Nov.24 (GMM) Monza is seeking government backing in the hope of restoring the old banked sections of the historic Autodromo “for racing”. That is the exciting news from Angelo Sticchi Damiani, who has been re-elected as president of the Italian automobile club Aci. He has been quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport as calling on […]
Month: November 2020
Alonso may not succeed in F1 comeback – Massa
Nov.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s return to Formula 1 could be as unsuccessful as that of his former championship rival and F1 legend Michael Schumacher. That is the warning of former F1 driver Felipe Massa, who is uniquely positioned to comment given that he served as both Schumacher and Alonso’s teammate at Ferrari. “Fernando is a […]
2022 cars may be 1 second slower than now – Key
Nov.23 (GMM) The new-generation cars of 2022 may only be a single second slower than the unprecedentedly-fast single seaters of this year. That is the view of McLaren technical boss James Key, following predictions by some of his colleagues that suggested the new cars could lag the current pace by as much as 7 seconds […]
Perez-Indycar ‘stories’ doing the rounds – Chilton
Nov.23 (GMM) Three current Formula 1 drivers could be joining two other F1 refugees in the top American single seater category Indycar next year. That is the prediction of Max Chilton, a British driver who moved from Marussia to Indycar for 2016. He was commenting on the fact that Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen and even […]
Haas to confirm test, race seat for Schumacher
Nov.23 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is being lined up to get a taste of life at the Haas team, according to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. Ferrari has now confirmed that Schumacher’s Ferrari academy colleagues Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott will drive the Ferrari and Alfa Romeo cars respectively at the forthcoming ‘young drivers test’ in […]
Hamilton win gives titles ‘credibility’ – Villeneuve
Nov.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton added “credibility to all of his championships” by the manner in which he wrapped up his record-equalling seventh recently in Turkey. British snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has caused a stir by suggesting that Hamilton’s greatness is in question because of Mercedes’ car advantage. “In theory all he has to beat is […]
Now Istanbul eyes F1’s vacant 2021 race date
Nov.23 (GMM) Turkey also wants to secure the unconfirmed 23rd race date on Formula 1’s 2021 calendar. With Vietnam bowing out, the sport is yet to confirm which circuit will fill the April slot but officials at Imola have said they are pushing for it. Turkey’s Istanbul Park is also keen to secure the deal. […]
Rio seeking alternative site for F1 circuit
Nov.23 (GMM) Rio de Janeiro is not giving up on its ambitions to host a Formula 1 race. Earlier, Chase Carey confirmed that a deal in principle has been agreed, but it was dependent on environmental approval that was not ultimately secured. It means Interlagos is staying for now, but that race will be renamed […]
Ferrari ’50 horsepower’ down in 2020 – Binotto
Nov.20 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has played down hopes that Ferrari’s new engine for 2021 will be enough to catch Mercedes. The Maranello team’s boss said this week that early dynamometer testing of the new power unit has been “very promising”. “Currently, we don’t have the best engine but next year we can have a completely […]
F1 eyeing 24-race calendars in future – Carey
Nov.20 (GMM) There is still room on future Formula 1 calendars for more than the unprecedented 23 races that have been scheduled for 2021. That is the news from Chase Carey, who said in an investors teleconference that he feels “very good” about his relationship with current and future race promoters. “Many places where we […]
Massa hopes Schumacher ‘can see his son in F1’
Nov.20 (GMM) Felipe Massa hopes it is true that his former Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher is able to follow the likely F1 debut of his son Mick next year. Their former team boss Jean Todt said this week that he sees Schumacher up to twice per month, amid public rumours that the seven time world […]
Italy wants two grands prix on 2021 calendar
Nov.20 (GMM) Italian motor racing chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani says he wants Italy to have not one but two grands prix in 2021. It is a clear sign that Imola is in the running to replace the cancelled Vietnam GP, with the April 25 race date currently listed as ‘to be confirmed’. “We would like […]
Ferrari right to split with Vettel – Massa
Nov.20 (GMM) Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has backed Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari split. The Maranello team decided to replace the German with Carlos Sainz for 2021 and beyond, with Vettel heading instead to Aston Martin. Massa told Spain’s AS newspaper that the uncompetitive 2020 Ferrari is not Vettel’s fault. “The car is the most important,” […]
Marko responds to Hulkenberg’s ‘German humour’
Nov.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has reacted with a smile to a comment made earlier this week by 2021 Red Bull candidate Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg, who is in the running to replace struggling Alex Albon next year, joked on Red Bull-owned Servus TV this week that he has now “signed a new contract”. “A home […]
Hamilton’s political activism ‘dangerous’ – Albers
Nov.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton should be careful with his political activism to avoid accusations of hypocrisy, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. New seven time world champion Hamilton has been fiercely outspoken in 2020 on issues including Black Lives Matter. “When you are an athlete, expressing your opinion about certain things is quite dangerous […]
F1 drivers ‘not the same’ as in the past – Briatore
Nov.20 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has lamented the way Formula 1 drivers have changed since his days in Formula 1. The former Renault boss said he helped Fernando Alonso arrange his 2021 return to the sport. “I am very pleased with Fernando’s return,” he told Spanish broadcaster Antena 3. “We worked together, yes, we worked together […]
Marko to make Albon decision after Abu Dhabi
Nov.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Alex Albon is still in the running to keep his seat at Red Bull in 2021. The Austrian official has defended the struggling British-born Thai driver this year, but Marko said Albon “threw away the podium” with a spin in Istanbul. “Both of our drivers overused their tyres, whereas […]
‘Three to seven years’ left in F1 career – Vettel
Nov.19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has joined Lewis Hamilton in admitting his career is now on a downhill run to retirement. With his seventh title in the bag last Sunday, Mercedes’ 35-year-old Hamilton said he will not be racing into his 40s like Kimi Raikkonen. Vettel, a quadruple world champion who is switching from Ferrari to […]
Daimler ‘not stopping’ Mercedes F1 project
Nov.19 (GMM) Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius has once again moved to allay fears that Mercedes might be pulled out of Formula 1. 2021 was the German team’s seventh consecutive sweep of the drivers’ and constructors’ world championships, but there have been rumblings that Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff may be looking elsewhere as Mercedes moves […]
Mercedes apologises after Bottas’ covid joke
Nov.19 (GMM) Mercedes has apologised to Chinese fans after Valtteri Bottas made a joke about coronavirus following last Sunday’s grand prix in Istanbul. On the day his teammate Lewis Hamilton sealed the title, the Finnish driver was asked by Ziggo Sport if he would like to scratch the date from history. “Yeah, or the day […]