Jul.14 (GMM) Charles Leclerc insists he still has “confidence” in Ferrari, even though some media outlets believe he has been in talks with rival Red Bull. After receiving the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini award this week, the Monaco-born driver admitted Ferrari is “struggling at the moment” but is working hard for a better future. “There is […]
Chinese driver Zhou linked with Williams seat
Jul.14 (GMM) Formula 1 could get its first Chinese driver in 2022. In Austria, Alpine gave its driver academy member and Formula 2 championship leader Guanyu Zhou a Friday practice outing. And as Formula Scout reports, if the 22-year-old Shanghai-born driver wins the F2 title, he will be unable to return to the support category […]
VW wants four-cylinder engines in F1 – Marko
Jul.14 (GMM) Volkswagen is pushing for Formula 1 to switch to four-cylinder engines for 2025-2026, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Already this week, it has emerged that VW brands Audi and Porsche – whose CEOs attended the engine meeting in Austria recently – are also arguing that the sport should consider four-wheel drive […]
Verstappen’s father no fan of F1 ‘sprint race’
Jul.14 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has revealed he is no fan of Formula 1’s ‘sprint qualifying’ experiment. With his Red Bull-driving son having raced into his first ever world championship lead, Jos Verstappen is worried about the altered format which will debut at Silverstone this weekend. Monza will host the second sprint qualifying weekend later […]
Silverstone, Spa, Monza to welcome spectators
Jul.14 (GMM) Silverstone, Monza and Spa are preparing to welcome spectators to their respective grands prix in 2021. Amid the ongoing but waning covid crisis, the spectator action will be on full display this weekend, where race organisers are warning fans against trying to attend the Silverstone race – because it’s a total sellout. “We […]
Volkswagen wants F1 cars to be four-wheel drive
Jul.13 (GMM) Volkswagen brands Audi and Porsche want Formula 1 to adopt four-wheel drive for the next set of engine regulations from 2025 or 2026. The CEOs of both German luxury carmakers attended Formula 1’s recent meeting at the Red Bull Ring to discuss the future of the engine rules. Writing in La Gazzetta dello […]
Red Bull may not dominate at Silverstone – Marko
Jul.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits Red Bull may not dominate this weekend’s British GP. The general paddock consensus is that the energy drink owned team finally raced past seven years of utter Mercedes dominance with its back-to-back-to-back wins at Paul Ricard and Austria. Some are saying another clear victory at Silverstone, which is traditionally […]
Red Bull would consider signing Russell – Marko
Jul.13 (GMM) If George Russell is not promoted to the works Mercedes lineup for 2022, Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull would consider snapping up the 23-year-old Briton. It is widely expected that Toto Wolff-led Mercedes will in fact announce this weekend at Silverstone that its junior driver Russell – who currently drives for Williams […]
F3 winner determined to be fourth Schumacher
Jul.13 (GMM) A young Formula 3 driver is determined to become the fourth Schumacher in Formula 1. The great Michael Schumacher made his debut in 1991, his brother Ralf followed in 1997, and this year Michael’s only son Mick entered the top category with Haas. But at the last grand prix in Austria, 19-year-old David […]
Tost suggests Tsunoda staying at Alpha Tauri
Jul.13 (GMM) Franz Tost has given the strongest indication yet that Yuki Tsunoda is definitely staying put for 2022. Red Bull driver mogul Dietrich Mateschitz has often been critical of the Honda-backed Japanese rookie’s erratic form since debuting for the junior team Alpha Tauri. But the Faenza based team’s boss Tost, who has put Tsunoda […]
No F1 race at Indianapolis for now
Jul.12 (GMM) Indianapolis is dropping off Formula 1’s race radar “for the foreseeable future”. Earlier, it appeared that the F1-style infield circuit of the fabled Motor Speedway – scene of the annual Indy 500 – might return to the calendar thanks to the sport’s interest in hosting more races in the US. New venue owner […]
Sprint race format can ‘ruin weekend’ – Marko
Jul.12 (GMM) The new ‘sprint qualifying’ format puts extra pressure on Formula 1 teams, according to top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko. This weekend at Silverstone, a three-round 2021 trial of the proposed new format will debut. “I don’t think we’ll see sprint qualifying every weekend in 2022, but maybe on some,” said F1 […]
Schumacher should go to Alpha Tauri – Ecclestone
Jul.12 (GMM) Red Bull should consider snapping up Mick Schumacher, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Earlier in July, 90-year-old Ecclestone backed rumours that the 22-year-old F1 rookie and son of Michael Schumacher might be set to move from Haas to Alfa Romeo for 2022. “I would have wished that he would go to […]
Mazepin not ideal teammate for Schumacher – Hulkenberg
Jul.12 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is not the ideal Formula 1 teammate for Mick Schumacher. That is the view of rookie Schumacher’s countryman Nico Hulkenberg, who is not on the grid this year but still active with his Mercedes and Aston Martin reserve driver duties. 33-year-old Hulkenberg is also being linked with George Russell’s Williams seat […]
Struggling Ocon pushing for Alpine chassis change
Jul.12 (GMM) Esteban Ocon is not ruling out a change of chassis ahead of this weekend’s British GP at Silverstone. Earlier in 2021, the Frenchman had the upper hand over his two-time champion teammate Fernando Alonso, who returned to Formula 1 this year with Alpine. “I am more happy and comfortable now,” 39-year-old Alonso said […]
Spectators get green light for Zandvoort, Hungary
Jul.12 (GMM) While some remaining Formula 1 venues this year are under a dark cloud, the Dutch and Hungarian grands prix appear to have the green light for big crowds. British Sky commentator Martin Brundle thinks venues like Mugello and the Nurburgring are potential replacements for the cancelled Melbourne race and perhaps also Brazil. “There […]
Mercedes set to announce Russell for 2022
Jul.12 (GMM) Mercedes is poised to announce the signing of George Russell for 2022 and beyond, according to a growing number of authoritative sources. British commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft, as well as 1996 world champion Damon Hill, all admit they are expecting the news to be made official at the British GP this […]
Ricciardo to use home simulator to improve
Jul.12 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo may be changing his tune about e-sports. A year ago, before switching to McLaren, the highly regarded Australian driver said of the growing trend for at-home, online racing: “I’ll leave that to the younger generations.” One of those younger, e-sports-savvy drivers is Ricciardo’s 21-year-old McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who is easily […]
Hamilton will not choose 2022 teammate – Alonso
Jul.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso doubts that his former teammate Lewis Hamilton will have a say about who he will be teamed up with next year at Mercedes. It is suggested that while Toto Wolff would like to promote George Russell for 2022 and beyond, seven time world champion Hamilton is pushing hard to keep Valtteri […]
Verstappen rumours were about ‘creating unrest’
Jul.9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has rubbished speculation that Mercedes’ latest news has ‘closed the door’ to the German team for star Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. Marko, the top Austrian official at Red Bull, admitted he was surprised when Toto Wolff announced at the Red Bull Ring last weekend that Lewis Hamilton is staying […]