Mar.26 (GMM) Tension may be brewing between Lewis Hamilton and the young driver who may replace him at Mercedes for 2021. Seven time champion Hamilton on Thursday hit back at the theory that his mere one-year contract could mean he will vacate his seat at the end of the season. “The one-year contract, which is […]
Schumacher ‘more humble’ than Mazepin – boss
Mar.26 (GMM) Gunther Steiner admits that Haas’ two rookie drivers for 2021 are “not great friends”. It has been a tumultuous pre-season for the Ferrari-linked American team as it signed up F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s son Mick, and paired him with the highly controversial Nikita Mazepin. Boss Steiner, who is expecting Haas to be at […]
Covid becoming ‘normal routine’ in F1 – Stroll
Mar.26 (GMM) The ‘new’ Formula 1 routines dictated by the covid-19 crisis are becoming “more and more normal” to those in the sport. That is the view of Lance Stroll, whose father Lawrence owns the Aston Martin team. That team has confirmed that, despite the Bahrain government offering free vaccinations to everyone in the paddock, […]
Mercedes to debut new technical innovation – Wolff
Mar.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hinted that Mercedes is about to unleash a new technical innovation on the world of Formula 1. The narrative heading into this weekend’s season opener in Bahrain is that the previously dominant team has fallen behind Red Bull over the winter. “Honestly, I think so,” seven time world champion Lewis […]
Porsche and ‘other manufacturers’ eyeing F1 – Marko
Mar.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is “open to partners” as the energy drink-owned camp prepares to take over the Honda engine program for 2022 and beyond. The big rumour is of a potential tie-up with long-time Red Bull sponsor Volkswagen via the luxury Porsche brand – particularly for when the engine regulations […]
Tsunoda admits exploiting DRS for fast Bahrain laps
Mar.25 (GMM) F1 rookie Yuki Tsunoda has admitted he deployed DRS too early en route to his impressively fast laps in the recent Bahrain test. Top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko has been particularly vocal about the 20-year-old Japanese, who has been placed also with Honda’s support at Alpha Tauri for 2021. “Helmut called […]
‘I’m still good enough for fifth title’ – Vettel
Mar.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel insists he is “still good enough” not only to win more races in Formula 1, but also a fifth drivers’ world championship. As the 33-year-old moves to Aston Martin after losing his Ferrari seat for 2021, many believe Vettel is clearly past his prime in Formula 1. But although the German […]
Claire Williams’ husband slams Netflix
Mar.25 (GMM) Claire Williams’ husband has slammed Netflix for leaving Williams out of the new season of the Formula 1 documentary series Drive to Survive. Team driver George Russell was the first to break his silence after the series’ release this week, tweeting a photo of himself looking disappointed and frustrated below the caption: “Getting […]
No room for Hamilton at McLaren – Brown
Mar.25 (GMM) There is no “opening” that would allow Lewis Hamilton to return to McLaren next year, according to Zak Brown. Seven time world champion Hamilton, whose 2021 mood was recently described by Martin Brundle as “grumpy”, is rumoured to be heading for the exit at Mercedes after agreeing a mere one-year deal for 2021. […]
F1 CEO admits ‘no guarantee’ full 2021 season can go ahead
Mar.24 (GMM) There is “no guarantee” that Formula 1 will get through its full 23-race calendar in 2021, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted. The original 2021 calendar has already been tweaked, with the season now set to start in Bahrain – amid empty grandstands. It is hoped that by the time the sport gets […]
Mercedes eyeing Hamilton split for 2022 – Villeneuve
Mar.24 (GMM) The time may be coming for Mercedes to say goodbye to Lewis Hamilton. That is the sensational view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, just one day after one of his colleagues, Karun Chandhok, surmised that there is “something going on” behind the scenes at the dominant Formula 1 team. After long […]
Mercedes, Aston Martin will solve problems – Berger
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger has tipped Sebastian Vettel to start shining again now that he has left Ferrari. It is a sentiment that is backed strongly by another of Vettel’s well-known F1 allies – former supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “The best thing that he and everyone can do is forget about the years at […]
Marko plays down Red Bull’s new fuel
Mar.24 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down his own camp’s boasts about its Formula 1 fuel for the new season. A week ago, Red Bull put out a press release announcing that ExxonMobil had produced a new fuel for the Honda-powered teams in 2021. The new fuel “focuses on delivering improved power, performance and […]
Nurburgring unavailable for 2021 F1 race
Mar.24 (GMM) Nurburgring may not be able to step in as a potential replacement race in 2021. Several of the currently-scheduled events on the 23-race calendar for this season are in doubt, triggering rumours that the absent Germany’s former venues at Hockenheim and the Nurburgring could step up. “Germany is an important market for us,” […]
Alonso told Alpine – ‘This doesn’t work’
Mar.24 (GMM) Fernando Alonso immediately recognised parts of the Alpine package for 2021 that do not “work”. That is the admission of Renault CEO Luca de Meo, the mastermind behind the French carmaker’s rebranding of its works Enstone based team for the new season. “I didn’t want to be the man who buried 44 years […]
McLaren may be ahead of works Mercedes team
Mar.24 (GMM) McLaren could emerge as the second best team in 2021 – ahead of Mercedes. That is the wild claim of respected British pitlane broadcaster Ted Kravitz, who emerged with his views on the official podcast of the Australian GP. McLaren impressed and surprised the F1 world with its ‘loophole’ diffuser design for the […]
No anti-racist gesture ‘requirement’ in F1 – spokesman
Mar.24 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers will be “free” to kneel on the grid before grands prix in 2021, a spokesman for the sport says. However, it is believed the ‘End Racism’ t-shirts will no longer appear – a move that has the full backing of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “If I’d have still been […]
Sainz not worried about becoming next Vettel
Mar.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he isn’t worried about being marginalised by Ferrari in the way that his predecessor Sebastian Vettel was. “I’m not afraid that will happen,” the Spanish driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “But I don’t see it that way – that Ferrari can devour a driver. I see what people say […]
Monza eyeing spectators for Italian GP
Mar.23 (GMM) Monza circuit boss Alessandra Zinno is hoping to welcome spectators to the Italian GP in September. “We are working on two fronts – ordinary or limited accessibility,” she told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We are thinking for example of a health passport for those who buy a ticket with a negative swab in […]
Wolff admits Mercedes ran ‘a lot of fuel’ in testing
Mar.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff has confirmed reports that Mercedes ran with high fuel loads in the recent and sole pre-season test in Bahrain. Coupled with obvious handling problems, the reigning world champion team’s lagging pace triggered the hypothesis that Red Bull is the obvious favourite heading into 2021. “The fact that they didn’t really align […]