Mar.14 (GMM) F1 will find out “how good Stroll really is” in 2019. That is the view of Marc Surer, a former driver who is now a F1 television pundit. Lance Stroll has moved from Williams, the backmarker team, to his father Lawrence’s Racing Point outfit for 2019. Many dismiss the 20-year-old Canadian as a […]
Month: March 2019
New ‘point for fastest lap’ rule criticised
Mar.14 (GMM) Figures in the F1 paddock have criticised a new rule that will grant an extra point to the driver who posts the fastest lap of each race. From 2019, if a driver finishes in the top ten, he will get an extra point if he also posts the fastest lap of the race. […]
Charlie Whiting dies in Melbourne
Mar.14 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has died in Melbourne. The long-serving FIA race director and official starter passed away in his Melbourne hotel room on Wednesday, just days before the 2019 season opener. The FIA and Liberty Media confirmed that he died of a pulmonary embolism. “I’m devastated,” said Ross Brawn, Liberty’s sporting boss. Whiting, who […]
Kvyat not ruling out Red Bull comeback
Mar.13 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not ruling out a shock return to Red Bull Racing. Dr Helmut Marko, the manager of the Red Bull driver programme, says the Russian driver’s return to Toro Rosso in 2019 is his “last chance” in F1. Indeed, Kvyat formerly had a meteoric rise to Red Bull Racing and an […]
Ricciardo refused to be no.2 to Verstappen – Hill
Mar.13 (GMM) 1996 world champion Damon Hill has backed Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull exit. Ricciardo’s Australian countryman Mark Webber said Ricciardo deciding to join Renault for 2019 was “weird”, but Hill says it actually reflects a deep desire to succeed. “He always has a massive grin on but deep down there is a burning desire […]
Podium drought may not end in 2019 – Hulkenberg
Mar.13 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg admits it is possible his podium drought could be extended even further in 2019. The German holds the ignominious record of being the longest-serving driver without a single podium. “I want to break this spell sooner rather than later,” the 31-year-old told SID news agency. Once an obvious star of the […]
Vettel ‘lacked support’ in 2018 – Rosberg
Mar.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel now has the support he needs to win the title for Ferrari. That is the belief of Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion. Another former F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, says the “biggest mistake” made by Ferrari last year was not giving Vettel “everything he wanted”. Rosberg agrees, telling Auto Bild that […]
‘Fully motivated’ Newey ‘barely sleeps’ – Marko
Mar.13 (GMM) Adrian Newey is back at “full throttle” in formula one. That is the news from Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko. In recent years, renowned but disillusioned F1 designer Newey has taken a step back from the sport. But Marko says the Honda collaboration has piqued Newey’s interest. “Our goal is to win […]
Verstappen ‘fairly relaxed’ for 2019 opener
Mar.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen has confirmed his boss’s view about his maturity and patience in 2019. Red Bull boss Dr Helmut Marko said the 21-year-old Dutchman, once seen as impetuous and overly aggressive, is now ready to be a title-winning driver. “I am generally fairly relaxed before the first race,” Verstappen told De Telegraaf as […]
Beating Michael’s records not easy for Hamilton – Ralf
Mar.13 (GMM) It will not be easy for Lewis Hamilton to break Michael Schumacher’s record tally of seven world championships. That is the view of Michael’s brother Ralf, who also raced in F1. Hamilton won his fifth world championship last year, and now many are expecting him to dislodge Schumacher as the most successful driver […]
Hard for Gasly in ‘Team Verstappen’ – Villeneuve
Mar.13 (GMM) Pierre Gasly needs to look good alongside Max Verstappen in 2019. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. In just his second season on the grid, Frenchman Gasly has replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull. “For Gasly, the only goal is to compare himself to Max Verstappen,” the Canadian […]
Giovinazzi must be careful early in 2019 – Trulli
Mar.13 (GMM) Another driver has urged Antonio Giovinazzi to take it steady in 2019. Days ago, Giancarlo Fisichella said his fellow Italian should “keep a margin in his pocket” when out on track with Alfa Romeo. “At least in the first races it is important not to retire or break the car,” said the former […]
Verstappen now mature and patient – Marko
Mar.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen has matured over the winter. That is the view of his boss at Red Bull, Dr Helmut Marko. With the departure of Daniel Ricciardo, 21-year-old Verstappen is now the clear team leader. “Max is still very young, but mature,” he told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper. “I already noticed it during the Barcelona […]
Todt wants two more teams in F1
Mar.13 (GMM) Jean Todt says he would like F1 to have two more teams. The FIA president admitted he is in talks with Liberty Media about tweaking the next Concorde Agreement so that new teams are able and encouraged to enter. “At the moment we have ten stable teams,” said the Frenchman. “As you know […]
Wolff ‘had eye on Ricciardo’ for 2019
Mar.13 (GMM) Only a spike in form for Valtteri Bottas last year ended Daniel Ricciardo’s 2019 talks with Mercedes. That is the admission of Toto Wolff. Ricciardo starts his new Renault adventure in earnest this weekend, but Mercedes chief Wolff admits he negotiated tentatively with the Australian last year. “We’ve always had an eye on […]
McLaren needs new team boss – Ecclestone
Mar.13 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says both Williams and McLaren need new management. The once-great F1 teams are now struggling, and former F1 supremo Ecclestone thinks the problem is the people in charge. “They are no longer in the hands of super competitive men like Ron Dennis and Frank Williams,” he told Corriere della Sera. “To […]
Ecclestone plays down F1 return rumours
Mar.13 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has played down suggestions he might make a return to formula one. The former F1 supremo may be 88, but his friend Christian Horner says: “You never know with him.” Ecclestone told Corriere della Sera: “It would be a mistake to go back, even if I had the chance. “Why should […]
Ricciardo ready to be beaten by Red Bull
Mar.13 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he knows his old team Red Bull is likely to beat him this weekend in Melbourne. The Australian has returned to his native country with new colours and a new goal — to help Renault join Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in the fight for wins and titles. “The battle […]
Wolff wants Lauda return ‘as soon as possible’
Mar.13 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he wants Niki Lauda to return to the paddock “as soon as possible”. F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Lauda has been absent ever since a 2018 lung transplant. “He was there partly as a crutch for Toto (Wolff) to lean on,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. Wolff has […]
Liberty admits finding F1 sponsors difficult
Mar.13 (GMM) Liberty Media bosses admit they thought it would be easier to attract sponsors to F1. Chase Carey, the new CEO, and Liberty chief Greg Maffei took over from Bernie Ecclestone believing they would quickly be able to monetise the new $8 billion acquisition. Actually, revenues are declining. “The perception was just there are […]