Jan.30 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks every sign is pointing towards a fourth-consecutive world championship triumph for Red Bull and Max Verstappen in 2024. The former driver, who has also held prominent roles at BMW, Toro Rosso and in charge of DTM, is now fully retired from the motor racing scene. Berger, 64, hopes […]
F1 teams in full swing as launch season looms
Jan.30 (GMM) As car launch and winter testing season now looms, Formula 1 teams are in full swing to prepare for the 2024 world championship. Alpine intends to reveal its new car in just over a week, but nervousness may be high at the Renault-linked team as it emerges the 2024 machine has failed its […]
Button bemused by F1 team’s ‘ridiculous’ rebrand
Jan.29 (GMM) Red Bull has already benefitted from its “ridiculous” new name for the Formula 1 team formerly known as Alpha Tauri. That is the view not only of a respected F1 journalist, but also 2009 world champion Jenson Button – whose job as a part-time pundit for British broadcaster Sky means he will have […]
2024 Ferrari feels ‘better’ in simulator – Marc Gene
Jan.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s new car for 2024 gives “better feelings” to the drivers, long-time test driver Marc Gene has revealed. Red Bull utterly dominated the 2023 season, but Toto Wolff is making similarly hopeful sounds about Mercedes’ new challenger, revealing simulation driver Anthony Davidson reports it “feels like a car for the first time in […]
Bottas, girlfriend cleared over covid-19 border breach
Jan.29 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas and his girlfriend have been cleared of wrongdoing over a breach of Finland’s covid-19 lockdown back in 2020. Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reports that Tiffany Cromwell, an Australian citizen and professional cyclist, wrongly entered Finland with her Formula 1 driver boyfriend when only Finnish citizens were allowed to. Correspondent Lasse Kerkela reports […]
Reports: Will Sainz stay or make Audi F1 switch?
Jan.29 (GMM) Sauber, the Formula 1 outfit known as Alfa Romeo last year that in 2024 will be called ‘Stake F1 Team’, intends to clear out its driver lineup at the end of the season. That is the claim of the authoritative and highly respected long-time F1 correspondent Roger Benoit, as the sport turns its […]
New deal means Norris staying until 2027 – media
Jan.29 (GMM) McLaren has followed in Ferrari’s wheel-tracks by inking a new contract with its existing Formula 1 driver – and not revealing the length of the deal. According to the team, Lando Norris’ new “multi-year contract” means he will be staying at McLaren “beyond the 2025 season” – but for exactly how long remains […]
Melbourne fans banned from entering F1 track post-GP
Jan.26 (GMM) Spectators have been banned from being allowed on Melbourne’s Formula 1 circuit after the chequered flag. In 2023, a worrying track invasion before the cars had even crossed the finish line at the end of the Australian GP occurred at Albert Park, sparking an FIA investigation. The governing body chastised the race organisers […]
Faenza-based F1 team company name now ‘Racing Bulls’
Jan.26 (GMM) ‘Racing Bulls’ may indeed be how Formula 1 fans come to refer to Red Bull’s Faenza based team. Fans and journalists this week slammed the declared official new name for the re-branded Alpha Tauri outfit – Visa Cash App RB. Even Dr Helmut Marko admitted it was a “tongue twister”, with rumours suggesting […]
Potential African GP host emerges in Zanzibar
Jan.26 (GMM) A solution to the notable absence of an African GP may be emerging in the shape of Zanzibar – an archipelago off the coast of the African mainland. It is believed that both Liberty Media and the FIA are united when it comes to acknowledging that the sport needs a race in Africa. […]
Newey may assume non-F1 Red Bull role ‘in medium term’
Jan.26 (GMM) Adrian Newey might be shuffled into a non-Formula 1 role at Red Bull Racing, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. Correspondent Michael Schmidt explains that the reason is because of the budget cap, as the team seeks a way to make the most of the budget cap rules. “The large teams continue […]
Madrid layout to have F1’s most extreme banking
Jan.26 (GMM) Madrid’s new Formula 1 circuit will include the most steeply banked corner on the entire calendar. The new ten-year race deal from 2026 was announced this week, with officials insisting that it will not cost the taxpayer a cent – throwing a big dark cloud over the future of the existing Spanish GP […]
Questions arise over length of Leclerc’s new contract
Jan.26 (GMM) Authoritative Italian media sources are unsure as to the length of Charles Leclerc’s newly-announced new Formula 1 contract with Ferrari. The press release declared that the highly-rated 26-year-old is now staying on “beyond the 2024 season”, while Leclerc was quoted as saying he will keep driving in red “for several more seasons to […]
Losing Spanish GP name ‘not important’ to Barcelona
Jan.25 (GMM) A Barcelona politician is “convinced” that a deal will be done to keep the Circuit de Catalunya on the Formula 1 calendar. It is already known, however, that a glitzy new city race in Madrid will take over the Spanish GP moniker from 2026 – although F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has not ruled […]
Relative left show because of secret ‘Schumi clause’
Jan.25 (GMM) Rumours are swirling that the sudden departure from a reality TV show in Germany was connected with Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. Cora Schumacher, the ex-wife of Michael’s brother Ralf, was briefly on the German version of the well known show ‘I’m a celebrity – Get me out of here!’ Called ‘Ich bin […]
Hamilton not ruling out future F1 comeback
Jan.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton, who has just turned 39, is not ruling out retirement from Formula 1 in the coming years – but could also imagine a “sabbatical” or comeback. The seven time world champion’s long and speculation-filled contract negotiations last year ultimately ended with just a two-year extension – taking him only to the […]
Mercedes ‘at a crossroads’ in 2024 – Hakkinen
Jan.25 (GMM) Mercedes, the once-dominant Formula 1 team, is at a “crossroads” according to former two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen. The Finn, now 55, admits that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are heading into the new season as the overwhelming favourites for a fourth consecutive triumph – although he admits he has “hope”. “The history […]
F1 media mocks Alpha Tauri’s ‘horrible’ new team name
Jan.25 (GMM) Fans and journalists have reacted with horror and amusement as the new official name for Red Bull’s Alpha Tauri team was confirmed on Wednesday. It had been rumoured that the arrival of sponsors Visa and Cash App would be combined with the ‘Racing Bulls’ moniker – perhaps shortened to ‘RB’. But although racingbulls.com […]
F1 upgrade works in Hungary ‘in full swing’
Jan.24 (GMM) The Hungaroring is making good on its promise to upgrade the almost 40-year-old Formula 1 circuit in order to secure Hungary’s place on the calendar. Early last year, with the existing contract set to run out in 2027, track boss Zsolt Gyulay admitted that the circuit facilities “no longer meet the requirements of […]
Schumacher recommends ex-F1 name for top Haas role
Jan.24 (GMM) Out-of-work F1 team boss Otmar Szafnauer would make a good addition to the embattled Haas team. That is the view of Ralf Schumacher, who was a fierce critic of the way the newly-sacked Gunther Steiner ran Haas – especially his handling of Mick Schumacher’s stint at the team. However, Schumacher thinks the popular […]