Jun.19 (GMM) Ferrari is now putting “maximum focus” on designing an all-new car for 2022. The Maranello team has a modified front wing this weekend at Paul Ricard, but according to acting team boss Laurent Mekies, that will basically be the last development of 2021. “We have made our decision,” he said in France. “Maximum […]
Category: Recent stories
F1 has ‘big problem’ if under-fire Pirelli quits
Jun.19 (GMM) An active Formula 1 team manager has warned that the sport will have a “big problem” if Pirelli walks away. At Paul Ricard, the dominant topic of conversation is the safety of the current tyres, after Pirelli effectively blamed Red Bull and Aston Martin for their respective high-speed Baku blowouts. “I wish tyres […]
Ocon retains Mercedes link despite Alpine deal
Jun.18 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he remains linked with Mercedes, even though he has just signed a new three-year contract extension with Renault-owned Alpine. The Frenchman has been a Mercedes junior for years, with Toto Wolff still heavily involved in the management of his career. And although he will be an Alpine driver “through and […]
Mazepin apologised but ‘not to blame’
Jun.18 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he only apologised to his teammate Mick Schumacher because the German was so upset after their Baku incident. Schumacher exclaimed “Does he want to kill us?” after Mazepin’s high speed jink to the right during their run to the chequered flag. “I’m still amazed. I wouldn’t have expected that between […]
London mayor in talks with Formula 1
Jun.18 (GMM) The mayor of London has admitted he is interested in welcoming Formula 1 to the British capital. In May, Toto Wolff said: “Racing in London would top everything and I hope that the mayor of London and (prime minister) Mr Johnson read this and we get that going.” According to a new report […]
Gasly unclear over Red Bull call for 2022
Jun.18 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he still isn’t sure if he will remain at Alpha Tauri beyond 2021. Red Bull supremo Dr Helmut Marko said recently that the Frenchman is a perfect fit for the Alpha Tauri fashion brand, but 25-year-old Gasly is open about eyeing a return to the senior team. “It’s in Red […]
Red Bull ignoring ‘background noise’ – Marko
Jun.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he regards any psychological games with Toto Wolff or Mercedes as “background noise”. At Baku, Wolff moved his rhetoric that is normally aimed at Austrian countryman Marko to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, calling him a “windbag”. Marko, 78, thinks it’s simply an effort to disturb Red Bull […]
Mercedes tweaks Hamilton’s ‘magic’ button
Jun.18 (GMM) Mercedes has implemented a temporary fix after Lewis Hamilton lost victory at Baku with the re-start incident. “I don’t count it as a mistake,” the seven time world champion, second behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, said at Paul Ricard. “You can’t always be perfect, but a mistake is when you veer […]
F1 drivers boycotted Pirelli meeting – report
Jun.18 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers reportedly boycotted a meeting with Pirelli officials at Paul Ricard, as the saga of the mysterious Baku blowouts continues. “I understand that Max is angry,” Mario Isola, the official tyre supplier’s F1 chief, said at Paul Ricard. “But he also knows that I’m always available for questions.” Indeed, championship leader […]
15,000 spectators for first Austrian GP
Jun.18 (GMM) Hopes for a full house in Austria next weekend have been dashed. Just 15,000 spectators per day have been approved for this weekend’s French GP at Paul Ricard, and the same number is now expected at the Red Bull Ring. “For the race on June 27, the circuit is to be divided into […]
Alonso denies F1 comeback ‘difficulties’
Jun.18 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at suggestions he is experiencing “difficulties” on his return to Formula 1. The 39-year-old Spaniard said he expected that his comeback after a two-year sabbatical would not be plain sailing. “Of the six grands prix so far, two were new circuits for me and two were street circuits,” […]
Bottas, Russell not confirming 2022 rumours
Jun.18 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas and George Russell are giving little away at Paul Ricard amid swirling rumours about their future. According to authoritative sources, Russell looks set to replace Bottas at Mercedes next year, with the Finn potentially returning to Williams or perhaps considering a move to Alfa Romeo. “No one in the team has […]
Magnussen to make Indycar debut
Jun.17 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen will step up into Indycar this weekend. As he lost his Formula 1 seat with Haas at the end of last year, the Dane said he would hopefully use his move into US sports cars as a springboard to the country’s premier open-wheel category. “My father has been racing in the […]
Austria wins ‘more realistic’ for Verstappen
Jun.17 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits a win for championship leader Max Verstappen might be out of reach this weekend at Paul Ricard. Indeed, both Mercedes and Red Bull are expecting that after strong form for the Dutch driver on the Baku and Monaco street circuits, Lewis Hamilton could be back on song on the […]
Honda admits F1 staff could switch to Red Bull
Jun.17 (GMM) Honda is considering a final technological push to set up Red Bull’s two Formula 1 teams for life without works manufacturer support from 2022 and beyond. Masashi Yamamoto, Honda F1’s general manager, told the French weekly Auto Hebdo that the Japanese marque is currently thinking about finalising a new engine to supply to […]
Pirelli’s ‘typical political reaction’ slammed
Jun.17 (GMM) A well-known F1 tyre expert has slammed Pirelli’s explanation for the Baku blowouts as a “typical political reaction”. While Max Verstappen and former Bridgestone tyre engineer Kees van der Grint suspected technical failures were the cause, Pirelli ultimately concluded that both the Dutch driver and Lance Stroll’s teams had improperly used the tyres. […]
Williams not ruling out Russell-Bottas swap
Jun.16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ future looks set to take centre stage this weekend at Paul Ricard. More and more authoritative sources are reporting that the decision to replace the Finn with Mercedes junior George Russell next year is all but made. RTL claims that Toto Wolff intends to kick off talks with Bottas in an […]
Russian driver says Haas favours Schumacher over Mazepin
Jun.16 (GMM) A Russian racing driver believes fellow drivers from his country are normally relegated to number 2 status when they enter Western motorsport categories like Formula 1. Viktor Kozankov, known in Russia as a leading former open-wheel racing driver who raced against David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello, was asked to comment on the tumultuous […]
Italian press backs Pirelli over tyre blowouts
Jun.16 (GMM) The Italian press is siding with Pirelli against teams who are reportedly finding ways to run lower tyre pressures. Formula 1’s official tyre supplier says it has now completed its investigation into the left rear failures suffered by Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll at Baku. We reported on Monday that Pirelli suspected that […]
Hamilton hopes fans stay ‘loyal’ in pay TV era
Jun.15 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton hopes Formula 1 can ride the wave of its “transition” from free television coverage. Across the spectrum of the sport’s broadcast markets, the trend towards pay-TV coverage is growing by the month and year. “We used to have 8 million fans on TF1 in France,” said F1 legend Alain Prost. “Now […]