Jun.14 (GMM) In an earlier time in Formula 1, Mick Schumacher would be “gone” by now. That is the view of former F1 driver Christian Danner, who thinks his former Arrows boss Jackie Oliver would have “fired him immediately” back in the 80s following a spate of crashes and a lack of performance. He therefore […]
‘Bruised’ Hamilton will not miss Canadian GP
Jun.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has shot down speculation that he will be missing from the Canadian GP grid this weekend. Toto Wolff indicated that a reserve driver – probably Nyck de Vries – will be on standby for the seven time world champion in Montreal due to his obvious back injury sustained in Sunday’s Azerbaijan […]
Alonso points out ‘advantage’ over Piastri
Jun.14 (GMM) The driver lineups at Alpine and Williams are becoming clearer for 2023. Renault-owned Alpine has Esteban Ocon under contract already, and it seems very likely that Red Bull will extend its loan of Alex Albon to Williams for another year. Williams may also be getting another driver ‘on loan’ for 2023. It is […]
Haas critics ‘trying to divide us’ – Steiner
Jun.13 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has hit back at suggestions that he is dividing the Haas team by attacking struggling German driver Mick Schumacher. Schumacher, 23, ended his Baku race weekend admitting he was “annoyed” about qualifying dead last and not making much progress in the grand prix. “I’m annoyed,” he told Sky Deutschland. “Simply because […]
Leclerc facing ‘grid penalties’ – Marko
Jun.13 (GMM) Ferrari’s clear early advantage over Red Bull this year has done a full 180-degree turn, with the energy drink company’s top team now a full 80 points ahead after Baku. Mattia Binotto is vowing that an investigation into Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz but also Ferrari-powered customer cars’ technical failures will now take place. […]
Porpoising rule changes just ‘political games’
Jun.13 (GMM) Mercedes is playing “the usual political game” by pushing for rule changes to end the phenomenon of so-called porpoising in F1’s new ground effect era. Lewis Hamilton was in visible back pain after Sunday’s Azerbaijan GP – but not everyone was convinced. “He sees the camera, and then starts walking away with his […]
Verstappen’s father ‘not objective’ – Horner
Jun.12 (GMM) Sergio Perez will not be prevented from winning the drivers’ world championship, Red Bull insists. Max Verstappen’s father Jos was critical of the energy drink owned team after Monaco, suggesting Red Bull did not do enough to favour the team’s number 1 driver through pit strategy. Mexican Perez, however, has just signed a […]
Sainz confident he can win races in F1
Jun.12 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he remains confident he has the skills to win in Formula 1. Of the top two teams in Formula 1, Red Bull and Ferrari, Spaniard Sainz is the only driver yet to record either a single pole position or race win. He is also 33 points behind Ferrari teammate Charles […]
Alonso denies faking mistakes at Baku
Jun.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso denied faking slow pace, mistakes and even a trip into the run-off zone after Alex Albon slammed his “ridiculous” behaviour during Baku qualifying. As drivers tried to squeeze in another fast lap following the late Q1 red flag, Williams’ Albon complained on the radio that Alonso “needs to get penalised”. “He […]
Ferrari admits ‘concerns’ about FIA appointment
Jun.12 (GMM) Ferrari admits it’s a “concern” that the FIA has appointed to one of its top positions a recent special advisor to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. It emerged recently that F1’s executive director Peter Bayer, who was also the FIA’s secretary general for sport, has departed. He has been replaced by lawyer Shaila-Ann Rao […]
Teams, drivers argue over F1 driver salary cap
Jun.12 (GMM) Formula 1’s highest paid drivers have found themselves united against their respective team bosses. “It’s completely wrong,” said world champion Max Verstappen, who like Lewis Hamilton earns about $50 million a year. The Dutchman had been asked about plans not only by Liberty Media and the FIA but also the teams themselves to […]
‘No door open’ at Mercedes – Wolff
Jun.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has “no doubt” that Lewis Hamilton will still be in Formula 1 next year. The seven time world champion is contracted to Mercedes to the end of 2023, but serious questions are being asked about his motivation amid the team’s current competitive struggles. Not just that, the 37-year-old is […]
Mazepin would return to F1 ‘immediately’
Jun.11 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he will return to Formula 1 at “the first opportunity”. The 23-year-old Russian and his sponsor Uralali were ousted from Haas this year as part of the unprecedented western sanctions in opposition to the Ukraine crisis. When asked if he wants to return to F1 if the sanctions eventually lift, […]
Schumacher still on Mercedes ‘radar’ – Wolff
Jun.11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has leapt to the defence of Mick Schumacher, suggesting the struggling young German could even have a future at Mercedes. “Why not?” the Mercedes boss said at Baku. Wolff admitted he was surprised to see that one of Schumacher’s chief critics throughout a spate of major crashes that now threaten his […]
Mercedes to take ‘decisive steps’ with 2022 car
Jun.11 (GMM) Mercedes will take “decisive steps” as the team continues to struggle with a woefully bouncing car on the streets of Baku. The reigning constructors’ champions have shown signs of improvement at recent races, but the bouncing was back with a vengeance in Monaco and it’s a similar story at high speed Baku. “I […]
Top drivers want better F1 management
Jun.11 (GMM) Top Formula 1 drivers are asking for better official management of the sport’s on-track action. Race director Michael Masi was ousted as a result of the controversial 2021 title finale, with new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayam bringing in two replacements for the new season. Fernando Alonso was rebuked for recent criticism of […]
Hamilton, Brad Pitt working on F1 film script
Jun.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is involved in the production of a Top Gun-style feature film about Formula 1 that will star Brad Pitt. Reports from Baku suggest the movie will be produced by Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer, who were behind the popular Top Gun sequel. Apple is said to have secured the film rights, […]
Seidl confirms Ricciardo’s 2023 contract
Jun.11 (GMM) Andreas Seidl says Daniel Ricciardo has a contract to keep racing at McLaren in 2023. Earlier, team CEO Zak Brown indicated there may be “mechanisms” to end the struggling Australian’s deal, as Ricciardo had not lived up to “expectations”. But the 32-year-old says he has since “spoken” with Brown. “We’ve had a catch […]
Tost ‘assuming’ Gasly will stay at Alpha Tauri
Jun.11 (GMM) Franz Tost is confident Pierre Gasly will still be in an Alpha Tauri cockpit next year. Frenchman Gasly, 26, is disappointed to have been locked out of Red Bull Racing for the next two years – beyond the end of his own contract with the energy drink company that expires after 2023. He […]
FIA boss backtracks after Hamilton, Vettel criticism
Jun.10 (GMM) New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has backtracked after suggesting Formula 1 drivers were becoming too political. He recently told Speed Week that it is not the role of those involved in motor racing to “become politicians”, contrasting them with the likes of purists Alain Prost and Niki Lauda. Sebastian Vettel, on the […]