Nov.20 (GMM) Italian motor racing chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani says he wants Italy to have not one but two grands prix in 2021. It is a clear sign that Imola is in the running to replace the cancelled Vietnam GP, with the April 25 race date currently listed as ‘to be confirmed’. “We would like […]
Ferrari right to split with Vettel – Massa
Nov.20 (GMM) Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has backed Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari split. The Maranello team decided to replace the German with Carlos Sainz for 2021 and beyond, with Vettel heading instead to Aston Martin. Massa told Spain’s AS newspaper that the uncompetitive 2020 Ferrari is not Vettel’s fault. “The car is the most important,” […]
Marko responds to Hulkenberg’s ‘German humour’
Nov.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has reacted with a smile to a comment made earlier this week by 2021 Red Bull candidate Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg, who is in the running to replace struggling Alex Albon next year, joked on Red Bull-owned Servus TV this week that he has now “signed a new contract”. “A home […]
Hamilton’s political activism ‘dangerous’ – Albers
Nov.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton should be careful with his political activism to avoid accusations of hypocrisy, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. New seven time world champion Hamilton has been fiercely outspoken in 2020 on issues including Black Lives Matter. “When you are an athlete, expressing your opinion about certain things is quite dangerous […]
F1 drivers ‘not the same’ as in the past – Briatore
Nov.20 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has lamented the way Formula 1 drivers have changed since his days in Formula 1. The former Renault boss said he helped Fernando Alonso arrange his 2021 return to the sport. “I am very pleased with Fernando’s return,” he told Spanish broadcaster Antena 3. “We worked together, yes, we worked together […]
Marko to make Albon decision after Abu Dhabi
Nov.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Alex Albon is still in the running to keep his seat at Red Bull in 2021. The Austrian official has defended the struggling British-born Thai driver this year, but Marko said Albon “threw away the podium” with a spin in Istanbul. “Both of our drivers overused their tyres, whereas […]
‘Three to seven years’ left in F1 career – Vettel
Nov.19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has joined Lewis Hamilton in admitting his career is now on a downhill run to retirement. With his seventh title in the bag last Sunday, Mercedes’ 35-year-old Hamilton said he will not be racing into his 40s like Kimi Raikkonen. Vettel, a quadruple world champion who is switching from Ferrari to […]
Daimler ‘not stopping’ Mercedes F1 project
Nov.19 (GMM) Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius has once again moved to allay fears that Mercedes might be pulled out of Formula 1. 2021 was the German team’s seventh consecutive sweep of the drivers’ and constructors’ world championships, but there have been rumblings that Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff may be looking elsewhere as Mercedes moves […]
Mercedes apologises after Bottas’ covid joke
Nov.19 (GMM) Mercedes has apologised to Chinese fans after Valtteri Bottas made a joke about coronavirus following last Sunday’s grand prix in Istanbul. On the day his teammate Lewis Hamilton sealed the title, the Finnish driver was asked by Ziggo Sport if he would like to scratch the date from history. “Yeah, or the day […]
F1 commentator hopes Sepang makes 2021 return
Nov.18 (GMM) Alexey Popov hopes Formula 1 returns to Sepang next year. With the new Vietnam GP no longer scheduled for 2021, Formula 1 has marked that date on the calendar as ‘to be confirmed’. “They immediately started talking about Sepang or Istanbul,” Popov, the Russian F1 commentator for Match TV, said. “I am a […]
Verstappen dismisses critical F1 ‘experts’
Nov.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen has dismissed the opinions of “experts” who were critical of the Dutch driver after the Turkish GP. Countryman Robert Doornbos called it “one of Max’s worst performances”, Timo Glock said he “took too many risks”, and Jacques Villeneuve said Istanbul reminded him of the 23-year-old’s “first years in Formula 1”. Another […]
Alonso still waiting for ‘young driver test’ answer
Nov.18 (GMM) Renault is still waiting to hear if Fernando Alonso will be permitted to do the forthcoming ‘young driver test’ in Abu Dhabi. Although the Spanish driver is a 39-year-old double world champion, team boss Cyril Abiteboul argued that Alonso’s two-year sabbatical is reason enough to ask the FIA for special dispensation. Multiple rival […]
Kubica may return to world rallying in 2021
Nov.18 (GMM) Robert Kubica could return full-time to the world rally championship in 2021, according to Poland’s Przeglad Sportowy newspaper. Mere days ago, the Pole revealed that he was “tempted” by an offer to do world rally’s forthcoming Monza round, but it would have clashed with his Alfa Romeo reserve driver duties in Bahrain. At […]
Aston Martin to supply F1 safety car from 2021
Nov.18 (GMM) Aston Martin will share F1 safety car duties with Mercedes from 2021, according to authoritative sources. Italy’s respected Autosprint and La Gazzetta dello Sport publications claim a deal has been done between Formula 1 and Lawrence Stroll-controlled Aston Martin to supply the safety and medical cars at half of the grands prix. Mercedes, […]
Hamilton had ‘several’ Ferrari talks
Nov.18 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he has spoken with Ferrari chiefs “several times” about potentially joining the Maranello team. After matching Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher’s seven-title record last Sunday, the Mercedes driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I have never really been close to signing for Ferrari. “We spoke several times but we did […]
New engine for 2021, 2022 ‘very promising’ – Binotto
Nov.18 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says Ferrari’s new engine for 2021 and 2022 is looking “very promising”. The Maranello team has struggled with its 2020 power unit in the wake of last year’s legality saga. “Currently, we don’t have the best engine but next year we can have a completely new one,” he said. “At Ferrari […]
Hulkenberg admits ‘contact’ but no contract
Nov.18 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is keeping himself “fit” in case another opportunity to race in Formula 1 crops up. Appearing on Red Bull’s Servus TV broadcaster, the German was asked if he is any closer to knowing his future. “I’ve signed a new contract,” he smiled. “A home loan contract – I hope […]
Schumacher ‘following’ son Mick’s F1 career – Todt
Nov.17 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is “following” the progress of his son’s rise to Formula 1. That is the word from FIA president Jean Todt, who remains a close friend of the Schumacher family after his time as Ferrari’s ultra successful team boss. RTL France asked the 74-year-old if he can update the world about the […]
Wolff tips Hamilton to race into 2022
Nov.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff appears to have played down speculation that Lewis Hamilton could be shaping up to sign a mere one-year contract for 2021. Top drivers like new seven time world champion Hamilton typically sign long and lucrative contracts, but the current situation is notably different. For instance, Mercedes’ long term future in F1 […]
Verstappen blames front wing for Turkey performance
Nov.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen says there was a technical reason why he underperformed in last Sunday’s Turkish GP. Despite missing pole to Lance Stroll, the Dutchman had gone into the race as the hot favourite to win. But countryman Robert Doornbos said when happened next was “one of Max’s worst performances in his Formula 1 […]