Jun.28 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has played down rumours he is first in line for Pierre Gasly’s job at Red Bull. Dr Helmut Marko says Gasly’s place is safe for the rest of 2019, but it is clear the Frenchman is struggling alongside Max Verstappen. “I am adapting myself to the car but the team is […]
Month: June 2019
Hamilton takes back comments about Wolff for CEO
Jun.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has rapidly rowed back his comments about Toto Wolff’s rumoured candidacy for the top job in Formula 1. Earlier this week, the five time world champion said his boss at Mercedes may not make a good replacement for F1 CEO Chase Carey because he could be “biased”. “It would be best […]
F1 could change rules for 2020 – Masi
Jun.27 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi says the sport’s authorities could consider changes to the sporting regulations for 2020. The time penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in Canada caused a fan and media furore, triggering suggestions Formula 1 must make urgent rule changes. “We have regulations that are valid for the whole season […]
Steiner plays down Haas driver change rumours
Jun.27 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down speculation Haas will have a change of drivers for 2020. The American team seems happy with Kevin Magnussen, but rumours suggest Romain Grosjean could be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, or Robert Kubica. But team boss Steiner told AS newspaper that Haas is happy with its drivers. […]
Hartley is reserve driver for two F1 teams
Jun.27 (GMM) Brendon Hartley is now the reserve driver for not one but two Formula 1 teams. Ousted by Toro Rosso at the end of last year, the New Zealander has been signed up to replace Fernando Alonso in Toyota’s Le Mans programme. “My future with Toyota is amazing. That was landing on my feet,” […]
F1’s real battle is behind top three teams
Jun.27 (GMM) With Mercedes running away from Ferrari and Red Bull at the front, a fascinating battle for fourth place in 2019 is shaping up. Currently occupying that fourth place in the constructors’ championship is McLaren. “We had a meeting with them and they themselves were a bit surprised at their level of performance,” Cyril […]
Schumacher admits second F2 season possible
Jun.27 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is prepared to do a second season in Formula 2. The son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher arrived in the feeder series this year as the reigning European F3 champion, but only after a mid-year resurgence in his second year in the category. And now, after moving into Formula […]
‘No intention’ of axing Gasly – Marko
Jun.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull has “no intention” of axing Pierre Gasly. Gasly arrived from Toro Rosso this year to replace Daniel Ricciardo, but has struggled to get up to speed alongside Max Verstappen. Franz Tost, the Toro Rosso boss, told the German podcast meinsportpodcast that Daniil Kvyat would make a good […]
Marko urges Honda to take ‘more risk’
Jun.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is urging Honda to take “more risk” in order to produce a more powerful engine for Red Bull. Amid rumours the team could lose him to Mercedes, Max Verstappen said the 2019 Red Bull package is “not bad” but must take “a big step with the engine”. Marko said Red […]
Hamilton warns Liberty against Silverstone axe
Jun.27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has warned Liberty Media that dropping Silverstone would be a very bad idea. Historic Silverstone, the scene of the first ever world championship race, is in danger of losing the British grand prix after cancelling its contract post-2019 for financial reasons. World champion Hamilton praised Liberty for concluding new race deals […]
Refuelling return would not fix F1 – Horner
Jun.26 (GMM) F1 figures are not very enthusiastic about the idea of bringing refuelling back to the sport. With Mercedes utterly dominating, many are wondering how Formula 1 should be spiced up ahead of the sweeping rule reforms for 2021. Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, a former sponsor of Valtteri Bottas, told the Finnish media that he thinks […]
Wolff optimistic of finding seat for Ocon
Jun.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is “very optimistic” Esteban Ocon will return to the F1 grid next year. Ocon lost his race seat at Force India at the end of last year when Lawrence Stroll bought the team and signed up his son Lance. Ocon, a 22-year-old Frenchman, is now Mercedes’ reserve driver but […]
Zandvoort boss plays down Dutch GP doubts
Jun.26 (GMM) Zandvoort boss Robert van Overdijk has played down concerns about the circuit’s place on the 2020 calendar. Although a contract between the promoter and Liberty Media has been signed, Pirelli is not keen on Zandvoort’s plans for an 18-degree banked corner. And it is believed the race only has provisional status for 2020 […]
Vettel insider plays down F1 quit rumours
Jun.26 (GMM) A figure who is very close to Sebastian Vettel has played down reports the Ferrari driver is poised to quit Formula 1. For years, Peter Burger has produced the four-time world champion’s famous helmet designs. Vettel, 31, is not just struggling to beat Mercedes in 2019, he is also being challenged for status […]
Sao Paulo not giving up on Brazil GP
Jun.26 (GMM) The governor of Sao Paulo is not giving up on the Brazilian grand prix. Earlier this week, F1 CEO Chase Carey met with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who declared the chance of Rio de Janeiro hosting a grand prix in 2021 at “99 per cent”. But Carey has now travelled to Sao Paulo, […]
Renault has ‘one of the best engines’ – Prost
Jun.26 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost says Renault now has “one of the best engines in Formula 1”. At the end of last year, Renault and top-three F1 team Red Bull parted ways. Renault now has a single customer, McLaren, in addition to its works team. And 2019 did not start very well. “The beginning […]
Vasseur not ruling out top job at Ferrari
Jun.26 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur is not ruling out a future as Ferrari team boss. After the 2018 season, the Maranello team ousted Maurizio Arrivabene and promoted new team principal Mattia Binotto. Binotto has been welcomed as a smart engineer and manager who is much more open with the media. But the effort to catch and […]
Wolff, Hamilton, also want ‘more exciting races’
Jun.26 (GMM) Mercedes’ increasing dominance of Formula 1 is now leading to “internet hate”. That is the concerned view of team boss Toto Wolff, who said Sebastian Vettel’s controversial penalty in Canada recently led to a spate of online abuse. “It’s good to polarise,” the Mercedes chief is quoted by Blick newspaper. “You can argue […]
Ferrari recovery to take ‘months’ – insider
Jun.26 (GMM) A Mercedes engineer thinks it could take Ferrari “months” to alter the basic concept of its 2019 car. Ferrari started the season with high hopes of finally breaking Mercedes’ dominant grip on Formula 1 thanks to a fundamental change in the front wing rules. But it is the Mercedes concept that has ultimately […]
Latest Gasly axe reports ‘a false rumour’ – Marko
Jun.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied speculation Red Bull is preparing to oust struggling driver Pierre Gasly. Frenchman Gasly, 23, was promoted to replace Daniel Ricciardo at the senior Red Bull team but has notably struggled alongside Max Verstappen. Team boss Christian Horner even admitted to feeling personal “frustration” about Gasly’s lacklustre performance in […]