Jul.18 (GMM) Mercedes’ driver decision for 2022 is now looming large. In the paddock, it is widely expected that Toto Wolff will ultimately decide that Valtteri Bottas will be replaced by George Russell. However, amid the uncertainty, Wolff’s fellow Austrian and nemesis Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is also interested in the Mercedes-backed Williams […]
F1 to consider ‘sprint qualifying’ tweaks for 2022
Jul.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko had a pointed rebuke after his Mercedes counterpart declared that Lewis Hamilton’s Friday pole was a case of “The empire strikes back”. “My regards to the empire,” Red Bull’s Marko said, pointing the quip at Toto Wolff after Max Verstappen extended his points lead over Lewis Hamilton on Saturday. It […]
Uncle says Alfa Romeo not ‘better option’ for Schumacher
Jul.17 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s uncle has again questioned the “sense” in rumours the young German could move from Haas to Alfa Romeo for 2022. Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of 22-year-old Mick’s father and F1 legend Michael, has already wondered if a sideways step on the grid is right for Mick. “If it was a […]
Mercedes has a plan for George Russell – Steiner
Jul.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hinted that Formula 1 will emerge from its August slumber to news about the identity of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate for 2022. But he denied that Valtteri Bottas and George Russell already know what that news will be once it should be official by Spa-Francorchamps. “The drivers don’t know anything […]
Sprint race to be ‘train’ or crash-fest – Wolff
Jul.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton will start from the very front of the first ever ‘sprint qualifying’ mini-race on Saturday. It is a fascinating exercise for Formula 1, with drivers needing to weigh up the opportunities of a better grid position for Sunday’s grand prix with the risk of a crash or incident that could ruin […]
Upgrades not reason for Hamilton ‘pole’ – Wolff
Jul.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied that Mercedes’ car upgrades explain Lewis Hamilton’s shock pole position for the first-ever ‘sprint qualifying’ F1 race. After just an hour of practice at Silverstone, the 2021 field headed into the sport’s first Friday qualifying session since 2003 – and championship leader Max Verstappen could only manage second best. […]
Top two will still dominate in 2022 – Norris
Jul.17 (GMM) Formula 1’s top teams will continue to dominate the sport even in 2022. That is the view of Lando Norris, who drives for McLaren – the highest placed team behind championship protagonists Red Bull and Mercedes. At Silverstone, F1 revealed its 2022 show car, highlighting the basic look of the radically different single […]
Williams return would be ‘interesting’ – Bottas
Jul.16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says returning to Williams would be a “very interesting” challenge. At Silverstone, both the Finn and his potential 2022 Mercedes successor, George Russell, played down suggestions an official announcement is now looming. “As I have said before, my goal is to keep my seat,” Bottas insisted. However, the 31-year-old knows that […]
Mazepin to be Haas team boss is ‘nonsense’ – Steiner
Jul.16 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has dismissed as “nonsense” suggestions his role as Haas team principal is under threat. It was reported recently that Nikita Mazepin’s billionaire father Dmitry, whose Uralkali company is already the team’s title sponsor, is shaping up to take over from Steiner. Steiner told RTL on Thursday that it is all “nonsense”. […]
Spa closed after flooding damages Belgian GP venue
Jul.16 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps, the fabled host of this year’s Belgian GP next month, is currently closed. The circuit was already battered by flooding recently, and now it has been hit with another round of abysmal weather. In a statement, Spa-Francorchamps admitted that “the related infrastructures of the circuit” have been damaged, including the “collapsed” paddock […]
Leclerc slams Red Bull reports as ‘gossip’
Jul.16 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has rubbished “gossip” suggesting his management has been in touch with Red Bull. The reports said the 23-year-old, who is widely regarded as Ferrari’s number 1 driver, is disappointed with the Maranello marque’s progress and exploring his options for the future. “It’s just rumours – gossip,” Leclerc is quoted by Italy […]
Vasseur, not Alfa Romeo, to decide 2022 drivers
Jul.16 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says he hasn’t decided who will drive Alfa Romeo’s two cars in 2022. The first piece of next year’s puzzle for the Hinwil based team was the extension of the naming agreement between Sauber and the Italian luxury carmaker. “There was a lot of talk about it but now everyone can […]
Ricciardo not better than Sainz – Norris
Jul.16 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is no better a driver than Carlos Sainz, according to McLaren driver Lando Norris. At the Woking team last year, 21-year-old Norris was paired with Spaniard Sainz and they were closely matched on the track. But this year, after Sainz moved to Ferrari, Norris was paired with the highly experienced former […]
Teams’ 2022 cars to look like F1 show car – Alonso
Jul.16 (GMM) The official Formula 1 show car, revealed by the drivers on the Silverstone grid on Thursday, is an accurate depiction of what next year’s racers will look like. That is the view of Fernando Alonso – even if his Australian rival Daniel Ricciardo is unimpressed with what he saw. “It’s terrible. It’s sh*t. […]
Vettel backs Ecclestone over sprint race criticism
Jul.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has backed former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s criticism of the new ‘sprint qualifying’ format which debuts at Silverstone this weekend. Ecclestone, 90, said his major objection to the format is that it is “mucking around” with history – given that the purity of a pole position will now be compromised. “People […]
Norris ‘not in perfect condition’ for British GP
Jul.16 (GMM) Lando Norris is struggling to sleep and “not in perfect condition” after being mugged for his expensive watch last Sunday after the European football final. McLaren supremo Zak Brown, who has contracted covid-19, revealed earlier that his 21-year-old star driver is “traumatised” after the incident at Wembley. “I’m alright,” Norris said at Silverstone. […]
Father says Stroll ‘on par’ with Vettel
Jul.15 (GMM) Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll thinks his son is “on par” with quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel in 2021. The Silverstone based team is on an aggressive recruitment and development drive at present, with billionaire Stroll admitting the target is to get to Mercedes-like status. “We share Mercedes’ wind tunnel, but it […]
Ferrari not dismissing VW’s F1 engine demands
Jul.15 (GMM) Ferrari will “look at” Volkswagen brands Audi and Porsche’s suggestions for the future of the engine regulations in Formula 1. After the recent meeting in Austria, it emerged that the German luxury carmakers – who are eyeing F1’s plans regarding the new engine rules for 2025-2026 – are keen on switching to four-cylinder, […]
Haas plays down ‘Schumacher to Alfa Romeo’ rumours
Jul.15 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down reports that Haas could be set to lose Mick Schumacher. It has been reported that, despite ever-closer ties between Haas and Ferrari, the fabled Italian marque might see Alfa Romeo as a better place for Schumacher to learn the ropes in Formula 1. Indeed, the Hinwil based team […]
‘No surprises’ when Red Bull reveals 2022 drivers
Jul.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hinted there will be “no surprises” when Red Bull announces the driver lineups across its two Formula 1 teams for next year. Amid reports Sergio Perez is set to be retained at least for 2022, Marko admitted that Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly has recently impressed – but he stopped […]