Nov.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists Red Bull is not “overlooking” Yuki Tsunoda as a candidate to potentially replace the underperforming Sergio Perez next year. While Max Verstappen squeezed out P6 in sprint qualifying in Qatar, Perez’s woes continued as he lines up ten places lower. The Mexican, in part, blamed a run-in on track […]
Hamilton ‘didn’t want’ post-season Ferrari test
Nov.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton told his future Ferrari boss, Frederic Vasseur, that he didn’t want to make his debut in a red cockpit in the post-Abu Dhabi GP test. While the man he is replacing, Carlos Sainz, will be in action for his new team – Williams – after the season finale, Hamilton will be […]
Ocon hopes more F1 staff don’t ‘get sick’
Nov.29 (GMM) The final portion of the 2024 calendar has been “particularly difficult” for travelling team staff, according to Esteban Ocon. Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was absent from the Qatar paddock on ‘media day’ Thursday as he has a cold. World champion Max Verstappen predicted that the long haul from Las Vegas to Qatar would […]
‘Personal’ relationship with Leclerc still good – Sainz
Nov.29 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he still has a “very, very good” personal relationship with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. After the chequered flag in Las Vegas, Leclerc was furious as he left his radio line open and unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade after Sainz apparently passed him against team orders. Days later in Qatar, Leclerc […]
Verstappen puzzled over FIA staff replacements
Nov.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen admits he has some concerns about the continuing staff exodus at Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA. Hot on the heels of race director Niels Wittich’s ousting by controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the next sudden departures are senior steward Tim Mayer, and fellow top official Janette Tan. “I’m in […]
Tsunoda lacks ‘consistency’ for Perez’s seat – Marko
Nov.29 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda lacks the “consistency” required to be a strong contender to replace Sergio Perez next year. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s powerful team advisor who has been warning Perez that his race seat alongside Max Verstappen will be reviewed after Abu Dhabi. “There will be a meeting […]
Toyota not ruling out future F1 engine project
Nov.29 (GMM) Toyota is not ruling out eventually expanding its new involvement in Formula 1 beyond a mere technical partnership with Haas. The Japanese carmaker, via its Toyota Gazoo Racing offshoot, is helping Ferrari-powered Haas with parts manufacture, technical resources, and simulation. But Masaya Kaji, Toyota Gazoo director, says he’s also interested in F1 power […]
Three F1 drivers already eyeing Cadillac
Nov.29 (GMM) At least three current drivers are already eyeing the new Cadillac F1 team. Mercedes announced in Qatar that Mick Schumacher is stepping down from his role as the team’s reserve driver after the Abu Dhabi finale, in order to focus on the world endurance championship with Alpine. It opens up the Mercedes job […]
Norris, Leclerc hit back at Verstappen claim
Nov.29 (GMM) Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have hit back at Max Verstappen’s claims that he would have won the world championship this year in any top car. After securing his fourth consecutive drivers’ title in Las Vegas, the Red Bull driver insisted: “I would have become world champion earlier in a McLaren, and probably […]
New F1 deal sees Monza’s annual fee increase
Nov.28 (GMM) Like Monaco, another iconic and traditional Formula 1 venue, Monza, will have to pay more to safeguard its medium-term future on the calendar. When Monaco’s new race deal through 2031 was unveiled recently, authoritative sources reported that the agreement includes a doubled annual race fee. It is believed Monaco agreed to the much […]
Indycar stars not good enough for Cadillac – Schumacher
Nov.28 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher doubts an Indycar driver is good enough to fill one of the new Cadillac F1 race seats from 2026. Team advisor and Formula 1 legend Mario Andretti revealed this week that Colton Herta, who already drives for Mario’s son Michael Andretti in Indycar, is “definitely” in the running for a Cadillac […]
Perez thinks he’s keeping 2025 seat – Marko
Nov.28 (GMM) With the drivers’ title in the bag, and Dr Helmut Marko admitting the constructors’ crown is basically now “impossible”, the Red Bull advisor is looking ahead to 2025. One crucial element – a competitive teammate to put next to quadruple world champion Max Verstappen – will be analysed by the team after the […]
Ferrari ‘interested’ in Guanyu Zhou for ’25
Nov.28 (GMM) Ferrari is “very interested” in signing up Guanyu Zhou as a test driver, the Chinese driver claims. While fellow Audi-Sauber refugee Valtteri Bottas looks set to rejoin Mercedes, 25-year-old Zhou has been linked with a similar reserve role for 2025 at Ferrari. Before making his F1 debut for Ferrari-powered Sauber – then Alfa […]
Team must make better car for Max’s fifth title – Marko
Nov.27 (GMM) There may be two races left to run in 2024, but the question is already pressing – can Max Verstappen win a fifth consecutive drivers’ title in 2025? Red Bull started this season with an advantage, but team squabbles, high-profile departures and stalled car development ultimately made the Dutchman’s task much more difficult. […]
Verstappen would have won title in a McLaren – Marko
Nov.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s fourth consecutive championship triumph in 2024 has also put a spotlight on how it went wrong for his main rival Lando Norris. Verstappen wrapped up the title with two races to spare, despite no longer sitting in the fastest car in the field. The Dutchman declared in Las Vegas that he […]
Three rookies wanted F1 race number ’12’
Nov.27 (GMM) Three drivers have been locked in a tussle over the number 12. Kimi Antonelli and Jack Doohan are preparing for their full-time Formula 1 race debuts in 2025 for the Mercedes and Alpine teams respectively – and both signalled their desire to race with the permanent number 12. Sport1 reports that there were […]
Cadillac ‘new team fee’ is not high enough – Marko
Nov.27 (GMM) Cadillac F1, the new-for-2026 Formula 1 team project, will reportedly need to pay $450 million alone in the form of an anti-dilution fee. After the original FIA-approved Andretti-Cadillac bid was blocked by F1 owner Liberty Media, a new deal involving the dropping of the Andretti brand and increased involvement from General Motors means […]
Newey can help fix Aston Martin ‘mistakes’ in 2025
Nov.26 (GMM) Aston Martin is eagerly looking forward to the arrival of Adrian Newey early next year, team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa admits. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso admitted in Las Vegas that the Silverstone based outfit is “basically now the last team in Formula 1 with Sauber”. And he certainly doesn’t expect to […]
School rather than F1 return for Sebastian Vettel
Nov.26 (GMM) Once linked this year with a potential return to Formula 1 or Le Mans, Sebastian Vettel ultimately decided to go back to school. While Max Verstappen also became a quadruple world champion at the weekend in Las Vegas, the retired Vettel was at an awards ceremony in Braunschweig, Germany, where he was asked […]
Red Bull must make better car for 2025 – Verstappen snr
Nov.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has admitted he was “not always positive” the fourth consecutive drivers’ title would work out for his son in 2024. Both Jos Verstappen, and Max’s girlfriend Kelly, were not in Las Vegas – which was 27-year-old Verstappen’s first mathematical opportunity to wrap up this year’s title. “I didn’t feel very […]