Apr.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits he is surprised Mercedes has still not mastered the new-in-2022 ground effect regulations for three consecutive seasons and running. Former F1 driver Christian Danner said recently that he thinks the death of Toto Wolff’s former sparring partner Niki Lauda might explain Mercedes’ ongoing struggles, which have resulted in Lewis […]
Only ‘peace and calm’ will keep Verstappen at Red Bull
Apr.19 (GMM) As long as Red Bull remains “peaceful and calm”, Max Verstappen says he’s going nowhere. For months now, rumours and counter-rumours amid the loud and intense Red Bull leadership power struggle have suggested the triple world champion might find a way out of his 2028 contract. That might go a long way to […]
Audi offering Sainz three-year F1 contract – Marko
Apr.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has continued to divulge the apparent details of Audi’s contract offer to Ferrari refugee Carlos Sainz. Sergio Perez appears headed for a new contract at Red Bull Racing next year, as Red Bull’s top F1 consultant Marko admits that he brings more than just pace to the seat alongside Max […]
Question mark hangs over Stroll’s F1 future
Apr.19 (GMM) A question mark is hanging over Lance Stroll’s future in Formula 1. Aston Martin has just inked a new contract for 2025 and 2026 with Fernando Alonso, but team boss Mike Krack warned in Shanghai that 25-year-old Stroll’s future will only be dealt with “in the coming weeks”. However, he also insisted that […]
Red Bull eyes both McLaren drivers ‘for the future’
Apr.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits Red Bull is keeping an eye on McLaren’s contracted driver duo “for the future”. Heading into Shanghai, McLaren boss Andrea Stella sounded hopeful the team will not only cement its status as the third-fastest team in 2024, but perhaps even win races later this season. “If we deliver the […]
F1 caught by surprise by Shanghai surface ‘paint’
Apr.19 (GMM) The entire world of Formula 1 was caught by surprise when zooming in on the details of Shanghai’s track resurfacing and repair efforts after a four-year absence for the covid pandemic. Before the teams touched down in China, there were reports that the asphalt has been resurfaced – amid other reports that only […]
Mystery of Newey’s visit to Italy now solved
Apr.18 (GMM) The mystery about Adrian Newey’s recent visit to Italy has been solved. Amid swirling rumours surrounding the Red Bull power struggle, the sighting of F1’s most revered designer at Bologna airport – just an hour from Maranello – set tongues wagging. But according to Italy’s Formula Passion, the 65-year-old was not in town […]
Vasseur admits putting Sainz in ‘difficult’ situation
Apr.18 (GMM) Ferrari’s boss admits he put Carlos Sainz in a “difficult situation” this year, but Frederic Vasseur defended the decision to bring Lewis Hamilton into the team for 2025 and beyond. At recent races, Vasseur has been reluctant to speak with the media about the on-form Sainz’s looming departure and the future with seven […]
Marko not ruling out dropping Ricciardo within 2024
Apr.18 (GMM) Carlos Sainz seems more likely to end up in a Audi-owned Sauber next rather than a Red Bull. That’s the news directly from the mouth of Red Bull’s top Austrian F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko, despite admitting the energy drink-owned camp is “talking to him”. “He is having his strongest season in Formula […]
Marko slams reports of Steiner takeover at RB team
Apr.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed the latest rumours linking Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team with a takeover. A specialist news source in Japan reported this week that axed Haas boss Gunther Steiner could be fronting an investor group that is eyeing RB – formerly known as Toro Rosso and Alpha Tauri. But […]
As ‘new Kimi’ tests F1, Raikkonen’s son also on F1 road
Apr.18 (GMM) As a ‘new Kimi’ makes his way to Formula 1, there seems little doubt that a ‘new Raikkonen’ also seems destined for the top category of motor racing. At the Red Bull Ring in Austria this week, Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli – a teenage protege of Toto Wolff who is in the running for […]
Adrian Newey spotted in Italy amid Ferrari rumours
Apr.17 (GMM) Adrian Newey, arguably the most highly coveted designer in Formula 1 history, has been spotted in Italy. Amid the ongoing Red Bull power struggle, Newey – as well as Dr Helmut Marko and even Max Verstappen – have all been linked with the exit door. Recently, just as it was rumoured 65-year-old Newey […]
MotoGP star hails Alonso’s ‘second youth’ in F1
Apr.17 (GMM) Top MotoGP rider and six-time champion Marc Marquez has hit back at the notion that Fernando Alonso should have hung up his helmet. Ferrari’s 26-year-old Charles Leclerc this week declared that although Alonso “deserves his place” on the grid, “there are so many young people who deserve a place” too. “It’s not easy […]
Ferrari refugee Sainz denies suddenly surging in form
Apr.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has hit back at the notion that his form as a driver has drastically improved in 2024, just as Ferrari also ended its habit of getting race strategies badly wrong compared to a year ago. Last year, post-race internet memes constantly poked fun at Ferrari’s often disastrously-botched race strategies. And Sainz, […]
F1 CEO plays down talk of 25-race calendars
Apr.17 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali says Formula 1 has no interest at present in expanding the annual race calendar beyond a bustling 24 grands prix. The sport hit that eye-watering number for the first time ever last year, and the FIA and F1 have now jointly published another 24-race schedule for 2025. In response to the […]
Mercedes move may not happen for Sainz
Apr.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s rumoured move to Mercedes for 2025 may not yet be set in stone. What is for sure is that Toto Wolff’s choice to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next year is yet to be officially announced. It is clear that the team boss and co-owner’s number 1 target is Max Verstappen, […]
Aston Martin already has 2026 F1 ‘head-start’ – report
Apr.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may simply have extended and expanded his existing contract, but it could be a strategic masterstroke according to one specialist report. Auto Motor und Sport pointed out that when the former two-time champion explained his motives for staying with Aston Martin not only in 2025 but also 2026, he used the […]
Schumacher linked with 2025 switch to Indycar
Apr.16 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has emerged as a potential leading candidate to make the leap into Indycar for 2025. The 25-year-old son of Michael Schumacher has yet to write off his goal of returning to Formula 1, currently splitting his time between the world endurance championship with Alpine and his F1 reserve duties at Mercedes. […]
Vergne hails Verstappen’s Formula E backing
Apr.16 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne has hailed Max Verstappen’s attitude towards the all-electric and often-derided motor racing series Formula E. Once positioning itself as a future competitor to Formula 1, Formula E is today filled with top carmakers but still criticised by many for lacking speed. “It’s not a category I would like […]
Porsche waiting for Vettel’s comeback decision
Apr.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has left Porsche waiting for his decision about returning to premier motor racing. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, with a cockpit still to fill for 2025, recently admitted the retired quadruple world champion is currently “flirting” with a comeback. However, Red Bull ruled out a reunion with the 36-year-old German, while the […]