Dec.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father should wave the traditional chequered flag at Zandvoort next year. That is the view of Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers, as it was suggested that he should be honoured with the flag-waving duties for his part in bringing F1 back to Holland. The question was asked of former F1 driver […]
Month: December 2019
Berger backs Ferrari’s ‘alpha driver’ lineup
Dec.9 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has backed Ferrari’s controversial driver lineup. Some believe Charles Leclerc has thrown quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel’s entire F1 career into doubt with his performance and attitude in 2019. The pair also clashed in Brazil, and Berger – once the great Ayrton Senna’s teammate – says it is clear that Leclerc […]
‘No signature’ for Liberty Media yet – Marko
Dec.9 (GMM) Chase Carey wants the teams to sign up for the new Concorde Agreement “as soon as possible”. The F1 CEO’s comments coincide with reports that Mercedes had secret talks with Liberty Media at the FIA prize-winning gala. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko confirmed to Kronen Zeitung that talks are still taking place. “There […]
Villeneuve doubts Honda can win 2020 title
Dec.9 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve does not think Red Bull-Honda can win the 2020 title. A lot is riding on the team’s performance next year, as Max Verstappen will be out of contract and Honda is yet to commit to F1 beyond 2021. Outspoken 1997 world champion Villeneuve says Red Bull has a “great car”, but […]
Verstappen admits 2021 ‘opportunities’
Dec.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted there may be “opportunities” for a move to another team for 2021. At the FIA prize-giving gala, the futures of the Dutch driver as well as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff continued to be hot topics. “Of course we want to know what each other’s plans are,” […]
Vegan Hamilton admits 5kg weight gain
Dec.9 (GMM) New six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted he put on 5 kilograms this year. The Mercedes driver is an ardent supporter of veganism, telling the Malaysian magazine The Edge that it helps him to be a better athlete. “I often see messages on my Instagram saying ‘I need my protein because I […]
Webber questions Bottas ‘hunger’
Dec.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas may be lacking the “hunger” to beat Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. That is the view of Mark Webber, who told Britain’s Channel 4 that 2019 was “a tough season” for the Finn. Bottas has kicked off the winter season by winning an asphalt rally at Paul Ricard. He is not ruling […]
Ricciardo ‘did not make Renault better’ – Mol
Dec.9 (GMM) A respected F1 commentator has questioned the contribution to Renault made so far by Daniel Ricciardo. After a disappointing first season for the French team’s high-profile signing, Renault has now ousted its long time chassis technical boss Nick Chester. “The progress we have made on the engine is clear,” boss Cyril Abiteboul is […]
Hanoi circuit ’80pc ready’ for F1 debut
Dec.9 (GMM) Vietnam GP organisers say they will be ready for the inaugural F1 race in Hanoi. Although Hermann Tilke’s organisation is currently still working on the circuit, Vietnam GP CEO Le Ngoc Chi tells France’s Auto Hebdo: “We are 80 per cent ready.” She said work is currently taking place on the grandstands, the […]
Racing Point admits interest in Kubica
Dec.9 (GMM) Racing Point has admitted its interest in signing Robert Kubica for 2020. Earlier, it was thought the former Williams driver looked likely to take his sponsor PKN Orlen to a development and reserve role at Haas. But now Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer has admitted he also wants Kubica, who turned 35 on […]
Kubica admits wanting 2020 DTM seat
Dec.6 (GMM) Robert Kubica has admitted he wants to race in the German touring car series DTM next year. BMW has announced that the newly-departed Williams driver will test the car at the young driver test at Jerez next week. “I can well imagine a future in the DTM,” Pole Kubica, who could combine a […]
Hamilton, Wolff started Ferrari switch rumour – Antonini
Dec.6 (GMM) Former Ferrari spokesman Alberto Antonini suspects the rumour about Lewis Hamilton potentially switching to Ferrari was started by the six-time world champion himself. Journalist Antonini, who headed Ferrari’s press office until early this year, was referring to La Gazzetta dello Sport’s recent story about Hamilton meeting twice with Ferrari chairman John Elkann. Antonini […]
Gazprom denies plans to become F1 sponsor
Dec.6 (GMM) Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has denied reports that it is poised to re-enter Formula 1 as a sponsor. It was reported this week that Gazprom, a former Minardi sponsor last decade, was poised to back either Renault or Toro Rosso to the tune of EUR 35 million beginning next year. Russian driver […]
Red Bull prepared to protest Ferrari in 2020 – Marko
Dec.6 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Ferrari’s EUR 50,000 penalty for the fuel infringement in Abu Dhabi as “a joke”. The Red Bull-Honda official admitted that he spread the news about the FIA’s investigation into the incorrect fuel load declared by Ferrari prior to the race last Sunday “so that things are not swept […]
Kosachenko slams ‘Formula 2 team’ Williams
Dec.6 (GMM) Oksana Kosachenko, the former manager of Russian driver Vitaly Petrov, has slammed the struggling British team Williams. Williams not only finished dead last in 2019, the famous motor racing name was a long way off the pace of the next-fastest competitor and regularly criticised by its own driver Robert Kubica. “In my opinion, […]
Webber tips Hamilton to pip young rivals in 2020
Dec.6 (GMM) Mark Webber does not think the Ferrari or Red Bull-Honda drivers can beat Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to the 2020 title. Most pundits, including the former 9-time grand prix winner Webber, believe next year will be hotly contested between all three top teams. “Provided Leclerc and Vettel can score points at least regularly, I […]
Schumacher targets F2 title, F1 debut in 2021
Dec.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he understands that Formula 1 will be the toughest assignment of his career. Former driver and now F1 commentator Christian Danner said this week that while the 20-year-old son of legend Michael Schumacher wanted to make his debut in 2020, he first needs to “improve a lot”. Schumacher will instead […]
Renault has ‘strongest engine’ in F1 – Abiteboul
Dec.6 (GMM) Renault has “the strongest engine” in Formula 1, according to team boss Cyril Abiteboul. That is despite the fact that some in the paddock think the French manufacturer has actually fallen behind the ever-improving Honda. But Abiteboul told Auto Motor und Sport that Renault has made big progress too. “According to our measurements, […]
Catching top teams will take ‘a while’ – Brown
Dec.6 (GMM) Boss Zak Brown says McLaren wants to “close the gap” to the top three F1 teams in 2020. The Woking based team’s supremo admitted he was surprised to beat rivals like Renault, which is McLaren’s engine supplier, to fourth overall this year. “We were hoping, but we did not necessarily expect it,” Brown […]
No official comment on Stroll-Aston Martin rumours
Dec.6 (GMM) No official comment is yet to be made amid rumours Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll also wants to take over the struggling British carmaker Aston Martin. Reports suggest Canadian billionaire Stroll, the father of team driver Lance Stroll, is leading a consortium that is eyeing Aston Martin and intends to re-brand his F1 […]