Feb.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen will be “at the top of the list” if Mercedes needs to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2022, according to Red Bull boss Christian Horner. With Hamilton and Mercedes only re-committing for less than the next ten months, Horner’s colleague Dr Helmut Marko revealed last week that Verstappen could leave Red Bull […]
Alonso should be fit for Bahrain – de la Rosa
Feb.15 (GMM) Despite undergoing surgery for a fractured upper jaw and having teeth removed, Fernando Alonso should be “fine” to test and race in Bahrain next month. “I’m ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway,” said the Spaniard, after Alpine announced that its 39-year-old driver will remain in hospital for the next two days. […]
F1 CEO wants spectators ‘as soon as possible’
Feb.15 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali is hoping Formula 1 races can be held in front of live crowds in 2021. Last year, the spectator-free ‘ghost race’ trend began to ease amid the 2020 pandemic – but the world is currently gripped by new restrictions due to more virulent strains. F1’s new CEO was asked by the […]
Schumacher admits 2021 preparation not perfect
Feb.15 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he feels “ready” for his Formula 1 debut next month – even though his preparation has not been ideal. “Because of the covid situation, I can’t do very much besides training,” said the German rookie and son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. “My preparation is going very well on a […]
Red Bull to run engine program from existing factory
Feb.15 (GMM) Red Bull will operate its own Formula 1 engine program for 2022 out of a rejuvenated building at its existing team facility in Milton Keynes. “We are happy with this decision,” Dr Helmut Marko told the n-tv broadcaster after the FIA confirmed that teams voted to approve a 2022 engine development freeze. Red […]
Audi denies latest F1 project rumours
Feb.15 (GMM) Audi has played down new speculation of a potential F1 project for 2025. The rumours had been kick-started by new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s recent comments about potential interest from new manufacturers in the all-new engine format. “It will be an increasingly hybrid F1,” Domenicali has now told Il Giornale newspaper. Prior to […]
Marko reveals Verstappen ‘performance clause’
Feb.15 (GMM) A driver-sided ‘performance clause’ in his current contract would allow Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull at the end of 2021. That is the admission of Red Bull top official Dr Helmut Marko, amid early speculation that Mercedes may snap up Dutchman Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2022. “Yes, there is a […]
Vettel can eye ‘a few wins’ in 2021 – Szafnauer
Feb.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel should be able to compete for podiums, poles and even “a few wins” this season, according to his new team boss Otmar Szafnauer. The quadruple world champion finished just 13th in his final disappointing season for Ferrari, but Szafnauer thinks German Vettel should be able to help Aston Martin finish just […]
Leclerc denies becoming ‘arrogant’
Feb.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has dismissed claims that a certain arrogance is beginning to creep into his personality. The Ferrari driver’s critics believe that as his former teammate and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel struggled, 23-year-old Leclerc began to revel in his new status as de-facto Ferrari number 1. “This criticism hits me more than […]
FIA believes engine ‘balance of power’ unnecessary
Feb.12 (GMM) Red Bull’s plans to operate its own Honda-based engine program look set to proceed, as Formula 1 has announced that a development ‘freeze’ will indeed go ahead for 2022. The FIA confirmed the news after Thursday’s video meeting of the F1 Commission. Red Bull had warned that without a development freeze, the energy […]
Saturday sprint race idea ‘nice’ – Giovinazzi
Feb.12 (GMM) Plans for Saturday sprint races gained “broad support from all parties” during the videoconference meeting of the F1 Commission on Thursday. New F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently unveiled his push for a three-race trial of the novel weekend format, reportedly featuring a shorter race on Saturday and a Friday qualifying session. Sources suggest […]
Giovinazzi has ‘hope’ for better Ferrari engine
Feb.12 (GMM) There is “hope” at Alfa Romeo that Ferrari’s 2021 engine will deliver more power. That is the admission of Antonio Giovinazzi, who says he has seen Alfa Romeo’s new car for 2021 and “it really is beautiful”. “I have worked a lot on the simulator,” he told Italy’s Sky Sport 24, “but even […]
Injured Alonso should be fit for Bahrain – doctor
Feb.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may be heading into surgery on Friday to repair a potentially broken jaw and teeth. Alpine has confirmed alarming reports that the 39-year-old Spaniard was struck by a car on Thursday whilst road cycling near his home in Switzerland. With the season opening Bahrain GP looming in March, the Enstone based […]
F1 ‘still debating’ 2025 engine format – Brown
Feb.11 (GMM) F1’s engine regulations for the future remain completely up in the air, according to McLaren supremo Zak Brown. His comments come as Formula 1 announced that it is “creating a clear path towards sustainably fuelled hybrid engines, something that will be of significant importance to not only the sport but the automotive sector”. […]
Ferrari to make ‘life difficult for Mercedes’ – Rossi
Feb.11 (GMM) Ferrari needs to join Red Bull in making “life difficult for Mercedes” in 2021. That is the view of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who made headlines in Formula 1 recently as more details of his near-F1 debut over a decade ago came to light. “I did a series of tests for Ferrari and […]
Report – No more pre-race ‘kneeling’ in 2021?
Feb.11 (GMM) The rainbow signage, the ‘End Racism’ messaging, and the pre-race kneeling look set to all be a thing of the past once F1 gets up and racing in 2021. “Anti-racism campaign: No more drivers kneeling before the start?” wonders the headline at Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. It comes after Formula 1 announced […]
Vettel to get car handling he needs to shine – boss
Feb.11 (GMM) Aston Martin will do “everything we can” to give Sebastian Vettel a car that handles to his liking, according to team boss Otmar Szafnauer. As the quadruple world champion moves on after his calamitous last years at Ferrari, Szafnauer says Silverstone based Aston Martin will provide the 33-year-old with the kind of supportive […]
2021 last shot at Formula 1 seat – Lundgaard
Feb.11 (GMM) Renault junior Christian Lundgaard admits 2021 may be his final chance to prove he deserves to step up to Formula 1. Renault, to be branded as Alpine in F1 this year, has announced that it would like to see its main junior drivers – Lundgaard, Guanyu Zhou and Oscar Piastri in particular – […]
Spanish GP fans want ‘return to normalcy’
Feb.11 (GMM) Barcelona circuit boss Josep Lluis Santamaria is hoping to welcome spectators to the Spanish GP on 9 May. The Circuit de Catalunya has confirmed that half-price tickets are going on sale next week, with grandstand seats to be socially-distanced amid the covid crisis and total capacity limited to 50 percent. “People want to […]
Hamilton to ‘explore options’ in 2021 – Albers
Feb.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s farcically-delayed contract negotiations were all about money. That is the theory of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, referring to this week’s announcement of a new one-year deal for the seven time world champion. “Hamilton’s demands were simply not in line with this coronavirus situation,” he opined to De Telegraaf newspaper. “You […]