Oct.7 (GMM) The rise of the first Chinese driver to the Formula 1 grid in 2022 is suddenly looking in doubt. There are claims that while Alfa Romeo is keen on F2 frontrunner Guanyu Zhou’s reported $30 million in Chinese backing, boss Frederic Vasseur is balking at his other contractual demands. The most prominent is […]
One ‘breakdown’ can decide 2021 title – Klien
Oct.7 (GMM) The intense and close 2021 title fight could be decided by the next “breakdown”, according to former Red Bull driver Christian Klien. Mercedes, and Max Verstappen’s title rival Lewis Hamilton, were stunned at Sochi when the Red Bull driver managed to sear through the field after taking multiple grid penalties to finish second. […]
2021 is most exciting and ‘toughest’ ever F1 duel
Oct.7 (GMM) Formula 1 fans are witnessing perhaps the most “exciting” world championship battle in history. That is the view of former Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug, who thinks the fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton reminds him of another title duel he witnessed first-hand. “When I think back to previous duels, I don’t […]
Glock impressed with Verstappen’s calm in 2021
Oct.6 (GMM) Former F1 driver Timo Glock is impressed with Max Verstappen’s calm demeanour as he races for his first world championship in 2021. Glock, who now races in the German series DTM, referred to the Red Bull driver’s recent and highly controversial crash with title rival Lewis Hamilton at Monza. “He didn’t get involved […]
Marko invites Wolff to wear Red Bull overalls
Oct.6 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he would be happy if Formula 1 nemesis Toto Wolff is reunited with Red Bull logos in the Istanbul paddock this weekend. Photos have emerged of a younger Wolff, now the Mercedes team boss, wearing fully Red Bull-branded blue overalls during his earlier career as a racing driver. “I […]
Surer explains why Qatar GP in 2021 ‘hurts’
Oct.6 (GMM) It “hurts” to see another Middle Eastern venue added to the Formula 1 calendar whilst traditional host Germany remains without a race. That is the view of former F1 driver turned pundit Marc Surer, following confirmation that Qatar’s Losail circuit will replace the axed Australian GP in November. “Qatar is a circuit that […]
Title battle hurting Mercedes engines – Marko
Oct.6 (GMM) Mercedes is grappling with new engine problems as a direct result of the epic title scrap with Red Bull. That is the claim of Red Bull’s top official Dr Helmut Marko, amid reports Lewis Hamilton could go tumbling down the Turkish GP grid order due to an unscheduled engine change. Auto Motor und […]
Raikkonen plays down ‘F1 team advisor’ rumours
Oct.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has shot down rumours he could re-emerge in Formula 1 next year as a team advisor at Alfa Romeo. The 2007 world champion, who turns 42 next Sunday, is finally retiring at the end of the season with an unprecedented 350-plus grands prix under his belt. But apart from his driving, […]
Hamilton hints silver livery likely in 2022
Oct.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is likely to revert to its traditional silver livery for 2022. The reigning champions’ 2020 car was initially launched in silver, but amid the Black Lives Matter protest movement Mercedes and Hamilton teamed up on the issue of diversity with a sudden switch to black. “Honestly, I didn’t expect […]
F1 figures named in new tax avoidance leak
Oct.5 (GMM) Formula 1 figures have been implicated in a huge new leak exposing secret and questionable offshore tax arrangements among some of the world’s wealthiest elites. Known as the Pandora Papers, it is reportedly the biggest ever leak of offshore financial data, with the Canadian press revealing that Aston Martin team owner and billionaire […]
Red Bull’s Mercedes engine complaint ‘thrown out’
Oct.5 (GMM) F1’s governing body rejected a complaint from Red Bull about the way title rival Mercedes’ Formula 1 engine operates. We reported last month that the latest technical needle between the title-warring teams was Red Bull and Ferrari’s suspicions about how Mercedes managed to improve its engine this year amid the homologation rules. “According […]
Russell not expecting ‘easy walk’ in 2022
Oct.5 (GMM) Signing a works Mercedes deal is only “the first step” in the next phase of his Formula 1 career. That is the view of George Russell, the highly-rated Williams driver who will step up to replace Valtteri Bottas next year as Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate. Having impressed near the back of the grid […]
Domenicali reveals ‘Ferrari wanted Hamilton’
Oct.5 (GMM) Ferrari held talks with Lewis Hamilton about the British driver potentially racing in red for Formula 1’s most famous team. Just a week ago, the seven time world champion said it is “amazing” that his ultra-successful career will probably end in the coming years without him ever racing for Ferrari. “It’s pretty amazing […]
Long race calendars damaging F1 – Ecclestone
Oct.4 (GMM) Formula 1’s overweight and oppressive race calendars are damaging the sport. That is the view of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who according to Blick newspaper is currently holidaying in Ibiza with his family and Flavio Briatore. “Bernie is always the best medicine for me,” Briatore, the former Renault boss, said after a […]
Marko had ‘doubts’ about Verstappen engine change
Oct.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not ruling out an imminent engine change – and corresponding penalties – for Mercedes’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton. The British driver is leading his Red Bull-driving rival Max Verstappen by just 2 points with 7 races to go in 2021. However, Verstappen took a fresh set of Honda power unit […]
F1 to ‘open the doors’ to VW brands – Tost
Oct.4 (GMM) Formula 1’s new engine rules for 2026 “open the doors” to two key German manufacturers. That is the view of Franz Tost, boss of Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team Alpha Tauri, amid reports that Volkswagen brands Audi and Porsche are eyeing F1’s shift to fundamentally different engine rules for the future. When […]
Tost defends Tsunoda after ‘surprised’ comments
Oct.4 (GMM) Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost has defended team rookie Yuki Tsunoda, after the Japanese said he was “surprised” to have kept his Formula 1 seat for 2022. “What planet is he from?” F1 veteran and commentator David Coulthard told La Gazzetta dello Sport when he heard about the diminutive 21-year-old driver’s comments. “I […]
Sainz hits reverse after Barrichello criticism
Oct.4 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has hit reverse gear after insisting he would not be happy “being a Barrichello”-like driver at Ferrari. Although talented, experienced and accomplished, Brazilian Barrichello will arguably be best remembered as the clear number 2 driver to Ferrari’s top star Michael Schumacher. Now, Spaniard Sainz is paired at Ferrari with Charles Leclerc, […]
Bottas hopes for ‘different’ Alfa Romeo in 2022
Oct.4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is hoping he will join a “completely different Alfa Romeo” once he joins the Swiss-based team for 2022. The 32-year-old Finn is losing his seat as Lewis Hamilton’s preferred teammate at Mercedes after a five-year stint. Many are predicting a tough transition for the 9-time grand prix winner, given the fact […]
Red Bull reveals ‘talks’ with Lando Norris
Oct.1 (GMM) Red Bull held talks with F1’s standout rookie Lando Norris. Dr Helmut Marko, the official most directly responsible for the energy drink owned team’s driver program, insists he already has F1’s best youngster in a Red Bull cockpit. “I’ve watched Norris, but Max is still at the top of my ranking,” he told […]