May 28 (GMM) Red Bull has a different approach to poaching Formula 1 staff from rival teams, according to Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. As the energy drink owned outfit sets up its new Red Bull Powertrains operation for 2022, much has been made of Red Bull’s successful poaching of at least 15 senior members of […]
Category: Recent stories
George Russell a ‘future world champion’ – Alonso
May 28 (GMM) George Russell is a “future champion”, according to two-time title winner and F1 legend Fernando Alonso. As they swapped helmets for their personal collections at Monaco, Alonso wrote on his helmet to the Williams driver: “You rock! Future world champ”. Russell, 23, captioned the photo on Twitter: “This one means a lot. […]
F1 responds to criticism of Monaco TV coverage
May 28 (GMM) Formula 1 has responded to criticism of the live television coverage of last Sunday’s Monaco GP. During the otherwise processional street race, one clear highlight was when Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly went wheel-to-wheel at full throttle up the hill alongside the famous Beau Rivage terraces. But just as the action was […]
Wing protest war could kick off at Baku – Rosberg
May 28 (GMM) Nico Rosberg thinks it is more than possible that title rivals Mercedes and Red Bull will fire protests at one another ahead of next weekend’s Baku GP. Dr Helmut Marko has warned his Austrian countryman Toto Wolff to expect a counter-protest if Mercedes lodges a protest against Red Bull’s allegedly ‘bendy’ rear […]
Mercedes needs new rules for motivation boost – Wolff
May 28 (GMM) Mercedes is fully motivated to race its utter domination of the ‘power unit’ era since 2014 into the all-new regulatory period that begins in 2022. Team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff admitted that sky-high motivation is always difficult for a team that is as successful as Mercedes has been. “You can also […]
McLaren dropping Gulf livery for Baku
May 28 (GMM) McLaren has confirmed reports that the team will definitely revert to its usual papaya and blue livery for Baku and beyond. The Woking based team stunned fans with the striking ‘Gulf Oil’ livery at Monaco, but a source told us on Thursday that “we’ll be back to normal” at Baku. That is […]
F1 should consider ‘special’ Monaco tyre – Alonso
May 28 (GMM) Formula 1 should consider introducing a special tyre or special rules to spice up races like Monaco. The size and speed of the current cars, multiplied by the tight and twisty Monaco street layout, resulted in a particularly processional race last weekend. “On city streets, the tyres are very important – especially […]
Lando Norris says social media ‘sucks’
May 28 (GMM) Lando Norris appears to have lost his cool with the new world of social media. To some, the 21-year-old epitomises the new and youthful internet age, as he streams his video gaming on Twitch and has over three million Instagram followers. But Norris actually thinks social media “sucks” – and as he […]
Extra points for sprint race ‘grand slam’ – F1 CEO
May 28 (GMM) Formula 1 may introduce extra points for a new epic achievement – pole, sprint race victory, and the grand prix win on Sunday. It will be possible if the three-weekend trial of the new ‘sprint qualifying’ format this year proves a success. “It’s a formula that offers more content for television and […]
Grosjean ‘surprised’ by Mercedes’ openness
May 27 (GMM) It is Mercedes’ “precision and attention to detail” that is behind the team’s utter dominance of Formula 1 since 2014. That is the view of Romain Grosjean, who got an up close and personal look at the championship winning team recently when he attended a seat fitting at Brackley. Although the French […]
Rosberg admits he was ‘wrong’ about Sainz
May 27 (GMM) 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg admits he was “wrong” about Carlos Sainz’s move to Ferrari for 2021. The German, now a pundit for British and German television, was critical of Ferrari’s decision to sign up former McLaren, Renault and Toro Rosso driver Sainz as a replacement for Sebastian Vettel. “I was wrong,” […]
Mazepin forcing F1 adaptation ‘with a crowbar’
May 27 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is trying to force his acclimatisation to life at Formula 1 speeds “with a crowbar”. That is the colourful description of Red Bull top official Dr Helmut Marko, who contrasted controversial Haas driver Mazepin’s 2021 so far with that of his fellow rookie teammate Mick Schumacher. “There were a few […]
More Ferrari poles ‘unlikely’ in 2021 – Surer
May 27 (GMM) Ferrari is unlikely to repeat its pole and potentially race-winning pace at other grands prix in 2021. That is the view of former F1 driver and now German-language TV pundit Marc Surer, who attributes Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s speed at Monaco to “great suspension”. “Of all the cars, the Ferrari rode […]
Perez ‘too weak’ so far in 2021 – Marko
May 27 (GMM) Sergio Perez is a “decisive factor” in Red Bull’s push to win the 2021 world championship, according to top team official Dr Helmut Marko. 79-year-old Austrian Marko was most directly responsible for ousting Alex Albon and replacing him with the experienced Sergio Perez for this season. However, Mexican Perez has also struggled […]
Spectators to attend French, Austrian GPs
May 27 (GMM) Forthcoming races at Paul Ricard and the Red Bull Ring look set to be attended by some Formula 1 spectators. So far in 2021, the phenomenon of ‘ghost races’ has begun to diminish, with limited crowds often now permitted in the grandstands by local jurisdictions. However, there will be no spectators at […]
Ricciardo could get new chassis for Baku
May 27 (GMM) McLaren will revert to its usual orange livery in Baku – and Daniel Ricciardo looks set to get a brand new chassis altogether. “Yes, we’ll be back to normal,” a source at the Woking based team confirmed, after the special Gulf Oil livery turned heads in Monaco. It was in Monaco where […]
Sainz disappointment actually ‘positive’ – father
May 26 (GMM) It is “positive” rather than negative that Carlos Sainz was disappointed with his first podium for Ferrari last weekend at Monaco. That is the view of the Spanish driver’s famous father and namesake, rallying legend Carlos Sainz. After finishing second behind Max Verstappen, 26-year-old Sainz jr said on Sunday: “It’s just the […]
Ferrari right to gamble on Leclerc pole – Villeneuve
May 26 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve is not joining those who are criticising Ferrari for taking a risk so that Charles Leclerc could keep pole position last Sunday. Some believe not changing the star driver’s gearbox after his post-pole position crash on Saturday was an excessive gamble to avoid a five-place grid penalty. Indeed, ultimately, Leclerc’s […]
F1 will ‘try’ to modify Monaco layout – Brawn
May 26 (GMM) Formula 1 will look into whether modifications can be made to the fabled layout of the Monaco GP. Seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton went into last weekend’s race in the glamorous Principality declaring that the sport’s fans “don’t enjoy it” on television. “It’s been going on for years and I think […]
No Hamilton ‘games’ in title fight – Verstappen snr
May 26 (GMM) The Max Verstappen says it camp won’t be playing Mercedes’ or Lewis Hamilton’s “games” as the 2021 title head-to-head heats up. Having lost his championship lead, Hamilton left Monaco declaring that Red Bull’s Verstappen could retain the edge next time out on the streets of Baku. But Max’s father, Jos Verstappen, thinks […]