Dec.19 (GMM) Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned that his native Italy faces a battle to keep both of its grands prix on the calendar. Currently, both Monza and Imola are on the schedule – and Domenicali admits the latter helped the sport he leads negotiate the pandemic era. “Covid-19 could have been deadly […]
Category: Recent stories
Arnoux predicts ‘another tough year’ for Max’s rivals
Dec.19 (GMM) Rene Arnoux, a winner of 7 grands prix in the early 80s, is predicting “another tough year” for Max Verstappen’s rivals in 2024. The 75-year-old Frenchman admitted that triple world champion Verstappen is “a fabulous driver”, but he also told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has “a wonderful racing car”. “Take a […]
Verstappen not worried about Red Bull’s 2026 engine
Dec.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he’s not worried Red Bull may fumble the ball with the all-new engine regulations in 2026. The currently-dominant Formula 1 team has committed to designing and building its very own engines for the next set of rules in collaboration with Ford. But recently, team boss Christian Horner sounded the alarm […]
Mark Webber says McLaren was right to oust Ricciardo
Dec.18 (GMM) Oscar Piastri’s manager says the impressive Australian should not feel bad about replacing Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren this year. Piastri, 22, picked up the FIA’s rookie of the year prize at the recent end-of-season gala, but he had entered Formula 1 in much more controversial circumstances. For one, he enraged his Alpine bosses […]
Ecclestone says Haas, Ferrari were ‘wrong’ for Mick
Dec.18 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone thinks it’s possible Mick Schumacher will return to the Formula 1 grid. The former F1 supremo, however, says the son of seven time world champion Michael Schumacher was “in the wrong hands” during his two years with Haas. And Ecclestone, 93, even thinks young Schumacher should not have been in Ferrari’s […]
Massa may succeed in ‘crashgate’ mission – Todt
Dec.18 (GMM) Felipe Massa may well be successful in his quest for justice some 15 years after Formula 1’s disgraceful ‘crashgate’ scandal of 2008. That is the view of former FIA president Jean Todt, whose predecessor Max Mosley was in charge when Renault bosses conspired to steal victory at Singapore in 2008 by ordering Nelson […]
Watching races after F1 axe ‘not pleasant’ – Mazepin
Dec.18 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin admits it has been difficult to keep up with Formula 1 after being expelled from the sport two seasons ago. Sacked by Haas and sanctioned by western countries, the Russian finally returned to circuit racing recently in the Asian Le Mans series at Sepang – and won. Still just 24, he’s […]
Vasseur hints at 2027 contract for Sainz
Dec.18 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has hinted that he may offer Carlos Sainz a new long-term Ferrari contract through 2027. Recently, rumours swirled that the Italian team’s boss had sealed a lucrative new deal with Charles Leclerc to keep him in red until 2030 – but was only offering Spaniard Sainz a new two-year extension. Both […]
Owner Stroll denies bowing out at Aston Martin
Dec.18 (GMM) Lawrence Stroll has once again denied that he may soon bow out at Aston Martin. A month ago, a minority stake in the rapidly-developing Silverstone-based team was sold to American private equity firm Arctos. It means figurehead and billionaire Stroll, whose son Lance races for the team, now owns just over 25 percent […]
Marko admits his future at Red Bull is not clear
Dec.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits his future at Red Bull is currently unclear. Rumours of a power struggle between the 80-year-old Austrian and Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner have swirled for some time. When asked by Osterreich newspaper if he will continue in his advisory or consultancy role, Marko answered: “There will […]
Todt says Michael Masi was ‘impeccable’ F1 official
Dec.15 (GMM) Jean Todt has hinted that F1’s governing body should reconsider bringing highly controversial former race director Michael Masi back to the sport. A few days ago, former FIA president Todt offered words of support for Felipe Massa, who is attempting to have the results of the 2008 world championship overturned as a result […]
Well-known F1 journalist, Ferrari spokesman, dies
Dec.15 (GMM) Alberto Antonini, a familiar name in the Formula 1 paddock for many years, has died. He is best known for being a highly respected journalist for the Italian magazine Autosprint and Sky Italia, but he also served for a time as Ferrari’s F1 spokesman during Maurizio Arrivabene’s reign as team boss. La Repubblica […]
‘Too many street tracks’ in F1 now – Montezemolo
Dec.15 (GMM) There are now “too many street circuits” in Formula 1, Ferrari’s famous former president Luca di Montezemolo insists. It is rumoured the Liberty Media-run sport is poised to add a new urban venue to the calendar in Madrid, which would sit alongside similar street venues in Jeddah, Baku, Miami, Las Vegas and others. […]
Ex-manager gives up hope of seeing Schumacher again
Dec.15 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager says he has given up hope of ever seeing the F1 legend again. Willi Weber has said for years that when Schumacher suffered his brain injuries in a skiing fall almost exactly a decade ago, the seven time world champion’s new management and wife locked him out. Weber, 81, […]
New CEO says Audi’s F1 plans are still ‘clear’
Dec.15 (GMM) New CEO Gernot Dollner has finally broken his silence over Audi’s Formula 1 project. Days ago, as Donner’s 100-day confidentiality clause in his previous contract was set to end, reports insisted long-running speculation that he might cancel his predecessor’s plans to enter F1 with Sauber in 2026 was wrong. And now, Dollner has […]
Losing Barcelona for Madrid GP not a tragedy – Sainz snr
Dec.14 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s father says it would not be a tragedy if Barcelona lost its Formula 1 race to Madrid. Both the renowned rally driver Carlos Sainz, 61, and his Ferrari-driving son of the same name, were born in Madrid – and the Spanish capital is now linked with hosting a grand prix on […]
F1 still aiming for much lighter cars in 2026
Dec.14 (GMM) F1’s governing body will put the cars on a diet for the all-new regulations starting in 2026. One of the major complaints about the current generation of cars is the hefty weight, which if left unchecked would only rise even more for 2026 when the electrical power of the engines will ramp up. […]
Spotlight on Pirelli to improve F1 racing
Dec.14 (GMM) Hopes are high that Pirelli can help make Formula 1 a better spectacle amid the current regulations era. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits that the fate of the 2024 season in large part depends on whether next year’s tyres are more suitable for the current ground effect cars. “We have to wait and […]
New CEO insists Tsunoda ‘has to deliver’ in 2024
Dec.14 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda may be on his last chance to shine in Formula 1 next year. The Japanese made his debut for Red Bull’s second team Alpha Tauri in 2021, but many regard him as a feisty and diminutive driver rather than a true contender to make the move up to Red Bull Racing. […]
F1 may not be ‘fun’ in 2024, former bosses fear
Dec.14 (GMM) Formula 1 might continue to be limited “fun” for observers next year because of Max Verstappen’s ongoing dominance. That is the warning of former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who as an Italian admits he is rotting for Ferrari to put up a tougher challenge to Red Bull in 2024. “We have to hope […]