Jun.26 (GMM) Mercedes is behind a new FIA clampdown that looks set to slow down the lightening speed of title rival Red Bull’s pitstops. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, after the FIA circulated a new technical directive that on paper will add at least several tenths to the quickest pitstop times from […]
New Pirelli tyre not only due to Baku blowouts – Isola
Jun.26 (GMM) Mario Isola has played down suggestions Pirelli is introducing a new rear tyre purely because of the Baku blowouts. Formula 1’s official supplier announced in Austria that the “new rear construction”, which is designed to “improve robustness”, will be tested by teams in free practice next Friday. The aim is to race the […]
Horner scolds Hamilton for Honda engine claims
Jun.26 (GMM) Some of Lewis Hamilton’s recent statements do not comport with “reality”, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Championship leader and French GP winner Max Verstappen is clearly ahead so far this weekend on Red Bull’s home soil – and not just over a single lap. “He was as fast on the […]
Vettel helped Schumacher with Haas seat problem
Jun.25 (GMM) The mystery of why quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel peered into rival Mick Schumacher’s Haas cockpit after the French GP has been solved. On-board video emerged of Schumacher, the son of Vettel’s long-time friend and mentor Michael Schumacher, apparently inviting the Aston Martin driver to look at a detail inside his cockpit in […]
Honda will not reverse decision to quit F1 – Marko
Jun.25 (GMM) Honda will not reverse its decision to officially quit Formula 1 at the end of the year, Dr Helmut Marko insists. Although quiet in the media, the issue of the sport’s next engine regulations for 2025 and beyond is bubbling along in the background. Officials had hoped to lay out the new rules […]
Sauber’s deals with Alfa Romeo, Vasseur in doubt
Jun.25 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is celebrating the anniversary of its 1910 founding this weekend with ‘111’ on-livery Formula 1 branding. However, Hinwil based Sauber’s naming deal with the iconic Ferrari-linked car manufacturer reportedly expires at the end of the season. “Alfa Romeo has apparently not yet decided to continue (with Sauber) in 2022,” said authoritative […]
Red Bull 2022 driver lineup firmer than Mercedes’
Jun.25 (GMM) Red Bull’s driver lineup appears all but set in stone for 2022, with Sergio Perez apparently right on track for a new contract. The experienced Mexican, who replaced Alex Albon for this season, received high praise both in the media and from Dr Helmut Marko for helping championship leader Max Verstappen to win […]
F1 system to allow mass crowds ‘works’ – Marko
Jun.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has allayed fears about spectators returning to Formula 1 circuits en masse. This weekend at Red Bull’s Austrian GP venue, just 15,000 spectators are allowed under the current local restrictions. That said, 78-year-old Marko was still seen posing for a selfie with a fan without a mask on Thursday. “FOM […]
Williams ‘hasn’t evolved with Formula 1’ – FX Demaison
Jun.24 (GMM) Williams needs a total overhaul to bring it up to modern Formula 1 standards. That is not the claim of a critical observer, but of the once-great British team’s new technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison. Better known as ‘FX’, Demaison was appointed by new team boss and former Volkswagen colleague Jost Capito in March […]
History repeats as Hamilton dominance challenged – Lauda
Jun.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may have reached the point in a great Formula 1 driver’s career when a younger rival threatens his status as the best on the grid. “It was the same with Prost against my father,” Mathias Lauda, whose father was the great triple world champion and F1 legend Niki Lauda, told Servus […]
Red Bull aiming for ‘five in a row’ – Marko
Jun.24 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull could make it “five in a row” starting this weekend at home in Austria. “The atmosphere in the team is relaxed and we’re looking forward to our home grand prix,” Red Bull’s F1 supremo told Servus TV, as the world of Formula 1 converges on the Red […]
Albon giving ‘110 percent’ for F1 return
Jun.23 (GMM) Alex Albon insists he has not given up on Formula 1. After struggling as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate last year, the 25-year-old was not only replaced by Sergio Perez but relegated to DTM for 2021. He now races an Alpha Tauri-liveried Ferrari in the German touring car championship but remains Red Bull’s […]
Haug warns Schumacher over Mazepin criticism
Jun.23 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should be careful with his attacks on Haas teammate and fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin. That is the warning of Norbert Haug, who as a top Mercedes official worked closely with Mick’s father Michael both before and at the end of the seven time world champion’s F1 career. At Baku, with controversy […]
Ricciardo admits he won’t win ‘five titles’
Jun.23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is not willing to dismiss his chances of finishing his Formula 1 career as a world champion. The former Red Bull and Renault driver switched to McLaren this year but has struggled to adapt to his new car and keep up with impressive youngster Lando Norris. Ricciardo, now 31, admits that […]
Perez doing ‘better job than Bottas’ – Marko
Jun.23 (GMM) When it comes to teammates, Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull has now raced ahead of Mercedes. The energy drink company’s top F1 official says team newcomer Sergio Perez was one of the keys to championship leader Max Verstappen’s victory at Paul Ricard. “If Perez had not been in the pitstop window, we […]
2021 pecking order will not change now – Alonso
Jun.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks the current pecking order in Formula 1 is basically set in stone for the remainder of the 2021 season. “I don’t remember a championship that has changed too much at this point in the year,” the two-time world champion told Spanish media. “Even if you factor in the 2022 cars. […]
Wolff doubles down on Honda power claims
Jun.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff has doubled down on his claim that Red Bull has raced ahead of Mercedes due in large part to engine power gains. Honda took fresh engines to Paul Ricard, prompting Mercedes boss Wolff to observe that it explains why Red Bull has now put its nose ahead in 2021. Christian Horner […]
Domenicali hopes for ‘full’ grandstands in Austria
Jun.22 (GMM) Formula 1 is hoping for “completely full” grandstands in Austria next weekend. However, local authorities in charge of the region surrounding the Red Bull Ring have only approved a crowd of 15,000 for the first leg of the double-header this weekend. “The sophisticated concept contains strict measures for health protection,” the authorities announced. […]
Mazepin resisting ‘number 2’ status at Haas
Jun.22 (GMM) Formula 1 is witnessing a battle for team supremacy among Haas’ two rookie drivers in 2021. That is the view of Nikolai Vetrov, who is best known in the paddock for being Sergey Sirotkin’s former manager. He was asked about another Russian driver, Nikita Mazepin, who has ended the past two races amid […]
Aston Martin ‘rivals’ may have broken tyre rules
Jun.22 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer hopes the outcome of the French GP will “silence” those who suspect Aston Martin may have been finding ways around the tyre-usage guidelines. After Baku, where Lance Stroll and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen suffered near-identical high-speed blowouts, Pirelli reacted by suggesting the teams had found clever ways to run lower tyre […]