SM
Newcastle vs. Arsenal: 5 hrs
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Early start for 2021 title 'mind games' - Schumacher

:Headline: Early start for 2021 title 'mind games' - Schumacher:
The "mind games" between Formula 1's title protagonists have begun tantalisingly early in 2021, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher.
Sports Mole

The "mind games" between Formula 1's title protagonists have begun tantalisingly early in 2021, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are keeping their battle civil at least publicly, but 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg says their respective bosses "can't stand each other".

Indeed, Mercedes' Toto Wolff has been regularly exchanging media jibes with Red Bull's Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko.

For instance, when considering a radio call made to Lando Norris in qualifying, Marko said he suspected McLaren was helping its engine supplier by potentially disturbing Verstappen's lap.

"Helmut Marko is a strong weapon for us because it doesn't help your own team to see conspiracies everywhere you go," Wolff said at the weekend.

Then, in a press briefing with German media, Wolff said of the weekend: "It went well. We annoyed the doctor, so that was really good."

Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland: "I've never seen the mind games start so early.

"One tries to get into the other's head to lead them to mistakes, and it's exactly the same the other way around. That's nice for us to watch," he admitted.

Marko was also angry at the FIA after Sunday's race, because Verstappen had an extra point taken away for setting the fastest lap due to a track limits violation.

"First we lost the victory in Bahrain, then pole position in qualifying here and now the fastest lap," he said. "Something has to change.

"Lando Norris took Sergio Perez with clearly all four tyres off the track but no consequences, so you can't call it racing anymore if you don't follow the rules consistently.

"Either there is a limit with real kerbs or we put gravel there so there is an automatic punishment for driving too far out," Marko added.

More generally, however, Marko is happy with how Verstappen's season is going so far.

"We were faster on the medium tyre but unfortunately Max made the mistake. Our pace was a little slower on the hard tyre," he explained.

"But this was a Mercedes track and we were competitive - not enough for victory but the development is correct."

body check tags ::

amp_article__445842 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-03 08:21:55:
html db last update - 2021-05-03 08:21:55 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Ralf Schumacher

Click here for more stories about Mercedes

Share this article now:
LN
Read Next:
McLaren denies helping Mercedes with Norris radio call
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Ralf Schumacher Helmut Marko Max Verstappen Toto Wolff Lando Norris Sergio Perez Christian Horner Lewis Hamilton Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
McLaren denies helping Mercedes with Norris radio call
Amorim reveals Man United rejected request to delay move
Not in Amorim's plans: Man United 'ready to axe four players' next year
Horner says dropping Perez after Brazil 'unlikely'

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Man Utd vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PM

Hojlund or Zirkzee? Will Eriksen play? Man United predicted XI against Chelsea

2

HO

Saturday's Serie A predictions including Monza vs. AC Milan

NEW

3

SS

Saturday's Transfer Talk Update: Diomande, Magalhaes, Saliba

NEW

4

ST

Major Rashford decision: How Man United could line up under Amorim

5

MR

Why Sterling could be Arsenal's secret weapon in Newcastle clash

6

WS

Preview: Sparta vs. Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PS

Preview: Katie Boulter vs. Yuan Yue - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

8

PK

Team News: Ipswich vs. Leicester injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

9

TN

Preview: Spurs vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .