Nov.5 (GMM) Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has played down reports suggesting new racing director Davide Brivio might be on the cusp of returning to MotoGP. Italian Brivio joined the Renault-owned Formula 1 team this year but has indicated that his adjustment after running MotoGP outfits has been more difficult than expected. “The first thing I […]
2022 Imola race contract still not signed
Nov.5 (GMM) A new contract for a permanent Formula 1 race at Imola until 2025 is still waiting to be signed. Italian race officials have secured the support of regional authorities, but it appears a deal with Liberty Media is not yet done – perhaps due to the local covid-related conditions. “We hope the situation […]
Saudi F1 circuit ‘will be ready’ – boss
Nov.5 (GMM) The boss of the new Saudi Arabian GP insists that construction of the Jeddah street circuit will be ready in time for December’s inaugural race. New photos from the site reveal that heavy construction works are still ongoing, with the venue appearing to be far from almost ready to welcome Formula 1. But […]
Title rivals play down Senna-Prost comparison
Nov.5 (GMM) The two championship contenders insist they will not stoop to the levels of the toxic historical title fights between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, warned this week that he will not intervene even though he expects Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen may “absolutely try to do the […]
Perez gives Verstappen title advantage – Glock
Nov.4 (GMM) The title protagonists’ respective teammates will play significant roles over the decisive final five grands prix of 2021. That is the view of former F1 driver Timo Glock, who regards Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as being in a better situation than his title rival Lewis Hamilton. That is not just because of the […]
F1 working to solve wet-weather problem
Nov.4 (GMM) Formula 1 is working to ensure more racing in wet weather can take place. It has become a major issue after the Belgian GP at Spa, which because of the weather became a farcical safety car-led washout with half points awarded. But the trend over the years has been more and more caution […]
Red Bull ‘assumes’ Hamilton engine penalty
Nov.4 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is crossing his fingers that technical trouble strikes for Lewis Hamilton over the course of the decisive final five races of 2021. Mercedes is clearly struggling with engine reliability as it chases down Max Verstappen’s title lead, with Red Bull’s Marko expecting another grid penalty for the seven time world […]
Wolff defends Hamilton after popularity poll
Nov.4 (GMM) The significance of Lewis Hamilton’s achievements will probably only be widely lauded once he has retired from Formula 1. That is the view of Toto Wolff, responding to the fact that despite his unprecedented success, the seven time world champion has only been voted the third most popular driver in F1 by fans […]
Vettel questions ethics of some F1 hosts
Nov.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has spoken up about the issue of Formula 1 racing in some of the world’s more controversial countries. Next year, the calendar has an unprecedented 23-race calendar, including stops in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The sport is also visiting Saudi neighbour Qatar this month and then in 2023 and beyond, amid […]
Giovinazzi axe ‘a matter of time’ – Benoit
Nov.4 (GMM) One of F1’s most respected and longest-serving journalists thinks Antonio Giovinazzi’s days at Alfa Romeo are numbered. Days ago, Formula 1 veteran David Coulthard called the 27-year-old Italian a “quality driver” who may nevertheless struggle to keep his seat for 2022. That is because Guanyu Zhou’s Chinese backers are offering Alfa-branded Sauber $30 […]
2022 cars ‘not much slower’ than now – Isola
Nov.4 (GMM) Mario Isola has confirmed reports that the 2022 cars “won’t be much slower” than the lightening-quick field of this season. Earlier, there were fears the new rules – designed to promote racing and overtaking – would be as much as five seconds or more slower than the 2021 cars. “The expectation was that […]
Perez wants Mexico win, 2022 title
Nov.3 (GMM) His teammate may be the Red Bull star, but Sergio Perez still wants to win his home race in Mexico this weekend – and then have a shot at the 2022 title. However, the 31-year-old Mexican admits Red Bull’s priority will be securing this year’s drivers’ title for Max Verstappen. “I always look […]
Wolff denies Mercedes to sign new title sponsor
Nov.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff has added his denial to reports Mercedes could be set for a change of title sponsor. We reported last month that Petronas, the Malaysian oil company that has partnered with the ultra-successful Formula 1 team since 2010, could be about to be replaced by Saudi Aramco – Saudi Arabia’s public oil […]
Departing Bottas ‘not a F1 phenomenon’ – Wolff
Nov.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff says departing works Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is “not a phenomenon” like 2021 title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Finn Bottas, 32, is keeping his Formula 1 career alive next year with a new long-term contract at Swiss-based Alfa Romeo. “I expect him to take the lead there,” said Mercedes […]
VW, Porsche, Audi ‘seriously’ discussing F1
Nov.3 (GMM) Reports the Volkswagen Group will definitely enter Formula 1 in 2026 are gaining in strength by the day. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said when asked about the VW rumours this week: “They’ll be there in 2026, in my opinion. “All the noises we are hearing point to that,” he told Speed Week. Indeed, […]
Teams to present F1 cars to media on Fridays
Nov.3 (GMM) Formula 1 has revealed a plan to ramp up interest for fans – with the key involvement of the sport’s print media. According to Auto Motor und Sport, key top engineers at the F1 teams will need to reveal their cars’ latest technical upgrades on the Friday of grand prix weekends. “We are […]
Mercedes boss hopes Verstappen wins title
Nov.2 (GMM) One Mercedes-linked motor racing boss is actually barracking against the German carmaker in Formula 1 for the 2022 title. Hubert Haupt, owner and driver of a team that runs three Mercedes AMG cars in the German touring car championship DTM, admitted he hopes Red Bull’s Max Verstappen prevails this season. “I think it’s […]
Alonso hopes ‘reserve’ Jerez will host 2022 race
Nov.2 (GMM) Jerez, a circuit in southern Spain, is first in the queue as a potential replacement host for Formula 1 in 2022. F1 recently announced an unprecedented 23-race calendar for next season, but covid-shaped question marks hang above some of the confirmed hosts. The political situation Melbourne, for instance, is particularly unstable at present, […]
Reverse grids back on F1 agenda
Nov.2 (GMM) Reverse grids are back on the agenda in Formula 1. The idea has been suggested on multiple occasions, with Liberty Media keen to continue to ramp up excitement for new and existing fans. Sebastian Vettel, however, recently called the concept of artificially promoting slower drivers up the grid as “complete bullsh*t”. However, the […]
F1 eyes ‘smaller, lighter’ cars for 2026
Nov.2 (GMM) The all-new 2022 cars are yet to be fired up, but Formula 1 is already looking towards the next generation of cars that should make their bow in 2026. Next year, the radically-different cars are tipped to be slightly slower but much easier to race and overtake with. But in the past months, […]