Feb.5 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has admitted this year’s Formula 1 world championship could begin with an extended stay in Bahrain. We reported earlier that plans for a replacement race at Portimao were in tatters due to Portugal’s worsening covid crisis. “Two races in Bahrain? That’s a possibility,” F1 CEO Domenicali told Italian media. “Portugal has […]
Month: February 2021
Own engine program could give Red Bull boost – Lammers
Feb.4 (GMM) Running its own engine program could actually be an advantage for Red Bull, according to Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers. Currently, the energy drink owned team is waiting to hear if the other teams and the FIA will agree to a 2022 engine development ‘freeze’. If the freeze goes ahead, Red Bull and […]
Kubica may focus only on F1 role in 2021
Feb.4 (GMM) Robert Kubica has admitted he may spend the entire 2021 season focusing exclusively on his reserve driver role with Alfa Romeo. The Pole, who had the same role in 2020, has ruled out returning to the German touring car championship DTM, whilst admitting that he is keen on endurance sports cars. Indeed, 35-year-old […]
Grosjean may feel ‘nervous’ before racing return
Feb.4 (GMM) Romain Grosjean admits he might feel “nervous” once he gets up and racing for the first time since his fiery Bahrain crash. The former Haas driver announced on Wednesday that he has inked a 2021 deal with the Indycar team Dale Coyne Racing – and confirmed speculation that he will sit out the […]
Hamilton contract saga ’embarrassing’ – Schumacher
Feb.4 (GMM) The saga surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 contract is becoming “embarrassing”. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, referring to the fact that the only team with an official vacancy ahead of the new season next month is Mercedes. He told Sky Deutschland that Hamilton is taking a “risk” – perhaps […]
McLaren drivers are ‘serious’ not ‘goofy’ – boss
Feb.4 (GMM) Zak Brown has backed new team driver Daniel Ricciardo’s warning that 2021 will not be “a comedy show” at McLaren. Ricciardo, who has switched from Renault, and existing McLaren driver Lando Norris are known as the most light-hearted and fun-loving in the paddock. However, Australian Ricciardo has already dismissed the claim that it […]
Bahrain may host two races early in 2021
Feb.4 (GMM) Formula 1’s 2021 calendar could be set for yet another pre-season shakeup. China and Vietnam have already been cancelled, Imola has been drafted in, and the season opener in Australia postponed until November – and now there are new doubts about the currently-scheduled third race. At present, F1 lists the 2 May race […]
Ferrari looking for Camilleri successor – Elkann
Feb.3 (GMM) Ferrari is searching for “the best possible boss” for the future, according to the Maranello marque’s president and temporary CEO John Elkann. The 44-year-old Agnelli family heir became Ferrari chairman in 2018 when Sergio Marchionne died, and he stepped up again in December when Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri suddenly left. There has been […]
CEO Domenicali insists F1 not ‘boring’
Feb.3 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali is upbeat about the future of Formula 1, despite the ongoing covid crisis and claims the races are increasingly “boring”. “Boring races?” Italian broadcaster Rete4 quotes the sport’s new F1 CEO as saying. “I see the numbers and last year the audience was growing.” Domenicali, the former Ferrari and Lamborghini boss, […]
Perez ready to shine for Red Bull – Grosjean
Feb.3 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has tipped Sergio Perez to shine this year as he switches to Red Bull. Grosjean, the former Haas driver, is expected to announce his move into Indycar with the Dale Coyne team on Wednesday. The Frenchman is leaving Formula 1 with his head high after his fiery Bahrain crash late last […]
Hamilton contract to be clear by March 2
Feb.3 (GMM) Mercedes has announced that its “drivers” will be available to speak to the media at the launch of the 2021 car in “exactly one months’ time”. The forthcoming March 2 event, announced by the title winning team on Tuesday, should therefore finally end the uncertainty about Lewis Hamilton’s unsigned 2021 contract. Mercedes said […]
F1 ‘fears’ about covid situation ‘justified’ – Wolff
Feb.3 (GMM) “Fears” that Formula 1 will not be able to race through its currently-scheduled 2021 calendar “are justified”. That is the view of Toto Wolff, who admits that with the coronavirus pandemic still raging, the sport will have to continue to adjust and adapt for now. Another boss worried about the situation is Beat […]
2022 Honda engine plan still alive – Marko
Feb.2 (GMM) Red Bull remains confident rival Formula 1 teams will agree to an engine development ‘freeze’ from 2022. Top official Dr Helmut Marko insists the measure is the only way Red Bull’s plan to take over the works Honda operation can go ahead following the Japanese manufacturer’s departure at the end of the year. […]
Senna was also ‘alone’ in F1 system – Hamilton
Feb.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has likened his experiences in Formula 1 to those of his childhood hero and F1 legend Ayrton Senna. Currently the subject of intense speculation about his 2021 contract, the seven time world champion told La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Sportweek publication that Senna also conspicuously stood apart during his time in F1. […]
Vaccine plan for F1’s Imola spectators
Feb.2 (GMM) A push is on to ensure that spectators are able to attend Imola’s Formula 1 race in April. The fabled Italian circuit was drafted onto the 23-race schedule following the removal for now of Shanghai’s round. Emilia Romagna president Stefano Bonaccini said he hoped the coronavirus situation would allow spectators to attend at […]
Rio mayor nixes F1 circuit project
Feb.2 (GMM) A bid to launch a Formula 1 race in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro has now collapsed. Earlier, former F1 CEO Chase Carey reached a deal in principle with race organisers for a race in the Deodoro region, with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro saying the chances of it going ahead were […]
Haas unable to fire up 2021 Ferrari engine
Feb.2 (GMM) Haas is currently unable to fire up its Formula 1 engines in preparation for the 2021 season that begins with testing and the opening race in Bahrain next month. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the small American team, which will field rookie Mick Schumacher this year, has received its customer engines […]
Vettel had to leave Ferrari – Wolff
Feb.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff has tipped Sebastian Vettel to “succeed” after switching to Aston Martin for 2021. Quadruple world champion Vettel admits he contemplated retirement before rescuing his career with Lawrence Stroll’s new Aston Martin project. Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, is a minor shareholder. “This project is just beginning and Sebastian is one of […]
Kubica eyes LMP2 move for 2021
Feb.1 (GMM) Robert Kubica is eyeing a move into Le Mans’ second-tier LMP2 category in 2021. The Pole is staying as Alfa Romeo’s reserve driver this year, but he is definitely leaving the DTM – and contemplating what else he will do next. “The fact is, I’m involved with Alfa Romeo, so I already have […]
Sainz denies Ferrari lineup is too young
Feb.1 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has played down claims that Ferrari’s youngest driver lineup in decades could hurt the Maranello team. Ferrari slumped in 2020, and yet continued to proceed with the plan to replace quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel with 26-year-old Carlos Sainz. Together with 23-year-old Charles Leclerc, it is Ferrari’s youngest lineup in five […]