Aug.29 (GMM) A debate is now raging about whether Spa-Francorchamps’ fabled Eau Rouge corner is still safe enough for Formula 1. In 2019, the fatal Formula 2 accident involving Anthoine Hubert on the exit of the high-speed section also seriously injured Juan Manuel Correa. More recently, a huge crash during the 24 hour sports car […]
F1 braces for busy end to ‘strange’ 2021 calendar
Aug.29 (GMM) While the total race count is dropping from 23 to 22, the world of Formula 1 is now bracing for a hectic schedule to complete the 2021 world championship campaign. At Spa Francorchamps, the sport revealed the tweaked 10-race schedule for the second half of the season that will follow after Sunday’s Belgian […]
Pourchaire could secure 2022 Alfa Romeo seat
Aug.29 (GMM) An 18-year-old driver has found himself in the running for an Alfa Romeo race seat in 2022. For some months now, team boss Frederic Vasseur has been openly talking about the potential of fellow Frenchman Theo Pourchaire, a highly rated youngster who in his first season in Formula 2 this year won at […]
Wolff to make 2022 driver announcement ‘soon’
Aug.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has now made a decision about which driver will be Lewis Hamilton’s teammate next year. The Mercedes boss’s admission comes as George Russell, the obvious favourite for the seat currently occupied by Valtteri Bottas, qualified a sensational second at slippery Spa-Francorchamps. Some were calling it one of the best […]
Lundgaard eyes Indycar but not giving up on F1
Aug.28 (GMM) Alpine junior Christian Lundgaard may be switching his focus from Formula 1 to Indycar. The highly-rated 20-year-old Dane was considered a hot contender for this year’s Formula 2 title, but his campaign with ART has been difficult so far. Early this year, he admitted: “For me, 2021 is definitely a crucial season in […]
Mazepin up and racing in new Haas chassis
Aug.28 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is up and racing in a new Haas chassis this weekend at Spa. Before the August break, the controversial Russian rookie revealed that his chassis is heavier than more competitive teammate Mick Schumacher’s. “I wouldn’t say it’s unacceptable, it just complicates my job,” he said. Team boss Gunther Steiner said the […]
Alonso could stay in F1 for ‘many years’
Aug.28 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he could keep racing in Formula for “many years”. At Spa, Alpine announced that the 40-year-old Spaniard will indeed extend his return to the sport for at least another year for the start of the 2022 regulations. Two-time champion Alonso rejects the notion that he should call time on his […]
Ferrari opens door to 2023 race seat for Schumacher
Aug.28 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s future on the Formula 1 grid could be red, Mattia Binotto admits. However, the Ferrari team boss says another year of learning for the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher is waiting around the corner for 2022. “Before we decide when he’s ready for Ferrari, he has to finish this year […]
2022 will be ‘different’ for Perez – Horner
Aug.28 (GMM) Sergio Perez will be in a “completely different” situation when he re-emerges in Red Bull’s all-new 2022 car next year. That is the view of Christian Horner, after announcing that the Mexican driver has been re-signed for a second year as Max Verstappen’s teammate. There had been speculation Perez could lose his seat […]
Full 23-race calendar now unlikely in 2021
Aug.28 (GMM) Speculation that this year’s Formula 1 calendar will shrink from its current 23 races looks to be accurate. Toto Wolff said recently he expects the 2021 schedule might ultimately be “shorter” due to covid-related cancellations, and now Carlos Sainz agrees. “Everything changes every week,” the Ferrari driver said. “Perhaps it’s time to get […]
Hamilton defers to team’s decision over 2022 teammate
Aug.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has come around to the “team’s point of view” regarding the identity of his teammate for 2022. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, after both Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas revealed that the seven time world champion would prefer if Mercedes’ driver lineup is unchanged. However, rumours are now beginning to […]
Bottas ‘maybe’ knows 2022 destination already
Aug.27 (GMM) Both Valtteri Bottas and George Russell have given strong indications that their respective futures have now been decided. “I have no news to share and I don’t have to explain it,” said Bottas, who is tipped to be ousted by Mercedes and replaced by Mercedes junior and current Williams driver Russell for 2022. […]
New Haas contract now in ‘final steps’ – Schumacher
Aug.27 (GMM) Another piece of the 2021 driver puzzle looks set to fall into place, with Mick Schumacher now expected to be re-signed to Haas for next year. Earlier, the young German rookie and Ferrari academy member was linked with a move to Alfa Romeo – another team powered by the famous Maranello team. But […]
Dutch GP holds breath for eleventh-hour ruling
Aug.27 (GMM) An eleventh-hour court ruling could still throw a major spanner in the works of the Dutch GP. Zandvoort has received a green light for a two-thirds capacity crowd next weekend – just a few days after a court in Haarlem, the North Holland capital, is scheduled to sit early next week. The action […]
Newey still ‘stimulated’ by Formula 1
Aug.26 (GMM) Adrian Newey says Formula 1 continues to ‘stimulate’ him. For many years, Formula 1 insiders and fans have speculated about how much longer one of the sport’s most iconic designers ever would remain motivated. “I keep asking myself that,” the 62-year-old smiled to Auto Motor und Sport. Although design freedoms for the 2022 […]
Wolff, Stroll cleared after insider trading probe
Aug.26 (GMM) Financial authorities have cleared Toto Wolff and Lawrence Stroll amid reports they were under investigation for a recent transaction involving Mercedes and Aston Martin. After Wolff bought into Aston Martin last year with a personal 1 percent stake that is now worth $36 million, Mercedes followed suit by upping its stake to 20 […]
Ecclestone still betting on Verstappen title
Aug.26 (GMM) Billionaire Bernie Ecclestone would still put his money on Max Verstappen for the 2021 world championship. That is despite the fact that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have managed to claim back the lead in both championships as Formula 1 emerges from its August break. “I would put my money on Max,” former F1 […]
Wolff admits 2021 season could be ‘shorter’
Aug.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits the 2021 world championship could be “shorter” than the scheduled 23 races. With covid still wreaking havoc across the world, the Mercedes boss was asked how much more difficult his task is when it is so unclear how long the calendar will ultimately be. Although Qatar is now expected to […]
One more hurdle for Dutch GP at Zandvoort
Aug.25 (GMM) Dutch GP organisers still have a hurdle to clear before the F1 engines fire up at Zandvoort next weekend. On the face of it, the event has been given the green light, with the government limiting the crowd to 66 percent capacity – a crowd of 70,000 per day. “The grand prix can […]
Mercedes must sign Russell for 2022 – Schumacher
Aug.25 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has rejected suggestions Mercedes may actually stick with Valtteri Bottas for next year. The former Formula 1 driver thinks it is obvious that the German outfit will actually move the young and highly-rated George Russell from Williams for 2022 and beyond. “I am firmly assuming that Russell will be in the […]