May 9 (GMM) Esteban Ocon does not appear to be in the running for a works Mercedes seat for 2022. Team boss Toto Wolff has made it clear he wants to retain Lewis Hamilton, but strong rumours are linking George Russell with Valtteri Bottas’ current position. As for Ocon, the 24-year-old was another Mercedes junior […]
Category: Recent stories
Correa eyes Formula 1 debut by ‘2023 or 2024’
May 8 (GMM) Juan Manuel Correa is making a sensational return to premier open wheeler racing this weekend in Barcelona – and predicts he even has a future in Formula 1. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian-American is best known for being involved in the horror 2019 crash at Spa Francorchamps that cost Anthoine Hubert his life. Correa, […]
Ferrari mood ‘different’ after Vettel – Leclerc
May 8 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says Ferrari is “different” without Sebastian Vettel in the garage next to him. The biggest difference, it would seem, is that the Maranello team has at least ended its technical crisis of last year, with a faster car and more powerful engine. Leclerc said in Barcelona: “It’s painful that we […]
Besieged Mazepin should re-think F1 career – pundit
May 8 (GMM) Criticism of Nikita Mazepin’s rookie season is becoming even more intense, as some wonder if the young Russian is skilled enough to race in Formula 1. The beleaguered Haas driver spun within minutes of the start of Friday practice in Barcelona. “The guy can’t keep the car on the track, even on […]
Red Bull pace ‘looks a lot worse’ than reality – Marko
May 8 (GMM) Red Bull will be on “the same level” as Mercedes when the action becomes decisive in Barcelona. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, even though title charger Max Verstappen was just ninth fastest in Friday practice – one place ahead of his teammate. One issue for the Dutchman was front […]
F1 ‘assessing situation’ as Turkey GP in doubt
May 8 (GMM) Formula 1 is “assessing the situation” as it emerges that Turkey may have to be scrapped from the 2021 calendar. The circuit in Istanbul was only added to the schedule recently, after Canada’s Montreal race was cancelled for the second consecutive season due to covid. But now a similar situation is evolving […]
Even more Mercedes staff heading to Red Bull
May 8 (GMM) Another wave of Mercedes’ engine staff are set to join six of their colleagues in defecting to the new Red Bull Powertrains project. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko claims Toto Wolff is attempting to stop the defections by offering to double the salaries to Mercedes’ existing staff. Marko said he would “certainly […]
Perez hopes for Red Bull contract extension
May 7 (GMM) Sergio Perez says it’s “too early” to consider whether Red Bull will keep him on board for 2022. The energy drink owned team has struggled to field competitive teammates for Max Verstappen in recent years, with Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon both ousted during their consecutive tenures. It’s why Red Bull looked […]
Mazepin to use criticism to his ‘advantage’
May 7 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he will use intense criticism of his enemies to his “advantage” as he continues his troubled first season in Formula 1. For a spate of controversial on-track and off-track incidents past and present, the 22-year-old Russian has been subject to near-unprecedented levels of vitriol for a F1 personality on […]
Alonso also hurt knee, shoulder in cycling crash
May 7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is back at “almost 100 percent” in the wake of his pre-season cycling crash. As he prepared for his return to Formula 1, the 39-year-old Spaniard was hit by a car while cycling and is still carrying metal plates in his jaw from surgery. “It is not something that I […]
Aston Martin ‘demoralised’ under Stroll reign
May 7 (GMM) Engineers at Aston Martin have become “extremely demoralised” after new team owner Lawrence Stroll’s fast-track plan for a competitive car backfired. That is the view of former F1 team boss Colin Kolles, who has been firing barbs at both Stroll and Aston Martin shareholder Toto Wolff recently. For instance, he said Mercedes […]
‘New battlefield’ opens between Red Bull, Mercedes
May 7 (GMM) A “new battlefield” has opened up in Mercedes’ championship fight with Red Bull. After signing up Ben Hodgkinson, the energy drink owned team has now followed that up with five new senior additions to its new engine operations for 2022 and beyond – and all six of them come from Mercedes. “Red […]
Bottas adds expletive to Mercedes axe rumours
May 7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas had an expletive ready when he was asked in Barcelona about rumours he could be about to be replaced by George Russell. “There’s always bullsh*t around, that’s part of the sport,” said the Finn. Bottas then aimed fire at what many believe may be the source of the speculation, especially […]
Ecclestone slams F1 ‘sprint qualifying’ format
May 6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says Formula 1’s new sprint qualifying format is “complete nonsense”. Earlier, before the F1 Commission rubber-stamped the 100km Saturday qualifying race that will be trialled on three occasions in 2021, the former F1 supremo sounded supportive of the move. “Why not?” he told Sport1. “Let’s see if the fans accept […]
Promoter ‘not ready’ to confirm Russia GP switch
May 6 (GMM) The promoter of the annual Russian GP has refused to confirm or deny speculation that the race will be relocated from Sochi to a new circuit in St Petersburg in 2022. According to the reports, the race will take place at the new Igora Drive venue in 2022 before returning to Sochi […]
Wolff says Bottas-Russell swap rumours ‘nonsense’
May 6 (GMM) Toto Wolff has dismissed as “nonsense” reports suggesting he may replace Valtteri Bottas with George Russell before the end of the 2021 season. When asked about the rumours by Osterreich newspaper, including the assertion that Lewis Hamilton is ‘almost always’ ahead of Bottas, the Mercedes team boss replied: “Nonsense. “Bottas is really […]
F1 says Barcelona staying on calendar – Sainz
May 5 (GMM) Formula 1 has made it “very clear” that Barcelona’s future on the annual calendar is not in doubt, according to Carlos Sainz. Recently, when it emerged that Miami would finally be added to the schedule in 2022, rumours emerged that the race could be at the expense of the Spanish GP – […]
‘Not many changes’ for Ferrari in 2021 – Sainz
May 5 (GMM) A new floor will still not be added to Ferrari’s race package this weekend in Barcelona. The Italian team tested the component in practice at Portimao but did not use it in qualifying or the race. But Corriere della Sera correspondent Daniele Sparisci said new parts will be added to the 2021 […]
Sainz learning to ignore criticism in F1
May 5 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is learning to ignore those who criticise Formula 1 drivers. The Ferrari driver was asked what he thought of recent criticism of his famous Spanish countryman Fernando Alonso’s return to F1 this season. “I am amazed how quickly people draw conclusions,” Sainz responded. “They do not realise the […]
Spectators to attend Spanish, Monaco GPs
May 5 (GMM) Spectators will be watching from the grandstands at the next two grands prix in Spain and Monaco. The Circuit de Catalunya, scene of this weekend’s race in Barcelona, announced that although the general public will not be allowed access, plans have been drawn up for a crowd of 1000 people on Sunday. […]