Oct.16 (GMM) Nico Rosberg, an investor in the all-electric series, thinks Formula E could one day merge with formula one. The 2016 world champion reckons it may be easier for motor racing’s top open wheeler category to simple absorb Formula E rather than establish its own ‘green’ credentials. Asked by the Washington Post if he […]
Month: October 2018
Current tyre rules ‘absurd’ – Prost
Oct.15 (GMM) Alain Prost says the tyre rules in formula one are “absurd”. The F1 legend and Renault team advisor told France’s L’Equipe: “We must give more freedom to the teams. “Let them try to play with each other by betting on their tyres. Now everything is completely stereotypical,” Prost, a quadruple world champion, said. […]
Russia hopes for grid girls return in 2019
Oct.15 (GMM) Organisers of the Russian grand prix negotiated with Liberty Media in order to dodge the F1 owners’ new-in-2018 ban on ‘grid girls’. Spectators and viewers of the recent race at Sochi will have noticed that, notwithstanding the sweeping ban, grid girls were prominent in Russia. “I think Liberty Media’s decision was strange and […]
‘Very easy’ to make Vettel-like mistakes – Alesi
Oct.15 (GMM) Jean Alesi has backed his old team Ferrari, amid criticism of the Italian outfit and its top driver Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari and Vettel are taking heat as their 2018 title charge falls apart, but Frenchman Alesi said mistakes are understandable. “In the last races we were a bit surprised and angry about what […]
Raikkonen fined after hitting parked car
Oct.15 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen must pay a fine of 350 Swiss francs after hitting a car outside his home in Baar, Switzerland. ATS news agency, and the Luzerner Zeitung newspaper, report that the Ferrari driver struck a parked car in May. The reports say Raikkonen was trying to avoid another car at the time and […]
Ricciardo had to leave Red Bull – Valsecchi
Oct.15 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo had little choice other than to leave Red Bull. That is the view of Davide Valsecchi, a former GP2 champion who is now a pundit for Italian TV. He told the Dutch magazine Formule 1 that he thinks Australian Ricciardo decided to join the works Renault team for 2019 because of […]
F1 ‘must end complex rules’ – Aguri Suzuki
Oct.15 (GMM) Former F1 driver and team owner Aguri Suzuki says the sport needs to simplify to improve. “They must stop all these rules that complicate the show so extremely,” said the Japanese, who took part in a parade of former F1 drivers at the Japanese grand prix. “The fans do not understand what is […]
Kvyat ‘more measured’ for 2019 return – Tost
Oct.15 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat should be a better driver when he returns to F1 and Toro Rosso in 2019. That is the view of boss Franz Tost, who is preparing for what will be Kvyat’s third separate stint with the junior Red Bull team. “I was with Daniil in Sochi and we had a fantastic […]
Next step for F3 champion Schumacher in ‘coming weeks’
Oct.15 (GMM) New European F3 champion Mick Schumacher’s next move towards formula one will be revealed soon. A mid-season surge in form culminated in one of the most prestigious junior series title wins for Michael Schumacher’s 19-year-old son at the Hockenheim finale last weekend. “Now we can think about what the next adventure will be,” […]
Todt visits Schumacher ‘twice a month’
Oct.15 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt admits he visits his friend Michael Schumacher “twice a month”. Once the great German’s boss at Ferrari, Frenchman Todt is now a close family friend and one of the only people now allowed inside the inner sanctum. Schumacher’s health condition following a skiing crash and brain injuries in 2013 […]
Vettel to win Ferrari title ‘sooner or later’ – Arrivabene
Oct.15 (GMM) As criticism surrounds Sebastian Vettel’s in-tatters 2018 title campaign, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene backed the German’s place at Ferrari. Some believe the Vettel-Ferrari combination needs review, as a firestorm of errors now makes a fifth drivers’ world title basically impossible for Vettel in 2018. “Sebastian looks a lot like Michael Schumacher in talent […]
‘Emotional’ Alonso riding out F1 career
Oct.15 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is leaving formula one because he misses the winning feeling. Last year, the Spaniard vied for victory at the Indy 500, and earlier in 2018 he won Le Mans. Having burned some bridges in F1, Alonso has been stuck at the steadily declining McLaren team since 2015 but he […]
Ricciardo’s Renault move ‘a concern’ – Webber
Oct.15 (GMM) Mark Webber admits fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo’s move to Renault is a “concern”. Also a former Red Bull driver, Webber says Ricciardo’s decision to leave the energy drink team for the French works outfit could be “an inspired decision”. “We’ll all have to sit back and watch, but the move is under a […]
Four drivers line up for second Williams seat
Oct.15 (GMM) A quartet of drivers are in the running to be British rookie George Russell’s teammate at Williams in 2019. With Lance Stroll set to depart for Force India, Williams announced that Mercedes-backed 20-year-old Russell has been signed up for 2019. The press release said nothing about his teammate. It could be Russian Sergey […]
F1 should simplify to improve – Prost
Oct.12 (GMM) F1 needs to get back to basics in order to spice up the show, according to Alain Prost. Now a Renault advisor, the F1 legend and quadruple world champion is an avowed ‘purist’ who thinks the sport was better when the rules and cars were simpler. “The engine rules are the most complicated,” […]
Vettel-Ferrari collapse ‘incomprehensible’ – Doornbos
Oct.12 (GMM) Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos has joined those who are critical of Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s handling of their 2018 title quest. Now with just four races to go, winning the championship seems like an impossible task for German Vettel, despite recently having the best car in the field. Doornbos, a former Red […]
Webber hopes Indycar move right for Alonso
Oct.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he still has not decided what he will be doing in 2019. Frustrated with modern F1 and the top teams’ apparent refusal to sign him, the double world champion is quitting the sport at the end of the year. The Le Mans winner in 2018, Alonso is reportedly now weighing […]
Abiteboul understands Mercedes team orders
Oct.11 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul understands why Mercedes has imposed ‘team orders’ at the tail end of the 2018 world championship. Some think that, given Lewis Hamilton’s lead over Sebastian Vettel, the Mercedes driver does not need the ‘number 2’ backing of teammate Valtteri Bottas. But Abiteboul, the boss at Renault, understands Toto Wolff’s call. “When […]
Wehrlein turned down Formula E for F1 hopes
Oct.11 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein looks to be focused on returning to formula one in 2019. The German lost his seat at Sauber at the end of last year, and now he is escaping from his Mercedes contract in a move interpreted as preparation for a potential Toro Rosso drive. Wehrlein recently tested the Formula E […]
James Key exit hurt Toro Rosso – Gasly
Oct.11 (GMM) The departure of technical boss James Key hurt Toro Rosso this year. That is the admission of Pierre Gasly, the Toro Rosso driver who is switching to the senior Red Bull team for 2019. It has been an odd season for Toro Rosso, as Honda steadily worked on its engine in anticipation for […]