Apr.13 (GMM) The covid crisis in Formula 1 is “much more complicated” in 2021 compared with last year, according to the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali. He told Auto Motor und Sport that while 2020 was all about surviving the sudden crisis, F1 must now navigate a world with highly complex new rules. “The situation this […]
Month: April 2021
Negative F1 reputation makes Alonso ‘laugh’
Apr.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at the continuing narrative that he is difficult to work with in Formula 1. Alpine advisor Alain Prost last week said the team needs to be “very careful” to manage the new dynamic between two-time world champion Alonso and his teammate Esteban Ocon. “You have to be very […]
F1 CEO may not support $30m driver spending cap
Apr.12 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has suggested that Formula 1 may in fact not support moves to install an annual $30 million per team limit on driver salary spending. We reported last week that the FIA and Liberty Media are poised to circulate such a proposal among F1 teams. However, F1 CEO Domenicali has now told […]
Marko denies ‘mysterious suspension’ rumours
Apr.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has rubbished rumours that Red Bull is set to debut a new and “mysterious” suspension system this weekend at Imola. “This is complete nonsense,” said the Austrian team official. “We already had this ‘mysterious’ suspension in Bahrain but it’s nothing special,” Marko told Sport1. “We had to design it because […]
Canada GP needs more money for 2021 ‘ghost race’
Apr.12 (GMM) The fate of the 2021 Canadian GP is hanging in the balance. La Presse reports that the prospect of a spectator-free ‘ghost race’ for the Montreal event is rising, prompting promoter Francois Dumontier’s organisation to seek an extra $6 million in compensation from the government. The report said Liberty Media wants an answer […]
Alpha Tauri step due ‘mainly’ to Honda
Apr.12 (GMM) Alpha Tauri’s obvious step forward for 2021 is due “mainly” to the new Honda engine. That is the admission of the Red Bull-owned team’s boss Franz Tost, who hailed Honda’s progress for the Japanese manufacturer’s last official season on the F1 grid for now. “There have been small advances in the chassis, but […]
Porsche not ruling out 2025 F1 foray
Apr.12 (GMM) Porsche’s racing boss Fritz Enzinger is not ruling out a Formula 1 foray for the Volkswagen-owned German sports car brand. He told Auto Motor und Sport that Porsche is “following” the current behind-the-scenes talks about the future of the sport – particularly the new engine rules for 2025. “Basically, we monitor and evaluate […]
Former Ferrari boss set to join Aston Martin
Apr.12 (GMM) Former Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci is set to return to Formula 1 with the Aston Martin team. The 50-year-old Italian led Ferrari for a short time following Stefano Domenicali’s ousting in 2014. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mattiacci is now “one step away from Aston Martin”, with correspondent Lorenzo Pastuglia claiming […]
FIA disassembled Bottas’ car after Bahrain
Apr.9 (GMM) F1’s governing body spent three hours disassembling Valtteri Bottas’ new Mercedes car after the Bahrain season opener. Just prior to the opening race of 2021, we reported that the FIA had decided to randomly seize one full car after every race weekend this year for “disassembly” and “deeper checks”. “The FIA wants to […]
Williams, Alfa Romeo turn focus to 2022
Apr.9 (GMM) Two more of F1’s smaller teams have joined Haas in declaring that their full focus this year is on producing cars for the all-new technical rules in 2022. “This season is a transitional one,” said Williams CEO Jost Capito. “We are fully focused on the 2022 car as there is almost nothing we […]
Rome will not join F1 calendar – official
Apr.9 (GMM) The boss of Italy’s automobile club has played down suggestions Rome might be added to the Formula 1 schedule. This weekend, the streets of the Italian capital will host Formula E, but Angelo Sticchi Damiani said it is still hard to imagine a grand prix in Rome. “There was a chance to bring […]
Hamilton, Verstappen ‘don’t differ much’ – Marko
Apr.9 (GMM) A trio of Formula 1 personalities say the jury is out on the true greatness of seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The British driver could become clearly the most successful F1 driver of all time with an eighth title this year, but Jacques Villeneuve says that alone is not enough to prove […]
Sainz poses ‘danger’ to Leclerc – Villeneuve
Apr.9 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has been told to keep an eye on his new Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. At the Maranello team last year, 23-year-old Leclerc dominated quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. For 2021 and beyond, he has been paired with former Renault and McLaren driver Carlos Sainz. But 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve warns […]
Former Italian PM not involved in F1 team project
Apr.9 (GMM) Reports that a former Italian prime minister could be involved in plans for a new Formula 1 team have been dismissed. Matteo Renzi, now a senator for Florence, caused a stir in the Italian media recently when he was spotted trackside at the season opening Bahrain GP. Subsequently, it was reported that the […]
Hulkenberg tries 2021 F1 cars in simulator
Apr.8 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has kicked off his new role as Aston Martin and Mercedes reserve in 2021 by getting a taste of the cars in the simulator. The former Renault driver, who became Racing Point’s ‘super sub’ last year by filling in for the team’s regular drivers when they had covid-19, will also be […]
Financial deal shows green light to F1 sprint races
Apr.8 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali appears to have resolved an issue that could have red-flagged Formula 1’s sprint qualifying trial in 2021. In Bahrain recently, Mercedes and Red Bull bosses led the argument that teams need an extra $300-400,000 each under the new $145 million budget cap rules to cover the extra cost of the additional […]
Alpine ‘careful’ with Alonso, Ocon relationship – Prost
Apr.8 (GMM) Alpine must be “very careful” as it manages the dynamic between its two drivers, according to team advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost. According to the 66-year-old quadruple world champion, a “psychological game” already emerged at the Enstone based team last year, when Esteban Ocon was paired with the now departed Daniel Ricciardo. […]
F1 closing on $30m per team driver salary cap
Apr.8 (GMM) Formula 1 is closing in on a $30 million per team annual budget cap to specifically limit spending on drivers. According to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport and other specialist publications, the FIA and Liberty Media are poised to circulate the proposal among F1 teams. “According to rumours,” wrote correspondent Luigi Perna, “they […]
‘Rake’ and rules not key to Red Bull boost
Apr.8 (GMM) McLaren, Alpine and Alfa Romeo are hitting back at the notion that Red Bull and other teams directly benefitted from the aerodynamic rule changes for 2021. The argument is that Formula 1 and the FIA implemented the changes to disproportionately hurt the most dominant team with the lower ‘rake’ concept – Mercedes. “It […]
18-inch tyres ‘feel good already’ – Alonso
Apr.7 (GMM) Pirelli’s 18-inch tyres for 2022 “feel good already”, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has revealed. After the 2021 season opener, Ferrari and Alpine stayed behind in Bahrain to help Pirelli develop the new low-profile tyres for next season. “The new tyres feel good already,” Spaniard Alonso said. “It is at an encouraging stage […]