Apr.22 (GMM) There’s still a long way to go in 2024, but Dr Helmut Marko admits Max Verstappen is essentially on a cruise to his fourth consecutive title. Indeed, such was the Dutchman’s comfort at the front of the pack in Shanghai on Sunday that he said of his Red Bull car: “I could do […]
‘Almost everything’ points at new Perez deal – Marko
Apr.21 (GMM) A contract extension for Sergio Perez is appearing more and more likely. His current deal expires at the end of 2024, and at a very awkward time for the 34-year-old Mexican – just as on-form Ferrari refugee Carlos Sainz is also on the move. But Perez has, so far in 2024, suddenly taken […]
Chassis change working out for embattled Ricciardo
Apr.21 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is hopeful his Formula 1 career is back on track. The embattled Australian had hoped to humble his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda this year and leapfrog into the Red Bull Racing seat next to Max Verstappen for 2025. Tsunoda, however, has had the clear edge so far, even triggering speculation that […]
‘Joke’ Alpine still fending off F1 sale rumours
Apr.21 (GMM) For about the third time in as many weeks, Bruno Famin has once again rejected persistent rumours that Alpine’s Formula 1 team is on the market. After a couple of seasons of management and shareholding chaos, Renault’s works team emerged with arguably the slowest car of all for the 2024 season. Esteban Ocon […]
Audi ‘putting pressure’ on 2025 F1 driver market – Haas
Apr.21 (GMM) Haas looks set to lose Nico Hulkenberg at the end of the season. Last year, the now-ousted team boss Gunther Steiner brought the 36-year-old out of retirement to replace Mick Schumacher – and he promptly shone. It’s put long-time Haas driver Kevin Magnussen in difficulty, as new boss Ayao Komatsu told the Danish […]
Former teammate slams Hamilton for excuse-making
Apr.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate has slammed the seven time world champion for rolling out constant excuses about his 2024 troubles. Hamilton went into the Chinese GP lambasting critics who “talk sh*t” about him – but he then impressed by being P2 in both sprint qualifying and Saturday’s short race. However, by Saturday […]
Non-racing F1 role likely for Alonso after 2026
Apr.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s new Aston Martin contract could soon make his long-time colleague Pedro de la Rosa redundant. Alonso and former F1 driver de la Rosa have been paired together not only at Aston Martin, where the latter Spaniard is a team ambassador, but also at McLaren and Ferrari in the past. Alonso, 42, […]
Honda would ‘welcome’ Yuki Tsunoda to Aston Martin
Apr.20 (GMM) Honda is making no secret of its desire to see a Japanese driver at the wheel of a Honda-powered car for Formula 1’s new rules era beginning in 2026. Currently, the engines powering the four Red Bull-owned cars in F1 are officially called ‘Honda RBPT’ – the latter acronym standing for Red Bull’s […]
‘No regrets’ for Vasseur as Ferrari tempers heat up
Apr.20 (GMM) Things are starting to heat up in the red cockpits at Ferrari. Until now, team boss Frederic Vasseur has almost blankly refused to speak at length about 2025 – when Lewis Hamilton rather than Carlos Sainz will be Charles Leclerc’s teammate. As a result, Sainz is in red-hot form at present and he […]
Andretti ‘offended’ by F1’s closed-door policy
Apr.20 (GMM) Ahead of a key meeting with Formula 1, Mario Andretti admits he was “offended” by the way the sport defended its decision to block the debut of an eleventh team. Andretti, with the express support of General Motors, is actually headed by the 1978 world champion’s son Michael, whose original plan was to […]
Gasly hopes Alpine inching out of F1 crisis
Apr.20 (GMM) Alpine is making small steps “in the right direction”, according to Pierre Gasly. There is no doubt that Renault’s works Formula 1 team is in a deep slump – fending off wild rumours of acquisitions and facing the prospect of losing both Gasly and his fellow French teammate Esteban Ocon for 2025. Part […]
Perez admits pushing for two-year Red Bull deal
Apr.20 (GMM) Sergio Perez openly admits he is pushing for more than a one-year contract extension at Red Bull Racing. The 2025 ‘silly season’ is now moving at a fast pace at an uncharacteristically early time of the new season – both because so many drivers are out of contract and also because of the […]
‘Discussions’ about 2025 seat have begun – Bottas
Apr.19 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is among the Formula 1 drivers who is yet to find his seat amid the 2025 driver market ‘silly season’. The experienced Finn and former Mercedes race winner looks likely to be left out of new team owner Audi’s plans at his existing team, Sauber. Multiple drivers are linked with the […]
Marko ‘surprised’ by ongoing three-year Mercedes slump
Apr.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits he is surprised Mercedes has still not mastered the new-in-2022 ground effect regulations for three consecutive seasons and running. Former F1 driver Christian Danner said recently that he thinks the death of Toto Wolff’s former sparring partner Niki Lauda might explain Mercedes’ ongoing struggles, which have resulted in Lewis […]
Only ‘peace and calm’ will keep Verstappen at Red Bull
Apr.19 (GMM) As long as Red Bull remains “peaceful and calm”, Max Verstappen says he’s going nowhere. For months now, rumours and counter-rumours amid the loud and intense Red Bull leadership power struggle have suggested the triple world champion might find a way out of his 2028 contract. That might go a long way to […]
Audi offering Sainz three-year F1 contract – Marko
Apr.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has continued to divulge the apparent details of Audi’s contract offer to Ferrari refugee Carlos Sainz. Sergio Perez appears headed for a new contract at Red Bull Racing next year, as Red Bull’s top F1 consultant Marko admits that he brings more than just pace to the seat alongside Max […]
Question mark hangs over Stroll’s F1 future
Apr.19 (GMM) A question mark is hanging over Lance Stroll’s future in Formula 1. Aston Martin has just inked a new contract for 2025 and 2026 with Fernando Alonso, but team boss Mike Krack warned in Shanghai that 25-year-old Stroll’s future will only be dealt with “in the coming weeks”. However, he also insisted that […]
Red Bull eyes both McLaren drivers ‘for the future’
Apr.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits Red Bull is keeping an eye on McLaren’s contracted driver duo “for the future”. Heading into Shanghai, McLaren boss Andrea Stella sounded hopeful the team will not only cement its status as the third-fastest team in 2024, but perhaps even win races later this season. “If we deliver the […]
F1 caught by surprise by Shanghai surface ‘paint’
Apr.19 (GMM) The entire world of Formula 1 was caught by surprise when zooming in on the details of Shanghai’s track resurfacing and repair efforts after a four-year absence for the covid pandemic. Before the teams touched down in China, there were reports that the asphalt has been resurfaced – amid other reports that only […]
Mystery of Newey’s visit to Italy now solved
Apr.18 (GMM) The mystery about Adrian Newey’s recent visit to Italy has been solved. Amid swirling rumours surrounding the Red Bull power struggle, the sighting of F1’s most revered designer at Bologna airport – just an hour from Maranello – set tongues wagging. But according to Italy’s Formula Passion, the 65-year-old was not in town […]