Jan.14 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to mandate covid-19 vaccination for all drivers and personnel ahead of the 2022 season. Amid the bizarre saga surrounding world tennis number 1 Novak Djokovic’s entry to Australia and attempt to compete in the forthcoming Australian Open, F1 is also not immune to vaccine-related controversy. Formula 1 is also […]
Category: Recent stories
Vettel named as potential Hamilton successor
Jan.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has been named as a potential last-minute replacement in the event that Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton suddenly quits Formula 1. Amid swirling rumours that Hamilton, 36, is contemplating retirement in protest of the highly controversial end to the 2021 season finale, Esteban Ocon and Nyck de Vries are also linked with the […]
Experts agree Hamilton could quit F1
Jan.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could be poised to stun the world of Formula 1, motor racing and world sport – by sensationally quitting. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is reportedly and imminently set to meet for crisis talks with newly-installed FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “No, I don’t think he will (retire),” Sulayem, who has replaced […]
Masi, Tombazis set to lose top FIA jobs
Jan.14 (GMM) Michael Masi’s controversial decisions in the final moments of the 2021 championship battle appear to have cost him his job. The FIA’s single seater boss Nikolas Tombazis appears to be another victim of the biggest story of the 2022 pre-season so far, although Mercedes has denied demanding the double-ousting. It was rumoured that […]
Letter shows Audi likely to enter F1
Dec.22 (GMM) Audi is edging ever closer to announcing that the Volkswagen-owned German luxury carmaker will enter Formula 1 in 2026. The FIA announced last week that the engine regulations by then will include 100 percent sustainable fuel, greater emphasis on electrical power, a budget cap, and the scrapping of MGU-H technology. In addition, the […]
Domenicali ‘sure’ Hamilton will return in 2022
Dec.22 (GMM) F1’s CEO is “sure” Lewis Hamilton will return to his Mercedes cockpit in 2022. The seven time world champion has been essentially silent since Abu Dhabi, but his boss Toto Wolff has hinted that Hamilton’s disillusionment with the outcome of the 2021 championship has him contemplating retirement. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, however, doesn’t […]
Ferrari set to extend Sainz deal until 2024
Dec.22 (GMM) Rumours that Carlos Sainz is poised to add two more seasons to his existing Ferrari contract are continuing to harden. With Ferrari’s long relationship with main sponsor Philip Morris in doubt, the Italian team announced on Tuesday that it has reunited with former major sponsor Santander – a Spanish bank. Santander was formerly […]
Schumacher promoted to Ferrari reserve role
Dec.22 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is still in the running for a future in red – even as early as 2022. That is the admission of Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, who announced that Michael Schumacher’s son will split his duties next year between his second race season with Haas and a reserve role for the […]
Russell could make winning 2022 title easier – Marko
Dec.22 (GMM) Mercedes’ driver lineup change for 2022 may actually make it easier for Max Verstappen to win back-to-back titles. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who was commenting on fellow Austrian Toto Wolff’s decision to replace five-year Mercedes veteran Valtteri Bottas with young Williams charger Russell. “First we need to […]
Schumacher crowned ‘crash world champion’ of 2021
Dec.21 (GMM) Mick Schumacher racked up the highest repair bill for his team than any other driver on the 2021 grid. That is the claim of several authoritative sources, including Kolner Express and Bild newspaper. They report that detailed analyses have calculated Schumacher’s repair bill for Haas this year at over EUR 4.2 million, marginally […]
Todt ‘careful’ not to ‘inflate’ Ferrari rumours
Dec.21 (GMM) Jean Todt admits he will do “something new” now that he has been succeeded as long-time FIA president. In recent days, the 75-year-old Frenchman has been linked with a return to Ferrari, where he presided as team boss throughout the Michael Schumacher era. The reports suggest it would be an advisory role, reporting […]
Perez ‘awesome’ but ‘not number 2 driver’ – Verstappen
Dec.20 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not the ‘number 2’ at Red Bull, according to his teammate and new world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen, 24, hailed Perez’s sacrificial actions in Abu Dhabi in deliberately holding up Lewis Hamilton en route to world championship victory. “I never thought he would be this awesome,” said the Dutchman, who […]
Todt refuses to rule out Ferrari advisory role
Dec.20 (GMM) Jean Todt has joined Mattia Binotto in refusing to rule out the prospect of an advisory role for the famous Frenchman at Ferrari. At the recent 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi, team boss Binotto was asked to comment on rumours that as he steps down as long-time FIA president, Todt might consider a […]
German legend slams FIA, Latifi, Verstappen
Dec.20 (GMM) German racing legend Walter Rohrl has slammed Formula 1, the FIA, new world champion Max Verstappen and even Nicholas Latifi in the wake of the controversial 2021 title finale. The two-time world rally champion, 74, joins those who are highly critical of the way Michael Masi and the stewards handled the incredible drama […]
Mazepin out of his league in F1 – Schumacher
Dec.20 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher thinks it is clear that Nikita Mazepin does not belong in Formula 1. This year, Russian Mazepin – the son of team title sponsor Uralkali’s chief Dmitry Mazepin – was paired at Haas with fellow rookie Mick Schumacher. Schumacher, 22, is former F1 driver Ralf’s nephew – and he thinks he […]
F1 pundit ‘very afraid’ of 2022 ‘super dominance’
Dec.20 (GMM) A popular Formula 1 commentator admits he is “very afraid” as the sport enters its all-new era in 2022. With the epic 2021 battle now concluded, attention is already turning to next year – when all-new cars with an entirely new design philosophy debut with the aim of producing better and closer racing. […]
Next moves in 2021 controversy ‘up to new FIA president’
Dec.20 (GMM) The first act of the newly-elected FIA president is to warn that Lewis Hamilton faces sanction for boycotting the end-of-season FIA prize gala last week. In the days before Christmas, and after the ultra-intense 2021 world championship battle, rumours are now swirling about seven time world champion Hamilton being so disillusioned with the […]
Verstappen tells Latifi to ‘turn off his phone’
Dec.17 (GMM) New world champion Max Verstappen has advised Nicholas Latifi to “turn off his phone”. After the highly controversial chequered flag flew in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, Christian Horner offered Canadian Latifi a “lifetime supply of Red Bull” for crashing and triggering the championship-altering late safety car. Since then, some Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes […]
Marko to discuss contract extension for Verstappen
Dec.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen would not be interested in a shock move to Mercedes, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Toto Wolff sent shockwaves around the world of Formula 1 on Thursday by revealing that Lewis Hamilton’s absence from the FIA gala might be connected with his contemplations of early retirement. But new world […]
Long Leclerc contract includes break clause – report
Dec.17 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s long contract at Ferrari includes key break clauses, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. The 24-year-old’s five year deal, which still has three full seasons to run, is believed to be the longest in Ferrari’s long history. “For my part, I see no disadvantages to that,” Leclerc said recently. But […]