May 26 (GMM) Formula 1 appears to be struggling to keep a full 23-race calendar for 2021 intact. So far, several races have been postponed, cancelled or reshuffled, with the latest solution – following cancellation of races in Canada and Turkey – being a second race in Austria. However, despite circuit owner Red Bull’s eagerness […]
Category: Recent stories
Marko doubts Wolff will trigger Baku GP ‘scandal’
May 26 (GMM) Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko has refused to rule out lodging a counter-protest against championship rival Mercedes. The 79-year-old Austrian says his countryman Toto Wolff is being unreasonable in criticising the FIA for giving Red Bull and other teams until after Baku to make modifications to their allegedly ‘bendy’ rear wings. “We […]
‘Bendy’ wing not reason for Verstappen win – Wolff
May 25 (GMM) Although threatening to lodge a protest at Baku, Toto Wolff says Max Verstappen did not win in Monaco last weekend because of his allegedly illegal rear wing. The Mercedes team boss claims Formula 1 is currently in a “vacuum” after the FIA said it would test rear wing flexibility differently after Baku. […]
Mosley death ‘like losing a brother’ – Ecclestone
May 25 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says former FIA president Max Mosley’s death is like “losing a brother”. 81-year-old Mosley’s family has issued a statement confirming that Jean Todt’s predecessor at the FIA “died last night after a long battle with cancer”. “They ask to be allowed to grieve in private.” Former F1 supremo Ecclestone, 90, […]
Italian media says Sainz can overtake Leclerc as ‘number 1’
May 25 (GMM) Italian journalists think Carlos Sainz may not only block Mick Schumacher’s route to Ferrari – he may even take over from Charles Leclerc as team number 1. The fiercely partisan Italian press did not hide its collective delight with team newcomer and Spaniard Sainz’s first Ferrari podium at Monaco. “If he continues […]
Alonso waits for Paul Ricard for steering change
May 25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is waiting for Paul Ricard until he gets a tweaked power steering system that he says should give him a better feel for his 2021 Alpine. The Renault-owned team, but particularly two-time champion Alonso, struggled on the streets of Monaco – qualifying 17th and finishing the race out of the […]
Leclerc ‘can only blame himself’ for Monaco failure
May 25 (GMM) Charles Leclerc “can only blame himself” for the technical failure that meant he couldn’t even start last Sunday’s Monaco GP, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Although quickest in qualifying, the local driver then crashed his Ferrari on his next and final lap – triggering questions about whether it may have […]
Ferrari tried to help Mercedes remove Bottas wheel
May 25 (GMM) Ferrari tried to help Mercedes mechanics remove the stuck wheel that caused Valtteri Bottas to retire from the Monaco GP. The odd sight of mechanics unable to get the Finn’s wheel off during a pitstop was a major problem for the Brackley based team, as it meant Red Bull sped past in […]
Verstappen ‘not playing Hamilton’s mind games’
May 25 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he won’t be playing Lewis Hamilton’s “games” at forthcoming Formula 1 races. Before struggling all weekend at Monaco and losing his world championship lead to his Dutch rival, Mercedes’ Hamilton insisted he was worried about the chances of an on-track clash. Verstappen, after lifting the trophy aloft, then hit […]
Bottas out, Russell in for 2022 – source
May 24 (GMM) The signs are growing ever clearer about the likelihood of a driver change at Mercedes for 2022. During Sunday’s broadcast of the Monaco GP, the commentator for Russia’s Match TV said a source has now told him that Valtteri Bottas is losing his seat. “I will not disclose the source,” said Alexey […]
Ferrari denies taking gamble with Leclerc gearbox
May 24 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has denied Ferrari took too great a risk by not changing Charles Leclerc’s gearbox after his post-pole Monaco crash. On the way to the grid on Sunday, the local hero only got to turn 6 until he told his team over the radio that his gearbox had indeed suffered a […]
Mercedes ‘makes mistakes under pressure’ – Marko
May 24 (GMM) When Mercedes is under pressure, the dominant team of the ‘power unit’ era makes mistakes. That is the gleeful conclusion of Dr Helmut Marko, after Max Verstappen won the Monaco GP at a canter and took over the lead in the drivers’ world championship. “Max has reached a different level of maturity,” […]
Wolff issues Red Bull protest threat for Baku
May 24 (GMM) Toto Wolff has issued his clearest warning yet that race protests are looming large over the next Formula 1 race in Baku. The Mercedes boss hinted in Monaco last week that the FIA’s delay in strengthening rear wing flexibility tests until after the ultra-fast street race in Azerbaijan could hand title rival […]
‘Confused’ Ricciardo much slower than Norris in Monaco
May 23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits he is “confused” after looking a full second per lap off teammate Lando Norris’ pace this weekend at Monaco. The Australian won the prestigious race in 2018, two years after almost doing the same at the wheel of a Red Bull. But as the decade-younger Norris shines in 2021, […]
Todt visits Michael Schumacher ‘twice a month’
May 23 (GMM) Jean Todt says he visits F1 legend Michael Schumacher “at least twice a month”. The FIA president and former Ferrari boss has maintained his close relationship with the seven time world champion ever since Schumacher suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in late 2013. “I see Michael at least twice […]
Wolff tips Schumacher to stay in F1
May 23 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has seen enough to predict “a career in Formula 1” for Michael Schumacher’s son. Mick Schumacher, 22, is already on the grid, and a crash-strewn Monaco weekend aside he is clearly showing the way to his Haas teammate Nikita Mazepin. “I think a lot of Mick,” Mercedes team […]
Imola could secure five-year F1 race deal
May 23 (GMM) Imola appears poised to seal a long-term and permanent place on the Formula 1 calendar. For the past two years, the Italian circuit and former regular San Marino GP host has stepped in at short notice to replace postponed or cancelled races due to the covid crisis. The venue’s reward may be […]
Mazepin smiling as ‘new approach’ pays off
May 23 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin allowed himself a rare-in-2021 smile as the beleaguered Russian rookie finally overshadowed teammate Mick Schumacher around the famous streets of Monaco. While Schumacher crashed his Haas twice and had to sit out qualifying as a result, 22-year-old Mazepin had a smoother and faster weekend even if he still lines up […]
Leclerc gets away with post-pole Monaco crash
May 23 (GMM) Charles Leclerc appears to have gotten away with a hefty qualifying crash – both in terms of damage to his gearbox, and the condemnation of Formula 1. When the Ferrari driver crashed in the dying moments of Q3, the red flag prevented his rivals from completing their final runs and therefore locked […]
Hamilton messaging can’t be ‘political’ – Todt
May 23 (GMM) Jean Todt says he is “fine” with Lewis Hamilton’s activism within Formula 1 – “as long as it’s not political”. Seven time world champion Hamilton insists he is even more motivated at present as he is using his platform in F1 to promote equity and diversity more broadly. His approach has been […]