Mar.30 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton proved that he doesn’t need the best car to win grands prix. That is the view of Christijan Albers, a Dutch former Formula 1 driver who admits that “I think we all wanted Max (Verstappen) to win” the Bahrain season opener. “To be honest, Hamilton ruined that party by himself,” he […]
Wolff ‘knew’ Honda would ace final F1 engine
Mar.30 (GMM) Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has hailed Red Bull engine partner Honda for producing a more potent power unit than the reigning champion team for 2021. Although Lewis Hamilton pipped Max Verstappen at the post in Bahrain, it was the Red Bull-Honda that dominated with pace throughout the season opening weekend. Wolff gives much of […]
Red Bull could win ‘a lot more’ in 2021 – Hamilton
Mar.29 (GMM) Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton may have pipped Max Verstappen at the post after the Red Bull otherwise dominated the 2021 season opener in Bahrain. But the Dutch driver’s boss Christian Horner was looking on the bright side late on Sunday. “There were a few rule changes this winter that apparently brought the teams at […]
Ferrari can ‘finally’ rely on both drivers – Binotto
Mar.29 (GMM) Ferrari can “finally” rely on two competitive drivers in Formula 1. That is the controversial claim after Bahrain of team boss Mattia Binotto, having decided to oust Sebastian Vettel and replace him for 2021 with Carlos Sainz. “It’s a good starting point,” Binotto told Sky Italia, after Charles Leclerc and Sainz finished sixth […]
Mazepin ‘doesn’t belong’ in F1 – Salo
Mar.29 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin “just doesn’t belong” in Formula 1. That is the blunt assessment of a former F1 driver and regular FIA steward, after Russian rookie Mazepin’s tumultuous pre-season period spilled into the 2021 season opener in Bahrain. Indeed, the 22-year-old repeatedly spun during qualifying, was consistently outpaced by teammate Mick Schumacher, and he […]
F1 talks with new manufacturers taking place – CEO
Mar.29 (GMM) “Many conversations” are taking place behind closed doors as Stefano Domenicali admits manufacturers other than Porsche are looking into Formula 1. While many worry about how many of the 23 scheduled races will fall victim to covid-19 this season, new F1 CEO Domenicali is sounding upbeat. “We have a contract with the teams, […]
Vettel’s Aston Martin ‘not that good’ – Tost
Mar.29 (GMM) Aston Martin’s 2021 car is “not that good”, according to rival Alpha Tauri’s team boss Franz Tost. Sebastian Vettel joining the former Racing Point outfit after being ousted by Ferrari had been billed as a return to a happy environment for the beleaguered quadruple world champion to thrive in. But Vettel struggled massively […]
Alonso denies saying he’s ‘better’ than Hamilton
Mar.29 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has denied declaring that he is “better” than 2021 title chargers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Earlier in Bahrain, the returning two-time world champion was asked if he is still as good after two years away from Formula 1 as when he was racing Hamilton and Verstappen in 2018. “I’m better,” […]
Vettel sees five more years in F1 ahead of him
Mar.28 (GMM) Despite a horror start to his new tenure at Aston Martin, Sebastian Vettel thinks he still has five years of Formula 1 ahead of him. The 33-year-old former Ferrari driver and quadruple world champion opened his Aston Martin account in questionable style in Bahrain by qualifying just 18th. But he repeated his earlier […]
FIA to ‘disassemble’ F1 cars for rules checks
Mar.28 (GMM) Formula 1 is moving to ensure compliance with the technical rules this year by promising to randomly seize one full car at every race weekend for “disassembly” and “deeper checks”. The stewards in Bahrain announced that if irregularities are then found, the FIA may then ‘impound’ and ‘seal’ any components and information for […]
Trulli no fan of F1’s ‘power unit’ era
Mar.28 (GMM) Former driver Jarno Trulli has revealed he is no fan of modern Formula 1 – and all because of the turbo ‘power units’. Now 46, the Italian raced for no fewer than six teams in the naturally-aspirated V10 and V8 eras. “I don’t like this Formula 1 – it’s not for me,” Trulli, […]
Rule changes designed to slow Mercedes down – Wolff
Mar.28 (GMM) Mercedes and Aston Martin suspect the 2021 aerodynamic rule tweaks were designed specifically to most adversely affect Mercedes-like cars with a so-called ‘low rake’ philosophy. Max Verstappen, driving the most prominent ‘high rake’ car on the grid penned by Adrian Newey, has dominated the 2021 season opener in Bahrain so far. “Compare the […]
Red Bull will lead until Mercedes solves problems – Marko
Mar.27 (GMM) After surprising the F1 world in pre-season testing, Red Bull remains the fastest team as the 2021 world championship kicks off in Bahrain. “The fans want a real fight this year and I think we will see that,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said on Friday after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped both […]
Mercedes will not wait ‘eight months’ for Hamilton
Mar.27 (GMM) Mercedes will not wait “eight months” for Lewis Hamilton’s answer over his future in Formula 1. Having signed just a single-year contract extension for 2021, the seven time world champion said on Thursday: “I don’t feel like I’m at the end, but only the next eight months or so will let me know.” […]
F1 could lose ‘a race or two’ from 2021 calendar
Mar.27 (GMM) Zak Brown has admitted that “a race or two” could drop off the currently-scheduled 2021 calendar. It appears likely that the McLaren supremo is referring to the Canadian GP in Montreal as well as Zandvoort – two races that were also cancelled last year. The problem in Canada is the government’s insistence that […]
Mazepin says F1 reputation ‘up to the fans’
Mar.27 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he will continue to be himself in Formula 1. Even before contesting a single race, the Russian rookie has been the subject of an intense social media campaign calling for Haas to step him down. The 22-year-old, whose billionaire father Dmitry’s company Uralkali is the American team’s main sponsor, was […]
Teams want extra money for ‘sprint qualifying’
Mar.27 (GMM) Progress on F1’s three-race ‘sprint qualifying’ trial in 2021 has hit a snag. Teams are arguing with the sport’s authorities over the financial aspect of the proposal, insisting that the new format will cost them more just as the $145m budget cap is imposed. It emerged in Bahrain on Friday that the teams […]
Third VW personality joins Williams
Mar.27 (GMM) A third former Volkswagen-linked personality has now joined Williams. In recent weeks, speculation about the potential for VW brand Porsche to enter Formula 1 – perhaps with Red Bull – has intensified. But just before Christmas, long-time VW and Porsche racing manager Jost Capito was signed up by Williams, following the sale of […]
Hulkenberg confirms F1 ‘triple role’ in 2021
Mar.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed that he will be a reserve driver for Aston Martin in 2021. The German lost his full-time F1 seat at the end of 2019 but still raced three times last year when Racing Point regulars Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll sat out with covid-19. So as Racing Point re-brands […]
Hakkinen admits ‘rude’ opinion about Ocon
Mar.26 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen has admitted his opinion about Alpine racer Esteban Ocon is “a bit rude”. “I would like to say something positive, but I don’t know Ocon that well,” said the 1998 and 1999 world champion in a 2021 season preview for his sponsor Unibet. Ocon, 24, is staying at the Enstone based […]