Dec.11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ended any lingering uncertainty about his role in Formula 1 by confirming that he is staying put for 2021. “Yes, I will stay in Formula 1,” he told Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. “Also as team boss.” With his existing contract with Mercedes parent Daimler expiring at the end of December, the […]
Russell, Bottas say 2021 contracts unchanged
Dec.11 (GMM) George Russell and Valtteri Bottas have bucked the speculation by suggesting their respective contracts for 2021 will proceed as planned. After impressing the F1 world with his performance in Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, Russell suggested he had given Toto Wolff some thinking to do over the winter. “It was just a joking comment in […]
No ‘young driver’ test for Sainz or Vettel
Dec.10 (GMM) Current Formula 1 drivers have been told by the FIA that they are not eligible to do the ‘young driver test’ in Abu Dhabi after this weekend’s 2020 finale. The issue became a hot and controversial topic in the Bahrain paddock last week after it emerged that 39-year-old two-time world champion Fernando Alonso […]
Wolff ‘curious’ to see Ocon’s next steps in F1
Dec.10 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is “curious” to observe the next developments in Esteban Ocon’s Formula 1 career. After the Mercedes junior driver lost his Force India seat at the end of 2018, Wolff made him reserve driver for the works team and for this year helped broker his return to the grid with […]
Marko plays down Perez, Russell rumours
Dec.10 (GMM) Red Bull has denied that it will rush to snap up Sergio Perez after the out-of-work Mexican secured his first Formula 1 race win in Bahrain last Sunday. Like Nico Hulkenberg, Perez has been linked with the struggling Alex Albon’s race seat for 2021. The team has said consistently that it will make […]
Russians defend Mazepin amid ‘groping’ scandal
Dec.10 (GMM) A prominent Russian motor racing official has defended 2021 Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin amid a scandal accusing the 21-year-old driver of ‘groping’ a friend. The brief social media footage, depicting the Russian as reaching out and touching the young woman as they travelled in a car, was slammed as “abhorrent” by Haas. Mazepin […]
Quitting F1 ‘would have been easy’ for Renault – Prost
Dec.9 (GMM) Renault over-performed in 2020, according to team advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost. He told Le Figaro newspaper that the Enstone based team “didn’t expect to be so good” this year. “Personally, I did not set a precise objective but I was hoping that we could finish fourth in the manufacturers’ standings. In […]
F1 commentator doubts Russell conspiracy theory
Dec.9 (GMM) A Formula 1 commentator has hit back at conspiracy theories surrounding Mercedes’ bungled pitstops that cost George Russell victory last weekend in Bahrain. According to the theory, the German team intervened deliberately with the bungled strategy, involving Mercedes pit mechanics fitting teammate Valtteri Bottas’ tyres to his car. Russell, who was replacing the […]
Hamilton holds 2021 teammate ‘trump card’
Dec.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton holds “a trump card” when it comes to the identity of his teammate for 2021. That is the view of a respected F1 pundit, amid speculation Valtteri Bottas could be ousted – despite their signed 2021 contracts – by Sakhir GP sensation George Russell. Russell outclassed Hamilton’s regular Mercedes teammate Bottas […]
Hamilton ‘on right track’ for Abu Dhabi return – Wolff
Dec.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes’ star driver is “on the right track” for returning to the cockpit this weekend in Abu Dhabi. Seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton broke his silence on Tuesday after sitting out last weekend’s second race in Bahrain with covid-19. “I know I’ve not been in touch much this week […]
Mazepin mistakes ‘must not occur in F1’ – Steiner
Dec.9 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin “must not” carry over to his F1 debut next year some of the “mistakes” he has been making in Formula 2. That is the view of Haas boss Gunther Steiner, ahead of the wealthy Russian’s move into Formula 1 with the small American team in 2021. Mazepin, 21, caused a stir […]
Wolff hints at 2021 race seat for Russell
Dec.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff is no longer ruling out a sensational driver lineup change for Mercedes in 2021. After the Sakhir GP, in which only what Wolff described as a “colossal f***k up” prevented Lewis Hamilton substitute George Russell from winning, huge pressure is now mounting on Valtteri Bottas. “Every time Bottas looks at his […]
Russell costs ’50 million less’ than Hamilton
Dec.8 (GMM) While George Russell’s Sakhir GP performance has put Valtteri Bottas under immense pressure, it is also an uncomfortable moment for Lewis Hamilton. That is because the entire F1 world is now digesting the fact that, while the seven time world champion was sidelined with covid-19, his substitute – Russell – was immediately ready […]
Verstappen hits back at Leclerc criticism
Dec.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at Charles Leclerc in the wake of last Sunday’s Sakhir GP. The pair not only clashed on the track in Bahrain – Ferrari’s Leclerc had gone into the weekend criticising the often “silly comments” Verstappen makes in the media. “At the end, that’s just Max,” Leclerc told Ziggo […]
F1 drivers too ‘clinical’ with media – Kai Ebel
Dec.8 (GMM) Retiring Formula 1 personality Kai Ebel says the sport’s stars, and even the celebrities at the grands prix, have become “too clinical” when speaking to the media. For almost 30 years, the always colourfully-dressed German has been a Formula 1 reporter for the broadcaster RTL. Both Ebel and RTL are departing F1 after […]
Ferrari’s Resta to Haas because of budget cap – Binotto
Dec.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has admitted that designer Simone Resta’s move to Haas is connected with the budget cap rules that come into force next year. Resta returned to Maranello from an assignment at Alfa Romeo last year, but for 2021 he will follow Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher to Haas – another Ferrari-powered team. It […]
Russell form a ‘wake-up call’ for Red Bull
Dec.8 (GMM) The availability of on-form drivers like George Russell and Sergio Perez is “a wake-up call” for Red Bull. That is the view of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, as pressure grows on Red Bull to replace the struggling Alex Albon with a faster driver for 2021. Last Sunday, the out-of-work Perez won the […]
Ferrari always looking towards ‘next year’ – Briatore
Dec.8 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has rolled his eyes at the suggestion that Ferrari may get back on the pace of F1’s frontrunners next year. “‘Will Ferrari close the gap next year?’” the former Renault boss and Italian told the Adnkronos news agency. “Every year we have to talk about next year. The most recurring words […]
Two countries must green-light Hamilton’s return
Dec.8 (GMM) Whether Lewis Hamilton can return to his Mercedes cockpit for the 2020 finale this weekend is up to health officials in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. That is the word from the FIA’s Michael Masi, after George Russell replaced Hamilton in Bahrain last weekend following the seven time world champion’s positive covid-19 test. Hamilton, […]
Mick’s uncle Ralf slams Michael Schumacher ‘comparisons’
Dec.8 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has slammed the “constant comparisons” that are made between his brother Michael and the career of the seven time world champion’s son Mick. After wrapping up the Formula 2 title in Bahrain last weekend, German broadcaster RTL asked 21-year-old Mick if he minds being constantly compared to his father. “I don’t […]