Apr.13 (GMM) Alex Albon says he is only using his new race seat in DTM as a springboard for returning to Formula 1. After losing his F1 seat at Red Bull, the British-born Thai will be reserve driver this year and also race an Alpha Tauri-livered Ferrari in the revamped German touring car series. When […]
Red Bull’s Marko unsure about 2021 Austrian GP
Apr.13 (GMM) Organisers of the 2021 Austrian GP must “wait and see” before pushing ahead with plans to allow spectators into the Red Bull Ring. That is the news from Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who blamed the Austrian government for the uncertainty. “Unfortunately we are very bad with the vaccination in Austria,” he told […]
‘Normal’ 2021 Belgian GP ‘looks very difficult’
Apr.13 (GMM) A cloud is hanging over this year’s Belgian GP at the fabled Spa Francorchamps circuit. The event has a late August date on the calendar, but commercial director Stijn de Boever admits the current covid situation “looks difficult”. “We are organising everything for a normal grand prix, but it looks difficult. Really very […]
Imola ‘won’t be easy’ for Vettel – Schumacher
Apr.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel needs to be both careful and fast this weekend at Imola in order to get the “acceptance” of his new team. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who was outspoken about Vettel’s horror opening race for Aston Martin in Bahrain. “I think Sebastian apologised (to Esteban Ocon),” […]
F1 must be stricter with track limits – Alesi
Apr.13 (GMM) Formula 1 must consider enforcing ‘track limits’ strictly and consistently, according to former driver Jean Alesi. He told France’s Auto Hebdo that the season opener in Bahrain was very confusing for the fans. “I don’t think they understood why Lewis (Hamilton) can go way out beyond the limits of the track without being […]
Formula E and F1 could race on same circuit – Todt
Apr.13 (GMM) Jean Todt has hit out at the media for “not giving Formula E the attention it deserves”. The FIA president hailed the all-electric series’ development but says the media is almost exclusively interested in Formula 1. “All the ingredients for a strong championship, which cannot be compared to any other, are there,” Todt, […]
Russell ‘proud’ to become GPDA director
Apr.13 (GMM) George Russell says he wants to look back on his Formula 1 career and be “proud” of the contribution he made outside of the cockpit. Recently, it emerged that because of Romain Grosjean’s departure from F1, 23-year-old Williams driver Russell had taken over as one of the few directors of the Grand Prix […]
No ‘sprint qualifying’ at every race in future – F1 CEO
Apr.13 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali insists that ‘sprint qualifying’ will never take place on each and every grand prix weekend in the future. The new format will almost certainly be trialled over three races in 2021, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warning that it is a risk for Formula 1. “We are in a world driven […]
F1 covid crisis ‘more complicated’ in 2021
Apr.13 (GMM) The covid crisis in Formula 1 is “much more complicated” in 2021 compared with last year, according to the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali. He told Auto Motor und Sport that while 2020 was all about surviving the sudden crisis, F1 must now navigate a world with highly complex new rules. “The situation this […]
Negative F1 reputation makes Alonso ‘laugh’
Apr.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at the continuing narrative that he is difficult to work with in Formula 1. Alpine advisor Alain Prost last week said the team needs to be “very careful” to manage the new dynamic between two-time world champion Alonso and his teammate Esteban Ocon. “You have to be very […]
F1 CEO may not support $30m driver spending cap
Apr.12 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has suggested that Formula 1 may in fact not support moves to install an annual $30 million per team limit on driver salary spending. We reported last week that the FIA and Liberty Media are poised to circulate such a proposal among F1 teams. However, F1 CEO Domenicali has now told […]
Marko denies ‘mysterious suspension’ rumours
Apr.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has rubbished rumours that Red Bull is set to debut a new and “mysterious” suspension system this weekend at Imola. “This is complete nonsense,” said the Austrian team official. “We already had this ‘mysterious’ suspension in Bahrain but it’s nothing special,” Marko told Sport1. “We had to design it because […]
Canada GP needs more money for 2021 ‘ghost race’
Apr.12 (GMM) The fate of the 2021 Canadian GP is hanging in the balance. La Presse reports that the prospect of a spectator-free ‘ghost race’ for the Montreal event is rising, prompting promoter Francois Dumontier’s organisation to seek an extra $6 million in compensation from the government. The report said Liberty Media wants an answer […]
Alpha Tauri step due ‘mainly’ to Honda
Apr.12 (GMM) Alpha Tauri’s obvious step forward for 2021 is due “mainly” to the new Honda engine. That is the admission of the Red Bull-owned team’s boss Franz Tost, who hailed Honda’s progress for the Japanese manufacturer’s last official season on the F1 grid for now. “There have been small advances in the chassis, but […]
Porsche not ruling out 2025 F1 foray
Apr.12 (GMM) Porsche’s racing boss Fritz Enzinger is not ruling out a Formula 1 foray for the Volkswagen-owned German sports car brand. He told Auto Motor und Sport that Porsche is “following” the current behind-the-scenes talks about the future of the sport – particularly the new engine rules for 2025. “Basically, we monitor and evaluate […]
Former Ferrari boss set to join Aston Martin
Apr.12 (GMM) Former Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci is set to return to Formula 1 with the Aston Martin team. The 50-year-old Italian led Ferrari for a short time following Stefano Domenicali’s ousting in 2014. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mattiacci is now “one step away from Aston Martin”, with correspondent Lorenzo Pastuglia claiming […]
FIA disassembled Bottas’ car after Bahrain
Apr.9 (GMM) F1’s governing body spent three hours disassembling Valtteri Bottas’ new Mercedes car after the Bahrain season opener. Just prior to the opening race of 2021, we reported that the FIA had decided to randomly seize one full car after every race weekend this year for “disassembly” and “deeper checks”. “The FIA wants to […]
Williams, Alfa Romeo turn focus to 2022
Apr.9 (GMM) Two more of F1’s smaller teams have joined Haas in declaring that their full focus this year is on producing cars for the all-new technical rules in 2022. “This season is a transitional one,” said Williams CEO Jost Capito. “We are fully focused on the 2022 car as there is almost nothing we […]
Rome will not join F1 calendar – official
Apr.9 (GMM) The boss of Italy’s automobile club has played down suggestions Rome might be added to the Formula 1 schedule. This weekend, the streets of the Italian capital will host Formula E, but Angelo Sticchi Damiani said it is still hard to imagine a grand prix in Rome. “There was a chance to bring […]
Hamilton, Verstappen ‘don’t differ much’ – Marko
Apr.9 (GMM) A trio of Formula 1 personalities say the jury is out on the true greatness of seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The British driver could become clearly the most successful F1 driver of all time with an eighth title this year, but Jacques Villeneuve says that alone is not enough to prove […]