Dec.13 (GMM) The intense heat seems to have dissipated after the Max Verstappen versus George Russell spat. When the pair were exchanging barbs and insults over the Qatar GP qualifying penalty situation, insiders raised their eyebrows about Russell’s role as senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. So while the duo sat at opposite […]
Honda ‘pray’ Tsunoda selected to replace Perez
Dec.12 (GMM) Two top Honda officials are hoping Yuki Tsunoda is chosen to replace Red Bull’s endangered Sergio Perez for 2025. Most insiders and analysts agree that Red Bull bosses Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko have decided to oust Perez. Currently underway, according to multiple reports, are complicated and expensive negotiations to terminate or […]
Ocon ‘welcome’ to say goodbye to Alpine staff
Dec.12 (GMM) Esteban Ocon is “welcome” to return to Alpine’s UK factory to say goodbye, team boss Oliver Oakes has revealed. The French driver was ousted by the team just before the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, ostensibly as part of a deal that allowed him to test for his new team – Haas […]
Identity of African GP financier emerges – report
Dec.12 (GMM) One of the financiers behind plans for a grand prix in Africa has emerged in the form of Christopher Aleo. According to Corriere dello Sport, the 38-year-old Italian – CEO of iSwiss bank – attended the season finale in Abu Dhabi last weekend. His visit was accompanied by rumours Aleo could be behind […]
Haas owner only wants to ‘participate’ in F1 – Steiner
Dec.12 (GMM) Haas’ team owner is content merely to “participate” in Formula 1. That’s the frank claim of the small American team’s former boss Gunther Steiner, who was sacked by owner Gene Haas over the telephone before the 2024 season. On the face of it, Haas made significant progress under the new reign of engineer-turned-boss […]
Five recent Maranello visits for Hamilton – report
Dec.12 (GMM) In the last few months alone, Lewis Hamilton visited Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters on no fewer than five separate occasions. That’s the claim of the authoritative Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, adding that the 39-year-old has also been taking Italian lessons. The factory visits were to establish relationships with his key engineers […]
FIA turns down Williams’ budget cap request
Dec.12 (GMM) F1’s governing body has turned down a plea from the Williams team. The James Vowles-led outfit has suffered a perhaps unprecedented string of big crashes recently, not only depleting the spare parts store but also endangering the budget cap spending limit. “Williams quite simply had more than twice as much damage as the […]
Ferrari to power Cadillac, Abu Dhabi buys McLaren
Dec.11 (GMM) Cadillac F1, the new General Motors-backed Formula 1 team set to debut in 2026, will be initially powered by customer Ferrari power units. Originally, when the ultimately rejected ‘Andretti’ team bid was approved by the FIA but rejected by Liberty Media, the outfit had shaken hands with Renault-Alpine for the initial engine supply. […]
No penalty for Verstappen after FIA ‘idiots’ insult
Dec.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen is set to escape additional penalties for calling Formula 1 stewards “stupid idiots” over the radio during the Abu Dhabi season finale. The quadruple world champion already needs to serve his community service – a penalty for using the F-word in an official press conference this season – whilst in Rwanda […]
Tsunoda aimed to ‘impress’ Red Bull with test
Dec.11 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda admits his aim at the wheel of Max Verstappen’s title-winning Red Bull car in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday was to “impress”. Most insiders see Liam Lawson as the clear favourite to replace the struggling Sergio Perez next year, with the issue discussed in a meeting the day after the Abu Dhabi […]
Replacing Sainz with Hamilton is Ferrari ‘boost’ – boss
Dec.10 (GMM) With Carlos Sainz already sitting in a Williams, Ferrari expects that the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025 will give the Italian team a “good boost”. Recently, the Spanish bank Santander departed Ferrari as a sponsor and the logos have now re-emerged on the 2024 Williams in the Abu Dhabi garage – where […]
Lawson smiles as Perez future announcement looms
Dec.10 (GMM) Liam Lawson’s smile may have given the game away as the hopeful New Zealander concluded his Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi. He is the big favourite to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing next year, with the energy drink brand’s top brass having met to discuss the issue on Monday. “For […]
Colapinto to return to F1 grid ‘sooner or later’ – Alonso
Dec.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks Franco Colapinto will be back on the Formula 1 grid “sooner or later”. Alonso’s own driver management company, A14 Management, has successfully brought its top protege, the new Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, to the F1 grid for 2025 with Audi-owned Sauber. But Alonso also has some ties with Colapinto, […]
Ferrari not ruling out Sainz return some day – boss
Dec.9 (GMM) Ferrari is not closing the door on a potential future return for Carlos Sainz. To make way for the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, team boss Frederic Vasseur told Sainz early this year that he needs to vacate his red cockpit at the end of the season. That moment came in Abu Dhabi on […]
Marko responds to Verstappen’s ‘not diplomatic’ FIA insult
Dec.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen may have added to his troubles with the FIA during the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi. It has now been confirmed that, for his community service penalty for using the ‘F-word’ in a recent FIA press conference, the quadruple world champion will meet with young Rwandan drivers later this week. […]
Alonso says 2024 Aston Martin injured his shoulder
Dec.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso waited until after the chequered flag waved at the end of the final race of the season to reveal that he has been racing with an injury. The 43-year-old pulled down the top corner of his Aston Martin overalls in the Abu Dhabi paddock to show he was wearing pink athletic […]
Bottas admits Mercedes role ‘very likely’ for 2025
Dec.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits it is “very likely” he will replace Mick Schumacher as Mercedes’ main Formula 1 reserve driver in 2025. The Finn’s final race for Audi-owned Sauber fittingly ended with a crash – and a points count of zero for the season. “It’s good that this part of my career is over […]
Perez fate to be announced late this week – Marko
Dec.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez has admitted for the first time that he is not sure he will still be racing in Formula 1 next year. For weeks, amid ever-intensifying speculation that he will be ousted as Max Verstappen’s teammate, the Mexican has insisted he will remain at Red Bull as he has a valid contract. […]
Alonso thinks he deserves F1 qualifying award
Dec.8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says 2024 was his “best season” in the discipline of Formula 1 qualifying. The two-time champion has contested an incredible 21 F1 seasons, but he smiled when told by DAZN that Max Verstappen recently complimented his talent. “Is Max saying that I also would have been champion a long time ago […]
Father says Sainz ‘earned’ better car than a Williams
Dec.8 (GMM) Carlos Sainz “has earned” a better seat than Williams in Formula 1, his father and namesake insists. Sunday will be 30-year-old Sainz junior’s 88th and final grand prix for Ferrari. His replacement for 2025 is seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who was heavily criticised on Saturday by his former Mercedes teammate Nico […]