Jul.21 (GMM) F1 legend Emerson Fittpaldi has welcomed news that Alpine is set to confirm a contract ‘option’ that means Fernando Alonso will race on in 2022. Returning to Formula 1 this year to prepare for the all-new regulations of 2022 was always the 39-year-old Spaniard’s plan, but that is now set to be formalised. […]
Marko retains lawyer to explore appeal options
Jul.21 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says the remainder of the fierce 2021 title battle will now become “even more tense”. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton clashed with Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen at Silverstone last Sunday – and Marko says Red Bull has now retained a lawyer to look into whether they can pursue a harsher […]
Wolff responds to Ecclestone’s Hamilton jibe
Jul.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff has reacted to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s claim that Lewis Hamilton is “not quite the fighter that he was”. “There are lots of occasions this year where he could have done better and he hasn’t,” 90-year-old Ecclestone, who was replaced as F1 CEO in 2017, told PA news agency. When […]
Verstappen’s engine may have survived crash – Honda
Jul.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s Honda engine may somehow have survived his huge 51G crash at Silverstone. Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko told RTL that initial estimates are that “around three quarters of a million euros” in damage was done after Lewis Hamilton tipped the championship leader into the barriers at Copse corner. He said […]
Verstappen’s father tells Wolff not to call
Jul.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has advised Toto Wolff against picking up the phone to him in the future. After the Red Bull driver’s huge 51G shunt and brief hospitalisation on Sunday, Max and Jos Verstappen spent the night in a motel near Silverstone before returning to Monaco. “Max is doing well so far. He’s […]
‘Moral knight’ Hamilton is hypocritical – Lammers
Jul.20 (GMM) In the wake of Lewis Hamilton’s collision with title rival Max Verstappen, Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers has accused the seven time world champion of hypocrisy. As a controversy explodes within Formula 1 about alleged ‘racial abuse’ directed at the Mercedes driver, Lammers aimed fire at Hamilton for a different reason. The 65-year-old […]
Verstappen only has ‘stiff neck’ after crash – Marko
Jul.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen is “doing surprisingly well” after his high-speed, 51G crash at Silverstone that left him briefly hospitalised. While the story about Lewis Hamilton being subjected to alleged racial abuse on social media blew up around the world, his British GP rival Verstappen travelled home to Monaco on Monday after the Silverstone race […]
Wolff hints Bottas axe decision ‘already made’
Jul.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hinted that Mercedes’ decision about the identity of Lewis Hamilton’s 2022 teammate is “already made”. The reigning champion team’s boss has already said that if Valtteri Bottas is replaced by George Russell next year, he will help the Finn to find an alternate seat. “We’ll see what decision we make […]
Hamilton eyed ‘victory or death’ in British GP – press
Jul.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton charged for “victory or death” before title rival Max Verstappen was tipped into a 51G crash at Silverstone’s Copse corner on Sunday. That is the view of one international media outlet in the highly-charged aftermath of the lap-1 incident that is now the major talking point in the British GP aftermath. […]
F1 unites to slam alleged Hamilton ‘racial abuse’
Jul.20 (GMM) Even Facebook has waded into allegations that Lewis Hamilton was the subject of racial abuse in the wake of Max Verstappen’s high speed crash last Sunday. Media reports suggest some social media users used ‘monkey’ emojis to signal their disapproval of the seven time world champion’s tactics in the British GP. In a […]
Horner wants ‘wonderful’ sounding F1 engines
Jul.19 (GMM) Formula 1 needs to strike a balance between ‘green’ considerations and the entertainment of the sport’s fans. That is the view of Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who argues that when the engine rules are changed for 2025-2026, the next-generation power units should be much louder. “I know that electrification is being driven […]
Wolff vows to help Bottas find another seat
Jul.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he will do what he can to enable Valtteri Bottas to have a “great future” in Formula 1. Amid sweeping rumours that the Finnish driver is set to lose his seat to George Russell for 2022, Mercedes boss Wolff hailed Bottas’ role in supporting Lewis Hamilton throughout the British GP […]
Fight for third in 2021 is back on – Binotto
Jul.19 (GMM) Ferrari’s chase for ‘best of the rest’ behind Formula 1’s top two teams is back on, according to Mattia Binotto. Recently, the Maranello team’s boss said trying to catch McLaren for third in the constructors’ championship is far less a priority than preparing a new car for the all-new 2022 rules. However, Charles […]
Controversy explodes after Hamilton-Verstappen clash
Jul.19 (GMM) As controversy explodes following the British GP, the world of Formula 1 is split over who was to blame for the crash that left championship leader Max Verstappen briefly in hospital. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff insists race winner Lewis Hamilton has the rulebook on his side for the clash that ended with Verstappen’s 51G […]
Red Bull considers challenging Hamilton penalty
Jul.19 (GMM) Red Bull is looking into whether to challenge the decision that enabled Lewis Hamilton to win the British GP after his collision with championship rival Max Verstappen on Sunday. After checking out of hospital dizzy, bruised and battered but otherwise unhurt following his 51G crash, the Red Bull driver slammed Hamilton for wildly […]
Hulkenberg eyeing Haas, Williams for F1 comeback
Jul.18 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is not denying that he is the frame for a potential Haas or Williams seat next year. The 33-year-old, who lost his full-time seat after 2019 but last year served as ‘super sub’ for Racing Point, is now an Aston Martin-Mercedes reserve driver whilst his new wife is expecting their first […]
Mazepin already ‘signed’ for 2022 – Steiner
Jul.18 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is already “signed” to remain with Haas in 2022, team boss Gunther Steiner has revealed. He was speaking to the German-language Motorsport-Total, amid speculation the small Ferrari-linked American team may be set to lose its other 2021 rookie, Mick Schumacher. Steiner said the uncertainty has emerged because the young German’s contract […]
Wolff involved in Russell’s Red Bull talks
Jul.18 (GMM) Mercedes’ driver decision for 2022 is now looming large. In the paddock, it is widely expected that Toto Wolff will ultimately decide that Valtteri Bottas will be replaced by George Russell. However, amid the uncertainty, Wolff’s fellow Austrian and nemesis Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is also interested in the Mercedes-backed Williams […]
F1 to consider ‘sprint qualifying’ tweaks for 2022
Jul.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko had a pointed rebuke after his Mercedes counterpart declared that Lewis Hamilton’s Friday pole was a case of “The empire strikes back”. “My regards to the empire,” Red Bull’s Marko said, pointing the quip at Toto Wolff after Max Verstappen extended his points lead over Lewis Hamilton on Saturday. It […]
Uncle says Alfa Romeo not ‘better option’ for Schumacher
Jul.17 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s uncle has again questioned the “sense” in rumours the young German could move from Haas to Alfa Romeo for 2022. Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of 22-year-old Mick’s father and F1 legend Michael, has already wondered if a sideways step on the grid is right for Mick. “If it was a […]