Sep.9 (GMM) F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart thinks it’s time a new world champion is crowned. “It’s always nice to see a young challenger who can attack the leader,” the 82-year-old, a former triple world champion and team owner, told Ziggo Sport. “Lewis Hamilton was the leader for too long,” he insisted. “His team has […]
Month: September 2021
F1 CEO worried about future of Italian GP
Sep.9 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is worried about the future of the Italian GP at Monza. Once an unmissable and exciting pilgrimage for the Tifoso, race organisers are now warning that a meagre race-day crowd of just 16,000 spectators have bought tickets to attend this weekend’s race. It is believed the issue could be […]
Wolff shows Hamilton he’s ‘not the king’
Sep.9 (GMM) George Russell’s arrival at Mercedes next year is a sign to Lewis Hamilton that he is “not such a king”. A source close to the seven time world champion this week told a British newspaper that Hamilton is decidedly unhappy about Toto Wolff’s decision to oust Valtteri Bottas. “Lewis says he (Bottas) was […]
Williams not ruling out Red Bull logos in 2022
Sep.9 (GMM) Alex Albon has retained the backing of Red Bull, despite returning to Formula 1 with Mercedes-powered Williams in 2022. At Zandvoort, Toto Wolff warned that he may block the British-born Thai driver’s Williams deal if title rival Red Bull does not sever ties with Albon. So when asked if confirmation of Albon’s new […]
Monza admits few tickets sold for Italian GP
Sep.8 (GMM) A smaller than expected crowd is expected to gather for the Italian GP at fabled Monza this weekend. Due to covid, only 50 percent of the full capacity of almost 120,000 will be allowed to gather for the Formula 1 race. However, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the actual race-day and sprint qualifying […]
Dutch GP showed Verstappen can win 2021 title – Hulkenberg
Sep.8 (GMM) Zandvoort was proof that Max Verstappen has what it takes to withstand the pressure and capture his first world championship by the end of the season. That is the view of former F1 racer and current Aston Martin reserve Nico Hulkenberg, who hailed Verstappen’s dominance of his first home grand prix last weekend. […]
‘More than two options’ to replace Russell – boss
Sep.8 (GMM) Alex Albon and Nyck de Vries are not the only drivers in the running to replace the Mercedes-bound George Russell at Williams in 2022. “We knew this was a possibility,” said team boss Jost Capito, on the day Mercedes finally announced that Russell is replacing Valtteri Bottas next year. “We have a number […]
Bottas reveals Alfa deal is for three years
Sep.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has revealed that his new contract at Alfa Romeo is for a full three years. Officially, the Swiss team is saying only that the current Mercedes driver has inked a multi-year deal starting in 2022. “I will not comment on this further,” team boss Frederic Vasseur told RTL. However, 31-year-old Bottas […]
Mazepin may be eyeing second Alfa Romeo seat
Sep.8 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has hinted that he and his powerful financial backing may be headed for a different Formula 1 team. The Russian rookie, whose father Dmitry’s company Uralkali is the title sponsor at Haas, is now locked in an open conflict with his teammate Mick Schumacher. “Jenson Button says he is dangerous, and […]
Mercedes needs car update to catch Verstappen – Hamilton
Sep.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has followed hot on the heels of title rival Max Verstappen’s similar request for a faster car. With the all-new 2022 rules now looming, most Formula 1 teams are almost exclusively focused on designing their cars for next year. However, as he fell back behind Red Bull’s Verstappen in the drivers’ […]
Father went to hospital after Verstappen win
Sep.7 (GMM) Max Verstappen may have been on top of the world, but his father Jos Verstappen had to be airlifted to hospital shortly after watching the Dutch GP on television. Dutch reports say the 49-year-old former Formula 1 driver was taken to the hospital in Roermond, in the southern Netherlands, due to stomach and […]
Kubica worried about Monza ‘sprint qualifying’
Sep.7 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits he is facing another difficult weekend if Kimi Raikkonen is unable to return to his Alfa Romeo cockpit in Monza. The Pole, whose ties to title sponsor Orlen means he is the Swiss team’s primary reserve, was drafted in after Friday practice at Zandvoort when Raikkonen tested positive to covid-19. […]
Chinese driver on pole to be Bottas teammate
Sep.7 (GMM) A Chinese driver has raced into pole position to be Valtteri Bottas’ teammate at Alfa Romeo next year. On Monday, the lid was finally lifted on Mercedes’ plans for next year, with Finn Bottas departing – and the door now firmly open for George Russell. “This hasn’t been an easy process or a […]
Vaccinated Raikkonen left Zandvoort with covid
Sep.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen received permission to break hotel isolation and return home after testing positive to covid and sitting out the Dutch GP. According to Swiss broadcaster SRF, the retiring Alfa Romeo driver was fully vaccinated with Pfizer in March and April. “I received the first dose in Bahrain, otherwise I would have got […]
Mazepin has ‘no place in Formula 1’ – Ralf Schumacher
Sep.6 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has become a “life threatening” risk to his fellow Formula 1 drivers. That is the sensational rebuke of the controversial Russian rookie made by Ralf Schumacher – the uncle of Mazepin’s Haas teammate Mick Schumacher. Only a day after the last controversy between the duo in qualifying, Schumacher hit out at […]
Albon confirms two options for 2022 return
Sep.6 (GMM) Alex Albon admits he is waiting for confirmation that he will return to the Formula 1 grid in 2022. At Zandvoort, recent rumours became more concrete about Red Bull’s talks with Williams and Alfa Romeo about a potential race seat for Albon next year. “My goal is to return to Formula 1 and […]
No format tweaks for Monza sprint qualifying
Sep.6 (GMM) F1’s new ‘sprint qualifying’ format will return with no changes or tweaks this weekend at Monza. The sport’s chiefs Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn, and most of the drivers and teams, declared the debut at Silverstone of the format that is being trialled this year as an overwhelming success. However, the usefulness of […]
Zandvoort wants to host five more Dutch GPs
Sep.6 (GMM) Zandvoort is cementing its place in Formula 1’s medium-term future. The entire racing world hailed the success of the first Dutch GP for almost four decades, where legions of orange-clad fans created what Christian Horner described as a “nightclub atmosphere”. And the ‘old school’ nature of the circuit, combined with some steeply banked […]
Red Bull ‘must stay on the gas’ in 2021 – Verstappen
Sep.6 (GMM) His orange-clad fans were in a party mood on Sunday, but new championship leader Max Verstappen is already urging Red Bull to keep charging ahead in 2022. The Dutchman sensationally and utterly dominated his home race at Zandvoort, but remains concerned that Mercedes is still poised to bounce back. “Mercedes had a very […]
Verstappen fans ‘want to see a win’ – Marko
Sep.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is keeping the pressure on Max Verstappen’s shoulders, after correctly predicting the Dutchman would take pole position at his home circuit on Saturday. The Red Bull official says he has been overwhelmed with the orange-clad atmosphere at Zandvoort. “What I experienced today and yesterday is really unmatchable,” Marko said. “I […]