Feb.5 (GMM) Haas’ 2020 car should be “clearly better” than its predecessor, according to team driver Kevin Magnussen. The small American team had a promising start to 2019, but spent most of the season pointing fingers at Pirelli’s difficult-to-understand tyres. However, as it slumped to second to last in the standings, Haas eventually admitted that […]
Month: February 2020
Magnussen eyes F1 future with ‘big teams’
Feb.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen admits he still dreams of being signed up by “one of the big teams” in Formula 1. The Dane admits he uses his aggressive driving style to stand out from Haas teammate Romain Grosjean in order to get closer to his target of race wins and titles. “It’s a tough process,” […]
Netflix put F1 ‘on the map’ in US – Ricciardo
Feb.5 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says the Netflix series about Formula 1, Drive to Survive, has put the sport “on the map” in America. Last year, the high quality streaming series gave a behind-the-scenes look at the major players in the sport. The second series launches on Netflix on February 28. “I definitely feel F1 is […]
No news about F1 return to Jerez until ‘May or June’
Feb.4 (GMM) F1’s return to Jerez for 2021 is still on the cards. Spain is still on the 2020 schedule, but only because Barcelona received an eleventh-hour reprieve in the form of a single-year deal. We reported last November that Jerez, the scene of the climactic finale of the 1997 season, is in talks with […]
Hamilton strong but ‘beatable’ – Briatore
Feb.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton can be beaten if a rival manages to “put pressure on him”, according to former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore. Since Nico Rosberg’s 2016 breakthrough, Hamilton won three world championships on the trot to add to his existing tally of three titles. “Lewis is very good,” Red Bull-Honda’s Max Verstappen said […]
Russia says no F1 date swap with China
Feb.4 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are set to discuss how to handle the deepening coronavirus crisis. As the epidemic’s death toll rises to 425 and the number of cases to above 20,000, we reported on Monday that delaying April’s Shanghai race is on the table. But Russia has played down the possibility of swapping places […]
Verstappen to be more diplomatic in 2020 – Marko
Feb.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen has learned the need to sometimes be more diplomatic when speaking publicly, according to his boss Dr Helmut Marko. The outspoken Dutchman caused a stir on several occasions in 2019, notably when he admitted to ignoring yellow flags in Mexico, and when he accused Ferrari of cheating. “Such an attitude fits […]
Giovinazzi sees ‘chance’ of Ferrari seat
Feb.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says he has “a chance” to become Charles Leclerc’s next teammate at Ferrari. With Sebastian Vettel’s deal with the Maranello team expiring, Lewis Hamilton has been linked with the vacant seat alongside Leclerc. But Giovinazzi, a Ferrari-backed Italian driver who currently races for Alfa Romeo, also sees himself as a candidate. […]
Paul Ricard eyes 2021 winter testing
Feb.3 (GMM) French GP venue Paul Ricard says it would like to host F1’s pre-season testing early next year. The six days of official winter running kicks off later this month at the now-customary pre-season venue in Barcelona. But Paul Ricard circuit director Stephane Clair told f1only.fr: “We are candidates to host the winter tests. […]
New $26m per year sponsor deal for Mercedes
Feb.3 (GMM) On the eve of the 2020 season, six-time consecutive world champion Mercedes has reportedly secured a $26m per year sponsorship deal. At Christmas, the German team announced a new “performance partnership” with the Ineos-branded Tour de France and America’s Cup teams. Now, the Financial Times reports that Ineos, a major British chemicals company […]
F1 still ‘very profitable’ for Mercedes – CEO
Feb.3 (GMM) Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius has continued to play down rumours that Mercedes will no longer operate as a full works team in Formula 1 after 2020. He had already declared that speculation a bombshell decision will be made at a board meeting on February 12 is “not truer”. And now he is quoted […]
No Red Bull return for Vettel – Marko
Feb.3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has all but ruled out a return to Red Bull for Sebastian Vettel. While his own Ferrari contract runs out this year, Vettel’s teammate Charles Leclerc has been re-signed through 2024. So it was interesting that at the recent Kitzbuhel skiing world cup event, Vettel – who won all four […]
New ‘double diffuser’ likely in 2021 – Green
Feb.3 (GMM) Racing Point technical boss Andy Green is expecting a surprise innovation like the ‘double diffuser’ of 2009 to affect Formula 1 once again in 2021. He admitted to Auto Motor und Sport that all teams will be scouring the new regulations for grey areas to exploit. “I think the regulations are pretty fragile. […]
F1 looking to delay 2020 China GP
Feb.3 (GMM) F1 appears poised to delay April’s Chinese GP. The sport’s governing FIA has announced that the Formula E race in the coronavirus-struck country, scheduled for 21 March, has been cancelled. “Formula E has taken the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of its travelling staff, championship participants and spectators, which remains […]
Honda vetoes Alonso’s Indy 500 deal
Feb.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s plans to contest his third Indy 500 this May are reportedly in tatters. We reported last week that the Spaniard had agreed to make his latest attempt to complete the ‘triple crown’ with Michael Andretti’s top outfit. An announcement was apparently imminent, but new reports indicate that the deal has now […]