Feb.9 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has issued a quick-fire ‘no’ to Haas boss Gunther Steiner’s invitation to become a team reserve driver this season. Steiner indicated this week that if rookies Mick Schumacher or Nikita Mazepin are unable to race at any point in 2021, Haas may invite its former drivers Magnussen or Romain Grosjean to […]
Category: Recent stories
Up to Hamilton whether he stays in 2022 – Wolff
Feb.9 (GMM) He may now have signed a contract, but rampant media speculation about Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formula 1 looks set to rage on. “We have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within […]
Hamilton should ‘take it or leave it’ – Ecclestone
Feb.8 (GMM) Mercedes should issue a ‘take it or leave it’ demand to Lewis Hamilton as his 2021 contract negotiations roll on, according to Bernie Ecclestone. According to respected sources including Bild and La Gazzetta dello Sport newspapers, the seven time world champion is now poised to agree a new EUR 40 million deal for […]
Doping sanctions for Mazepin unfair – Petrov
Feb.8 (GMM) Vitaly Petrov has slammed the decision that will prevent F1 rookie Nikita Mazepin from racing under the Russian flag in 2021. The Russian automobile federation has confirmed that the World Anti-Doping Agency’s sanctions mean that every Russian competitor taking part in world championships for the next two years will have to do so […]
Tost opposed to new customer Renault deal
Feb.8 (GMM) Franz Tost has hinted that Red Bull’s entire F1 project could be in jeopardy if the sport doesn’t agree to an engine development ‘freeze’ for 2022. If the ‘freeze’ is imposed, Red Bull is poised to take over Honda’s operations and go it alone with its own engine program from 2022-2024 – ahead […]
Audi eyeing F1 move for 2025 – report
Feb.8 (GMM) Audi is reportedly eyeing a move into Formula 1, and according to a specialist media outlet, Red Bull’s current partner Honda is already aware of the rumours. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that, pending the 2022 development ‘freeze’, negotiations between Red Bull and Honda about a handover of the engine operations for […]
Newey hits out at 2022 rules revolution
Feb.8 (GMM) Adrian Newey is not happy about Formula 1’s rules revolution for 2022. Although the sport is collectively looking forward to the closer racing that the new rules should deliver, Red Bull’s technical boss actually calls the move a “missed opportunity”. “I just think it’s a shame,” he told the Dutch publication Formule 1. […]
Ilott to get practice outings in 2021
Feb.8 (GMM) Callum Ilott will appear during some Friday practice sessions in 2021. That is the news from Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto, who has already announced that while the 22-year-old Briton missed out on a race debut this year, he will be Ferrari’s official test driver and reserve instead. Ilott, alongside Robert Shwartzman, is another […]
F1 eyeing Saturday ‘sprint races’ for 2021
Feb.8 (GMM) Formula 1 is looking to trial a ‘sprint race’ format in 2021. The teams earlier baulked at Liberty Media’s plans to radically spice up the weekend format, and new CEO Stefano Domenicali ruled out reviving the ‘reverse grid’ idea. “That is over,” international media reports quote the Italian as saying. “That is something […]
F1 won’t ‘jump the queue’ for vaccinations
Feb.8 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has played down suggestions Formula 1 will try to fast-track a vaccination plan amid the ongoing covid crisis. The pandemic continues to prevent the normal functioning of the sport, prompting reports that ‘jumping the queue’ by getting the entire travelling circus vaccinated as soon as possible could be an option for […]
Ferrari rules out Indycar for now
Feb.5 (GMM) Ferrari has ruled out entering Indycar for now. Last year, the American series’ boss Roger Penske revealed that talks with the Maranello outfit were underway. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto had looked into whether an Indycar program may be a way for the fabled Italian team to avoiding sacking personnel amid the new F1 […]
Tost defends Tsunoda’s F1 test campaign
Feb.5 (GMM) Franz Tost is unapologetic about Yuki Tsunoda’s intensive pre-season of unofficial testing ahead of his 2021 Formula 1 debut. In the past days, the 20-year-old Honda and Red Bull-backed Japanese rookie has been testing a 2019 Alpha Tauri car at Imola and Misano – and he will reportedly return to Imola next week. […]
Vettel will enjoy F1 again with Aston Martin – boss
Feb.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will rediscover his love of Formula 1 at Aston Martin. That is the view of the quadruple world champion’s new boss Otmar Szafnauer, as Vettel gets acquainted with his new team following his Ferrari ousting. “As always, he is very motivated. He is very curious, asks a lot. He compares what […]
Aston Martin wants Hulkenberg as 2021 reserve
Feb.5 (GMM) Aston Martin is hoping to sign up Nico Hulkenberg to be the former Racing Point team’s official reserve driver in 2021. Last year, the out-of-work F1 driver raced three times in the unwell Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll’s places, but he then failed to secure the full-time Red Bull seat for 2020. So […]
Haas will not develop 2021 car
Feb.5 (GMM) Team boss Gunther Steiner says Haas will not develop its 2021 car. “Our goal is to get back to where we were in 2018,” he told the German broadcaster n-tv. Haas has replaced both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean with rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin for the new season. He doubts the […]
F1 drivers to meet over Mazepin controversy
Feb.5 (GMM) Formula 1 will meet with the 20 drivers when the season gets up and running in Bahrain, to discuss the importance of them being “positive ambassadors” for the sport. The news comes as F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admits that the recent Nikita Mazepin groping scandal was “not acceptable” – and as the 2021 […]
CEO wants ‘one or two’ Alpine wins in 2022
Feb.5 (GMM) The newly-rebranded Alpine team must start appearing regularly on the podium by 2022. That is the goal set by Renault CEO Luca de Meo, who decided to drop the Renault name from Formula 1 and instead promote Alpine as a brand that he says will be “a mixture of a mini Ferrari and […]
Mercedes refusing to comment on Hamilton saga
Feb.5 (GMM) Mercedes is still refusing to comment on raging speculation about Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 seat. It is now being rumoured that the seven time world champion may be on the cusp of agreeing a one-year contract with the same EUR 40 million salary, with permission to add two more personal sponsors to his helmet […]
Domenicali urges Red Bull rivals to agree ‘freeze’
Feb.5 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has urged Red Bull’s rivals to agree to an engine development ‘freeze’ from 2022. Red Bull has said the freeze, requiring a majority vote of the team contingent, is the only way it can take over departing Honda’s works engine operations. “I hope everyone realises that it is the right choice […]
Second race in Bahrain ‘possible’ – Domenicali
Feb.5 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has admitted this year’s Formula 1 world championship could begin with an extended stay in Bahrain. We reported earlier that plans for a replacement race at Portimao were in tatters due to Portugal’s worsening covid crisis. “Two races in Bahrain? That’s a possibility,” F1 CEO Domenicali told Italian media. “Portugal has […]