Sep.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen is hoping to hold the “ugly” winner’s trophy aloft after his home grand prix on Sunday. The Dutchman is not even shy to admit that this weekend’s Dutch GP at Zandvoort would probably never have received a green light without his massive popularity in the Netherlands. “I don’t want it to […]
Raikkonen wants no ‘schedule’ for life in retirement
Sep.3 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is making no immediate plans except to adjust to the routines of family life after his two-decade Formula 1 adventure finally ends late this year. The 41-year-old Finn revealed at Zandvoort that he had already told Alfa Romeo before the start of the 2021 season that he was “95 percent” decided […]
Vettel not yet committed to F1 for 2022
Sep.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not yet committed to returning to the Formula 1 grid in 2022. When the quadruple world champion moved to Aston Martin this year after losing his Ferrari seat, the understanding was that it was more than a single-season deal. And yet there have been rumours that – owner Lawrence Stroll’s […]
Hamilton expects to ‘get along’ with Russell
Sep.3 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton thinks he will “get along pretty well” with George Russell if the young Briton becomes his new Mercedes teammate. At Zandvoort, the feeling is stronger than ever that Valtteri Bottas has definitely agreed a multi-year deal to replace Finnish countryman Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo next year. “Maybe I already know […]
Verstappen’s father hopes Dutch fans won’t boo
Sep.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen broke with his usual routine on Thursday by doing a ‘track walk’ on home soil at Zandvoort. “Are you sick or something?” his father Jos jokingly asked him over the phone as the circuit inspection with Red Bull engineers took place on Thursday. Amid the intense title battle with Lewis Hamilton, […]
Rosberg tells Hamilton to expect Dutch booing
Sep.2 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has warned his former Mercedes teammate to expect a sea of Dutch booing this weekend at Zandvoort. Lewis Hamilton has already been the subject of vocal spectator dissent in 2021, as his title battle with Dutch hero Max Verstappen heats up. The rivalry will be brought to the boil this weekend, […]
Raikkonen’s long career ‘incomprehensible’ – Hakkinen
Sep.2 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen says it is “incomprehensible” how Kimi Raikkonen managed to extend his longest-ever Formula 1 career to approaching 350 grands prix. It has been announced that the popular and highly unique 41-year-old former world champion will finally retire from F1 at the end of the season. “I appreciate Kim’s energy and the […]
Lammers plays down chances of second Dutch F1 race in 2023
Sep.2 (GMM) Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers has scoffed at claims a second grand prix in the Netherlands could soon be added to the Formula 1 calendar. This weekend, after a one-year delay due to covid, Zandvoort is finally hosting its first F1 race for almost four decades. And according to Jos Vaessen, chairman of […]
Mercedes engines could join Bottas at Alfa Romeo
Sep.2 (GMM) Alfa Romeo could be set to make a sensational switch from Ferrari to Mercedes power. The move would surprise many, especially as the Swiss-based Sauber team only recently extended its naming sponsorship deal with the Ferrari-linked Alfa Romeo brand. But now, Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas is set to be signed up with Alfa Romeo […]
Marko defends Ferrari collaboration for DTM
Sep.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has defended Red Bull’s collaboration with F1 rival Ferrari in order to advance the careers of its junior drivers. When Alex Albon was ousted from Red Bull’s F1 racing program at the end of last year, the energy drink outfit set up a DTM project – with the Ferrari 488 […]
Red Bull has fresh doubts about Mercedes engine legality
Sep.2 (GMM) Red Bull has issued a fresh challenge to the legality of Mercedes’ 2021 Formula 1 engine. Since Silverstone, there have been suspicions in the paddock – notably from Red Bull and Ferrari – about how Mercedes upped its mid-season engine performance amid the current homologation rules. “Red Bull has sent a request to […]
‘Silly season’ set to explode at Zandvoort
Sep.1 (GMM) A new round of Formula 1’s ‘silly season’ is set to shift into a higher gear at Zandvoort this weekend. It is expected that, certainly by next weekend at Monza, Mercedes will finally have confirmed that George Russell is joining Lewis Hamilton at the works team from 2022. Valtteri Bottas looks bound for […]
Spa farce due to modern F1 culture – ex-drivers
Sep.1 (GMM) Jean Todt has confirmed that Formula 1 and the FIA will “carefully review the regulations” to guard against a repeat of the farcical Belgian GP. Teams, drivers and fans are furious that after spectators stood in the rain for 10 hours last Sunday, it was ultimately a two-lap procession behind the safety car […]
Court rules that Dutch GP can go ahead
Sep.1 (GMM) Zandvoort has cleared the final hurdle and will now definitely host the Dutch GP this weekend with a two-thirds capacity crowd. Whether the race could go ahead was still unclear as of Tuesday, when a judge finally made a ruling based on the complaints of an environmental group. The judge, presiding over the […]
F1 should consider banning wet races – Berger
Aug.31 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger says the sport should think about whether it wants to ban racing in the rain altogether. The big discussion in Formula 1 today is whether two laps behind the safety car should no longer be considered an official ‘race’. “When you see the podium photos with their trophies in […]
‘Too early’ to promise ticket refunds – Spa boss
Aug.31 (GMM) It is “too early to say” whether sodden spectators will receive compensation for the wet and farcical Belgian GP. In the wake of the highly controversial long delays culminating in two laps behind the safety car that formalised the half-points race result, many are calling on Formula 1 or Spa-Francorchamps to refund disappointed […]
F1 has ‘seen the last’ of ‘old Spa’ – Lammers
Aug.31 (GMM) Sunday may have marked an ignominious final appearance in Formula 1 for the traditional and fabled existing layout of the Spa-Francorchamps track. Even Jean Alesi, an ex-driver famed for his courage and passion for the sport, says recent events demonstrate that “it’s right to stop” racing on the current layout. “The track at […]
CEO hints Mercedes driver announcement now looming
Aug.31 (GMM) Mercedes is finally shaping up to complete its driver lineup for 2022. Sources are reporting that, as per widespread speculation, the reigning world champions will shortly confirm that Valtteri Bottas will make way for George Russell next year. It is believed that process will initially involve Mercedes announcing the Finn’s departure at the […]
Liberty should pay Spa fans for two-lap race – Ecclestone
Aug.31 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has blasted Formula 1’s handling of the farcical two-lap Belgian GP. The former F1 supremo, who has been a regular critic of Liberty Media since he was ousted as the sport’s CEO, called Sunday at Spa a “disaster”. “You have no influence on the weather, but you do have influence over […]
F1 to re-consider rules after Spa ‘race’ farce
Aug.31 (GMM) Formula 1 is considering tweaking the rules so that events like Sunday’s farcical Belgian GP cannot be officially designated a “race”. Following criticisms from the drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, Alfa Romeo on Monday took the step of issuing a media statement to condemn the way the situation was handled. The […]