May 19 (GMM) Audi-owned Sauber is now openly describing the possibility of signing Carlos Sainz for 2025 and beyond as an “important objective”. Earlier, it was believed Audi had set a decision deadline for the Ferrari-departing Spaniard. But now, given that Nico Hulkenberg has already signed on, team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi said at Imola […]
Category: Recent stories
Niki Lauda’s widow wins dispute with Lauda Foundation
May 19 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s widow is now emerging from a legal dispute over about 30 million euros of the late F1 legend’s estate. The case first emerged a year ago, when Lauda’s wife at the time of his death, Birgit Wetzinger, sued the Lauda Foundation. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Birgit, 45, won […]
Media ‘overestimated’ Ferrari upgrade – Sainz
May 19 (GMM) Max Verstappen emerged from his Imola struggles on Saturday to equal the great Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive pole positions. The triple world champion had earlier complained of chronic handling problems – with his subsequent qualifying triumph prompting some of his rivals to roll their eyes. “They always use lower engine […]
Two candidates shape up to replace Ocon, Gasly
May 18 (GMM) Alpine can thrive even without its two current race drivers, team boss Bruno Famin insists. Although the Renault-linked team is showing signs of emerging from its deep performance slump, there is no doubt that Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have been looking around on the driver market. Ocon hinted at Imola that […]
Newey ‘closer and closer’ to Ferrari contract
May 18 (GMM) Adrian Newey is inching “closer and closer” to a sensational move to Ferrari. From Imola, Britain’s Daily Mail claims the departing Red Bull technical guru has even put pen-to-paper on a forthcoming switch to Ferrari, where he will be united for 2025 and beyond with Lewis Hamilton. Italy’s Corriere della Sera is […]
Red Bull upgrade not working well yet – Marko
May 18 (GMM) Ferrari has become a “serious opponent” for the dominant Red Bull team, the latter’s top F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko admitted at Imola. Maranello-based Ferrari brought a major upgrade to this weekend’s race, with Red Bull technical boss Pierre Wache admitting the new components on his drivers’ cars are less “visible”. La […]
Bearman cruising towards 2025 Haas race seat
May 18 (GMM) Oliver Bearman appears to be marching towards a full-time Haas race seat for 2025. It emerged recently that the small American team will lose the services of its on-form German driver Nico Hulkenberg to the newly Audi-owned Sauber project. Team boss Ayao Komatsu admits it is a bitter pill to swallow. “Of […]
Alonso wants F1 unity to make penalty rules ‘simple’
May 17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists he’s not alone in his criticism about the way Formula 1 races are currently being managed. The 42-year-old was particularly outspoken two weeks ago in Miami, seeking face-to-face talks with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem about alleged anti-Spanish bias in the issuing of penalties for on-track infractions. But there […]
F1 driver silly-season now a ‘waiting game’
May 17 (GMM) Formula 1’s driver market silly-season has now becoming a “waiting game”. Those are the words of Alex Albon, who despite being linked with several other teams decided to re-pledge his medium-term future to Williams this week. “It seems like it’s a waiting game now and everyone is just postponing their decision,” he […]
Newey’s Williams talks now on ‘pause’ – Vowles
May 17 (GMM) Formula 1 is waiting with bated breath to discover Adrian Newey’s next move. The 65-year-old, arguably the most famous and sought-after technical mind and car designer in F1 history, has now stepped back at Red Bull and is vowing to take a break as he’s “tired”. But he said in a new […]
Williams now F1’s only overweight car in 2024
May 17 (GMM) Williams boss James Vowles admits the team needs to work hard to slim down the team’s 2024 car. Just this week, the Grove based team re-signed Alex Albon into the new regulations era beginning in 2026, with the British-born Thai driver revealing at Imola that he had other options. But Vowles managed […]
Verstappen hits back at online racing criticism
May 17 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at those criticising him for entering an online sim race this weekend – clashing with the Formula 1 race at Imola. On the track, Red Bull’s rivals appear to be closing in – with Lando Norris winning in Miami in the heavily-upgraded McLaren, and now Ferrari unveiling […]
Son thinks Lauda would have ended Mercedes slump
May 16 (GMM) The great Niki Lauda may have ended Mercedes’ three-year performance slump by now. That’s the view of the former Mercedes co-owner and non-executive chairman’s son Mathias Lauda, as the once-dominant team continues to struggle in the current ‘ground effect’ rules era. 43-year-old Lauda thinks the problem is clearly the chassis. “The most […]
FIA, Liberty want to end power struggle ‘clashes’
May 16 (GMM) Peace may be breaking out between Formula 1’s ruling bodies – the FIA, and the sport’s Liberty Media-owned commercial rights holder. Ever since Mohammed Ben Sulayem took over from Jean Todt as FIA president in late 2021, he has been at odds with his counterparts at Liberty and Formula One Management – […]
Rival teams ‘disrespectful’ to Lance Stroll – boss
May 16 (GMM) Rival Formula 1 teams are often “disrespectful” and “unfair” to Lance Stroll. That’s the claim of Aston Martin boss Mike Krack, amid ongoing suggestions from within and outside the F1 paddock that Stroll, 25, does not deserve to be on the grid. The Canadian is the son of billionaire team owner Lawrence […]
F1 yet to solve wet-weather visibility problem
May 16 (GMM) Formula 1 is still yet to find a technical solution to improve driver visibility in wet weather. Last year, the first prototypes of wheel covers or ‘mudguards’ designed to reduce the plumes of spray behind the cars were tested, but they did not prove successful. In collaboration with the FIA, improved fenders […]
F1 not ready to regulate use of AI – Domenicali
May 16 (GMM) Formula 1 cannot yet intervene to regulate the teams’ increasingly-powerful use of artificial intelligence technologies. As the exploding and rapidly-improving power of AI sweeps the planet, top F1 teams have not been slow to begin to use it to improve their performance. AI and machine learning are now helping the teams design […]
Alpine’s 2024 car no longer overweight
May 16 (GMM) Alpine’s push to emerge from a deep performance collapse in Formula 1 will take a brief pause as the sport returns to Europe. Many teams will unveil significant car upgrades for the first race of 2024 on the continent – including Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and others. “In the last […]
Albon news to precede silly season ‘domino effect’
May 16 (GMM) A “domino effect” in the exciting Formula 1 driver market may have just begun, as Alex Albon removes himself from contention for a move away from Williams. Two weeks ago in Miami, the British-born Thai driver was not yet ready to commit himself to the Grove based team. “Nico (Hulkenberg) has triggered […]
F1 could scrap hybrid engines from 2030 – Domenicali
May 15 (GMM) Formula 1 could wave goodbye to the controversial ‘hybrid’ engine era from 2030. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is expecting a “closer battle” on the track at Imola this weekend, but also a busy event of off-track moves, rumours and talks. For instance, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the new Concorde Agreement […]