Mar.16 (GMM) Former F1 driver Christijan Albers has dismissed claims that Mercedes may be sandbagging ahead of the 2021 season. “Mercedes wouldn’t achieve such a bad outcome deliberately,” the Dutchman told De Telegraaf in light of the team’s issues in Bahrain. “And a top team like that can turn a lot around in two weeks.” […]
Stroll ‘a benchmark’ for Vettel – Surer
Mar.16 (GMM) Lance Stroll could be “a benchmark” for quadruple world champion and teammate Sebastian Vettel in 2021. That is the view of former driver and pundit Marc Surer, who played down Vettel’s problems as the German’s on-track career began at the weekend in Bahrain. “We don’t know exactly where the problem is coming from,” […]
‘No panic’ despite difficult start – Vettel
Mar.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says there is no “panic” despite his difficult start to on-track life with Aston Martin. “Ten years ago there would have been panic,” the quadruple world champion and former Ferrari driver said after the one and only pre-season test. The German suffered from technical problems in Bahrain. “I’m definitely missing about […]
3 points for ‘sprint qualifying’ winners
Mar.15 (GMM) The winner of the trial ‘sprint qualifying’ races in 2021 will receive 3 points as well as pole position for the main event. It now appears set in stone that at three race weekends this year – expected to be Silverstone, Monza and Brazil – a 30-minute Saturday sprint race after qualifying on […]
Ferrari engine power ‘looks reasonable’ – Binotto
Mar.15 (GMM) Ferrari has succeeded in producing a more powerful engine for 2021. “As far as we can tell so far, our top speed looks reasonable,” team boss Mattia Binotto said at the Bahrain test. Last year, Ferrari slumped into the midfield in the wake of the engine legality scandal of 2019. The Maranello marque […]
Vaccines helping F1 eye ‘full season’ in 2021
Mar.15 (GMM) Formula 1 is hoping to race through the covid crisis by attending all 23 scheduled grands prix on the 2021 calendar. Melbourne, China and Vietnam are not happening for now, while Imola and Portimao have stepped in at late notice. But F1’s sporting boss Ross Brawn is hoping the full current calendar can […]
Alpine defends ‘plump’ 2021 car
Mar.15 (GMM) Alpine’s executive director Marcin Budkowski has defended the emergence of a notably ‘plump’ area of the 2021 car’s engine cover just behind the airbox. Some said it even reminded them of Ligier’s infamous 1976 ‘teapot’ car design, with Budkowski explaining that the new solution is simply better for the team. “We found that […]
Marko admits new Mercedes ‘looks nervous’
Mar.15 (GMM) Mercedes has made “a horrible start” to the 2021 season, according to team boss Toto Wolff. The team, having won every single title throughout the rest of the ‘hybrid’ era, suffered reliability and handling issues during the mere three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain. So with some pundits describing Lewis Hamilton as […]
Climate change a ‘serious problem’ for F1 – Vettel
Mar.12 (GMM) Formula 1 needs to be “careful” not to be left behind as climate change takes centre stage, according to quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. After switching from Ferrari to Aston Martin for 2021, the 33-year-old has emerged as an ambassador for Austrian team sponsor BWT’s new environmental initiatives. As such, he will race […]
‘Too early’ for Canada GP ‘green light’ – promoter
Mar.12 (GMM) It is “too early” to be totally confident that June’s Canadian GP will take place as scheduled. That is the admission of Montreal race promoter Francois Dumontier, after local government officials made alarming pronouncements about major events in the city. On Thursday, Montreal mayor Valerie Plante told the local broadcaster Le Canal Nouvelles […]
New engine recovers ‘large part’ of 2020 deficit – Gene
Mar.12 (GMM) Ferrari has recovered a “large part” of its engine power deficit of 2020 ahead of the new Formula 1 season, according to long-time team test driver Marc Gene. The Maranello team says it has produced an entirely new power unit for 2021, given the serious drop in performance last year. “I have been […]
Ferrari legend Forghieri questions Binotto leadership
Mar.12 (GMM) Legendary Ferrari figure Mauro Forghieri has questioned Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto’s ability to pull the Maranello marque out of its performance slump. Despite the covid-related development limitations, Ferrari has unveiled a noticeably tweaked car for the 2021 season. But 86-year-old Forghieri, who was a major player at Ferrari from the 60s to […]
Marko doubts Alpine will shine in 2021
Mar.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may struggle to be “high in the midfield” on his 2021 return to Formula 1, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Marko is the top Austrian official at Red Bull, and he admits that Mercedes remains the “absolute favourites” to take yet another title this season. “But we haven’t been as prepared […]
Mazepin must think ‘100 times’ as F1 driver – CEO
Mar.12 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has to start thinking “100 times” before acting now that he is a Formula 1 driver. That is the warning of F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali, following an intense social media campaign to see the Russian rookie driver ousted over the recent ‘groping’ affair. However, Domenicali says the 22-year-old will not be […]
Silverstone to host half-hour sprint race in 2021
Mar.12 (GMM) The ‘super qualifying’ sprint races to be trialled in Formula 1 this year will only last half an hour, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed. Just as new concerns emerge over the viability of the race in Montreal this season, it now emerges that Silverstone will join Monza and Interlagos as hosts of […]
Domenicali hits back at ‘F1 is racist’ narrative
Mar.11 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has denied that the sport he leads has a problem with racism. The racism narrative is still circulating after Lewis Hamilton led other drivers in the ‘kneeling’ gesture before grands prix last year. Formula 1, now led by Domenicali following the recent departure of Chase Carey, has indicated that […]
F1 vaccination in Bahrain is ‘personal choice’
Mar.11 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at “misleading” reporting about Formula 1 teams taking up Bahrain’s vaccination offer. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported this week that 90 percent of the Ferrari team, as well as members of the title-winning Mercedes outfit, are getting vaccinated while in Bahrain for pre-season testing and the season opening race. […]
Even Ferrari drivers surprised by neon green
Mar.11 (GMM) Even the drivers were surprised when they first saw the neon green addition to Ferrari’s 2021 livery. “We didn’t expect the green,” said Carlos Sainz, referring to the new green logo of main sponsor Philip Morris’ Mission Winnow brand. Charles Leclerc added: “It was a last-minute change. I have to say I’m getting […]
Ferrari, Mercedes say ‘yes’ to covid vaccine
Mar.10 (GMM) Ferrari and Mercedes have taken up Bahrain’s vaccination offer ahead of the 2021 season opener. We reported last week that despite the Kingdom of Bahrain offering Formula 1’s entire travelling circus the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the sport turned it down. F1 explained that it has “no plans to be vaccinated as a travelling group […]
Monaco eyes half-capacity crowd for 2021 race
Mar.10 (GMM) With work well underway to prepare for the first Monaco GP since 2019, rumours suggest race organisers are hoping spectators will be able to attend in May. Correspondent Paolo Ciccarone, writing for Italy’s Automoto, claims that while spectators will be banned from the paddock, the grandstands may be at 50 percent capacity. “The […]