Jul.18 (GMM) Jean Todt is not sure Lewis Hamilton’s arrival alone will be enough to propel Ferrari back to world championship glory. When the fabled team’s former boss Todt signed the then two-time champion Michael Schumacher for 1996, it then took him five full years to win a third title. “Hamilton’s arrival will give the […]
Sainz cannot use Williams as ‘stepping stone’ – boss
Jul.18 (GMM) James Vowles says he does not want Carlos Sainz to sign with Williams if the Ferrari refugee sees the seat as a mere stepping-stone to his next big move. Until recently, the 29-year-old Spaniard seemed destined to ink a deal – but now, Valtteri Bottas appears to be the overwhelming favourite to return […]
Schumacher rules out Indycar move for now
Jul.18 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has ruled out eyeing a move to Indycar for now, even though a prominent former world champion doubts the 25-year-old German will return to F1 next year. Schumacher this week said his return to the grid after a two-season absence was now “within reach”, following tests in 2024 with Mercedes, Alpine […]
Flooding hits Hungary GP pitlane
Jul.18 (GMM) A cloud – or flood – of uncertainty is suddenly surrounding this weekend’s running of the Hungarian GP in Budapest. Photos and videos are emerging from the Hungaroring’s paddock and pitlane, which were battered by an intense summer thunderstorm on Wednesday amid the parallel promise of scorching heat forecasts. Observers said the flooding […]
Red Bull lodged technical complaint against McLaren
Jul.17 (GMM) Red Bull suspects 2024 championship rival McLaren may have been bending the rules to help with tyre cooling. Team consultant Dr Helmut Marko admitted he was amazed at this year’s rapidly improving McLaren last time out at Silverstone. “When we had the McLaren behind us, they were literally flying,” he told Speed Week. […]
Red Bull admits failed F1 talks with Andy Cowell
Jul.17 (GMM) The boss of Red Bull’s top F1 team says he would have liked to snap up former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell. Two weeks ago, Aston Martin added another top signing to its roster by signing Cowell, who headed Mercedes’ ultra-successful F1 engine division until 2020, as Martin Whitmarsh’s replacement as Group CEO. […]
Axed sponsor warns companies about backing Haas F1 team
Jul.17 (GMM) Haas’ former title sponsor has warned other companies to think twice about entering into agreements with the small American F1 team. A month ago, a Swiss arbitration court ruled that Haas needed to return some of the sponsorship money paid by Uralkali for the 2022 season. Both the Russian fertiliser giant and the […]
RB considering all-rookie driver lineup for 2025
Jul.17 (GMM) Red Bull is shaping up to install an all-rookie driver lineup at its junior team RB next year. The energy drink concern’s top F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko has said repeatedly recently that all shareholders agree that the outfit formerly known as Alpha Tauri must revert to its status as a proper “junior […]
Two teams now ahead of Red Bull, Marko admits
Jul.16 (GMM) Red Bull has fallen behind not one but two Formula 1 teams as the first half of the 2024 season progressed. That is the admission of the formerly-dominant reigning champions’ F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko, who told Speed Week: “Thank God there is an update in Budapest and we hope it will take […]
Toyota not eyeing F1 comeback with Haas – report
Jul.16 (GMM) Reports that Toyota is looking to return to Formula 1 in partnership with Haas are wide of the mark. That is the claim of Auto Motor und Sport, following multiple speculative reports in the wake of a Toyota official being spotted in the Haas garage at the British GP. The reports claimed Toyota, […]
Schumacher says being gay is ‘not a big deal’
Jul.16 (GMM) Now that he has ‘come out’, former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher says he won’t be making a big deal about his sexuality. Being openly gay is still somewhat taboo in male-dominated sports like F1, but the 49-year-old revealed on Instagram this week that he is in a same-sex relationship. He told the […]
Mick Schumacher says F1 return now ‘within reach’
Jul.16 (GMM) Mick Schumacher sounds upbeat about his chances of returning to the Formula 1 grid. The F1 race career of the 25-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher ended after just two relatively lacklustre seasons for Haas, following a sustained period of criticism from his own then-boss, Gunther Steiner. For 2023, Schumacher became Mercedes’ […]
2026 sim laptimes still ‘much too slow’ – Wolff
Jul.16 (GMM) Formula 1 risks becoming “much too slow” with the debut of the 2026 regulations as currently written, Toto Wolff admits. Many are tipping Mercedes to once again ace the forthcoming rule changes, but even boss Wolff admits he is worried about the laptimes currently emerging from simulations. “What we need are cars that […]
Audi snatches Alpine-Renault’s F1 oil brands
Jul.16 (GMM) The signs are growing that Renault’s Formula 1 engine program could be wrapped up. Toto Wolff admitted at Silverstone recently that he has had “exploratory discussions” with Alpine officials about a potential customer Mercedes engine deal for the new regulatory period starting in 2026. “Only when they have taken the strategic decision, do […]
Mike Krack linked with shock Audi-Sauber switch
Jul.15 (GMM) Mike Krack is reportedly being head-hunted to leave Aston Martin and lead Audi’s new works Formula 1 project. The rumours actually emerged just before the recent British GP, and were just the latest raft of reports suggesting all is not well behind the scenes in the wake of Volkswagen brand Audi’s takeover of […]
Marko says Perez ‘mentally battered’ at Red Bull
Jul.15 (GMM) Sergio Perez is “mentally battered”, as Dr Helmut Marko refuses to deny raging speculation that Red Bull may decide to oust the struggling Mexican driver within 2024. Rumours are also still swirling that Max Verstappen might make a shock switch to Mercedes next year, but Red Bull F1 consultant Marko insists that is […]
Steiner plays down Haas resurgence since exit as boss
Jul.15 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down the big step forward made by the Haas team in 2024. As team boss, Steiner was instrumental in setting up the unique structure at the small American outfit – leading to his ousting by owner Gene Haas at the end of last year. The two sides are now […]
Sargeant ‘satisfied’ with his driving in 2024
Jul.15 (GMM) Logan Sargeant insists he is “satisfied” with his own driving this year – even though Williams appears to definitely be planning for his 2025 successor. Team boss James Vowles’ top pick to be Alex Albon’s new long-term teammate from next year was clearly Carlos Sainz – but the Ferrari refugee may now have […]
Alonso was ‘not interested’ in Mercedes seat
Jul.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso was “not interested” in becoming Lewis Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes. That’s the claim of team boss Toto Wolff, who is still yet to name George Russell’s teammate for 2025 as he waits for the unlikely scenario of Max Verstappen’s departure from Red Bull. Wolff’s own 17-year-old protege Kimi Antonelli is the […]
Verstappen admits ‘visibility problems’ since 2021
Jul.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has revealed he has been grappling with “visibility problems” ever since his huge crash at Silverstone in 2021. At the height of their ultra-intense world championship battle, a tap from Lewis Hamilton at immense speed sent the Red Bull driver spearing into the barriers. Verstappen, now a triple world champion, was […]