May 22 (GMM) Circuit de Catalunya boss Joan Fontsere rates the chances of a Spanish GP next year at “90 per cent”. That is despite the fact that Zandvoort, having inked a deal for a 2020 Dutch GP, looks certain to take Barcelona’s May date on next year’s calendar. Fontsere, the Barcelona circuit director, does […]
Month: May 2019
Alonso rejected move to ‘buy’ Indy 500 seat
May 22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso rejected McLaren boss Zak Brown’s desire to “buy” a seat for the Spaniard in Sunday’s Indy 500. The British marque is embarrassed to have failed to qualify for the fabled race with its own entry. “Fernando has done nothing wrong,” the Associated Press quoted Brown as saying on Monday. “He […]
Dutch GP to be definite sell-out
May 22 (GMM) The Dutch GP next year will definitely be a sell-out. That is not just a guess based on Max Verstappen’s popularity, but because a staggering 500,000 people have already registered for tickets that are not yet on sale. Formal ticket registration will only begin next week. The Zandvoort race’s spokesman Jan Lammers […]
Lauda ‘not suffering anymore’ – Ecclestone
May 22 (GMM) Although Niki Lauda once said he has no real friends, plenty of them are paying emotional tribute to the inimitable F1 legend this week. “Niki always had his own opinion,” an emotional Bernie Ecclestone told Blick newspaper. “And that is very rare in Formula 1.” The former F1 supremo said he visited […]
‘Clear’ that Lauda would die – doctor
May 22 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s surgeon says it has been “clear for some time” that the F1 legend would not recover. Lauda, who had a lung transplant last year, died this week at the age of 70. The tributes have been almost unprecedented. “The idea of not seeing his red cap in the paddock again […]
Tilke involved in Rio’s F1 project for 2021
May 21 (GMM) Hermann Tilke, the renowned F1 circuit architect, is in charge of the layout for the new project in Rio de Janeiro. Strongly backed by new Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, a new track named after Ayrton Senna looks set to replace Interlagos as the 2021 Brazil GP host. However, Interlagos – in Sao […]
McLaren not giving up on Indy – Brown
May 21 (GMM) McLaren’s grand plans to conquer the Indianapolis 500 and the world of Indycar more generally are in tatters. Fernando Alonso quit F1 last year, but together with McLaren he returned to Indianapolis for 2019 to complete his ‘triple crown’ project. However, on Sunday, the McLaren-Alonso entry failed merely to qualify for the […]
Sirotkin insists Williams did not ‘get rid of’ him
May 21 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he left Williams at the end of last year following a “mutual decision”. The once-great British team was already struggling in 2018, when Russian Sirotkin was the race driver. But a few days ago, the 23-year-old – now Renault’s reserve driver and set to help develop Pirelli’s 18-inch tyres […]
Niki Lauda dies
May 21 (GMM) F1 legend Niki Lauda has died. On Monday, we reported that Mercedes’ 70-year-old team chairman had left rehabilitation after his 2018 lung transplant surgery in order to receive kidney dialysis at a private clinic in Switzerland. “With deep sadness, we announce that our beloved Niki has peacefully passed away with his family […]
Return of ‘old school’ Dutch GP ‘great’ – Todt
May 21 (GMM) Jean Todt says Zandvoort’s return to Formula 1 next year is “great” for the sport. The Netherlands’ beachside circuit last hosted the Dutch GP in 1985, and it was the late Niki Lauda’s final F1 win. FIA president Todt visited Zandvoort last weekend for the Jumbo Racedagen event, where local hero Max […]
Debate brewing over standard parts for 2021
May 21 (GMM) A controversy is brewing over whether standardised parts should be introduced in F1. It started with gearboxes, wheels and brakes, but now the FIA has issued new tenders for a range of parts in the cars’ fuel systems for 2021. But Haas boss Gunther Steiner, whose team buys a range of parts […]
Bottas ‘more complete’ than Rosberg – Montoya
May 21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is a “more complete” driver than 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg. That is the view of former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who has been impressed with Bottas’ form so far in 2019 alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. “Valtteri Bottas is a more complete driver than Nico Rosberg,” the Colombian […]
Another health setback for Lauda
May 20 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s push to return to good health and the F1 paddock has suffered yet another setback. Osterreich newspaper reports that the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman is currently receiving kidney dialysis treatment at a private clinic in Switzerland. It follows an earlier setback for the 70-year-old in the wake of […]
Steiner predicts ‘compromise’ rules for 2021
May 20 (GMM) Two F1 experts are worried the sport is about to mess up the big opportunity of the new Concorde Agreement for 2021. Officials have spoken about grand plans including new rules, better governance and income distribution, lower costs and more exciting cars. But Auto Motor und Sport claims that although a delay […]
Mercedes ‘more superior than ever’ – Marko
May 20 (GMM) Mercedes has never been more dominant in F1. That is the view of Red Bull team official Dr Helmut Marko, who said the recent post Spanish GP test in Barcelona was a perfect example of Mercedes’ superiority. In the test, Nikita Mazepin – whose father is a billionaire – was fastest at […]
Kubica admits he wants ‘better results’
May 20 (GMM) Robert Kubica insists he does not regret returning to Formula 1. That is despite the fact that, just five races into his first season since sustaining permanent arm injuries in 2011, rumours of Kubica’s demise are now beginning. Sergey Sirotkin said he would gladly take his Williams cockpit back, and new team […]
Coulthard says Ferrari right to oust Raikkonen
May 20 (GMM) Ferrari did the right thing in ending Sebastian Vettel’s “stress free phase” with the Maranello team, according to David Coulthard. For 2019, Ferrari replaced Vettel’s preferred teammate Kimi Raikkonen with the young charger Charles Leclerc. Coulthard told Auto Bild that it ramped up the pressure for Vettel. “Charles does what he has […]
Father suggests Verstappen considering Red Bull exit
May 20 (GMM) Jos Verstappen has hinted that his son Max may not stay at Red Bull beyond his 2020 contract. Max, 21, is the clear number 1 at the team but his father Jos, a former F1 driver, suggested a move to another team cannot be ruled out. “As it looks now, it is […]
McLaren set to lose Petrobras backing
May 20 (GMM) McLaren looks set to lose a major sponsor. The Brazilian state run oil company Petrobras signed a five-year, $200 million deal with the Woking based team last year. But a new Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, was sworn in this year, and he has announced that the McLaren-Petrobras collaboration will end. “At the […]
Haas team orders to be decided by bosses – Magnussen
May 17 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he isn’t sure if Haas will impose team orders on its two race drivers. In Barcelona, Magnussen clashed on track with his teammate Romain Grosjean, and a furious team boss Steiner seemed to blame Magnussen. On the radio, Steiner told Magnussen: “Kevin, the first one to come and see […]