Nov.11 (GMM) Formula 1 is not moving to a two-day race weekend format in 2021, according to Zandvoort circuit director Robert van Overdijk. This year, the Dutch GP promoters opted for cancellation amid the corona crisis rather than a spectator-less ‘ghost race’. And now, van Overdijk says Zandvoort is counting on the ticket sales of […]
Turkey hoping to host 23rd race in 2021
Nov.10 (GMM) Formula 1 is still not ready to confirm the accuracy of a leaked version of next year’s race calendar. Recent reports suggested the 2021 schedule will have an unprecedented 23 grands prix, and now media sources have published a version of it – starting in Australia on March 21 and ending in early […]
Rookie lineup a ‘mammoth task’ for Haas – Schumacher
Nov.10 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has admitted that running an all-rookie driver lineup next year is “a risk”. It is now widely expected that Haas is poised to announce that Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher will race alongside his fellow healthily-backed rookie Nikita Mazepin next year. It would be a stark change of policy for the small […]
Binotto confirms plan to skip races in 2020, 2021
Nov.10 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has confirmed reports that he will be absent this weekend in Istanbul. We reported recently that sporting director Laurent Mekies will serve as acting team boss in Turkey while Binotto stays at the factory to focus on preparations for 2021. “As far as my role is concerned, I have to find […]
Verstappen right to be ‘realistic’ about 2021 chances
Nov.10 (GMM) Robert Doornbos thinks Max Verstappen is right to suspect that he will also not win the 2021 title with Red Bull. Dutchman Verstappen has been quoted this week as doubting that the covid-minded rules for next season will give Red Bull-Honda the improvement it needs to take on Mercedes. “Max is just being […]
Hamilton politics ‘dangerous’ for F1 – Schumacher
Nov.10 (GMM) Political activism is “dangerous” in Formula 1, former driver Ralf Schumacher has warned. The former Williams and Toyota driver, whose brother Michael is still the sport’s only seven time champion, said he has no issue with Lewis Hamilton voicing his opinion about political matters on social media. “His values are very important and […]
F1 teams to ‘rotate’ engineers from 2021
Nov.9 (GMM) Even the smaller F1 teams will have to shake up their internal organisation to cope with the 23 scheduled grands prix next year. Mercedes has already announced that the unprecedented number of races that are planned for next year will mean engineers will be put on a rotation scheme. Franz Tost, boss of […]
Steiner wants Haas to keep racing for 20 years
Nov.9 (GMM) Gunther Steiner wants the Haas team to keep racing long after his retirement. Earlier this year, it was unclear if the small and struggling American team’s owner Gene Haas would continue to fund the project. Ultimately, Haas signed the 2021 Concorde Agreement but team boss Steiner says his biggest goal at the moment […]
F1 will shine light on Saudi Arabia’s problems – Lammers
Nov.9 (GMM) Controversy about the newly announced F1 race in Saudi Arabia will shine a light on the problems within the country. That is the view of Jan Lammers, a former F1 driver who is now a leading figure of the Dutch GP at Zandvoort. Following the announcement of the 2021 night race in Jeddah, […]
Honda leaving F1 for financial reasons – Carey
Nov.9 (GMM) Honda is leaving Formula 1 for financial reasons. That is the view of F1 CEO Chase Carey, contrary to the Japanese manufacturer’s official explanation as to why it is ending its collaboration with Red Bull and leaving the sport after 2021. “Honda has decided to strive for the realisation of carbon neutrality by […]
Ferrari needs ‘three years’ for F1 recovery – Berger
Nov.9 (GMM) It will take Ferrari “three years” to put its championship ambitions back on track. That is the view of former Ferrari driver and F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who is currently recovering from emergency surgery to remove his appendix. “The doctor was quite excited when he look at the x-rays,” the 61-year-old Austrian told […]
Road to F1 ending for Jean Alesi’s son
Nov.9 (GMM) The road to Formula 1 for Jean Alesi’s son appears to be over. While Michael Schumacher’s son Mick is poised to leapfrog from Formula 2 to the F1 grid next year, it is another matter entirely for another 21-year-old member of Ferrari’s driver academy – Giuliano Alesi. “We have no sponsors for 2021 […]
Schumacher ‘clearly’ ready for F1 debut
Nov.9 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is “clearly” ready for Formula 1. It is widely believed that Haas is poised to announce that Michael Schumacher’s 21-year-old son will join the team and Formula 1 for 2021. “I clearly feel ready for Formula 1,” Schumacher, the Formula 2 points leader, told t-online. “In recent years I […]
Red Bull may need Perez’s sponsorship – Albers
Nov.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez is still in the running to become Max Verstappen’s next teammate at Red Bull, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. The rumour mill suggests that if the struggling Alex Albon is ousted, Nico Hulkenberg – who is Verstappen’s preferred pick – is the favourite to replace him. “I don’t think […]
Verstappen ‘ready’ to be F1 champion – Massa
Nov.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen only needs a car capable of going two tenths faster in order to race to a world championship. That is the view of Felipe Massa, who as a Ferrari driver in 2008 came tantalisingly close to beating Lewis Hamilton to the title. Now, he thinks Dutchman Verstappen is ready to take […]
Crash, covid infection hurt Stroll’s form – team
Nov.9 (GMM) Lance Stroll is suffering from a dip in confidence and the effects of his recent coronavirus infection, according to Racing Point. The Canadian driver has not scored points in the last five races, with team technical boss Andy Green saying his crash at Mugello initially dented his confidence. “He had to deal with […]
Schumacher thinks Hamilton could retire
Nov.6 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher thinks it is possible that Lewis Hamilton really will retire from Formula 1 after wrapping up his seventh title. The 35-year-old Mercedes driver caused a stir after winning at Imola by insisting there is “no guarantee” he will agree a new contract for 2021 and beyond. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff played […]
Alfa Romeo to remain ‘independent’ in F1 – boss
Nov.6 (GMM) Sauber, the company that races in F1 as Alfa Romeo, will remain an independent team. That is the insistence of boss Frederic Vasseur, countering the widely held narrative that the Swiss based team has become a sort of Ferrari satellite team in recent years. But Vasseur told Auto Motor und Sport that Haas […]
Tsunoda told by Marko to ‘focus on F1’
Nov.6 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko blocked Yuki Tsunoda from contesting a recent junior series race so that the Japanese can focus on Formula 1. It is another clear sign that the boss of Red Bull’s driver program intends to oust Daniil Kvyat and run 20-year-old Honda-backed Tsunoda at Alpha Tauri in 2021. This week at […]
‘Unlucky’ to lose place in F1 – Magnussen
Nov.6 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen thinks he is “unlucky” to be losing his place in Formula 1. The 28-year-old was brought into Formula 1 by McLaren in 2014, subsequently driving for Renault and spending the last four seasons at Haas. But for 2021, the small American team is opting for two new drivers, prompting his teammate […]