Jun.12 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admit that Formula 1 cars are too heavy. The minimum car-plus-driver weight has skyrocketed with the move to hybrid power units from around 600kg in 2010 to almost 800kg in 2023. “Also the bigger wheels, they’re quite a bit heavier as well,” world […]
Category: Recent stories
Marko wonders if Netflix series ‘necessary’
Jun.12 (GMM) It may eventually not be “necessary” for Formula 1 to cooperate with producers of the officially-sanctioned Netflix series Drive to Survive. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who admits that the series has coincided with a huge leap in popularity for the sport. “The number of spectators in Formula […]
Ferrari still committed to F1 – CEO
Jun.12 (GMM) Formula 1 is still “very important” to Ferrari, CEO Benedetto Vigna insists. After a decades-long absence, the fabled Maranello marque returned to Le Mans’ top category at the weekend – and sensationally won with former F1 star Antonio Giovinazzi in the lineup. Charles Leclerc was there to support the team. “Why not?” he […]
Binotto called Audi F1 chiefs ‘clowns’ – report
Jun.12 (GMM) Mattia Binotto reportedly rejected an offer to become team boss at Audi’s new works Formula 1 project. Former McLaren boss Andreas Seidl is now the CEO at Sauber – which will transition to the works Audi outfit in F1 by 2026. But rumours suggest Italian Binotto, the ousted Ferrari team boss, was given […]
‘Hard to know’ how good Piastri is – Ricciardo
Jun.12 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says it’s “hard to know” just how good his McLaren successor and compatriot Oscar Piastri is faring in his race seat. The 33-year-old Australian lost his seat for 2023 despite having a year to run on his contract, off the back of a fallow period with Woking-based McLaren. The team’s new […]
‘Political reasons’ behind Schumacher rejection – Tost
Jun.12 (GMM) Franz Tost admits “political reasons” were behind Mick Schumacher’s failed candidature to race for Alpha Tauri in 2023. Haas refugee Schumacher, 24, kept his Formula 1 dream alive for this year with a Mercedes reserve seat, but Alpha Tauri boss Tost admits he wanted Mick to replace the departing Pierre Gasly. “Until Monza […]
Racing for Ferrari would be ‘great’ – Verstappen
Jun.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen admits it would be “great” to one day call himself a Ferrari driver. The 25-year-old is under contract to Red Bull until the end of 2028, and he told the Italian source Rossomotori that whether he stays beyond that “depends on how competitive we are then”. “It seems to me that […]
Rumours of Perez axe ‘nonsense’ – Marko
Jun.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed rumours Sergio Perez could be ousted before his extended two-year Red Bull contract expires at the end of 2024. Some think Max Verstappen’s former teammate Daniel Ricciardo, now the team’s reserve driver after his McLaren career collapsed, is being lined up for the role. “It’s all nonsense,” Marko […]
Alonso, not Hamilton, has ‘extra capacity’ – Verstappen
Jun.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he and fellow two-time Fernando Alonso stand out from the crowd in terms of having “extra capacity” whilst racing their F1 cars on the limit. In Barcelona last weekend, the Red Bull driver came on the radio to ask his engineer: “Someone’s phone is going – is that Helmut (Marko)’s?” […]
Dutch, Belgian GP bosses play down 2024 rumours
Jun.9 (GMM) Organisers of the Belgian and Dutch grands prix have played down reports they will be forced to annually alternate their events from as early as next year. According to the Belgian broadcaster Sporza, Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Maes will meet in London with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on Monday to discuss the […]
UK judge bars Mazepin from holding F1 talks
Jun.9 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin’s quest to return to Formula 1 has been dealt a fresh blow by London’s High Court. The ousted Haas driver and Russian has achieved some legal victories recently against western sanctions that ended his Formula 1 career at the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. However, a British judge on Thursday dismissed […]
Gasly needs more time to adjust to Alpine
Jun.9 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he just needs time to get up to full speed at Alpine. The 27-year-old Frenchman had spent all six of his seasons in Formula 1 with Red Bull-owned teams – but for 2023, he was signed as Fernando Alonso’s replacement. He admits that he’s not yet quite on the pace […]
Woman says Valsecchi, Bobbi are not sexist
Jun.9 (GMM) The woman at the centre of a Formula 1 sexism scandal has played down the incident that occurred in the Spanish GP paddock last weekend. Former drivers Davide Valsecchi and Matteo Bobbi have reportedly been suspended for at least the upcoming race in Montreal after making sexist remarks about an attractive woman who […]
McLaren, Red Bull deny 2026 engine deal struck
Jun.9 (GMM) McLaren and Red Bull have denied claims that a deal has been struck over an engine deal for the new Formula 1 regulations starting in 2026. Suspicions began to be raised when Red Bull appeared happy with the transition of long-serving engineering boss Rob Marshall to Woking based McLaren. “Usually when somebody leaves […]
F1 says smog will not cancel Canadian GP
Jun.9 (GMM) Formula 1 has played down suggestions next weekend’s Canadian GP might have to be cancelled. On Wednesday, we reported that local forest fires had blown a blanket of smoke over the greater Montreal area – where F1 will gather at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. “Those with respiratory issues, such as children with asthma, […]
Sainz not jealous of Alonso’s popularity
Jun.8 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has denied feeling jealous of the soaring popularity of his Spanish countryman and friend Fernando Alonso. Sainz, 28, has been at Ferrari since 2021 – and he even won last year’s British GP. Even so, it is two-time world champion and fellow Spaniard Alonso’s string of podium finishes so far in […]
100 McLaren aerodynamicists studying Red Bull floor
Jun.8 (GMM) McLaren boss Andrea Stella admits the team is carefully studying detailed photographs of Red Bull’s 2023 floor. After Sergio Perez’s stricken car was lifted off the Monaco circuit recently by a crane, photographers were quick to zoom in on arguably the most critical and normally-hidden aspect of the dominant Red Bull. “It’s very […]
Belgian, Dutch GP alternation a ‘bad idea’
Jun.8 (GMM) The Dutch GP may be absent from the 2024 Formula 1 calendar – despite Zandvoort already having a contract until 2025. That is the claim of the French-language Belgian newspaper Le Soir, following up on earlier reports that Spa-Francorchamps is edging towards a new race deal with Liberty Media. But according to Le […]
Sky F1 presenters suspended for sexism
Jun.7 (GMM) Two Formula 1 presenters have been suspended for alleged sexist remarks during last weekend’s Sky Italia broadcast of the Spanish GP. Davide Valsecchi and Matteo Bobbi, both former F1 test drivers, have apologised after joking about an attractive woman who was standing in frame in the Barcelona paddock during the live broadcast. “I […]
Putin link clears path for 2024 Belgian GP
Jun.7 (GMM) The fabled Spa Francorchamps circuit looks set to secure its place on Formula 1’s 2024 calendar. Early this season, Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Maes travelled to Bahrain for talks with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali about the event’s expiring contract. “In the weeks and months to come, we hope to sign for the next […]