May 25 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he won’t be playing Lewis Hamilton’s “games” at forthcoming Formula 1 races. Before struggling all weekend at Monaco and losing his world championship lead to his Dutch rival, Mercedes’ Hamilton insisted he was worried about the chances of an on-track clash. Verstappen, after lifting the trophy aloft, then hit […]
Bottas out, Russell in for 2022 – source
May 24 (GMM) The signs are growing ever clearer about the likelihood of a driver change at Mercedes for 2022. During Sunday’s broadcast of the Monaco GP, the commentator for Russia’s Match TV said a source has now told him that Valtteri Bottas is losing his seat. “I will not disclose the source,” said Alexey […]
Ferrari denies taking gamble with Leclerc gearbox
May 24 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has denied Ferrari took too great a risk by not changing Charles Leclerc’s gearbox after his post-pole Monaco crash. On the way to the grid on Sunday, the local hero only got to turn 6 until he told his team over the radio that his gearbox had indeed suffered a […]
Mercedes ‘makes mistakes under pressure’ – Marko
May 24 (GMM) When Mercedes is under pressure, the dominant team of the ‘power unit’ era makes mistakes. That is the gleeful conclusion of Dr Helmut Marko, after Max Verstappen won the Monaco GP at a canter and took over the lead in the drivers’ world championship. “Max has reached a different level of maturity,” […]
Wolff issues Red Bull protest threat for Baku
May 24 (GMM) Toto Wolff has issued his clearest warning yet that race protests are looming large over the next Formula 1 race in Baku. The Mercedes boss hinted in Monaco last week that the FIA’s delay in strengthening rear wing flexibility tests until after the ultra-fast street race in Azerbaijan could hand title rival […]
‘Confused’ Ricciardo much slower than Norris in Monaco
May 23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits he is “confused” after looking a full second per lap off teammate Lando Norris’ pace this weekend at Monaco. The Australian won the prestigious race in 2018, two years after almost doing the same at the wheel of a Red Bull. But as the decade-younger Norris shines in 2021, […]
Todt visits Michael Schumacher ‘twice a month’
May 23 (GMM) Jean Todt says he visits F1 legend Michael Schumacher “at least twice a month”. The FIA president and former Ferrari boss has maintained his close relationship with the seven time world champion ever since Schumacher suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in late 2013. “I see Michael at least twice […]
Wolff tips Schumacher to stay in F1
May 23 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has seen enough to predict “a career in Formula 1” for Michael Schumacher’s son. Mick Schumacher, 22, is already on the grid, and a crash-strewn Monaco weekend aside he is clearly showing the way to his Haas teammate Nikita Mazepin. “I think a lot of Mick,” Mercedes team […]
Imola could secure five-year F1 race deal
May 23 (GMM) Imola appears poised to seal a long-term and permanent place on the Formula 1 calendar. For the past two years, the Italian circuit and former regular San Marino GP host has stepped in at short notice to replace postponed or cancelled races due to the covid crisis. The venue’s reward may be […]
Mazepin smiling as ‘new approach’ pays off
May 23 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin allowed himself a rare-in-2021 smile as the beleaguered Russian rookie finally overshadowed teammate Mick Schumacher around the famous streets of Monaco. While Schumacher crashed his Haas twice and had to sit out qualifying as a result, 22-year-old Mazepin had a smoother and faster weekend even if he still lines up […]
Leclerc gets away with post-pole Monaco crash
May 23 (GMM) Charles Leclerc appears to have gotten away with a hefty qualifying crash – both in terms of damage to his gearbox, and the condemnation of Formula 1. When the Ferrari driver crashed in the dying moments of Q3, the red flag prevented his rivals from completing their final runs and therefore locked […]
Hamilton messaging can’t be ‘political’ – Todt
May 23 (GMM) Jean Todt says he is “fine” with Lewis Hamilton’s activism within Formula 1 – “as long as it’s not political”. Seven time world champion Hamilton insists he is even more motivated at present as he is using his platform in F1 to promote equity and diversity more broadly. His approach has been […]
Bottas to ‘prioritise’ his interests, not Mercedes’
May 23 (GMM) If he had to choose between his own interests or the interests of the team, Valtteri Bottas says he would steer away from the latter. Former F1 driver David Coulthard believes he senses something has changed in the attitude of Lewis Hamilton’s current teammate in recent days. “I wonder if he’s actually […]
Leclerc not Verstappen’s ‘real opponent’ – Marko
May 23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has reminded Max Verstappen who his “real opponent” is for Sunday’s Monaco GP. While all the buzz is about Charles Leclerc’s surprise pole and end-of-Q3 crash, Red Bull’s Verstappen qualified behind the Ferrari on Saturday – but a full five places ahead of his championship rival Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton […]
Furious Vasseur slams ‘joke’ rear wing saga
May 22 (GMM) Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur admits he is “angry” with the FIA’s clampdown on flexible rear wings, describing the new situation as a “joke”. Some see the new saga as just the latest salvo in the intense title fight between Red Bull and Mercedes. “Mercedes pushed this thing with the rear wings,” […]
Indy 500 spectator Magnussen eyes Indy test
May 22 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is pushing for an Indycar test, after witnessing first-hand the opening days of practice for the fabled Indy 500. The Dane is racing for Chip Ganassi’s sports car team this year, and so he stopped by at Indianapolis and listened in to the action on fellow former F1 driver Marcus […]
Ferrari’s Sainz ‘dreaming’ of Monaco pole
May 22 (GMM) Carlos Sainz does not expect a red car to be on pole position at Monaco, even though Ferrari dominated Thursday practice on the fabled streets. Alfa Romeo driver and Ferrari academy member Antonio Giovinazzi says he was not surprised by the sudden surge in form by the Maranello team at Monaco. “No, […]
Mercedes quits tyre test over budget cap concerns
May 22 (GMM) Mercedes has pulled out of next week’s Pirelli tyre test at Paul Ricard, citing concerns about staying under the 2021 budget cap. After Valtteri Bottas’ huge crash with George Russell at Imola, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the hefty repair bill means the team may need to “limit upgrades” of its 2021 […]
Angry Marko says Tsunoda must learn ‘discipline’
May 22 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted his frustration with Alpha Tauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda. Already after Imola, the 79-year-old Red Bull supremo called Red Bull’s Japanese junior “cocky” for making a “really stupid mistake” in qualifying. Now, Honda-backed Tsunoda has once again attracted Marko’s ire for clouting the fabled Monaco barriers on his […]
Monaco race ‘will never be exciting’ – Hamilton
May 22 (GMM) As the Monaco layout stands today, the most prestigious race on the Formula 1 calendar “will never be exciting for the fans”. That is the view of seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, referring to the fact that the ultra-fast and high-downforce cars of today have outgrown the fabled and twisty street […]