May 17 (GMM) George Russell didn’t need to apologise for his high speed crash with Valtteri Bottas, after which the British driver slapped the helmet of his Finnish rival. The crash and aftermath was a media highlight of the race at Imola, leading to Mercedes junior Russell issuing a public apology for his conduct. Williams […]
Category: Recent stories
Red Bull must tweak ‘bendy’ wing – Marko
May 17 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits Red Bull will need to make tweaks to its allegedly ‘bendy’ 2021 rear wing. After Lewis Hamilton made the observation about Max Verstappen’s “bendy” wing after the Spanish GP, the FIA warned that it would clamp down on the issue of flexible wings with extra checks. “This is […]
‘Difficult’ for Williams to keep Russell – boss
May 17 (GMM) Williams boss Jost Capito admits it will be “difficult” for the British team to hold onto George Russell. New to the top job at Oxfordshire and in Formula 1, the former McLaren and Volkswagen official says British driver Russell is “absolutely” a future world champion. Indeed, the 23-year-old is also a Mercedes […]
‘No one understands’ Hamilton’s 2021 dominance
May 14 (GMM) “No one understands” why the closest title battle for years is coinciding with Lewis Hamilton’s best ever start to a Formula 1 season. That is the view of Alexey Popov, the Russian F1 commentator for Match TV. Recently, former Mercedes chief Paddy Lowe said that in 2014 – when the German team […]
Full house at Belgian GP looking more likely
May 14 (GMM) The idea of this year’s Formula 1 race at the fabled Spa-Francorchamps circuit going ahead with a full house of spectators is gaining speed. According to circuit chairman Pierre Wathelet, authorities are poised to green light a return to near-normality for the Belgian GP in late August. “Apparently the vaccination figures are […]
Wolff wants F1 to race in London
May 14 (GMM) Toto Wolff has issued a clear message to British authorities that he would like to see Formula 1 race on the streets of London. Previously, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone championed the idea of the sport heading to the British capital, but it never materialised due to bureaucratic complexity and the high […]
Spa hoping for full house at 2021 Belgian GP
May 13 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps may be able to welcome a full house of spectators to the Belgian GP at the end of August. The Dutch magazine Formule 1 claims that outdoor sports events in Belgium may be able to return to 100 percent capacity from July 30, if the vaccination plan continues apace. Belgian prime […]
Bottas the best ‘water carrier’ for Hamilton
May 13 (GMM) Mercedes should keep Valtteri Bottas because he is a “good water carrier” for Lewis Hamilton. That is the view of former F1 driver Marc Surer, who plays down the rumours linking Bottas with the exit door and George Russell with the Finn’s seat for 2022 and beyond. “The rumours about George Russell […]
Father’s backing explains Mazepin behaviour – Kiesa
May 13 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin lacks “respect” for his fellow Formula 1 drivers, and it may be because of the support of his wealthy father Dmitry. That is the view of Nicolas Kiesa, a Danish driver who contested 5 grands prix for Minardi and Jordan in 2003 and 2005. Russian rookie Mazepin, also regularly lambasted […]
F1 to add second Austrian GP to 2021 calendar
May 13 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to add a second race in Austria to its constantly-evolving 2021 calendar. Baku promoter Arif Rahimov has ruled out suggestions that the race in Azerbaijan might swap places with Istanbul so that F1 can dodge the quarantine complications surrounding the Turkish GP. “There were negotiations, but in our […]
Ricciardo admits he may not win F1 title
May 13 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo insists he is not “upset” by those suggesting he may be past his prime in Formula 1. The Australian has been on the grid for over a decade now, although his early promise – especially at Red Bull – is yet to have delivered more than seven wins. Not just […]
Red Bull ‘calm’ amid new flexible wing saga
May 13 (GMM) Red Bull is “calm” even though the FIA is clamping down amid the latest rumours about flexible wings. It was believed the governing body’s warning to teams about excessive rear wing deflection was specifically about Red Bull’s 2021 car – especially after Lewis Hamilton said he had noticed its “bendy” wing in […]
Alonso to get Alpine car tweak for Monaco
May 12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will get a tweaked power steering system for Monaco and beyond, as the two-time champion continues his re-adaptation to Formula 1. After two years out, the Spaniard has struggled to get up to speed this season alongside Esteban Ocon. But Alpine is clearly focusing on preparations for 2022, with Alonso […]
Kubica works on 2022 innovation in post-race F1 test
May 12 (GMM) Alfa Romeo gave a sneak peak of a likely technical innovation for 2022 whilst testing Pirelli’s 18-inch tyres in Barcelona this week. Robert Kubica was at the wheel of the car on Tuesday when it featured the sort of aerodynamic wheel covers that were commonplace a decade ago in Formula 1 until […]
Ocon ‘afraid’ of Mazepin incidents
May 12 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has admitted he is “afraid” of Nikita Mazepin when he comes across the Russian rookie on the Formula 1 circuit. Mazepin, 22, has had a tumultuous start to his F1 career both on and off the circuit, but he claims he is learning a lot. “As a rookie driver, you […]
Hamilton didn’t learn much about Verstappen – Doornbos
May 12 (GMM) Robert Doornbos doubts Lewis Hamilton learned much about his 2021 title rival simply by driving behind Max Verstappen in Barcelona. Before winning the race, Hamilton spent considerable time behind the Red Bull last Sunday and said afterwards: “I learned a lot about Max today – perhaps more than all the other races […]
Third in 2021 ‘out of reach’ for Aston Martin
May 12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel admits that Aston Martin will miss its target of finishing third overall in the 2021 constructors’ world championship. Indeed, despite developing what was known last year as the ‘pink Mercedes’, the Silverstone based team has scored just 5 points so far – and none of them by the quadruple world […]
Racing with Schumacher name ‘normal’ for young cousins
May 12 (GMM) Carrying the Schumacher surname around the Formula 1 circuits of the world is “normal” for both Mick and David, according to Ralf Schumacher. Ralf, a former F1 winner and the brother of seven time world champion Michael Schumacher, is also the father of 19-year-old David Schumacher, who has just begun his second […]
Turkish media says Istanbul race cancelled
May 12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has expressed concerns amid rumours about the next tweaks to the 2021 Formula 1 race calendar. Turkish media, including the sports broadcaster S Sport, claim that the decision to axe Canadian GP substitute Istanbul Park from the calendar has now been taken. It was rumoured Turkey’s loss could be compensated […]
FIA responds to Red Bull ‘bendy’ wing story
May 12 (GMM) F1’s governing body has responded to accusations Red Bull may be benefitting from a “bendy” rear wing. The “bendy” claim was made by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton last weekend in Barcelona, but Red Bull boss Christian Horner suspects Toto Wolff was actually behind the accusation. “The FIA is completely satisfied with our car […]