Feb.26 (GMM) Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll has revealed that the thought of signing Lewis Hamilton for 2022 is “definitely tempting”. The billionaire, who already has quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel in one car for 2021, has high aspirations for Formula 1’s new budget cap era. “This team has punched above its weight with […]
Month: February 2021
Salo hits reverse after Ferrari engine comments
Feb.26 (GMM) Mika Salo has hit reverse gear after revealing details of Ferrari’s secret engine legality agreement with the FIA. The former Ferrari driver and current FIA steward raised eyebrows this week by suggesting that Ferrari’s customers had to use less fuel than their rivals last year as punishment for the affair. “I don’t know […]
Schumacher criticised for anti-racism ‘no comment’
Feb.26 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is flirting with controversy by refusing to comment on Lewis Hamilton and Formula 1’s anti-racism messaging. When asked about the current era of racial and environmental political activism championed by seven time world champion Hamilton, Schumacher told La Stampa newspaper: “No comment.” Immediately, some social media users slammed the Haas rookie. […]
Red Bull needs ‘peculiar driving style’ – Perez
Feb.26 (GMM) Sergio Perez is already beginning to understand why some drivers struggle to handle Red Bull’s Formula 1 cars. After the younger and less experienced Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon failed to consistently match Max Verstappen, 31-year-old race winner Perez has been drafted into the lineup for 2021. The Mexican got his first taste […]
Verstappen no fan of F1’s sprint race idea
Feb.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is not a fan of Formula 1’s plan to trial a new sprint race format in 2021. “More racing is not always a good thing,” the Red Bull driver said. F1’s plan for the three-race trial is for a Friday qualifying session followed by a short race on Saturday […]
Verstappen plays down 2021 car secrecy
Feb.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down the secrecy surrounding Red Bull’s new car for 2021. Although car changes between 2020 and 2021 are minimal due to covid restrictions, Red Bull has been conspicuously coy about releasing images of the RB16B. “The car actually still looks the same,” Verstappen smiled when asked about the secrecy. […]
Tost wants Cosworth-like engine suppliers in F1
Feb.25 (GMM) F1’s all-new engine regulations for 2025 must allow “a Cosworth or a Mario Illien” to enter the sport. That is the view of Franz Tost, who leads the Alpha Tauri team that from 2022 will use Honda-based engines that are to be operated by team owner Red Bull. Beyond that, though, Formula 1’s […]
No pink car but BWT staying at Aston Martin
Feb.25 (GMM) Aston Martin has rubbished rumours it could lose pink-coloured sponsor BWT to rivals Williams or Haas by announcing a new deal with the Austrian water technology company. It had been suggested that because the Silverstone based team is switching to a green livery for 2021, BWT was looking elsewhere to feature on a […]
Wolff plays down Formula 1-Formula E merger
Feb.25 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down suggestions that Formula E and Formula 1 could move closer to a ‘merger’ in the near future. Formula E boss Alejandro Agag has said a merger is the only way F1 can fully embrace electric power, as he has a 25-year lease on exclusive use of the technology. […]
Gasly eyes Alpha Tauri ‘leadership role’ in 2021
Feb.25 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is “ready” to become the clear team leader at Alpha Tauri. Last year, the 25-year-old continued his impressive recovery after losing his plum Red Bull seat, and even won at Monza whilst outclassing experienced teammate Daniil Kvyat throughout the season. “I am in the physical form of my life […]
Ferrari cannot recover engine deficit in 2021 – Vasseur
Feb.25 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has played down suggestions Ferrari will fully recover its 2020 engine deficit this season. Last year, in the wake of the 2019 engine legality scandal and secret FIA settlement, Ferrari and its customers including Alfa Romeo suffered a major and unexplained performance loss. “I believe that on their side they will […]
Ferrari returning to top Le Mans category
Feb.25 (GMM) After a 50 year absence, Ferrari will return to Le Mans in the world endurance series’ top category in 2023. Toyota, Peugeot, Porsche and Audi have also committed to the new Hypercar category, which according to the FIA was created to be “equally appealing to both global automotive brands as well as specialist […]
F1 covid crisis cannot continue ‘forever’ – Tost
Feb.25 (GMM) The current situation in Formula 1 amid the ongoing covid pandemic cannot continue “forever”, Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost insists. Already in 2021, the original calendar has undergone changes as the sport and the wider world continues to grapple with the virus and governments’ restrictions. British GP chief Stuart Pringle is desperate for […]
Alpine eyes Williams as customer, junior team – report
Feb.24 (GMM) Alpine is keen to link up with Williams in Formula 1, according to the authoritative Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The report said that while Williams is currently powered by Mercedes engines, Alpine team owner Renault is worried it will fall behind if it is not able to replace McLaren as […]
Sprint race won’t make F1 ‘more spectacular’ – Kubica
Feb.24 (GMM) Robert Kubica has raised his eyebrows at news that Formula 1 will experiment with a sprint race format at three grands prix in 2021. The Pole’s Alfa Romeo colleague Antonio Giovinazzi, on the other hand, defended the move to trial a format with Friday qualifying and then a short Saturday sprint race that […]
Alfa Romeo ‘had to use less fuel’ in 2020 – Salo
Feb.24 (GMM) A former Formula 1 driver turned steward may have let slip a secret about Ferrari’s controversial and undisclosed FIA deal that followed the engine legality scandal of 2019. Last year, all Ferrari-powered teams took a major and unexplained hit in engine power as a result of the secret FIA settlement with the Maranello […]
F1 teams receive FIA’s prototype sustainable fuel
Feb.24 (GMM) Teams have received their first official sample of a sustainable fuel the FIA has developed for use in Formula 1 in forthcoming seasons. Starting in 2022, F1’s governing body wants the fuel used by the teams and manufacturers to contain 10 percent bioethanol, with that percentage then gradually increasing year-on-year until the fuel […]
Departing Honda ‘not satisfied’ without 2021 title
Feb.24 (GMM) Honda has set a lofty goal for its last official season in Formula 1 for now – the title. “We have not yet reached our goal of being champions,” said Masashi Yamamoto, managing director of the Japanese manufacturer’s F1 program. He was speaking on the day Red Bull’s 2021 car was revealed – […]
Wolff comments to ‘create tension’ – Marko
Feb.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff is “trying to create tension with words” by playing up the chances of Mercedes’ rivals ahead of the 2021 season. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, after Wolff on Monday said the new floor regulations could make Red Bull and even Aston Martin the favourites. On Red […]
Aston Martin must aim for the front – Wolff
Feb.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he expects Aston Martin to shine in Formula 1 this year. Following Lawrence Stroll’s takeover of Force India, Stroll called the team Racing Point and last year impressed with the ‘pink Mercedes’ car. Now, with Wolff also buying into Aston Martin with a minor shareholding, Stroll is taking the carmaker’s […]