2020. “I guarantee that next year Lewis Hamilton and also Valtteri Bottas will drive for […]
McLaren working on performance slump fix
Jul.1 (GMM) McLaren is working on “correcting” its current performance slump. That is the news from team boss Eric Boullier, after the once-great British team recently revealed that wind tunnel problems were behind the current lack of pace. “For now, reaching Q3 is just impossible for us with this car,” Fernando Alonso told RTBF broadcaster […]
Aston Martin to scrap F1 engine plans
Jul.1 (GMM) Aston Martin is close to scratching its plans to enter formula one as an engine supplier. Currently just the title sponsor at Red Bull, the British luxury car maker was looking into putting together an engine programme for the 2021 regulations. But CEO Andy Palmer told Autocar: “It doesn’t look like the new […]
Kubica still looking for 2019 race seat
Jun.30 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he is still hoping to secure a formula one race seat for 2019 — but says it doesn’t have to be with Williams. The Pole and former BMW and Renault driver was signed up as Williams’ reserve and occasional Friday driver this year. At the same time, Williams has entered […]
Alonso admits 2018 could be last F1 season
Jun.30 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted that this season could be his last in formula one. The Spaniard, once a two-time champion, is still acknowledged as one of the best on the grid but seemingly no longer able to attract the attention of the top three teams. In recent years, he has spread his wings […]
FIA approves new Mercedes mirror design
Jun.30 (GMM) The FIA has shown a green light to Mercedes’ controversial new mirror design. The reigning champions brought a substantial upgrade package to Austria, and the aerodynamically-styled mountings of the mirrors attracted attention in the pitlane. “This is illegal,” Ferrari technical boss Mattia Binotto is quoted by Auto Bild. FIA technology boss Jo Bauer […]
Mercedes to announce drivers ‘soon’ – Wolff
Jun.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes will announce its 2019 driver lineup “soon”. It is now widely known that Lewis Hamilton has inked a new two-year deal, and has asked for Valtteri Bottas to be retained for the same 2019-2020 period. “When will the contracts be done? Soon,” team boss Toto Wolff told Corriere della […]
Hulkenberg doubts Renault can catch top teams
Jun.30 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg doubts Renault can catch up with the top three teams in 2018. The German driver admitted that Renault is now clearly ‘best of the rest’ behind Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, but thinks that will stay the same this year. “I am quite satisfied with the updates this year,” Hulkenberg said. […]
Leclerc signs EUR 5 million Ferrari contract
Jun.30 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has put pen to paper on a two-year Ferrari deal. That is the claim of La Gazzetta dello Sport, the authoritative Italian sports daily with sources close to the Maranello team. The newspaper claims Leclerc, who currently drives for Sauber, will earn EUR 2 million next year, rising to 3m in […]
Renault confirms engine ‘party mode’
Jun.29 (GMM) Renault has confirmed that it will finally have a ‘party mode’ for its engine from this weekend in Austria. Until now in the ‘power unit’ era, only Mercedes and Ferrari have had the crucial extra power boost in qualifying sessions. “We’ll have to wait and see what it brings us,” Red Bull’s Max […]
Verstappen tips Ricciardo to stay
Jun.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks he will have the same teammate in 2019. At the moment, Daniel Ricciardo is linked with potential moves to Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren or Renault, and he hopes his decision will be clear by the summer break. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko is confident the Australian will stay. “We have recently […]
Hamilton not commenting on contract rumours
Jun.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton would not be drawn on speculation that his Mercedes contract for 2019 and 2020 is now signed and ready to announce. “It’s nice for you guys to have something to talk about make up,” Germany’s Sport1 quotes the Briton as saying. Multiple authoritative media sources last week reported that, following a […]
Media exaggerating McLaren crisis – Alonso
Jun.29 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says the media is exaggerating the severity of McLaren’s problems. Some sections of the media say the once-great British team is in crisis, as it struggles for performance and stands down a potential staff revolt. “There is a lot of exaggerated tension in the media,” Alonso said in Austria. “They have […]