Jan.17 (GMM) Formula 1 personnel, including the drivers, must have received covid-19 vaccines in order to race and work at the circuits in 2022. We reported recently that, amid the incredible saga surrounding world number 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia, mandatory vaccination was also on the cards for Formula 1. That has […]
No taste of 2022 car until first test – Schumacher
Jan.17 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he will not get a first taste of his 2022-spec car until he drives the real thing in winter testing. The 22-year-old is closely affiliated with Ferrari, and he will even be the reserve driver this year. But unlike most other 2022 race drivers, he will not be able to […]
Wolff to meet with Hamilton in February
Jan.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has warned that the saga surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s potential shock retirement from Formula 1 will race ahead for now. It is believed the Mercedes team boss met with the FIA’s new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last Friday to discuss the matter, while star driver Hamilton is reportedly training and relaxing in […]
F1 risks extinction within a decade – Vettel
Jan.17 (GMM) Formula 1 is at risk of going extinct with a decade. That is the stark warning laid out by quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who accuses the sport of stalling its engine as the rest of the world looks to the future. In conversation with Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, the Aston Martin driver pointed the […]
Albon hails Verstappen’s ‘amazing’ mental strength
Jan.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s big strength is his mental toughness, according to his Red Bull stablemate Alex Albon. Before Sergio Perez replaced him, British-born Thai driver Albon shared the Red Bull Racing garage with 2021 world champion Verstappen. The 25-year-old, who was Red Bull’s reserve driver last year but will return to the grid with […]
Abiteboul linked with F1 return for Red Bull
Jan.17 (GMM) One F1 boss has gone on gardening leave, another is set for a return to the sport, while a third is preparing for a top job after serving at Porsche and BMW. It’s been a busy start to 2022 from a team management standpoint, with Aston Martin surprising the F1 world by appointing […]
Hopeful Alonso recovering from mouth surgery
Jan.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso expects his preparation for the 2022 season to be smooth, as he recovers from surgery to remove titanium plates from his mouth. This time last year, as the 40-year-old Spaniard prepared to return to Formula 1 after a two-year sabbatical, he found himself in surgery to repair damage from a cycling […]
Maserati not ruling out F1 return
Jan.14 (GMM) Another iconic carmaker brand is reportedly eyeing a Formula 1 foray. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said part of the justification for the shape of the future engine rules, including the introduction of E10 fuel in 2022, was to entice new manufacturers to the grid. VW’s Audi and Porsche are said to be close […]
F1 teams kick off 2022 with new bosses
Jan.14 (GMM) Two Formula 1 teams are kicking off 2022 with major top management changes. It is believed Otmar Szafnauer, who has now left Aston Martin, will imminently be unveiled as having switched to the top job at Renault-owned Alpine. Aston Martin, insisting that it has “a little time to explore options” before naming the […]
2022 cars ‘pretty damn fast’ – Hulkenberg
Jan.14 (GMM) Fans don’t have to worry that Formula 1 is set to become a lot slower in 2022. That is the news from Nico Hulkenberg, a former F1 driver who is now an official reserve and simulator driver for Aston Martin. After trying the 2022 car in the simulator, he reports that expectations of […]
VW set to take Formula 1 entry ‘decision’
Jan.14 (GMM) Audi is keeping quiet about its rumoured plan to enter Formula 1 in 2026. “We want to surprise with our motorsport projects,” said the carmaker’s managing director of sport, Oliver Hoffman, when asked by Sport1 about the rampant speculation. It is believed Volkswagen-owned Audi as well as Porsche may be considering separate F1 […]
F1 eyeing mandatory covid vaccination
Jan.14 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to mandate covid-19 vaccination for all drivers and personnel ahead of the 2022 season. Amid the bizarre saga surrounding world tennis number 1 Novak Djokovic’s entry to Australia and attempt to compete in the forthcoming Australian Open, F1 is also not immune to vaccine-related controversy. Formula 1 is also […]
Vettel named as potential Hamilton successor
Jan.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has been named as a potential last-minute replacement in the event that Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton suddenly quits Formula 1. Amid swirling rumours that Hamilton, 36, is contemplating retirement in protest of the highly controversial end to the 2021 season finale, Esteban Ocon and Nyck de Vries are also linked with the […]
Experts agree Hamilton could quit F1
Jan.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could be poised to stun the world of Formula 1, motor racing and world sport – by sensationally quitting. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is reportedly and imminently set to meet for crisis talks with newly-installed FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “No, I don’t think he will (retire),” Sulayem, who has replaced […]
Masi, Tombazis set to lose top FIA jobs
Jan.14 (GMM) Michael Masi’s controversial decisions in the final moments of the 2021 championship battle appear to have cost him his job. The FIA’s single seater boss Nikolas Tombazis appears to be another victim of the biggest story of the 2022 pre-season so far, although Mercedes has denied demanding the double-ousting. It was rumoured that […]
Letter shows Audi likely to enter F1
Dec.22 (GMM) Audi is edging ever closer to announcing that the Volkswagen-owned German luxury carmaker will enter Formula 1 in 2026. The FIA announced last week that the engine regulations by then will include 100 percent sustainable fuel, greater emphasis on electrical power, a budget cap, and the scrapping of MGU-H technology. In addition, the […]
Domenicali ‘sure’ Hamilton will return in 2022
Dec.22 (GMM) F1’s CEO is “sure” Lewis Hamilton will return to his Mercedes cockpit in 2022. The seven time world champion has been essentially silent since Abu Dhabi, but his boss Toto Wolff has hinted that Hamilton’s disillusionment with the outcome of the 2021 championship has him contemplating retirement. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, however, doesn’t […]
Ferrari set to extend Sainz deal until 2024
Dec.22 (GMM) Rumours that Carlos Sainz is poised to add two more seasons to his existing Ferrari contract are continuing to harden. With Ferrari’s long relationship with main sponsor Philip Morris in doubt, the Italian team announced on Tuesday that it has reunited with former major sponsor Santander – a Spanish bank. Santander was formerly […]
Schumacher promoted to Ferrari reserve role
Dec.22 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is still in the running for a future in red – even as early as 2022. That is the admission of Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, who announced that Michael Schumacher’s son will split his duties next year between his second race season with Haas and a reserve role for the […]
Russell could make winning 2022 title easier – Marko
Dec.22 (GMM) Mercedes’ driver lineup change for 2022 may actually make it easier for Max Verstappen to win back-to-back titles. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who was commenting on fellow Austrian Toto Wolff’s decision to replace five-year Mercedes veteran Valtteri Bottas with young Williams charger Russell. “First we need to […]