Jun.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s return to Formula 1 can be compared with the comeback of another F1 legend, according to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg. Before Rosberg was paired with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, he shared the same German team with Schumacher when the seven time world champion made his return to the sport after […]
Mazepin makes Schumacher hard to assess – Villeneuve
Jun.1 (GMM) Because Mick Schumacher is sharing a team with controversial fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin, “We don’t really know how good he is”. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who said the 22-year-old son of his former title rival Michael Schumacher is doing the best he can under the circumstances. […]
Mugello eyes return to F1 calendar
May 31 (GMM) As both Stefano Domenicali and Toto Wolff visited the Italian circuit in Tuscany, Mugello has declared its readiness to host another round of the Formula 1 world championship. Last year, the Ferrari-owned circuit stepped in at short notice amid the covid-related race cancellations. Now, F1 CEO Domenicali, and Mercedes boss Wolff, were […]
Verstappen ‘still makes small mistakes’ – Wolff
May 31 (GMM) Toto Wolff has dismissed Max Verstappen’s latest comments as nothing more than “entertainment”, and says the Dutchman is still making “mistakes”. It is just the latest chapter in the rising tension between Mercedes, Red Bull and their respective number 1 drivers as the 2021 title battle heats up. After winning at Monaco, […]
50 Mercedes staff heading to Red Bull – report
May 31 (GMM) A staggering 50 members of Mercedes’ F1 engine division is switching allegiances to the new Red Bull Powertrains operation. That is the news from the highly authoritative Auto Motor und Sport, as it published details of Red Bull’s impressive preparations to take over from departing engine supplier Honda after 2021. “They have […]
Ricciardo should not ‘give up’ – Marko
May 31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has urged struggling former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo not to “give up”. After being lapped by his teammate Lando Norris at Monaco, Ricciardo has now told L’Equipe that his disenchantment dates all the way back to 2018 – his final year at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. “It […]
Wolff’s protest threat ‘strange’ – Marko
May 31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Toto Wolff’s position on flexible rear wings in 2021 as “a bit strange”. After the FIA said it would change the flexibility tests from Paul Ricard, Wolff warned that Mercedes could launch a protest this weekend at Baku. “We find it all a bit strange,” Red Bull’s […]
Marko rules out F1 return for Daniil Kvyat
May 31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has ruled out a return to Red Bull’s Formula 1 camp for Daniil Kvyat. “Definitely not,” said the 79-year-old Austrian, when asked if the Russian and former Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri driver has a chance of a Red Bull comeback. “We are focused on working with our […]
Marko moving Tsunoda from UK to Italy
May 31 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda is moving to Italy to correct the wayward start to his Formula 1 career. Red Bull’s F1 supremo Dr Helmut Marko kicked off the year by hailing the interesting character and obvious speed of the Japanese rookie. But Tsunoda has so far proved erratic on track and explosive on the […]
Spectators set for return to F1 tracks
May 31 (GMM) With 135,000 spectators gathering for the Indy 500 last Sunday, the question of how many fans can attend the next races in Formula 1 is now in the spotlight. While this weekend’s grand prix at Baku will be a ‘ghost race’, it is believed three areas of 5,000 people will be able […]
‘Crazy’ to expect Vettel to quit F1 – Villeneuve
May 31 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says the “craziest question” he is ever asked is why Formula 1 drivers do not instantly decide to quit once their performance starts to slide. The 1997 world champion admits it has been “sad” to watch quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel continue to struggle after switching from Ferrari to Aston […]
Too early to discuss Raikkonen future – Vasseur
May 31 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen may finally be coming to the end of the road in Formula 1. At 41, the 2007 world champion is the oldest and most experienced driver in F1 history, but he is now under increasing pressure from his Alfa Romeo teammate Antonio Giovinazzi. The Finn told Spain’s AS newspaper that […]
Red Bull makes more noise about poaching staff – Binotto
May 28 (GMM) Red Bull has a different approach to poaching Formula 1 staff from rival teams, according to Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. As the energy drink owned outfit sets up its new Red Bull Powertrains operation for 2022, much has been made of Red Bull’s successful poaching of at least 15 senior members of […]
George Russell a ‘future world champion’ – Alonso
May 28 (GMM) George Russell is a “future champion”, according to two-time title winner and F1 legend Fernando Alonso. As they swapped helmets for their personal collections at Monaco, Alonso wrote on his helmet to the Williams driver: “You rock! Future world champ”. Russell, 23, captioned the photo on Twitter: “This one means a lot. […]
F1 responds to criticism of Monaco TV coverage
May 28 (GMM) Formula 1 has responded to criticism of the live television coverage of last Sunday’s Monaco GP. During the otherwise processional street race, one clear highlight was when Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly went wheel-to-wheel at full throttle up the hill alongside the famous Beau Rivage terraces. But just as the action was […]
Wing protest war could kick off at Baku – Rosberg
May 28 (GMM) Nico Rosberg thinks it is more than possible that title rivals Mercedes and Red Bull will fire protests at one another ahead of next weekend’s Baku GP. Dr Helmut Marko has warned his Austrian countryman Toto Wolff to expect a counter-protest if Mercedes lodges a protest against Red Bull’s allegedly ‘bendy’ rear […]
Mercedes needs new rules for motivation boost – Wolff
May 28 (GMM) Mercedes is fully motivated to race its utter domination of the ‘power unit’ era since 2014 into the all-new regulatory period that begins in 2022. Team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff admitted that sky-high motivation is always difficult for a team that is as successful as Mercedes has been. “You can also […]
McLaren dropping Gulf livery for Baku
May 28 (GMM) McLaren has confirmed reports that the team will definitely revert to its usual papaya and blue livery for Baku and beyond. The Woking based team stunned fans with the striking ‘Gulf Oil’ livery at Monaco, but a source told us on Thursday that “we’ll be back to normal” at Baku. That is […]
F1 should consider ‘special’ Monaco tyre – Alonso
May 28 (GMM) Formula 1 should consider introducing a special tyre or special rules to spice up races like Monaco. The size and speed of the current cars, multiplied by the tight and twisty Monaco street layout, resulted in a particularly processional race last weekend. “On city streets, the tyres are very important – especially […]
Lando Norris says social media ‘sucks’
May 28 (GMM) Lando Norris appears to have lost his cool with the new world of social media. To some, the 21-year-old epitomises the new and youthful internet age, as he streams his video gaming on Twitch and has over three million Instagram followers. But Norris actually thinks social media “sucks” – and as he […]