Jan.27 (GMM) Things “must change” in Formula 1 to give young drivers a better chance of securing a seat. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi, who this week watched his son Giuliano test a F1 car – for the first and the last time. “I will continue to watch and follow […]
Month: January 2021
Hamilton contract saga ‘doesn’t matter’ – Bottas
Jan.27 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he will try to beat whoever is at the wheel of the other Mercedes car in 2021. His comments come as the almost farcical saga over Lewis Hamilton’s unsigned 2021 contract continues. A Russian commentator, Sergey Sirotkin’s former manager Nikolai Vetrov, told Sportbox that the seven time world champion should […]
Hamilton contract uncertainty to end in ‘days’
Jan.26 (GMM) The uncertainty about Lewis Hamilton’s future will be “cleared up in the next few days”. That is the view of Felix Gorner, the F1 correspondent for the German broadcasters RTL and n-tv. His comments come after Toto Wolff broke his recent silence on the matter to admit he and Hamilton have been “arguing” […]
Vettel plays down Red Bull-Aston Martin comparison
Jan.26 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down the comparison between his arrival at Aston Martin this year and the way he dominated at Red Bull between 2010 and 2013. The German won all four of his titles at Red Bull, but following his ousting by Ferrari many are now drawing comparisons with his involvement in […]
Red Bull ‘a lot stronger’ with Perez – Wolff
Jan.26 (GMM) Red Bull is “a lot stronger” with Sergio Perez on the team in 2021. That is the view of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, whose driver Lewis Hamilton once again dominantly won the world championship ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen last year. “Red Bull has become a lot stronger […]
Wolff hits back at Horner’s ‘teasing’ comments
Jan.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff has dismissed “teasing” comments made recently by his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner. Horner claimed that George Russell’s surprisingly good form in seven time world champion Hamilton’s Mercedes cockpit recently proved that Max Verstappen is “the best” driver in Formula 1 today. “If someone had to get into Max’s car – […]
Grosjean will sit out Indy 500 in 2021
Jan.26 (GMM) Romain Grosjean will sit out the Indy 500 this year – even if he signs up to race in the Indycar championship. The Frenchman, who had already lost his Haas seat for 2021, suffered burns to his hands but otherwise miraculously escaped from a horror crash in Bahrain late last season. “The accident […]
Racing no longer just ‘show and profit’ – Rosberg
Jan.25 (GMM) Motor racing can no longer be just about “the show and profits”, according to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg. The German, who is now an investor in ‘green’ technologies and involved in the new Extreme E series, told e-formel.de that motorsport “needs to keep pace with changes in society”. He is referring not […]
Haas must keep teammate friction ‘under control’
Jan.25 (GMM) Mick Schumacher may struggle in 2021 as he makes his Formula 1 debut for Haas. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, as he was asked by the German broadcaster RTL to comment on the impending debut of F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s son. “If you look at his development, the […]
Ferrari makes 50hp engine ‘leap’ for 2021
Jan.25 (GMM) Ferrari has made “a significant leap” in engine performance for 2021. That is the view of Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, who thinks the struggling Ferrari team could recover from its 2020 slump to finish third this year. “I have heard that they have made a significant leap on the engine side,” […]
Perez will know Verstappen speed ‘after five races’
Jan.25 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he will discover Max Verstappen’s true pace “after five races” this season. The experienced Mexican, drafted onto the Red Bull driver lineup to replace struggling Sergio Perez, agrees with his new boss Christian Horner that Verstappen is perhaps the best current driver in Formula 1. “I think Max is one […]
Vaccines should improve F1’s covid situation
Jan.25 (GMM) Spanish GP boss Ramon Tremosa says he isn’t sure if Barcelona will be able to welcome spectators to the Barcelona race in May. “We don’t know yet,” he is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo newspaper. “There may be 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 or none. A lot will depend on the vaccine and the effectiveness […]
McLaren engine change ‘on schedule’ – Seidl
Jan.25 (GMM) McLaren’s 2021 car is “on schedule”, even though the team is busy with the switch from Renault to Mercedes power. “We are very much on schedule,” said team boss Andreas Seidl. “We are getting a new engine partner in Mercedes, which means a lot of work for us at the rear of the […]
Sainz expects to ‘chase’ Leclerc early in 2021
Jan.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is expecting to start the 2021 season at a “slight disadvantage” compared to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. With only three days of official testing scheduled before the Bahrain season opener, Ferrari has organised a run in its 2018 car for team newcomer Sainz at Fiorano this Wednesday. Leclerc and Ferrari’s […]
Magnussen received F1 offer for 2021
Jan.25 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he was approached by another Formula 1 team after being ousted by Haas. The Dane, who is currently enjoying a competitive start to his post-F1 career at Daytona, told the Danish magazine Dossier that he turned down the alternate Formula 1 seat. “I can’t really say who it was, because […]
Marko expects engine freeze vote to ‘go well’
Jan.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is hopeful Formula 1 will agree to an engine development freeze for 2022 and beyond. On Monday, the teams will vote on the freeze that – if agreed – will green-light Red Bull’s plans to operate its own Honda-based engine program. “I expect it will go well for us,” Marko […]
Wolff says Hamilton contract deadline ‘before Bahrain’
Jan.25 (GMM) Toto Wolff has set an eleventh-hour deadline for the conclusion of contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton. Dr Helmut Marko is regarding the obviously troubled negotiations as a potential boost for Red Bull, telling RTL that he hopes the “unrest works in our favour”. “The lawyers are hard at work,” Mercedes boss Wolff told […]
Red Bull, Honda agree post-2021 engine deal
Jan.22 (GMM) Red Bull has reached an agreement with Honda that will allow the two energy drink-owned teams to continue to use the departing Japanese manufacturer’s F1 engines after 2021. The only thing missing now, according to Dr Helmut Marko, is for the other teams and the FIA to agree to freezing engine development. As […]
Monaco wants spectators at 2021 race – Marko
Jan.22 (GMM) The fate of Monaco’s fabled grand prix this year is about more than just a press release. That is the news from Red Bull’s highly-influential Dr Helmut Marko, who was speaking with the German media after the Automobile Club de Monaco earlier this week scotched rumours the street race may once again be […]
Vettel spends first day at Aston Martin
Jan.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel visited the headquarters of his new Formula 1 team for the first time this week, according to multiple media sources. The sources report that the former Ferrari driver was at Aston Martin’s Silverstone factory where he had a seat fitting and spent several hours in the simulator. He then returned to […]