Jul.13 (GMM) It is still too soon to declare that Mercedes’ 2020 car is clearly faster than the Red Bull, according to Toto Wolff. “We haven’t seen the real Mercedes yet. But we haven’t seen the real Red Bull either,” the Mercedes team boss said after Lewis Hamilton won from pole on Sunday. “Max (Verstappen) […]
Month: July 2020
Renault lodges protest against ‘pink Mercedes’
Jul.13 (GMM) F1’s governing body is looking into the legality of the 2020 Racing Point car. The stewards late on Sunday judged as admissible a protest lodged by Renault against the car known in the paddock as the ‘pink Mercedes’. “We confirm that Renault DP World F1 Team has submitted a request to the stewards […]
Marko surprised by ‘more powerful’ Mercedes
Jul.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull-Honda has been caught out by Mercedes’ engine boost for 2020. The energy drink owned team had hoped to propel Max Verstappen to his first title this year, and Marko insists that target remains in place. But he admitted to Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “It was surprising to […]
Norris determined to race through chest pain
Jul.12 (GMM) Lando Norris says he is yet to get to the bottom of his painful weekend in Austria. A week ago, the McLaren driver was on top of the world with his maiden podium. But this week at the Red Bull Ring, he is suffering from chest pain at the wheel. “It’s a little […]
Russia wants full grandstands for Sochi race
Jul.12 (GMM) Sochi race organiser Alexey Titov is hoping the grandstands are full when Russia welcomes Formula 1 in September. With F1 currently embarking on a string of ‘ghost races’, Russia looks likely to be the first grand prix since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to be attended by spectators. “At the moment, we […]
Vettel denies preparing retirement announcement
Jul.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has denied he is preparing to announce his retirement from Formula 1. Highly respected British commentator Martin Brundle revealed on Saturday that the quadruple world champion has requested an interview ahead of next weekend’s Hungarian GP. It follows speculation Vettel might even quit Ferrari before the end of the 2020 season, […]
F1 may scrap next week’s Hungarian GP
Jul.12 (GMM) A dark cloud has suddenly moved above next weekend’s scheduled race in Hungary. The talk in the Austrian paddock after qualifying on Saturday was that British drivers and team personnel risk jail for breaking draconian coronavirus protocols in Budapest next week. “We have to be at the track or the hotel but I […]
Alonso tells Renault to focus on 2022
Jul.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is telling Renault to focus the hardest on the 2022 season, team boss Cyril Abiteboul has revealed. In July of 2020, the French team confirmed that Spaniard Alonso will return to Formula 1 in 2021. But Abiteboul says the 38-year-old in fact already has his eyes on 2022, when the sweeping […]
Hockenheim, Imola, hope to host F1 races in 2020
Jul.12 (GMM) The bosses of two European F1 circuits are hoping to be the next to be added to the sport’s 2020 ‘corona calendar’. This weekend in Austria, Formula 1 announced that Mugello and Sochi have joined the now ten-race schedule, with others set to follow shortly. And with the sport unlikely to travel to […]
Verstappen can beat Hamilton on Sunday – Wolff
Jul.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on Saturday set themselves apart from the rest of the Formula 1 field in Austria’s rain, according to Ralf Schumacher. “They were in their own league,” the former F1 driver, referring to the respective Mercedes and Red Bull drivers, told Sky Deutschland. “The difference to their teammates was […]
Official says US GP ‘in serious jeopardy’
Jul.11 (GMM) US GP official Bobby Epstein has admitted the Austin race is likely to be called off for 2020. As F1 adds Russia and Mugello to its now 10-race ‘corona calendar’, other rounds at Hockenheim, Imola, Portimao, Hanoi, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are tipped to soon follow. But due to the ongoing pandemic, North […]
F1 coronavirus measures ‘a bit strange’ – Coulthard
Jul.11 (GMM) Former F1 driver turned highly respected broadcaster David Coulthard says the ‘ghost race’ measures in Austria “seem a bit strange to me”. Strict procedures are in place at the Red Bull Ring, and for subsequent races, to guard against the risk of coronavirus infections. Widespread testing, the scrapping of the traditional podium, personnel […]
Aston Martin to ‘think about’ Vettel for 2021
Jul.11 (GMM) Racing Point – to be Aston Martin next year – appears to be Sebastian Vettel’s last hope of remaining in Formula 1 in 2021. Despite a renewed flurry of speculation, Red Bull continue to slam the door in its former quadruple world champion’s face. “It’s a definite no I’m afraid, and Sebastian is […]
Kubica not hoping for Giovinazzi to replace Vettel
Jul.11 (GMM) Robert Kubica smiled on Friday when asked if he is hoping to race Alfa Romeo’s 2020 car later this season. As the team’s reserve driver, the Pole drove in the Friday practice session in Austria. But he was then asked if he is hoping a driver reshuffle – with Sebastian Vettel potentially stepping […]
Sochi plans to welcome spectators to September race
Jul.11 (GMM) Sochi could be the first race of 2020 that is watched trackside by spectators. Formula 1 on Friday announced two additions to its ‘corona calendar’ – Mugello on September 13, and Russia two weeks later. “Both races will be a huge boost for fans with more announcements on the next races in our […]
‘Bottas 3.0’ gets better every year – Wolff
Jul.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has taken another step forward, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. In Austria last weekend, the Finn won from pole, and on Friday at the same Red Bull Ring, his advantage over six-time world champion Hamilton blew out to six tenths. Wolff told RTL that the balance on Hamilton’s black […]
Rain may force cancellation of qualifying – Masi
Jul.11 (GMM) Eyes are turning to the skies above the Red Bull Ring, with qualifying likely to be affected by heavy rain. Max Verstappen is happier with his Red Bull than he was a week ago, but his boss Dr Helmut Marko told Osterreich the weather forecast “can mess everything up”. “It is supposed to […]
Driver ‘shocked’ by Ferrari power loss
Jul.10 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not yet worrying about his move to Ferrari for 2021. The Spaniard will replace Sebastian Vettel, but he will presumably not enjoy a substantially better car than the German as the current machines are being carried over to 2021 for reasons of cost. Asked if he is therefore […]
Schumacher hoping for Friday outings in 2020
Jul.10 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is hoping to be able to drive a Formula 1 car again in 2020. Last year, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher got to test both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo’s up-to-date cars. But any similar plans for 2020 were scuppered by the coronavirus situation. “Because corona has shortened the year, […]
FIA warns teams over coronavirus breaches
Jul.10 (GMM) Ferrari and Mercedes have been warned about a breach of the strict coronavirus measures in force for the back-to-back races in Austria. While most of the paddock remained in their ‘bubbles’ between the first and second race weekends, it emerges that Charles Leclerc and Valtteri Bottas each travelled back to Monaco earlier this […]