Sep.26 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is not denying that his wealthy father Dmitry might be eyeing the purchase of a Formula 1 team. The controversial Russian rookie currently drives for Haas, and he is also signed up for 2022. The small American team’s title sponsor, meanwhile is Uralchem – a Russian chemicals company headed by billionaire […]
Month: September 2021
Verstappen more like my father than Hamilton – Hunt
Sep.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen, not Lewis Hamilton, is the new ‘James Hunt’ of Formula 1. That is the claim not of a random pundit, but the son of F1 legend James Hunt himself – 31-year-old Freddie. “2021 is probably the best season I’ve ever experienced,” Hunt told Sport1. “It’s similar to 1976 – extremely close […]
Mercedes considering Hamilton engine penalty
Sep.26 (GMM) Late on Saturday, Mercedes was considering shuffling Lewis Hamilton further down the Sochi grid with an overnight engine change. Title rival Max Verstappen is already at the back of the grid with his Monza crash and engine change penalties, while Hamilton qualified just fourth at slippery Sochi on Saturday. “I don’t want to […]
Hamilton ‘lost my talent’ in Sochi qualifying
Sep.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton joked that he ‘lost his talent’ at Sochi as countryman Lando Norris instead powered to a surprise pole position. “I’m very disappointed in my mistakes,” the seven time world champion told Sky Italia. Indeed, Hamilton’s Mercedes didn’t just clout the pitlane wall, he also made contact for a second time out […]
Putin absent as Sochi braces for qualifying washout
Sep.25 (GMM) Russian president Vladimir Putin will not attend Sunday’s Formula 1 race at Sochi. “No,” a spokesman for the Kremlin told Russian news agency Tass. Part of the reason for that could be the controversial president’s period of self-isolation, commenced last Tuesday, after members of his entourage tested positive for covid. Putin will therefore […]
2021 engine penalties also likely for Hamilton
Sep.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s slim championship lead looks in doubt as he moves all the way to the back of the Russian GP grid. Red Bull’s warning that it was considering a full suite of unscheduled new parts for the Dutchman’s car this weekend at Sochi has indeed materialised. “We have taken everything into consideration,” […]
Giovinazzi still waiting for Alfa Romeo call
Sep.24 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says he is still not sure if he will be racing an Alfa Romeo in 2022. The Swiss-based team, headed by Frederic Vasseur, is currently weighing up the identity of Valtteri Bottas’ teammate for next year – with the well-funded Chinese F2 frontrunner Guanyu Zhou in pole position. Vasseur says the […]
Vettel undecided about F1 career beyond 2022
Sep.24 (GMM) Having re-committed to Aston Martin for 2022, Sebastian Vettel is not yet ready to predict that his Formula 1 career will extend much beyond that. Until his 2022 deal was confirmed, speculation was swirling about whether the quadruple world champion was enjoying Formula 1 anymore – and may retire. When asked if he […]
Imola to replace Paul Ricard on 2022 calendar
Sep.24 (GMM) Imola looks set to nudge Paul Ricard off the Formula 1 calendar. Early this week, a leaked version of the purported 2022 race calendar emerged, and it showed that one date has been reserved either for Paul Ricard or Imola. Imola, located in Italy and the former San Marino GP host, re-emerged in […]
No new engine for Sainz or Ferrari customers
Sep.24 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he will get a new Ferrari engine in his car soon – but the same may not be true of the Maranello team’s F1 customers Alfa Romeo and Haas. For this weekend at Sochi, Ferrari has fast-forwarded the expected debut date of all-new hybrid elements of its power unit. But […]
Mazepin invites teammate Schumacher to Moscow
Sep.24 (GMM) Struggling F1 outfit Haas is keeping the team united and hopes high for 2022 amid a particularly difficult championship campaign. First, just as Haas confirmed that both drivers are staying put next year, the continual skirmish between Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher now seems to be easing. Russian Mazepin, for one, has invited […]
Title rivals trade barbs before Sochi showdown
Sep.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has lashed out at title rival Lewis Hamilton in the wake of their Monza crash, accusing the Mercedes driver of hypocrisy and denying he feels under pressure. Seven time world champion Hamilton kicked off his pursuit of the Red Bull driver’s championship lead at Sochi by claiming Verstappen may be crumbling […]
Red Bull will not repeat botched Verstappen pitstop
Sep.23 (GMM) Red Bull has ensured a repeat of Max Verstappen’s botched Monza pitstop will not re-occur this weekend at Sochi, according to Dr Helmut Marko. While the bulk of the world’s attention has been on the Dutch driver’s subsequent first-chicane clash with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen would never have been near his title rival if […]
Ferrari brings 2022 engine upgrade to Sochi
Sep.23 (GMM) Ferrari has fast-tracked the delivery of its highly anticipated engine upgrade. Earlier, it was expected that the new hybrid elements – comprising part of Ferrari’s all-new power unit package for 2022 – may be introduced in time for the Turkish GP. “I’m not sure about that,” driver Carlos Sainz said this week. “I […]
Netflix eyes F1 rights takeover
Sep.23 (GMM) The CEO of Netflix has admitted the company may be interested in buying the rights to Formula 1. The world’s most popular over-the-top streaming platform produces the official F1 documentary Drive to Survive, while specials about Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and others have also been well received. The next step, according to Netflix […]
F1 axes traditional Thursday practice at Monaco
Sep.23 (GMM) Formula 1 is ending its decades-long tradition of running free practice sessions in Monaco on Thursdays. Sitting out Friday to honour Ascension Day, when Jesus Christ purportedly ascended to heaven, dates all the way back to the first F1 championship in 1950. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says that’s definitely changing for 2022. “Monaco […]
Kvyat to ‘try’ for F1 return in 2023
Sep.23 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he is ready to “try new things” even though he is not ruling out a return to the Formula 1 grid in 2023. With all seats already occupied on next year’s grid, the Russian – who is an Alpine reserve driver this season – is now turning his attention away […]
Steiner expects more conflict between Haas duo
Sep.22 (GMM) Gunther Steiner isn’t sure Haas rookies Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher are committed to avoiding on-track clashes for the remainder of 2021. The American team is set to re-confirm both 22-year-old drivers for next season, even though incidents between the pair have ramped up over the course of the season. “It will be […]
F1 should boost grid to 30 cars – Wolff
Sep.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff has reintroduced the idea of adding a third car to each Formula 1 team’s pit garage. Currently, the sport’s reserve bench is bustling with talent who are struggling to enter Formula 1 due to the lack of vacant cockpits. Mercedes’ Formula E champion Nyck de Vries is one such name, but […]
Marko hits out at Hamilton’s ‘funny outfit’
Sep.22 (GMM) Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko has hit out again at Lewis Hamilton, following reports the seven time world champion suffered a neck injury as a result of his Monza clash with Max Verstappen. Marko has already called out Hamilton and Mercedes’ “stories” about the injuries, adding that the 36-year-old Briton and his team […]