Jul.19 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps is already lobbying Formula 1 to restore its permanent place on the calendar despite only recently agreeing to an alternating contract. Under the current arrangement, the Belgian GP is guaranteed a place in 2027, 2029 and 2031, alternating with Barcelona. But circuit chairman Melchior Wathelet says the ultimate goal remains a return […]
Sainz insists Williams has ‘failed’ with 2026 car
Jul.19 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has delivered his strongest criticism yet of Williams’ 2026 campaign, admitting the team has “failed” with this year’s car as speculation about his future continues. The Spaniard, increasingly linked with a move to Audi, says even the team’s heavily anticipated ‘B’ car – set to debut at Baku – is unlikely […]
Verstappen saga deepens as father, manager visit McLaren
Jul.18 (GMM) Fresh intrigue surrounds Max Verstappen’s future after both his father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen were spotted separately entering McLaren’s hospitality unit on Friday at Spa. The visits came just days after Vermeulen and Jos Verstappen met the now-retired Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko in Amsterdam, fuelling yet more speculation about the […]
Bearman’s future ‘not up to us’, admits Komatsu
Jul.18 (GMM) Haas boss Ayao Komatsu admits Oliver Bearman’s Formula 1 future is ultimately out of the team’s hands amid growing speculation linking the Briton with both Red Bull and Ferrari. Bearman has emerged as one of the names tipped to replace Max Verstappen should the Dutchman leave Red Bull, while others believe Ferrari would […]
Sainz says Antonelli crossed the line with ‘insult’
Jul.18 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has told teenaged world championship leader Kimi Antonelli to “relax” after the pair clashed during Friday practice at Spa. Antonelli believed the Williams driver had compromised his flying lap, while Sainz insisted the Mercedes youngster had overreacted. “I suppose nowadays if you don’t move out of the way exactly as the […]
Hungary-Zandvoort upgrade to shape Aston, Alonso future
Jul.18 (GMM) Aston Martin hopes this weekend’s Belgian GP marks the low point of its troubled 2026 season, with a major upgrade package now just one race away. The Silverstone-based team arrived at Spa expecting to struggle with its unchanged car, before introducing an all-new and highly anticipated chassis package in Hungary next weekend and […]
Domenicali still pushing to revive cancelled GP
Jul.18 (GMM) Formula 1 is drawing up multiple contingency plans as renewed conflict in the Middle East throws the final months of the 2026 calendar back into doubt. The sport had hoped to reschedule the postponed Bahrain GP later this year, but the renewal of the Middle East conflict has forced Formula One Management to […]
Madrid GP sells out despite Hamilton overtaking doubts
Jul.18 (GMM) Formula 1’s new Madrid street race has sold out almost two months before its debut, underlining the sport’s commercial momentum even as Lewis Hamilton questions whether the circuit will produce exciting racing. Organisers confirmed that all 100,000 tickets released so far have been sold, while sponsorship revenue alone has already covered the cost […]
‘Big money’ will keep Verstappen in F1 – Marko
Jul.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen again refused to clarify his Formula 1 future at Spa on Thursday, as the retired Dr Helmut Marko continued to play down speculation surrounding their recent meeting in Amsterdam. The quadruple world champion has been heavily linked with McLaren in recent weeks, while reports have suggested relations with Red Bull have […]
Red Bull drops ‘Macarena’ as Verstappen backs team
Jul.17 (GMM) Red Bull has abandoned its troublesome ‘Macarena’ rear wing for this weekend’s Belgian GP after the recent failures that left Max Verstappen furious at Silverstone. The aggressive concept, which attracted attention for opening even wider than Ferrari’s version, was abandoned after Verstappen twice ended up off the track with failures in Austria and […]
Ocon plays down F1 exit rumours at 10-year milestone
Jul.17 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has played down growing speculation about his Haas future as he marks ten years since making his Formula 1 debut at Spa. The Frenchman’s contract contains a Haas-controlled option for 2027, but a growing list of potential replacements now includes McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli, Toyota-backed Ryo Hirakawa, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, […]
Hulkenberg laughs off Sainz-to-Audi rumours
Jul.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has insisted Williams remains his preferred long-term project despite renewed speculation linking him with Audi. Although Audi boss Mattia Binotto recently dismissed reports of a renewed attempt to sign the Spaniard, rumours continue to circulate that the German manufacturer could yet make another move amid Williams’ difficult run of form. Sainz’s […]
McLaren admits it is months behind rivals
Jul.16 (GMM) McLaren has admitted it is still paying the price for last year’s title-winning campaign, with team boss Andrea Stella estimating the reigning world champions are now two to three months behind Mercedes and Ferrari in developing their 2026 car. The Woking based outfit has struggled to match the pace of the leading teams […]
Verstappen wants to stay at Red Bull, insists manager
Jul.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen has delivered exactly the same explanation as Dr Helmut Marko about last week’s much-discussed Amsterdam meeting, while insisting the four-time world champion still intends to remain at Red Bull. The meeting between Vermeulen, Jos Verstappen and the recently retired Marko fuelled fresh speculation about Verstappen’s future as rumours […]
Russell safe, but as Antonelli number two – Steiner
Jul.16 (GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks George Russell’s Mercedes future remains secure, although perhaps no longer as the team’s leading driver. The former Haas boss believes Kimi Antonelli has emerged as the biggest surprise of the 2026 season. “We knew he was fast,” Steiner told Sport Bild. “But I didn’t expect him to put George Russell […]
Horner to Aston? Schumacher isn’t convinced
Jul.16 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher does not think Christian Horner’s widely-rumoured Formula 1 comeback will be with Aston Martin. The former Red Bull boss has been linked with Aston Martin, Alpine and even a possible BYD-backed twelfth entry, but Schumacher believes several obstacles stand in the way. “I can’t imagine Christian Horner coming back as team […]
Bahrain GP return now looks unlikely – Pirelli
Jul.15 (GMM) Hopes of restoring the cancelled Bahrain GP to the 2026 calendar appear to have faded as Formula 1 grapples with renewed conflict in the Middle East. Bahrain had emerged as the leading candidate to be restored to the 2026 calendar after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix were cancelled when the Iran […]
Former F1 driver sceptical about V8 return
Jul.15 (GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Jean-Louis Schlesser has joined those fiercely attacking the sport’s increasingly electric direction, dismissing claims the controversial 2026 regulations make Formula 1 environmentally responsible. The 77-year-old Frenchman, who raced in Formula 1 in 1983 and 1988, agrees with those who say the current balance between combustion and electrical power has […]
Bearman tipped if Verstappen leaves Red Bull
Jul.15 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher believes Oliver Bearman would be Red Bull’s first choice if Max Verstappen leaves, while also suggesting last week’s high-profile meeting between Verstappen’s management and Dr Helmut Marko was more likely about the Dutchman’s future than a bid to bring Marko back. With speculation raging over Verstappen’s future, Schumacher was asked who […]
Marko plays down Verstappen meeting speculation
Jul.14 (GMM) Former Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed suggestions his recent meeting with Max Verstappen’s inner circle was linked to the Dutchman’s uncertain Formula 1 future. Marko was spotted in Amsterdam last week with Verstappen’s father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen, fuelling fresh speculation amid ongoing doubts about whether the four-time world […]