Aug.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not only perhaps the best driver ever, he is also seriously misunderstood even within the Formula 1 paddock. That is the view of Esteban Ocon, who won his first grand prix in Hungary last weekend thanks in part to his famous Alpine teammate. F1 legend Alain Prost called 40-year-old Alonso’s […]
Albon says 2022 F1 cockpit talks ‘begin now’
Aug.6 (GMM) A new contender has emerged for the potential vacancies at Williams and Alfa Romeo for 2022. Alex Albon lost his Red Bull seat at the end of last year, but he has remained a reserve driver as well as racing with the energy drink company’s support in the German series DTM. The 25-year-old […]
Spa still ‘safe’ enough for F1 – Masi
Aug.6 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps is safe enough to keep hosting the fabled Belgian GP, according to F1 race director Michael Masi. With the death in 2019 of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert not forgotten, a similarly-scary crash at the exit of Eau Rouge took place during the recent 24-hour sports car race. Williams reserve Jack Aitken […]
Covid clouds hang over several 2021 races
Aug.6 (GMM) Dutch GP organisers are still working at “full throttle” on plans for a full house of spectators at Zandvoort in early September. That is despite the fact that an August 13 deadline is now looming – when the government will decide if key covid restrictions can be dialled back. “If we wait with […]
Schumacher slams Vettel’s disqualification appeal
Aug.5 (GMM) It is pointless for Aston Martin to appeal Sebastian Vettel’s disqualification from the Hungarian GP. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, following Vettel’s exclusion over a fuel rules breach. FIA scrutineers were only able to extract a third of the required 1 litre of fuel from the German’s car […]
Schumacher admits 2021 performance ‘average’
Aug.5 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has given himself an “average” grade for the first half of his rookie season in Formula 1. Gunther Steiner raised the hackles of Mick’s uncle Ralf Schumacher after Hungary, where the Haas team boss had criticised a spate of recent crashes. “I just hope he apologised to Mick,” Ralf told Sky […]
Perez’s father leads project for Cancun GP
Aug.5 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s father Antonio was a notable visitor to the Hungarian GP paddock last weekend. But according to Reforma, a Mexican newspaper, he wasn’t there simply to watch his son drive his Red Bull. Rather, Perez snr was leading a delegation of Mexican businessmen who met with FIA and Formula 1 officials to […]
Ferrari backs Red Bull over budget cap tweak
Aug.5 (GMM) Ferrari has joined Red Bull in arguing that the budget cap rules need a tweak. In Hungary, it wasn’t only both Red Bulls who got taken out at the first corner – the engine in Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari was also irreparably damaged by a separate incident sparked by Lance Stroll. One of the […]
Mercedes has found more engine power – Marko
Aug.4 (GMM) Mercedes has floored the throttle in terms of engine power in the battle for the 2021 titles, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen appeared to be racing into a comfortable lead until Silverstone and Hungary, where incidents with Mercedes drivers left him 8 points adrift Lewis Hamilton. But also at […]
Tiktum denies leaving Williams over Latifi insult
Aug.4 (GMM) Dan Tiktum’s on-again, off-again flirtation with a career in Formula 1 has been flicked back into the ‘off’ position. The controversial 22-year-old Briton’s name first came to prominence as a member of Red Bull’s famous driver program, but he joined Williams’ similar program ahead of the 2020 season. Currently fourth overall in Formula […]
Bottas ‘bowling’ was not deliberate – Albers
Aug.4 (GMM) A former F1 driver has dismissed suggestions Valtteri Bottas may have deliberately taken out both Red Bulls at the first corner in Hungary. There is no doubt the Finn’s mistake contributed greatly to allowing his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to race past Max Verstappen in the world championship. It has also put Red […]
Hamilton duel not like great Schumacher battle – Alonso
Aug.4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down any comparison between his thrilling duel with Lewis Hamilton in Hungary, and an iconic battle that took place over 15 years ago. The Alonso-Hamilton scrap in Hungary is being raved about in Formula 1 circles, and the Alpine driver and two-time champion admits he managed to keep Hamilton […]
Red Bull considers new Honda engines for Spa
Aug.4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ five-place grid penalty for taking out both Red Bulls in Hungary is not severe enough, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Mercedes and Bottas admitted the blame for the misjudged first corner in Hungary that ultimately cost Max Verstappen the world championship lead. As for the subsequent five-place grid penalty for Bottas […]
Red Bull should ‘think about’ comments – Hamilton
Aug.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has pointed the finger at Red Bull after being loudly booed and jeered by spectators after the recent Hungarian GP. The seven time world champion, who has returned to his home in Monaco as the new championship leader, said he thinks comments made by Red Bull’s top bosses in the wake […]
Stroll could be Hamilton’s next teammate – Villeneuve
Aug.3 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has floated a radical theory about who might race alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year. Team boss Toto Wolff is openly admitting that it is a two-horse race between the experienced incumbent Valtteri Bottas and young charger George Russell. 1997 world champion Villeneuve can at least imagine Bottas leaving the […]
Steiner slams Mick’s uncle over criticism rebuke
Aug.3 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has fended off a rebuke by former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher. In Hungary, the Haas team boss had hit out at Ralf’s nephew, team driver Mick Schumacher, for a practice crash that meant he sat out qualifying. “Mick has had too many accidents in the last few races,” Steiner said. […]
Red Bull hopes Verstappen’s engine can be ‘saved’
Aug.3 (GMM) Red Bull and Honda have not given up hope that Max Verstappen’s damaged engine from the 51G Silverstone crash can be “saved”. The team intended to use the unit from the crashed wreckage throughout the Hungarian GP weekend, but cracks were discovered after initial running on track. “The engine was no longer usable […]
Williams boss hopes Russell secures Mercedes seat
Aug.3 (GMM) Even George Russell’s current boss would like to see the increasingly impressive 23-year-old to take the big step into a full-time Mercedes seat for 2022. On the other hand, Jost Capito also admits he would “very much like to keep him” at Williams for another year. “But if he gets an offer to […]
Verstappen ‘absolutely sure’ he’s faster than Hamilton
Aug.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is “absolutely sure” he is capable of beating the most successful driver in Formula 1 history to the 2021 title. Until Hungary, where he was taken out by Valtteri Bottas at turn 1, the Red Bull driver was leading the drivers’ world championship. He lost the bulk of that […]
Bottas mistake won’t influence 2022 decision – Wolff
Aug.3 (GMM) The mistake described by Christian Horner as a “howler” on Sunday will not automatically cost Valtteri Bottas his Mercedes seat. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, even though he issued a public apology on behalf of Mercedes for Bottas’ first-corner mistake that took out both Red Bulls. Footage has emerged of Red […]