F1C Notebook
2020 Pre-Season Predictions (June Update)
Pre-Season Formula 1 Predictions for the 2020 Season (June 2020 Update) Ferrari Finishes P3 Force India, Racing Point, Sport Pesa, whatever the f*ck they’re called finish Best of the Rest (**doesn’t happen**) Hamilton ties Schumacher’s WDC record AND breaks his win...
COVID-19: Le Mans 24 Hours postponed to September
https://f1andcoffee.com/covid-19-le-mans-24-hours-postponed-to-september/The legendary Le Mans 24 hours sportscar race has been postponed from June 13-14 to Sept 19-20 due to the coronavirus outbreak, local organizers said on Wednesday. “Postponing the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the original dates in June is now the most appropriate way...
Nicolas Todt: Having a Dad like this for sure helped me
https://forbes.mc/article/all-roads-lead-to-todtWho is Nicolas Todt? Although FIA President Jean Todt may be the one grabbing most of the headlines, but when it comes to the Todt family, he is not the only one making waves in Formula 1. Enter his son Nicolas, a serious player in his own right. Manager of F1 drivers...
COVID-19: Summer break moved up, delay for 2021 regs mooted
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-changes-formula-1-summer-shutdown-period-approvedFormula 1 teams must close for three weeks by the end of April in a move that will allow races to be rescheduled during the European summer and help limit the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak. What would have been a record 22-round calendar is already...
Ferrari: Maintaining our distance, but still united, this virus can be defeated
https://f1andcoffee.com/ferrari-maintaining-our-distance-but-still-united-this-virus-can-be-defeated/Ferrari have announced that they support Formula 1’s decision to bring forward the traditional August shutdown to now as COVID-19 strikes the globe and affects all walks of life. The statement from Maranello signs off with a rallying cry for unity to combat the deadly...
Pirelli F1 member tests positive for coronavirus in Melbourne
https://f1i.com/news/370309-pirelli-forced-to-torch-entire-oz-tyre-consignment.htmlPirelli has announced that a member of its staff who had traveled to Australia has tested positive for the coronavirus and remained in Melbourne. The Formula 1 paddock had its COVID-19 'patient zero' last week, a member of the McLaren team that tested positive for the...
Steiner ‘pretty sure’ F1 will eventually resume racing
https://f1i.com/news/370323-cota-shuts-down-monaco-closes-shops-as-virus-crisis-grows.htmlHaas team boss Guenther Steiner believes F1 will eventually kick off its world championship later this year despite the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the sport. The global coronavirus pandemic is disrupting world business across all sectors, and Formula 1 is no...
Renault F1 team crews now ‘self-isolating’ at home
https://f1i.com/news/370326-mclaren-team-member-quarantined-in-oz-now-free-of-symptoms.htmlRenault F1 Team personnel which traveled to Australia have returned to Europe and will remain in self-isolation for the foreseeable future as a precaution against the coronavirus pandemic. Last weekend's opening round of the F1 world championship in Melbourne was...
Igor Fraga – sim racer turned F3 driver – joins Red Bull juniors
https://f1i.com/news/369742-sette-camara-returns-to-red-bull-as-test-and-reserve-driver.htmlFormer Esports star Igor Fraga who has crossed over into the real world of racing has joined Red Bull's young driver program. The 21-year-old Japanese-born Brazilian made a name for himself in sim racing, winning the FIA Gran Turismo Nations Cup in 2018 as well as the...
Jones: Melbourne cancellation ‘a big blow for Aussie sport’
https://f1i.com/news/370326-mclaren-team-member-quarantined-in-oz-now-free-of-symptoms.htmlFormer F1 driver Alan Jones, who won the F1 world championship with Williams in 1980, says nobody could have foreseen the events that led to the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix. Jones was part of Australia's Channel 10 commentary team that witnessed on site...
McLaren team member quarantined in Oz now ‘free of symptoms’
https://f1i.com/news/370274-f1-fans-heap-massive-praise-on-mclarens-seidl.htmlMcLaren boss Zak Brown says the team member who tested positive for the coronavirus in Melbourne is recovering well and is now "free of symptoms". The team member had been placed in self-isolation on Wednesday but the positive test triggered McLaren's withdrawal from...
Report: Monaco Grand Prix to be officially cancelled
https://f1andcoffee.com/report-monaco-grand-prix-to-be-officially-cancelled/The Monaco GP is set to become the latest casualty on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar, as coronavirus restrictions are put in place in the principality. Still officially set to be the first race of the season after the cancellation of the five preceding races, it is now...
COVID-positive McLaren team member free of symptoms
https://f1andcoffee.com/covid-positive-mclaren-team-member-free-of-symptoms/The McLaren team member who tested positive for coronavirus at the Australian Grand Prix is “recovering well”, according to CEO Zak Brown. The man whose positive diagnosis was the catalyst behind the cancellation of the 2020 Formula 1 season opener, Brown has revealed...
2020 F1 Season – Opening Race and my Boredom
One year ago, hell before every F1 race that was early morning Eastern Standard time in 2019, at 10pm the night before, I was generally rewatching qualifying and any highlights posted online over the prior couple of days, finalizing what in the hell we were going to...
Barcelona test 1: Complete driver line-ups
The 2020 Formula 1 season is set to get officially underway on Wednesday, with the first of two three-day tests at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Each day will feature two four-hour sessions — morning (from 9am-1pm local time) and afternoon (2pm-6pm). Check the...
On This Day: Jacques the muso, Charles fastest for Ferrari…
On 19 February 2007, Jacques Villeneuve, Formula 1 World Champion and now pundit, tried his hand as a muso and released his debut album, Private Paradise. He reportedly wrote six of the 13 songs himself, one of which was about his father Gilles. He launched the album...
Red Mist: Privileged memories, halcyon daze…
Taken on Tuesday 20 February 1979 on the first afternoon of that year’s Kyalami Formula 1 test, this image appeared on page 3 of the next morning’s Rand Daily Mail. This was the first time anyone had ever seen the 312 T4, seconds after it rolled out of a closed...
Hamilton: I grew up in a sport that has given my life meaning
For the first time in the 20-year history of the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award was given to two sporting greats – Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and footballer Lionel Messi. Both athletes received the...
Mateschitz: We have the highest expectations this year
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has expressed his confidence heading into the 2020 Formula 1 season, expecting his team to compete for the world championship. The Austrian energy drinks mogul, who is celebrating 16 years in the sport in 2020, is playing a very...
Red Mist: Binotto backs his boys
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto is talking up his troops ahead of Formula 1 pre-season testing starting in Barcelona tomorrow while remaining coy on prospects for the season ahead based on the youth of his team. Speaking with presenter Fabio Fazio where he and driver...
NASCAR: Hamlin wins Daytona 500, Newman hospitalized
Ryan Newman flipped across the finish line, his Ford planted upside down and engulfed in flames, a grim reminder of a sport steeped in danger that has stretched nearly two decades without a fatality. At the finish line, Denny Hamlin made history with a second straight...
Szafnauer: I predict a podium for both drivers
The Racing Point Formula One team will start the season with a water company as new title sponsor but podium champagne the target. “I predict that before the race they will both be drinking water,” team principal Otmar Szafnauer said of drivers Lance Stroll and Sergio...
Hamilton splits World Sportsman of the Year award with Messi
Lewis Hamilton has been declared the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year alongside Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, after the first tied vote in the awards’ 20-year history. Mercedes driver Hamilton won his sixth world championship in 2019, with 11 race wins and 17...
Imola applied to FIA and F1 to replace Chinese Grand Prix
Imola could be making an unexpected return to the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship calendar after circuit director Roberto Marazzi confirmed that they have sent an application to replace Chinese Grand Prix. The race in Shanghai, scheduled for 19 April has had to be...
BWT confirmed title sponsor of new Racing Point
< ► > Racing Point revealed their 2020 challenger the RP 20 – on Monday and it is still pink! But gone is betting partner SportPesa as title sponsor replaced by BWT, whose logo now features prominently on the distinctive pink livery. Press Release: Ahead of...
Piston Broke: Analysing the Red-Bull RB16-Honda
< ► > As seems to be the norm in Formula 1 2020, with the current rule set coming to an end after this season, the teams have not delivered any overly radical changes to the 2020 machinery revealed thus far. It appears that the need for a long-term...
Changes Mooted to Australian Grand Prix for 2021
The Australian Grand Prix’s Albert Park street circuit could undergo significant changes before the 2021 edition, according to officials. A race that in 2020, will celebrate ten straight years as the opening round of the Formula 1 season, Albert Park has long been...
Hamilton wants to create ripple effect in fashion industry
Neon leisurewear with high-topped trainers and glowing yellow laces opened American designer Tommy Hilfiger’s latest show on Sunday, a collaboration with six-times Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and singer H.E.R. that put sustainability at the fore. Hilfiger...
Williams launch their FW43 hoping for a fresh start
< ► > Williams released images of the FW43 ahead of testing for the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship season, with deputy team principal Claire Williams hailing a fresh start for the team. Notably, the ghastly livery of last year has made way for a neat and racy...
On This Day: That Shell-Ferrari video, a birthday and other tidbits
On 18 February, 12 years ago, residents of Monte Carlo would have been forgiven for thinking Ferrari had turned up for the Monaco Grand Prix three months too early when Shell filmed an iconic TV advert featuring a screeching a F2003 past some of the principality’s...
Kvyat vs Gasly: Who will get promoted back to Red Bull?
Daniil Kvyat and Piere Gasly have both had a taste of life as Red Bull drivers, neither cut the mustard the first time but, be sure, they are both in Formula 1 to service the senior team should Alex Albon fail to deliver. Which begs the question: Who will get promoted...
Hamilton: A real privilege to drive this machine
Lewis Hamilton was upbeat on his first day back at work on Friday, giving the Mercedes W11 Formula 1 car a shakedown during the team’s filming day at the 2.98 kilometres Silverstone International Circuit. The six-time F1 World Champion shared cockpit duty on the day...
Allison: Repeating last year’s approach would not make sense
To the untrained eye, much of the changes between 2019 and 2020 Formula 1 cars may feel invisible but when it comes to James Allison, however, the story is flipped on its head as the team embark on a historic campaign to bag 14 F1 world titles in seven years. James...
Wolff: 2020 will be particularly challenging
Mercedes have completed shakedowns of their 2020 Formula 1 challenger, the W11, today at Silverstone. Despite Mercedes looking to build upon their six back-to-back double titles, but this doesn’t stop Toto claiming to better the teams’ record in recent years will be a...
Budkowski: 2021 development switch a game of chicken
Formula 1 teams will face a major dilemma in 2020 as to when to switch focus to development of their 2021 car, says Renault’s Marcin Budkowski. Executive director at the French constructor, Budkowski likened the situation to a “game of chicken” where everyone is...
AlphaTauri shows-off AT01 at Misano
< ► > AlphaTauri has provided the first image of its new AT01 in action, taking to the track at Misano for a filming day on Saturday. The team formerly known as Toro Rosso launched their 2020 Formula 1 car in Salzburg at Friday, and a day later they were out on...
Mexico ePrix: Evans wins incident-packed race
After starting second, Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Mitch Evans emerged victorious after a flawless race in Mexico City, following Evans was DS Techeetah’s Antonio Felix da Costa, while Nissan e.dams’ Sebastian Buemi rounded off the podium in third. Pulling away from...
Piston Broke: Analysing the Ferrari SF1000
Dubbed SF1000 in honour of Ferrari’s thousandth Formula 1 Grand Prix due in Canada in June, the deeper essence of Maranello’s newcomer’s technical spec remains guarded, but from what we can see in the flesh, the basic launch car presented in Reggio Emilia suggests an...
The Undercut: Renault and the worst launch ever
What’s the difference between Groupe Renault and Haas Automation? Let’s start with Haas. Founded by NASCAR enthusiast Gene Haas, who has a net worth of about $250 million, it’s one of the biggest machine tool builders in the world, employing 1500 staff and with an...
Vandoorne appointed Mercedes F1 reserve driver
Former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne will be an official reserve for Mercedes in Formula 1 this season while also competing in the all-electric Formula E series, the team announced on Friday. The 27-year-old Belgian, who left McLaren at the end of 2018 after...
Cowell: Formula E Will Help Us in Formula 1
Mercedes-AMG director of High Performance Powertrains Andy Cowell has praised his team’s expansion into Formula E, emphasizing the benefits it provides to the engine used in Formula 1. Speaking at the launch of Mercedes’ new F1 car, the W11, on Friday, Cowell was...
Coulthard: Alonso has no options for 2021
Former McLaren and Red Bull driver has ruled out a Formula 1 return for Fernando Alonso, suggesting the Spaniard has ‘no options’ for the 2021 season. Hosting the launch of AlphaTauri’s AT01 in Salzburg on Friday, the 48-year-old Scot was asked by AS whether the...
Allison: We Expect a Three-Way Fight from the Outset
Lewis Hamilton did his first laps on Friday in the Mercedes that could take him to a record-equalling seventh Formula 1 title this season, but team bosses warned of a tough battle right from the start. The Briton and Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas put in the first...
Marko: AlphaTauri Upgraded From Junior to Sister Team
The newly rebranded AlphaTauri Formula 1 team will be given more direct support by Red Bull Racing — as far as the rules allow, says Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. In attendance for the lavish launch of AlphaTauri’s AT01 in Salzburg, Marko explained the change in name...
Tost: AlphaTauri Must Be Top Five in 2020
The newly-renamed AlphaTauri must set its sights on a top five finish in the 2020 Formula 1 season, according to team principal Franz Tost. Speaking to reporters at the launch of the team’s AT01 in Salzburg, Tost revealed his belief that after a team-best sixth in the...
Live Stream: Farewell Toro Rosso, hello AlphaTauri
The team that once was Minardi and into Scuderia Toro Rosso as part of Red Bull’s Formula 1 empire, has now begun yet a new era as Scuderia AlphaTauri – the energy drinks organisation’s new clothing brand which goes mainstream this year. The team name has changed but...
Mercedes Launch W11 with Silverstone Shakedown
< ► > World champions Mercedes officially unveiled their 2020 challenger, the W11, on Friday, with a live stream and shakedown performed by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Taking to the track in a Valentine’s Day gift to their supporters, the Silver Arrows...
Updated: Alfa Romeo C39 breaks cover with snakeskin livery
< ► > Alfa Romeo have offered a preview of their 2020 car on Friday, releasing photos from a filming session of the C39 at the Fiorano circuit this morning before sending a more detailed overview later. The team reported at the end of the day: The moulting of a...
Hamilton: Verstappen Comments a Sign of Weakness
Lewis Hamilton has offered a stinging rebuke to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, branding the Dutchman’s recent comments as a “sign of weakness”. Asked about his rival’s “good but not god” remark at the launch of Mercedes’ 2020 car, the W11, Hamilton did not hold back...
Mercedes reveal first images of their weapon for 2020
< ► > The reigning Formula 1 World Champions have released a selection of render images of their brand-new 2020 Formula 1 car – the Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance. This car will either continue the heritage of its predecessors and gobble up another two...
Outside Line: Is McLaren v Renault Over Already?
I hate to say it, but the battle for best of the rest in the 2020 Formula 1 season, is over. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of an overreaction, but everything we’ve seen in the last two days has me believing there is simply no way Renault can beat McLaren to fourth place...
Ferrari F1000 Under Fire for Mission Winnow Branding
Ferrari’s latest Formula 1 challenger has come under threat of seizure by Italian authorities, with consumer group Codacons protesting the car’s ‘Mission Winnow’ branding. An initiative of the Scuderia’s long-time sponsors Phillip Morris to “drive change by constantly...
Brown: We Are Monitoring the Situation in Vietnam
McLaren’s Zak Brown has revealed his team is keeping a close eye on the health situation in Vietnam, after the nearby Chinese Grand Prix was postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic. The sport is due to make its debut in the country, which borders China, on April 5...
Sainz vs Norris: Will the fun and games continue?
It can be said that Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris were one of the more entertaining of Formula 1 teammates on the grid last year, the pair are clearly comfortable in each other’s company and as cuddly as racing drivers get at any level. But, of course, the golden rule...
Kubica finds refuge in DTM with BMW privateer team
After losing out on the Williams Formula 1 seat for 2020, it has today been announced that Robert Kubica will compete in DTM this year in a customer BMW fielded by the ART Grand Prix team. Kubica’s switch has long been speculated since he tested a BMW M4 at Jerez in...
Seidl: This is an important moment for the team
McLaren under Andreas Seidl’s watch enjoyed something of a renaissance last year, when chaos gave way to the German’s management style and what resulted was their best season in ages and fourth in the Formula 1 constructors’ standings, Best of the Rest. However, team...
McLaren launch the MCL35 hoping to close the gap
< ► > McLaren today unveiled their 2020 Formula 1 car – the MCL35 – which the team is hoping will be the next step up from its predecessor which was good enough for fourth in the championship and Best-of-the-Rest. The team will be looking to build from last year...
Alonso Rejected by Second Indy 500 Team
Fernando Alonso’s hopes of competing in the 2020 Indy 500 continue to dwindle, with his offer to drive for Ed Carpenter Racing rejected by the team. Searching for another race seat after Honda vetoed his place at Andretti Autosport, the two-time Formula 1 world...
Abiteboul: I’d Rather Have No Car Than a ‘Fake’ One
Cyril Abiteboul has hit back at criticism over Renault’s decision to launch their 2020 Formula 1 season without a car, suggesting the ‘only option’ was to have a ‘fake’ version that would satisfy no-one. In what can be read as veiled shots at some of the launches by...
On This Day: New F1 cars and other notable milestones
Things start picking up in the world of motorsport on 13th February over the years as Europe awakens from the winter hibernation and the early business of Formula 1 car launches, shakedowns and testing has traditionally begun around this time of the year. In 1961, on...
Ricciardo vs Ocon: Will it be war or peace?
Renault ditched Nico Hulkenberg at the end of last season to make way for young hotshot Esteban Ocon who will step back to Formula 1, after a year on the sidelines, to partner experienced veteran Daniel Ricciardo. Now they have two drivers at different stages of their...
Abiteboul: Fourth in the championship remains the objective
Last year they targeted podiums, this year they have set their sights on fourth place in the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship with young hotshot joining wily veteran Daniel Ricciardo in the team. Last year’s below-par performance by the sport’s fourth ‘works’ team...
Renault show glimpses of RS20 at 2020 team launch
Renault today gave glimpses of the RS20 which Daniel Ricciardo and the team’s newcomer Esteban Ocon joining him in the sister car. Press Release: Renault F1 Team officially kicked off its 2020 campaign today with its season opener event on the Champs-Elysees, Paris,...
Chinese Grand Prix postponed until further notice
As expected the 2020 Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed with the hope of finding an alternative date for the race later in the year. The race scheduled for 19 April 2020, was to be the fourth round of the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship. Press Release: In view of...
Honda-powered Red Bull RB16 breaks cover
The Red Bull Racing Honda RB16 was revealed by the team in a press release that included the first official image of the car they hope will return them to Formula 1 world championship glory. The team announced: “It’s straight back to business in our iconic matte...
Carey: Chinese Grand Prix Unlikely to Go Ahead
The Chinese Grand Prix is unlikely to take place as scheduled on April 19 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, Formula 1 chief Chase Carey told Reuters on Wednesday. “We recognise that the postponement of the event is certainly a possibility and you could probably...
Red Mist: Ferrari SF1000 – Deliverance?
Will Maranello’s new challenger deliver its first driver’s title in 13 years, or is it all just a lot of hot air, all over again? Ferrari and Formula 1. There cannot be a more dominant a brand in any sport, but the team that Italy and half of the world has pinned its...
Berger: Vettel’s Best Years Are Behind Him
Former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger has issued a stern warning to Sebastian Vettel, suggesting he will have a hard time fending-off his “young, aggressive and fast” teammate Charles Leclerc this year. Asked in an interview with motorsport-total.com to forecast...
On This Day: Happy birthday Tora and other bits from memory lane
Not a very memorable day in the annals of Formula 1 history, nevertheless a happy birthday to Toranosuke Takagi, born on this day in 1974. The Japanese driver competed in 32 Grands Prix, making his debut at the 1998 Australian Grand Prix for Tyrrell. His final race in...
Button: Leclerc and Vettel Will Work Well Together
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc should have their sights set on the championship and not each other in 2020, says former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button. Speaking on Sky Sports about the driver partnership that dominated headlines last season,...
Wolff: We are in this for the long term
Formula 1 champions Mercedes sent a statement of intent about their future on Monday with the announcement of a five-year principal sponsorship deal with British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals giant Ineos. Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff hailed a new chapter...
Wolff: We’ll talk contracts when Lewis comes back from America
Now that Mercedes has signed a sponsorship with one of Britain’s richest people, the Formula 1 team has to secure a long-term commitment from world champion Lewis Hamilton. Jim Ratcliffe’s chemical giant INEOS has a five-year deal with Mercedes, but Hamilton is...
Albon: I’m More Comfortable with the Team Now
Red Bull’s Alexander Albon has revealed he is expecting significant improvement in 2020, with the belief he will have a full season with the team helping to take a “weight” off his shoulders. Enjoying a meteoric rise in 2019 that saw him go from a last-minute...
Pirelli Confirms 2020 Testing Schedule
Pirelli has announced its schedule for testing the new 18-inch tyres before they make their debut in the 2021 Formula 1 season. Having completed 130 laps in its first test with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc over the weekend at Jerez, the Italian company has now revealed...
Ferrari SF1000 to break cover Tuesday
Ferrari tend to keep the name of their Formula 1 cars secret until the unveiling of their new challenger ahead of every season. This year it has leaked out that the 2020 race car that tifosi are hoping will bring back glory to Maranello, will be the: Ferrari SF1000....
Brawn: Time to Get Rid of ‘Gin Palace’ Motorhomes
Logistical and environmental concerns may bring to an end the use of ‘gin palace’ motorhomes, says Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn. A long-time feature of European races, Brawn hinted the large, state-of-the-art motorhomes used by teams and engine suppliers may...
On This Day: Dennis drops Senna and other milestones
These are the notable Formula 1 happenings on 10 February over the years: In 1993, Ayrton Senna is alleged to have offered Frank Williams to be Alain Prost’s teammate at Grove for free but when that did not pan out – apparently the Frenchman vetoing the idea – the...
Doornbos: Verstappen is the Messi of Motorsport
Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos has given high-praise to Max Verstappen, likening him to legendary footballer Lionel Messi. Discussing the booming popularity of Formula 1 in the Netherlands with Dutch magazine Gassan, Doornbos attributed the rise to his...
Off Camber: Why Claims of F1’s Real Life Irrelevance Are Wrong
In an interview with Auto Bild, BMW’s Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt has shot out at Formula 1 claiming the sport has “absolutely nothing” to do with real-world motoring technology. The full quote reads: “The V6 Turbo Hybrid is an engine that has absolutely...
On This Day: Stallone disappoints, Berger team owner…
Looking back at stand-out dates over the years in Formula 1 history, 9 February will be remembered for the following: Sylvester Stallone disappointed F1 fans when he revealed that his highly anticipated motor racing film in 2000, Driven, would in fact be based on the...
Verstappen: There’s Always Room for Improvement
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has revealed he is far from satisfied with his performances in Formula 1 so far, and hopes the next generation can step-up to alleviate the ‘boredom’ of Lewis Hamilton always winning. Speaking in an interview last week with Auto Zeitung, the...
Daytona 500 kicks-off NASCAR’s 2020 season of change
AP motorsport correspondent Jenna Fryer previews the forthcoming NASCAR season and writes that the sky isn’t falling — or at least it doesn’t feel that way — as America’s premier tintop series heads into the first of two seasons full of change. In the three months...
On This Day: Not much happened…
In the history of Formula 1, 8 February has not recorded many remarkable events however a few are worth recalling in our daily journey down memory lane. In 2002, the coroner investigating the death of marshal Graham Beveridge during the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, in...
FIA Details Fuel-Flow Meter Requirements for 2021
The FIA has released an invitation to tender for the standard fuel-flow meter to be used from the 2021 season, as part of its push to cut costs and avoid controversies like the one surrounding Ferrari during the 2019 season. A move first announced with the rest of the...
BMW: Formula 1 Tech Has No Road Relevance
BMW’s Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt has shot-down hopes of the marque returning to F1, indicating the current technology can’t be applied to their road car business. Despite a relationship with the sport that stretches back to 1952, Marquardt believes that BMW’s...
Jakarta’s first Formula E race hits a snag
The all-electric Formula E series is looking for a new location for its first race in Jakarta on June 6 after Indonesian officials ruled out a proposed temporary track around the capital’s National Monument. A Formula E spokesman said on Thursday that, following...
FIA: No single specific cause for Anthoine Hubert crash
The official Formula 1 website reports that the “FIA’s Safety department has completed its investigation into the accident in the FIA Formula 2 Championship race at Spa-Francorchamps on 31 August 2019, in which French driver Anthoine Hubert suffered fatal injuries and...
Chinese Grand Prix logistics deadline fast approaching
Formula 1 would seek to reschedule the Chinese Grand Prix if it has to be postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic, according to motorsport managing director Ross Brawn. The high-profile race in Shanghai, due to be broadcast to many millions of television viewers...
The Undercut: In a Coronavirus crisis, F1 Needs Bernie
Who should be most afraid of the coronavirus? The Chinese? Undoubtedly. The Formula E driver Ma Qing Hua, who is stuck in quarantine in Mexico? For sure. Panicked idiots on social media? Definitely. But spare a thought or two for Chase Carey, whose Liberty Media...
Barcelona Testing to Receive Full TV Coverage
Formula 1 has announced that this year’s two tests in Barcelona will be treated as ‘official events’, with the same level of TV coverage afforded to race weekends. As revealed in a press release on Thursday, the broadcast teams of Sky Italia and Sky UK will work in...
Brawn: Lewis Deserves to Be Alongside Schumi
Formula 1 Managing Director Ross Brawn has heaped praise on Lewis Hamilton, saying he would put him in the same class as Michael Schumacher. Having worked alongside Schumacher and Hamilton during his time with Mercedes, Brawn is uniquely qualified to discuss both...
Haas: We’ve Been Through a Real Education Process
Gene Haas has admitted 2019 was a difficult year for his eponymous Formula 1 team, but is hopeful the lessons-learned will help them return to prominence this season. Quoted in a statement released alongside the team’s livery reveal for the 2020 season, the...
On This Day: Reutemann’s win that wasn’t and other memories
On 7 February 1981, Carlos Reutemann won the controversial and rain-soaked South African Grand Prix in a Williams – the race did not count towards the FIA World Championship that year. It was a FOCA organised race held in the heart of the fierce cold-war between the...
Brawn: We Don’t Want a Championship Won Because of a Loophole
Formula 1 is planning to make changes to its system of governance from 2021 in order to make it more difficult to exploit loopholes, says managing director Ross Brawn. Amidst a wave of alterations to F1’s sporting, technical and financial regulations being introduced...
Haas reveal their 2020 back-to-roots-livery
< ► > Haas F1 Team have jumped the gun and revealed their 2020 livery ahead of the planned car reveal pencilled in for February 19 at Catalunya. The livery, released today across the teams social media platforms, sees a return to familiar colours following the...
Brawn: We Will Try to Move Chinese Grand Prix
Managing director of Formula 1 Ross Brawn has revealed he is doubtful the Coronavirus outbreak will allow the Chinese Grand Prix to run in its scheduled April timeslot, but may still happen later in the season. The virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan...
Marko: Max Knows He Won’t Win the Championship in the First Corner
Max Verstappen’s championship aspirations will see him take a more measured approach to races this season, according to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The long-time shot-caller of Red Bull’s young driver programme, Marko told Kronen Zeitung the Dutchman will look to...
Wolff: Lewis Wants the Fastest Car, We Want the Best Driver
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has spoken out about the rumours surrounding his team and the contract of Lewis Hamilton, indicating neither matter has given him much cause for concern. The futures of Hamilton and the team he drives for have been hot topics on the F1...
Horner: Lewis and Sebastian Wouldn’t Fit With Us
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel may have ten Formula 1 titles between them, but Red Bull wouldn’t take either alongside Max Verstappen, says team boss Christian Horner. The two champions are out of contract at the end of the season, by which time 35-year-old...
Chinese driver Ma Qinghua in quarantine in Mexico
China’s only Formula E driver Ma Qinghua has gone into quarantine in Mexico ahead of that country’s race on 15 February to calm fears about the coronavirus epidemic ahead of the Mexico City ePrix. Ma’s Nio 333 team said in a statement that Chinese employees who had...
Fernandes: Caterham in F1 was a branding exercise
AirAsia Group Bhd’s Tony Fernandes on Tuesday denied his now-defunct Formula 1 racing team had any links to a bribery scandal involving the Malaysian airline’s only plane supplier, Airbus SE. Fernandes, one of the aviation industry’s best-known faces, on Monday...
Shanghai Advises Grand Prix Cancellation
It was announced yesterday that the Formula 1 Strategy Group would meet on Wednesday to discuss the fate of the Chinese Grand Prix, and increasingly it seems the race on 19 April will be cancelled or postponed. With coronavirus having now claimed the lives of 500...
Mekies: Vettel a Natural Leader
Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies has reiterated he has not lost faith in his driver Sebastian Vettel, calling the German a ‘natural leader’. Speaking in an interview with Autosprint, Mekies argued Vettel continues to hold a place of great importance in the...
Fernandes and Caterham Targeted in Bribery Probe
Tony Fernandes, the owner of former Formula 1 team Caterham has found himself in hot water, with a UK fraud investigation being launched into payments he took from aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Owner and CEO of budget airline AirAsia, Fernandes is being accused by the...
Camilleri: We Never Give Up and Our Ambition is to Win
Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri maintains his company will approach the 2020 season as any other, despite the looming regulation changes in 2021 and associated cost cap. Speaking in a conference call with investors on Tuesday, Camilleri stressed Ferrari’s mission this...
Cowell: Mercedes Engine Fighting a Few Little Issues
Andy Cowell, Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, has revealed the team is experiencing a few gremlins with its power unit ahead of their February 14 car launch. Speaking in a video posted by Mercedes across their social media channels,...
Chinese Grand Prix Decision Expected on Wednesday
On Sunday, we reported that the Chinese Grand Prix could be in jeopardy given the ever-increasing coronavirus concerns. Now it is understood that Formula 1’s strategy group will meet on Wednesday to decide the events fate. Coronavirus and the international response...
Leclerc: Not everyone will like me but it’s the way I am
Charles Leclerc proved last year he was no number-two driver, the shy baby-faced Ferrari driver is a steely fighter when his visor is down and he insists, ahead of his second year in Red, that finishing second is not on his agenda. In an interview with MotorSport...
Why did Ferrari run a double-wing at Long Beach in 1982?
Formula 1 at the highest level is a mix of ‘Cold-War-meets-Tom & Jerry’ as teams and their bright engineers try and eke every inch of performance within the regulations, many times they push the envelope as far as they can, as Ferrari did 1t the 1982 United States...
Grosjean: We learned a lot in 2019 now we want to best midfield team
Many were surprised when Hass F1 team confirmed Romain Grosjean for another season in the top flight, the Frenchman had a wayward spell which did him no favours and tested the patience of the American outfit. In other words, Grosjean is lucky to remain on the Formula...
Super Bowl F1 Protest Disrupted by Anti-Circumcision Group
Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers may have been a great game of American football, but it wasn’t the only spectacle taking place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. With plans moving forward for the host of the NFL championship...
Seidl: We Won’t Contend Before 2023
McLaren’s Andreas Seidl has revealed he is optimistic about McLaren’s chances of improving on their strong 2019 season, but doesn’t expect to be a winning outfit for a few more years yet. Despite leading McLaren to their best constructor’s championship finish in seven...
Verstappen: Lewis is Good but He’s Not God
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen believes he can stop Lewis Hamilton from winning a seventh Formula 1 title in 2020, as long as his car is competitive enough to do so. The 22-year-old Dutch driver won three races last year, finishing third overall in the championship, and is...
Binotto: We Need to Get Better at Politics
Ferrari must get better at navigating the political landscape of Formula 1, according to team principal Mattia Binotto. Last year the Scuderia came under frequent fire from rival teams for the legality of their power unit, pressure Binotto felt his team was...
Outside Line: What Now for Fernando?
As The Office’s Michael Scott once said: How the turn tables… Just a few days ago, Fernando Alonso had the best seat on the Indy 500 grid with Andretti Autosport, now he’s scrambling for another drive — all thanks to his old “friends” at Honda. In vetoing his race...
Mallya: I Am Delighted for Lawrence and the Team
Lawrence Stroll’s deal to transform Racing Point into an Aston Martin works team is the realisation of a long-held “dream”, says former owner Vijay Mallya. Owning the Formula 1 team as Force India from 2008-2018, Mallya built the former Spyker into one of the most...
Honda Denies Alonso Indy 500 Drive
Fernando Alonso has had his Indy 500 drive with Andretti Autosport sensationally vetoed at the 11th hour by engine supplier Honda. Per a report from RACER, two-time Formula 1 world champion Alonso was set to have his drive confirmed last week, before the Japanese...
Could the Spanish Grand Prix Return to Jerez?
Formula 1 could return to Jerez as early as the 2021 season, according to a Spanish MP. Speaking to Spanish Media, Juan Marin, a member of parliament in Andalusia, confirmed talks are underway with Liberty Media to bring an F1 race back to the circuit for the first...
Flashback: How the FISA-FOCA War Shaped the F1 of Today
While the late 1970s and early 1980s saw the United States and the Soviet Union pitted their great minds and politicians against each other in a battle of mind games, deceit and strategy, Formula One fans were experiencing their own Cold War much closer to home. Not...
Bathurst 12-Hours: The Bentley Boys and their brilliant day
The Bentley Boys – South African Jordan Pepper, Frenchman Jules Gunon and Belgian Maxime Soulet – have won the Intercontinental GT Series opening Bathurst 12-hour in Australia on Sunday. The trio overcame a troubled Friday to qualify tenth and the number 7 Bentley was...
Sirotkin: To Realise My F1 Dream is Over is Very Tough
Former Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin has revealed he is still struggling with the realisation his Formula 1 career is over, over a year after his exit from the sport. Speaking to Autosport at the launch of his karting academy in Moscow, the 24-year-old Russian...
Tost: 22 Races is the Absolute Limit
Formula 1 teams will risk personnel burn-out if the calendar expands beyond 22 races, says AlphaTauri’s Franz Tost. Speaking in an interview with RACER, the long-time team principal of Red Bull’s junior outfit explained the 2020 season’s expanded calendar hasn’t...
Red Mist: The quaint quandary of Aston’s sink or swim F1 gamble
Hush, little baby, don’t say a word, papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won’t sing, papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turns brass, papa’s gonna buy you some racing cars. And if them racing cars get broke, papa’s...
Chadwick: I Don’t Think I’m Ready For F1 Yet
Jamie Chadwick doubts she would be ready to make the leap to Formula 1, despite her status as winner of the inaugural W Series. F1’s latest hope for its first female race driver since 1976, the 21-year-old has suggested she needs more experience in the...
Binotto: Vettel-Leclerc Rivalry an ‘Advantage’
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto maintains his driver pairing of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel is an ‘advantage’, despite their on-track tension throughout the 2019 season. Speaking in an interview with motorsport-total.com, the Italian stated his belief that the...
Alonso: ‘GP2 Engine’ Comments Were Regrettable
Fernando Alonso has conceded his infamous “GP2 engine” comments would have been better left unsaid, but maintains he was expressing frustration any ‘top driver” would understand. Reflecting on his tumultuous time with McLaren-Honda in his interview with F1 Racing, the...
Stroll pockets $46-Million in Aston Martin deal
Bloomberg reports that billionaire Lawrence Stroll has already made a return on his investment in the ailing British sportscar maker Aston Martin after their management were given a lesson in how not to manage an IPO. The Bloomberg report added: “The maker of Aston...
Formula 1 will change calendar to avoid coronavirus
Formula 1 is closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak in China and will modify its race calendar if necessary, amid growing concern about the spread of the virus. International sports have been postponed and Olympic qualifying tournaments in soccer, basketball and...
Racing Point F1 team to become Aston Martin in 2021
Racing Point will become the Aston Martin factory Formula 1 team from 2021 after their Canadian billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll bought a stake in the ailing British sportscar maker on Friday. The deal means Aston Martin’s title sponsorship of former world champions...
Marko: We Will ‘Definitely Protest’ if Ferrari Engine is Suspicious
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has promised his team will “definitely protest” Ferrari’s power unit in 2020 if they suspect irregularities have carried over from the 2019 season. The German broadcaster RTL quotes team boss Christian Horner as suggesting F1’s governing body...
Hamilton: FYI Toto and I haven’t spoken about a contract yet
Six times Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says he is yet to start talks with Mercedes to extend his contract beyond this year, despite media reports they had stalled already over wage demands. The 35-year-old Briton denied the speculation in a post,...
Aston Martin-Red Bull to Part Ways After 2020
Red Bull will not continue with Aston Martin as a title sponsor beyond 2020, the team has confirmed in a statement. The partnership, which began at the start of the 2018 season, has been brought to an end as part of Lawrence Stroll’s purchase of a 16.7% stake in the...
Confirmed: Stroll buys 16.7% stake in Aston Martin
Following from our earlier report, Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll will take a 16.7% stake in Aston Martin for 182 million pounds ($239 million) as the ailing carmaker raises funds after a sales drop put pressure on its finances. Famed for being fictional secret...
Red Mist: What are those Dutchmen smoking at Zandvoort?
Woke up this morning and rubbed the gunk out of my eyes as I always do, reached for the iPhone, logged into GP247 and soon read the Reuters story about Zandvoort. Had to wipe the shit out of the eyes a second time — what are those Dutchmen smoking? Make no mistake,...
FIA ‘Closely Monitoring’ Coronavirus Outbreak
The FIA has released a statement regarding the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak in China, promising to “take any action” necessary to protect the motorsport community. With the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix scheduled to take place from April 17-19, concerns are mounting...
The Undercut: ‘Woke’ Formula 1 is a major turn-off
Orange juice and toothpaste. Bathtubs and toasters. Babies and walls. Formula 1 and climate change. Just a few things that, in my humble opinion, should not go together. Of course, I am well aware that, unlike throwing a baby against a wall, there’s definitely a case...
Hamilton: Papers Are Making Up Stories
Lewis Hamilton has savaged reports his contract negotiations with Mercedes have hit difficulties, indicating that in reality, he hasn’t even begun discussions. Taking to Instagram to clear the air in a now-deleted post, the six-time world champion suggested he had...
Källenius: Mercedes Exit Rumours are Not True
Daimler CEO Ola Kaellenius has hit back at claims Mercedes are set to pull out of the Formula 1 World Championship. Autocar and the racefans.net website reported earlier that the subject of whether Mercedes should leave the sport as a constructor would be discussed at...
Alonso to Run Indy 500 With Andretti
It’s no secret that completing the ‘Triple Crown’ is top of Fernando Alonso’s list of things to do and after falling short in 2017 due to reliability issues and failing to qualify in 2019. Spanish media outlet Diario AS claim an official announcement will be made this...
Stroll Lining-Up £200m, 20% Stake in Aston Martin
Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll is one of two bidders left in the running to purchase a stake in Aston Martin, according to a report on Thursday. Per a report in the Financial Times, the Formula 1 team owner is competing with Chinese carmaker Geely to secure the...
John Andretti Passes Away at 56
John Andretti, the nephew of Formula 1 world champion Mario Andretti and IndyCar and NASCAR driver, has died at age 56 after a long battle with cancer. Andretti, part of the well-known Andretti racing family, had wins in CART, IMSA GTP, Rolex Sports Car Series and...
Lammers: Zandvoort is most talked-about circuit in Formula 1
A totally refurbished track featuring two banked curves unique to Formula 1 racing should help Zandvoort permanently reclaim its place in motor sport’s elite class as it returns to the Netherlands for the first time since 1985 on May 3. Riding high on a wave of Max...
Marko: No Team is Willing to Give Hamilton $66 Million
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has waded into the ongoing contract saga between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, suggesting the Briton may find it difficult to get the compensation he is asking for. Having just re-signed his own driver Max Verstappen to a new three-year...
Alonso: Would Be Nice to Have a ‘Proper Fight’ with Hamilton
Fernando Alonso has hinted again at his desire to return to Formula 1 with the goal of challenging six-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Speaking to F1 Racing, the 2005 and 2006 Driver’s World Champion suggested the Briton has weaknesses that no one on the current grid...
Red Bull Announce 14-Year-Old Addition to Junior Team
Red Bull have announced only one new addition to their junior team for 2020: 14-year-old American Jak Crawford. The pipeline through which the energy drinks outfit has found Formula 1 drivers Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, among others,...
Williams Announces Two New Hires to Technical Team
ROKiT Williams Racing is delighted to announce two new appointments that will strengthen its technical team. David Worner, who will be Chief Designer, and Jonathan Carter, who will be Deputy Chief Designer & Head of Design, both have many years of experience in...
Red Mist: Botched data, split agendas and plenty hot air at Ferrari
The story of Ferrari’s pre-season woes before the testing even starts, continues to rise to level of hysteria one would expect from a rock and roll groupie screaming at the feet of her performing hero at her first concert. Of course, this story has been about for a...
Matthias Lauda: Hard to believe he is no longer around me
The passing of Formula 1 icon Niki Lauda is still hard to fathom for family members, particularly his son Mathias who wakes every morning still coming to terms with the absence of his legendary father. While the headlines of Niki’s incredible life and the final battle...
Vettel: Remove the Batteries, Double the Cylinders
Formula 1 needs to ditch the hybrid power units and go back to conventional combustion engines, says Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. The sport moved away from its fuel-hungry and famously-loud fully normally-aspirated engines at the end of 2013, replacing them with the...
Boullier Promoted at French Grand Prix, Promises Changes
Eric Boullier has been promoted to Managing Director of the the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France, the race’s organisers announced on Monday. Formerly team principal at Renault/Lotus and racing director at McLaren, the 46-year-old Frenchman had previously joined the...
Renault Announce February Start for Pat Fry
Renault have announced today that Pat Fry will join the team as Technical Director (Chassis) starting from February 5th. Having announced Fry’s hiring back in November, the French constructor have now revealed the 55-year-old will start work at his new job exactly one...
Hamilton: Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest athletes
As the world absorbs the shock of losing a true icon of sport, Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to the great Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend. Bryant, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players and an athlete of global renown, was killed at...
Wayne Taylor obliterates Daytona 24 field without his sons
Wayne Taylor raised two sons to become world-class sports car drivers but in the biggest endurance race event in North America, the recent empty nester proved he’s still the man in charge. Wayne Taylor Racing won the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona on Sunday for the...
Marko: Most talented outside Red Bull? Clearly Leclerc
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has offered high praise for Charles Leclerc, rating the Ferrari driver second only to his own charge Max Verstappen. Speaking to motorsport-total.com, the long-time consultant for the energy drinks outfit did not hesitate when asked to name the...
Outside Line: Sergio at 30
It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the emergence of Sergio Perez onto the Formula 1 scene, when as a fresh-faced 22-year-old driving for Sauber, he came within one small error of victory at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. And yet here we are, eight years...
The mental side of F1 – how do drivers cope?
There’s no doubt that Formula 1 racing is a hugely demanding sport…. not only are drivers expected to produce results on a regular basis, but they have to deal with that pressure both on and off the track on their own. Sure, they have a team around them, but F1...
Kobayashi the Star in Daytona 24-Hour Win
Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi pulled away in the closing hours to give Wayne Taylor Racing to their second consecutive 24 Hours of Daytona victory in a Cadillac DPI on Sunday. The international team won by more than a minute over a pole-setting Mazda with five-time IndyCar...
Off-Camber: Mercedes drive might’ve been a setback for Ocon
In a recent interview with ESPN, Esteban Ocon has claimed that he became very close to a race seat alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2020. However, he goes into the new season as Daniel Ricciardo’s teammate at Renault – arguably the preferred position for a returning driver...
Flashback: When Formula 1 lost big on a Las Vegas gamble
Formula 1 guru Michele Lupini considers the problems afflicting the prospect of a Miami Grand Prix and compares the shenanigans to the time Formula 1 ran races in Las Vegas – in a huge car park in 1981 and 1982. Bernie Ecclestone, F1 supremo of the time, always wanted...
Binotto: We’re Aiming for a Lot More Downforce
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has revealed a change in design philosophy for the team’s 2020 challenger, with a greater emphasis on cornering at the expense of some straight-line speed. As reported by f1technical.net, the Formula 1 titans have opted for a fundamental...
IMSA’s top class set to compete at Le Mans from 2022
IMSA will create a new car for its top-class that will be eligible to race at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans by 2022. The new car will be called the Le Mans Daytona h and be eligible for teams to compete for both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the...
Hamilton-Mercedes Extension Talks Hit Complications
Lewis Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes have hit a snag, according to reports in the Italian press. As reported by Il Correre dello Sport via FormulaPassion.it, differences in duration and annual salary are keeping the two sides apart. The Italian paper...
New Max Mosley Doco to Debut in March
The first trailer for Mosley, a documentary about the former FIA President has dropped on YouTube, highlighting his response to his infamous 2008 sex scandal. As first revealed by Motorsport.com, the film will chronicle both the highs and lows of Mosley’s career,...
Perez: It’s a Big Year Coming Up for Us
The 2020 Formula 1 season will see significant improvement from Racing Point, according to the team’s driver, Sergio Perez. Speaking in an interview with Autosport, the 29-year-old Mexican suggested his team’s 2019 campaign had been hamstrung by their previous...
Mazda Team Joest to start Rolex 24 from pole again
Mazda Team Joest won the pole for the Rolex 24 at Daytona in a session shortened when Ricky Taylor crashed his Team Penske in Thursday qualifying. Oliver Jarvis piloted the Mazda DPi to the top starting spot in the twice-round-the-clock endurance race that begins...
Brown: Red Bull Can be a Bit Rough on Their Drivers
McLaren’s Zak Brown has heaped praise on his driver Carlos Sainz while criticising the Spaniard’s former team Red Bull for their treatment of young drivers. Speaking last week at the Autosport International motor show, CEO Brown said the 25-year-old had been...
Chinese Grand Prix Under Threat from Coronavirus
The 2020 Chinese Grand Prix could find itself removed from the Formula 1 calendar after Chinese officials announced the suspension of all motorsport events in the country until April due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. The Formula 1 Grand Prix, which is scheduled...
Todt: Whoever is in Formula 1 is privileged
FIA president Jean Todt has played down concerns about Formula 1’s ever-expanding world championship race calendar but says that’s the price to pay for those privileged to work in the top flight. With many in the sport already unhappy about the unprecedentedly-long...
Renault: Honda and Mercedes behind us, Ferrari is a bit ahead
Renault’s Formula 1 engine boss claims the French team now has a better engine than Mercedes despite the fact that his cars were over one second off the Silver Arrows’ pace in 2019. During the ‘power unit’ era, the widespread belief was that Renault struggled to keep...
Pirelli: Discussions with teams were not negative at all
Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola insists that Formula 1 teams were “not negative” about his company’s rejected tyres designed for the 2020 world championship season. Reports indicated that the teams voted to keep the 2019 tyres this year following a round of...
Rosenqvist: Formula 1? No thank you. I want to win races
Swedish race driver Felix Rosenqvist says he has little interest in launching a Formula 1 career where he would not be satisfied racing without a chance of winning. “Formula 1? No thank you. I want to win races,” Rosenqvist told Expressen newspaper. Rosenqvist, 28,...
Red Mist: I smell a rat at Maranello
Is Ferrari spinning a safe yarn on its 2020 potential? If you were developing a brand new Formula 1 car and the shit just hit the wind tunnel fan, would you tell the world your car is crap weeks before it even turned a wheel? Neither would I. And I smell a rat at...
The Undercut: Every female only driver initiative should be axed
It’s not a particularly impressive boast in our oh-so-woke year of 2020, but I’ll say it anyway: many, many women inspire me (and not just my wife, Mum, daughters and sisters). Margaret Thatcher was a controversial figure, but she definitely inspired women to think...
Ferrari in trouble ahead of 2020 F1 car launch?
More rumblings about trouble with Ferrari’s 2020 car are emerging, journalist and Maranello ‘insider’ Leo Turrini wrote that data from the 2020 car coming out of the simulator and wind tunnel “have not impressed the engineers.” Now, citing ‘reliable sources within...
Latifi claims Rosberg’s number six for his rookie season
Formula 1 rookie Nicholas Latifi has made the call and will race with the number six on his car – formerly Nico Rosberg’s number – in a nod to the telephone area code of his home city Toronto. The Canadian, this season’s sole rookie driver, explained his choice on...
Grosjean: I’ve many plans for after F1 but 33 is still young
Romain Grosjean has admitted he has given some thought to life after Formula 1 as he enters what could well be his last in the top flight unless he can seriously raise his game at the highest level and bend fewer cars. At 33, the Haas driver is now one of the oldest...
Nissany: I can learn a lot and use this experience
Claire Williams has admitted that Roy Nissany, the team’s little known and new Formula 1 test driver, could be on the grid for the 2021 world championship season. Nissany has been ridiculed by some for a lack of competitiveness, but he comes with the key backing of...
Vasseur: We are creating a completely new car
Alfa Romeo is building a “completely new car” for the 2020 Formula 1 season, team principal Frederic Vasseur has revealed. Most teams are looking at the new season as a sort of extension of 2019, as the regulations are stable ahead of the sweeping new rule changes for...
Russell: Every driver hopes for a Mercedes call-up
While firmly committed to Williams, promising youngster George Russell says he will keep his eye out for “offers” from more competitive Formula 1 teams. The 2019 rookie insists he is happy to remain with backmarker Grove outfit, even though the car they provided him...
Briatore: Alonso among 5 or 6 drivers who would win titles with Mercedes
Five or six drivers could have won the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship at the wheel of Mercedes W10 claims Flavio Briatore, with Fernando Alonso among them. “Mercedes is an invincible battleship. At least five or six drivers, including Alonso, would have won the...
Brown: McLaren are still a young team
McLaren CEO Zak Brown is not expecting his resurgent team to be placed higher in the pecking order this year than they did at the end of the 2019 Formula 1 season. The British team’s recovery from a recent slump took a major step forward last year, as McLaren...
Williams: Absolute confidence our 2020 car will be ready for testing
Deputy team boss Claire Williams is expecting her beleaguered team to be ready for the very first day of winter testing next month at Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. Before struggling to dead last in the 2019 Formula 1 constructors’ championship last year, Williams...
Hamilton: I need to pay Kimi to stay in F1 so I’m not the oldest 🙂
Six-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton says he feels “fitter than ever” as he targets a record-equalling seventh world championship in 2020. A few days ago on Instagram, the 35-year-old Mercedes driver warned that he will be “a machine this year, on another...
Haas goes back to the recent future for 2020 livery
The Haas F1 team looks set to revert to its 2018 style livery for this year’s Formula 1 World Championship season, according to a report in Auto Motor und Sport. Last year, the small American team exchanged its predominantly white, grey and red livery for all black...
Still hope that Formula 1 will return to Hockenheim
Formula 1’s door is “not closed” to Hockenheim, according to Thomas Reister boss of Emodrom, a company charged with the strategic development of the venue that has been left off Formula 1’s 2020 world championship calendar. It is reported that, in the wake of the...
Marko shuts door on Vergne’s F1 future with Red Bull
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has all but ruled out a return to Formula 1 for Jean-Eric Vergne who has grown in stature and experience, with success, outside of the top flight. Vergne, now 29, raced for Toro Rosso between 2012 and 2014, but since being ousted by Red...
Key things to look out for ahead of the 2020 Formula 1 season
Last year’s Formula 1 season may have looked like business as usual with both Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes coming out on top. But 2020 could be a very different year for F1 motor racing. This is because it’s widely expected to be a driver-focused fight for the next...
#TheXtraLap: Thoughts ahead of the 2020 Formula 1 season
Before the season starts and we get a better idea of what the standings will be like, I wanted to make an effort to think about my expectations for 2020. I will give my opinion on each team and what I think is possible in 2020. Mind you, these are my thoughts and not...
Carey: Thank you to Sean Bratches on behalf of Formula 1
Formula 1 has announced today that Sean Bratches will step down from his role as Managing Director of Commercial Operations following three years at the organisation, he will leave Formula 1 at the end of January 2020 but will continue to support the business in an...
Hamilton set to sign two-year extension with Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton looks set to re-commit to Mercedes, according to the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport, the report claims that the six-time world champion, earlier linked with a 2021 switch to Ferrari, will, in fact, re-sign with Mercedes for 2021 and 2022....
Stroll and Wolff to buy Mercedes F1 team?
Billionaire businessman Lawrence Stroll and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff could be planning to take over the Silver Arrows operation from 2021, according to veteran German correspondent Ralf Bach. The report, published on F1-insider, claims that Wolff had actually...
Bottas: Everything is a little open after this year
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas says he is not surprised that top teams Ferrari and Red Bull are leading the way with the 2021 Formula 1 ‘silly season’. Like many drivers on the grid, 30-year-old Bottas is out of contract at the end of this season. Worth noting is...
Bratches set to leave F1 and won’t be replaced
Formula 1’s commercial director Sean Bratches is set to leave the sport and the position he had is unlikely to be filled in the short term. We reported last year that an announcement could be “imminent”, with Liberty’s Chase Carey and Ross Brawn staying put but...
F1C Movie Review: Bad Boys for Life
Bad Boys Bad Boys!!! In honor of a movie Somky and I have been waiting for since 2003 when the sequel to the original Will Smith/Martin Lawrence goofball/ass kicking/bad guy beating/driving Porsches and Ferraris (don't be a bitch Marcus!) in a completely...
Formula E Santiago: Guenther becomes youngest winner
BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s Max Guenther clinched a hard-earned victory in the scorching heat of Santiago after a fierce battle with DS Techeetah’s Antonio Felix da Costa. Finishing in third was Poleman and Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans. Here’s how it all...
Saudi Arabia target 2021 Grand Prix, building track at Qiddiya
< ► > Saudi Arabia are on course to host a Grand Prix in the country, with former Formula 1 driver Alex Wurz a driving force behind the massive Qiddiya entertainment mega-city project, on the outskirts of Riyadh and are even prepared to host the first two races...
Leclerc’s younger brother Arthur steps into the spotlight
Charles Leclerc’s younger brother Arthur has been selected for the Ferrari’s Driver Academy (FDA), the Italian Formula 1 team’s junior programme, they announced on Friday. The 19-year-old Monegasque becomes part of a group of promising youngsters that includes Mick...
Kvyat: I became a better driver in 2019
Daniil Kvyat’s own synopsis of his performance last season with Toro Rosso is honest and forthright, now the rapid Russian is looking ahead to future success as he continues to prove he is deserving of his second chance on Formula 1. It seemed only yesterday that Max...
Bottas finishes ninth in Arctic Lapland Rally
Mercedes F1 driver Valtteri Bottas finished ninth in this year’s edition of the Arctic Lapland Rally with experienced co-driver Timo Rautiainen. It was the Finn’s second appearance at the event also known as Tunturiralli. Last year he finished fifth in his debut but,...
Outside Line: The Rapid Rise of W-Series
I’ll admit that when W-Series launched last year, I didn’t give it much thought. While I was by no means opposed to it, I was sceptical it could secure a long-term place in the motorsports landscape. However, considering what they’ve achieved in the past twelve months...
Formula E attracting oil giants to the fold
Oil giants familiar to fans of fossil-fuelled Formula 1 are finding a new focus for their energies in the all-electric world of Formula E. Shell, decades-long sponsors of F1 glamour team Ferrari, are partnering the Nissan and Mahindra Formula E outfits while branding...
Tata Communications: We achieved what we set out to do in F1
Tata Communications has ended a partnership with Formula 1 after eight years working together on the sport’s digital transformation, the Indian-owned company said. Formula 1 confirmed they were no longer official partners, without further comment. Amit Sinha Roy, vice...
Florsch: Women drivers serve as advertising objects
German race driver Sophia Florsch thinks Formula 1 too often uses female drivers purely to attract attention and be seen to be doing the politically correct thing. On Twitter, the 17-year-old hit out after Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto announced that the Italian F1...
Sainz wins Dakar for third time as Brabec takes bike title
Carlos Sainz became a triple Dakar Rally champion with the Mini X-Raid team while American Ricky Brabec took the motorcycle crown for Honda and ended KTM’s 18-year dominance. Both are the first winners in Saudi Arabia, a country making its debut as host of the...
Nissany: The goal is to race in Israel in 2021
There may be more than meets the eye with regards to Williams’ signing little known Israeli driver Roy Nissany, as he hinted this may be the first step towards a Grand Prix in the country. At the post-grand prix test in Abu Dhabi last year, the unknown 25-year-old...
Two new ponies for the Ferrari Driver Academy
Ferrari Driver Academy have confirmed the addition of two young guns to the junior programme at Maranello. Arthur Leclerc (right), brother of Charles, and Dino Beganovic (left) who will begin the journey in a programme also includes Mick Schumacher, son of F1 legend...
W Series Formula 1 support bill in Austin and Mexico
Formula 1 announces that W Series will be part of the schedule of two 2020 Grand Prix events: United States, which will take place in Austin from 23rd to 25th October, and Mexico City, which will be hosted in the Federal Capital of Mexico from 30th October to 1st...
Hamilton: I’m going to be a machine this year
Lewis Hamilton has warned rivals that he plans to be better than ever as he chases a record-equalling seventh Formula 1 World Championship title this season. The 35-year-old Mercedes driver posted a picture on Instagram of himself at home, hugging a wooden pillar and...
Domenicali: Ferrari focus is on Leclerc, not Hamilton
Former Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Stefano Domenicali does not believe that Lewis Hamilton will be heading to Maranello any time soon. In the wake of his meeting with Ferrari chairman John Elkann being leaked, speculation that six-time champion Hamilton could...
Zaffelli: Zandvoort will be a circuit for very brave drivers
Zandvoort will be a Formula 1 circuit for the very brave according to track designer Jarno Zaffelli, boss of the Italian circuit design company Dromo, charged was modifying the classic John Hugenholtz-designed layout ahead of the 2020 Dutch Grand Prix on 3 May. “It is...
Marko: More than five wins needed for the 2020 title
Helmut Marko says he has set a target of “more than five” victories by Red Bull-Honda for the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship season The team, having finished behind Mercedes and Ferrari last year, is clearly targeting the title with Max Verstappen in 2020. Marko...
Dakar Stage 11: Extreme action all round
Dakar Saudi Arabia delivered another scintillating penultimate day of racing to see the lead battles tighten up following the closest of finishes in both the car and bike races on Thursday. Stephane Peterhansel beat Nasser Al Attiyah to win the car race by just ten...
Marko: Pierre Should Take Some of the Blame
Pierre Gasly has to take his share of responsibility for his disappointing stint with Red Bull last year, according to Dr Helmut Marko. The Frenchman has expressed some unhappiness with the way his demotion to Toro Rosso was handled, revealing that “some promises were...
Leclerc: I Learned a Lot From Vettel
Charles Leclerc has conceded there were “tensions” between him and Sebastian Vettel last year, but is hoping the Ferrari teammates can work well together in 2020. Last year, Vettel’s new and decade-younger teammate successfully challenged the quadruple world...
Alonso: Hamilton’s Lifestyle Impossible in ‘Normal Car’
Lewis Hamilton would not be given the leeway to enjoy his current extravagant lifestyle if he raced in a “normal car”, according to Fernando Alonso. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Alonso made the comment whilst comparing the Briton to Michael Schumacher, having...
Floersch: We Have to Show That We Are Equal
Sophia Floersch, the young German driver best known for her horrendous crash at the 2018 Macau Grand Prix, has dismissed Ferrari’s move to sign a female driver as nothing more than a PR stunt. Referring to Ferrari’s driver academy, whose star signing at present is...
Brundle: I Would Ask Claire to Move Upstairs
Sky sports commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle believes it is time for Claire Williams to step aside at the legendary British team. On Wednesday, Williams was in Tel Aviv, where Roy Nissany – an almost completely unknown driver but with key backing in...
Red Mist: Will we see 2-stroke Formula 1 engines in the future?
Formula 1 may well be locked and loaded in anticipation of its all-new rules package next year, but the sport is already also well advanced on the stunning project of grand prix cars powered by sensational new eco-fuelled two-stroke engines in its next step towards a...
Maitland’s Undercut: McLaren’s launch date reveal beyond cringy
I sigh a lot, but I’ve trained myself to limit the constant cringing but cringing is exactly what I couldn’t help doing when Lando Norris ‘accidentally’ revealed the launch date of McLaren’s 2020 car during a ‘live stream’ on YouTube. Don’t get me wrong – I actually...
Williams confirm little known Nissany as test driver
Williams have confirmed that little known Roy Nissany as the team’s reserve driver joining fellow newcomer Nicholas Latifi alongside George Russell at the once-mighty but now beleaguered team. Nissany appeared on the F1 radar for the first when he tested for the Grove...
Magnussen: Different Zandvoort will be a bit crazy
Formula 1’s most recent addition to its growing calendar – Zandvoort – has undergone a circuit reprofiling to improve the spectacle of racing. Zandvoort, 30kms from Amsterdam, is set to host its first Grand Prix since 1985 in early May. The Dutch Grand Prix will join...
Bottas: There’s No Pressure
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas has played-down the impact of his contractual uncertainty on the upcoming F1 season, indicating his next round of negotiations will be different to those in the past. Late last year, after securing another one-year deal for 2020 only, the...
Alonso: 2021 Return on the Table
Fernando Alonso has indicated he will entertain the possibility of a return to F1 after this year’s Indianapolis 500. The Spaniard, who quit F1 at the end of 2018 to pursue other challenges including the ‘triple crown’, finished second in a stage of the Dakar rally on...
Leclerc: MotoGP Test Unlikely to Follow Skydive
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has announced he would like to follow in Lewis Hamilton’s wheel tracks by testing a MotoGP bike, but concedes his contract with Ferrari is likely to prevent it from happening. Before Christmas, six-time world champion Hamilton and MotoGP...
Marko: It Sounds Like a Carnival Speech
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has indicated he will need more convincing if he is to back Pat Symonds’ suggestion of two-stroke engines in F1 by 2025. In 2014, the sport’s new V6 ‘power unit’ era began, but the cost, complexity, sound and Mercedes’ dominance have all been...
Dakar Stage 9: Peterhansel wins, Al Attiyah closes on Sainz
Dakar 2020 is developing into an absolute epic — not only did Mini star Stephane Peterhansel’s Mini buggy beat Toyota’s Nasser Al Attiyah to a sensational Day 9 win by all of 15 seconds, but Al Attiyah closed to just 24 seconds behind Carlos Sainz Sr.’s second Mini...
Bahrain: We Would Welcome a Saudi GP
Bahraini officials have indicated their approval for another F1 race in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia reportedly long mooted as a destination on the calendar. Former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore, who some years ago helped to broker the deal that took the sport to...
Berger: Max and Charles Yet to Catch Lewis
Former Ferrari, McLaren and Benetton driver Gerhard Berger has heaped praise on six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, while suggesting he has two worthy successors in Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. In F1 circles, a clear debate is taking place as to whether it...
Red Mist: Is Alonso the greatest all-round race driver ever?
Is the double Formula 1 world champion en route to an incredible motorsport Quadruple Crown and with it the greatest all-round race driver ever? Fernando Alonso’s Dakar drive on Monday 13 may not have brought the Spanish double World Formula 1 champion and twin Le...
Bottas: My performance hasn’t peaked yet
Valtteri Bottas is sounding bullish about the 2020 Formula 1 season after the year began with media dubbing him as ‘Bottas 2.0’ when he enjoyed a boost of form, but ultimately he finished 87 points behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the title race. “I have found a...
Briatore: Verstappen must learn to keep his mouth shut
From a man who knows a thing or two about a managing a driver not afraid to shoot-from-the-hip when aggrieved, former Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore advises Max Verstappen to watch what he says. In the wake of Verstappen’s new deal with Red Bull through 2023,...
Dakar Stage 8: Serradori wins, Alonso finishes second!
Standalone South African race car maker Century scored an upset at Dakar 2020 Saudi Arabia when Frenchman Mattieu Serradori stormed to a convincing maiden stage win for the team over double world Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso and the might of Toyota. Serradori...
Racing Point: In 2020 and 2021 we feel we may suffer
Racing Point technical boss Andy Green admits he is “very nervous” about how the team will handle this year’s preparation and transition to the new Formula 1 rules of 2021. He says that while the big teams can afford to handle the 2020 and 2021 seasons concurrently,...
Ferrari codenamed 671 passes FIA crash tests
Ferrari’s 2020 Formula 1 2020 car, codenamed 671, has passed all 15 of the mandatory FIA crash tests ahead of its public launch in less than a month. Sky Italia said that exactly a month before the red single-seater is officially launched, the successful crash testing...
Pietro Fittipaldi expected to remain Haas reserve
Pietro Fittipaldi will remain a reserve driver at Haas for the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship season according to reports that have emerged in Denmark. “If I continue with Haas, I want to have a bigger role,” the 23-year-old, who is the grandson of F1 legend...
Kubica set for FP1 sessions and testing with Alfa Romeo
Newly appointed Alfa Romeo reserve driver Robert Kubica will participate in five Friday morning practice sessions during the forthcoming season. The Pole, whose sponsor PKN Orlen has also signed up with the Swiss-based team, is expected to shortly sign a DTM race deal...
Hulkenberg: Nothing concrete for the future
Formula 1’s latest exile Nico Hulkenberg is not ruling out a return to top-flight in the future despite being given the boot by Renault at the end of last season. After his 2010 debut with Williams, the German sat out 2011 as a reserve driver but has since raced for...
Outside Line: Who’s Under Pressure in 2020?
First things first: happy new year to all of you GP247 readers. 2019 was a great year for our site, and we hope 2020 — and indeed, this next decade — will be even better. This being the final year before F1 experiences a dramatic overhaul, we start the decade with...
Dakar Day 7: Portuguese rider killed as rally resumes
The 2020 Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia has been rocked by the tragic news that Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves (pictured above) succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall sustained 276 kilometres into today’s special stage. The Dakar officials reported: “The organisers...
Inside Line: Show me the Money!
An equally apt title for this piece would have been ‘Money Talks’ because it does so nowhere more so than in Formula 1 and, with this in mind, it’s worth establishing who was worth what to their teams in 2019. For the record, this is an unplanned Part II of my earlier...
Bottas: A demanding year but also motivating and rewarding
The Finnish National Automobile Sports Federation (AKK) has awarded Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas their top prize of Athlete of the Year at a prize gala celebrated with a crowd of around 1,250 guests at the Lahti Fair Center. Bottas finished second in last year’s...
Pirelli: Keeping 2019 F1 tyres takes out a bit of unpredictability
Formula 1 is likely to be more predictable this season after teams opted to stick with last year’s tyre specification, according to Pirelli’s racing head Mario Isola. The 10 teams voted unanimously last month to reject new tires that the sport’s sole supplier had been...
Red Mist: Who will replace Seb when he leaves Ferrari?
One of the biggest Formula 1 talking points, until the subject will be resolved later this year, will be the feud for the Ferrari number one seat, or in other words who Sebastian Vettel’s place at the Scuderia. The quadruple F1 World Champion’s contract with Maranello...
Alonso: Good pace, confident and improving
Fernando Alonso looks back on his first six days tackling the Dakar Rally – the world’s toughest motorsport event – confident that he is improving with every outing while he recovers admirably from a day two setback that cost him nearly three hours in the Saudi...
Pretenders to the F1 throne are eyeing the 2020 crown
Formula 1’s future seems brighter than ever with the recent announcement that Max Verstappen will remain signed with Red Bull until 2023. The news of Verstappen’s contract renewal comes no less than two weeks after Ferrari also revealed that their own superstar...
Inside Line: Is Verstappen on €16-million or €40-million per year?
Happy New Year Folks! Depending on what you read and who you believe, Max Verstappen’s new contract with Red Bull is worth anything from €16-million or €40-million per year? Big difference! That’s a huge discrepancy if one considers that Lewis Hamilton is on around...
Dakar Day 4: Peterhansel wins stage, Alonso up to 20th
Day 4 of the Dakar Rally, Wednesday’s 453km stage from Neom to Al-Ula, in Saudi Arabia, was a busy one for the cars and packed with heroics on a drama-filled day for bikes, while double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has climbed back into the top twenty. On...
Marko: I was very worried we’d lose Max to Mercedes
While from the outside it seemed a foregone conclusion that Max Verstappen would extend his contract with Red Bull, team advisor Helmut Marko has admitted he was “very worried” that Max Verstappen would quit Red Bull and switch to Mercedes in 2021. It was announced on...
Brundle: Good for Max, good for Red Bull and good for F1
Respected Sky F1 pundit and former F1 driver Martin Brundle has hailed the news of Max Verstappen’s contract extension with Red Bull, claiming it is good news also for the future of Formula 1. On Tuesday, Red Bull confirmed that their young Dutch star had inked a deal...
Maitland’s Undercut: Seriously smart signings of Max and Charles
It doesn’t really sound like a revolutionary statement to observe that the decision-makers at Ferrari and Red Bull are pretty damn smart. Both are among the grandee three teams, both have bursting trophy cabinets and ridiculous budgets, and both have kicked off 2020...