Apr.18 (GMM) Saudi Arabia has dismissed as “mere speculation” earlier reports that it wanted to buy Formula 1’s commercial rights. In January, it emerged that as well as eyeing a Saudi driver and team, as well as a second annual grand prix on top of its existing F1 investments, the Kingdom’s public investment fund offered […]
Category: Recent stories
F1 CEO ‘nervous’ about next budget cap breach
Apr.18 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali admits he is “nervous” about a repeat of last year’s budget cap breach controversy. A cheat storm engulfed Formula 1 last year as it emerged that Red Bull, and to a lesser degree Aston Martin, had spent more than the allowed $145 million in 2021. Earlier this year, Red Bull team […]
Melbourne track invasion linked with post-covid era
Apr.18 (GMM) The end of the covid era and a surge of new Drive to Survive-fuelled fans contributed to the track invasion at the end of the recent Australian GP. That is the view of the Melbourne race’s operations manager Tom Mottram, who is not ruling out banning certain troublemakers from future events at Albert […]
Hamilton not quitting F1 ‘saved me’ – Russell
Apr.18 (GMM) George Russell says he is relieved Lewis Hamilton is still racing in Formula 1. After his controversial 2021 title defeat to Max Verstappen, it seemed possible for quite some time that seven time world champion Hamilton would quit. When Hamilton, 38, resurfaced for the 2022 season, his preferred teammate Valtteri Bottas had been […]
Next F1 meetings to shape sport’s future
Apr.18 (GMM) Important forthcoming meetings are set to have a major impact on Formula 1’s immediate and longer-term future. The F1 Commission is set to meet later in April, where teams are set to get an update about which prospective new teams are bidding to join the sport. “I think what’s come to light is […]
Ferrari needs ‘technical revolution’ – Kvyat
Apr.17 (GMM) A “technical revolution” is required so that Ferrari can win world championships again, according to former Formula 1 driver Kvyat. The Russian was a Ferrari test driver for a time after his Red Bull career petered out – and he says he even came close to racing full-time for the Maranello marque. Before […]
F1-MotoGP joint race weekend idea ‘difficult’ – boss
Apr.17 (GMM) A joint race weekend featuring both Formula 1 and MotoGP will be “difficult” to get off the ground. That is the frank admission of MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta – even though he said earlier this month that the fascinating idea is being discussed with his F1 counterpart Stefano Domenicali. “I have spoken with […]
New team F1 fee must increase – Domenicali
Apr.17 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed reports that the new team entry fee is set to soar from its current $200 million. The sport’s existing teams have been reluctant to embrace the interest of new parties including Andretti-Cadillac and others on the basis that it dilutes the value of their own franchises. The […]
Another F1 driver attacked for watch
Apr.17 (GMM) Another Formula 1 driver has had his expensive watch stolen from his wrist. After the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium, McLaren driver Lando Norris had a designer Richard Mille watch worth $180,000 taken from his wrist after being put in a headlock. Last week, footage emerged of Charles Leclerc chasing a group […]
Hockenheim says F1 race rotation scheme ‘ideal’
Apr.17 (GMM) Hopes that Germany may return to the Formula 1 calendar are not dead, according to Hockenheim boss Jorn Teske. Although the country’s prominence at the pinnacle of motorsport is at a low ebb, rumours have circulated in just the past few days that Formula 1 is keen to revive a German GP. It […]
Ferrari criticism ‘pulling us down’ – Sainz
Apr.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has hit out at the Italian media for weeks of negative coverage about the start of Ferrari’s 2023 campaign. The Spanish driver says the negativity is not helping the fabled Maranello team to improve. “You have to realise that no one is more upset or angry or unhappy about the situation […]
Too early for Hulkenberg, Ricciardo talks – Steiner
Apr.17 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo seems unlikely to return to the Formula 1 grid next year with Haas. Late last year, as Ricciardo lost his McLaren race seat for 2023, Haas boss Gunther Steiner had brief talks with the Australian. “He wants ten f***ing million. Minimum,” Steiner said. Steiner ultimately brought Nico Hulkenberg out of his […]
Rosberg admits ‘shock’ of retiring at 31
Apr.14 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has admitted it was “a shock to my system” when he suddenly quit Formula 1 in the days after winning his first and only title in 2016. The German, now 37, was missing in his role as an F1 pundit last year after declining to get vaccinated for covid. But he […]
Russian Kvyat becomes Italian for race seat
Apr.14 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat will race with an Italian license and ‘il Tricolore’ on his overalls as he races at Le Mans with Lamborghini. Currently, Russian drivers face a barrage of restrictions when racing in European-based international competitions. F1’s governing FIA even requires Russians to essentially denounce their country over the Ukraine conflict with the […]
Haas would reward Hulkenberg for first podium
Apr.14 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg will get “something” if he breaks his and the Haas team’s Formula 1 podium droughts. The 35-year-old German, who has impressed on his return to F1 this year after a three-year sabbatical, holds the all-time record for the most career starts without a single top-three finish. Haas is also yet to […]
Miami’s F1 circuit under water
Apr.14 (GMM) Just 20 days ahead of Formula 1’s return to Miami, the street circuit is under water. Social media images show people walking knee-deep through water in the paddock of the Miami International Autodrome. A year ago, drivers were already scathing of the condition of the asphalt surface, with Fernando Alonso describing the off-line […]
Team got big boost from Aston Martin duo – boss
Apr.14 (GMM) Aston Martin boss Mike Krack admits he would be “lying” if he tried to say two key appointments haven’t given the team a major performance boost. Much of the credit for Aston Martin’s sudden performance surge in 2023 has been attributed to Dan Fallows and Eric Blandin – high-profile aerodynamics signings from Red […]
Lewis Hamilton could ‘fix’ Ferrari – Berger
Apr.13 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 future is up in the air. Publicly, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and seven time world champion Hamilton, 38, are declaring their intention to ink a new contract beyond 2023. But Berger thinks it’s possible that Hamilton will actually make an audacious move to Ferrari. […]
Vasseur gives sprint qualifying tweak thumbs-up
Apr.13 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has given the thumbs-up to Formula 1’s sudden qualifying format change in 2023. In Melbourne, it emerged that the ‘sprint race’ weekend format was set for an immediate tweak, with a second and separate qualifying session added. Now, for the sprint weekends, there will be just a single practice session before […]
Leclerc ‘motivation’ still intact – Vasseur
Apr.13 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur insists the “motivation” of Ferrari’s star driver Charles Leclerc is still intact despite a horror start to his 2023 campaign. Not only is Ferrari’s new car lagging Red Bull whilst closely matched by Aston Martin and Mercedes, Leclerc is just tenth in the drivers’ championship. “The retirement in Bahrain, the penalty […]