Oct.24 (GMM) Haas needs “two paying drivers” to replace both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean for 2021. That is not the claim of an F1 pundit, but of Grosjean himself as he admits that the American team’s decision to oust him and his teammate was not very surprising. “Guenther (Steiner) told me that financially they […]
F1 exit for Mercedes would be ‘crazy’ – Kallenius
Oct.24 (GMM) Mercedes would be “crazy” to give up its Formula 1 program, according to Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius. With Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff conspicuously yet to sign contracts for 2021, Kallenius’ comments come amid ongoing speculation that something significant may be about to happen. But Kallenius denies that will be an F1 exit. […]
Russell, Perez, Gasly, Ocon fire up ‘silly season’
Oct.24 (GMM) The extraordinary 2021 ‘silly season’ continues apace, with rumours about driver movements running rampant in the Portimao paddock. Acting Williams boss Simon Roberts did his best to quell speculation that George Russell could be about to lose his seat – but in the process only ramped it up. “There’s so much speculation around […]
Hulkenberg ‘would be a good teammate’ – Verstappen
Oct.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen says 2021 Red Bull candidate Nico Hulkenberg “would be a good teammate”. Throughout his current teammate Alex Albon’s struggles this year, Red Bull officials have consistently backed the British-born Thai driver. But more recently, Dr Helmut Marko has admitted that he may need to “look outside our team” if Albon “does […]
Contract could take ‘a couple of months’ – Hamilton
Oct.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton suggests it could be Christmas before he commits to Mercedes for 2021 and beyond by signing a contract. Both the six-time world champion and Mercedes have repeated consistently that they are not looking to make a change – but talks over the 2021 deal are still long delayed. Some think the […]
Hamilton slams FIA as critic Petrov named as steward
Oct.23 (GMM) The FIA has defended its decision to appoint Vitaly Petrov as a Formula 1 steward in Portugal this weekend. Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton hit out at the decision, having been criticised by former F1 driver Petrov over his political activism including kneeling and wearing Black Lives Matter-themed t-shirts on the podium. “Let’s […]
Haas ‘needs money more than talent’ – Jan Magnussen
Oct.23 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father says the Haas team “obviously needs money more than talent”. Former F1 driver Jan Magnussen’s comments came on the same day that the small American team admitted that both his son and Romain Grosjean are being ousted at the end of the year. Haas is expected to field an all-rookie […]
2021 driver ‘silly season’ explodes in Portugal
Oct.23 (GMM) With Haas clearing the decks for 2021, the ‘silly season’ has exploded at the scene of Sunday’s Portuguese GP. Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean appear unlikely to find new seats for next year, with the small American team rumoured to instead field an all-rookie lineup of Nikita Mazepin alongside Mick Schumacher. Elsewhere, […]
‘Question marks’ over F1’s 2021 calendar – Todt
Oct.23 (GMM) There are still “many question marks” about the resumption of a full and normal calendar of races for 2021. That is the admission of FIA president Jean Todt, even after organisers in Melbourne – a city still in a strict anti-covid lockdown – denied that it will lose its season-opening spot for 2021. […]
Red Bull not yet ruling out F1 exit
Oct.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is expected to formalise Red Bull’s threat to quit Formula 1 at a key meeting on Monday over the engine situation. Red Bull is looking into taking over the IP to Honda’s power unit technology and operations from 2022, but only if the sport’s current regulations are also tweaked – […]
FIA tells Racing Point to follow covid protocols
Oct.23 (GMM) F1’s governing body has tightened covid protocols and warned Racing Point amid the unfolding saga involving Lance Stroll’s virus infection. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer defended his actions that led to Stroll admitting this week he had coronavirus after Racing Point said he sat out the Nurburgring with a stomach ache. “Lance called his […]
French media say Haas exit for Grosjean ‘confirmed’
Oct.22 (GMM) French media are now confirming reports that Romain Grosjean will leave Haas at the end of the 2020 season. Citing ‘a number of sources’, the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet this week claimed that the country’s Kevin Magnussen, and his French teammate Grosjean, have been told that their small American employer will be replacing […]
Alex Wurz’s son could join Ferrari academy
Oct.22 (GMM) The son of former F1 driver and current Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chairman Alex Wurz is now inching his way towards a future in Formula 1. 14-year-old Charlie Wurz is among the latest group of candidates in the running to join Ferrari’s increasingly impressive ‘driver academy’. The program’s most prominent fruit is Charles […]
Questions arise as Stroll admits covid infection
Oct.22 (GMM) Sections of the Formula 1 media have reacted with scepticism as it emerges that Lance Stroll and his team-owning father Lawrence recently tested positive for covid-19. At the Nurburgring, where Lance Stroll sat out the race with a stomach ache, Racing Point repeatedly denied that the 21-year-old had contracted the notorious virus. But […]
Red Bull eyes own engine program until 2026
Oct.22 (GMM) Red Bull would only be looking to run its own engine program until the current ‘power unit’ regulations end, according to Dr Helmut Marko. The energy drink owned camp’s top Austrian official does not hide that taking over the IP rights to Honda’s 2021 engine is Red Bull’s preferred option after the Japanese […]
Racing Point already using 2020 Mercedes suspension
Oct.21 (GMM) Racing Point has confirmed that it is already running the rear suspension of this year’s Mercedes on its own 2020 car. The team has made waves with its ‘pink Mercedes’ this year, as it is clearly based on the design of last season’s championship-winning car. “We said from the start that we would […]
Vettel contract will have equality clause – Heidfeld
Oct.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will have insisted upon equal treatment by Aston Martin before signing with his 2021 team. That is the view of former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld, after Vettel’s former boss Dr Helmut Marko expressed concerns this week. “When you hear that all the updates already go to Stroll junior and only when […]
GP boss says Melbourne keeping first 2021 race
Oct.21 (GMM) Australian GP boss Andrew Westacott has hit back at suggestions that Melbourne will not kick off the 2021 season. A leaked 2021 calendar lists Bahrain as the new opening race on next year’s schedule, presumably because Melbourne remains in a strict covid-19 lockdown with major sporting events not taking place. “The Australian Grand […]
Politician slams Bottas for ‘moral posing’
Oct.21 (GMM) A Finnish member of parliament has accused Valtteri Bottas of “moral posing”. This week on Twitter, Bottas – whose girlfriend is a professional cyclist – hit out at the discrepancies in pay between male and female athletes. “It’s not about the money, but about the equality. Don’t men and women work equally hard […]
Haas to announce two new 2021 drivers in Portugal
Oct.21 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean have now been told they will not be re-signed by Haas for the 2021 season. Citing ‘a number of sources’, Ekstra Bladet newspaper claims the news should be announced ahead of this weekend’s race in Portimao. The small American team did not comment. But it is believed Haas […]