Dec.2 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has hit back at critics of Haas’ decision to replace the injured Romain Grosjean with Pietro Fittipaldi this weekend in Bahrain. Although 24-year-old Fittipaldi – the grandson of Brazilian F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi – has tested for the team several times, he has not driven a Formula 1 car in 2020. […]
French GP crowd capped at 15,000 for 2021
Dec.2 (GMM) French GP organisers have been granted approval for a crowd size of just 15,000 spectators for the race at Paul Ricard next June. Although many other European circuits hosted races with limited crowds or no spectators at all this year, the 2020 French GP was cancelled altogether amid the pandemic. “Our eyes are […]
No green light for Grosjean’s return yet – Steiner
Dec.2 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he wants to return to action for his final Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi next weekend “after a bit of psychological work”. “I really saw death coming,” the Frenchman said on Tuesday as he recalled his horror Bahrain crash. “The images I saw, even in Hollywood I don’t think […]
Journalist says Grosjean aims to race in Abu Dhabi
Dec.1 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is reportedly aiming to return to the cockpit of his Haas car in Abu Dhabi, for what will almost certainly be his last Formula 1 race. After team boss Gunther Steiner visited Frenchman Grosjean in hospital on Monday, the American outfit announced that he will be replaced in Bahrain this weekend […]
Drivers ‘not sissies’ after big crashes – Verstappen
Dec.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at criticism of his claim that Formula 1 drivers should not have the choice to sit out a race after a horror crash involving one of their rivals. The Dutchman raised eyebrows when asked on Sunday if drivers shaken by accidents like that suffered by Romain Grosjean should […]
Perez unsure if Verstappen blocking Red Bull seat
Dec.1 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he will only found out “after the end of the season” if Red Bull will rescue his Formula 1 career by signing him up for 2021. The Mexican told Spanish-language media on Monday that his ‘plan A’ is “to race at Red Bull”, although he acknowledges that the team says […]
F1 defends decision to show Grosjean crash replays
Dec.1 (GMM) Formula 1 has hit back at criticism of the way the sport handled the television replays of Romain Grosjean’s horror crash in Bahrain last Sunday. Daniel Ricciardo called the multiple replays of the fiery incident “completely disrespectful and inconsiderate” as the drivers prepared for the race re-start. “It was entertainment and they are […]
No F1 debut for Callum Ilott in 2021
Dec.1 (GMM) Callum Ilott has counted himself out of the running for a Formula 1 debut in 2021. The 22-year-old Briton is sandwiched between Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin in the Formula 2 standings as that 2020 championship comes to its head. But while Schumacher and Mazepin look set to debut for Haas next year, […]
‘No doubt’ that F1 dodged a fatality – Salo
Dec.1 (GMM) Mika Salo says a simple driver miscalculation caused Romain Grosjean’s horror and fiery crash in Bahrain last Sunday. With the Frenchman set to leave hospital on Tuesday after suffering burns on his hands and feet, a detailed investigation of the crash will now begin. “The accident looked unusual but I am very glad […]
Haas wants Grosjean to race this weekend
Nov.30 (GMM) The Haas team’s ‘plan A’ is for Romain Grosjean to return to action this weekend in Bahrain. The French driver, whose visor melted in the inferno of his first-lap crash, suffered only second-degree burns to his hands and ankles and shock in the horror incident. Almost immediately, there were rumours that likely 2021 […]
Halo ‘absolutely’ saved Grosjean’s life
Nov.30 (GMM) Romain Grosjean on Sunday miraculously survived one of the scariest crashes in Formula 1 history. The world of F1 held its collective breath when the French driver’s car penetrated the armco barriers, split in two, and burst into an inferno at the start of Sunday’s Bahrain GP. Grosjean spent the night in hospital […]
Wolff backs TV replays of horror Grosjean crash
Nov.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff has backed Formula 1’s decision to broadcast multiple replays of the horrifying Romain Grosjean crash on Sunday. Daniel Ricciardo lashed out at the decision, admitting he felt “disgust and disappointment with F1” as the multiple replays ran during the red flag period. “The way the incident of Grosjean was broadcast over […]
Albon podium performance ‘not very good’ – Verstappen
Nov.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen has poured cold water on his struggling teammate Alex Albon’s podium celebrations in Bahrain. Albon, at risk of losing his Red Bull seat after Abu Dhabi, finished third behind Verstappen in Bahrain. “There was obviously a bit of luck involved with Sergio, he had a really good race,” said the British-born […]
Sainz test would be in last year’s Ferrari – Gene
Nov.30 (GMM) Ferrari is apparently making plans to prepare a 2019-spec car for Carlos Sainz to test early next year. The Spanish driver, who is switching from McLaren, has expressed concerns that one and a half days of official pre-season testing will not be enough for him to prepare for 2021. “A test with a […]
Kvyat unsure he will be offered reserve role
Nov.29 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he isn’t even sure if he will be offered the role of Red Bull’s official reserve driver for 2021. The Russian, likely to be replaced by Honda-backed Yuki Tsunoda for 2021, admitted in Bahrain that his chances of staying in Formula 1 next year are “very slim”. It means his […]
Binotto to re-join Ferrari team next week
Nov.29 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says he will be back in the Formula 1 paddock next week. The Ferrari team boss sat out Turkey recently, and he is also not in Bahrain this weekend as he oversees Ferrari’s preparations for 2021 and 2022 from the factory. “The most important thing is next year, not this year, […]
Perez tipped to announce sabbatical on Monday
Nov.29 (GMM) Big rumours are swirling in the Bahrain paddock about Sergio Perez’s future. The Mexican, who is being replaced by Racing Point by Sebastian Vettel for the Aston Martin re-branding, hinted on Thursday that Red Bull is his “only one option” to keep racing in 2021. “I only want to keep going with a […]
Red Bull engine program ‘looks good’ for 2022
Nov.29 (GMM) Red Bull can afford to operate its own engine program in 2022, according to Dr Helmut Marko. The team’s top Austrian official travelled directly from Istanbul recently to Japan for talks with Honda, who are pulling out of Formula 1 after next year. Red Bull wants to take over the Honda IP and […]
Pirelli pushing ahead with criticised 2021 tyres
Nov.29 (GMM) Mario Isola has bad news for Formula 1 drivers – the proposed 2021 tyres are still on track to make their debut next year. Led by seven-time world champion, top drivers were scathing of the performance of the new tyres when tested in Bahrain on Friday. “I am trying to be extremely diplomatic, […]
Vettel ‘much more positive’ as Ferrari tenure ends
Nov.29 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is feeling “much more positive” as his six-year tenure with Ferrari comes to its end. The quadruple world champion will leave the team after Abu Dhabi next month to join Aston Martin – but he is not expecting to win in 2021. “Let’s be honest – only those who […]