Nov.13 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is poised to announce Guanyu Zhou as Valtteri Bottas’ teammate for 2022. Frederic Vasseur, the Sauber-run team’s boss, said in Brazil that the identity of the driver he has already signed up for next year “will be announced next week – before Qatar”. Many authoritative media sources from Interlagos report that […]
Category: Recent stories
Szafnauer slams Alpine move ‘misinformation’
Nov.13 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer has hit out at “pure media speculation” about his future, but admits other teams have approached him about leaving Aston Martin. Amid reports of unrest at Aston Martin following the arrival of former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, and suggestions Alpine is set to snap up Szafnauer, the Romanian-American slammed the “spiral […]
F1 scraps Q2 tyre compound rule for 2022
Nov.13 (GMM) Formula 1 will scrap the rule requiring the top-10 qualifiers to use their Q2 tyre to start Sunday’s grands prix from 2022. It means the entire field will now have a free compound choice for the start of races, which is good news to the ears of George Russell. “The rich were just […]
Hamilton’s titles hopes hang by thread in Brazil
Nov.13 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s title hopes are hanging by a thread in Brazil. Although quickest in qualifying ahead of Saturday’s final sprint race of 2021, the seven time world champion will slide five places down the grid on Sunday due to an engine change. “We have degradation of the engine and its power wasn’t going […]
Bottas enjoys ‘freedom’ as Mercedes tenure ends
Nov.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says being ousted by Mercedes, and signed up by Alfa Romeo for 2022 and beyond, gave him a sense of “freedom and less pressure” he has ever experienced in Formula 1. The Finn, who is making way at Mercedes for George Russell, came under fire after the Mexican GP for making […]
Szafnauer ‘important’ to Aston Martin – Vettel
Nov.12 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer is an “important guy” to the Aston Martin team, Sebastian Vettel said in Brazil. He was speaking amid swirling rumours suggesting that the Silverstone based team, having recently signed up former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, could be about to lose its current team principal to Alpine. Alpine, reportedly set to lose […]
Mercedes opens door for Porsche to enter F1
Nov.12 (GMM) Mercedes is willing to make concessions in order to open the door for Porsche to enter Formula 1 in 2026. In the past days, Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto said that although Volkswagen and its brands are welcome in F1, his eagerness to agree to rule changes to specifically level the playing field for […]
Hamilton not commenting on engine penalty rumour
Nov.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton admitted Mercedes was grappling with bigger problems when rumours of a likely engine change and grid penalty were swirling in the Interlagos paddock. “The engine isn’t even here,” said the seven time world champion. “That’s why I can’t comment on it.” Indeed, Formula 1 was dealing with an almost unprecedented crisis […]
Aston Martin’s Szafnauer linked with Alpine move
Nov.11 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer looks set to leave Aston Martin. Rumours in the past few days indicated the 57-year-old, the current team principal who also had leading roles in the team’s Racing Point and Force India guises, might be replaced by new Aston Martin recruit Martin Whitmarsh. Whitmarsh, the long-time top McLaren official, is just […]
Flight delays leave F1 teams without equipment
Nov.11 (GMM) Multiple Formula 1 teams are missing key equipment after a logistics delay in the few days between the Mexican and Brazilian grands prix. Some, including Fernando Alonso, have questioned the wisdom of the current international ‘triple header’ of races across continents and timezones as F1 dashes from Mexico to Brazil and then Qatar […]
Verstappen’s ‘nerves’ better than Hamilton’s – Berger
Nov.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen has “better nerves” for the 2021 finale than fellow championship protagonist Lewis Hamilton. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who was boss and co-owner of Verstappen’s first team in Formula 1 – Toro Rosso. He told ORF: “I think Max is the cooler of the two. He has […]
Verstappen should have ‘sewn up’ 2021 title
Nov.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Red Bull “should have the title sewn up” by now, according to George Russell. The British driver, 23, will become Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate at Mercedes next year. It’s a “challenge” he insists he is looking forward to as Hamilton is “the greatest driver of all time”. “To be honest, […]
Monza facing uncertain F1 future post-2025
Nov.11 (GMM) A cloud is hanging over historic Monza’s long-term future on the Formula 1 calendar. With Imola shaping up to be Italy’s second full-time spot on the bustling annual schedule, Monza’s regular place is only currently secure until 2025. “Monza is and will always be the place for the Italian GP,” said Italian automobile […]
Italian official says Alfa Romeo ‘penalised’ Giovinazzi
Nov.11 (GMM) Another Italian official has blasted Alfa Romeo for “penalising” its own Formula 1 driver in Mexico. As the Sauber-run outfit counts down the days before announcing Valtteri Bottas’ teammate for 2022, Italian Giovinazzi admitted he was angry with his incomprehensible race strategy last Sunday. “We had a good talk with Antonio after the […]
Mazepin denies being ‘kicked out’ of nightclub
Nov.11 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin’s representatives have hit back at claims the Russian driver was kicked out of a nightclub in Mexico last Sunday. Video footage has emerged of the controversial Haas rookie arguing with staff as he attended the club with Haas mechanics and fellow F1 drivers George Russell and Alex Albon. Reports suggested Mazepin […]
Verstappen wants to win last four races – Marko
Nov.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not going into ‘cruise’ mode to simply manage his 19-point championship lead over Lewis Hamilton for the last four races of 2021. “He will drive for victory in every race,” declared Dr Helmut Marko, who revealed that he is recovering from a case of gastrointestinal ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’ after Verstappen’s most […]
Alfa Romeo to announce Bottas’ teammate in days
Nov.10 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is now counting down the days before completing the 2022 grid by announcing the identity of Valtteri Bottas’ teammate. The Sauber-run outfit is also making plans to give Bottas an early taste of life at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo with a run at the post Abu Dhabi-test. “We are […]
Easier for British driver to win F1 title – Alonso
Nov.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks it is much easier for a British driver to win a world championship after a close head-to-head duel. This year, the two-time champion has made several statements questioning the impartiality of those in charge of Formula 1, including the stewards. He now says a British driver like Lewis Hamilton – […]
Triple-header ‘on the limit’ for F1 teams – Alonso
Nov.9 (GMM) Formula 1’s current ‘triple header’ of races through three separate and distant international countries is “on the limit” for team staff. That is the view of two-time champion and F1 veteran Fernando Alonso, who joins those who are complaining about the odd and arduous logistics of the late-season schedule. “Obviously only Verstappen and […]
‘Cheap’ to blame Bottas for Mexico flop – Verstappen
Nov.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen says it’s “pretty cheap” to point the finger at Valtteri Bottas after the Mexican GP. Both Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes team boss Lewis Hamilton were critical of the way Bottas failed to robustly defend his position before Verstappen soared into the lead on lap 1. Wolff suggested the Finn, who is […]