Dec.21 (GMM) Mick Schumacher racked up the highest repair bill for his team than any other driver on the 2021 grid. That is the claim of several authoritative sources, including Kolner Express and Bild newspaper. They report that detailed analyses have calculated Schumacher’s repair bill for Haas this year at over EUR 4.2 million, marginally […]
Todt ‘careful’ not to ‘inflate’ Ferrari rumours
Dec.21 (GMM) Jean Todt admits he will do “something new” now that he has been succeeded as long-time FIA president. In recent days, the 75-year-old Frenchman has been linked with a return to Ferrari, where he presided as team boss throughout the Michael Schumacher era. The reports suggest it would be an advisory role, reporting […]
Perez ‘awesome’ but ‘not number 2 driver’ – Verstappen
Dec.20 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not the ‘number 2’ at Red Bull, according to his teammate and new world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen, 24, hailed Perez’s sacrificial actions in Abu Dhabi in deliberately holding up Lewis Hamilton en route to world championship victory. “I never thought he would be this awesome,” said the Dutchman, who […]
Todt refuses to rule out Ferrari advisory role
Dec.20 (GMM) Jean Todt has joined Mattia Binotto in refusing to rule out the prospect of an advisory role for the famous Frenchman at Ferrari. At the recent 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi, team boss Binotto was asked to comment on rumours that as he steps down as long-time FIA president, Todt might consider a […]
German legend slams FIA, Latifi, Verstappen
Dec.20 (GMM) German racing legend Walter Rohrl has slammed Formula 1, the FIA, new world champion Max Verstappen and even Nicholas Latifi in the wake of the controversial 2021 title finale. The two-time world rally champion, 74, joins those who are highly critical of the way Michael Masi and the stewards handled the incredible drama […]
Mazepin out of his league in F1 – Schumacher
Dec.20 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher thinks it is clear that Nikita Mazepin does not belong in Formula 1. This year, Russian Mazepin – the son of team title sponsor Uralkali’s chief Dmitry Mazepin – was paired at Haas with fellow rookie Mick Schumacher. Schumacher, 22, is former F1 driver Ralf’s nephew – and he thinks he […]
F1 pundit ‘very afraid’ of 2022 ‘super dominance’
Dec.20 (GMM) A popular Formula 1 commentator admits he is “very afraid” as the sport enters its all-new era in 2022. With the epic 2021 battle now concluded, attention is already turning to next year – when all-new cars with an entirely new design philosophy debut with the aim of producing better and closer racing. […]
Next moves in 2021 controversy ‘up to new FIA president’
Dec.20 (GMM) The first act of the newly-elected FIA president is to warn that Lewis Hamilton faces sanction for boycotting the end-of-season FIA prize gala last week. In the days before Christmas, and after the ultra-intense 2021 world championship battle, rumours are now swirling about seven time world champion Hamilton being so disillusioned with the […]
Verstappen tells Latifi to ‘turn off his phone’
Dec.17 (GMM) New world champion Max Verstappen has advised Nicholas Latifi to “turn off his phone”. After the highly controversial chequered flag flew in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, Christian Horner offered Canadian Latifi a “lifetime supply of Red Bull” for crashing and triggering the championship-altering late safety car. Since then, some Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes […]
Marko to discuss contract extension for Verstappen
Dec.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen would not be interested in a shock move to Mercedes, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Toto Wolff sent shockwaves around the world of Formula 1 on Thursday by revealing that Lewis Hamilton’s absence from the FIA gala might be connected with his contemplations of early retirement. But new world […]
Long Leclerc contract includes break clause – report
Dec.17 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s long contract at Ferrari includes key break clauses, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. The 24-year-old’s five year deal, which still has three full seasons to run, is believed to be the longest in Ferrari’s long history. “For my part, I see no disadvantages to that,” Leclerc said recently. But […]
Verstappen urges Hamilton against early retirement
Dec.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen says 2021 title rival Lewis Hamilton should keep racing next year. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff joined Hamilton in boycotting Thursday’s official FIA prize-giving ceremony – and even hinted that the seven time world champion is “disillusioned” and contemplating early retirement. “I can understand being unhappy about what happened after the first few […]
Mercedes lucky to escape penalty – Todt
Dec.17 (GMM) Mercedes is lucky to escape penalty for the way the German team aimed fire at the governing FIA following the controversial end to the 2021 title battle. That is the view of departing FIA president Jean Todt, even though he says the federation will “rise above” calls for Lewis Hamilton to be penalised […]
FIA to ‘rise above’ calls for Hamilton snub penalty – Todt
Dec.17 (GMM) Jean Todt rolled his eyes at those calling for Lewis Hamilton to be fined for snubbing Thursday’s official FIA prize-giving gala event in Paris. “I think we should celebrate rather than getting into any controversy,” said the departing FIA president, who admitted he definitely will not miss episodes like the current one surrounding […]
Alex Wurz defends under-fire race director Masi
Dec.16 (GMM) Alex Wurz has backed Formula 1’s under-fire race director Michael Masi. Australian Masi, having taken over from Charlie Whiting following the F1 veteran’s sudden death in 2019, has been the subject of criticism throughout the ultra-intense 2021 world championship. “Being in the footsteps of Charlie Whiting was difficult enough,” Wurz, a former F1 […]
Up to Brivio if he stays at Alpine – de Meo
Dec.16 (GMM) Davide Brivio will “decide” whether to stay in Formula 1 with Alpine or return to the familiar environment of MotoGP, team owner Renault’s CEO Luca de Meo admits. Recently, rumours swirled in the paddock that because the long-time and successful MotoGP manager was struggling to adjust to F1, he might return to two […]
Renault CEO not promising F1 title by 2023
Dec.16 (GMM) Renault is not giving up on the goal of winning the world championship once again. Luca de Meo, the Renault CEO who decided to rebrand the French manufacturer’s Formula 1 foray as Alpine, fended off suggestions the carmaker may be happy these days to push along in the upper midfield. Indeed, the Enstone […]
Ecclestone hits out at Hamilton’s knighthood
Dec.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has questioned whether seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton really deserves his knighthood. On Wednesday, just days after narrowly missing a record eighth world title in Abu Dhabi, the Mercedes driver was officially knighted by Prince Charles in a traditional sword ceremony at Windsor Castle. “Only people who have really done […]
Hamilton, Mercedes snub FIA prize-giving event
Dec.16 (GMM) Mercedes is on the cusp of accepting defeat in the 2021 world championship by dropping its intention to appeal the outcome of the Abu Dhabi finale. That is the current strong rumour on the grapevine as the Thursday deadline looms large – but Red Bull chief Christian Horner isn’t locking it in yet. […]
Bourdais slams Perez for ‘dirty trick’ tactics
Dec.15 (GMM) Former F1 driver Sebastien Bourdais has slammed Red Bull and Sergio Perez for interfering in the world championship fight last Sunday. Red Bull and new world champion Max Verstappen hailed Mexican Perez’s efforts in supporting the team by deliberately holding up Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi. “That was BS,” Bourdais, a 42-year-old […]