Sep.6 (GMM) Ferrari is on the way to having “two number 1 drivers”, according to former president Luca di Montezemolo. Having been invited to attend Ferrari’s pre-Italian GP event in Milan, 72-year-old Montezemolo defended the under-fire Sebastian Vettel. Many in the Italian press say Charles Leclerc has now taken over from him as the team’s […]
Month: September 2019
Sainz tones down Renault rhetoric
Sep.6 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has toned down his rhetoric about McLaren’s engine supplier Renault. The Spaniard surprised the F1 paddock recently by saying he “expected more” from Renault in 2019. Then at Spa, both he and Lando Norris had engine problems, which Sainz called “unacceptable”. It triggered speculation McLaren is eyeing Williams’ customer deal with […]
Raikkonen supports return of F1 ‘warning’ flag
Sep.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has backed the return to Formula 1 of the black and white flag for unsportsmanlike behaviour. We reported at Spa that race director Michael Masi told the drivers during their briefing that they will more often be warned about driving infractions rather than instantly penalised. Then, during the race, the black […]
Father says Magnussen ‘in right place’ at Haas
Sep.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father says the Danish driver is in “the right place” at Haas. It is believed that Haas will shortly unveil Nico Hulkenberg as Magnussen’s next teammate, although the German may also be looking at the Alfa Romeo and Red Bull seats. Magnussen, though, has a firm 2020 contract at Haas, and […]
Hamilton to soon consider next F1 contract
Sep.5 (GMM) Ferrari was “even faster” than Lewis Hamilton expected at Spa last weekend. “We knew it would be tough after the break with Spa and Monza,” the championship leader told Sky Italia ahead of the Italian GP. “The Ferraris were even faster than I expected in Belgium, but in the end the race was […]
Vettel says ‘why not?’ to longer Ferrari future
Sep.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he might stay at Ferrari even beyond the end of his 2020 contract. It is a difficult period for the quadruple world champion, as he loses the faith of the influential Italian media and struggles to keep onto his number 1 status inside the Maranello team. Spa winner Charles Leclerc […]
Former Ferrari boss tips Vettel to hit back
Sep.4 (GMM) Ferrari’s former boss is tipping Sebastian Vettel to bounce back at Monza. It is expected that the Italian team will be very strong at its home race, and will even have an update of its already grid-leading engine in the luggage. “We plan to introduce our third power unit this weekend,” Ferrari confirmed. […]
Bratches’ F1 exit ‘imminent’ – source
Sep.4 (GMM) Sean Bratches looks set to leave Formula 1. The BBC has reported that while Liberty Media’s F1 CEO Chase Carey and sporting boss Ross Brawn are staying put, commercial chief Bratches is tipped to leave. Formula 1 declined to comment. But a source told us that an announcement could be “imminent”. “I have […]
Monza ‘very close’ to signing 2020 F1 contract
Sep.4 (GMM) Monza is now “very close” to cementing its place on the 2020 calendar. After a period of uncertainty, the Italian GP has now been given a race date on the provisional schedule that was published by Liberty Media recently. But Monza’s 6 September date included an asterisk next to it, warning that confirmation […]
No Alonso comeback in 2020 – de la Rosa
Sep.4 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa does not think Fernando Alonso will return to Formula 1 in 2020. Spaniard Alonso is suddenly back on the radar, as he will meet with McLaren officials at Monza to discuss the future. But is believed those talks will be focused on McLaren’s 2020 Indycar and Indy 500 projects. […]
Seidl unsure about Alonso contract situation
Sep.4 (GMM) Andreas Seidl has played down suggestions that Fernando Alonso will advance plans to return to Formula 1 this weekend at Monza. Recently, we quoted McLaren supremo Zak Brown as saying that he will “talk” to Alonso at Monza about the new Indycar project. “He is aware and we will talk about it at […]
Verstappen ‘almost better’ than Hamilton – Sainz
Sep.4 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has made a frank assessment of some of his rivals on the F1 grid. “Hamilton, I give a 9 or a 10,” the McLaren driver told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar. “Since Rosberg left, he’s been at a very high level with less pressure. Verstappen is almost better, but at Spa he […]
Salo defends Red Bull driver decisions
Sep.4 (GMM) Former F1 driver Mika Salo has defended Red Bull’s notorious driver development programme. Many in the paddock have criticised Dr Helmut Marko’s regime, saying the ‘junior team’ puts too much expectation on young drivers like Pierre Gasly before unceremoniously dropping them. “But don’t forget, they joined the programme deliberately — Red Bull gave […]
F2 fatality no risk to Spa future
Sep.3 (GMM) Spa Francorchamps will make circuit modifications before F1’s return to Belgium in 2020. The news comes as both Belgian authorities and F1’s governing FIA launch investigations into the death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert. The Belgian police investigation concerns the “involuntary manslaughter” of French driver Hubert, even though such a probe is […]
Binotto denies Vettel now number 2 driver
Sep.3 (GMM) Team boss Mattia Binotto has denied that Sebastian Vettel is now Ferrari’s number 2 driver. His denial comes after the Italian media said Charles Leclerc’s first win at Spa last Sunday marked a turning point in the Ferrari hierarchy. “Vettel must clear the way for Leclerc,” declared La Repubblica newspaper. Corriere dello Sport […]
Giovanazzi future in doubt once again
Sep.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi’s future is suddenly under a dark cloud once again. Prior to Sunday’s Belgian GP, we reported that the struggling Italian’s Alfa Romeo seat for 2020 no longer seemed in such danger. “In my view, he is not under pressure,” team boss Frederic Vasseur said. But the race at Spa Francorchamps then […]
Schumacher needs another F2 season – Domenicali
Sep.3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should spend another season in Formula 2. That is the view of Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali, who worked closely with Mick’s father Michael Schumacher during his ultra-successful Ferrari career. A rumour is doing the rounds suggesting that Alfa Romeo could oust Antonio Giovinazzi at the end of the year, with Ferrari […]
Ricciardo expects to ‘learn’ from Ocon
Sep.3 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he welcomes the arrival of a new teammate for 2020. Renault has decided to oust Nico Hulkenberg and replace him with Esteban Ocon, the current Mercedes reserve driver who will remain managed by Toto Wolff next year. “It’s a huge opportunity for me to work with such a big manufacturer […]
Honda must help solve poor race starts – Verstappen
Sep.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Red Bull-Honda has to improve the way his car gets off the line at the start of races. The Dutchman says the start procedure hasn’t changed in his four seasons with the team, but what has changed for 2019 is the success of his getaways. “We are struggling this year […]
McLaren eyeing return to Mercedes power – report
Sep.3 (GMM) McLaren could be looking to return to Mercedes power. Days ago, Carlos Sainz surprised some in the paddock by saying he “expected more” from Renault’s latest engine upgrade. “There have been three engine evolutions,” he said. “I didn’t notice the first or the second ones either.” Then at Spa, both Sainz and Lando […]