Nov.2 (GMM) Formula 1 could witness a fiery clash in the Prost-Senna mould to conclude the ultra-intense 2021 world championship battle. That is the warning of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, whose charge Lewis Hamilton is 12 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with five races to go. “If it was to come to the scenario […]
Verstappen recovered from Austin ‘cold virus’ – Marko
Nov.2 (GMM) World championship leader Max Verstappen is fully recovered and healthy ahead of the Mexican GP this weekend. It was already known that Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez struggled through the Austin event with an illness, but Dr Helmut Marko revealed that Verstappen was also not well. “The performance of both of them was […]
Saudi F1 officials withdraw female dress code
Nov.1 (GMM) Saudi Arabian authorities have performed a swift “U-turn” on a female dress code that was circulated among Formula 1 teams ahead of the first Jeddah street race. A recent email from Saudi race officials indicated that women will need to be careful about how much skin they expose in the Arabian kingdom when […]
Massa ‘not surprised’ about Ferrari struggle
Nov.1 (GMM) Felipe Massa is not sure Ferrari is ready to return to the top in Formula 1. The Brazilian almost won the world championship for the fabled Maranello team in 2008, and now looks back on that era as Ferrari’s “best years”. He also tells Spain’s AS newspaper that he is “not surprised” Ferrari […]
F1 veteran hopes Giovinazzi keeps seat
Nov.1 (GMM) One Formula 1 veteran hopes Antonio Giovinazzi clings onto his seat at Alfa Romeo. Recently, Giovinazzi’s prospects of that appeared bleak, with Guanyu Zhou reportedly offering $30 million in Chinese backing, and Indycar star Colton Herta apparently central to Andretti’s touted EUR 600 million team takeover bid. But with the Andretti buyout apparently […]
Ricciardo dating F1 legend’s daughter
Nov.1 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo may be dating the daughter of a Formula 1 legend. In 2016, then F1 star Daniil Kvyat began to date Kelly Piquet – the daughter of triple world champion and F1 legend Nelson. They had a child together before the relationship ended in 2019. Piquet is now dating world championship leader […]
Father says Verstappen may never leave Red Bull
Nov.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen could end up spending his entire Formula 1 career with Red Bull, according to his father and co-manager. The Dutchman has already pledged his immediate future to the energy drink owned team, but it is believed the contract contains key performance and exit clauses. However, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen is […]
Red Bull not denying Volkswagen rumours
Nov.1 (GMM) Red Bull is not ruling out a Formula 1 collaboration with Volkswagen. According to the German source Sport1, November could be the month in which VW brands Audi and Porsche make the official decision to enter F1 for the new engine era from 2026. The report claims Red Bull could tie up with […]
Red Bull rules out copying Mercedes system
Nov.1 (GMM) Red Bull has ruled out trying to copy Mercedes’ rear suspension layout that could reportedly boost straightline speeds by as much as 15kph. Much has been made about Red Bull’s revelations about the Mercedes system, but team bosses have now repeatedly ruled out lodging a protest or claiming it’s illegal. In fact, it […]
Kvyat eyeing move to US-based Nascar
Oct.29 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat may be considering a move to America’s tin-top Nascar category. The news was revealed by Haas team principal Gunther Steiner, whose own boss Gene Haas also owns the highly successful Nascar team Stewart-Haas Racing. “Many drivers want to try it,” Steiner said, when asked about Nascar. “Some are moving to Indycar […]
Honda boss ‘considering’ next F1 move
Oct.29 (GMM) Honda’s Formula 1 chief is not confirming speculation that he may still frequent the grands prix in collaboration with Red Bull next year. Masashi Yamamoto, the managing director of Honda’s F1 operations, admits it will be “crazy” to see unbranded Honda units in the Red Bull and Alpha Tauri cars next year. “That […]
Engine problems not due to Cowell exit – Wolff
Oct.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has rejected suggestions Mercedes may be suffering with poor engine reliability due to the departure of a key team member. Andy Cowell, the highly respected former boss of Mercedes’ highly successful Formula 1 engine arm, decided last year to leave the sport. His absence has coincided with an obvious spate of […]
Sainz ‘disappointed’ in Netflix’s Ferrari episode
Oct.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz admits he was “disappointed” when he saw the latest edition of Netflix’s Formula 1 series Drive to Survive. The documentary series has been in the headlines of late – praised on the one hand for raising F1’s image particularly in America, and criticised by Max Verstappen who is snubbing the next […]
Hamilton vs Verstappen is F1’s toughest battle – Rosberg
Oct.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s bid to break Lewis Hamilton’s title streak this year is delivering fans perhaps the highest-level duel in Formula 1 history. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, who retired immediately after beating his then Mercedes teammate Hamilton to the world championship in 2016. Since then, seven time world champion Hamilton, 36, […]
Verstappen’s eyes ‘completely black’ in Austin race
Oct.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen struggled with his physical condition en route to victory and an extended championship lead in Austin. It was already known that the Dutchman’s Red Bull teammate Sergio PErez “struggled massively” through the US GP with a stomach bug and a broken on-board drinks system. “Perez had too much water in the […]
Andretti’s Sauber buyout bid collapses
Oct.28 (GMM) Michael Andretti’s attempted buyout of the Formula 1 team currently known as Alfa Romeo has collapsed. Amid swirling rumours in the paddock about US-based motor racing giant Andretti Autosport acquiring 80 percent of Swiss-based Sauber Motorsport, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted his doubts. “I doubt there will be a deal with Andretti,” […]
Hulkenberg struggled with Indycar ‘monster’
Oct.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg admits he may need to hit the gym before launching a race career in Indycar. The 34-year-old German lost his full-time Formula 1 seat at Renault at the end of 2019, subsequently racing as a one-off substitute at Racing Point before signing as Aston Martin’s 2021 reserve. But he has now […]
F1 drivers ‘free to criticise’ new host Qatar
Oct.27 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers will be able to “express themselves freely” once they touch down in Qatar next month. With drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel so openly vocal on various contemporary political and social issues, there had been fears the criticism of human rights abuses in Qatar would not be tolerated. However, […]
Mercedes not joining Verstappen’s Netflix snub
Oct.27 (GMM) Mercedes has distanced itself from title rival Max Verstappen’s decision to snub the forthcoming edition of the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive. Too much about the documentary series, which is being partly credited for the huge crowds seen in Austin for the US GP last weekend, is “fake”. That is Verstappen’s view, […]
Red Bull backs away from Mercedes protest risk
Oct.27 (GMM) Red Bull has backed away from speculation that the threat of official protests against Mercedes could mar the climax of the 2021 championship battle. The energy drink owned team has been complaining loudly about Mercedes’ mid-season boost in straightline speed, initially honing in on power unit upgrades. But now, attention has turned towards […]