Mar.12 (GMM) Formula 1 needs to be “careful” not to be left behind as climate change takes centre stage, according to quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. After switching from Ferrari to Aston Martin for 2021, the 33-year-old has emerged as an ambassador for Austrian team sponsor BWT’s new environmental initiatives. As such, he will race […]
Category: Recent stories
‘Too early’ for Canada GP ‘green light’ – promoter
Mar.12 (GMM) It is “too early” to be totally confident that June’s Canadian GP will take place as scheduled. That is the admission of Montreal race promoter Francois Dumontier, after local government officials made alarming pronouncements about major events in the city. On Thursday, Montreal mayor Valerie Plante told the local broadcaster Le Canal Nouvelles […]
New engine recovers ‘large part’ of 2020 deficit – Gene
Mar.12 (GMM) Ferrari has recovered a “large part” of its engine power deficit of 2020 ahead of the new Formula 1 season, according to long-time team test driver Marc Gene. The Maranello team says it has produced an entirely new power unit for 2021, given the serious drop in performance last year. “I have been […]
Ferrari legend Forghieri questions Binotto leadership
Mar.12 (GMM) Legendary Ferrari figure Mauro Forghieri has questioned Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto’s ability to pull the Maranello marque out of its performance slump. Despite the covid-related development limitations, Ferrari has unveiled a noticeably tweaked car for the 2021 season. But 86-year-old Forghieri, who was a major player at Ferrari from the 60s to […]
Marko doubts Alpine will shine in 2021
Mar.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may struggle to be “high in the midfield” on his 2021 return to Formula 1, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Marko is the top Austrian official at Red Bull, and he admits that Mercedes remains the “absolute favourites” to take yet another title this season. “But we haven’t been as prepared […]
Mazepin must think ‘100 times’ as F1 driver – CEO
Mar.12 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has to start thinking “100 times” before acting now that he is a Formula 1 driver. That is the warning of F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali, following an intense social media campaign to see the Russian rookie driver ousted over the recent ‘groping’ affair. However, Domenicali says the 22-year-old will not be […]
Silverstone to host half-hour sprint race in 2021
Mar.12 (GMM) The ‘super qualifying’ sprint races to be trialled in Formula 1 this year will only last half an hour, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed. Just as new concerns emerge over the viability of the race in Montreal this season, it now emerges that Silverstone will join Monza and Interlagos as hosts of […]
Domenicali hits back at ‘F1 is racist’ narrative
Mar.11 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has denied that the sport he leads has a problem with racism. The racism narrative is still circulating after Lewis Hamilton led other drivers in the ‘kneeling’ gesture before grands prix last year. Formula 1, now led by Domenicali following the recent departure of Chase Carey, has indicated that […]
F1 vaccination in Bahrain is ‘personal choice’
Mar.11 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at “misleading” reporting about Formula 1 teams taking up Bahrain’s vaccination offer. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported this week that 90 percent of the Ferrari team, as well as members of the title-winning Mercedes outfit, are getting vaccinated while in Bahrain for pre-season testing and the season opening race. […]
Even Ferrari drivers surprised by neon green
Mar.11 (GMM) Even the drivers were surprised when they first saw the neon green addition to Ferrari’s 2021 livery. “We didn’t expect the green,” said Carlos Sainz, referring to the new green logo of main sponsor Philip Morris’ Mission Winnow brand. Charles Leclerc added: “It was a last-minute change. I have to say I’m getting […]
Ferrari, Mercedes say ‘yes’ to covid vaccine
Mar.10 (GMM) Ferrari and Mercedes have taken up Bahrain’s vaccination offer ahead of the 2021 season opener. We reported last week that despite the Kingdom of Bahrain offering Formula 1’s entire travelling circus the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the sport turned it down. F1 explained that it has “no plans to be vaccinated as a travelling group […]
Monaco eyes half-capacity crowd for 2021 race
Mar.10 (GMM) With work well underway to prepare for the first Monaco GP since 2019, rumours suggest race organisers are hoping spectators will be able to attend in May. Correspondent Paolo Ciccarone, writing for Italy’s Automoto, claims that while spectators will be banned from the paddock, the grandstands may be at 50 percent capacity. “The […]
Sprint races could improve ‘boring’ F1 – Marko
Mar.10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has given the thumbs-up to Formula 1’s plan for the Saturday sprint race ‘super qualifying’ format that will be trialled over three races in 2021. That is despite the fact that others, including likely 2021 Mercedes reserve Nico Hulkenberg, have poured cold water on the plan. “It’s rubbish,” Hulkenberg told […]
Ferrari progress is ‘million dollar’ question – Sainz
Mar.10 (GMM) The “million dollar” question for Ferrari is just how much progress the fabled team has made over the winter. That is the admission of Maranello’s newcomer Carlos Sainz, as Ferrari customer Gunther Steiner declared that the Italian outfit has taken “a good step forward” with its 2021 engine. “I haven’t seen the data […]
Red Bull’s Marko admits F1 talks with Porsche
Mar.10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted to being in talks with Porsche. Reports emerged last week that the Volkswagen brand is eyeing Formula 1’s new engine regulations for 2025. Marko then told Servus TV that Red Bull is “speaking to companies about possible partnerships” now that the team will run its own engine program […]
Vettel plays down ‘sensitive’ driving style
Mar.10 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down suggestions he has one of the most sensitive driving styles in Formula 1. While some think the German suffered psychologically as his recent Ferrari career wound down, others believe he simply struggled to drive the red cars. But the quadruple world champion denied that he is particularly fussy […]
Alonso ‘absolutely fit’ for Bahrain test
Mar.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is “absolutely fit” ahead of the single pre-season test in Bahrain that begins on Friday. The 39-year-old Spaniard, who is returning to Formula 1 this year with Renault-owned Alpine, missed not only the launch but also the shakedown of his 2021 car recently. But Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi said that despite […]
Hamilton ‘grumpy’ ahead of 2021 season – Brundle
Mar.10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is heading into the 2021 season feeling “a bit grumpy”, according to respected F1 commentator and former driver Martin Brundle. Brundle, who works for Britain’s Sky, said he has just finished filming some television features with the seven time world champion. “He was very generous but a bit grumpy actually, I […]
‘No hurry’ for 2022 Mercedes talks – Bottas
Mar.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists he is “not really in a hurry” to find out if he will stay at Mercedes in 2022. With both the Finn and Lewis Hamilton currently on one-year contracts, team boss Toto Wolff is keeping his options open for 2022. When asked about his forthcoming contract talks, Bottas is quoted […]
Teams waiting for ‘super qualifying’ details
Mar.9 (GMM) Aston Martin’s technical boss is waiting for the details of the three-race ‘super qualifying’ trial for 2021 before giving it the thumbs up. The F1 teams have given a tentative green light to the proposal that, at three race weekends in 2021, a ‘sprint race’ on Saturday will set the grid for Sunday’s […]