F1: Vettel denies retirement talk and Red Bull slam ‘nonsense’ Hulkenberg rumours

Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix

• When: 7-9 June
• Where: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada
• Race start time: 7.10pm on Sunday 9 June
• TV coverage: live on Sky Sports F1, highlights on Channel 4

Vettel denies retirement talk

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has denied reports that he could retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2019 season.

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It was reported last week that the four-time world champion was “considering” his future in F1.

However, the German told Auto Bild: “I have no plans to stop. I still have lots of fun, and I still have something to do at Ferrari.

“We want to try everything again this season to bring about the turnaround and the Canadian Grand Prix should be the beginning.”

Red Bull: Hulk rumours are ‘nonsense’

Last week it was also claimed that Red Bull Racing were lining up Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg as Pierre Gasly’s replacement for 2020.

These claims have been shot down by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who said: “These rumours are so far-fetched that I do not even want to comment on them anymore.

“It’s absolute nonsense, that’s what I said to Gasly, who even called me about it.”

Will Ferrari hit back in Canada?

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen predicts Ferrari will fight back at this weekend’s Canadian GP, but Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto admits that’s unlikely to happen.

Speaking ahead of the race in Montreal Verstappen said: “I expect Ferrari to be more competitive in Canada, so for us it may be a bit more difficult, but as always we will try and maximise the result.”

While Mercedes have dominated the opening six races of the season Ferrari have struggled and are yet to win a grand prix in 2019.

Team principal Binotto told Formula1.com that the Scuderia don’t expect any major improvement anytime soon.

He said: “We know we’re not competitive enough right now. And for the time being we haven’t got any more changes coming on the car that will have a significant effect on the problems we have encountered since the start of the season.”

F1 news headlines

What the media is writing about in the world of Formula 1:

• Mercedes braced for ‘huge challenge’ (Sky Sports)
• Williams: there’s light at the end of the tunnel (Formula1.com)
• Harry Shaw: Lewis Hamilton’s ‘spirit angel’ boy dies (BBC News)