Sep.7 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits he is facing another difficult weekend if Kimi Raikkonen is unable to return to his Alfa Romeo cockpit in Monza. The Pole, whose ties to title sponsor Orlen means he is the Swiss team’s primary reserve, was drafted in after Friday practice at Zandvoort when Raikkonen tested positive to covid-19. […]
Chinese driver on pole to be Bottas teammate
Sep.7 (GMM) A Chinese driver has raced into pole position to be Valtteri Bottas’ teammate at Alfa Romeo next year. On Monday, the lid was finally lifted on Mercedes’ plans for next year, with Finn Bottas departing – and the door now firmly open for George Russell. “This hasn’t been an easy process or a […]
Vaccinated Raikkonen left Zandvoort with covid
Sep.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen received permission to break hotel isolation and return home after testing positive to covid and sitting out the Dutch GP. According to Swiss broadcaster SRF, the retiring Alfa Romeo driver was fully vaccinated with Pfizer in March and April. “I received the first dose in Bahrain, otherwise I would have got […]
Mazepin has ‘no place in Formula 1’ – Ralf Schumacher
Sep.6 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has become a “life threatening” risk to his fellow Formula 1 drivers. That is the sensational rebuke of the controversial Russian rookie made by Ralf Schumacher – the uncle of Mazepin’s Haas teammate Mick Schumacher. Only a day after the last controversy between the duo in qualifying, Schumacher hit out at […]
Albon confirms two options for 2022 return
Sep.6 (GMM) Alex Albon admits he is waiting for confirmation that he will return to the Formula 1 grid in 2022. At Zandvoort, recent rumours became more concrete about Red Bull’s talks with Williams and Alfa Romeo about a potential race seat for Albon next year. “My goal is to return to Formula 1 and […]
No format tweaks for Monza sprint qualifying
Sep.6 (GMM) F1’s new ‘sprint qualifying’ format will return with no changes or tweaks this weekend at Monza. The sport’s chiefs Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn, and most of the drivers and teams, declared the debut at Silverstone of the format that is being trialled this year as an overwhelming success. However, the usefulness of […]
Zandvoort wants to host five more Dutch GPs
Sep.6 (GMM) Zandvoort is cementing its place in Formula 1’s medium-term future. The entire racing world hailed the success of the first Dutch GP for almost four decades, where legions of orange-clad fans created what Christian Horner described as a “nightclub atmosphere”. And the ‘old school’ nature of the circuit, combined with some steeply banked […]
Red Bull ‘must stay on the gas’ in 2021 – Verstappen
Sep.6 (GMM) His orange-clad fans were in a party mood on Sunday, but new championship leader Max Verstappen is already urging Red Bull to keep charging ahead in 2022. The Dutchman sensationally and utterly dominated his home race at Zandvoort, but remains concerned that Mercedes is still poised to bounce back. “Mercedes had a very […]
Verstappen fans ‘want to see a win’ – Marko
Sep.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is keeping the pressure on Max Verstappen’s shoulders, after correctly predicting the Dutchman would take pole position at his home circuit on Saturday. The Red Bull official says he has been overwhelmed with the orange-clad atmosphere at Zandvoort. “What I experienced today and yesterday is really unmatchable,” Marko said. “I […]
Another Verstappen-Hamilton clash ‘inevitable’ – Prost
Sep.5 (GMM) In the hours before they race off to turn 1 at Zandvoort, F1 legend Alain Prost admits that another clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton is “almost inevitable”. However, the Frenchman – once locked in similar title battles with the great Ayrton Senna – admits he is enjoying the intensity of the […]
Kubica knew F1 substitute drive would be ‘hard’
Sep.5 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits he struggled to get up to speed in Formula 1 after filling in for the suddenly covid-positive Kimi Raikkonen at Zandvoort. The Pole, whose last competitive motor race was in the German series DTM last year, was called up from his Alfa Romeo reserve duties whilst asleep in a hotel […]
Norris ‘intelligence’ key to beating Ricciardo – Magnussen
Sep.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen admits it is “strange” that former 7-time grand prix winner Daniel Ricciardo is now struggling in Formula 1. Since leaving Red Bull, Australian Ricciardo, 32, has looked less impressive at Renault and even more so at McLaren, where Lando Norris has the clear upper hand. “It’s strange that Ricciardo is having […]
Haas teammate relationship ‘suffering’ – Steiner
Sep.5 (GMM) Gunther Steiner is scrambling to ease open hostilities between the two sides of Haas’ team garage. After qualifying, controversial Russian Nikita Mazepin lost his cool with teammate Mick Schumacher, claiming his fellow rookie broke an agreement to give him track position in qualifying. Their scruffy scuffle led to Sebastian Vettel being blocked behind […]
Aston Martin rejects Alonso speculation
Sep.5 (GMM) Aston Martin has rubbished suggestions that Fernando Alonso turned down an offer to replace Sebastian Vettel for 2022. After two-time champion Alonso, 40, recently re-committed to the Alpine team for next season, reports began to emerge that the Spaniard had received and rejected an alternative offer from Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll. “Lawrence […]
Albon not denying rumours of 2022 F1 return
Sep.5 (GMM) Alex Albon is not denying that moves are afoot to take him back to Formula 1. Unsurprisingly, the former Red Bull driver’s rumoured link to Williams for 2022 is getting tied up in the wider Mercedes-versus-Red Bull narrative. At Zandvoort, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said “bring it on” to rumours that Red Bull […]
No ‘alternative’ to Tsunoda for 2022 – Tost
Sep.4 (GMM) Franz Tost has moved to reassure Yuki Tsunoda that the Japanese rookie will probably not be dropped from the Alpha Tauri lineup for 2022. When asked at Zandvoort about his future, the fast but often erratic 21-year-old admitted his chances of keeping his Formula 1 seat were only “50-50”. “It was really up […]
Top female driver hits out at W Series
Sep.4 (GMM) One of the world’s highest profile female racing drivers has lashed out at the all-women single seater category W Series. W Series is enjoying a wave of publicity in 2021 as it is serving as a regular Formula 1 support race at grands prix. At Spa last weekend, the series caught the racing […]
Magnussen worried about Haas’ 2022 hopes
Sep.4 (GMM) Former team driver Kevin Magnussen is not confident Haas will improve dramatically when the all-new 2022 regulations get up and racing next year. After losing his place in F1, the 28-year-old Dane is currently racing in US-based sports cars, but he will become a works Peugeot driver in the world endurance championship next […]
Engine politics dragged into F1 ‘silly season’
Sep.4 (GMM) Formula 1’s current ‘silly season’ is not just about drivers. For instance, amid rumours Valtteri Bottas is set to move from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo, it is rumoured that the Swiss team is also contemplating a concurrent move from Ferrari to Mercedes power. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the rumours have left […]
Vettel says anti-Dutch GP protests ‘good’
Sep.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says it’s “good” that environmental groups are trying to shut down the Dutch GP. One such ‘green’ group appealed to a court as recently as this week to get Zandvoort’s nitrogen emissions permit rescinded, while ‘Extinction Rebellion’ is also vocally opposed to the Formula 1 race. “The grand prix is an […]