Jul.7 (GMM) Juri Vips has been thrown a career lifeline, even though Red Bull officially “suspended” its reserve driver after a racial incident. “We have cancelled our agreement with him and that will undoubtedly give him time for reflection,” said Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner. Estonian Vips, 21, caused social media uproar when […]
Month: July 2022
Marko predicts ‘bouncing’ trouble for F1 rivals
Jul.6 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks the ‘porpoising’ and bouncing problems suffered mainly by rival Formula 1 teams this year hand Red Bull a clear home advantage this weekend. After Silverstone, F1 is now heading to the energy drink company’s own Red Bull Ring circuit for the almost sold-out Austrian GP. “Max (Verstappen) is of […]
Vettel ‘talks nonsense’ in F1 paddock – Stuck
Jul.6 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel should stay in Formula 1 but stop talking “nonsense” in the paddock when not driving the car. That is the forthright view of Hans-Joachim Stuck, as the quadruple world champion is still yet to commit to Alfa Romeo for a further contractual term beyond 2022. “He can drive a car and […]
Team physio says Zhou fit to race in Austria
Jul.6 (GMM) Alfa Romeo’s team physio Josef Leberer is confident Guanyu Zhou will be fit and on the grid this weekend in Austria. The 62-year-old, a long-serving Sauber team member who is perhaps best known for once being the great Ayrton Senna’s trainer, admits he was shocked when Chinese rookie Zhou cart-wheeled over the barriers […]
‘Sceptical’ Marko admits Halo saved Zhou’s life
Jul.5 (GMM) There is no longer any doubt that the cockpit protection innovation known as ‘Halo’ belongs in Formula 1. That is the view of none other than Dr Helmut Marko, the 79-year-old former Le Mans winner who is now the notoriously hard-hitting top Austrian official at Red Bull. He admits to once being “sceptical” […]
Spa, Paul Ricard missing from 2023 calendar – reports
Jul.5 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps and Paul Ricard are missing from a newly-circulating provisional draft of the 2023 Formula 1 calendar, according to two authoritative newspapers. De Limburger, a Dutch newspaper, claims next year’s schedule will begin on March 5 in Bahrain following an official three-day test at the same Sakhir circuit. “Two weeks later, Saudi Arabia […]
Piquet could be jailed for Hamilton comments
Jul.5 (GMM) Nelson Piquet may be facing criminal repercussions and even potential jail time for allegedly racial and homophobic comments made about Lewis Hamilton. The comments found their way into the public sphere just ahead of Hamilton’s home British GP, resulting in Silverstone owner the BRDC expelling and banning the triple world champion. Subsequent footage […]
Zhou, Albon get ‘all clear’ for Austria
Jul.5 (GMM) Both Guanyu Zhou and Alex Albon will be on the grid this weekend at the Red Bull Ring. Alfa Romeo’s Zhou attracted the most initial concern for his spectacular lap 1 crash in which he somersaulted over the spectator fence and was trapped against the barrier. “The Chinese has been driving almost flawlessly […]
Villeneuve slams climate protest ‘idiots’
Jul.5 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has slammed the “idiots” who broke through spectator fencing to sit on the racing line and disrupt Sunday’s British GP at Silverstone. Fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton actually defended the anti-oil protesters, although Mercedes helped the 37-year-old to walk that back in a subsequent team statement. But yet another world champion, […]
Sainz did not ‘ignore’ team orders – Binotto
Jul.5 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has hit back at claims Carlos Sainz had to “ignore” team orders in order to secure his first career grand prix victory from pole at Silverstone. Sainz’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who is widely regarded as the team’s ‘number 1’, loudly complained on the radio throughout the race about the need […]
Zhou not worried about 2023 contract
Jul.4 (GMM) After a solid but quiet start to his career, China’s first Formula 1 driver looks set to keep his seat at Alfa Romeo for 2023. Even before he beat experienced teammate Valtteri Bottas to Q3 at Silverstone, authoritative media sources were declaring that Guanyu Zhou had done enough to earn another contract. “He’s […]
Two F1 drivers heading to Nascar
Jul.4 (GMM) Two Formula 1 drivers are keeping their motor racing passions alive – in Nascar. In May, it emerged that in the year after Kimi Raikkonen finally called time on his long Formula 1 career, he will return to Nascar’s top ‘Cup’ category in August at the Watkins Glen circuit. “I wasn’t looking to […]
Leclerc, Binotto deny tension after British GP
Jul.4 (GMM) Charles Leclerc denies he was rebuked and gagged by Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto immediately after the chequered flag at Sunday’s British GP. Obviously furious with Ferrari’s strategy calls that ultimately left teammate Carlos Sainz to win his first Formula 1 race, Leclerc was on the receiving end of Binotto’s wagging finger before he […]
F1 drivers defend anti-oil protesters
Jul.4 (GMM) Top Formula 1 drivers on Sunday defended anti-oil protesters who disrupted the British GP by sitting down on the racing line on lap one of the race at Silverstone. It may only have been the red flag for the terrifying crash involving Guanyu Zhou and the briefly hospitalised Alex Albon that prevented a […]
Alpine wants Russell-like solution for Piastri – Williams
Jul.3 (GMM) Williams is not hiding that Oscar Piastri is perhaps top of the list to replace struggling Nicholas Latifi next year. Canadian Latifi is no longer hiding that his seat is in serious doubt for 2023, with team boss Jost Capito admitting the team is watching “which contracts run out”. “We have to do […]
Aston Martin wants Vettel despite ‘negative’ vibes
Jul.3 (GMM) Aston Martin wants to extend its deal with Sebastian Vettel even if title sponsor Aramco, the state-owned Saudi Arabian oil company, is not happy about it. When the quadruple world champion lashed out at Canada’s “climate crime” of oil sands mining at the recent Montreal race, it is believed he suddenly withdrew his […]
Hamilton has ‘forgotten a lot’ – Ecclestone
Jul.3 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has lashed back at seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is calling on the former F1 supremo to lose his “platform” for being able to speak freely. The 91-year-old said Hamilton’s moralising is a “complete load of rubbish”, and said the suggestion that he is too old to have a […]
Verstappen not calling for booing retaliation
Jul.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is not bothered that large sections of the crowd at Silverstone this weekend are booing him at every opportunity. The reigning world champion was booed on his track walk on Thursday, again when he threw Red Bull t-shirts into the crowd later on, and most prominently after qualifying second […]
No 2026 engine talks with Honda – Horner
Jul.3 (GMM) Christian Horner says there is “no discussion” within Red Bull about a potential official return to Formula 1 for Honda in 2026. As a works collaboration with likely 2026 entrant Porsche appeared more and more likely over recent weeks, rumours began to emerge that Honda may re-think its end-of-2021 decision to pull out […]
Horner, Binotto say FIA clampdown ‘dangerous’
Jul.3 (GMM) Formula 1 team bosses at Silverstone seem happier with the FIA’s clampdown on ‘porpoising’ – for now. After Baku, where Lewis Hamilton nursed an obvious back injury as a result of the aerodynamic phenomenon, the governing body vowed to take action. That, however, angered rival team bosses – notably title protagonists Red Bull […]