Nov.28 (GMM) Ferrari and even Renault appear to be moving towards a compromise solution that would allow Red Bull to run its own Honda engines in 2022 and beyond. Red Bull is saying it can take over the Honda IP and operations following the Japanese manufacturer’s departure from Formula 1 late next year, but only […]
Hulkenberg ‘hot’ for chance at 2021 Red Bull seat
Nov.28 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he is “extremely hot” at the prospect of landing a plum Red Bull seat for his full-time return to Formula 1 in 2021. The German lost his Renault seat at the end of 2019, but emerged as the ‘super-sub’ at Racing Point this year when Sergio Perez and Lance […]
F1 drivers slam Pirelli’s proposed 2021 tyre
Nov.28 (GMM) Top Formula 1 drivers have slammed Pirelli’s proposed new tyres for 2021. F1’s official supplier actually tried to introduce a new specification this year, only for it to be similarly rubbished by the drivers after early testing. Now, the teams are rejecting Pirelli’s 2021 design after getting their first taste of it in […]
Schumacher wanted Raikkonen as first F1 teammate
Nov.28 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has hinted at disappointment that he will not make his Formula 1 debut next year at Alfa Romeo. In fact, it is an open secret that the 21-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher will shortly be unveiled as a Ferrari-powered Haas driver for 2021. “It’s not long to wait,” Haas […]
Kubica admits ‘people think I’m not fast’
Nov.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he is no longer on the Formula 1 grid “because people think I’m not fast”. The 35-year-old Pole pulled off a sensational return to the sport with Williams in 2019, some eight years after sustaining permanent injuries in a rallying crash. But now, Kubica admits he may not even remain […]
Pirelli boss tips Hamilton to keep dominating
Nov.28 (GMM) Mario Isola is tipping Mercedes to keep on dominating in 2021. The Pirelli boss was speaking in Bahrain, where seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton hit out at the performance of the proposed new tyres for 2021. But Isola said Hamilton’s adjustment to Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres is actually one of the main […]
Sainz eyes test in 2018-spec Ferrari
Nov.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is already thinking about his forthcoming preparations to switch to Ferrari over the winter. The Spaniard is concerned that new testing limits mean he and his next teammate Charles Leclerc will get just a day and a half each of pre-season running. “We will find a way to minimise the losses, […]
New deadline for Red Bull’s 2022 Honda plan
Nov.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has set a new deadline as Red Bull makes its engine plans for 2022. The team, and sister outfit Alpha Tauri, are losing works Honda backing after next season – but Marko is working on a plan to take over the Japanese marque’s 2021 engine IP and operations. For that […]
Abiteboul not responding to messages – Alonso
Nov.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has joked that 2021 team boss Cyril Abiteboul is already “getting tired” of him. Indeed, contrary to his reputation for being difficult to work with, 39-year-old Alonso has appeared intensely focused and motivated on his preparations to race for Alpine next year. “Half an hour ago I sent him (Renault boss […]
Haas to announce Schumacher deal ‘soon’
Nov.27 (GMM) Haas will announce its new drivers for 2021 “soon”, according to team boss Gunther Steiner. Rumours from the Bahrain paddock, where the German driver is racing in Formula 2, indicate that Haas could finally lift the lid on Mick Schumacher’s 2021 deal this weekend. His teammate is expected to be Russian rookie Nikita […]
Hamilton will eventually sign contract – Wolff
Nov.27 (GMM) Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton has “assured” him that he will eventually sign a new contract. With their 2021 talks delayed, new seven time world champion Hamilton on Thursday hit out at plans to impose a driver salary cap in the future – a move recently championed by Alpha Tauri boss […]
Spa GP records smaller loss amid pandemic
Nov.27 (GMM) The corona crisis actually helped Spa-Francorchamps to minimise its losses in 2020. Agence Belga news agency and the LN24 broadcaster report that the Belgian GP lost EUR 1.5 million this year – down from almost 6 million in 2019. “One of the reasons is that Formula 1 contributed to the organisational costs,” explained […]
New job and fatherhood for Magnussen in 2021
Nov.27 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen looks set to begin his post-Formula 1 life by becoming a father. The buzz from the Bahrain paddock is that the Dane, who has been ousted by Haas, is close to inking a 2021 deal to drive for Chip Ganassi’s team in the IMSA sports car series in the US. It […]
Money to decide 23rd race host in 2021 – Brawn
Nov.26 (GMM) Ross Brawn has named three leading contenders to complete Formula 1’s planned 23-race calendar in 2021. “Obviously we are sorry that we cannot go to Vietnam again, but we will find a strong candidate,” said F1’s sporting boss, referring to the ‘to be confirmed’ host listed alongside the April 25 race date next […]
Saudi Arabia defends F1 race amid criticism
Nov.26 (GMM) Saudi Arabia’s motor racing chief has defended the addition of the Arab Kingdom to the 2021 Formula 1 calendar. Jeddah will host a night race on a Hermann Tilke-inked street layout next November, despite criticism from human rights groups that it is a move to ‘sportswash’ Saudi’s negative image. Prince Khalid Bin Sultan […]
Kubica not sure he will remain F1 reserve
Nov.26 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he is yet to decide if he will remain Alfa Romeo’s official F1 reserve driver in 2021. The Pole combined the role with a full-time seat in the German touring car championship DTM this year, but he admits that the corona crisis made his schedule exhausting. “When the season finally […]
‘Fingers crossed’ for Schumacher’s debut – Brawn
Nov.26 (GMM) Ross Brawn says he will be keeping his “fingers crossed” for Mick Schumacher’s highly anticipated Formula 1 debut next year. Ferrari has now confirmed that Michael Schumacher’s 21-year-old son will be “on track with another team” for the forthcoming young driver test in Abu Dhabi. It is an open secret that the team […]
Ross Brawn says Ferrari ‘must prioritise 2022’
Nov.26 (GMM) Ferrari “must” prioritise preparations for the 2022 season, the Maranello team’s former highly-successful technical boss Ross Brawn insists. Now F1’s sporting boss, Brawn was asked by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport about how long it might take Ferrari to pull out of its competitive trough. “I think 2022 is a great opportunity, with […]
F1 to keep two-day race format ‘in our pockets’ – Brawn
Nov.26 (GMM) Ross Brawn says Formula 1 will “keep in our pockets” the controversial two-day race weekend format. Some think the format, which was trialled at Imola this year, is not only snappier but will help the teams cope with the ever-lengthening annual race calendars. Others, though, say it only robs race promoters of a […]
F1 comeback chances ‘not very real’ – Sirotkin
Nov.25 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin has admitted his chances of returning to the Formula 1 grid are “not very real”. After just one season, the Russian lost his Williams race seat at the end of last year but he is still serving as Renault’s reserve driver. In fact, Sirotkin told Russia’s Sportbox that reserve drivers in […]