Apr.29 (GMM) Alex Zanardi is “conscious” and “gradually getting better”, his son Niccolo has told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Little has been reported about the condition of the former Formula 1 and Indy driver after his collision with a truck during a hand-cycling race some ten months ago. Zanardi, 54, suffered head and facial […]
Spectators to return to Formula 1 soon
Apr.29 (GMM) The return of spectators to Formula 1 may now be looming large, despite the fact that three of the next four grands prix will definitely be ‘ghost races’. The optimism also comes despite the official cancellation of the Canadian GP, whose June event will be replaced by 2020 substitute venue Istanbul. The good […]
Aston Martin backs away from F1 legal action
Apr.29 (GMM) Aston Martin has backed away after threatening legal action over Formula 1’s aerodynamic rule changes for 2021. Boss Otmar Szafnauer, presumably acting on behalf of billionaire team owner Lawrence Stroll, had hinted he suspects Liberty Media may have been part of the push to specifically disadvantage the Mercedes-like ‘low rake’ teams. But Auto […]
Steiner not critical of Schumacher’s ‘cautious’ approach
Apr.29 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says he will not try to stop Mick Schumacher from being so “cautious” as he begins his Formula 1 career with Haas this season. While Nikita Mazepin has been under fire for his off-track antics and on-track incidents, fellow rookie and teammate Schumacher is taking a much more measured approach to […]
Haas’ future in F1 ‘secure’ – Steiner
Apr.28 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down suggestions that the Haas project may be coming to an end in Formula 1. It is said that the small American team only started the 2021 season – its sixth in Formula 1 – because of Dmitry Mazepin’s sponsorship injection and extra support by Ferrari. Haas is treading […]
Mercedes trying to delay Hodgkinson move – Marko
Apr.28 (GMM) Mercedes is “trying everything” to delay Ben Hodgkinson’s move to head up the new Red Bull engine program, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Hodgkinson has been at Mercedes for two decades, but Red Bull has managed to poach him so that he can be Red Bull Powertrains’ first technical director. However, reports suggest […]
Sprint qualifying must ‘prove itself’ – Marko
Apr.28 (GMM) Formula 1 is open to scrapping the brand new sprint qualifying format if it does not “prove itself” this season. That is the claim of Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, following the sport’s announcement that a 100km Saturday sprint race awarding 3 points to the winner will be trialled at Silverstone, Monza […]
F1 back to 2014 performance next year – Verstappen
Apr.28 (GMM) Formula 1 cars will return to the grip levels of “2014 or 2015” next year, according to Max Verstappen. This year, with F1 performance at near record levels, the Dutchman appears to be in a head-to-head battle with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton for the title. “I believe Mercedes could be a little stronger than […]
Schumacher ‘advantage’ over Mazepin not unfair – Steiner
Apr.28 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has denied that Mick Schumacher has a “huge advantage” over fellow Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin in 2021. While 22-year-old Mazepin’s debut season on and off the track has been tumultuous so far, the similarly-aged Schumacher has had a comparatively smoother time. “I am positively surprised by the team – it’s fantastic,” […]
Hulkenberg plays down chances of replacing Vettel
Apr.28 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down rumours he might be called up to replace Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin. Quadruple world champion Vettel is still struggling for form after being ousted by Ferrari, amid rumours he might not even see out the full 2021 season. Waiting in the wings is ‘super sub’ Hulkenberg, who […]
Alonso may not be as ‘fast’ as before – Webber
Apr.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may no longer be as “fast” and “brave” as he was at the beginning of his Formula 1 career. That is the view of the Spaniard’s contemporary and friend Mark Webber, who told Marca sports newspaper that even Alonso was “worried” about returning to F1 at the age of 39. “I’m […]
Austin and Indianapolis should rotate US race – Brown
Apr.27 (GMM) Indianapolis could return to the Formula 1 calendar full-time if the existing US grand prix in Austin is put onto a new race ‘rotation’ scheme. That is the view of Zak Brown, the American boss of McLaren. He thinks the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s new owner would do a better job of promoting […]
Hulkenberg only has ‘small job’ with Mercedes
Apr.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has clarified that he only has “a small job” with Mercedes in 2021. The 33-year-old admits to feeling some pain about missing out on the plum Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen this year. “I prefer not to watch Red Bull this year or I’ll cry,” he joked to Ziggo Sport. […]
Sainz says he is ‘not slower’ than Leclerc
Apr.27 (GMM) Ferrari newcomer Carlos Sainz insists he is “not slower” than his teammate Charles Leclerc. When asked about the Maranello based team, former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said he is concerned that Ferrari already seems to be focused on 2022. “We are just starting the championship and we are already talking about next […]
Canada GP news expected ‘this week’
Apr.27 (GMM) News about the 2021 Canadian GP should be forthcoming “this week”. That is the claim of Quebec’s economics and innovation minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, amid reports regional and federal health authorities consider the Montreal race too unsafe to go ahead amid the pandemic. “The sea freight to Baku and Montreal should have left already,” […]
Domenicali comments on ‘super league’ situation
Apr.27 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali says the world of football might do well to look at how Formula 1 settled major political disputes in the past. Amid the ‘European Super League’ affair, the F1 CEO said Formula 1 has been in a similar situation before. “We had situations like this twice, where there was the risk […]
No spectators in Portugal or Barcelona – F1 CEO
Apr.27 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali admits that spectators will be locked out of the first double-header of 2021 in Portugal and Spain. The F1 CEO said that while he is happy with the television figures so far this season, “there is also an incredible desire to be physically near Formula 1”. “The problem with the public […]
Russell ‘deserves a chance’ at Mercedes – Massa
Apr.27 (GMM) George Russell is a “super driver” who “deserves a chance” to race for the works Mercedes team. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport on the occasion of his 40th birthday. When asked about Valtteri Bottas, who is struggling to match […]
Barcelona not keen on F1 ‘rotation’ idea
Apr.27 (GMM) Circuit de Catalunya boss Ramon Tremosa wants the Spanish GP to remain an annual fixture on the Formula 1 calendar. There are suggestions that, as new hosts like Miami enter the sport, some existing European races may need to head into an annual ‘rotation’ scheme. Tremosa told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper that he […]
Mazepin expects to spend ‘years’ in F1
Apr.27 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is expecting to spend “at least a few years” in Formula 1. The controversial Russian has had a tough introduction to the F1 world, under fire for both his on and off-track behaviour and incidents. However, 22-year-old Mazepin insists he is not “panicking” about that. “I am sure that I will […]