Jun.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas could win the 2020 world championship by beating just “one driver”. That is the view of Mika Hakkinen, the retired double world champion who remains involved in the management of his fellow Finn’s career. “I’ve seen Valtteri’s development and passionate dedication to the work,” the 51-year-old told Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. “He […]
Month: June 2020
Shutdown could shake up F1 hierarchy – Hakkinen
Jun.11 (GMM) Experienced drivers in smaller teams may benefit the most from F1’s long coronavirus shutdown period, according to Mika Hakkinen. The sport is currently counting down the days before the first ‘ghost races’ of the badly corona-affected 2020 season get underway. When the engines fire in Austria, it will be seven months since the […]
Only 10 journalists to attend first ‘ghost races’
Jun.11 (GMM) A very minimal number of media representatives will be permitted to attend the first ‘ghost races’ in Austria and Hungary next month. Those with permanent FIA media passes have been informed that the FIA will select the initial group of ten that will be confined to the Red Bull Ring’s media centre. The […]
Bottas says Mercedes ‘not considering’ Vettel
Jun.11 (GMM) Mercedes is “not considering” signing up Sebastian Vettel for 2021. That is the claim of Valtteri Bottas, who would presumably have been the victim of the Ferrari refugee’s switch to silver. When asked about the speculation, the Finn told Sky: “It’s the same as every year for me. “I find it quite funny […]
Norris ‘glad’ to lose followers over politics
Jun.11 (GMM) Lando Norris says he faced a backlash among his social media followers after wading into the current political moment. At the tail end of the corona crisis, and amid widespread protests and racial tension, the McLaren driver heeded Lewis Hamilton’s call for his fellow drivers to publicly support the Black Lives Matter movement. […]
Report names three potential Williams buyers
Jun.10 (GMM) Three names are in the fray as potential buyers for the struggling F1 backmarker Williams. That is the claim of Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport, reporting that 2020 race driver Nicholas Latifi’s wealthy father is the frontrunner. Correspondent Mario Salvini says Michael Latifi has already loaned the British team EUR 22 million […]
Fewer car updates planned for 2020 – Green
Jun.10 (GMM) Formula 1 teams will have only a limited car development program in 2020, according to Racing Point technical boss Andy Green. “We will have fewer updates than planned,” he told Auto Motor und Sport when asked about the start of the ‘corona calendar’ in Austria next month. “We didn’t even use our first […]
Baku cancellation now imminent – source
Jun.10 (GMM) Baku, Singapore and Suzuka are set to be definitively scratched from the 2020 calendar. That is the word from Andrea Cremonesi, a respected correspondent for Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “In days, if not hours, the official cancellation of the race in Baku will be announced,” the Italian source Formula Passion quotes him […]
Mercedes to set pace in Austria – Alesi
Jun.10 (GMM) Jean Alesi thinks Mercedes will be the team to beat when the revised world championship kicks off next month in Austria. “The teams have not been able to develop much,” the former F1 driver told Italy’s Autosprint. “Maybe we will see some minor changes in the hierarchy, but I think the Mercedes advantage […]
‘Old school’ Mugello to be F1’s 1000th race
Jun.10 (GMM) Mugello looks set to join the other six European ‘ghost race’ venues on the initial corona-induced 2020 calendar. It is believed a race at the Ferrari-owned circuit will be paired with the other Italian venue, Monza, in mid-September. “Mugello has everything to offer a spectacle,” said Jarno Zaffelli, a circuit architect who also […]
Hungary reveals $20m ‘ghost race’ discount
Jun.10 (GMM) Hungaroring boss Zsolt Guylay admits the F1 race promoters got a discount on their 2020 race fee. The circuit near Budapest is among the eight confirmed ‘ghost races’ on this year’s initial amended calendar. “All in all, we managed to save the Hungarian budget almost six billion forints (US $20 million),” the Magyar […]
Ricciardo didn’t quit Renault ‘on a whim’
Jun.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo insists he did not decide to quit Renault “on a whim”. With the French carmaker continuing next year even amid the corona-induced recession, some have expressed surprise that the Australian decided to take the arguably sideways move to McLaren for 2021. “It was not an easy decision to make,” Ricciardo is […]
Russell admits eye on Mercedes seat
Jun.10 (GMM) George Russell has admitted he has a keen eye on a potential Mercedes race seat for 2021. Team boss Toto Wolff, who already works closely with the Mercedes development driver, has named the 22-year-old as a contender for the works seat. “They are the best team, they have been so dominant,” he told […]
Raikkonen could retire after 2020 season
Jun.10 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has left open the door to possible retirement at the end of 2020. At the age of 40, and with over 300 grands prix to his name, the 2007 world champion is the oldest and most experienced driver in Formula 1. When asked if this year will be his last, Raikkonen […]
Ferrari legality saga not over yet
Jun.10 (GMM) As Formula 1 begins to race out of the corona crisis, the 2019 Ferrari engine legality saga looks set to return. The FIA has issued a range of new technical directives regarding operation of the hybrid engines, believed to be based on the controversial secret agreement reached with Ferrari. One of the new […]
Indy eyes F1 race as soon as 2021
Jun.10 (GMM) Another grand prix in the United States could take place as soon as 2021 – but not in Miami. Rather, the idea is being championed by new Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske. He said he is looking into whether there is the “opportunity for a Formula 1 race” there in “2021, 2022 […]
Michael Schumacher to undergo treatment
Jun.10 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is set to undergo an operation, according to the Italian source Contro Copertina. Cardiac expert professor Philippe Menasche, who reportedly treated the F1 legend last year as well, is said to be in charge of another round of heart cell transfusion. “The goal is to regenerate Michael’s nervous system,” he is […]
New Campos F1 team ‘still alive’ – partner
Jun.9 (GMM) A potential new Formula 1 team is still clinging to its project through the corona crisis. Late last year, Formula 2 boss Adrian Campos and business partner Salvatore Gandolfo announced that they are working on a new F1 team project. But last week, former Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein, who was initially named as […]
‘Everyone affected’ amid F1 corona crisis – Todt
Jun.9 (GMM) More than two teams are hurting amid the corona crisis, according to FIA president Jean Todt. In fact, the Frenchman is quoted by La Presse as saying the shutdown of factories, racing and income has “affected everyone” in Formula 1. “The epidemic has financial consequences not limited to one or two teams in […]
Middle East set to join ‘corona calendar’ – Wolff
Jun.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks the first overseas races will soon be added to the alternative ‘corona calendar’ for 2020. Only eight spectator-less races at six European venues have been unveiled so far for the initial post-shutdown period beginning in July. But Mercedes boss Wolff thinks that will soon change. “I believe and I hope […]