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 […]
Month: November 2020
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 […]
Red Bull engine plan heading for ‘compromise’
Nov.28 (GMM) Ferrari and even Renault appear to be moving towards a compromise solution that would allow Red Bull to run its own Honda engines in 2022 and beyond. Red Bull is saying it can take over the Honda IP and operations following the Japanese manufacturer’s departure from Formula 1 late next year, but only […]
Hulkenberg ‘hot’ for chance at 2021 Red Bull seat
Nov.28 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he is “extremely hot” at the prospect of landing a plum Red Bull seat for his full-time return to Formula 1 in 2021. The German lost his Renault seat at the end of 2019, but emerged as the ‘super-sub’ at Racing Point this year when Sergio Perez and Lance […]
F1 drivers slam Pirelli’s proposed 2021 tyre
Nov.28 (GMM) Top Formula 1 drivers have slammed Pirelli’s proposed new tyres for 2021. F1’s official supplier actually tried to introduce a new specification this year, only for it to be similarly rubbished by the drivers after early testing. Now, the teams are rejecting Pirelli’s 2021 design after getting their first taste of it in […]
Schumacher wanted Raikkonen as first F1 teammate
Nov.28 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has hinted at disappointment that he will not make his Formula 1 debut next year at Alfa Romeo. In fact, it is an open secret that the 21-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher will shortly be unveiled as a Ferrari-powered Haas driver for 2021. “It’s not long to wait,” Haas […]
Kubica admits ‘people think I’m not fast’
Nov.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he is no longer on the Formula 1 grid “because people think I’m not fast”. The 35-year-old Pole pulled off a sensational return to the sport with Williams in 2019, some eight years after sustaining permanent injuries in a rallying crash. But now, Kubica admits he may not even remain […]
Pirelli boss tips Hamilton to keep dominating
Nov.28 (GMM) Mario Isola is tipping Mercedes to keep on dominating in 2021. The Pirelli boss was speaking in Bahrain, where seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton hit out at the performance of the proposed new tyres for 2021. But Isola said Hamilton’s adjustment to Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres is actually one of the main […]
Sainz eyes test in 2018-spec Ferrari
Nov.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is already thinking about his forthcoming preparations to switch to Ferrari over the winter. The Spaniard is concerned that new testing limits mean he and his next teammate Charles Leclerc will get just a day and a half each of pre-season running. “We will find a way to minimise the losses, […]
New deadline for Red Bull’s 2022 Honda plan
Nov.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has set a new deadline as Red Bull makes its engine plans for 2022. The team, and sister outfit Alpha Tauri, are losing works Honda backing after next season – but Marko is working on a plan to take over the Japanese marque’s 2021 engine IP and operations. For that […]
Abiteboul not responding to messages – Alonso
Nov.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has joked that 2021 team boss Cyril Abiteboul is already “getting tired” of him. Indeed, contrary to his reputation for being difficult to work with, 39-year-old Alonso has appeared intensely focused and motivated on his preparations to race for Alpine next year. “Half an hour ago I sent him (Renault boss […]