Apr.22 (GMM) French GP boss Eric Boullier thinks sprint qualifying should take place at every race weekend in future if the 2021 trial proves successful. Earlier, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the idea is actually to make the short Saturday race a rare occasion – like a ‘Grand Slam’ tournament in tennis. “I appreciate the […]
F1 to separate Miami, Austin race dates in 2022
Apr.21 (GMM) Formula 1 will give America’s two races next year “space” on the 2022 calendar. The sport announced at Imola that, despite the on-off saga of the proposed Miami GP over the past few years, Formula 1 will indeed head to Florida next year. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali explained that Miami and the existing […]
F1 is ‘every man for himself’ – Mazepin
Apr.21 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says the world of Formula 1 is a case of “every man for himself”. The Russian rookie has taken a lot of heat for his on and off-track behaviour of late, including being accused of breaking ‘gentleman’s agreements’ between the drivers. His latest faux-pas was overtaking Antonio Giovinazzi in qualifying – […]
Russell denies giving Bottas ‘slap’ after crash
Apr.21 (GMM) George Russell has denied slapping Valtteri Bottas’ on the helmet after their high speed Imola crash. The Williams driver, who appears to be in direct competition for the works Mercedes seat for 2022, has now apologised for lashing out at Bottas verbally and physically before the Finn had emerged from his wrecked car […]
Red Bull will ‘definitely’ keep developing 2021 car
Apr.21 (GMM) Red Bull will “definitely” keep developing its 2021 car – even with the radically-different technical regulations for 2022 now looming large. Many teams, such as Ferrari, are much more focused this year on their all-new cars for 2022, as it is one of the biggest rule changes in the sport’s history. But right […]
Critics say Bottas ‘a long way off’ 2021 pace
Apr.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is “a long way off” the pace at present, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Even Bottas’ team boss admits the Finn is at a “very sensitive moment”, even though Toto Wolff also defended him after his crash with potential replacement George Russell at Imola. “The race didn’t go well […]
Aston Martin holds ‘several meetings’ with FIA
Apr.20 (GMM) Aston Martin had “several meetings” with the FIA over the Imola race weekend. It was there that the Lawrence Stroll-owned team refused to rule out legal action over the 2021 aerodynamic rule changes that both Aston Martin and Mercedes suspect were designed specifically to punish ‘low rake’ car concepts. Aston Martin’s position was […]
Honda to ‘keep developing’ in 2021 – Tanabe
Apr.20 (GMM) Just one way Honda has improved for its final official year in Formula 1 is at the race starts. While the 2021 power unit is clearly more powerful, the Japanese manufacturer has also taken a big step forward in getting off the line – as could be seen at Imola on Sunday. “We […]
Pundits, press say 2021 to be ‘proper duel’ in F1
Apr.20 (GMM) 2021 is shaping up as a true head-to-head battle for the world championship, according to pundits and the international media. “The young Dutchman arrived at Imola with clear plans and sharp teeth. He leapt like a lion at the start, overtaking his toughest competitor in the first two corners,” wrote Luigi Perna in […]
Drivers ‘shouldn’t complain’ about early 2021 struggles
Apr.20 (GMM) There is “no point” complaining about a lack of pre-season testing, even if several top drivers are struggling to adapt to their 2021 cars. That is the view of Andreas Seidl, who admits that team newcomer Daniel Ricciardo is still trying to get up to speed with his on-form McLaren teammate Lando Norris. […]
Wolff is Lawrence Stroll’s ‘lap dog’ – Kolles
Apr.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, is actually billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s “lap dog”. That is the wild claim of former F1 team boss Colin Kolles, who admits he fell out with his Austrian friend Wolff some years ago. “Mr Wolff was a business partner of mine – I brought him into Formula 1, […]
Incident ‘won’t hurt Mercedes relationship’ – Russell
Apr.20 (GMM) George Russell has publicly apologised to Valtteri Bottas for lashing out after their high speed crash at Imola. After being chided by Toto Wolff, the Mercedes junior and 2021 Williams driver said on social media that he has now decided to “take responsibility”. “I apologise to Valtteri, to my team and to anyone […]
Stroll legal threat to end with ‘bloody nose’
Apr.19 (GMM) Billionaire Lawrence Stroll is probably the driving force behind Aston Martin’s current legal threats against Formula 1 authorities, according to Ralf Schumacher. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, with an opinion echoed by many of his peers, says Aston Martin threatening to sue over the 2021 aerodynamic rule tweaks is “incomprehensible”. The team has […]
Alonso admits struggling on F1 return
Apr.19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has vowed to improve after a stuttering start to his return to Formula 1 this year. The 39-year-old Spaniard, a two-time champion, admits he was not at “the correct level” throughout the Imola race weekend – his second grand prix since stepping away from F1 in 2018. “I have changed teams […]
Imola now wants 2022 race with spectators
Apr.19 (GMM) Imola is not only hoping for a place on the 2022 calendar, the event also wants to welcome spectators back to Formula 1. It is no secret that, having staged annual consecutive ‘fill in’ races for cancelled grands prix amid the covid pandemic, Imola is now eyeing a full-time return to the calendar. […]
Wolff, Bottas slam Russell’s crash theory
Apr.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff and Valtteri Bottas were united late on Sunday in the wake of the Finnish driver’s huge crash with Mercedes junior George Russell at Imola. Russell, who races for Williams, was livid at Bottas after their high-speed shunt, slapping the Mercedes driver’s helmet and berating him before the Finn had emerged from […]
2021 hierarchy not clear for ‘two more races’
Apr.19 (GMM) Red Bull may have a faster car over one lap, but the energy drink owned team thinks Mercedes still has a slight edge in racing conditions. “Overall, both cars are very close together,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, after Max Verstappen won a hectic and slippery race at Imola. “But both […]
Heavily-criticised Mazepin ‘destroyed’ at Imola
Apr.18 (GMM) The under-fire Nikita Mazepin “destroyed” a rival’s qualifying lap at Imola – and then his teammate Mick Schumacher “destroyed” the Russian with pace. Those are the views of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher – who is the uncle of 22-year-old Mazepin’s similarly aged Haas teammate. Under intense fire […]
Alpine had ‘problems in wind tunnel’ over winter
Apr.18 (GMM) Alpine struggled with “some problems in the wind tunnel” over the winter, team executive boss Marcin Budkowski has admitted. Esteban Ocon made the ‘Q3’ segment at Imola on Saturday but Fernando Alonso is just fifteenth. “I didn’t do well enough,” Alonso told Spanish reporters when asked why he is behind his teammate. “I […]
Spanish GP to be another F1 ‘ghost race’
Apr.18 (GMM) The 2021 Spanish GP will be yet another Formula 1 ‘ghost race’. Organisers of next month’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya have announced that it is too unsafe amid the ongoing covid crisis to allow spectators to attend. “Under these conditions, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether the epidemiological situation […]