Dec.15 (GMM) 2022 rookie Guanyu Zhou has fended off criticism of his impending Formula 1 debut. When Alfa Romeo signed the strongly-financed Chinese for next year over fellow Alpine academy member and new Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri, many suspected the mighty dollar had once again won the day. “I was surprised by such a […]
Marko, Haug urge Mercedes to drop title appeal
Dec.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has urged Mercedes to drop its threat to appeal the outcome of the 2021 world championship. “We travel with the best engineers. Mercedes travels with the best lawyers,” he said, on the eve of Mercedes’ Thursday’s deadline to press ahead with the official appeal. Led by Toto Wolff, who on […]
France’s Macron wants new F1 race deal
Dec.15 (GMM) The president of France has admitted he is keen for the country to remain on the Formula 1 calendar. Paul Ricard’s contract to host the French GP expires after the 2022 edition, but president Emmanuel Macron has indicated he supports moves to extend the deal. “I know that organising a grand prix is […]
Ecclestone confirms wife in running for FIA role
Dec.15 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he could slide back into an influential position in Formula 1. The 91-year-old lost his role as long-time F1 CEO when Liberty Media took over the sport, and since then has focused on helping his wife Fabiana bring up their first child. But 44-year-old Fabiana Ecclestone, a former Brazilian […]
Indycar star blown away by F1 car
Dec.15 (GMM) Indycar frontrunner Pato O’Ward has raved about his first experience of life at Formula 1 speeds. The 22-year-old Mexican was handed the opportunity to test the orange-clad car in Abu Dhabi this week as a prize for securing a race win for McLaren’s sister Indycar team. “I’m at a loss for words. It […]
Ferrari to consider extending Sainz’s contract
Dec.15 (GMM) Ferrari will consider Carlos Sainz’s future over the winter, team boss Mattia Binotto has revealed. On Sunday, all the attention was on the Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton title battle – but a red-clad Spaniard joined them on the post-race podium. “A podium to end a magic season – first season for me […]
Mazepin’s covid infection only ‘mild’ – spokesman
Dec.14 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin will sit out this week’s post-season tyre test, but the Russian driver is in good health. That is the word from a spokesman representing the 22-year-old Haas rookie, who had to sit out last weekend’s season finale after testing positive to covid-19. On race-day morning, the Russian driver reported that he […]
Alonso to have more surgery in 2022 off-season
Dec.14 (GMM) The first act in Fernando Alonso’s 2021-2022 ‘off season’ is to head into hospital for an operation. After signing to return to Formula 1 this year, the 40-year-old Spaniard kicked off his pre-season with a serious road cycling crash. His injuries resulted in the installation of titanium plates in his jaw, which he […]
Masi ‘overwhelmed’ with tough job in 2021 – Ecclestone
Dec.14 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has defended Formula 1’s under-fire race director, but he says some elements of the way the sport was run this year were “a disaster”. The former F1 supremo is referring to the way that top FIA official Michael Masi is being lashed on all sides for ultimately making the contentious decision […]
Mercedes’ post-title appeal suddenly in doubt
Dec.14 (GMM) Max Verstappen has revealed that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff finally offered belated congratulations for his title win the day after Sunday’s epic and controversial 2021 season finale. While Lewis Hamilton and his father Anthony both personally congratulated the new world champion immediately after the race in Abu Dhabi, a furious Wolff chose instead […]
F1 ‘could be interesting for Audi’ – CEO
Dec.13 (GMM) Audi bosses are still yet to decide if the Volkswagen-linked German carmaker will launch a Formula 1 project. Markus Duesmann, the Audi CEO, does admit to Der Donaukurier newspaper that he and fellow officials are in “intensive talks about the future realignment of Formula 1”. Recently, McLaren denied that Audi had made an […]
2022 cars more like F2-style concept – Binotto
Dec.13 (GMM) Drivers who thrived in Formula 2 are likely to also thrive next year, as Formula 1 prepares to race into the future with its next-generation cars for 2022 and beyond. While Mercedes and Red Bull have been battling for the 2021 title, Ferrari has been quietly chipping away on designing its brand new […]
Marko calls Toto Wolff ‘unworthy loser’
Dec.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has described his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff as an “unworthy loser” after the incredible and controversial 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Amid Red Bull’s wild initial celebrations to mark Max Verstappen’s shock title win, Mercedes was busily lodging two protests about the highly contentious final laps. “It was unworthy […]
‘Normal’ for Mercedes to fight title outcome – Danner
Dec.13 (GMM) The Formula 1 paddock is split down the middle as the sport collectively digests the incredible last-lap climax to the 2021 world championship. Noting that Lewis Hamilton snubbed the official post-race FIA press conference, Spain’s AS newspaper claims “Mercedes does not know how to lose”. Others, though, wondered if race director Michael Masi […]
Lucky title for Verstappen is ‘justice’ – Alonso
Dec.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits seeing Max Verstappen become world champion on Sunday provoked “much more intense” emotions even than Red Bull’s first ever title with Sebastian Vettel. “This goes much further than that. The emotions are much more intense,” the top team official confirmed to Sky Deutschland. “The release that came after that […]
Verstappen’s mum ‘begged angels’ for title miracle
Dec.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s mother admits she “begged the angels” for a miracle to help her son become Formula 1 world champion on Sunday. Red Bull boss Christian Horner also said late in the race that only a “miracle” could deliver the crown to the 24-year-old – and that miracle came on the very last […]
Brawn, Symonds, to lose top F1 jobs – report
Dec.12 (GMM) Ross Brawn could be set to lose his top job as Formula 1’s managing director. When Liberty Media took over from Bernie Ecclestone some years ago, a trio of managers ran the sport – Chase Carey as CEO, Sean Bratches in charge of commercial matters, and respected F1 engineer Brawn, 67, as sporting […]
Piastri snub a ‘bad example’ for F1
Dec.12 (GMM) Formula 1 is showing youngsters a “bad example” by locking Oscar Piastri out of the top category of motor racing for at least a year. The Mark Webber-managed Australian 20-year-old has dominantly won this year’s Formula 2 championship at his first attempt – having last year won the FIA Formula 3 title, also […]
Bottas to test Alfa Romeo on Tuesday
Dec.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has confirmed rumours that he will get his first taste of life in an Alfa Romeo cockpit within days. The Finn has lost his Mercedes seat to George Russell, meaning that Sunday’s 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi is his last race after a five-year stint with the reigning champions. “I’m trying […]
Marko brought ‘relaxation program’ to Verstappen
Dec.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he convinced Max Verstappen to bring his “relaxation program” from Europe to the Middle East ahead of the most important weekend of his career. “He wanted to fly to Europe,” the Red Bull official smiled when asked about the Dutch driver and Abu Dhabi pole-sitter’s post-Saudi Arabian plans. Indeed, […]