Oct.18 (GMM) The newly-published 2022 Formula 1 calendar is “make or break” for Melbourne’s Australian GP, according to chief organiser Andrew Westacott. F1 has finally released the whopping 23-race schedule for next year, confirming that Melbourne – having cancelled its races in 2020 and 2021 due to covid – has lost its traditional spot as […]
2022 could be ‘chaotic’ season for F1 – Vasseur
Oct.18 (GMM) Formula 1 could suffer through a “chaotic” first season with the all-new regulations beginning in 2022. That is the warning of Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur, although he admits that the new rules are positive for “economic and sporting reasons”. “The new rules will result in tougher racing and more fighting,” he told […]
Alonso – Ferrari lowered expectations after Vettel
Oct.18 (GMM) Ferrari had to lower its expectations after Fernando Alonso and then Sebastian Vettel failed to deliver the title to Maranello. That is the view of 40-year-old Spaniard Alonso, who came close to the world championship whilst wearing red but now races for Renault-owned Alpine. “In my time and Sebastian’s time, Ferrari was not […]
Hamilton making ‘a lot of mistakes’ – Villeneuve
Oct.18 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has “got away” with “a lot of mistakes” as he battles Max Verstappen for the 2021 world championship. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve – but his views are echoed by fellow former F1 winners David Coulthard and Mark Webber. “He had a couple of incidents […]
Piastri admits Alfa Romeo chances ‘very slim’
Oct.18 (GMM) Oscar Piastri has effectively counted himself out of the running for Formula 1’s last official vacancy on the 2022 grid. Earlier, the Mark Webber-managed Australian, who is leading the Formula 2 standings from fellow candidate Guanyu Zhou, was named as a frontrunner to potentially replace Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo next year. But […]
Red Bull’s F1 contracts ‘suffocating’ drivers
Oct.15 (GMM) Red Bull has a “problem” with the way it binds drivers to their Formula 1 contracts. That is the view of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who says there is only one Red Bull racer with a truly advantageous contract – Max Verstappen. In past years, Red Bull has struggled with a high […]
Bottas not excluded from Mercedes team meetings
Oct.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has apparently not been excluded from Mercedes’ key operations, even though he is departing for Alfa Romeo in 2022. As Lewis Hamilton struggled to recover from his engine grid penalty in Turkey, Finn Bottas comfortably kept position in P1 throughout the Istanbul race for his first win of the season. Some, […]
Andretti may ‘jump on’ Alfa Romeo opportunity
Oct.14 (GMM) Reports that former F1 driver Michael Andretti may acquire the team currently known as Alfa Romeo are yet to race past the rumour phase. Some correspondents reported from Turkey last time out that the well-known American motor racing entrepreneur had already taken control of an 80 percent stake in Sauber Motorsport. But Alfa […]
Iconic Eau Rouge F1 chalet demolished
Oct.14 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps purists are mourning the demolition of a Formula 1 icon. The chalet that sat proudly at the top of Eau Rouge, offering impressive views of arguably the most famous corner in F1 history but also clearly visible from the track itself, has been knocked down. It is to make way for vital […]
Mercedes under pressure for ‘first time in years’
Oct.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s title hopes will be dealt another blow if he is forced to take another engine change penalty in 2021. While Red Bull-Honda was clearly inferior to Mercedes in Turkey, Max Verstappen reclaimed the world championship lead in part thanks to Hamilton’s engine change – his fourth unit for the season. And […]
Red Bull not saying Mercedes engine ‘illegal’
Oct.14 (GMM) Red Bull is working “day and night” to “uncover the secret” of how Mercedes pulled so quickly ahead in the otherwise intense 2021 title battle. In recent days, Dr Helmut Marko and his Red Bull Racing colleague Christian Horner cast serious doubt on the legality of Mercedes’ latest engine upgrade. “I don’t think […]
Alpine’s Brivio could return to MotoGP
Oct.13 (GMM) Davide Brivio looks set for a sensational return to MotoGP. Earlier this year, Alpine’s newest team official admitted his transition to Formula 1 after years of successfully running the Suzuka team in MotoGP has been “difficult”. “I will need time, but I am fully committed,” said Brivio, who is currently the racing director […]
Top teams resisting F1 tyre blanket ban
Oct.13 (GMM) Top teams are resisting a push to see tyre blankets banned in Formula 1. The sport is keen to move away from the costly and energy-hungry practice of pre-heating tyres, with the item to be discussed at the F1 Commission in London on Wednesday. But some teams are arguing that, with orders already […]
Kyalami eyes South Africa GP return in 2023
Oct.13 (GMM) Kyalami is in pole position to return to the Formula 1 calendar. Although the schedule is now bursting at the seams with 22-23 races per year, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted he would like to add an event on the African continent. “Compared to the street circuits that were identified, the most […]
Giovinazzi said ‘no’ to Alfa Romeo team order
Oct.13 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi appears to have dealt a blow to his chances of keeping his seat at Alfa Romeo. Amid swirling rumours about his 2022 replacement, it appears the Ferrari-backed Italian refused to obey a team order to let teammate Kimi Raikkonen past last time out in Turkey. “We asked to switch positions but, […]
F1 admits unvaccinated medical driver to miss races
Oct.13 (GMM) F1’s regular medical car driver will not be permitted into some of the countries set to host the final grands prix of 2021. In Turkey, the official medical car occupants Alan van der Merwe – the driver – and Dr Ian Roberts had to sit out the race after testing positive to covid. […]
New fire-proof F1 gloves ‘approved’
Oct.13 (GMM) Formula 1 has shown a green light to more fire-resistant gloves for the drivers. In Turkey, several drivers tried the prototypes in practice for their “comfort and dexterity”, after the FIA looked into how to minimise the sort of permanent injuries suffered by Romain Grosjean late last year. “We realised almost immediately after […]
F1 could ‘disappear’ over green issues – Vettel
Oct.13 (GMM) “Formula 1 could disappear” if it doesn’t take environmental issues more seriously. That is the warning of quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who recently found himself the subject of criticism for his new political activism from a German politician. However, the Aston Martin driver insists that F1 must do better. “Formula 1 is […]
Binotto to skip more races in 2021
Oct.12 (GMM) Having remained at Maranello while the Formula 1 circus raced in Turkey, Mattia Binotto is set to skip more races. “I will also miss the grands prix in Mexico and Brazil,” the Ferrari team boss told Italy’s Corriere della Sera. “We are in a key phase of the 2022 project.” Indeed, with his […]
F1 race director hits back at Alonso accusations
Oct.12 (GMM) Michael Masi has hit back at F1 veteran Fernando Alonso’s claim that FIA officials often make biased decisions when penalising drivers. In Turkey, the two-time champion bit back when reporters asked him about his driving tactics from the previous race weekend at Sochi. “I’ve been the idiot many times this year when I […]