Jan.19 (GMM) Ferrari president John Elkann “doesn’t like racing”. That is the claim of highly-respected Italian F1 insider Leo Turrini, who mused on his Quotidiano blog about Ferrari’s performance crash of 2020. “The current situation is a consequence of the mistakes that Ferrari has made over the past ten years,” he insisted. “And Binotto certainly […]
Category: Recent stories
Gasly sure Honda won’t ‘give up’ before F1 exit
Jan.19 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is sure Honda won’t “give up” in 2021, despite it being the Japanese manufacturer’s last official season in Formula 1 for now. Indeed, Honda is preparing a new engine for 2021, with technical boss Toyoharu Tanabe saying the goal is the world championship. “We will withdraw from Formula 1 […]
Brivio’s F1 inexperience ‘doesn’t matter’ – de Meo
Jan.19 (GMM) Renault CEO Luca de Meo has defended his decision to appoint a MotoGP boss to a high-ranking managerial position at the newly-rebranded Alpine team. Brivio, who famously worked with Valentino Rossi, arrives at Alpine as the F1 team’s ‘racing director’, just as Marcin Budkowski is promoted and Cyril Abiteboul ousted altogether. “He comes […]
Badoer ‘won’t say a word’ about Schumacher health
Jan.19 (GMM) Luca Badoer says he “won’t say a word” about the current medical condition of his friend Michael Schumacher. As Schumacher’s son Mick prepares to make his Formula 1 debut in 2021, Badoer told Corriere dello Sport that his relationship with the seven time world champion has always been close. “We used to go […]
2021 aero rule changes are ‘drastic’ – Wolff
Jan.19 (GMM) Those who think 2021 will be a carbon copy of last year may be mistaken, according to dominant Formula 1 team Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff. Although the sweeping new rules have been delayed until 2022 because of covid, Wolff said mandatory aerodynamic changes for this year could shake up the pecking order. Not […]
Vettel must ‘answer’ critics in 2021 – Ecclestone
Jan.19 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says his friend Sebastian Vettel needs to “answer” his critics in 2021. Vettel, a quadruple world champion from his Red Bull days, has been ousted by Ferrari – with Eddie Jordan describing his final two years at Ferrari as “pathetic”. “Until recently, Sebastian was first in every session, and now no […]
Nurburgring open to 2021 replacement race talks
Jan.19 (GMM) The Nurburgring is open to once again serving as a substitute venue on the Formula 1 calendar. Last year, the former German GP venue stepped in as scheduled races fell victim to coronavirus restrictions. When asked if the Nurburgring might again be in the running for a replacement race slot, a spokesman said: […]
Promoter says Monaco GP will go ahead
Jan.19 (GMM) Monaco has moved quickly to scotch rumours its fabled grand prix will once again disappear from the Formula 1 calendar for a second consecutive year. There are reports that street circuits like the ones in Monte Carlo, Baku and Montreal will again fall victim to the coronavirus restrictions. But race promoter Automobile Club […]
‘Good’ that Schumacher not at winning team – Stuck
Jan.19 (GMM) It is “good” that Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 debut will take place at the rear of the field in 2021. That is the view of German racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, who says he relates to the 21-year-old as he also had a famous father in motor sport – Hans Stuck. “My parents raised […]
Hamilton’s contract plan ‘shattered’ – Albers
Jan.19 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s plan to boost his financial and influential power at Mercedes has been “shattered”. That is the view of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, as seven time world champion Hamilton finally breaks his 2021 silence on his long-delayed new contract for this year. Albers told De Telegraaf that he thinks the biggest […]
Hamilton contract drama ‘all for show’ – Ecclestone
Jan.18 (GMM) The drama surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 contract is “all just for show”. That is the view of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who questions the reasons behind rumours of difficult negotiations between Hamilton and Mercedes. “Apparently they disagree on the terms,” former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan told Auto Bild, revealing that one […]
Bottas won’t take Rosberg’s approach to beat Hamilton
Jan.18 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he will continue to “drive fairly” rather than emulate Nico Rosberg’s tactics in trying to beat Lewis Hamilton. 1996 world champion Damon Hill is quoted as saying: “The only way to beat Lewis is to do what Nico did and make him feel uncomfortable.” But Finn Bottas, who has now […]
Red Bull may have chosen Vettel over Perez
Jan.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel may have had a shot at replacing Alex Albon for 2021 if he had not signed up with Aston Martin. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, who advised the quadruple world champion to take 2021 off rather than quickly sign for another team in the wake of his Ferrari […]
Losing Mercedes seat felt ‘strange’ – Russell
Jan.18 (GMM) George Russell says it felt “strange” when he was unable to keep racing for Mercedes in Lewis Hamilton’s place after his near-win in Bahrain. The 22-year-old Mercedes junior was called up at short notice when Hamilton tested positive for covid-19 – but had to return to his back-of-the-grid Williams cockpit a week later. […]
Portugal ‘optimistic’ about 2021 F1 calendar return
Jan.18 (GMM) Portugal’s motor racing chief is “optimistic” that Portimao could return to a second consecutive covid-affected Formula 1 calendar this year. The sport has already made amendments to its earlier-planned schedule, shifting Melbourne to November and removing Shanghai for now. Imola, also a substitute circuit in 2020, was appointed as a replacement, and now […]
Covid opens World Rally window for Bottas
Jan.18 (GMM) The ongoing covid crisis may provide Valtteri Bottas with the chance to contest Finland’s forthcoming round of the World Rally championship. The Mercedes driver has just finished sixth in the Arctic Lapland Rally, and thinks covid restrictions may now open up a window for him to stay in the country for the WRC […]
Mazepin ready for more ‘hate’ in Formula 1
Jan.18 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin thinks he is receiving more “hate” than any other Russian driver who came before him in Formula 1. However, he thinks fans and the media also treated Vitaly Petrov, Daniil Kvyat and Sergey Sirotkin unfairly. “They are all top racers, professionals, and some things that were said about them were undeserved. […]
Rosberg not interested in racing return
Jan.15 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he has no intention of returning to active motor racing competition – even for his new off-road team in the Extreme E series. Now 35, the German quit Formula 1 immediately after beating then Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to the 2016 title. When asked why he will not appoint himself […]
Hamilton contract talks now ‘a game of chess’
Jan.15 (GMM) Mercedes is not commenting on reports about the status of Lewis Hamilton’s reportedly difficult negotiations over a new contract. Some believe the parties are arguing essentially over money, while Autosprint’s Alessandro Gargantini believes Mercedes is only putting a one-year deal worth EUR 35 million on the table. One of the sticking points could […]
Alpine eyes consistent podiums in 2022
Jan.15 (GMM) Alpine is eyeing consistent podiums in Formula 1 – in 2022. Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon achieved three podiums for Renault in 2020, before this year’s rebranding as blue, white and red Alpine. The new project will involve the return to Formula 1 of Group Lotus. Groupe Renault announced that it and Group […]