Jun.30 (GMM) Alex Wurz says it’s “great” that F1’s formerly dominant Mercedes team is finding itself under intense pressure in 2021. With Max Verstappen now leading the standings by 18 points, Red Bull has clearly raced ahead in the development race – with Toto Wolff insisting efforts to add upgrades to the 2021 Mercedes have […]
Category: Recent stories
Allison contradicts Wolff over 2021 upgrade plans
Jun.30 (GMM) Mercedes’ technical chief has contradicted boss Toto Wolff’s claims that the reigning champions will not put “another minute of development” into the 2021 car. In Austria last weekend, it became clear that the tide has definitely turned in Formula 1 as Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen dominantly won. Afterwards, Lewis Hamilton called […]
Alfa Romeo not sure if Raikkonen staying in 2022
Jun.30 (GMM) Alfa Romeo’s engineering boss isn’t sure if 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen will continue to race for the Swiss based Formula 1 team beyond 2021. Raikkonen, 41, is the oldest and most experienced driver on the grid, and until 2021 generally had the edge over his teammate Antonio Giovinazzi. But in 2021, the […]
F1 figures slam Verstappen ‘burnout’ ban
Jun.29 (GMM) Three Formula 1 personalities have slammed the sport’s governing body for clamping down on the type of chequered flag ‘burnout’ indulged by Max Verstappen last Sunday. To the chagrin of former Bridgestone engineer Kees van der Grint, race director Michael Masi said moves like that “will not be tolerated” from the championship leader […]
Schumacher linked with move to Alfa Romeo
Jun.29 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is being linked with a potential move to Alfa Romeo for 2022. According to Jos Verstappen, who became friends with the family after serving as Michael Schumacher’s Benetton teammate in the 90s, 22-year-old Mick is performing well in his rookie season for Haas. “Mick is doing a good job with a […]
Mercedes not coping with ‘unusual situation’ – Marko
Jun.29 (GMM) Mercedes is not coping with the “unusual situation” of no longer utterly dominating Formula 1. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, whose Austrian countryman and Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff confirmed paddock claims that the pair do not get along. “The relationship is quite correct,” Mercedes chief Wolff confirmed to Osterreich newspaper. […]
Berger ‘becoming a fan’ of F1 once again
Jun.29 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who was intimately involved in Formula 1 for decades, says he is “becoming a fan” once again. “This is the best Formula 1 we’ve seen in a long time. I’m slowly becoming a fan again,” he told Servus TV. Berger is currently in charge of the German series DTM, […]
Audi, Porsche chiefs to attend F1 engine meeting
Jun.29 (GMM) Two men named Markus Duesmann and Oliver Blume will meet with the big-wigs of Formula 1 this weekend at the Red Bull Ring. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the sport is now hashing out the details of the new engine regulations for 2025 and beyond, beginning with a big meeting of the […]
Technical directives linked to title battle – Masi
Jun.28 (GMM) The spate of so-called ‘technical directives’ in recent days and weeks is directly related to the battle for the 2021 world championship. So far in 2021, the FIA has issued a range of directives relating to wing flexibility, tyre pressures and pitstop speed, and it seems that the trend is being powered by […]
Second race in Austria makes little ‘sense’ – Alonso
Jun.28 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has questioned the “sense” of staging a second consecutive race at the Red Bull Ring this weekend. While many races this year were close and exciting, Sunday’s event in Austria was clearly dominated by Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen. And Alonso, the highly experienced two-time champion, thinks Formula 1 fans […]
Stewards not moved by ‘doomsday’ complaints – Masi
Jun.28 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi has played down claims that the stewards are being influenced by “doomsday” complaints about on-track incidents made by rival teams. Valtteri Bottas was severely punished for accidentally spinning in the pitlane during practice in Austria last weekend, with McLaren’s radio complaint to Masi aired publicly on TV. The […]
F1 warns Verstappen against celebratory ‘burnouts’
Jun.28 (GMM) F1’s governing body has warned Red Bull to advise championship leader Max Verstappen about celebratory ‘burnouts’ at the chequered flag. On Sunday, having utterly dominated the first of two back-to-back races at Red Bull’s own Austrian GP circuit, the championship leader slowed to a crawl in front of his teammates and crossed the […]
Wolff defends Vettel for voting ‘green’
Jun.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has leapt to Sebastian Vettel’s defence, after the quadruple world champion waded into the world of politics. The Aston Martin driver recently gave an interview to Der Spiegel in which he revealed that he has embraced solar power, electric cars and filtered tap water. “Yes, I will vote Green,” the 33-year-old […]
Verstappen could be even more dominant – Marko
Jun.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen could be even more dominant as Red Bull’s own Formula 1 circuit hosts yet another grand prix this weekend. On Sunday, the Dutchman extended his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to 18 points, as Mercedes admits that Red Bull has pulled ahead in the development race. “I don’t worry about everything […]
Williams waiting for Mercedes’ Russell decision
Jun.27 (GMM) Williams boss Jost Capito thinks George Russell would be “very happy” to stay with the famous British team in 2022. However, the 23-year-old driver and Mercedes junior looks likely to be promoted to the works Mercedes seat next year in Valtteri Bottas’ place. Toto Wolff denies he has already told Bottas of the […]
Wolff rules out another one-year deal for Hamilton
Jun.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ruled out a new one-year contract for Lewis Hamilton. Both the Mercedes boss and the seven time world champion have revealed this weekend in Austria that talks for a new deal are now in motion. Last year, 36-year-old Hamilton delayed the talks all the way through the winter, ultimately signing […]
Alonso intends to stay in F1 until 2024
Jun.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has indicated that he fully intends to renew his contract with Alpine. Last week, the Renault-owned team announced that Alonso’s current teammate Esteban Ocon had signed a new three-year contract, taking the Frenchman’s tenure through to 2024. When asked what he will be doing in 2024, 39-year-old Spaniard Alonso told AS […]
Red Bull to ‘question’ new pitstop speed rules
Jun.27 (GMM) Formula 1’s ever-lengthening book of rules is becoming farcical, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Reportedly due to Mercedes-instigated concerns that Red Bull has implemented automated and unsafe pitstop practices, pitstop times should be at least four tenths slower on average from Hungary onwards. Horner is exasperated. “Where does it stop?” […]
Red Bull’s reaction to engine reports ‘strange’ – Wolff
Jun.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Red Bull’s reaction to reports of in-season horsepower gains for Honda has been “strange”. Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko have already slammed suggestions by Wolff and Lewis Hamilton, as well as media reports, that the new Honda specification fitted at Paul Ricard gave Red Bull a significant boost. The […]
BWT wants Aston Martin to turn cars pink
Jun.27 (GMM) A major Aston Martin sponsor admits he is still trying to convince Lawrence Stroll to drop the new ‘British racing green’ livery. When known as Racing Point, the Silverstone based team painted its cars pink as per the branding of BWT, an Austrian water treatment company. Having re-emerged for 2021 and beyond as […]