Felipe Massa has revealed some of the challenges he has faced since his return to racing in Formula E in Season 5.

The Brazilian has had a tough initiation with a 17th and 18th place in his first two races with Venturi but his participation has brought more casual attention to the all-electric series.

A natural question many will ask is Massa's thoughts when comparing Formula E to F1, where he raced until the end of 2017, and while the speed might be less, he admits the level of challenge remains high.

“It’s not easy,” Massa told RaceFans. “There are so many things you need to change, especially when you’re [used to] driving in Formula 1.

“I did some testing, I think step-by-step I’m understanding how is the procedure in Formula E."A

Read more ...

User Rating: 1 / 5

Ferrari chairman John Elkann insisted the decision to replace Maurizio Arrivabene was not the result of internal disagreements.

Last week it was confirmed Arrivabene had been relieved of his duties at Maranello and replaced by technical director Mattia Binotto ahead of the upcoming season.

The move came following months of speculation in the Italian media of a feud between the pair which was initially labelled as "fake news" by the now former team boss.

Speaking at the Detroit Auto Show, Elkann maintained that position in a forceful denial of the claims.

“The appointment of Mattia Binotto to Scuderia Ferrari’s team principal does not represent a reversal in sports management and does not arise from alleged disagreements within the team," he was quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"On the contrary, it is a decision decided by the company in agreement with Maurizio Arrivabene, who in the four years of commitment in that position has worked tirelessly to bring the Scuderia back to the levels of competitiveness it deserves.

"The work of Mattia, which has already started in anticipation of the season that is about to open, is based on what has been done in recent years, in a line of continuity that aims at evolution, certainly not a break with respect to the past."

Read more ...

Robert Kubica has defended the often divisive nature of Fernando Alonso's character claiming it is what made him successful in Formula 1.

The Spaniard called time on his F1 career after 17 years at the end of 2018, with one of the main observations being his achievements over that time haven't matched his immense talent.

Indeed, it is for that reason he has looked elsewhere to make his legacy in recent years, with becoming just the second driver to win motorsport's 'triple crown' now his main career goal.

What is also often stated, however, is how Alonso has often caused disruption wherever he went, stemming from the problems alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007.

“Fernando Alonso has had the chance to win up to five world championships, but the reality is that there is always a mess wherever he is,” F1 legend Nelson Piquet told Spanish TV broadcaster La Sexta last year.

“He is a fantastic driver, but also one who generates a lot of problems and in the end everyone ends up leaving the team.”

Read more ...

Initial development work on the new 2019 aero regulations saw a "big hit" to lap times and car balance, according to Racing Point technical director Andrew Green.

This season, Formula 1 cars will feature a series of changes aimed at encouraging better racing on track as a simplified front wing along with smaller bargeboards combines with a wider, deeper rear wing aimed at increasing the slipstream effect and reducing the impact of turbulent air.

While the effectiveness of the alterations remains up for debate, Green offered an insight into the challenges he has faced as a designer.

"It's been a big hit," he told Motorsport.com. "When we first put it in the wind tunnel a few months ago, we're talking a few seconds of lap time and a poorly balanced car as well.

"It was the worst possible outcome. We, like everyone else, have been trying to crawl our way out of the hole that we jumped into with these new regulations.

"It's significant and it's right up there with, not-quite a complete change of car, but it's pretty close.

"Hopefully, it has some positives with respect to closer racing."

Read more ...

Pierre Gasly has made it clear to Red Bull that he won't be willing to play a support role to Max Verstappen immediately in 2019.

After Carlos Sainz decided to replace Fernando Alonso at McLaren, the young Frenchman was the natural choice to step up alongside the Dutchman following Daniel Ricciardo's surprise move to Renault for this season.

Strong results last year, including fourth in Bahrain, seventh in Monaco and sixth in Hungary, highlighted the potential Gasly has, and the 22-year-old is looking forward to testing himself against his new teammate.

“Being one of the best drivers right now will be a great challenge for me,” the last GP2 champion told Motorsport-Total of Verstappen.

“It will take some time for me to be competitive, but I am not here to be the number two driver, that’s not what I want or what I’m happy with.

“These things take some time, and Max is one of the fastest guys in the paddock, which is super exciting for me because it brings you to a higher level.

“For sure, I’ll be [getting] better over the course of the season.”

Read more ...

Red Bull's decision to change from Renault engines to Honda has given chief designer Adrian Newey fresh motivation, says Helmut Marko.

The high-regarded Briton, who designed championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren before Red Bull, has been stepping back his involvement in recent years, taking on new challenges in boat racing and working on the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

However, with the Milton Keynes-based team believing a change in engine supplier can make the difference in fighting for more title success, that in turn has relaunched Newey's interest, according to the Red Bull advisor.

"Newey doesn’t want a normal working day anymore," Marko was quoted by F1i.com. "He is working for us on a daily allowance.

"He was very fascinated and interested in the Valkyrie project. You always need new tasks for him. If Newey knows that you have no chance with the engine, then you don’t have the same Newey as now.

"He was at the Honda Development Centre in Sakura [in December]. We’ve found a way to meet his personal needs. It brings value to the team for us."

Read more ...

Esteban Ocon's association with Mercedes is the reason why he isn't racing in Formula 1 in 2019, 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has claimed.

The Frenchman was controversially dropped by the now-Racing Point outfit after two years at the end of last season to make way for Lance Stroll, the son of the team's new owner Lawrence.

While the circumstances of his exit gained much of the attention, Ocon's options elsewhere were limited because of his Mercedes junior status with Red Bull pointing to that very reason to deny the 22-year a place at Toro Rosso.

“Esteban Ocon is in F1 thanks to Mercedes,” Villeneuve told Canada's RMC. “At the same time, it was the fact of being with Mercedes that blocked him from going elsewhere."

Now, Ocon is set for a year as a reserve with the German manufacturer, potentially waiting in the wings to replace Valtteri Bottas in 2020.

“He has already been fortunate enough to be in Formula 1 for a few years without having brought in the budget himself, which is amazing," Villeneuve continued.

“He should be proud of it rather than it being a negative.”

Read more ...

Niki Lauda has been released from the hospital where he was being treated for the flu, his doctor has confirmed.

The triple Formula 1 world champion was re-admitted to the AKH facility in Vienna earlier this month after contracting the virus while at his family home in Ibiza.

As a precaution, Lauda was put into intensive care with the illness coming during his ongoing recovery from a lung transplant last summer.

Last week, concerns were raised when the Austrian was retained in hospital and reports circulated that his condition had worsened to pneumonia, however, they were denied by his personal physician.

Now, after 10 days under supervision, the Mercedes non-executive chairman has recovered enough to return home and continue his other fight, to re-join the F1 community in the paddock at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March.

Lando Norris doesn't feel any additional pressure to perform or risk a similar demise as Stoffel Vandoorne did at McLaren this season.

The young Briton has continually impressed the Woking outfit after first driving one of their cars in 2017 and now has the opportunity to prove himself against the best in Formula 1.

His chance, however, came at the expense of Vandoorne who won everything in the junior categories but failed to deliver during his two years on the grid.

“It’s hard for me to say what it was about and why he couldn’t get his maximum performance,” Norris told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

“I just focus on myself. If [teammate] Carlos [Sainz] beats me in the first race, I will analyse exactly where he was stronger.

“I have a whole season to learn and adapt. I’m not worried right now.”

Read more ...

Mick Schumacher is set to drive the 2019 Ferrari Formula 1 car in one or possibly two in-season tests should he join their young driver Academy.

That is the claim of Motorsport.com's Italian edition as speculation continues that the son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and last year's European F3 champion will choose Ferrari over Mercedes to forward his push towards F1.

This year Mick will race in F2 with Prema, the same team which Charles Leclerc, now a race driver for the Scuderia, dominated with back in 2017. Should he impress, he could potentially open an opportunity to join Sauber in 2020.

Read more ...