Feb.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says winning a record eighth world championship this year would be a “huge thing”. The Mercedes driver was speaking about his ambitions for 2021 with La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Sportweek publication, even though he is yet to sign an actual contract with Mercedes. But Hamilton said: “The eighth world title would […]
Category: Recent stories
Hamilton contract situation ‘unpleasant’ now
Feb.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation is becoming “quite unpleasant” for the new seven time world champion. That is the view of Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, who wonders if Hamilton is miscalculating his rumoured demands as he negotiates with Mercedes. “I thought, like Bernie Ecclestone did, that this was all a marketing ploy so […]
Three-year Hamilton contract ‘unlikely’ – Wolff
Jan.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted that a new three-year contract is unlikely for Lewis Hamilton. With the new season looming, it is now highly conspicuous that seven time world championship Hamilton is yet to sign a new deal for 2021. “We’re not far away,” Mercedes team boss Wolff told the German broadcasters RTL and […]
Mazepin may not race in F1 under Russian flag
Jan.29 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin may not be able to race under the Russian flag in Formula 1 this year. Recently, Nikolay Gryazin had to contest the Monte Carlo rally as a ‘neutral athlete’, following the world anti-doping agency’s decision to ban Russia from international competition over a widespread cheating scheme. Russian F1 pundit Alexey Popov […]
Possible Imola will be ‘ghost race’ in April
Jan.29 (GMM) The ‘ghost race’ era in Formula 1 is not over yet. Stefano Bonaccini, the president of the Emilia Romagna region in Italy, has admitted that Imola’s new 18 April race will at best welcome “limited” numbers of spectators. Imola was drafted in to fill the calendar slot following the cancellation of the scheduled […]
Hamilton to ‘win again’ in 2021 – Alonso
Jan.29 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is already clear which teams and drivers will finish at the top of the 2021 world championship. The 39-year-old is returning to Formula 1 after a two-year sabbatical, but he is most interested in the sweeping new rules for 2022 that he hopes will greatly increase the championship’s competitiveness. […]
New Barcelona corner is ‘faster’ – de la Rosa
Jan.28 (GMM) The newly revised turn 10 at the Spanish GP venue in Barcelona will be “faster”, according to former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa. In recent weeks, the Circuit de Catalunya has been working on the reprofiling of the corner, which was approved by both the FIA and MotoGP governing body FIM. “It […]
Early start for 2022 not possible – Binotto
Jan.28 (GMM) Ferrari has denied that the 2022 regulations are a perfect opportunity to ‘do a Mercedes’ and set up a new period of dominance for the future. Some are comparing Ferrari’s current situation with Mercedes in 2013 – less competitive in the moment, but getting a head-start in development for the new ‘power unit’ […]
‘Goal’ is to catch and beat Verstappen – Perez
Jan.28 (GMM) It is too soon to say if Sergio Perez will still be Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate in 2022. That is the word from Dr Helmut Marko, who said he decided to only sign the Mexican driver up for 2021. “First we will look carefully at how well the two sides fit together,” […]
Bottas has ‘no chance’ of beating Hamilton – Berger
Jan.28 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has “no chance” of beating seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2021. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger – even though Hamilton is yet to even sign a new contract for the forthcoming world championship. However, Finn Bottas declared this week that, notwithstanding the unknown identity of […]
Brawn denies stepping down as F1 boss
Jan.28 (GMM) Ross Brawn has rubbished reports that he may be stepping down as Formula 1’s managing director. Some had predicted that Brawn would follow hot on the heels of the departure of F1 CEO Chase Carey, who has now been replaced at Liberty Media by Stefano Domenicali. “I have no idea where the rumours […]
Indycar team would ‘love’ Grosjean for 2021
Jan.28 (GMM) Indycar team owner Dale Coyne has confirmed speculation that Romain Grosjean is in the running for a 2021 seat. Some expected that a press conference that was called on Wednesday was for Dale Coyne Racing to announce the Grosjean deal. In fact, it was for confirmation that Ed Jones will drive one of […]
Too early to accept Dutch GP ‘ghost race’ – Lammers
Jan.28 (GMM) Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers says it is too early to say September’s scheduled event at Zandvoort will have to proceed without spectators. Last year, Zandvoort opted out of the ‘ghost race’ scenario amid the pandemic because the structure of the event was always planned for the mass attendance of Dutch fans. Medical […]
Sainz ‘doesn’t need my advice’ – Leclerc
Jan.28 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says his new Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz “does not need any advice”. 23-year-old Leclerc, described by team boss Mattia Binotto as the new “leader” after Sebastian Vettel’s exit, was speaking at Fiorano on Wednesday as Sainz made his Ferrari debut at the wheel of a 2018 car. “If he has come […]
Ferrari ‘not properly organised’ – Montezemolo
Jan.28 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo has hit out at a Ferrari team he says is “not properly organised”. “Ferrari’s 2020 championship was a disaster,” he told the German magazine Sport Bild. “In the past, even third place was considered a failure for Ferrari.” Now 73, Montezemolo presided over Maranello not only during the Niki Lauda […]
Renault using F1 for its media power – de Meo
Jan.28 (GMM) Renault is using the Alpine brand in Formula 1 for “media” purposes – not for the development of technology. That is the revelation of Luca de Meo, the new Renault CEO who decided to re-brand the French carmaker’s works F1 outfit as Alpine for 2021 and beyond. That is despite the fact that […]
Honda making ‘huge step’ for final F1 engine
Jan.27 (GMM) Honda is apparently pressing hard on the throttle for its last season in Formula 1 for now. Following the Japanese giant’s decision to quit the sport at the end of 2021, it is believed managers of the F1 program decided to fast-forward the development of an all-new engine originally intended for 2022. “I […]
Two drivers would have won in Hamilton’s car – Berger
Jan.27 (GMM) Two other drivers would have also won the 2020 world championship at the wheel of Lewis Hamilton’s car. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who nonetheless thinks seven time world champion Hamilton remains the best driver on the grid for now. “Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are two excellent drivers, […]
Alonso hoping 2022 rules improve F1 problems
Jan.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may be returning to Formula 1 this year, but he is hoping the sport becomes significantly better in 2022. The two-time world champion, who has been on sabbatical for two years, is referring to the sweeping new regulations that have been delayed until 2022 due to the pandemic. “I think the […]
Leclerc to become Ferrari ‘leader’ – Binotto
Jan.27 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is on course to be a “leader” in the style of Ferrari great Michael Schumacher. That is the view of team boss Mattia Binotto, as Leclerc recovered from his recent covid infection to test Ferrari’s 2018 car at Fiorano on Tuesday. “It was fantastic to drive again,” Leclerc said. “It was […]