Apr.6 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has played down France’s hopes of returning to the Formula 1 calendar – unless the government gets involved. As the sport’s schedule become steadily more congested, Paul Ricard – having last held a grand prix in 2022 – became a victim as it was priced out of the market. The new […]
Category: Recent stories
Haas boss denies early ‘smokescreen’ of ‘bulls**t’
Apr.6 (GMM) Ayao Komatsu has hit back at claims that his expectation that the Haas team could remain dead last in 2024 was always “bulls**t”. The criticism came from the Japanese’s long-time predecessor Gunther Steiner, who recently accused Komatsu of putting up a “smokescreen” of zero expectations for 2024. “They downplayed (expectations) to have an […]
Alonso inches closer to new Aston Martin deal
Apr.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso seems to be inching towards a new deal to remain at Aston Martin beyond 2024. Recently, the Spaniard and two-time champion has been riding the wave of a renewed show of form – to the point that he was being linked with sensation moves to Mercedes or even Red Bull. However, […]
Sargeant crashed Albon’s repaired chassis at Suzuka
Apr.5 (GMM) Logan Sargeant’s 2024 season has gone from bad to worse in Japan. The American, who is on his second and final chance to impress Williams this year, had to sit out Melbourne after the team ejected him from his chassis following preferred teammate Alex Albon’s big practice crash. Williams managed to repair Albon’s […]
Rivals plan awkward drivers’ briefing for Alonso at Suzuka
Apr.5 (GMM) Many of Fernando Alonso’s rivals at Suzuka were planning an awkward official drivers’ briefing for the two-time champion. George Russell says he bumped into the Spaniard in a coffee shop last week following their incident and his big crash in Melbourne – after stewards penalised Alonso for what many are calling a clear […]
Leclerc admits ‘not happy’ to be behind Sainz
Apr.5 (GMM) Charles Leclerc admits he needs to up his game in comparison with his teammate Carlos Sainz. The highly-regarded Monegasque driver is in the ultra-awkward situation at present of being outperformed by the sister car – even though Melbourne winner Sainz has been ousted and is currently jobless for 2025. Max Verstappen, however, doesn’t […]
Hulkenberg admits top team move for 2025 unlikely
Apr.5 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down his chances of leaping into a truly top car for 2025. The 36-year-old German has impressed since returning to Formula 1 with the sport’s smallest team – Haas – last year. But with his contract now running out, Hulkenberg is being linked with a move to Audi-owned Sauber […]
Alpine upgrades ‘not a revolution’ – Ocon
Apr.5 (GMM) Alpine’s disheartened drivers are playing down hopes of a big step forward this weekend at Suzuka. Despite being Renault’s works team, Alpine emerged from the winter break – and a 2023 season full of management and shareholding turmoil – with the slowest car in this year’s field. The first upgrades of the season […]
Ricciardo suspects basic flaw with RB chassis
Apr.5 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits he has started to wonder if a change of chassis could help him end his latest performance slump. The 34-year-old Australian had plans to impress in the RB cockpit this year in order to convince the parent team Red Bull Racing to re-hire him. However, teammate Yuki Tsunoda is currently […]
Hamilton plans awkward 2025 talks with Toto Wolff
Apr.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is shaping up to have an awkward “conversation” with his current Formula 1 boss, Toto Wolff. The seven time world champion is leaving Mercedes at the end of the year, but Hamilton is already eager to kick off 2025 preparations with his new team – Ferrari. “At some stage I will […]
Sainz talking to ‘almost everyone’ about 2025
Apr.4 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is currently in talks with “several teams” about 2025. Since winning in Melbourne, it was rumoured that Audi-owned Sauber boss Andreas Seidl has imposed a mid-April deadline for the future Ferrari refugee to accept or decline a firm contract offer. But the on-form Sainz, 29, is also linked with […]
Letter urges FIA to return legal action fire
Apr.4 (GMM) A raft of FIA member clubs and federations are urging F1’s governing body to fight fire with fire amid an obviously escalating conflict. Susie Wolff, wife of Mercedes boss Toto, recently filed a criminal complaint in France following accusations by controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of conflict of interest and the exchange […]
Pirelli Turkey wins tender to revive Istanbul F1 race
Apr.4 (GMM) Plans to revive the defunct Turkish GP at Istanbul have hit the accelerator. A month ago, Tass news agency reported that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was in the country amid plans by local authorities to “hold a tender for the reconstruction and management of the Istanbul Park circuit”. The local Hurriyet newspaper […]
Rumours of joint F1-MotoGP race weekend gaining speed
Apr.4 (GMM) It is a “medium term” goal to host a unique and sensational joint race weekend involving both Formula 1 and its two-wheeled equivalent, MotoGP. Those rumours have been swirling for some time, but they’re now gaining extra steam following news that Liberty Media, F1’s commercial rights holder, now also owns MotoGP. But Carlos […]
Red Bull, Ferrari take updated cars to Japan
Apr.4 (GMM) Multiple F1 teams are set to introduce significant car upgrades this weekend at Suzuka – including top teams Red Bull and Ferrari. De Telegraaf, a prominent Dutch newspaper with sources close to the Max Verstappen camp, says the 2024 Red Bull will benefit from “a significant package of updates” in Japan. And Italy’s […]
Marko quiet over latest explosive Red Bull rumours
Apr.4 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has issued a firm “no comment” to the latest wild speculation surrounding the Red Bull power struggle. The public fire surrounding the Christian Horner scandal seemed to have been somewhat doused in the days after the Saudi Arabian GP – but whispers are still being made in the background. For […]
Le Mans now unlikely for Vettel in 2024
Apr.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s highly-anticipated return to top motorsport at Le Mans this year is now looking increasingly unlikely. The retired quadruple world champion is still being linked with a potential return to Formula 1 for 2025, given Lewis Hamilton’s shock switch from Mercedes to Ferrari. “I’m talking to Toto (Wolff),” Vettel, 36, is quoted […]
Verstappen lifted spirits by skiing in Japan – Marko
Apr.3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists he has “no worries” about a recurrence of the brake problem that led to Max Verstappen’s ultra-rare retirement in Melbourne. The top Red Bull consultant says Verstappen, who nonetheless continues to lead the drivers’ standings but only by 5 points, has coped well with the setback. “Unfortunately, defects like […]
F1 CEO defends Sainz’s ousting at Ferrari
Apr.3 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has defended Ferrari’s decision to oust Melbourne winner Carlos Sainz in favour of Lewis Hamilton from 2025. Sainz, 29, is in the awkward situation of trying to find an alternate competitive cockpit for next year whilst arguably being in better form than both his continuing Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc […]
Wolff cancels plans to sit out Japanese GP
Apr.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff has cancelled his plans to skip this weekend’s Japanese GP. For the past few years, as the Formula 1 calendar swelled to bursting point, the Mercedes boss began to sit out certain long-haul events – like Suzuka and Qatar. But given the team’s failure to give George Russell and the Ferrari-bound […]