Apr.19 (GMM) Red Bull may have a faster car over one lap, but the energy drink owned team thinks Mercedes still has a slight edge in racing conditions. “Overall, both cars are very close together,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, after Max Verstappen won a hectic and slippery race at Imola. “But both […]
Month: April 2021
Heavily-criticised Mazepin ‘destroyed’ at Imola
Apr.18 (GMM) The under-fire Nikita Mazepin “destroyed” a rival’s qualifying lap at Imola – and then his teammate Mick Schumacher “destroyed” the Russian with pace. Those are the views of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher – who is the uncle of 22-year-old Mazepin’s similarly aged Haas teammate. Under intense fire […]
Alpine had ‘problems in wind tunnel’ over winter
Apr.18 (GMM) Alpine struggled with “some problems in the wind tunnel” over the winter, team executive boss Marcin Budkowski has admitted. Esteban Ocon made the ‘Q3’ segment at Imola on Saturday but Fernando Alonso is just fifteenth. “I didn’t do well enough,” Alonso told Spanish reporters when asked why he is behind his teammate. “I […]
Spanish GP to be another F1 ‘ghost race’
Apr.18 (GMM) The 2021 Spanish GP will be yet another Formula 1 ‘ghost race’. Organisers of next month’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya have announced that it is too unsafe amid the ongoing covid crisis to allow spectators to attend. “Under these conditions, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether the epidemiological situation […]
Allison turned down team boss role – Wolff
Apr.18 (GMM) James Allison turned down the opportunity to succeed Toto Wolff as Mercedes team boss. That is the admission of Wolff himself, as departing technical director Allison admitted he even contemplated retiring from Formula 1 completely. Instead, he is stepping over to the new position of chief technical officer, with former aerodynamics chief Mike […]
Nurburgring ‘open’ to replacing axed Canada GP
Apr.18 (GMM) The Nurburgring is “open” to filling in for a postponed or cancelled Formula 1 race in 2021, a spokesman has admitted. The news comes amid rumours that the fabled German circuit is the hot favourite to step in for June’s Canadian GP, which looks set to be cancelled for a second consecutive year […]
Wolff tips Hamilton to stay at Mercedes
Apr.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Lewis Hamilton will stay at Mercedes beyond 2021 – and then never switch to a rival Formula 1 team. “I think this will be his last team,” the Mercedes team boss told DPA news agency at Imola. Seven time world champion Hamilton, 36, signed only a one-year deal for 2021 […]
Marko slams Aston Martin over ‘low rake’ legal threat
Apr.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Aston Martin’s stance over the aerodynamic rule changes for 2021, describing the complaint as “completely incomprehensible”. Even Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, who is close to Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll and the Silverstone based outfit, suggested that the matter “should be left to rest now”. He is referring […]
Rival teams hit back at Aston Martin legal threat
Apr.17 (GMM) Three rival team bosses have hit back at suggestions Aston Martin may launch legal action against Formula 1’s aerodynamic rule changes for 2021. Aston Martin boss Otmar Szafnauer suspects the changes were designed specifically to tackle Mercedes’ utter dominance of the sport – with other ‘low rake’ cars also affected. “I’m not a […]
‘No reason’ to leave Red Bull – Verstappen
Apr.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he sees “no reason” to consider moving to another Formula 1 team. Red Bull recently confirmed that, despite signing a contract early last year with the Dutchman through 2023, Verstappen could potentially leave due to a performance-related exit clause. “I have a contract at Red Bull until 2023, and I […]
2022 car is Ferrari’s ‘absolute priority’ – Binotto
Apr.17 (GMM) Although Ferrari’s current car is clearly still improving, team boss Mattia Binotto says the Maranello team is focusing more intently on designing the all-new car for 2022. Charles Leclerc claims Ferrari brought “nothing much” in terms of new parts to Imola, but La Gazzetta dello Sport has revealed that the 2021 machine is […]
Canada GP axe news expected ‘within 48 hours’
Apr.17 (GMM) It is still not clear whether Canada will host its scheduled Formula 1 race this year – although the signs are not good. Many sources are predicting that the Montreal round will be scrapped, as regional and federal health authorities worry about the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. However, deputy federal public chief health officer […]
Mazepin must stop crashing ‘at some point’ – boss
Apr.17 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin needs to stop having spins and crashes “at some point”, according to the beleaguered Russian rookie’s team boss Gunther Steiner. 22-year-old Mazepin’s horror start to his first year in Formula 1 continued at Imola, when he added another practice crash to his record – to the ongoing derision of his enemies […]
‘Not my turn’ to receive covid vaccine – Vettel
Apr.17 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he has turned down the chance to be vaccinated against covid-19. Several drivers have already contracted the notorious virus, including Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris. Others, including all four Red Bull drivers, have now received the vaccine. But quadruple world champion Sebastian […]
Nurburgring to replace Montreal in 2021 – report
Apr.17 (GMM) Germany’s Nurburgring circuit is hotting up as favourite to replace the endangered 2021 Canadian GP. The German broadcaster RTL reports that rumblings to that effect in the Imola paddock this weekend are “more than just rumours”. Official news about the Montreal cancellation is expected within 48 hours, and RTL believes that the Nurburgring […]
F1 can revive V10, V8 engines – di Grassi
Apr.16 (GMM) There is a way for Formula 1 to revive its iconic normally-aspirated engines whilst ramping up its green credentials. That is the view of former F1 driver Lucas di Grassi, who now races for Audi in Formula E. The Brazilian thinks Formula 1 should abandon its hybrid engines and instead focus exclusively on […]
Sprint races won’t sell more F1 tickets – Boullier
Apr.16 (GMM) French GP official Eric Boullier is not convinced ‘sprint qualifying’ will transform the excitement of Formula 1. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says there is now nothing that will stop the new format from being trialled at three separate race weekends in 2021. “We just have to wait for the formal steps of the […]
Domenicali hopes spectators can attend Monza
Apr.16 (GMM) Whether spectators can attend Italy’s other grand prix in 2021 depends on progress with vaccinations. That is the news from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who actually grew up not far from the Imola circuit – scene of this weekend’s latest F1 ‘ghost race’. Carlos Sainz says it’s a shame that his first race […]
No Ferrari exit even with doubled salary – Leclerc
Apr.16 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he would not leave Ferrari even if a rival team offered to double his salary. Because he extended his contract for a full five years, reportedly with at least a $10m per year pay-packet, the 23-year-old admitted he asked Ferrari if he could receive a full racing version of his […]
Alpine using ‘intuition’ to assess Renault engine
Apr.16 (GMM) Alpine is having to use more “intuition” in 2021 in order to assess the merits of the Renault engine. That is the admission of Fernando Alonso, referring to the fact that Renault’s last engine customer – McLaren – switched to Mercedes power over the winter. “We are the only team with the Renault […]