Jan.20 (GMM) A decades-old tradition in Formula 1 has been banned for 2022 and beyond. Throughout the sport’s history, race promoters have collaborated with their nations’ respective governments to organise spectacular military aircraft flyovers while the pre-event grid proceedings are taking place. However, Formula 1 has now told the 23 race promoters ahead of the […]
Month: January 2022
Prost almost ran for FIA presidency
Jan.20 (GMM) Alain Prost – FIA president. It’s a tantalising name-and-title combination that just may have happened, with the 66-year-old Formula 1 legend admitting he considered trying to replace the recently-succeeded FIA president and fellow Frenchman Jean Todt. The actual new president of F1’s governing body is Mohammad Ben Sulayem, but quadruple world champion Prost […]
Marko slams Abiteboul-to-Red Bull rumours
Jan.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed reports that former Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul could be about to join Red Bull’s Formula 1 program. The rumours suggest that, despite their bitter competitive rivalry of the past, talks have taken place between Dr Marko, Christian Horner and Frenchman Abiteboul, who was ousted as Renault team boss […]
Sprint races in doubt over money dispute
Jan.20 (GMM) Formula 1’s sprint race plans for 2022 remain up in the air – because of a dispute about money. The sport’s administration was happy with the three-race trial of the new sprint qualifying format in 2021, and intended to at least double the number of sprints this year. A title sponsor for the […]
Wolff reveals Hamilton’s ‘very deep’ wounds
Jan.20 (GMM) There are “very deep” wounds within Lewis Hamilton after the controversial finale to the ultra-intense 2021 title battle, Toto Wolff has revealed. Rumours are swirling that Hamilton, who has been completely silent and unseen for weeks, may even hang up his helmet before the start of the 2022 season. Mercedes team boss Wolff […]
Porsche teaming up with Red Bull – Brown
Jan.20 (GMM) Zak Brown, who says Porsche is set to team up in Formula 1 with Red Bull, admits that McLaren has also had discussions with another Volkswagen carmaker – Audi. The Woking based team officially denied rumours of a buyout late last year, but McLaren supremo Brown doesn’t rule out a collaboration with the […]
Melbourne GP boss says F1 drivers must vaccinate
Jan.19 (GMM) Every Formula 1 driver and team member will be “compliant” with border rules when they enter Australia for the first time since 2020 this April. That is the insistence of Melbourne race boss Andrew Westacott, who was asked if the city’s farcical Novak Djokovic situation could be repeated as Albert Park finally rejoins […]
Teams want covid-era tyre rule in 2022 – Isola
Jan.19 (GMM) Formula 1 teams do not want control over their allocation of tyre compounds at grands prix, according to Pirelli’s F1 chief Mario Isola. A covid-related rule tweak meant Pirelli no longer allowed teams to be more selective about the full selection of compounds available per driver at the races. That rule was set […]
No Todt return for Ferrari, Briatore to Alpine
Jan.19 (GMM) Jean Todt will not return to Ferrari as a consultant to the fabled Formula 1 team. That is the word from the authoritative Italian daily Corriere della Sera, following speculation former Ferrari boss Todt’s next move after stepping down as FIA president could be a return to the Maranello camp. “The president of […]
Prost reveals 2022 engine ‘reliability problem’
Jan.19 (GMM) Alain Prost’s parting shot at the Renault-owned Alpine team that he is leaving is to reveal a “reliability problem” with the new engine for 2022. Alpine, based in Enstone (UK) and Viry (France), is pinning its hopes on a significant power unit re-design to close a reported 30-plus horsepower gap to the front-running […]
Szafnauer set to be Alpine team boss – Prost
Jan.19 (GMM) Alain Prost has all but confirmed that Otmar Szafnauer will be Alpine’s new team principal. Szafnauer has departed from the same position at Aston Martin, and it is now rumoured that he is taking major sponsor BWT with him to the Renault-owned competitor. “The team will compete with some new faces, and why […]
Departing Prost slams Alpine CEO Rossi
Jan.19 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has pointed the finger squarely at Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, as he joins an exodus of prominent team managers. Davide Brivio is expected to return to MotoGP, Marcin Budkowski is on ‘gardening leave’, and Aston Martin’s Otmar Szafnauer will shortly be unveiled as the Renault-owned team’s new boss. But […]
No ‘shock’ if Hamilton quits – Brown
Jan.19 (GMM) Mercedes is pressing ahead with its plans for the 2022 season, despite the uncertainty surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s participation. The seven time world champion has maintained strict radio silence in the weeks following his controversial 2021 title loss to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi. “I wouldn’t be shocked if Lewis stopped,” McLaren team supremo […]
Indycar star slams ‘ridiculous’ F1 license
Jan.18 (GMM) A top Indycar star has slammed Formula 1’s “ridiculous” super license points system. Just after the 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi, Mexican Pato O’Ward got his first taste of life at F1 speeds with a debut test for McLaren. The 22-year-old, who finished third overall in 2021, races for McLaren’s Indycar team – […]
‘Smart’ Red Bull to be fast in 2022 – Albon
Jan.18 (GMM) Red Bull should still be a frontrunner in 2022, according to departing team reserve Alex Albon. Albon, who was Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2019 and 2020, is returning to the grid with Williams this year. But he observed Dutchman Verstappen’s intense and ultimately successful 2021 title campaign up close from the garage, and […]
Prost ousted, Alpine to turn pink in 2022
Jan.18 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer is expected to become Alpine’s new team boss – and he is reportedly bringing a major sponsor to the Renault-owned team with him. The French team is clearly in the midst of a major management shakeup ahead of the 2022 season, with Davide Brivio expected to return to MotoGP and Marcin […]
F1 makes covid vaccination mandatory in 2022
Jan.17 (GMM) Formula 1 personnel, including the drivers, must have received covid-19 vaccines in order to race and work at the circuits in 2022. We reported recently that, amid the incredible saga surrounding world number 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia, mandatory vaccination was also on the cards for Formula 1. That has […]
No taste of 2022 car until first test – Schumacher
Jan.17 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he will not get a first taste of his 2022-spec car until he drives the real thing in winter testing. The 22-year-old is closely affiliated with Ferrari, and he will even be the reserve driver this year. But unlike most other 2022 race drivers, he will not be able to […]
Wolff to meet with Hamilton in February
Jan.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has warned that the saga surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s potential shock retirement from Formula 1 will race ahead for now. It is believed the Mercedes team boss met with the FIA’s new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last Friday to discuss the matter, while star driver Hamilton is reportedly training and relaxing in […]
F1 risks extinction within a decade – Vettel
Jan.17 (GMM) Formula 1 is at risk of going extinct with a decade. That is the stark warning laid out by quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who accuses the sport of stalling its engine as the rest of the world looks to the future. In conversation with Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, the Aston Martin driver pointed the […]