Dec.4 (GMM) It is clear there is no love lost as Valtteri Bottas prepares to race for Audi-owned Sauber for the last time. Embarrassingly for the 10-time Mercedes race winner, he and the sacked Williams driver Logan Sargeant are the only competitors without a single point in 2024. That’s because his also-departing teammate Guanyu Zhou, […]
Red Bull eyes Guanyu Zhou’s Chinese sponsor money
Dec.4 (GMM) A second Formula 1 team has entered the frame to secure the services of Guanyu Zhou in 2025. The Chinese, who like Valtteri Bottas will contest his last grand prix for Audi-Sauber in Abu Dhabi, revealed in Qatar that Ferrari is “very interested” in signing him up for a reserve driver role for […]
Red Bull not favourites for 2025 or 2026 – Brown
Dec.4 (GMM) McLaren and Red Bull seem to agree that the latter energy drink-owned F1 team will not enter the 2025 season as the favourite. Appearing on Servus TV before travelling to Abu Dhabi for the season finale, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko admitted the overwhelming feeling when Max Verstappen won his fourth title […]
Wild Ocon-Doohan-Colapinto theory circulates
Dec.4 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has made clear he would have preferred to race in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The Frenchman, who fell out with Alpine management this year and will switch to Haas for 2025, will be replaced in the season finale by his full-time successor, rookie Jack Doohan. “The change allows Esteban to be […]
Zak Brown plays down perceived Verstappen feud
Dec.3 (GMM) Zak Brown has moved to play down any perceived tension between him and quadruple world champion Max Verstappen. Brown, the McLaren CEO, approached the Red Bull driver during a live television interview after clinching his fourth title in Las Vegas and told Verstappen “You earned it”. “Like you said,” Verstappen replied, “before I […]
Hadjar, not Colapinto, eyeing 2025 RB race seat
Dec.3 (GMM) Isack Hadjar is more likely than Franco Colapinto to be promoted onto the Formula 1 grid by Red Bull, team boss Christian Horner insists. It is quite clear that Sergio Perez’s future at the senior Red Bull Racing team is once again under a very dark cloud, with shareholders to determine his fate […]
Gasly hails teammate as Ocon departs Alpine
Dec.3 (GMM) Pierre Gasly has bid farewell to his departing teammate Esteban Ocon, as Alpine confirms rumours that the latter Frenchman will not be racing in Abu Dhabi. Team boss Oliver Oakes, and his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff – representing Ocon’s management – implied that Ocon’s early departure is a deal enabling the 28-year-old to […]
Vasseur ‘not worried’ about Hamilton’s form
Dec.3 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur insists he is “not worried” about the current form and attitude of Ferrari recruit Lewis Hamilton. The seven time world champion admitted in Qatar that he is “not fast anymore”, and after making errors in the race he even asked if he could retire the functional Mercedes. Some think Hamilton, 39, […]
Alonso sides with Verstappen over Russell incident
Dec.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso seems to agree with Max Verstappen about his one-place grid penalty that cost him pole position in Qatar at the weekend. The quadruple world champion said he had “lost all respect” for the way George Russell argued to the stewards that the Red Bull driver should be punished for driving too […]
Ecclestone to make millions in F1 car sale
Dec.2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is facing a massive financial windfall by selling his entire Formula 1 car collection. The former F1 supremo, 94, has been amassing one of the world’s most impressive and valuable collections of grand prix cars throughout his life – with the tally standing at 69 single seaters, housed in a huge […]
‘Obvious’ Ocon wants to sit out Abu Dhabi – Alpine
Dec.2 (GMM) Alpine’s team boss says it’s “obvious” Esteban Ocon wants to vacate his cockpit with immediate effect. The Frenchman, whose relationship with the team hit the rocks mid-season, prompting him to sign for Haas for 2025, has been suggesting for several grands prix that his car is no longer as fast as teammate Pierre […]
Alonso says he can be ‘too confident’ in F1
Dec.2 (GMM) With rumours swirling about Lewis Hamilton’s pace, age and motivation, F1 veteran Fernando Alonso insists he does not personally suffer from crises of confidence. 39-year-old Hamilton, bound for Ferrari from 2025, raised eyebrows in Qatar by frankly admitting that he is “not fast anymore”. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defended his driver, insisting that […]
Perez to make ‘own decision’ about F1 future
Dec.2 (GMM) Red Bull officials have reiterated that Franco Colapinto is unlikely to join either of the energy drink company’s two Formula 1 teams in 2025. Sergio Perez’s miserable run of form, amid ever-mounting pressure, continued in Qatar on Sunday, as he spun out of the race. Team boss Christian Horner hinted that the Mexican […]
Verstappen had ‘mature’ meeting with FIA president
Dec.2 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has hit back hard at Formula 1 drivers complaining about his current governance of the sport. Recently, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association penned a letter complaining about penalties for swearing – and demanding to know how financial penalties are spent. Multiple drivers say the FIA has yet to […]
Verstappen admits he ‘can’t stand’ George Russell
Dec.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen unleashed on Mercedes driver George Russell after winning the Qatar GP. The Red Bull driver was fastest in qualifying a day earlier. But he was given a 1-place grid penalty – dropping him behind Russell – when Verstappen was deemed to have driven too slowly on a slowing-down lap, disrupting Russell […]
Qualifying format ‘needs to change’ – Alonso
Dec.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has renewed his criticism of the weekend format in Formula 1. The sprint race in Qatar was a notably unexciting affair, with many blaming the sweeping and constant fast corners, making passing very difficult. “It’s difficult to overtake on this circuit,” F1 veteran Alonso, who drives for Aston Martin, told Spanish […]
Zhou’s manager to become Cadillac F1 boss – report
Dec.1 (GMM) Guanyu Zhou might have a real chance at a race seat with the new-in-2026 Formula 1 team Cadillac. The Chinese driver, who like his current Audi-Sauber teammate Valtteri Bottas has lost his race seat for 2025, claimed days ago that Ferrari is “very interested” in signing him as a reserve driver. Zhou, 25, […]
Marko plays down Colapinto’s Red Bull chances
Dec.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down Franco Colapinto’s chances of securing a Red Bull race seat in 2025. It is clear that, despite Sergio Perez’s protestations, the Mexican driver’s continuing performance struggles could lead to his exit at Red Bull Racing. “We lost the constructors’ title this year, unless a huge miracle happens,” […]
Mick Schumacher ‘never got a chance’ in F1 – Wolff
Dec.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher “never really got a chance” to show what he can do in Formula 1. That’s the lament of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who took the son of the great Michael Schumacher on as a reserve driver in 2023 and 2024 following the demise of his race career with Haas. Mercedes declared […]
Wolff defends ‘slow’ and despondent Lewis Hamilton
Dec.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff has defended Lewis Hamilton, after the seven time world champion frankly admitted that he is simply “slow” in the 2024 Mercedes. Once one of Formula 1’s strongest ever qualifiers, the Ferrari-bound Briton’s record against George Russell this year is a dire 5-18 – with the gap blowing out to half a […]