May 26 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel wanted to return to Formula 1 for 2025, Dr Helmut Marko has revealed. The quadruple world champion has clearly flirted with a motor racing comeback, making occasional appearances at grands prix since retiring two years ago and testing Porsche’s Le Mans-ready hypercar some weeks ago. After shaking the 36-year-old’s hand […]
Sauber’s performance now ’embarrassing’ – Benoit
May 26 (GMM) Sauber’s performance crisis is becoming so severe that it’s “embarrassing”, according to highly respected veteran journalist Roger Benoit. Even with Audi now owning 100 percent of the Swiss team, and pushing hard to secure departing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for 2025 and beyond, the neon green cars have been dead last all […]
F1 contemplates how to fix ‘impossible’ Monaco
May 26 (GMM) Amid critical contract talks, Formula 1 personalities think the sport should make some tweaks to the iconic Monaco GP. Bloomberg claimed last week that F1’s commercial owner Liberty Media is pushing for race organisers to pay more to secure a new deal beyond 2025. Former F1 driver Alex Wurz thinks scrapping the […]
Haas admits 2025 contract talks with Esteban Ocon
May 26 (GMM) Haas has confirmed that Esteban Ocon is in the running for a 2025 race seat. Amid Alpine’s deep performance slump at present, rumours have been swirling that while Pierre Gasly may stay beyond 2024, Esteban Ocon is looking around at his options. “We don’t feel any pressure about the driver market because […]
Sim to track correlation ‘not working’ – Marko
May 26 (GMM) The narrative of Red Bull’s utter dominance under the ‘ground effect’ regulations that took effect from 2022 is finally beginning to break. Ferrari and McLaren have already won grands prix in 2024, and Charles Leclerc now appears to be cruising towards victory from pole in Monaco. “To use Max’s words, the car […]
Magnussen won’t need to ‘look after me’ – Bearman
May 25 (GMM) Oliver Bearman insists he would not need Kevin Magnussen to help him acclimatise to life on the Formula 1 grid. Although long-time Haas driver Magnussen, 31, is also yet to convince his bosses to offer him a 2025 contract, the Dane said recently that he had no intention of helping 18-year-old Bearman […]
Hulkenberg grins at Verstappen’s Monaco troubles
May 25 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg had to smile in Monaco when he heard that Max Verstappen is suddenly very uncomfortable at the wheel of his once utterly-dominant Red Bull. “I’m just looking forward to laying in bed,” the triple world champion said after narrowly winning at Imola a week ago. “Maybe take some painkillers.” And […]
Marko, Wolff, agree they share ‘the same values’
May 25 (GMM) Toto Wolff and Dr Helmut Marko are continuing their obvious flirtation, as rumours of a sensational team switch for Max Verstappen refuse to die. Over the years, Austrians Wolff and Marko have often been at furious odds with clashing personalities and their highly-competitive Mercedes versus Red Bull rivalry. But amid the power […]
Ford offers support for GM’s stalled F1 hopes
May 25 (GMM) Ford has offered an influential power-word of support for Andretti-Cadillac’s seemingly futile ongoing push for a place on the Formula 1 grid. Liberty Media, and the bulk of the existing ten teams, appear determined to keep the door to a potential eleventh entry on the grid locked. The US congress and senate […]
Sargeant admits fighting for Williams seat
May 25 (GMM) Logan Sargeant admits he is fighting to retain his Williams race seat. The struggling American is well aware speculation about his potential successor for 2025 is intensifying – with race winners like Valtteri Bottas and even Carlos Sainz in the mix. “Carlos who?” joked Williams boss James Vowles when asked at Monaco […]
No place for Mick Schumacher at RB, says Marko
May 24 (GMM) Red Bull is not interested in reviving Mick Schumacher’s stalled Formula 1 race career, the marque’s top F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko insists. The 25-year-old German lost his Haas race seat two years ago, and now splits his time between F1 reserve duties for Mercedes and a place in Alpine’s Le Mans […]
Hulkenberg can barely ‘imagine’ Monaco GP axe
May 24 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he doesn’t want to “imagine” Formula 1 without Monaco. The fabled race on the Principality’s unique and ultra-narrow streets is still much-loved by fans and drivers. But during the Liberty Media era, criticism of the event has grown – including the near-impossibility of overtaking. “What kind of show is […]
F1 teams expect ‘usual’ Concorde Agreement talks
May 24 (GMM) The “usual discussions” surrounding negotiation of a new Concorde Agreement are currently taking place, Christian Horner has revealed. Liberty Media, F1’s commercial rights holder, recently sent out the proposed draft of the new agreement that binds together the teams, the FIA, and Formula 1. The current one expires next year, and some […]
Perez still Red Bull’s ‘first option’ for 2025 – Marko
May 24 (GMM) Sergio Perez is Red Bull’s “first option” to serve as Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025. Recent rumours suggested the Mexican driver had actually turned down a single-year offer, counter-proposing at least a two year deal including 2026. “Nothing has been signed yet and it’s not the time to think about the contract […]
FIA abandons wet-weather F1 ‘mudguards’ for now
May 24 (GMM) F1’s governing body has abandoned for now its attempt to improve wet-weather visibility with the use of so-called ‘mudguards’. An initial prototype last year did not produce good results, and photos from Ferrari’s recent FIA-sponsored follow-up attempt at Fiorano showed plumes of spray behind the car. “I was behind Arthur Leclerc with […]
Sainz not confirming rumours of Mercedes rejection
May 24 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is staying quiet amid new swirling rumours that Mercedes has definitely turned him down for 2025 – and that he may be in advanced talks with Williams. “I can’t confirm it,” said the departing Ferrari driver in Monaco when asked specifically about the reported rejection by Mercedes. Sainz said a […]
Vettel appears to have abandoned F1 return chances
May 23 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel appears to have accepted that he will not be returning to Formula 1. On the face of it, the quadruple world champion is actually not closing the door completely. He took his 1993 McLaren to Imola last weekend and put on an elaborate tribute to the late Ayrton Senna and […]
Sainz ‘has chosen Audi’ for 2025 and beyond
May 23 (GMM) Audi-owned Sauber appears to be the best remaining option for departing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for 2025 and beyond. He has reportedly had a lucrative offer on the table for several weeks now, but has been holding out for even one-year deals at Mercedes or Red Bull. It is also believed that […]
F1 in talks to raise Monaco’s annual race fee
May 23 (GMM) Monaco, arguably the most unique and famous of all Formula 1 races, is the latest European event under pressure to remain on the annual calendar. With Liberty Media receiving big-money offers from potential non-European venues, and yet reluctant to expand the calendar beyond 24 races, many existing events – like Monza, Imola, […]
Three-team battle shaping up for Monaco GP victory
May 23 (GMM) After a long period in Formula 1 of predictable Red Bull dominance, it is no longer so certain that Max Verstappen will simply win another race at Monaco. Although he won from pole at Imola a week ago, the race weekend overall showed that both McLaren and Ferrari are now nipping at […]