Apr.28 (GMM) Former Pirelli boss Paul Hembery has slammed F1’s “reckless” plan to get racing amid the corona crisis. With F1’s support, and now in coordination with the Austrian government, Red Bull is pushing hard to organise back-to-back race weekends without spectators at the Red Bull Ring. A similar plan is being hatched for Silverstone, […]
Month: April 2020
Government looking into F1 race return – Marko
Apr.28 (GMM) Red Bull’s enthusiasm about re-starting the stalled 2020 season is a “positive statement”, according to Dr Helmut Marko. F1 CEO Chase Carey is now saying he is “increasingly confident” that a plan to get racing without spectators can start in July. “All of our plans are subject to change as we still have […]
Baku and Russia want spectators at 2020 F1 races
Apr.27 (GMM) Both Azerbaijan – a former Soviet state – and Russia are hoping to host their respective Formula 1 races with spectators later in 2020. The Baku street race has already been postponed, and now the promoter is denying that the event could be rescheduled as a spectator-less ‘ghost race’. “We do not consider […]
Wolff says Hamilton to Aston Martin rumours ‘nonsense’
Apr.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists his new involvement with Aston Martin is a mere “personal financial investment”. The Mercedes boss is raising eyebrows and triggering widespread speculation after the transaction was recently revealed. In recent months, Wolff had become obviously close with Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll, who plans to re-name his Silverstone based team […]
Domenicali denies eyeing Binotto’s job
Apr.27 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has denied any suggestion he is shaping up to return to Ferrari. After failing to oversee a title since becoming team boss in 2008, the 54-year-old stepped down in 2014. He is currently CEO of the Italian sports car maker Lamborghini. Recent reports suggested that Ferrari chairman John Elkann had tapped […]
Ferrari retains power of veto – report
Apr.27 (GMM) Ferrari’s controversial veto remains intact, despite the FIA moving to make it easier to implement crucial rule changes amid the corona crisis. The FIA announced that because the crisis is “unparalleled”, a new measure will “overcome” the current requirement of total unanimity among the teams before rule changes are made. Now, only a […]
Schumacher plays down ‘reverse’ race idea
Apr.27 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has played down the possibility that F1 could fill in the gaps in a cobbled-together 2020 calendar with ‘reverse’ races. Charles Leclerc said last week that he likes the idea of heading to a circuit and racing on it several times – including in the opposite direction to normal. But former […]
Fan-less races ‘better than no races’ – Magnussen
Apr.27 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has confirmed reports that he and Haas teammate Romain Grosjean have agreed to pay-cuts amid the corona crisis. “It was our way of showing solidarity with the team,” he told BT newspaper. “That we were all in the same boat. And it was appreciated.” The Dane didn’t want to say by […]
‘Pay drivers’ could take over F1 seats – Magnussen
Apr.27 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says there is a risk drivers like him will be excluded from Formula 1 if the coronavirus changes the sport dramatically. Teams are scrambling merely to survive amid the current global lockdown, with F1 business journalist Christian Sylt reporting that the McLaren Group’s shareholders have just released an extra $370 million. […]
‘All requirements met’ for Austria plan – Marko
Apr.27 (GMM) Red Bull is pushing ahead with its plan for back-to-back spectator-less races in Austria held on consecutive weekends in July. “Two races, each on Sunday, on July 5 and 12,” Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko told public radio O3. Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner said it is a “positive target for the […]
Media should not be barred from ‘ghost races’
Apr.24 (GMM) It would be a mistake to lock the media out of any ‘ghost races’ that take place amid the corona crisis. That is the view of respected Auto Motor und Sport editor Michael Schmidt, who suspects that even the actual broadcasters may have to simply accept their exclusion from the races. “Imagine that […]
F1 eyes radical wind tunnel time idea
Apr.24 (GMM) F1 is reportedly considering a radical proposal to help smaller teams catch up with their bigger rivals. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the plan would involve restricting wind tunnel time for those teams who are doing the best in the constructors’ championship. “The first three would be allowed to use the wind […]
Circuit designer to try ‘virtual’ Zandvoort
Apr.24 (GMM) Having overseen Zandvoort’s transformation, circuit architect Jarno Zaffelli says will now have to try driving it – in the virtual world. Dutch GP promoters admit the country’s ban on mass events through September could mean that a grand prix is not held at all in 2020. “The entire circuit is ready – everything […]
‘Too early’ to contemplate 2021 drivers – Steiner
Apr.24 (GMM) It is “too early” to look ahead to Haas’ 2021 driver lineup, according to team boss Gunther Steiner. Both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean are out of contract at the end of 2020, but Steiner says he is currently preoccupied with the corona crisis. “I don’t even think about what is going to […]
Marko wants support races at 2020 Austria GP
Apr.24 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says the first F1 ‘ghost race’ in 2020 should also feature support events. Red Bull is central to F1’s plans to get racing again, as it owns the Austrian GP venue in Spielberg and the government is beginning to relax the country’s shutdown. “Austria as a country is starting to […]
Leclerc ‘happy’ if Vettel stays at Ferrari
Apr.24 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he would be “definitely happy” if Ferrari keeps Sebastian Vettel on board for 2021. It is rumoured that quadruple world champion Vettel has turned down Ferrari’s initial offer of a one-year contract extension with a big pay cut. Leclerc, though, said in a video interview: “I’m very happy with Seb, […]
Binotto ‘in denial’ over quit threat – Brown
Apr.24 (GMM) Ferrari has moved to downplay boss Mattia Binotto’s warning that the Maranello team could pull out of Formula 1. Binotto had warned that a reduction in the budget cap below $145 million could mean “having to look at other further options for deploying our racing DNA”. A Ferrari spokeswoman denied that the comment […]
Liberty admits ‘zero races’ possible in 2020
Apr.24 (GMM) Liberty Media has reshuffled its finances to free up a $1.4 billion fund to rescue Formula 1 amid the corona crisis. The F1 owner is quoted by Forbes’ F1 business journalist Christian Sylt as outlining how the complex transaction gives it the ability to use the money “for F1 in event of continued […]
Wolff hits reverse over budget cap – Marko
Apr.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff has “suddenly” hit reverse gear on a drastic reduction of the 2021 budget cap. That is the claim of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who said the Mercedes team boss was earlier a supporter of moves to significantly drive down the number amid the corona crisis. “A few weeks ago Wolff […]
Contract ‘review’ must precede audience-free French GP
Apr.23 (GMM) Paul Ricard would only be open to considering a race behind closed doors if F1 conducts a “review” of its contractual arrangement with the circuit. That is the view of Nicolas Deschaux, president of France’s motor racing authority Federation Francaise de Sport Automobile (FFSA). After the nine postponements and cancellations, France’s 28 June […]