Apr.24 (GMM) Robert Shwartzman has managed to sidestep widespread western sanctions against Russia by keeping his Formula 1 test driver role at Ferrari. Former Haas driver Nikita Mazepin, his sponsor Uralkali, and dozens of other Russian athletes had their careers interrupted amid the conflict with Ukraine. Ferrari even put its deal with Russian sponsor Kaspersky […]
Month: April 2022
Aston Martin ‘interested’ in Audi deal
Apr.24 (GMM) Aston Martin is “very interested” in teaming up with Audi in 2026. It is widely expected that Red Bull will secure the separate Porsche deal, with both Volkswagen brands getting a green light from the board to push ahead with F1 forays. Williams is also linked with the Audi deal but boss Jost […]
Brawn wants double the ‘sprints’ in 2023
Apr.24 (GMM) Ross Brawn wants Formula 1 to expand to double the amount of ‘sprint races’ for the 2023 season. This year, F1 teams could not agree to the desired expansion and settled on three sprints for the second consecutive year. Mercedes’ George Russell would be no fan of having more Saturday sprints in 2023, […]
Ferrari admits ‘pressure’ hurting Sainz
Apr.24 (GMM) Mattia Binotto admits the “pressure” of driving a competitive Ferrari may be getting to Carlos Sainz. The Maranello team kicked off its home race at Imola by confirming that the 27-year-old Spaniard has done well enough to secure a new two year deal. But there is no doubt that championship leader Charles Leclerc […]
Wolff denies having ‘argument’ with Hamilton
Apr.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied that his relationship with Lewis Hamilton is breaking down – and also rejected suggestions he should quit as team boss. It comes as seven time world champion Hamilton admits his 2022 title hopes are over at the fourth grand prix of the season, with Wolff admitting Imola is Mercedes’ […]
F1 drivers call for weekend format re-think
Apr.23 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers are pushing for changes to the sport’s new race weekend format, arguing that it has failed to lighten the load as the calendar continues to expand. Ostensibly, as the race schedule swells to an unprecedented 23 grands prix, a goal of the weekend changes was to effectively reduce the importance […]
Aston Martin on pole for Audi F1 deal
Apr.23 (GMM) Formula 1 team Aston Martin is emerging as the frontrunner to snag the works Audi deal for 2026 and beyond. Even more obvious, on the other hand, is that Red Bull will almost certainly team up with the other Volkswagen brand – Porsche. “It wasn’t long ago that VW said yes,” Dr Helmut […]
‘No need for team orders’ yet – Binotto
Apr.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is still not being relegated into an official ‘number 2’ role alongside Ferrari’s dominant championship leader Charles Leclerc. Between Melbourne – a horror weekend for Sainz – and the Spaniard’s Q2 crash in Friday qualifying at Imola, a new two-year Ferrari deal for the 27-year-old was announced. And there is no […]
Drivers ‘can’t drive’ woeful Mercedes – Wolff
Apr.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton played down a tense conversation with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after qualifying a woeful 13th for Saturday’s first sprint race of 2022 at Imola. “Internal stuff,” the seven time world champion said when asked about the obviously tense exchange with his boss. “I’d rather not share that.” In truth, it was […]
Judge says first Miami GP can go ahead
Apr.22 (GMM) A judge has given the green light for next month’s inaugural grand prix in Miami to go ahead. We reported this week that a group of residents filed a last-minute lawsuit to stop the event from going ahead on the grounds of “intolerable” noise levels. Miami-Dad Circuit Court judge Alan Fine ruled on […]
Future depends on Aston Martin ‘progress’ – Vettel
Apr.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has not denied swirling speculation about his future in Formula 1. Some, including his old boss and mentor at Red Bull, Dr Helmut Marko, are even wondering if the quadruple world champion may quit the struggling Aston Martin team before the 2022 season is even out. Vettel, 34, stopped short of […]
‘Too early’ to say Perez in front – Verstappen
Apr.22 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen says it’s “too early” to say his teammate Sergio Perez may be getting the upper hand in Red Bull’s 2022 car. This week, Dr Helmut Marko said Mexican Perez is finding life at the wheel of the 2022 Red Bull easier, as Verstappen’s “aggressive” style is not as effective […]
Mick Schumacher denies Haas ‘copied’ Ferrari
Apr.22 (GMM) Gunther Steiner is defiant in the face of a group of rival teams who are pushing the FIA to take action against Haas’ ‘white Ferrari’ car for 2022. The small American team’s boss this week said FIA inspectors were welcome to visit the team at any time to probe accusations of the way […]
New Ferrari deal for Sainz ‘obvious’ – Schumacher
Apr.22 (GMM) As Ferrari locks its doors for the next two years at least, Mick Schumacher says it’s “obvious” that Carlos Sainz would get a new contract until 2024. “For me it doesn’t change much,” the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, who is already Ferrari’s reserve whilst racing for Haas, said at Imola when […]
Leclerc’s stolen watch ‘worth EUR 2 million’
Apr.21 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s stolen watch was worth much more than the reported EUR 300,000. In between the Melbourne and Imola races, championship leader Leclerc was in the Italian coastal city of Viareggio when fans asked him to sign autographs on a dimly-lit street. Ferrari confirmed to DPA news agency that, during that moment with […]
Perez may quit if F1 calendar keeps growing
Apr.21 (GMM) Formula 1’s annual race calendar is at tipping point, according to Red Bull driver Sergio Perez. The current schedule is at an unprecedented 23 races, with Formula 1 looking to potentially replace the axed Russian GP with a second outing this year in Singapore. But for the future, even more races are on […]
Mid-year retirement for Vettel possible – Marko
Apr.21 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko wouldn’t be surprised if former Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel decides to hang up his helmet mid-season. The Austrian thinks a generational change has already occurred in Formula 1, with “Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris and Russell” now forming a quartet “that will shape the coming years”. “Hamilton still has a wealth […]
Ferrari to be ‘even faster’ at next races – Massa
Apr.21 (GMM) Felipe Massa has warned Ferrari to stay focused in the 2022 world championship fight. According to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, the Maranello based team is clearly the current favourite with its impressive new car for the 2022 regulations. “Ferrari is strong in any temperature, on any track, with any type of tyre,” […]
Steiner open to FIA checks on Haas legality
Apr.21 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says the FIA is more than welcome to probe the legality of Haas’ 2022 car. Several teams are reportedly questioning the closeness of the small American team’s relationship with Ferrari, with some even describing Haas’ more competitive 2022 car as a ‘white Ferrari’. “Everything we do is according to the regulations,” […]
‘Aggressive’ Verstappen struggling with 2022 car
Apr.21 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen’s “aggressive driving style” is a challenge with the new-generation cars of 2022. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who thinks the “opposite” situation is occurring at Ferrari where Charles Leclerc is clearly much more confident in the car than Carlos Sainz. “It’s the opposite to […]