Jun.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has moved to play down continuing rumours that Red Bull really could lose Max Verstappen’s services at the end of 2024. It is well known that, at least until mere days ago, Toto Wolff was still waiting for the possibility that the power struggle at Red Bull might see Verstappen […]
Rivals’ inconsistency is good news for Red Bull – Marko
Jun.13 (GMM) The formerly dominant Red Bull team’s 2024 rivals are steadily closing the remaining gap. Max Verstappen actually extended his championship lead in Montreal, but Mercedes’ George Russell was on pole and the triple world champion only narrowly won over McLaren driver Lando Norris. Red Bull F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko admits the 2024 […]
Mercedes poised to name Antonelli as Hamilton’s successor
Jun.12 (GMM) Mercedes’ driver lineup for 2025 is complete and ready to be announced, according to the major German newspaper Bild. In Canada, team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff dropped a huge hint, revealing he had told Carlos Sainz that Mercedes would instead be focusing on “young drivers” for its future. The Austrian personally manages […]
Norris shaping up as Verstappen’s top 2024 challenger
Jun.12 (GMM) McLaren, rather than Ferrari or Mercedes, could be shaping up as Red Bull’s most serious challenger for world championship glory in 2024. It is clear that Red Bull’s long period of dominance is now over, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown also keen to pile on the pressure away from the actual track. “There’s […]
Magnussen admits he could lose F1 race seat
Jun.12 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen admits he is at risk of losing out in this year’s hectic driver ‘silly season’. In 2024, not a single rookie made a Formula 1 debut – but it will be a different story for the 2025 season with the likes of Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, and perhaps Liam Lawson and […]
Hakkinen ‘amazed’ Red Bull re-signed Perez for 2025
Jun.11 (GMM) Two former Formula 1 winners have hit out at Red Bull for re-signing Sergio Perez for 2025 and perhaps beyond. The team announced that the Mexican’s new deal is for two years, but consultant Dr Helmut Marko has already admitted that the deal includes certain “clauses”. “Perez still has to perform in the […]
Villeneuve slams Ricciardo for getting ‘personal’
Jun.11 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has hit back at embattled F1 veteran Daniel Ricciardo getting “personal” in Montreal last weekend. The 1997 world champion suggested the Australian, who appears unlikely to remain part of the Red Bull family beyond 2024, had survived in F1 for the past several years mainly due to his “image” rather than […]
Sauber needs ‘more’ and ‘bigger’ upgrades – Bottas
Jun.11 (GMM) Sauber needs to bring “more” and “bigger” upgrades to the next Formula 1 races, according to Valtteri Bottas. The Finn appears to have basically accepted that he will not be included in the driver lineup from 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg already signed up and team figures pushing hard for Carlos Sainz to accept […]
Williams, Sauber options for Sainz ‘a shame’ – Berger
Jun.10 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger says it’s a “shame” that Carlos Sainz has been locked out of every “good” team for 2025. Over the Montreal weekend, it became clear that the 29-year-old Spanish driver has two options for his next move in Formula 1, having been ousted by Ferrari for 2025 in favour of […]
Marko not critical of Villeneuve’s Ricciardo attack
Jun.10 (GMM) In another clear sign that Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career may be ending, Dr Helmut Marko has declined to chide Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve, the outspoken 1997 world champion, caused a stir in Montreal by declaring that he thinks Ricciardo is only now in F1 for his “image” rather than his results or pace. […]
Ocon slams heavy Alpine car and unfair team treatment
Jun.10 (GMM) Relations between Esteban Ocon and Alpine are in collapse. Axed by the Renault-controlled team for 2025, Ocon claimed on Sunday that his car weighs more than teammate Pierre Gasly’s. “We have had a problem with weight, on my side, for a while,” he told Canal Plus in Montreal – the first race since […]
Leclerc muzzled amid ‘off’ weekend for Ferrari
Jun.10 (GMM) Ferrari tried – unsuccessfully – to keep Charles Leclerc quiet amid an abysmal weekend for the Maranello based team in Canada. Fresh from his Monaco win from pole, Leclerc and Ferrari headed into the Montreal event being labelled by the likes of Lando Norris (McLaren) and Dr Helmut Marko (Red Bull) as a […]
Newey could be the key to Verstappen’s future – Berger
Jun.10 (GMM) Adrian Newey could be the key to Max Verstappen’s next move in Formula 1, according to legend Gerhard Berger. Berger, once a co-owner of Red Bull’s second team in F1, was asked by Bild am Sonntag if the rumours Verstappen may be eyeing an exit clause in his contract amid Red Bull’s current […]
Marko, not Horner, should have made Perez decision
Jun.10 (GMM) Christian Horner has denied claims from rival team Mercedes that Red Bull’s latest car upgrades were in fact a “downgrade”. Max Verstappen managed to win Sunday’s Canadian GP, but not without polesitter George Russell (Mercedes) and Lando Norris (McLaren) also looking like potential winners throughout the wet-dry race. “You don’t want these kind […]
Hamilton repeats suspicion over sudden pace slump
Jun.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has repeated his veiled suggestion that only his Mercedes suddenly suffers a mysterious pace dip in qualifying. In Monaco two weeks ago, only George Russell had an upgraded wing on his car – but for Montreal, seven time world champion Hamilton also has the new part. However, Hamilton said it’s been […]
Perez not bothered by ‘easy teammate’ claims
Jun.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez has fended off suggestions he has only been retained by Red Bull because he is a comfortable and harmonious teammate for Max Verstappen. 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve declared in Montreal that the Mexican is a clear ‘number 2’ driver – in the mould of Michael Schumacher’s former deputies like Eddie […]
Marko hints Ricciardo will be replaced for 2025
Jun.9 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 adventure may be coming to a definitive end. RB, Red Bull’s junior outfit, announced in Montreal that the energy drink company has taken up its contract ‘option’ on Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 season. “For the first time in my career, I was in a situation where other teams […]
Vowles hints Ocon could be Williams’ plan-B for 2025
Jun.9 (GMM) There are just two candidates in the running to join Alex Albon at Williams next year, team boss James Vowles has admitted. There is no longer any realistic doubt that Logan Sargeant will be ousted at the end of the season. “We need more from him, really, to be able to save his […]
No room at Mercedes for Carlos Sainz – Wolff
Jun.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff has bad news for Carlos Sainz – he’s not in the running to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year. In the strongest indication yet that the team’s 2025 lineup is all but signed and sealed, team co-owner and boss Wolff declared in Montreal: “We intend to focus on young drivers. […]
Leclerc hits back at new ‘title favourite’ label
Jun.8 (GMM) Charles Leclerc may be emerging as a new favourite for the 2024 world championship. In Montreal, Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung newspaper that after the first three races of the season, “the world championship looked so easy” for Max Verstappen to win again. But now, with Charles Leclerc’s win […]