Nov.17 (GMM) The highly-anticipated opening session amid the glittering lights of Las Vegas was called off after mere minutes – when two cars were badly damaged by a manhole cover. Going into the session, and amid the backdrop of drivers’ complaints about the ‘show’ elements of the race weekend, it was thought the newly-iconic ‘Sphere’ […]
Russell reflects on his ‘terrible year of results’
Nov.17 (GMM) George Russell insists he feels he has driven well in 2023 – even though many believe he has clearly fallen behind his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. Indeed, while Hamilton is mathematically still in the hunt for second overall in the drivers’ championship, his much younger British countryman Russell sits just eighth. “It was […]
Verstappen not alone with Las Vegas GP criticism
Nov.17 (GMM) Top Formula 1 drivers are hitting back amid the neon glitz, glamour and “show” of the new Las Vegas GP. On the eve of Liberty Media’s unique new blue-riband occasion, world champion Max Verstappen triggered widespread headlines by denouncing the “99 percent show, 1 percent sporting event” and a “not very interesting or […]
Wolff to sit out more F1 races in future
Nov.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits he will be absent from even more grands prix in the future. Amid Mercedes’ struggle to match up to dominant rivals Red Bull since the dawning of the new ‘ground effect’ era last year, the 51-year-old did not travel to the races in Japan and Qatar recently. Austrian Wolff took […]
F1 must be more ‘respectful’ to Vegas locals – Hamilton
Nov.16 (GMM) Formula 1 needs to be “respectful” of the places it visits, Lewis Hamilton declared ahead of the sport’s highly-anticipated return to Las Vegas. As the paddock prepares for the highly-unique event, F1 owner Liberty Media’s CEO Greg Maffei took the extraordinary step of apologising to the public for a raft of pre-event problems. […]
Sargeant ‘paralysis’ problem solved for Las Vegas
Nov.16 (GMM) Williams hopes a physical problem with Logan Sargeant will be resolved once the American rookie hits the new Las Vegas track late on Thursday. The 22-year-old, whose race seat is the only one on the current Formula 1 grid still unconfirmed for 2024, had to retire from the ultra-hot Qatar GP recently with […]
Alonso-Red Bull rumours might not be wrong – Stuck
Nov.16 (GMM) Suggestions that Red Bull dump Sergio Perez and replace him with a more competitive teammate for Max Verstappen continue to circulate. The dominant Formula 1 team, however, already had a contract extension with the Mexican prior to his mid-season 2023 slump, and top officials have played down the rampant rumours suggesting the deal […]
FIA ‘delighted’ with latest Andretti F1 development
Nov.16 (GMM) Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he’s “delighted” with the latest major development in Andretti-Cadillac’s bid to become the eleventh Formula 1 team. Although the FIA has green-lit the US-based entity’s application to fire up its power units as soon as 2025, Andretti cannot move forward until the highly-reluctant F1 owner Liberty Media approves a […]
Mazepin to return to action on F1 circuits
Nov.16 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is pressing the throttle on his intention to return to Formula 1 as soon as possible – but still faces headwinds in the form of anti-Russian sanctions against him and his backer Uralkali. Now approaching two years since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russian conflict and his expulsion from F1 and the […]
F1 should give Las Vegas GP ‘a chance’ – Marko
Nov.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is reserving his judgement about the success or failure of Formula 1’s unique, billion-dollar Las Vegas adventure. It was Bernie Ecclestone who initially took the sport to the vibrant American gambling capital way back in 1981, but the race itself was a flop – taking place in the […]
‘About time’ Ferrari got team boss right – Stuck
Nov.15 (GMM) Ferrari may still be struggling to return to the very top in Formula 1, but Frederic Vasseur is at least the right team boss to achieve it. That is the view of German motor racing legend and former F1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck, who links the Maranello marque’s title drought since the ultra-successful Jean […]
GM to be works F1 engine supplier by 2028
Nov.15 (GMM) On the eve of the new Las Vegas GP, American carmaker giant General Motors has given Andretti’s chances of entering Formula 1 a massive boost. The involvement of GM brand Cadillac already helped Michael Andretti’s F1 aspirations get the official nod from the governing body FIA for a 2025 entry. However, the door […]
Audi already ‘pretty involved’ with Sauber
Nov.15 (GMM) Audi is already “pretty involved” with Sauber in anticipation of the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker’s entry into Formula 1 in 2026. Although the deal is set in stone and shares of the Swiss-based team have already started to pass into Audi’s hands, rumours top Audi executives would like to hit reverse gear have been […]
Liberty issues public apology for Las Vegas F1 chaos
Nov.14 (GMM) Greg Maffei, the CEO in charge of Formula 1’s owner, has taken the extraordinary step of issuing an apology in the days before Liberty Media’s new blue-riband event. The company, via its ownership of F1 commercial rights entity Formula One Management, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the Las Vegas GP. […]
Horner hits back at claims of ‘radical’ 2024 Red Bull
Nov.14 (GMM) Red Bull is bracing for a “much more intense” battle for the world championships next year, team boss Christian Horner insists. Max Verstappen’s utter dominance this year has been disheartening for his rivals, especially as Red Bull has voluntarily limited development of the 2023 machine throughout the season. And Red Bull was additionally […]
Mercedes off-target for 2024 title push – Surer
Nov.14 (GMM) Toto Wolff powered plenty of raised eyebrows in the Interlagos paddock recently by declaring that it had been Mercedes’ “worst weekend in 13 years”. His extraordinary criticism of his own team’s progress had followed a wave of optimism within the Brackley based team, with a late-season floor development propelling Lewis Hamilton to back-to-back […]
Hulkenberg abandons Haas’ flop ‘B’ car for Vegas
Nov.14 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg will not be at the wheel of Haas’ ‘B’-spec car this weekend in Las Vegas. The German has impressed on his return to Formula 1 this year, but he has actually been critical of his own team’s struggles to up its game with a highly-anticipated major car upgrade that was introduced […]
Piastri admits he’s still behind experienced rivals
Nov.14 (GMM) Oscar Piastri admits he still has some improving to do when it comes to looking after the tyres in Formula 1. The 22-year-old rookie has impressed this year alongside the highly-rated and on-form Lando Norris at McLaren – even beating Max Verstappen in a straight fight in the Qatar sprint race. But over […]
Verstappen tested a Ferrari racer at Mugello – report
Nov.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen got at the wheel of a Ferrari racing car, the Swiss newspaper Blick reports. However, it was not a Formula 1 machine doing laps at Mugello, but instead a Ferrari 296 GT3. The Red Bull driver’s mission? To give a young driver he supports, Thierry Vermeulen, some “good tips”. Vermeulen is […]
Red Bull would be wrong to sack Perez – Massa
Nov.13 (GMM) Red Bull should not be considering ousting Sergio Perez, according to former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa. Despite Mexican Perez’s signed-and-sealed 2024 contract, and the team’s repeated denials that it is considering axing the struggling Mexican, rumours of a potential change over the forthcoming winter period persist. When told by Bloomberg that Perez’s […]