Jun.4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has hit back at his Mercedes boss’s suggestion that the Finnish driver was at least partly to blame for his retirement from the Monaco GP. Bottas’ rejoinder comes amid high uncertainty about whether the 31-year-old will be replaced by George Russell for 2022. “We haven’t discussed anything yet,” he said on […]
Category: Recent stories
F1 ‘needs’ Wolff versus Marko fight – Berger
Jun.4 (GMM) The high tension between Mercedes, Red Bull and the title rivals’ respective top bosses is “exactly what Formula 1 needs”. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who was asked by Austria’s Auto Revue to comment on the barbs that are now being regularly exchanged by his countrymen Toto Wolff and […]
Rivals ‘trying to slow us down’ – Verstappen
Jun.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen says it’s “understandable” that Mercedes is “trying to slow us down” by pushing on with the flexible wing saga. Formula 1 has now arrived at Baku, where Toto Wolff recently warned could be the scene of an official protest against the ‘bendy’ Red Bull rear wing. But an unnamed engineer at […]
Russell could be eyeing Mercedes split – pundit
Jun.3 (GMM) Another option may be shaping up for George Russell’s next move in Formula 1. The highly impressive 23-year-old, who almost won his one-off fill-in drive for Lewis Hamilton late last year, has spent the rest of his three-year F1 career so far at the back of the grid with Williams. Strongly supported by […]
Michael Schumacher would have been team boss – Haug
Jun.3 (GMM) Michael Schumacher would have gone on to become a successful top manager or team boss, according to former Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug. Almost nothing is known about the seven time world champion’s current physical condition, but Schumacher has not been seen or heard from publicly since suffering serious brain injuries in a […]
Giovinazzi admits Alfa Romeo future uncertain
Jun.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says he can handle the pressure of keeping his seat at Alfa Romeo, as a group of potential replacements nip at his heels. After two fairly nondescript seasons in Formula 1, the 27-year-old Italian is now beginning the show the way to his famous teammate Kimi Raikkonen – at least in […]
Red Bull must keep focus on 2021 title – Verstappen
Jun.2 (GMM) New championship leader Max Verstappen has urged Red Bull to keep its focus on the crucial and close 2021 title battle with Mercedes. While Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said recently that the reigning world champions are now essentially focusing on the all-new car for 2022, Verstappen says Red Bull needs to hold the […]
Hamilton now needs to ‘fight so hard’ – Verstappen
Jun.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he feels comfortable despite being “the hunted” driver in the world championship for the first time in his career. Mentally and physically, the Red Bull driver is relishing his battle with the 13-years-older Lewis Hamilton and the mighty Mercedes team. “I don’t mind that I’m the hunted one now,” said […]
Monza hoping for 80pc capacity F1 crowd
Jun.2 (GMM) Monza is hoping to welcome a crowd of up to 80 percent capacity to September’s Italian GP. As the peak of the pandemic begins to recede, major sports events are grappling with ways to fill up the grandstands once again and end the damaging ‘ghost race’ phenomenon. The solution under consideration for the […]
Hamilton ‘not a more complete driver’ – Verstappen
Jun.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he feels “much more relaxed” as his Formula 1 career races on, despite finding himself in his first head-to-head for the title with Lewis Hamilton. “I used to yell a lot, now I’m more relaxed,” the Red Bull driver smiled to Servus TV. Respected commentators have also praised the Dutchman’s […]
No regrets about losing Sainz to Ferrari – Marko
Jun.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he has no regrets about losing former Red Bull talent Carlos Sainz to rival Formula 1 teams. In 2015, with Red Bull’s full backing, Spaniard Sainz made his F1 debut at the junior team alongside fellow rookie Max Verstappen. While Verstappen was quickly promoted to the team top, Sainz […]
Red Bull won’t trigger Baku protests – Marko
Jun.1 (GMM) Mercedes will have to pull the trigger on a round of protests this weekend at Baku, according to title rival Red Bull’s F1 supremo Dr Helmut Marko. With Toto Wolff threatening to lodge a protest against Red Bull’s allegedly ‘bendy’ rear wing, fellow Austrian Marko has warned that the energy drink-owned team is […]
Vasseur questions ‘timing’ of rear wing rule change
Jun.1 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has questioned the timing of the FIA’s new clampdown on rear wing flexibility. While Mercedes, reportedly the instigator of the saga, and the most prominently-affected team Red Bull argue over when the new tests should begin, Alfa Romeo boss Vasseur is wondering why the rules are being changed at all. The […]
Alonso comeback similar to Schumacher’s – Rosberg
Jun.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s return to Formula 1 can be compared with the comeback of another F1 legend, according to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg. Before Rosberg was paired with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, he shared the same German team with Schumacher when the seven time world champion made his return to the sport after […]
Mazepin makes Schumacher hard to assess – Villeneuve
Jun.1 (GMM) Because Mick Schumacher is sharing a team with controversial fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin, “We don’t really know how good he is”. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who said the 22-year-old son of his former title rival Michael Schumacher is doing the best he can under the circumstances. […]
Mugello eyes return to F1 calendar
May 31 (GMM) As both Stefano Domenicali and Toto Wolff visited the Italian circuit in Tuscany, Mugello has declared its readiness to host another round of the Formula 1 world championship. Last year, the Ferrari-owned circuit stepped in at short notice amid the covid-related race cancellations. Now, F1 CEO Domenicali, and Mercedes boss Wolff, were […]
Verstappen ‘still makes small mistakes’ – Wolff
May 31 (GMM) Toto Wolff has dismissed Max Verstappen’s latest comments as nothing more than “entertainment”, and says the Dutchman is still making “mistakes”. It is just the latest chapter in the rising tension between Mercedes, Red Bull and their respective number 1 drivers as the 2021 title battle heats up. After winning at Monaco, […]
50 Mercedes staff heading to Red Bull – report
May 31 (GMM) A staggering 50 members of Mercedes’ F1 engine division is switching allegiances to the new Red Bull Powertrains operation. That is the news from the highly authoritative Auto Motor und Sport, as it published details of Red Bull’s impressive preparations to take over from departing engine supplier Honda after 2021. “They have […]
Ricciardo should not ‘give up’ – Marko
May 31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has urged struggling former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo not to “give up”. After being lapped by his teammate Lando Norris at Monaco, Ricciardo has now told L’Equipe that his disenchantment dates all the way back to 2018 – his final year at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. “It […]
Wolff’s protest threat ‘strange’ – Marko
May 31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Toto Wolff’s position on flexible rear wings in 2021 as “a bit strange”. After the FIA said it would change the flexibility tests from Paul Ricard, Wolff warned that Mercedes could launch a protest this weekend at Baku. “We find it all a bit strange,” Red Bull’s […]