Oct.29 (GMM) Red Bull has set a deadline for clarity about its engine plans for 2022. ‘Plan A’ is clearly to take over the IP of departing engine partner Honda’s technology and operations, but Dr Helmut Marko is demanding that a corresponding ‘freeze’ be put on engine development up and down pitlane. “It’s postponed,” he […]
Ferrari not aiming for 2021 title – Binotto
Oct.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s goal for 2021 is a return to podium positions, according to team boss Mattia Binotto. The Maranello team has struggled in 2020, but consecutive car upgrades over the last three races culminated in P4 for Charles Leclerc in Portimao. Binotto said: “We have to check if that was because of the car […]
Teams agree to $30m driver salary cap
Oct.29 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to impose a salary cap for Formula 1 drivers. The Daily Mail and other sources report that teams will only be allowed to spend $30 million on drivers from 2023. The teams reportedly voted unanimously for the measure in Monday’s key meeting in Portimao, during which the reverse grid […]
Authorities ban spectators from Imola
Oct.29 (GMM) At the eleventh hour, local authorities have banned spectators from this weekend’s race at Imola. We reported on Monday that despite the promoters being earlier granted permission for 13,000 spectators, rising covid infections meant that was now in doubt. Indeed, Formula Imola announced on Wednesday that “negotiations on the interpretation of the prime […]
Toto Wolff defends F1’s ‘pay drivers’
Oct.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has defended some of F1’s so-called ‘pay drivers’, insisting their disparaging image is unfair. “Just name one driver who doesn’t deserve to be here this season,” the Mercedes team boss told motorsport-magazin.com. It is no surprise that Wolff, a minor Aston Martin shareholder, is defending Lance Stroll, the son of Racing […]
Abiteboul denies Ocon-Gasly rumours
Oct.28 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has denied rumours suggesting Renault might oust Esteban Ocon. Rumours in Portimao had claimed the works team is so disappointed with Ocon’s performance on his return to Formula 1 this year that Renault is now eyeing fellow Frenchman and Monza winner Pierre Gasly for 2021. Team boss Abiteboul denies it. “Next […]
Ferrari not ready to discuss Red Bull engine ‘freeze’
Oct.28 (GMM) Red Bull’s plans to run its own engine program from 2022 have hit a snag. In a key meeting in Portimao early this week, the sport’s stakeholders discussed Red Bull’s request that engine performance be frozen from 2022 so that the energy drink company is able to run the Honda engines for itself. […]
Binotto ‘very happy’ with Sainz for 2021
Oct.28 (GMM) Mattia Binotto remains “very happy” with Ferrari’s choice of successor for struggling quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. The fabled Maranello team has signed up Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who last Sunday stunned the F1 world by briefly leading the race in Portimao in his McLaren. “It was definitely a fantastic start and a great […]
Rio de Janeiro F1 plans hit environmental snag
Oct.28 (GMM) Rio de Janeiro’s hopes of securing a Formula 1 race have been dealt a blow. Earlier this month, F1 CEO Chase Carey wrote to the Brazilian city’s mayor to inform him that a deal with race promoters has been reached in principle. “These agreements are ready for execution and announcement by Formula 1 […]
Ecclestone says drivers still call for advice
Oct.28 (GMM) On the occasion of his 90th birthday, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone still thinks the move to today’s power unit regulations was “insane”. “When these hybrid engines were introduced in 2014, I said the rulers were insane because Mercedes would win everything,” he told Blick newspaper. “Until then, the fans loved the sport, […]
Mercedes ups Aston Martin stake to 20pc
Oct.28 (GMM) The collaboration between Mercedes and Aston Martin is being expanded. For months, there has been speculation that Mercedes’ F1 team boss Toto Wolff, who is already an Aston Martin shareholder, is getting fascinatingly close to Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll. Stroll plans to rebrand the Silverstone based team as Aston Martin for 2021. […]
F1 plans ‘normal’ 23-race calendar for 2021
Oct.28 (GMM) There could be as many as an unprecedented 23 races next year, as reports about the 2021 calendar emerge following a key meeting. All the sport’s stakeholders, including FIA president Jean Todt and even Chase Carey’s 2021 successor Stefano Domenicali, got together for a six-hour meeting early this week in Portimao. Afterwards, RTL […]
‘Stupid’ Norris apologises to Stroll, Hamilton
Oct.28 (GMM) Lando Norris has issued an apology after making comments about rivals Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll in Portimao. Following a crash, the McLaren driver described Stroll as a “c**t” and a “d***head”, but after the race he also played down Hamilton’s record-setting successes. “He has to beat one or two other drivers, that’s […]
No mid-year changes to ‘penalty points’ system – Masi
Oct.27 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi has ruled out making any immediate changes to the controversial ‘penalty points’ system. Multiple drivers have complained in recent days and weeks about the system whereby a range of errors and infractions – including breaching ‘track limits’ – earn them points on their super licence, which culminate in […]
Leclerc car developments slowing Vettel – Villeneuve
Oct.27 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve thinks all of Ferrari’s car development in 2020 has been done to suit Charles Leclerc. His comments come after team boss Mattia Binotto denied suggestions that the departing Sebastian Vettel is struggling because his car is no longer identical to Leclerc’s. But 1997 world champion Villeneuve thinks a better explanation is […]
Key departures would weaken Mercedes – Schumacher
Oct.27 (GMM) No Formula 1 team will be able to rival Mercedes’ continuing dominance in 2021, according to Ralf Schumacher. Red Bull is bullish about its hopes of closing the gap to the sport’s consistently best team and Lewis Hamilton, but former F1 driver Schumacher thinks any challenge will actually have to wait until 2022. […]
Portimao won by ‘Mercedes, not by Hamilton’
Oct.27 (GMM) Opinions remain split over how much credit Lewis Hamilton deserves for racing past Michael Schumacher’s all-time F1 record for race victories in Portimao. That is not because he is not a statistical great, with a record 92 wins to his name and on course to match Schumacher’s best ever tally of seven world […]
Hulkenberg ‘waiting for call’ from Helmut Marko
Oct.27 (GMM) Alex Albon only has “two or three races” to prove to Red Bull that he should keep his race seat for 2021. It is now an open secret that the energy drink company’s main F1 team is contemplating going outside of its own driver program by potentially signing Nico Hulkenberg or Sergio Perez […]
Red Bull warns Verstappen over ‘mongol’ insult
Oct.27 (GMM) Red Bull has told Max Verstappen to be more careful with his insults against rivals in future. The Dutch driver’s radio cries of “retard” and “mongol” after a clash with Lance Stroll in Portimao is attracting international attention. “Was the whole team briefed on your We Race As One initiative?” wondered Unro Janchiv, […]
Matching Ricciardo’s pace a ‘long process’ – Ocon
Oct.26 (GMM) Esteban Ocon admits it has been a “long process” to get back up to speed in Formula 1. In Portugal, rumours swirled in the paddock that Renault might look to another Frenchman – Pierre Gasly – for 2021, as Ocon’s results alongside the departing Daniel Ricciardo have been disappointing. However, 24-year-old Ocon finished […]