Oct.29 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat may be considering a move to America’s tin-top Nascar category. The news was revealed by Haas team principal Gunther Steiner, whose own boss Gene Haas also owns the highly successful Nascar team Stewart-Haas Racing. “Many drivers want to try it,” Steiner said, when asked about Nascar. “Some are moving to Indycar […]
Month: October 2021
Honda boss ‘considering’ next F1 move
Oct.29 (GMM) Honda’s Formula 1 chief is not confirming speculation that he may still frequent the grands prix in collaboration with Red Bull next year. Masashi Yamamoto, the managing director of Honda’s F1 operations, admits it will be “crazy” to see unbranded Honda units in the Red Bull and Alpha Tauri cars next year. “That […]
Engine problems not due to Cowell exit – Wolff
Oct.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has rejected suggestions Mercedes may be suffering with poor engine reliability due to the departure of a key team member. Andy Cowell, the highly respected former boss of Mercedes’ highly successful Formula 1 engine arm, decided last year to leave the sport. His absence has coincided with an obvious spate of […]
Sainz ‘disappointed’ in Netflix’s Ferrari episode
Oct.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz admits he was “disappointed” when he saw the latest edition of Netflix’s Formula 1 series Drive to Survive. The documentary series has been in the headlines of late – praised on the one hand for raising F1’s image particularly in America, and criticised by Max Verstappen who is snubbing the next […]
Hamilton vs Verstappen is F1’s toughest battle – Rosberg
Oct.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s bid to break Lewis Hamilton’s title streak this year is delivering fans perhaps the highest-level duel in Formula 1 history. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, who retired immediately after beating his then Mercedes teammate Hamilton to the world championship in 2016. Since then, seven time world champion Hamilton, 36, […]
Verstappen’s eyes ‘completely black’ in Austin race
Oct.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen struggled with his physical condition en route to victory and an extended championship lead in Austin. It was already known that the Dutchman’s Red Bull teammate Sergio PErez “struggled massively” through the US GP with a stomach bug and a broken on-board drinks system. “Perez had too much water in the […]
Andretti’s Sauber buyout bid collapses
Oct.28 (GMM) Michael Andretti’s attempted buyout of the Formula 1 team currently known as Alfa Romeo has collapsed. Amid swirling rumours in the paddock about US-based motor racing giant Andretti Autosport acquiring 80 percent of Swiss-based Sauber Motorsport, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted his doubts. “I doubt there will be a deal with Andretti,” […]
Hulkenberg struggled with Indycar ‘monster’
Oct.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg admits he may need to hit the gym before launching a race career in Indycar. The 34-year-old German lost his full-time Formula 1 seat at Renault at the end of 2019, subsequently racing as a one-off substitute at Racing Point before signing as Aston Martin’s 2021 reserve. But he has now […]
F1 drivers ‘free to criticise’ new host Qatar
Oct.27 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers will be able to “express themselves freely” once they touch down in Qatar next month. With drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel so openly vocal on various contemporary political and social issues, there had been fears the criticism of human rights abuses in Qatar would not be tolerated. However, […]
Mercedes not joining Verstappen’s Netflix snub
Oct.27 (GMM) Mercedes has distanced itself from title rival Max Verstappen’s decision to snub the forthcoming edition of the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive. Too much about the documentary series, which is being partly credited for the huge crowds seen in Austin for the US GP last weekend, is “fake”. That is Verstappen’s view, […]
Red Bull backs away from Mercedes protest risk
Oct.27 (GMM) Red Bull has backed away from speculation that the threat of official protests against Mercedes could mar the climax of the 2021 championship battle. The energy drink owned team has been complaining loudly about Mercedes’ mid-season boost in straightline speed, initially honing in on power unit upgrades. But now, attention has turned towards […]
Schumacher caught in middle of title battle
Oct.26 (GMM) Mick Schumacher came under fire for getting in the middle of the world championship battle in Austin. As leader Max Verstappen came up to lap F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s Haas-racing son during the intense final moments of the US GP, the Dutchman asked his Red Bull engineer to do what he can to […]
Two more Verstappen wins ‘necessary’ for title
Oct.26 (GMM) It is “necessary” for Max Verstappen to win two more races this season to win the 2021 world championship. Heading into Austin, Dr Helmut Marko indicated that Red Bull’s Dutch star driver needed at least two more grand prix wins and four podiums to hold off Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. But the Austrian now […]
Alonso admits he should have quit F1 sooner
Oct.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he has just one regret – not quitting Formula 1 sooner. The now 40-year-old Spaniard lost patience with the sport after 2018, after grappling with a string of uncompetitive cars. He tackled Le Mans, the Dakar Rally and the Indy 500, but ultimately decided to return in 2021 with Renault-owned […]
Popularity of F1’s biggest names on the slide
Oct.25 (GMM) The winds of popularity in Formula 1 have changed. Where Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari once ruled in the popularity stakes, the sport now has new fan favourites – Max Verstappen and McLaren. It was all revealed in the latest global F1 fan survey, carried out by Nielsen Sports across 187 countries. It showed […]
Rumour – Audi to Williams, Porsche to McLaren
Oct.25 (GMM) Two Volkswagen carmakers are looking to enter Formula 1 from 2026, according to the major German newspaper Bild. However, while it was already known that Audi or Porsche might be looking to tie up with Red Bull’s post-Honda future, other F1 teams might also benefit. “It’s great that big brands are interested in […]
Father says Verstappen ‘simply one of the best’
Oct.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen is “simply one of the very best” Formula 1 drivers. That is the view of none other than the Dutchman’s famous father, Jos Verstappen, although most insiders and fans wouldn’t disagree. Verstappen senior, 49, made the comment after his Red Bull-racing son Max extended his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to […]
US GP eyes record crowd as covid measures fade
Oct.24 (GMM) Organisers of the US GP in Austin are confident a new deal to keep hosting Formula 1 at the Circuit of the Americas will soon be reached. The chances of that have only risen over the course of this weekend – the first in Texas since 2019, before the start of the covid-19 […]
EUR 600m Sauber-Andretti buyout deal on the rocks
Oct.24 (GMM) Michael Andretti’s takeover of the Alfa Romeo team is suddenly on the rocks. Earlier in Austin, the paddock was alight with speculation that the former F1 driver, who now runs the US-based motor racing empire Andretti Autosport, had taken over 80 percent of the Swiss-based Sauber team. “It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, […]
Grosjean defends Netflix after Verstappen snub
Oct.24 (GMM) Two Formula 1 drivers have defended Netflix after Max Verstappen announced he is snubbing this year’s season of Drive to Survive. The championship leader said he will not be officially participating in the 2021 edition – to be released next year – because producers too often “fake” sensationalised storylines. Former F1 driver Romain […]