Formula One: Wolff spars verbally with Horner and says gloves are off

DOHA (REUTERS) – Mercedes Formula One team boss Toto Wolff declared the gloves were off as he and Red Bull rival Christian Horner engaged in more verbal sparring at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix on Friday (Nov 19). The two principals have been needling each other all season amid the ebbs and flows of the... » read more

Formula One: Bottas quickest ahead of Gasly in Qatar practice

DOHA (AFP) – Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes set the fastest time in free practice on Friday (Nov 19) at the Qatar Grand Prix as the Formula One title fight enters the final three races of the season. Bottas, set to leave for Alfa Romeo next year, was 0.209 seconds quicker than Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly,... » read more

Formula One: Verstappen relishing fierce fight with Hamilton for F1 crown

DOHA (AFP) – Max Verstappen was in bullish mood on Thursday (Nov 18), declaring his heated Formula One title battle with Lewis Hamilton was no “kindergarten” and that he would continue his aggressive approach in this weekend’s inaugural Qatar Grand Prix. The 24-year-old championship leader defended so fiercely in last Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix that... » read more

Formula One: Russell sees no issues with joining Hamilton at Mercedes

MONZA, ITALY (AFP) – George Russell said on Thursday (Sept 9) that he does not “see there being any issues” when he becomes seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton’s new Mercedes teammate next season. The 23-year-old Russell will leave Williams to join his fellow Briton for the 2022 season, replacing Valtteri Bottas at the... » read more

Formula One: No plans to take engine penalty at Monza, says Verstappen

MONZA, ITALY (REUTERS) – Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen calmed fears he might have to take an engine penalty for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. “We haven’t really decided yet where to take it,” the Red Bull driver told reporters at Monza on Thursday (Sept 9) when asked about a likely grid drop. “This... » read more

Motor racing: Hamilton’s F1 lead confirmed as Aston Martin drop appeal

LONDON (REUTERS) – Lewis Hamilton’s eight-point lead in the Formula One championship was confirmed on Thursday (Aug 12) as Aston Martin dropped an appeal against Sebastian Vettel’s Hungarian Grand Prix disqualification. Vettel had finished second in the Aug 1 race but Hamilton took the position after the German was ruled out for not having the... » read more

Formula One: Verstappen crash cost Red Bull US$1.8 million, says Horner

LONDON (REUTERS) – Max Verstappen’s British Grand Prix collision with Lewis Hamilton cost Red Bull US$1.8 million (S$2.4 million) with “massive ramifications” for a team operating under Formula One’s budget cap, principal Christian Horner said on Friday (July 23). In a combative column on the Red Bull website, Horner revealed the championship leader’s seat was... » read more

Motor racing: F1 leaders Red Bull feel targeted by move to slow pitstops

STYRIA, AUSTRIA (REUTERS) – Formula One leaders Red Bull said a move to slow down pitstops on safety grounds appeared to be aimed at reducing their advantage but could instead add to the danger. The governing FIA issued a technical directive to teams before the weekend’s Steiermark grand prix in Austria to clarify the rules and... » read more

Formula One: Hamilton dispels ‘myth’ over Mercedes chassis swop

PARIS (REUTERS) – Seven-times Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton dispelled the “myth” surrounding a chassis swop with Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas after qualifying for Sunday’s French Grand Prix. Hamilton and Bottas had swopped chassis for this weekend’s race at the Paul Ricard circuit as part of a planned rotation, Mercedes said in the build-up.... » read more

Formula One: Mercedes not at the level needed to win titles, say bosses

LONDON (REUTERS) – Once-dominant Mercedes are no longer performing at the level needed to win the Formula One championship and must get back to their “A Game”, team bosses said after Sunday’s (June 6) Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff said the last two weeks had been his toughest yet. Sunday’s sixth... » read more

Motor racing: Red Bull hire more engine experts from F1 rivals Mercedes

LONDON (REUTERS) – Red Bull have hired another group of engine experts from Formula One rivals Mercedes as they prepare to build their own power unit after Honda’s departure at the end of the season. The team last month announced Ben Hodgkinson, head of mechanical engineering at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), had been... » read more