Apr.20 (GMM) 2021 is shaping up as a true head-to-head battle for the world championship, according to pundits and the international media. “The young Dutchman arrived at Imola with clear plans and sharp teeth. He leapt like a lion at the start, overtaking his toughest competitor in the first two corners,” wrote Luigi Perna in […]
Drivers ‘shouldn’t complain’ about early 2021 struggles
Apr.20 (GMM) There is “no point” complaining about a lack of pre-season testing, even if several top drivers are struggling to adapt to their 2021 cars. That is the view of Andreas Seidl, who admits that team newcomer Daniel Ricciardo is still trying to get up to speed with his on-form McLaren teammate Lando Norris. […]
Wolff is Lawrence Stroll’s ‘lap dog’ – Kolles
Apr.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, is actually billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s “lap dog”. That is the wild claim of former F1 team boss Colin Kolles, who admits he fell out with his Austrian friend Wolff some years ago. “Mr Wolff was a business partner of mine – I brought him into Formula 1, […]
Incident ‘won’t hurt Mercedes relationship’ – Russell
Apr.20 (GMM) George Russell has publicly apologised to Valtteri Bottas for lashing out after their high speed crash at Imola. After being chided by Toto Wolff, the Mercedes junior and 2021 Williams driver said on social media that he has now decided to “take responsibility”. “I apologise to Valtteri, to my team and to anyone […]
Stroll legal threat to end with ‘bloody nose’
Apr.19 (GMM) Billionaire Lawrence Stroll is probably the driving force behind Aston Martin’s current legal threats against Formula 1 authorities, according to Ralf Schumacher. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, with an opinion echoed by many of his peers, says Aston Martin threatening to sue over the 2021 aerodynamic rule tweaks is “incomprehensible”. The team has […]
Alonso admits struggling on F1 return
Apr.19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has vowed to improve after a stuttering start to his return to Formula 1 this year. The 39-year-old Spaniard, a two-time champion, admits he was not at “the correct level” throughout the Imola race weekend – his second grand prix since stepping away from F1 in 2018. “I have changed teams […]
Imola now wants 2022 race with spectators
Apr.19 (GMM) Imola is not only hoping for a place on the 2022 calendar, the event also wants to welcome spectators back to Formula 1. It is no secret that, having staged annual consecutive ‘fill in’ races for cancelled grands prix amid the covid pandemic, Imola is now eyeing a full-time return to the calendar. […]
Wolff, Bottas slam Russell’s crash theory
Apr.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff and Valtteri Bottas were united late on Sunday in the wake of the Finnish driver’s huge crash with Mercedes junior George Russell at Imola. Russell, who races for Williams, was livid at Bottas after their high-speed shunt, slapping the Mercedes driver’s helmet and berating him before the Finn had emerged from […]
2021 hierarchy not clear for ‘two more races’
Apr.19 (GMM) Red Bull may have a faster car over one lap, but the energy drink owned team thinks Mercedes still has a slight edge in racing conditions. “Overall, both cars are very close together,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, after Max Verstappen won a hectic and slippery race at Imola. “But both […]
Heavily-criticised Mazepin ‘destroyed’ at Imola
Apr.18 (GMM) The under-fire Nikita Mazepin “destroyed” a rival’s qualifying lap at Imola – and then his teammate Mick Schumacher “destroyed” the Russian with pace. Those are the views of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher – who is the uncle of 22-year-old Mazepin’s similarly aged Haas teammate. Under intense fire […]
Alpine had ‘problems in wind tunnel’ over winter
Apr.18 (GMM) Alpine struggled with “some problems in the wind tunnel” over the winter, team executive boss Marcin Budkowski has admitted. Esteban Ocon made the ‘Q3’ segment at Imola on Saturday but Fernando Alonso is just fifteenth. “I didn’t do well enough,” Alonso told Spanish reporters when asked why he is behind his teammate. “I […]
Spanish GP to be another F1 ‘ghost race’
Apr.18 (GMM) The 2021 Spanish GP will be yet another Formula 1 ‘ghost race’. Organisers of next month’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya have announced that it is too unsafe amid the ongoing covid crisis to allow spectators to attend. “Under these conditions, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether the epidemiological situation […]
Allison turned down team boss role – Wolff
Apr.18 (GMM) James Allison turned down the opportunity to succeed Toto Wolff as Mercedes team boss. That is the admission of Wolff himself, as departing technical director Allison admitted he even contemplated retiring from Formula 1 completely. Instead, he is stepping over to the new position of chief technical officer, with former aerodynamics chief Mike […]
Nurburgring ‘open’ to replacing axed Canada GP
Apr.18 (GMM) The Nurburgring is “open” to filling in for a postponed or cancelled Formula 1 race in 2021, a spokesman has admitted. The news comes amid rumours that the fabled German circuit is the hot favourite to step in for June’s Canadian GP, which looks set to be cancelled for a second consecutive year […]
Wolff tips Hamilton to stay at Mercedes
Apr.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Lewis Hamilton will stay at Mercedes beyond 2021 – and then never switch to a rival Formula 1 team. “I think this will be his last team,” the Mercedes team boss told DPA news agency at Imola. Seven time world champion Hamilton, 36, signed only a one-year deal for 2021 […]
Marko slams Aston Martin over ‘low rake’ legal threat
Apr.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Aston Martin’s stance over the aerodynamic rule changes for 2021, describing the complaint as “completely incomprehensible”. Even Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, who is close to Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll and the Silverstone based outfit, suggested that the matter “should be left to rest now”. He is referring […]
Rival teams hit back at Aston Martin legal threat
Apr.17 (GMM) Three rival team bosses have hit back at suggestions Aston Martin may launch legal action against Formula 1’s aerodynamic rule changes for 2021. Aston Martin boss Otmar Szafnauer suspects the changes were designed specifically to tackle Mercedes’ utter dominance of the sport – with other ‘low rake’ cars also affected. “I’m not a […]
‘No reason’ to leave Red Bull – Verstappen
Apr.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he sees “no reason” to consider moving to another Formula 1 team. Red Bull recently confirmed that, despite signing a contract early last year with the Dutchman through 2023, Verstappen could potentially leave due to a performance-related exit clause. “I have a contract at Red Bull until 2023, and I […]
2022 car is Ferrari’s ‘absolute priority’ – Binotto
Apr.17 (GMM) Although Ferrari’s current car is clearly still improving, team boss Mattia Binotto says the Maranello team is focusing more intently on designing the all-new car for 2022. Charles Leclerc claims Ferrari brought “nothing much” in terms of new parts to Imola, but La Gazzetta dello Sport has revealed that the 2021 machine is […]
Canada GP axe news expected ‘within 48 hours’
Apr.17 (GMM) It is still not clear whether Canada will host its scheduled Formula 1 race this year – although the signs are not good. Many sources are predicting that the Montreal round will be scrapped, as regional and federal health authorities worry about the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. However, deputy federal public chief health officer […]