Sep.16 (GMM) A heavily upgraded Ferrari power unit, packing between 10-15hp more power, looks set to make its Formula 1 debut at the forthcoming Turkish or US grands prix in October. Team boss Mattia Binotto says it is a fundamental technological and architectural shift for the Maranello team ahead of the all-new rules for 2022. […]
Perez’s similar struggles not ‘comforting’ – Albon
Sep.16 (GMM) Alex Albon denies that Sergio Perez’s struggles this year have been “comforting” to watch. Albon, who is returning to the grid next year for Williams, was dropped by Red Bull at the end of last year to be replaced by the much more experienced Mexican Perez. However, 31-year-old Perez has also struggled to […]
F1 eyes third ‘Grand Slam’ title for 2022
Sep.16 (GMM) Formula 1 could be set to introduce a third world title. Currently, drivers and teams battle it out over the season for the ultimate spoils – the FIA drivers’ and constructors’ world championships. But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says this year’s three-round trial of the new sprint qualifying format could be expanded to […]
Monza steward Liuzzi plays down Verstappen-Hamilton clash
Sep.16 (GMM) An Italian GP steward has played down the severity of Max Verstappen’s foul on championship rival Lewis Hamilton last weekend at Monza. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff had called it a “technical foul”, with Hamilton declaring that he was lucky to emerge alive following contact between his helmet and the Red Bull’s wheel. Vitantonio Liuzzi, […]
No F1 return for Germany in 2022 – Domenicali
Sep.16 (GMM) Germany will not make a return to the Formula 1 calendar any time soon, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned. “I have the feeling that the organizers have no faith in themselves to host a grand prix anymore,” the Italian, no doubt pointing his remarks to former F1 venues Hockenheim and the Nurburgring, […]
Hamilton willing to have ‘a beer’ with Verstappen
Sep.15 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has flagged the possibility of sharing “a beer” with his 2021 championship rival Max Verstappen. Their intense and tantalisingly close title battle came to an ugly crescendo at Monza when the pair collided, with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff calling Max Verstappen’s move a “tactical foul”. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, however, insists […]
Leclerc ‘unwell’ at Monza after Binotto dispute – report
Sep.15 (GMM) There was more than meets the eye and the ear about Charles Leclerc’s minor medical episode last weekend at Monza. In Friday practice, the Monaco-born driver told Ferrari over the radio: “I need to box. I cannot explain it here.” Leclerc briefly visited the medical centre but was discharged soon after and he […]
Aston Martin’s ‘intention’ to keep Vettel for 2022 – Stroll
Sep.15 (GMM) Team owner Lawrence Stroll says it is Aston Martin’s “firm intention” to stick with Sebastian Vettel in 2022. Odd rumours are suddenly swirling around the quadruple world champion and former Red Bull and Ferrari driver’s future. One of them is in the Polish media, with WP Sportowe Fakty reporting rumours that Robert Kubica […]
Marko admits he was wrong about Halo
Sep.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits he was wrong about Formula 1’s cockpit protection innovation ‘Halo’. When the Halo was made mandatory for 2018 and beyond, Red Bull’s top official was vehemently opposed. But although he rejects that Max Verstappen collided with Lewis Hamilton deliberately at Monza, he says the incident shows that he was […]
Marko slams Hamilton crash and injury ‘stories’
Sep.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has poured fuel on the fire by suggesting Mercedes is to blame for revving up the controversy surrounding the Max Verstappen-Lewis Hamilton crash. “It was a normal racing accident,” the top Red Bull official told Osterreich newspaper. Championship leader Verstappen retained his title lead at Monza last Sunday due to […]
Raikkonen set for Sochi return
Sep.14 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he is on track to return to his Formula 1 cockpit at Sochi next weekend. The Finn, who was replaced at both events by Alfa Romeo reserve Robert Kubica, had to sit out the Zandvoort and Monza double-header after testing positive for covid-19. “I spoke with Kimi this week,” team […]
Verstappen may double-up penalty at Sochi – Marko
Sep.14 (GMM) Red Bull is ready to move on and “make the best of it” at Sochi next weekend, as the controversy surrounding the Verstappen-Hamilton crash at Monza races on. Championship leader Max Verstappen received a 3-grid penalty for Sochi for the crash with Lewis Hamilton, but paddock opinions are divided as to whether the […]
Title war not ‘dirty’ like Senna-Prost – Villeneuve
Sep.14 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has moved to play down the high controversy surrounding 2021 title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. After Sunday’s Italian GP, in which the pair sensationally collided and retired following a crash in the first chicane, the international media shifted the intensity of their championship battle into a […]
Wolff wants Volkswagen to enter F1 in 2026
Sep.13 (GMM) Mercedes wants to “compromise” on the 2026 engine rule changes to enable Volkswagen to enter Formula 1. At Monza, a key meeting between all stakeholders was held, where it was decided that the new engine regulations would now be delayed from 2025 to 2026. Among the competitors, two distinct camps have reportedly emerged […]
Leclerc eyes further two-year Ferrari extension
Sep.13 (GMM) Charles Leclerc wants to extend his already long-term Ferrari deal for a further two years. That is the claim of Leo Turrini, a well known and respected Italian Formula 1 journalist who specialises in insider news about the Maranello team. “It is nice to know that he has confidentially expressed his desire to […]
‘No plan B’ for Aston Martin amid Vettel rumours
Sep.13 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer has slammed reports that all is not well with the relationship between Aston Martin and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. Rumours began to harden at Monza that the two sides are not in full agreement about continuing to collaborate beyond 2021, as some begin to wonder if 34-year-old Vettel is contemplating […]
Claims of Senna-like foul ‘nonsense’ – Marko
Sep.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says claims Max Verstappen deliberately took out championship rival Lewis Hamilton at Monza are “nonsense”. “That’s what happens when you don’t leave the space,” championship leader Verstappen declared on the radio whilst still perched atop Hamilton’s Mercedes on Sunday. Replays showed that the seven time world champion was even struck […]
Saudi Arabian group eyes F1 takeover – report
Sep.13 (GMM) A group from Saudi Arabia is reportedly poised to buy Formula 1’s commercial rights from Liberty Media. “There could be even more GPs in the Asian region soon,” revealed veteran F1 journalist Roger Benoit, writing for the Swiss newspaper Blick. “Why? Because the Saudis will soon take over Formula 1 from Liberty.” He […]
F1 still has ‘green light’ to race in Austin
Sep.12 (GMM) Officials have moved to disperse a dark cloud hanging over the forthcoming US grand prix. Local reports reveal that August was the most lethal month of Austin’s covid pandemic so far, just five weeks before the Formula 1 circus is scheduled to race into town. Austin mayor Steve Adler, however, says the grand […]
F1 engine future discussed in ‘important’ meeting – Todt
Sep.12 (GMM) Formula 1 held an “important meeting” at Monza on Saturday, according to FIA president Jean Todt. He told La Gazzetta dello Sport the meeting was with the engine manufacturers, including “John Elkann, Luca de Meo and Ola Kallenius” among others, “to take stock of the situation”. Indeed, the need to finalise the details […]