Feb.17 (GMM) Lando Norris does not think having Daniel Ricciardo as his new McLaren teammate is a “big step”. Last year, as was also the case for his Formula 1 debut in 2019, the 21-year-old was paired with Carlos Sainz, who for 2021 has stepped up to Ferrari. In the Spaniard’s place is Ricciardo, who […]
Category: Recent stories
Vettel can be a ‘hero again’ in F1 – Rosberg
Feb.17 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel can become “the hero again” as he moves on from his horror last seasons with Ferrari to race for Aston Martin in 2021. That is the view of fellow German and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg. “He needed a change,” Rosberg told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper, when asked about quadruple world […]
Albon demise shows ‘how hard F1 can be’ – Norris
Feb.16 (GMM) Alex Albon’s demise shows “how hard Formula 1 can be”, according to his friend Lando Norris. As well as George Russell, Norris and Albon also raced through the junior ranks together and remained close as they ascended to the pinnacle of motorsport. British-born Thai Albon was often the quicker of the trio in […]
Marko, Ricciardo approve of 2021 ‘sprint race’ trial
Feb.16 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s Saturday sprint race idea is gaining approval up and down the Formula 1 pitlane. The FIA confirmed last week that the proposed shakeup of the race weekend format, which is set to be tested at three circuits in 2021, has received “broad support”. “I like this idea more than […]
Prominent names linked with 2022 Red Bull engine
Feb.16 (GMM) Red Bull is now pushing forward with plans to recruit potentially high-profile names to help with its new in-house engine supplier Red Bull Powertrains. After confirming that it will take over Honda’s operations for 2022 and relocate them to a new facility at the Red Bull factory, the team’s boss Christian Horner said: […]
McLaren plays down 2021 Mercedes engine ‘issues’
Feb.16 (GMM) McLaren has played down reports that its new supplier Mercedes is struggling with “issues” related to its 2021 engine. In material distributed by Mercedes itself, the reigning world champion outfit’s engine boss Hywel Thomas revealed the problems but said there are “plenty of plans in place to fix all of those issues”. “I’m […]
Verstappen to top Mercedes’ 2022 driver wish-list
Feb.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen will be “at the top of the list” if Mercedes needs to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2022, according to Red Bull boss Christian Horner. With Hamilton and Mercedes only re-committing for less than the next ten months, Horner’s colleague Dr Helmut Marko revealed last week that Verstappen could leave Red Bull […]
Alonso should be fit for Bahrain – de la Rosa
Feb.15 (GMM) Despite undergoing surgery for a fractured upper jaw and having teeth removed, Fernando Alonso should be “fine” to test and race in Bahrain next month. “I’m ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway,” said the Spaniard, after Alpine announced that its 39-year-old driver will remain in hospital for the next two days. […]
F1 CEO wants spectators ‘as soon as possible’
Feb.15 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali is hoping Formula 1 races can be held in front of live crowds in 2021. Last year, the spectator-free ‘ghost race’ trend began to ease amid the 2020 pandemic – but the world is currently gripped by new restrictions due to more virulent strains. F1’s new CEO was asked by the […]
Schumacher admits 2021 preparation not perfect
Feb.15 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he feels “ready” for his Formula 1 debut next month – even though his preparation has not been ideal. “Because of the covid situation, I can’t do very much besides training,” said the German rookie and son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. “My preparation is going very well on a […]
Red Bull to run engine program from existing factory
Feb.15 (GMM) Red Bull will operate its own Formula 1 engine program for 2022 out of a rejuvenated building at its existing team facility in Milton Keynes. “We are happy with this decision,” Dr Helmut Marko told the n-tv broadcaster after the FIA confirmed that teams voted to approve a 2022 engine development freeze. Red […]
Audi denies latest F1 project rumours
Feb.15 (GMM) Audi has played down new speculation of a potential F1 project for 2025. The rumours had been kick-started by new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s recent comments about potential interest from new manufacturers in the all-new engine format. “It will be an increasingly hybrid F1,” Domenicali has now told Il Giornale newspaper. Prior to […]
Marko reveals Verstappen ‘performance clause’
Feb.15 (GMM) A driver-sided ‘performance clause’ in his current contract would allow Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull at the end of 2021. That is the admission of Red Bull top official Dr Helmut Marko, amid early speculation that Mercedes may snap up Dutchman Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2022. “Yes, there is a […]
Vettel can eye ‘a few wins’ in 2021 – Szafnauer
Feb.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel should be able to compete for podiums, poles and even “a few wins” this season, according to his new team boss Otmar Szafnauer. The quadruple world champion finished just 13th in his final disappointing season for Ferrari, but Szafnauer thinks German Vettel should be able to help Aston Martin finish just […]
Leclerc denies becoming ‘arrogant’
Feb.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has dismissed claims that a certain arrogance is beginning to creep into his personality. The Ferrari driver’s critics believe that as his former teammate and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel struggled, 23-year-old Leclerc began to revel in his new status as de-facto Ferrari number 1. “This criticism hits me more than […]
FIA believes engine ‘balance of power’ unnecessary
Feb.12 (GMM) Red Bull’s plans to operate its own Honda-based engine program look set to proceed, as Formula 1 has announced that a development ‘freeze’ will indeed go ahead for 2022. The FIA confirmed the news after Thursday’s video meeting of the F1 Commission. Red Bull had warned that without a development freeze, the energy […]
Saturday sprint race idea ‘nice’ – Giovinazzi
Feb.12 (GMM) Plans for Saturday sprint races gained “broad support from all parties” during the videoconference meeting of the F1 Commission on Thursday. New F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently unveiled his push for a three-race trial of the novel weekend format, reportedly featuring a shorter race on Saturday and a Friday qualifying session. Sources suggest […]
Giovinazzi has ‘hope’ for better Ferrari engine
Feb.12 (GMM) There is “hope” at Alfa Romeo that Ferrari’s 2021 engine will deliver more power. That is the admission of Antonio Giovinazzi, who says he has seen Alfa Romeo’s new car for 2021 and “it really is beautiful”. “I have worked a lot on the simulator,” he told Italy’s Sky Sport 24, “but even […]
Injured Alonso should be fit for Bahrain – doctor
Feb.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may be heading into surgery on Friday to repair a potentially broken jaw and teeth. Alpine has confirmed alarming reports that the 39-year-old Spaniard was struck by a car on Thursday whilst road cycling near his home in Switzerland. With the season opening Bahrain GP looming in March, the Enstone based […]
F1 ‘still debating’ 2025 engine format – Brown
Feb.11 (GMM) F1’s engine regulations for the future remain completely up in the air, according to McLaren supremo Zak Brown. His comments come as Formula 1 announced that it is “creating a clear path towards sustainably fuelled hybrid engines, something that will be of significant importance to not only the sport but the automotive sector”. […]