Jan.22 (GMM) Michael Andretti should have bought a Formula 1 team “years ago”, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Despite having a highly successful US-based motor racing empire in many of the world’s top categories, Andretti has been fighting an uphill battle to be welcomed to F1 as the sport’s eleventh team. “My heart […]
Ford already ‘busy’ with Red Bull F1 engine project
Jan.22 (GMM) The CEO of Ford admits the famous carmaker is already working with Red Bull on the 2026 Formula 1 engine. Red Bull and Honda will split after 2025, with the dominant energy drink-owned F1 team instead vowing to compete with its very own power unit – in collaboration with Ford. “Even though we […]
F1 sacking ‘really hurt’ admits Nyck de Vries
Jan.22 (GMM) Nyck de Vries admits having his dream of racing in Formula 1 end just half a season into his debut “hurt”. The 28-year-old Dutchman finally got his chance to race full-time in F1 last year, but Alpha Tauri’s owner Red Bull ousted him for poor performance mid-season – with the returning Daniel Ricciardo […]
Madrid boss admits new F1 race may oust Barcelona
Jan.22 (GMM) The president of the community of Madrid admits it is possible the new grand prix in the Spanish capital could mean the axe of the country’s existing Formula 1 race in Barcelona. Last week, president Isabel Diaz Ayuso hinted that the official announcement of a Madrid GP on a semi-urban circuit is scheduled […]
Two F1 teams with brand new names for 2024
Jan.22 (GMM) Two Formula 1 teams are heading into the 2024 season with completely different official names. Red Bull is yet to confirm the news, but website and Instagram domain leaks suggest that Alpha Tauri’s official new name will be Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Registration of visacashapprb.com and racingbulls.com have both been traced back […]
Ferrari may be ready to challenge Red Bull – Berger
Jan.22 (GMM) Ferrari is the most likely challenger to Red Bull’s dominance in 2024, according to Formula 1 legend Gerhard Berger. Some remember Austrian Berger best for being teammate at McLaren to the great Ayrton Senna. “I used to say that Senna is the best driver of all time,” the now 64-year-old told Kronen Zeitung […]
Rival emerges for Suzuka’s Japanese GP
Jan.22 (GMM) A potential rival host for the annual Japanese GP may have emerged: Osaka. Formula 1’s traditional and highly popular Japanese venue is Honda-owned Suzuka, in the Mie prefecture. But the tourism bureau chief of the Osaka prefecture, Hiroshi Mizohata, said last week after a meeting with city officials and the private Kansai Economic […]
Ferrari-like slump possible for Red Bull – Todt
Jan.22 (GMM) There is a risk Red Bull will enter a Ferrari-like slump this season, Jean Todt has warned. Todt, 77, was most recently president of the FIA, but prior to that he headed Ferrari throughout the ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era. The Frenchman says the Ferrari he headed reminds me of the Red Bull of […]
Kubica fulfils works Ferrari dream in 2024
Jan.22 (GMM) Robert Kubica will finally get his chance to aim for a world championship in a works Ferrari. Prior to the tragic and sudden end of his highly promising Formula 1 career, the now 39-year-old Pole was on course to become Fernando Alonso’s teammate at the Maranello team. Permanent injuries sustained in a rallying […]
Haas’ new boss facing ‘difficult’ task – Popov
Jan.22 (GMM) Ayao Komatsu will find it “difficult” to turn the dire competitive situation at Haas around. That is the view of Alexey Popov, a well-known Russian Formula 1 commentator, in the wake of Gunther Steiner’s sacking by team owner Gene Haas. “Komatsu has always been an engineer at Haas, and now he has taken […]
No F1 for at least ‘the next few years’ – Porsche
Jan.19 (GMM) Porsche will not be in Formula 1 “for the next few years” at least, the VW-owned carmaker’s director of motorsport sales Michael Dreiser insists. Even before sister brand Audi announced its 2026 works deal and takeover with Sauber, Porsche was in highly advanced talks with Red Bull about a similar deal. “The fact […]
Renault open to kick-starting Andretti F1 talks
Jan.19 (GMM) Renault is not ruling out resuming talks with Andretti about helping the hopeful Formula 1 entrant get up and running in Formula 1. Last October, amid rising pressure from Liberty Media and the ten existing teams, Andretti’s hopes of joining the grid dwindled as an early customer engine deal with Renault and Alpine […]
Sainz’s father says 2024 Ferrari ‘must be better’
Jan.19 (GMM) Ferrari’s 2024 car “must be better”, Carlos Sainz’s famous father insists. Carlos Sainz senior, 61, is currently on course to win his fourth Dakar Rally, but comments he has made from the event might be interpreted as “criticism” of Ferrari, according to Italy’s Autosprint. “What I appreciate about Carlos is that he always […]
Russell not at risk of losing F1 seat – Wolff
Jan.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has allayed fears about the rocky patch struck by Mercedes driver George Russell last year. In 2022, Russell’s first season alongside Lewis Hamilton, the 25-year-old looked a match for his seven time world champion teammate. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, however, observed after the 2023 season: “Lewis Hamilton slacked off a […]
Wolff plays down Hamilton’s self-doubts
Jan.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton is still capable of winning an eighth Formula 1 title. “Clearly yes, and I emphasise that strongly,” said the Mercedes boss, following recent reports and opinions questioning the ability of the now 39-year-old to return to top winning form. “There is a reason why Lewis has broken all […]
Singapore GP set to survive corruption scandal
Jan.19 (GMM) Singapore’s Formula 1 event appears set to survive a corruption scandal that last year engulfed the promoter of the popular night race and a high-ranking government minister. Last year, we reported that promoter and billionaire Ong Beng Seng had been implicated in a scandal that has now led to almost 30 corruption charges […]
Ecclestone defends embattled FIA president
Jan.18 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has chimed in with support for the embattled president of Formula 1’s governing body. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who became head of the FIA just prior to the 2022 season, believes he is being “attacked” by unnamed members of the F1 circus. He implies that Liberty Media, the commercial owner of F1, […]
Hamilton ‘slacked off’ in recent years – Ecclestone
Jan.18 (GMM) Mercedes will struggle to return to the very front in Formula 1 this year – and not just because Red Bull is technically superior. That is the view of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who hailed Red Bull’s patience and progress through Mercedes’ dominant years to become the sport’s new force. “They patiently […]
Verstappen learned early to ‘destroy’ teammates
Jan.18 (GMM) One of the secrets of Max Verstappen’s dominant success is that he learned at a very early age to “destroy” his teammate. That is the claim of Graham Watson, who worked closely with the now triple world champion in Verstappen’s rookie F1 campaign at Toro Rosso. “Jos (Verstappen) imprinted on Max that the […]
Haas’ new team boss can handle top F1 job – Petrov
Jan.18 (GMM) Haas’ new team boss Ayao Komatsu can handle the big step up from engineering to running a Formula 1 team. That is the view of Vitaly Petrov, who was race-engineered by the 47-year-old Japanese at Renault in 2011. Komatsu then followed Romain Grosjean to the brand-new Haas team for 2016, and there worked […]