Jul.22 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is still looking for an opportunity to give highly-rated development driver Theo Pourchaire a run in the 2022 car. Many were surprised when it was announced that Robert Kubica would be taking over Valtteri Bottas’ car at Paul Ricard on Friday. That is because the Swiss team’s clear favourite, 18-year-old Pourchaire, […]
Category: Recent stories
Ferrari ‘more dominant’ in 2022 – Verstappen
Jul.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not taking the 2022 world championship for granted, insisting he still feels as though he is “chasing” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. In reality, the reigning world champion is 38-points clear of Leclerc, but many in the paddock believe it is Ferrari with the outright fastest car. “It feels like we’re still […]
Sainz still charging for number 1 status
Jul.22 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he is still charging for number 1 status at Ferrari. Unofficially, most regard the Spaniard as subordinate to Charles Leclerc, with many calling on the Maranello marque to boost its title chances to making that status formal. “None of that has come from me,” Sainz, who secured his breakthrough win […]
French GP ‘not dead’ yet – Boullier
Jul.22 (GMM) The French GP is “not dead”, the Paul Ricard race’s director Eric Boullier has insisted. As Formula 1 gathered at the venue in Le Castellet on Thursday, most drivers were resigned to the fact that it may be their last in France. “It might not be on the calendar next year, so it […]
F1 divided over new era of political activism
Jul.22 (GMM) The Formula 1 paddock is becoming divided over the topic of how politically active the teams and drivers should be. The big issue at present is working on measures to reduce the alleged sexist and homophobic insults made against certain fans by other spectators at the recent Austrian GP. It is something world […]
Wurz says it’s unfair to ‘blame’ race director Wittich
Jul.21 (GMM) Alex Wurz admits it’s not fair to blame one of Formula 1’s new race directors for unrest in the driver camp at present. The former F1 driver now represents the entire grid as president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which recently sent a letter to the sport’s authorities outlining the drivers’ concerns […]
Mick Schumacher unwell for father’s award tribute
Jul.21 (GMM) Mick Schumacher on Wednesday did not accompany his family as the Haas driver’s legendary father Michael was honoured in his native Germany. Corinna, who is Mick’s mother and the wife of seven time world champion Schumacher, attended the ceremony along with Mick’s sister Gina-Maria and former FIA president Jean Todt. Corinna broke down […]
One Alpine driver ‘completely dedicated’ to team
Jul.21 (GMM) Esteban Ocon insists he is “completely dedicated to Alpine” – but the same may not be true of his famous teammate. “We have a long-term project,” Frenchman Ocon, 25, told RMC. “It’s rare to sign such a long contract in F1 but I’m happy with Alpine. “We are getting stronger so I hope […]
Ocon hopes French GP can be saved
Jul.21 (GMM) Esteban Ocon hopes a solution can be found so that this weekend is not his last home grand prix in Formula 1. The sport is at Paul Ricard this weekend, but most paddock insiders expect the Le Castellet venue to drop off the schedule for 2023 to make room for the likes of […]
Ricciardo ‘kept his distance’ from Verstappen – Marko
Jul.21 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career hangs in the balance because he wanted to “keep his distance” from young charger Max Verstappen. That is the forthright view of Dr Helmut Marko, whose Red Bull driver program brought the now struggling 33-year-old to F1 over a decade ago. Marko, 79, says the Australian has “outstanding […]
Top Russian official slams ‘dishonourable’ FIA
Jul.21 (GMM) Russia’s top motor racing official has slammed the “dishonourable” FIA for kicking the country out of Formula 1. Not only was F1’s contract for its annual race at Sochi axed over the Ukrain-Russia conflict, Nikita Mazepin and Uralkali were ousted at Haas and Ferrari tester Robert Shwartzman now competes under his Israeli license. […]
2022 rules mean upgrades no longer so powerful
Jul.21 (GMM) Formula 1’s new regulations are succeeding in helping the smaller teams to fight their most powerful rivals. That is the view of Gunther Steiner, boss of the small American outfit Haas. While rival small outfit Williams adopted Red Bull-like sidepods recently, as did Aston Martin with its so-called ‘green Red Bull’, Haas is […]
Suzuka boss confident of Japanese GP return
Jul.20 (GMM) Circuit boss Kaoru Tanaka says he is confident the Japanese GP will go ahead this year after a two-season absence from the Formula 1 calendar. Harsh covid restrictions in Japan meant the 2020 and 2021 editions could not go ahead at the Honda-owned Suzuka circuit. The sport is scheduled to return to the […]
Magnussen to keep Haas seat in 2023 – Steiner
Jul.20 (GMM) While Mick Schumacher’s seat is not yet safe for 2023, the same uncertainty does not exist for his experienced teammate Kevin Magnussen. Magnussen, 29, was ousted by Haas after the 2020 season along with Romain Grosjean to make way for the arrival of Schumacher and then rookie teammate Nikita Mazepin. And when Mazepin […]
Team tells Vettel to check environmental campaigns
Jul.19 (GMM) Aston Martin wants Sebastian Vettel to consult with the team prior to launching surprise environmental campaigns at Formula 1 races. The quadruple world champion has been taking widespread criticism as well as praise for his new-found cultural, social and environmental activism. In Canada, the local energy minister slammed Vettel, 35, for speaking out […]
Vips not receiving ‘any support’ – Marko
Jul.19 (GMM) Juri Vips is not receiving “any support” from Red Bull following a racially-linked incident. That is the insistence of Dr Helmut Marko, after the energy drink company kicked out the 21-year-old reserve and Formula 2 driver for saying the ‘N-word’ during a live online gaming stream. However, team boss Christian Horner said subsequently […]
No retirement plans for 79-year-old Marko
Jul.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists he is nowhere near the finish-line in Formula 1. The former racing driver, who lost an eye in the 1972 French GP, will turn 80 next year but he insists he is having no retirement thoughts at all. “Everything is a story of passion and I am a great […]
Manager tells Schumacher family to stop ‘lies’
Jul.19 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager is calling on the family of the F1 legend to finally tell “the truth” about his physical health condition. It is approaching a full decade since the now 53-year-old fell whilst skiing with his son Mick in France, striking his head and sustaining brain injuries. German Schumacher has not […]
Police track down Leclerc watch thieves
Jul.19 (GMM) The perpetrators who stole Charles Leclerc’s EUR 2 million watch from his wrist have been tracked down. Between the races in Melbourne and Imola, the Ferrari driver was in the Italian coastal city of Viareggio when ‘fans’ asked for an autograph on a dimly-lit street before mugging him. Where the perpetrators came unstuck, […]
VW brands nervous about latest F1 delays
Jul.19 (GMM) Porsche, Audi and Formula 1 are reportedly getting nervous that the Volkswagen Group’s plans to enter the sport in 2026 may be thwarted. Behind the scenes, pressure is building on the FIA to finally announce the detail of the next set of all-new engine rules, which have already been badly delayed. Liberty Media-owned […]