Mar.3 (GMM) Russia’s automobile federation (RAF) has questioned whether banning Russian drivers from Formula 1 and other categories is “discriminatory”. Although this year’s Sochi race has been cancelled and Haas must remove the Russian tricolours from its 2022 car, Nikita Mazepin was given a green light from the FIA to keep racing. Ultimately, the 22-year-old […]
New contract puts Verstappen on par with Hamilton
Mar.3 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen has apparently also caught up with Lewis Hamilton in the Formula 1 earnings stakes. The respected Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf claims the 24-year-old Dutchman and Red Bull have reached a ‘final agreement’ for a new contract. Verstappen’s existing deal was set to expire next year, but now it is […]
Red Bull ‘slightly ahead’ of Ferrari – Marko
Mar.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at claims that Red Bull’s overweight 2022 car is already lagging behind apparent early frontrunner Ferrari. He admits that the “first analysis” of the Barcelona test is that Maranello based Ferrari has managed to “join” Mercedes and Red Bull at the front of the grid. The Red […]
‘Things missing’ at Alpine in 2022 – source
Mar.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has answered “I don’t know” when asked if he is happy with his new car for 2022. Alpine, whose Formula 1 team has now been 100 percent acquired by Renault after Genii’s final shares were taken over, has pinned a lot of hopes on its car for the all-new regulations this […]
Ecclestone, Marko disagree over Putin
Mar.2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has risked condemnation by describing Russian president Vladimir Putin as “straightforward and honourable”. Putin is being almost universally slammed for his incursion into Ukraine which is affecting every corner of the globe, including Formula 1. But Ecclestone, 91, defended the 69-year-old former KGB officer, with whom he conceived the current Russian […]
Marko backs Mazepin staying on F1 grid
Mar.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has backed the decision to allow Nikita Mazepin to keep racing in Formula 1. At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the FIA bucked the current international trend by deciding to allow Russian drivers to keep racing. “If Mazepin can […]
Binotto denies Ferrari ‘months ahead’ of 2022 rivals
Mar.1 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has scoffed at seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s claim that Ferrari is “several months ahead” with its all-new 2022 car. Hamilton believes Mercedes and Red Bull’s full and late focus on the 2021 title race means big teams not fighting for the championship were better able to prepare for Formula […]
Marko admits Red Bull’s car has weight ‘problem’
Mar.1 (GMM) Red Bull’s car could be the heaviest on the entire grid at the beginning of 2022. To compensate for the radical new technical regulations this year, the FIA raised the minimum car-plus-driver weight yet again to 795 – almost 200kg more than just 20 years ago. However, according to Auto Motor und Sport, […]
Favourite emerges to replace Russia GP
Mar.1 (GMM) One circuit has emerged as the favourite to replace Russia’s ‘suspended’ round of the 2022 world championship in September. Amid the covid crisis in 2020 and again last year, Portugal’s Portimao circuit filled in for race hosts more affected by the pandemic. And with Sochi’s 2022 race now looking in doubt over the […]
Minister says Russia GP not cancelled
Mar.1 (GMM) Local authorities have joined promoters of the Sochi race in insisting that September’s Russian GP has not been officially cancelled. Indeed, amid the escalating Russia-Ukraine crisis, the FIA’s statement said only that a Formula 1 race on Russian soil at present would be “impossible” in the “current circumstances”. A spokesman for Sochi race […]
‘No guarantees’ for Mazepin’s Haas seat – boss
Mar.1 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 career is hanging in the balance ahead of an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday of the World Motor Sport Council. The meeting has been convened by new FIA president Mohammed Bin Sulayem as a direct result of the “ongoing crisis in Ukraine”. Preparations for September’s Russian GP at Sochi have […]
Alpine plays down early struggles in 2022
Feb.28 (GMM) Alpine’s sporting boss Alan Permane has played down suggestions the Renault-owned team could be buried deep in the midfield when the new era in Formula 1 kicks off in March. The Enstone and Viry-based team has pinned its hopes on a major step forward with the new chassis regulations, pairing an innovative car […]
Haas, Mazepin in doubt over Ukraine crisis
Feb.28 (GMM) The effects of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine have well and truly infiltrated the Formula 1 paddock. F1’s authorities have cancelled September’s Russian GP at Sochi, and now the fate of the Haas team, its title sponsor Uralkali and driver Nikita Mazepin are all in the balance. Formula 1 confirmed that it met […]
Alpha Tauri not noticing Honda’s F1 exit
Feb.28 (GMM) Honda’s official departure from Formula 1 is yet to be felt by Alpha Tauri, the second Red Bull-owned team’s boss Franz Tost has admitted. Officially, the Japanese manufacturer left F1 after winning the title with Red Bull and Max Verstappen at the end of 2021. Actually, Honda engines are still in the four […]
Andretti F1 team would be powered by Renault
Feb.28 (GMM) Michael Andretti’s new Formula 1 entry for 2024 would be powered by customer Renault engines. The news comes as American Andretti’s F1 legend father Mario hit back at Mercedes’ Toto Wolff for questioning what the name would bring to the sport. “Toto asks ‘What are we bringing to the table?’ I think we’re […]
Marko confirms Verstappen contract ‘talks’
Feb.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that “talks” are underway to keep Max Verstappen at Red Bull. We have reported for some time that a contract extension for the reigning world champion is on the cards, and De Telegraaf now reports that a signature is close. Verstappen, 24, already has a deal to the […]
New rules hurting ‘slipstream’ effect – drivers
Feb.28 (GMM) The all-new regulations for 2022 may actually have made overtaking more difficult, according to three prominent Formula 1 drivers. While early feedback suggests the new ‘ground effect’ cars make it easier to follow a rival, the ‘slipstream’ or ‘tow’ effect appears to be diminished. “I have spoken to other drivers and they say […]
Ferrari has ‘most powerful engine’ – Wolff
Feb.28 (GMM) They may have gone head-to-head for the title in 2021, but Red Bull and Mercedes do not appear to be heading the field as the all-new regulations take effect for 2022. “I think the McLaren and the Ferrari are looking incredibly strong,” said Mercedes’ George Russell, who admitted that the German team is […]
F1 ‘wrong’ to scapegoat Masi – Perez
Feb.25 (GMM) Formula 1 is struggling to turn the page in the wake of Michael Masi’s controversial ousting as race director. Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 crown following Australian Masi’s disputed handling of the late safety car in Abu Dhabi, triggering fury and an FIA investigation. While Hamilton was still grumbling about […]
McLaren would welcome Andretti to F1
Feb.25 (GMM) McLaren boss Andreas Seidl has broken ranks to declare that he would welcome Andretti to Formula 1. Having failed in a bid to buy Sauber, former McLaren driver Michael Andretti’s US-based motor racing outfit is now looking into becoming the sport’s eleventh team. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, says even the ‘anti-dilution’ fee […]