Mar.27 (GMM) After surprising the F1 world in pre-season testing, Red Bull remains the fastest team as the 2021 world championship kicks off in Bahrain. “The fans want a real fight this year and I think we will see that,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said on Friday after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped both […]
Month: March 2021
Mercedes will not wait ‘eight months’ for Hamilton
Mar.27 (GMM) Mercedes will not wait “eight months” for Lewis Hamilton’s answer over his future in Formula 1. Having signed just a single-year contract extension for 2021, the seven time world champion said on Thursday: “I don’t feel like I’m at the end, but only the next eight months or so will let me know.” […]
F1 could lose ‘a race or two’ from 2021 calendar
Mar.27 (GMM) Zak Brown has admitted that “a race or two” could drop off the currently-scheduled 2021 calendar. It appears likely that the McLaren supremo is referring to the Canadian GP in Montreal as well as Zandvoort – two races that were also cancelled last year. The problem in Canada is the government’s insistence that […]
Mazepin says F1 reputation ‘up to the fans’
Mar.27 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he will continue to be himself in Formula 1. Even before contesting a single race, the Russian rookie has been the subject of an intense social media campaign calling for Haas to step him down. The 22-year-old, whose billionaire father Dmitry’s company Uralkali is the American team’s main sponsor, was […]
Teams want extra money for ‘sprint qualifying’
Mar.27 (GMM) Progress on F1’s three-race ‘sprint qualifying’ trial in 2021 has hit a snag. Teams are arguing with the sport’s authorities over the financial aspect of the proposal, insisting that the new format will cost them more just as the $145m budget cap is imposed. It emerged in Bahrain on Friday that the teams […]
Third VW personality joins Williams
Mar.27 (GMM) A third former Volkswagen-linked personality has now joined Williams. In recent weeks, speculation about the potential for VW brand Porsche to enter Formula 1 – perhaps with Red Bull – has intensified. But just before Christmas, long-time VW and Porsche racing manager Jost Capito was signed up by Williams, following the sale of […]
Hulkenberg confirms F1 ‘triple role’ in 2021
Mar.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed that he will be a reserve driver for Aston Martin in 2021. The German lost his full-time F1 seat at the end of 2019 but still raced three times last year when Racing Point regulars Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll sat out with covid-19. So as Racing Point re-brands […]
Hakkinen admits ‘rude’ opinion about Ocon
Mar.26 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen has admitted his opinion about Alpine racer Esteban Ocon is “a bit rude”. “I would like to say something positive, but I don’t know Ocon that well,” said the 1998 and 1999 world champion in a 2021 season preview for his sponsor Unibet. Ocon, 24, is staying at the Enstone based […]
No Hamilton talks since replacement drive – Russell
Mar.26 (GMM) Tension may be brewing between Lewis Hamilton and the young driver who may replace him at Mercedes for 2021. Seven time champion Hamilton on Thursday hit back at the theory that his mere one-year contract could mean he will vacate his seat at the end of the season. “The one-year contract, which is […]
Schumacher ‘more humble’ than Mazepin – boss
Mar.26 (GMM) Gunther Steiner admits that Haas’ two rookie drivers for 2021 are “not great friends”. It has been a tumultuous pre-season for the Ferrari-linked American team as it signed up F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s son Mick, and paired him with the highly controversial Nikita Mazepin. Boss Steiner, who is expecting Haas to be at […]
Covid becoming ‘normal routine’ in F1 – Stroll
Mar.26 (GMM) The ‘new’ Formula 1 routines dictated by the covid-19 crisis are becoming “more and more normal” to those in the sport. That is the view of Lance Stroll, whose father Lawrence owns the Aston Martin team. That team has confirmed that, despite the Bahrain government offering free vaccinations to everyone in the paddock, […]
Mercedes to debut new technical innovation – Wolff
Mar.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hinted that Mercedes is about to unleash a new technical innovation on the world of Formula 1. The narrative heading into this weekend’s season opener in Bahrain is that the previously dominant team has fallen behind Red Bull over the winter. “Honestly, I think so,” seven time world champion Lewis […]
Porsche and ‘other manufacturers’ eyeing F1 – Marko
Mar.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is “open to partners” as the energy drink-owned camp prepares to take over the Honda engine program for 2022 and beyond. The big rumour is of a potential tie-up with long-time Red Bull sponsor Volkswagen via the luxury Porsche brand – particularly for when the engine regulations […]
Tsunoda admits exploiting DRS for fast Bahrain laps
Mar.25 (GMM) F1 rookie Yuki Tsunoda has admitted he deployed DRS too early en route to his impressively fast laps in the recent Bahrain test. Top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko has been particularly vocal about the 20-year-old Japanese, who has been placed also with Honda’s support at Alpha Tauri for 2021. “Helmut called […]
‘I’m still good enough for fifth title’ – Vettel
Mar.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel insists he is “still good enough” not only to win more races in Formula 1, but also a fifth drivers’ world championship. As the 33-year-old moves to Aston Martin after losing his Ferrari seat for 2021, many believe Vettel is clearly past his prime in Formula 1. But although the German […]
Claire Williams’ husband slams Netflix
Mar.25 (GMM) Claire Williams’ husband has slammed Netflix for leaving Williams out of the new season of the Formula 1 documentary series Drive to Survive. Team driver George Russell was the first to break his silence after the series’ release this week, tweeting a photo of himself looking disappointed and frustrated below the caption: “Getting […]
No room for Hamilton at McLaren – Brown
Mar.25 (GMM) There is no “opening” that would allow Lewis Hamilton to return to McLaren next year, according to Zak Brown. Seven time world champion Hamilton, whose 2021 mood was recently described by Martin Brundle as “grumpy”, is rumoured to be heading for the exit at Mercedes after agreeing a mere one-year deal for 2021. […]
F1 CEO admits ‘no guarantee’ full 2021 season can go ahead
Mar.24 (GMM) There is “no guarantee” that Formula 1 will get through its full 23-race calendar in 2021, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted. The original 2021 calendar has already been tweaked, with the season now set to start in Bahrain – amid empty grandstands. It is hoped that by the time the sport gets […]
Mercedes eyeing Hamilton split for 2022 – Villeneuve
Mar.24 (GMM) The time may be coming for Mercedes to say goodbye to Lewis Hamilton. That is the sensational view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, just one day after one of his colleagues, Karun Chandhok, surmised that there is “something going on” behind the scenes at the dominant Formula 1 team. After long […]
Mercedes, Aston Martin will solve problems – Berger
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger has tipped Sebastian Vettel to start shining again now that he has left Ferrari. It is a sentiment that is backed strongly by another of Vettel’s well-known F1 allies – former supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “The best thing that he and everyone can do is forget about the years at […]