Nov.13 (GMM) Most drivers on the grid would not be able to beat Lewis Hamilton in equal machinery. That is the view of Carlos Sainz, hot on the heels of Max Verstappen’s assertion that 90 percent of the drivers in Formula 1 would win in a Mercedes. “I agree with Max that 90 percent of […]
Haas getting closer to signing 2021 drivers
Nov.13 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas is getting closer to announcing its driver lineup for 2021. It is an open secret in Formula 1 circles that the American team is set to sign rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. They will replace Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, who are eyeing potential moves to Indycar. “It […]
Vettel admits Ecclestone contract advice
Nov.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted that former F1 supremo and friend Bernie Ecclestone helped him to negotiate his 2021 switch to Aston Martin. “I really put pressure on team owner Lawrence Stroll to take Sebastian,” 90-year-old Ecclestone, who is no longer F1 CEO, told Sport1 last month. And in the last few days, F1 […]
Melbourne hopes for 50,000 F1 spectators
Nov.12 (GMM) Melbourne is targeting crowds of up to 50,000 per day as the Australian GP returns to Formula 1 next year following March’s cancellation due to covid-19. F1’s governing FIA confirmed this week that Albert Park will return to the top of the 2021 calendar next March. Race boss Andrew Westacott denied that it […]
Verstappen ‘not an option’ for Mercedes – Wolff
Nov.12 (GMM) Signing up Max Verstappen would not be good for Mercedes, according to team boss Toto Wolff. Most pundits agree that pairing Red Bull’s Dutch driver with six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton would be exciting. But Wolff told the Austrian broadcaster ORF: “Max is not an option for Mercedes. “His presence would create an […]
Tost uncomfortable about Honda engine uncertainty
Nov.12 (GMM) Franz Tost admits the engine situation for Red Bull’s two Formula 1 teams is one “we would rather not be in”. Although Mercedes backs the energy drink company’s plans to go it alone with Honda’s IP and operations post-2021, the other manufacturers Ferrari and Renault are not prepared to agree to a development […]
Mercedes ‘making F1 boring’ – Norris
Nov.12 (GMM) Mercedes’ dominance is “making Formula 1 boring”, according to McLaren driver Lando Norris. Max Verstappen caused a stir this week when he said that “90 percent” of the drivers currently on the grid could win in Lewis Hamilton’s black car. Norris, though, doesn’t want to say that he thinks he could beat the […]
Three F1 faces not present in Istanbul
Nov.12 (GMM) Three familiar faces will be missing from the Istanbul paddock on Thursday. Amid a string of infections for the British team, acting Williams boss Simon Roberts has now tested positive for covid-19. “Simon is feeling otherwise well but will now isolate for the required 10 day period as per UK national guidelines whilst […]
St Petersburg track now ready for F1
Nov.12 (GMM) A circuit in St Petersburg appears to be ramping up its preparations for Formula 1. In February, we reported that the Hermann Tilke-penned Igora Drive circuit could soon begin to annually alternate the Russian GP with current venue Sochi. “When Igora Drive receives the status of a F1 circuit, it is possible to […]
Ferrari will ‘write off’ 2021 – Wolff
Nov.12 (GMM) Ferrari will “completely write off” the 2021 season, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff predicts. Ferrari, having badly underperformed in 2020, is building a new engine for next season but Wolff thinks the Maranello team will put most of its attention next year into the all-new rules and cars for 2022. The aerodynamic rules […]
Liberty shaping up to sell Formula 1 – Ecclestone
Nov.12 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone thinks Liberty Media could be shaping up to sell Formula 1. The American company took over the sport in 2017, having bought it for some $4.6 billion. Ecclestone, who turned 90 recently, was ousted as CEO. Now headed by Chase Carey but with Stefano Domenicali to take over from 2021, Formula […]
Montreal unsure F1’s full 2021 calendar will be raced
Nov.11 (GMM) Canadian GP promoter Francois Dumontier is not so sure Formula 1’s newly-published 2021 calendar will play out exactly as intended. As the unprecedented 23-date schedule was revealed, F1 CEO Chase Carey said the sport is “planning” for a “close to normal” calendar next year. “We expect our agreements to be honoured,” he said. […]
Albon would not accept Alpha Tauri demotion
Nov.11 (GMM) Alex Albon has denied that he might be happy to be demoted to Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team. The struggling British-born Thai driver caused a stir this week when he was spotted in Turkey filming for an Alpha Tauri fashion advert alongside Pierre Gasly. It triggered speculation that he might return to […]
Hamilton could retire after 2021 – Chilton
Nov.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could retire after becoming F1’s first ever eight time world champion. That is the view of Max Chilton, an Indycar driver who raced in Formula 1 for Marussia in 2013 and 2014. Hamilton, who will certainly equal Michael Schumacher’s all-time title record with his seventh world championship this year, is yet […]
Wolff to remain Mercedes team boss in 2021
Nov.11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has announced that he will remain Mercedes team principal in 2021. For months, the 48-year-old Austrian has been hinting at a new, more ‘hands off’ overseeing role for the future, which may explain why Lewis Hamilton is yet to commit to a new deal beyond 2020. But Wolff has now told […]
No two-day race weekend format for Dutch GP
Nov.11 (GMM) Formula 1 is not moving to a two-day race weekend format in 2021, according to Zandvoort circuit director Robert van Overdijk. This year, the Dutch GP promoters opted for cancellation amid the corona crisis rather than a spectator-less ‘ghost race’. And now, van Overdijk says Zandvoort is counting on the ticket sales of […]
Turkey hoping to host 23rd race in 2021
Nov.10 (GMM) Formula 1 is still not ready to confirm the accuracy of a leaked version of next year’s race calendar. Recent reports suggested the 2021 schedule will have an unprecedented 23 grands prix, and now media sources have published a version of it – starting in Australia on March 21 and ending in early […]
Rookie lineup a ‘mammoth task’ for Haas – Schumacher
Nov.10 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has admitted that running an all-rookie driver lineup next year is “a risk”. It is now widely expected that Haas is poised to announce that Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher will race alongside his fellow healthily-backed rookie Nikita Mazepin next year. It would be a stark change of policy for the small […]
Binotto confirms plan to skip races in 2020, 2021
Nov.10 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has confirmed reports that he will be absent this weekend in Istanbul. We reported recently that sporting director Laurent Mekies will serve as acting team boss in Turkey while Binotto stays at the factory to focus on preparations for 2021. “As far as my role is concerned, I have to find […]
Verstappen right to be ‘realistic’ about 2021 chances
Nov.10 (GMM) Robert Doornbos thinks Max Verstappen is right to suspect that he will also not win the 2021 title with Red Bull. Dutchman Verstappen has been quoted this week as doubting that the covid-minded rules for next season will give Red Bull-Honda the improvement it needs to take on Mercedes. “Max is just being […]