Jun.27 (GMM) Williams boss Jost Capito thinks George Russell would be “very happy” to stay with the famous British team in 2022. However, the 23-year-old driver and Mercedes junior looks likely to be promoted to the works Mercedes seat next year in Valtteri Bottas’ place. Toto Wolff denies he has already told Bottas of the […]
Wolff rules out another one-year deal for Hamilton
Jun.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ruled out a new one-year contract for Lewis Hamilton. Both the Mercedes boss and the seven time world champion have revealed this weekend in Austria that talks for a new deal are now in motion. Last year, 36-year-old Hamilton delayed the talks all the way through the winter, ultimately signing […]
Alonso intends to stay in F1 until 2024
Jun.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has indicated that he fully intends to renew his contract with Alpine. Last week, the Renault-owned team announced that Alonso’s current teammate Esteban Ocon had signed a new three-year contract, taking the Frenchman’s tenure through to 2024. When asked what he will be doing in 2024, 39-year-old Spaniard Alonso told AS […]
Red Bull to ‘question’ new pitstop speed rules
Jun.27 (GMM) Formula 1’s ever-lengthening book of rules is becoming farcical, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Reportedly due to Mercedes-instigated concerns that Red Bull has implemented automated and unsafe pitstop practices, pitstop times should be at least four tenths slower on average from Hungary onwards. Horner is exasperated. “Where does it stop?” […]
Red Bull’s reaction to engine reports ‘strange’ – Wolff
Jun.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Red Bull’s reaction to reports of in-season horsepower gains for Honda has been “strange”. Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko have already slammed suggestions by Wolff and Lewis Hamilton, as well as media reports, that the new Honda specification fitted at Paul Ricard gave Red Bull a significant boost. The […]
BWT wants Aston Martin to turn cars pink
Jun.27 (GMM) A major Aston Martin sponsor admits he is still trying to convince Lawrence Stroll to drop the new ‘British racing green’ livery. When known as Racing Point, the Silverstone based team painted its cars pink as per the branding of BWT, an Austrian water treatment company. Having re-emerged for 2021 and beyond as […]
Fallows not joining Aston Martin for ‘years’
Jun.26 (GMM) Aston Martin might not get its hands on new technical director Dan Fallows for “years”, according to Red Bull boss Christian Horner. On Friday, Red Bull shocked the Austrian GP paddock by announcing pre-emptively that Aston Martin has poached its long-time aerodynamics chief. “Dan will not be departing until the conclusion of his […]
Russian GP moving to St Petersburg – Domenicali
Jun.26 (GMM) The location of the Russian GP will move from Sochi to St Petersburg for 2023. In April and May, we reported that moves were afoot to move the annual event to a new circuit in Leningrad Oblast called Igora Drive. The reports were officially denied. However, the state-owned news agency Ria Novosti is […]
Question of Bottas or Russell for 2022 ‘open’ – Wolff
Jun.26 (GMM) The question of who Lewis Hamilton’s teammate will be in 2022 is still “open”, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. The seven time world champion said this week that his own contract talks with Wolff have now begun. Wolff said on Friday that Hamilton, 36, is “very hungry” to continue. But Hamilton […]
Mercedes pushed for pitstop clampdown – Marko
Jun.26 (GMM) Mercedes is behind a new FIA clampdown that looks set to slow down the lightening speed of title rival Red Bull’s pitstops. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, after the FIA circulated a new technical directive that on paper will add at least several tenths to the quickest pitstop times from […]
New Pirelli tyre not only due to Baku blowouts – Isola
Jun.26 (GMM) Mario Isola has played down suggestions Pirelli is introducing a new rear tyre purely because of the Baku blowouts. Formula 1’s official supplier announced in Austria that the “new rear construction”, which is designed to “improve robustness”, will be tested by teams in free practice next Friday. The aim is to race the […]
Horner scolds Hamilton for Honda engine claims
Jun.26 (GMM) Some of Lewis Hamilton’s recent statements do not comport with “reality”, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Championship leader and French GP winner Max Verstappen is clearly ahead so far this weekend on Red Bull’s home soil – and not just over a single lap. “He was as fast on the […]
Vettel helped Schumacher with Haas seat problem
Jun.25 (GMM) The mystery of why quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel peered into rival Mick Schumacher’s Haas cockpit after the French GP has been solved. On-board video emerged of Schumacher, the son of Vettel’s long-time friend and mentor Michael Schumacher, apparently inviting the Aston Martin driver to look at a detail inside his cockpit in […]
Honda will not reverse decision to quit F1 – Marko
Jun.25 (GMM) Honda will not reverse its decision to officially quit Formula 1 at the end of the year, Dr Helmut Marko insists. Although quiet in the media, the issue of the sport’s next engine regulations for 2025 and beyond is bubbling along in the background. Officials had hoped to lay out the new rules […]
Sauber’s deals with Alfa Romeo, Vasseur in doubt
Jun.25 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is celebrating the anniversary of its 1910 founding this weekend with ‘111’ on-livery Formula 1 branding. However, Hinwil based Sauber’s naming deal with the iconic Ferrari-linked car manufacturer reportedly expires at the end of the season. “Alfa Romeo has apparently not yet decided to continue (with Sauber) in 2022,” said authoritative […]
Red Bull 2022 driver lineup firmer than Mercedes’
Jun.25 (GMM) Red Bull’s driver lineup appears all but set in stone for 2022, with Sergio Perez apparently right on track for a new contract. The experienced Mexican, who replaced Alex Albon for this season, received high praise both in the media and from Dr Helmut Marko for helping championship leader Max Verstappen to win […]
F1 system to allow mass crowds ‘works’ – Marko
Jun.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has allayed fears about spectators returning to Formula 1 circuits en masse. This weekend at Red Bull’s Austrian GP venue, just 15,000 spectators are allowed under the current local restrictions. That said, 78-year-old Marko was still seen posing for a selfie with a fan without a mask on Thursday. “FOM […]
Williams ‘hasn’t evolved with Formula 1’ – FX Demaison
Jun.24 (GMM) Williams needs a total overhaul to bring it up to modern Formula 1 standards. That is not the claim of a critical observer, but of the once-great British team’s new technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison. Better known as ‘FX’, Demaison was appointed by new team boss and former Volkswagen colleague Jost Capito in March […]
History repeats as Hamilton dominance challenged – Lauda
Jun.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may have reached the point in a great Formula 1 driver’s career when a younger rival threatens his status as the best on the grid. “It was the same with Prost against my father,” Mathias Lauda, whose father was the great triple world champion and F1 legend Niki Lauda, told Servus […]
Red Bull aiming for ‘five in a row’ – Marko
Jun.24 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull could make it “five in a row” starting this weekend at home in Austria. “The atmosphere in the team is relaxed and we’re looking forward to our home grand prix,” Red Bull’s F1 supremo told Servus TV, as the world of Formula 1 converges on the Red […]