Jul.13 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit out at the sporting clashes that will come to a head on Sunday. On British GP race day, other major sporting finals including the cricket world cup, Wimbledon and a hill stage of the Tour de France will also take place. “I don’t understand why the organisers put the […]
Month: July 2019
Schumacher ‘communication’ not the same – Todt
Jul.13 (GMM) Jean Todt has admitted that “communication” with Michael Schumacher is now compromised. More than five years after the seven time world champion’s French skiing accident, almost nothing is known about the extent of Schumacher’s brain damage. His former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, for example, has been forbidden from visiting the great German at […]
Pirelli tyres struggle on new Silverstone surface
Jul.13 (GMM) Pirelli’s controversial 2019 tyres are getting a special workout this weekend at Silverstone. The British GP venue has been completely resurfaced, following problems with an earlier resurfacing and the cancellation of the MotoGP race last year. But the new surface’s debut on Friday saw the F1 drivers struggle with extreme and highly visible […]
Designer Resta returning to Ferrari – source
Jul.13 (GMM) Ferrari’s former chief designer is returning to the Maranello team. Mid last year, it emerged that Simone Resta would move to the new Ferrari-linked Alfa Romeo project. But as Ferrari’s 2019 campaign faltered, rumours began to emerge that Resta could be returning to Italy. “We are evaluating for Simone to be back at […]
Williams upgrade ‘doesn’t change much’ – Kubica
Jul.13 (GMM) Claire Williams says Robert Kubica remains an important part of the British team. In recent days and weeks, there have been reports that the disgruntled and underperforming Pole might quit or be ousted after Spa in September. “I don’t know where this speculation has come from but in the past couple of weeks […]
Seidl denies rescuing McLaren from debacle
Jul.13 (GMM) Andreas Seidl has denied that his arrival was the key to McLaren’s surge in 2019 form. The German, who is best known for leading Porsche’s ultra successful Le Mans team, started work at Woking on May 1. Before that, McLaren had gone through the disastrous Honda era, hosted the demise of Fernando Alonso’s […]
Haas title sponsor could be bankrupted
Jul.13 (GMM) Haas’ disruptive and highly controversial title sponsor could be wound up. Rich Energy, an elusive British energy drink, has been hogging the headlines this weekend as an internal battle for control of the company became highly public. “We were briefed that there was a … an incident,” driver Kevin Magnussen told BT newspaper. […]
2021 rules will decide Vettel’s F1 future
Jul.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he wants to know the details of the 2021 rules before re-committing to Formula 1. The 32-year-old German’s Ferrari contract runs out at the end of next year, but he has even been tipped to announce his retirement before then. “I want to see exactly what the future regulations look […]
Todt wants F1 to bring back refuelling
Jul.13 (GMM) Jean Todt says he is an advocate for the potential return of refuelling in Formula 1. Refuelling was banned in 2010, for strategy and safety reasons. But Todt, the FIA president, said reintroducing refuelling would be a good way to address the common complaint about the cars becoming increasingly heavy. It would also […]
Horner plays down F1 top job rumours
Jul.13 (GMM) Christian Horner has played down speculation he might be in the running to replace Chase Carey as F1’s post-2020 chief executive. Liberty Media’s 65-year-old Carey, however, is not fuelling the retirement talk. “What, just retire?” he told the Daily Mail. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff is the big name linked with the sport’s top job, […]
McLaren would release Alonso for 2020 return
Jul.13 (GMM) McLaren will “support” Fernando Alonso’s potential return to Formula 1 next year. That is the claim of Zak Brown, the McLaren supremo who recently denied that the British team has split with Alonso as a brand ambassador. However, McLaren has re-signed Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz for 2020, meaning that if Alonso does […]
Williams admits struggling Kubica ‘frustrated’
Jul.12 (GMM) In the midst of its awful 2019 season, Williams is looking ahead to the future. The once-great British team has been easily dead last at every grand prix so far this year, but there are crucial new parts mounted on the car at Silverstone. “They’re on the car to show us which way […]
Vettel not keen on ‘fancy’ London GP
Jul.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has suggested that Formula 1 should scrap its plans to take the sport to the city of London. On the eve of the British GP, the Ferrari driver admitted that Silverstone’s new five-year race contract is “fabulous news” for Formula 1. “I am happy that we are staying here and keeping […]
Ferrari has ‘found answers’ to problems – Vettel
Jul.12 (GMM) Ferrari’s 2019 title challenge appears to be slipping away, but the Italian team insists it is making steady progress. Sebastian Vettel told reporters at Silverstone that he has not yet written off his chances of winning the world championship. But boss Mattia Binotto has already warned that the 2019 car is not suited […]
Red Bull pushed Honda for power boost – Verstappen
Jul.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has fended off a question about his future by saying Red Bull and Honda need to keep making “progress”. The Dutchman stopped Mercedes’ eight-race run of victory in 2019 by winning in Austria, despite speculation he could quit the team thanks to a performance clause in his contract. “Yes, we made […]
Monza on verge of new five-year F1 contract
Jul.12 (GMM) Monza is now on the cusp of sealing its place on the 2020 F1 calendar. There had been doubts about the future not only of Monza, but also another historic venue on the current calendar, Silverstone. A new British GP deal until 2024 has now been announced, and Italian GP boss Angelo Sticchi […]
Contract news no surprise to Sainz
Jul.12 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not surprised that he is staying put at McLaren for 2020. Ending speculation that Fernando Alonso might return, the British team announced that Sainz and Lando Norris will remain next year. Norris has signed a new two-year contract. “It’s a big load off my shoulders,” the 19-year-old Briton […]
Lehto tips Bottas to keep Mercedes seat
Jul.12 (GMM) Former F1 driver JJ Lehto thinks Valtteri Bottas could keep his race seat at Mercedes. Earlier, former Lotus boss Matthew Carter said he has heard from “sources” that Mercedes reserve Esteban Ocon will replace Bottas for 2020. But Lehto told Iltalehti newspaper: “Valtteri has done such a good job that I see the […]
Refugees found in Ferrari team truck
Jul.12 (GMM) Two refugees were discovered hiding in a Ferrari team truck when it arrived at Silverstone for the British GP. “Two men were detained by Northamptonshire police on Wednesday night after being found in the back of a truck at the Silverstone Circuit,” local police told the German newspaper Bild. “They were arrested on […]
Kvyat ‘calm’ amid Gasly speculation
Jul.12 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat insists he is “calm” amid speculation about Pierre Gasly’s future at Red Bull. With Gasly struggling at the senior team, boss Christian Horner told the media this week that the Frenchman needs to do a “control-alt-delete” reset. “What I listen to is what is said inside when we are together at […]