Oct.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has warned Aston Martin that it risks following Mercedes into trouble with Formula 1’s new-in-2022 ground effect technical rules. The team started the year notably strongly, with Fernando Alonso collecting a series of early podiums. McLaren’s Lando Norris, however, observed in Austin that recent upgrades have left Aston Martin “slower […]
Verstappen feels ‘safe’ with Mexico GP bodyguards
Oct.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen entered the Mexico GP paddock on Thursday flanked by two large bodyguards. That is despite the fact that, following a backlash from the drivers a year ago, the organisers have severely limited the number of people with paddock passes for 2023. “For me, it’s easier now and I like it,” said […]
Mercedes must speed up pitstop times – Wolff
Oct.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes needs to hit the throttle on improving in-race pitstops. Last time out in Austin, Lewis Hamilton hailed the step forward delivered by the team’s new floor – but said Mercedes needs to improve “in other areas too – like pitstops”. Recently, in Qatar, the ever-improving McLaren team broke the […]
Red Bull hires bodyguards for Verstappen in Mexico
Oct.26 (GMM) Sergio Perez has urged his native fans to also support Max Verstappen this weekend in Mexico. Last weekend, across the border in Austin, spectators mercilessly booed Verstappen amid a tumultuous season and uncertain future at Red Bull for Perez. “The support in Austin was crazy,” he admitted. “So I can’t even imagine what […]
Hulkenberg admits top team dream ‘never worked out’
Oct.26 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg admits he will probably never fulfil his mission of winning a world championship with a top Formula 1 team. The 36-year-old German returned to the grid this year with Haas after a forced break, having always raced with other middling teams including Williams, Force India, Sauber and Renault. He is being […]
Haas not giving up on B-car ‘flop’
Oct.26 (GMM) Haas is not giving up on its newly-launched ‘B’ 2023 car, despite some publications branding it a “flop” after its disappointing debut in Austin. The small American team did not hide its disappointment with the new Red Bull-like aerodynamic concept last weekend, which according to team boss Gunther Steiner was “the biggest upgrade […]
FIA CEO says Audi a ‘prestigious brand’ for F1
Oct.26 (GMM) Audi appears to still be on the road to Formula 1. In recent days, rumours have swirled that the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker, having pledged to take over Sauber and enter F1 in 2026, may be either pulling out of the deal or handing over to Porsche. But in a clear sign that things […]
Leclerc signs with famous Hollywood talent agency
Oct.26 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has signed up with a well-known Hollywood talent agency. Corriere della Sera newspaper in Italy claims the Ferrari driver has joined the ranks of WME – which similarly represents Rihanna, Matt Damon, Danzel Washington, and even Meghan Markle and many others. Leclerc, whose Ferrari contract runs out next year, will be […]
Personal ‘attacks’ all about Andretti – FIA boss
Oct.26 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has opened up on the attacks on him from inside Formula 1 earlier this year. It is well known that he is currently at odds with the sport’s owner Liberty Media over the green-lit Andretti-Cadillac, and it emerged this week that F1 may even be trying to woo […]
Sargeant confident of 2024 seat at Williams
Oct.26 (GMM) Logan Sargeant seems increasingly confident about keeping his Williams race seat for a second season in Formula 1. In recent weeks and months, there has been speculation the famously-named, Dorilton-owned team was shopping around to replace its struggling American rookie. Bild newspaper believes Sargeant, 22, is the most expensive driver on the grid […]
F1 wants Cadillac to switch to another team – sources
Oct.25 (GMM) Formula 1 is going behind Andretti’s back to snatch away the support of General Motors – the second-biggest carmaker in the critical American market. That is the claim of Jenna Fryer, a long-time sports writer for the American news agency Associated Press. It comes after the FIA recently green-lit Andretti’s application to race […]
Red Bull expecting loud booing in Mexico
Oct.25 (GMM) Red Bull’s F1 bosses say they are not worried about booed by angry Mexican fans this weekend. In Austin on Sunday, new triple world champion Max Verstappen was loudly booed by the US GP crowd. “In the end, I’m the one that goes home with the trophy, so fine by me,” the Dutchman […]
Red Bull set to cull F1 junior driver program
Oct.25 (GMM) Red Bull is taking the axe to much of its famous and notorious young driver development program. Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen, and many other current and former F1 drivers were powered onto the grid by Red Bull’s junior program. This year, […]
Axed F1 driver says Europe ignoring court rulings
Oct.25 (GMM) European countries are ignoring a court ruling allowing Nikita Mazepin to resume his international racing career, the Russian driver claims. Mazepin and his sponsor Uralkali were sacked by Haas at the onset of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in early 2022, but subsequent western sanctions even locked him out of Europe and other countries altogether. […]
Spotlight on FIA after Hamilton’s illegal floor
Oct.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s US GP disqualification has tongues wagging about whether changes in car legality policing needs to be improved in Formula 1. “Ride height is so crucial for these ground effect cars that you can’t really afford any gaps in control,” Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt said. It was almost four hours […]
Dental problem for Leclerc amid F1 triple-header
Oct.24 (GMM) Charles Leclerc suffered through a literally painful race weekend at the US GP. The Ferrari driver was upset about another botched race strategy on Sunday, he also complained about being on the wrong end of a team order to let teammate Carlos Sainz past, and then he was disqualified for a worn ‘plank’. […]
Verstappen ‘grumpy’ all weekend in Austin – Marko
Oct.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen was “grumpy” throughout the US GP weekend, Red Bull’s team consultant Dr Helmut Marko has admitted. With the drivers’ and constructors’ titles all wrapped up with several races to run, Dutchman Verstappen lost pole position on Friday with a track limits violation. He then spun in the ‘sprint shootout’ before cruising […]
Aston Martin denies Austin upgrade was a flop
Oct.24 (GMM) Aston Martin has played down suggestions the team is now consistently going backwards despite constant efforts to add developments to the 2023 car. To address a mid-season slump following Fernando Alonso’s early string of podiums this season, another serious upgrade was added to the car in Austin – where Aston Martin had a […]
Mercedes still needs ‘completely’ new 2024 car – Wolff
Oct.24 (GMM) Mercedes will not divert from its intention to build a completely different Formula 1 car for 2024, team boss Toto Wolff insists. In Austin, Lewis Hamilton – buoyed by a new, 2024-style floor – only needed a few more laps to be able to beat Red Bull’s dominant Max Verstappen to victory. He […]
Dutch GP set for new annual F1 deal – report
Oct.23 (GMM) Zandvoort looks set to secure its place on the Formula 1 calendar after the current Dutch GP deal runs out at the end of 2025. Although the race is now one of the most exciting and popular, due in part to the old-school layout and Max Verstappen’s success and popularity, there have been […]