Sep.29 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas may have been the victim of Max Verstappen’s “brainwashing” tactics ahead of last Sunday’s Russian GP, according to a F1 legend. Many were surprised with how easily Red Bull’s championship charger scythed past Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Sochi – amid rumours Mercedes sent Bottas tumbling down the grid with an engine […]
Category: Recent stories
Verstappen immune to Hamilton ‘mind games’
Sep.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen is immune to title rival Lewis Hamilton’s “mind games”. That is the claim not only of Red Bull boss Christian Horner, but one of his most prominent former drivers – Formula 1 veteran and now broadcaster David Coulthard. However, Coulthard thinks Mercedes’ Hamilton can also handle the psychological pressure of their […]
Masi, Latifi, refuse to condemn Mazepin
Sep.28 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi is refusing to condemn Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin’s driving style. The controversial Russian’s latest on-track dispute was with Yuki Tsunoda at Sochi, where race officials showed him the black and white flag for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Masi agrees that Mazepin made his defensive move on the charging, DRS-assisted Alpha […]
Hamilton admits F1 Ferrari snub ‘amazing’
Sep.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says it’s “amazing” to consider that he will probably hang up his helmet as a Formula 1 driver without ever having worn Ferrari red. The seven time world champion admits that he is routinely asked by the ‘Tifosi’ to think about a switch to the fabled Maranello marque. “For years, whenever […]
McLaren to blame for Norris’ lost win – Schumacher
Sep.28 (GMM) McLaren, not Lando Norris, is to blame for the lost victory at Sochi, according to a former grand prix winner. Norris, having started the Russian GP from his first ever pole, was en route to victory until the Sochi skies began to open. Radio messages from the 21-year-old indicated that Norris had simply […]
F1 season ‘fatigue’ leading to mistakes – Binotto
Sep.28 (GMM) “Fatigue” could be partly to blame for team mistakes at Sochi, Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto admits. He is delighted that Carlos Sainz raced to the podium by making “no mistakes” in a difficult weekend. “Too bad for Charles,” Binotto added. Charles Leclerc headed into the Russian GP weekend with Ferrari’s long-awaited 2022 engine […]
Mazepin to complete military training in summer
Sep.28 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he is committed to completing his mandatory military training in Russia. In June, we reported that the Russian rookie and his father and Haas title sponsor Dmitry were upset that the government was insisting that Mazepin, 22, should not be exempt from the military requirements. Part of that service involves […]
‘Not clear’ if Hamilton needs new engine – Honda
Sep.28 (GMM) It’s “not exactly clear” if Lewis Hamilton will need a new Mercedes engine before the end of the season. That is the view of Honda’s technical boss Toyoharu Tanabe, after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had to scythe through the field at Sochi after taking engine penalties. As far as team official Dr Helmut […]
Seidl insists Norris did not ignore McLaren call
Sep.27 (GMM) Lando Norris did not simply refuse to comply with McLaren’s instructions in the dying laps of what could have been his first grand prix win on Sunday. The McLaren driver, having secured pole a day earlier at slippery Sochi, was holding off Lewis Hamilton for the victory when the Russian skies opened once […]
Russell leaving Williams in ‘great shape’
Sep.27 (GMM) George Russell says he will settle down in the cockpit of a works Mercedes next year in “great shape”, thanks to three years helping to pull Williams off the back of the grid. The 23-year-old is just the latest example of top Formula 1 teams installing similarly young and promising young chargers in […]
Remaining tracks ’50-50′ for title chargers – Horner
Sep.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s sensational run from last on the grid to second at the chequered flag is akin to “victory” for the Dutchman and Red Bull. That was the view of delighted team boss Christian Horner late on Sunday, even though Verstappen’s championship challenger Lewis Hamilton won and recaptured the title lead by 2 […]
Albon to keep Red Bull sponsorship in 2022 – Capito
Sep.26 (GMM) Alex Albon will wear Red Bull branding on his helmet next year, Williams boss Jost Capito has admitted. Prior to the Red Bull reserve driver signing to drive for Williams in 2022, the boss of the team’s engine supplier – Mercedes’ Toto Wolff – expressed concerns about Albon’s Red Bull links. Ultimately, however, […]
Mazepin admits father may buy F1 team
Sep.26 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is not denying that his wealthy father Dmitry might be eyeing the purchase of a Formula 1 team. The controversial Russian rookie currently drives for Haas, and he is also signed up for 2022. The small American team’s title sponsor, meanwhile is Uralchem – a Russian chemicals company headed by billionaire […]
Verstappen more like my father than Hamilton – Hunt
Sep.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen, not Lewis Hamilton, is the new ‘James Hunt’ of Formula 1. That is the claim not of a random pundit, but the son of F1 legend James Hunt himself – 31-year-old Freddie. “2021 is probably the best season I’ve ever experienced,” Hunt told Sport1. “It’s similar to 1976 – extremely close […]
Mercedes considering Hamilton engine penalty
Sep.26 (GMM) Late on Saturday, Mercedes was considering shuffling Lewis Hamilton further down the Sochi grid with an overnight engine change. Title rival Max Verstappen is already at the back of the grid with his Monza crash and engine change penalties, while Hamilton qualified just fourth at slippery Sochi on Saturday. “I don’t want to […]
Hamilton ‘lost my talent’ in Sochi qualifying
Sep.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton joked that he ‘lost his talent’ at Sochi as countryman Lando Norris instead powered to a surprise pole position. “I’m very disappointed in my mistakes,” the seven time world champion told Sky Italia. Indeed, Hamilton’s Mercedes didn’t just clout the pitlane wall, he also made contact for a second time out […]
Putin absent as Sochi braces for qualifying washout
Sep.25 (GMM) Russian president Vladimir Putin will not attend Sunday’s Formula 1 race at Sochi. “No,” a spokesman for the Kremlin told Russian news agency Tass. Part of the reason for that could be the controversial president’s period of self-isolation, commenced last Tuesday, after members of his entourage tested positive for covid. Putin will therefore […]
2021 engine penalties also likely for Hamilton
Sep.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s slim championship lead looks in doubt as he moves all the way to the back of the Russian GP grid. Red Bull’s warning that it was considering a full suite of unscheduled new parts for the Dutchman’s car this weekend at Sochi has indeed materialised. “We have taken everything into consideration,” […]
Giovinazzi still waiting for Alfa Romeo call
Sep.24 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says he is still not sure if he will be racing an Alfa Romeo in 2022. The Swiss-based team, headed by Frederic Vasseur, is currently weighing up the identity of Valtteri Bottas’ teammate for next year – with the well-funded Chinese F2 frontrunner Guanyu Zhou in pole position. Vasseur says the […]
Vettel undecided about F1 career beyond 2022
Sep.24 (GMM) Having re-committed to Aston Martin for 2022, Sebastian Vettel is not yet ready to predict that his Formula 1 career will extend much beyond that. Until his 2022 deal was confirmed, speculation was swirling about whether the quadruple world champion was enjoying Formula 1 anymore – and may retire. When asked if he […]