May 7 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he will use intense criticism of his enemies to his “advantage” as he continues his troubled first season in Formula 1. For a spate of controversial on-track and off-track incidents past and present, the 22-year-old Russian has been subject to near-unprecedented levels of vitriol for a F1 personality on […]
Alonso also hurt knee, shoulder in cycling crash
May 7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is back at “almost 100 percent” in the wake of his pre-season cycling crash. As he prepared for his return to Formula 1, the 39-year-old Spaniard was hit by a car while cycling and is still carrying metal plates in his jaw from surgery. “It is not something that I […]
Aston Martin ‘demoralised’ under Stroll reign
May 7 (GMM) Engineers at Aston Martin have become “extremely demoralised” after new team owner Lawrence Stroll’s fast-track plan for a competitive car backfired. That is the view of former F1 team boss Colin Kolles, who has been firing barbs at both Stroll and Aston Martin shareholder Toto Wolff recently. For instance, he said Mercedes […]
‘New battlefield’ opens between Red Bull, Mercedes
May 7 (GMM) A “new battlefield” has opened up in Mercedes’ championship fight with Red Bull. After signing up Ben Hodgkinson, the energy drink owned team has now followed that up with five new senior additions to its new engine operations for 2022 and beyond – and all six of them come from Mercedes. “Red […]
Bottas adds expletive to Mercedes axe rumours
May 7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas had an expletive ready when he was asked in Barcelona about rumours he could be about to be replaced by George Russell. “There’s always bullsh*t around, that’s part of the sport,” said the Finn. Bottas then aimed fire at what many believe may be the source of the speculation, especially […]
Ecclestone slams F1 ‘sprint qualifying’ format
May 6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says Formula 1’s new sprint qualifying format is “complete nonsense”. Earlier, before the F1 Commission rubber-stamped the 100km Saturday qualifying race that will be trialled on three occasions in 2021, the former F1 supremo sounded supportive of the move. “Why not?” he told Sport1. “Let’s see if the fans accept […]
Promoter ‘not ready’ to confirm Russia GP switch
May 6 (GMM) The promoter of the annual Russian GP has refused to confirm or deny speculation that the race will be relocated from Sochi to a new circuit in St Petersburg in 2022. According to the reports, the race will take place at the new Igora Drive venue in 2022 before returning to Sochi […]
Wolff says Bottas-Russell swap rumours ‘nonsense’
May 6 (GMM) Toto Wolff has dismissed as “nonsense” reports suggesting he may replace Valtteri Bottas with George Russell before the end of the 2021 season. When asked about the rumours by Osterreich newspaper, including the assertion that Lewis Hamilton is ‘almost always’ ahead of Bottas, the Mercedes team boss replied: “Nonsense. “Bottas is really […]
F1 says Barcelona staying on calendar – Sainz
May 5 (GMM) Formula 1 has made it “very clear” that Barcelona’s future on the annual calendar is not in doubt, according to Carlos Sainz. Recently, when it emerged that Miami would finally be added to the schedule in 2022, rumours emerged that the race could be at the expense of the Spanish GP – […]
‘Not many changes’ for Ferrari in 2021 – Sainz
May 5 (GMM) A new floor will still not be added to Ferrari’s race package this weekend in Barcelona. The Italian team tested the component in practice at Portimao but did not use it in qualifying or the race. But Corriere della Sera correspondent Daniele Sparisci said new parts will be added to the 2021 […]
Sainz learning to ignore criticism in F1
May 5 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is learning to ignore those who criticise Formula 1 drivers. The Ferrari driver was asked what he thought of recent criticism of his famous Spanish countryman Fernando Alonso’s return to F1 this season. “I am amazed how quickly people draw conclusions,” Sainz responded. “They do not realise the […]
Spectators to attend Spanish, Monaco GPs
May 5 (GMM) Spectators will be watching from the grandstands at the next two grands prix in Spain and Monaco. The Circuit de Catalunya, scene of this weekend’s race in Barcelona, announced that although the general public will not be allowed access, plans have been drawn up for a crowd of 1000 people on Sunday. […]
2022 Russia GP venue switch confirmed then denied
May 5 (GMM) The relocation of the Russian GP became semi-official late on Tuesday – before the information was quickly denied. We reported last weekend that concrete plans are afoot to have the race moved to a new circuit in Leningrad Oblast, Igora Drive, after this year’s Sochi event. On social media, someone posted a […]
Hamilton the stand-out 2021 driver so far – Sainz
May 5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is already emerging as the standout driver of the 2021 season, according to Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. This year’s title battle is being billed as a head-to-head between the seven time world champion and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. “The truth is that I was surprised how easily Hamilton passed Verstappen […]
Schumacher, Horner reject mid-season Bottas axe rumours
May 5 (GMM) Rumours that Valtteri Bottas could lose his Mercedes seat before the end of the season do not “make sense”, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper quoted a team source as saying there is “unrest” at Mercedes about the Finn’s performance. “He is not up to it, which […]
Bottas ‘lacking confidence’ for title fight – Sirotkin
May 4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas appears to be “lacking some confidence” as his teammate and Max Verstappen race away at the top of the drivers’ standings in 2021. That is the view of former Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin, as he assesses why Bottas has not only fallen behind Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen but even McLaren’s […]
Norris posing ‘mammoth task’ for Ricciardo – Glock
May 4 (GMM) Lando Norris is “the man of the midfield” at present, and he presents a “mammoth task” for his experienced McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo. That is the view of former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock, who has been impressed with Norris’ ability to stand out amid the sport’s “very competitive” midfield of 2021. […]
Vettel ‘hired to make Lance Stroll look better’
May 4 (GMM) Two faces familiar to the F1 paddock have questioned the motives behind Aston Martin’s signing of quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel this year. The Lawrence Stroll-owned team signed up 33-year-old Vettel despite his poor final seasons at Ferrari, who decided to replace him for 2021 and beyond with Carlos Sainz. Former HRT […]
Wolff ‘can’t imagine’ Hamilton leaving
May 4 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he “can’t imagine” Mercedes’ collaboration with Lewis Hamilton ending once the driver’s current one-year contract expires late this year. The seven time world champion caused a stir last weekend when he clearly expressed his desire to keep racing beyond 2021 – even though he recently agreed only to a […]
Abiteboul back in F1 with Alpine-linked company
May 4 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul will remain connected with the world of Formula 1. At the end of last year, Renault – having decided to re-brand as Alpine – suddenly ousted its French team boss as Davide Brivio arrived from MotoGP and Marcin Budkowski was promoted. Little has been heard about 43-year-old Abiteboul since then […]