May 3 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he wants to return to Formula 1 next year – although he’s not ruling out a move to another series. The Russian had a rollercoaster 100-plus race career in the sport but lost his Alpha Tauri seat – and Red Bull’s backing – at the end of last season. […]
Month: May 2021
Early start for 2021 title ‘mind games’ – Schumacher
May 3 (GMM) The “mind games” between Formula 1’s title protagonists have begun tantalisingly early in 2021, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are keeping their battle civil at least publicly, but 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg says their respective bosses “can’t stand each other”. Indeed, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has […]
Schumacher beating Mazepin ‘completely’ – Rosberg
May 3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is “completely” showing up his fellow rookie teammate in his first season of Formula 1. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, although Mick’s uncle Ralf also had high praise for his 22-year-old nephew. “That was zero points with an asterisk,” said Ralf. “It’s a pleasure to watch him,” added […]
Verstappen rejects Rosberg’s Hamilton-beating advice
May 3 (GMM) Max Verstappen has responded to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg’s advice about his head-to-head championship battle with Lewis Hamilton. As Hamilton’s teammate, Rosberg managed to win the 2016 title before immediately retiring. He thinks Verstappen is currently making too many mistakes. “Max had the faster car, which we also saw here in […]
Wolff ‘happy’ to consider 2022 Mercedes lineup
May 2 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is “happy” that news of his initial talks with Lewis Hamilton about the seven time world champion’s future at Mercedes have “come out”. Hamilton, who after protracted and difficult negotiations only agreed a one-year Mercedes deal for 2021, said at Portimao that he decided to do the Pirelli […]
McLaren denies helping Mercedes with Norris radio call
May 2 (GMM) McLaren’s team boss has hit back at Dr Helmut Marko after the Red Bull official sarcastically criticised “very sporting” behaviour to benefit Mercedes at Portimao. During qualifying, Lando Norris’ engineer was heard to tell the British driver on the radio not to do Max Verstappen “any favours” as the Red Bull driver […]
Binotto happy with ‘second driver’ Sainz
May 2 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says he is “very happy” with the way Carlos Sainz is progressing at Ferrari. At the same time, the Maranello team’s boss said Charles Leclerc was “too aggressive” in qualifying at Portimao. Spaniard Sainz has been taking some time to adjust to his new car after switching from McLaren to […]
Stroll getting car update is ‘perfectly fine’ – Vettel
May 2 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is not bothered that only his teammate got to drive the latest specification of Aston Martin’s 2021 car at Portimao. The quadruple world champion revealed on Friday that Lance Stroll, the son of billionaire team owner Lawrence, “has a slightly different specification this weekend, which was clear in […]
Portimao surface ‘unworthy of F1’ – Verstappen
May 2 (GMM) Max Verstappen continued to slam the condition of the track surface at Portimao after qualifying behind both Mercedes cars. The Dutchman was ultimately four tenths off the pace on Saturday, after having a faster lap deleted for a ‘track limits’ violation. “We could have had pole, but I don’t like to talk […]
Russia GP set for Igora Drive switch in 2022
May 1 (GMM) This year’s Russian GP could be the last one held at Sochi. According to Russian business daily Delovoy Petersburg, the plans to relocate the Formula 1 race to a new circuit in Leningrad Oblast – Igora Drive – have been submitted to parliament. The bill calls for tax exemptions for services related […]
Steiner denies Mazepin’s father buying Haas
May 1 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has denied that Haas will be sold to team driver Nikita Mazepin’s father. Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin is already the small American team’s title sponsor, via his Uralkali company. It is a unique situation for Haas, given that rookie Mazepin’s teammate Mick Schumacher is closely aligned with another key team […]
Verstappen admits Mercedes ‘stronger’ at Portimao
May 1 (GMM) Mercedes has come out of the blocks at Portimao with a slightly “stronger” car, Max Verstappen has admitted. “We still have to improve a bit to go for pole,” the Red Bull driver, who is a single point behind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton after the first two races, told Ziggo Sport. “The Mercedes […]
Marko tells Hamilton to give up Verstappen ‘mind games’
May 1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has told Lewis Hamilton to stop wasting his time with attempted “mind games” in his 2021 title head-to-head with Max Verstappen. At Imola, seven time world champion Hamilton said he rates his former title battles with Sebastian Vettel higher than his new head-to-head duel with Verstappen. “Racing with Max, […]
2021 Brazil GP situation ‘difficult’ – team manager
May 1 (GMM) The current version of Formula 1’s 2021 calendar should suffer no further tweaks or changes – even though some question-marks remain amid the ongoing covid pandemic. That is the news from inside the Alpha Tauri team, whose team manager Graham Watson sat in on the latest meetings surrounding the cancellation of the […]
Stroll has ‘different’ Aston Martin car – Vettel
May 1 (GMM) As Sebastian Vettel’s struggles continue, he has revealed that Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll is benefitting from a “different specification” this weekend at Portimao. After trailing Stroll’s pace in Friday practice, quadruple world champion Vettel was asked if it is frustrating to be behind Stroll – whose father Lawrence owns the team. […]
Bottas will struggle to keep seat – Schumacher
May 1 (GMM) Clinging onto his Mercedes seat for 2022 is going to be a “damn tight” battle for Valtteri Bottas. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who admits he was “disappointed” with the way the Finn reacted to the aftermath of his high-speed crash with George Russell at Imola. “I […]
Wolff denies Lowe’s claims about 2014 season
May 1 (GMM) Toto Wolff has vehemently denied claims that Mercedes secretly manipulated and hid the true performance of its first ‘hybrid’ engine in 2014. Paddy Lowe, who has now left Mercedes and also his most recent team Williams, revealed on F1’s official podcast this week that Wolff, Daimler and Formula 1 were “worried about […]
Zak Brown letter about Mercedes ‘pressure’ – Horner
May 1 (GMM) Christian Horner thinks McLaren’s Zak Brown is sending a message about the “pressure” he may be coming under from new engine supplier Mercedes. McLaren supremo Brown this week revealed an open letter raising his concerns about “team affiliations” and calling for “secret ballot voting” at the F1 Commission. “I heard about that […]