Mar.3 (GMM) Alpine are now paying the price of some “bad decisions” in managing the crisis-struck Formula 1. That is the claim of sacked former team boss Otmar Szafnauer, referring to the management turmoil that characterised the Renault-linked team’s 2023 season – and has now culminated in the woefully slow 2024 car. After Esteban Ocon […]
Category: Recent stories
Horner scandal risks loss of Verstappen, Newey
Mar.3 (GMM) In the eye of the storm, Christian Horner put on a show of unity and harmony on Saturday – flanked by his wife Geri and Red Bull’s majority Thai shareholder, billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya. “I have great support within the team and the company,” said the embattled team boss. “But I will not comment […]
Wolff not ruling out Sainz for 2025 Mercedes seat
Mar.3 (GMM) Carlos Sainz got his quest for another top seat in Formula 1 off to a flying start in Bahrain by chasing home the dominant Red Bull one-two. Set to be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton next year, the 29-year-old Spaniard is racing for his career – and eyeing a potential Audi future […]
Sacked Steiner lands a second new F1 job
Mar.3 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has added another new Formula 1 job to his ledger for 2024. Sacked as Haas’ team boss over the winter, the popular and charismatic 58-year-old accepted an alternative job in the paddock as an expert pundit for German broadcaster RTL. That is despite having had a difficult relationship with German media, […]
Verstappen already in ‘a different galaxy’ in 2024
Mar.3 (GMM) As Max Verstappen dominated the Bahrain GP having also secured the first pole position on offer in 2024, hopes began to fade among Red Bull’s rivals. A few days earlier, Fernando Alonso said that based on pre-season testing, “19 drivers” in the field knew they would not be world champion this year. “I’m […]
Wolff not ruling out Vettel as Hamilton replacement
Mar.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff has described Sebastian Vettel as a “giant” of Formula 1, as the quadruple world champion once again refuses to rule out the prospect of a sensational return. Since Lewis Hamilton decided to vacate his Mercedes seat for 2025 with a switch to Ferrari, rumblings that Vettel, 36, might see it as […]
Bottas would cut off ‘mullet’ for Mercedes return
Mar.2 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he would shave his moustache and cut his ‘mullet’ hairstyle in order to return to Mercedes. The Finn was paired at Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton until 2021, resulting in Bottas taking a big step down the grid with Sauber – and a big change in his personal branding and image. […]
Audi targets full 100pc takeover of Sauber
Mar.2 (GMM) Audi appears to be ramping up rather than wriggling out of its commitment to enter Formula 1 for 2026. Just a few days ago, there was talk of more upper management turmoil at the Volkswagen-owned German marque, but Sauber team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi affirmed the “strong commitment of the Audi Group”. Indeed, […]
Gasly ‘anticipated’ qualifying dead last in Bahrain
Mar.2 (GMM) Pierre Gasly admits he expected he might qualify dead last in Bahrain. After the overweight and slow 2024 car struggled through pre-season testing last week, many journalists’ pecking-order predictions thought Alpine may have slumped to the very back of the grid. Indeed, Gasly qualified dead last on Friday – a tenth or so […]
F1, FIA to decide if Horner action required
Mar.2 (GMM) As the Christian Horner saga rolls on, he met privately and separately with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Bahrain on Friday. Domenicali and the FIA boss then got together later on, to discuss current affairs in Formula 1 at the start of 2024 – and the Horner […]
European races likely to be alternated – F1 CEO
Mar.2 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali admits Formula 1 may begin to annually alternate some of the European grands prix from 2026. The sport’s ever-swelling 24-race calendar is now attracting widespread criticism, but yet another event has been added to the schedule for 2026 – Madrid. “Signing the contract to host the race in Madrid was very […]
Ricciardo only in F1 because of his ‘image’
Mar.2 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has lashed out at one of the sport’s most popular personalities. He thinks Daniel Ricciardo, the always-smiling and cheerful 34-year-old who has resurrected his career at RB after being dropped by McLaren in 2022, doesn’t deserve to be back in Formula 1 purely on merit. “Ricciardo is a […]
Red Bull chiefs give Perez an early boost in 2024
Mar.2 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s bosses have given his chances of securing a new contract for 2025 an early boost. The Mexican, under pressure to retain his place at Red Bull next year from suitors including Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz, qualified P5 in Bahrain – with his teammate Max Verstappen on pole. “The Checo Perez […]
Verstappen rivals all ‘racing for second’ in Bahrain
Mar.2 (GMM) George Russell admits the entire Formula 1 field, except for Max Verstappen, will be “racing for second” as the 2024 season begins in Bahrain on Saturday. However, the Mercedes driver – third behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the predictably pole-sitting Red Bull – admitted that the qualifying gap to Verstappen was actually smaller […]
Horner affair now ‘private’ after new anonymous leak – Red Bull
Mar.1 (GMM) Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the dominant Formula 1 team, insists the scandal that put the sword of Damocles over team principal Christian Horner’s entire career is now “private”. After the company ended its investigation into Horner’s alleged and mysterious bad behaviour involving a female staff member by re-affirming his position […]
Rivals suddenly hopeful Red Bull ‘can be caught’ in 2024
Mar.1 (GMM) The team pecking order in Formula 1, which until Thursday appeared to be reasonably clear, was thrown on its head on the opening day of practice in Bahrain. “I’ve spoken with several teams and they all made a ranking with the six best teams. And none of us have the same ranking,” Pedro […]
FIA boss wants more teams, less races in F1
Mar.1 (GMM) The president of F1’s governing body has confirmed he is at odds with the sport’s commercial rights holder in a fundamental way. As the sport re-congregated in Bahrain for the 2024 season opener, top stars like Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso hit out at the now brutal length of the 24-race calendar. When […]
Driver questions if Stroll really ‘wants to be in F1’
Mar.1 (GMM) It’s a big year for Lance Stroll in Formula 1, according to fellow Canadian racing driver Alex Tagliani. While Stroll’s Aston Martin teammate is now being linked with a sensational move to Mercedes in 2025, Stroll is still struggling to make his mark in F1 – despite racing full-time in the series with […]
Krack hopes Alonso chooses Aston Martin over Mercedes
Mar.1 (GMM) Mike Krack, boss of the Aston Martin team, says he is determined to convince Fernando Alonso to sign another contract for 2025. Lewis Hamilton stunned the Formula 1 world with his bombshell decision to leave Mercedes mid-contract at the end of this year to join Ferrari. It is rumoured that the split is […]
Ocon admits Alpine may be dead last in 2024
Feb.29 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has joined his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly in admitting they may be racing “the worst car” early in 2024. It is believed the works Renault team may indeed have slumped behind Haas to bring up the rear in Formula 1 this year, amid suggestions the 2024 car is overweight and still […]