Apr.29 (GMM) Alpine is in the building phase that led to the kind of success enjoyed in Formula 1 recently by the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes. Some think the Renault-owned works team is basically treading water in F1 with a project that always seems to be somewhere around the upper midfield. When asked to […]
Month: April 2022
Hamilton’s F1 career ‘could be over’ – Berger
Apr.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s racing career could be speeding towards the finish line, according to Formula 1 legend Gerhard Berger. On the face of it, there appears to be hope, with Mercedes announcing that the “first new parts” in the uncompetitive 2022 campaign so far are due in Miami. “I’m sure we’ll see the Lewis […]
Sainz ‘not ready to be number 2’ – Berger
Apr.29 (GMM) Red Bull has the edge over Ferrari for the 2022 world champion when it comes to the drivers. That is the view of F1 legend and former two-time Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger, after the Maranello team’s boss Mattia Binotto claimed Ferrari has the best driver pairing on the grid. “That is what you […]
Both F1 race directors cannot fly to Miami
Apr.28 (GMM) Formula 1 is dangerously low on race directors ahead of next weekend’s inaugural and highly anticipated first race on the streets of Miami. With Michael Masi ousted over the 2021 championship finale debacle, his two replacements Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich have both now tested positive for covid. L’Equipe said the rumour has […]
FIA, Formula 1, in sprint race ‘fight over money’
Apr.28 (GMM) Unity between F1’s authorities – Liberty Media and the FIA – is under threat over a financial dispute about sprint qualifying. The decision-making Formula 1 Commission met in London this week, chaired by new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. On the agenda was the Liberty-employed F1 managing director Ross Brawn’s desire to expand […]
Vettel admits post-F1 career now ‘an issue’
Apr.28 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel admits his future beyond Formula 1 is an “issue” that is now raising its head. In recent days and weeks, some have suggested the time is nearing when the quadruple world champion will hang up his helmet. Those rumours have only intensified amid Aston Martin’s competitive struggles this year, with both […]
Rumours swirl about Latifi’s F1 future
Apr.28 (GMM) Rumours are swirling about the future of struggling Williams driver Nicholas Latifi. Some are speculating that the British team may be considering Alpine’s offer of loaning reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri to another outfit for his F1 debut. And while replacing the well-backed Canadian Latifi – whose father Michael owns Sofina Foods […]
Sainz must avoid ‘psychological’ problems – CEO
Apr.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz needs to stay “calm” in order to ride the waves of mounting Ferrari pressure. That is the advice of Stefano Domenicali, a former Ferrari team boss who is now Formula 1’s chief executive. He was speaking after championship leader Ferrari’s calamitous home race weekend at Imola, Charles Leclerc fumbled and Spaniard […]
Court says 2022 Dutch GP can go ahead
Apr.27 (GMM) The highly popular Dutch GP has dodged another legal bullet ahead of Formula 1’s second race in the modern era at the renovated Zandvoort circuit. A court in the North Holland capital of Haarlem on Tuesday reinforced the permit granted to the race organisers, despite another environmental challenge on the grounds of excessive […]
Aston Martin wants to ‘retain’ Vettel
Apr.27 (GMM) Aston Martin would like to keep Sebastian Vettel at the team beyond 2022. That is despite the fact that the quadruple world champion is obviously disappointed with the Silverstone based team’s new car, which he described at Imola as “not quick”. He didn’t even rule out a return to the scene of his […]
Renault teaming up with Andretti in F1
Apr.27 (GMM) The CEO of Renault has confirmed that the French carmaker has teamed up to support Michael Andretti’s bid to become a new team in Formula 1. Although the FIA and Liberty Media’s doors to F1 are not yet opened to the American motor racing entity, Renault has signed up to supply Andretti with […]
Ferrari vs Red Bull upgrade race heats up
Apr.27 (GMM) The development race is on as Red Bull and Ferrari go head-to-head for the first world championship in Formula 1’s new ‘ground effect’ rules era. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc raced into an early lead thanks to a solid car out of the box, Red Bull’s overweight contender, Max Verstappen’s transition to the new aerodynamics, […]
‘Madness’ to consider ousting Perez – engineer
Apr.26 (GMM) It would be “madness” for Red Bull to consider ousting Sergio Perez. That is the view of Kees van de Grint, a former Formula 1 engineer who was responding to rumours that Dr Helmut Marko may be considering bringing Pierre Gasly back to the top team. Dutchman van de Grint thinks that would […]
Uncle Ralf says Mick’s mistakes ‘too much’
Apr.26 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher, now a regular critic of Formula 1 drivers, admits his nephew is one of the sport’s current starts who needs to up his game. So far in 2022, Mick Schumacher has struggled to match the pace of his experienced teammate Kevin Magnussen, despite the Dane’s battle for fitness after a year […]
Hamilton may quit Mercedes mid-season – Villeneuve
Apr.26 (GMM) While his fans suffer with him amid a rare personal slump, not everyone is unhappy that Lewis Hamilton is struggling in 2022. “To be honest, I liked it when Max lapped him,” world champion Max Verstappen’s father Jos admitted after Imola. But it wasn’t just a one-off for the seven time world champion […]
Boss wants Alpha Tauri to find ‘solution’
Apr.26 (GMM) Franz Tost admits Alpha Tauri needs to up its game. The second Red Bull-owned team is just seventh overall in the constructors’ standings, but boss Tost says the problem isn’t the drivers. “(Pierre) Gasly is on the way to becoming one of the best drivers,” the Austrian told Sport1. “If we give him […]
Verstappen not sure Red Bull is ahead of Ferrari
Apr.26 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen is not sure if Red Bull has caught up with the previously dominant Ferrari team. Dr Helmut Marko said the energy drink owned team took a “risk” by introducing key car changes at the first sprint weekend of 2022 – and it paid off. Verstappen dominated qualifying, won sprint […]
Leclerc mistake ‘nothing to do with pressure’ – boss
Apr.25 (GMM) Ferrari, at the top of the fabled team’s game, endured a nightmare weekend at Imola in front of the massed Tifosi. In the context of Carlos Sainz’s accumulating errors, boss Mattia Binotto earlier concluded that the Spaniard was struggling with the pressure of a fully-competitive car. After championship leader Charles Leclerc’s late spin […]
Wolff apologises for Hamilton’s ‘undriveable’ car
Apr.25 (GMM) Toto Wolff apologised publicly to seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton after a woeful weekend at Imola. While George Russell was an admirable P4 at the chequered flag, Hamilton was lapped by his 2021 title rival Max Verstappen en route to P13 on Sunday. “Sorry for what you needed to drive today,” Mercedes […]
Marko hails Red Bull for ‘courage’ to attack
Apr.25 (GMM) Red Bull and Max Verstappen are back in the fight for the 2022 world championship, after dominating on Ferrari’s home turf throughout the Imola race weekend. As reigning world champion Verstappen cruised to victory on Sunday, having also won Saturday’s sprint race and pole position on Friday, championship leader Charles Leclerc made a […]