Feb.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he remembers the great Michael Schumacher as a “tough guy” who was “very cold” as they sparred for the world championships almost two decades ago. Alonso, then in his early 20s, broke Schumacher’s impressive run of drivers’ titles in 2005 and 2006 – and he said he had prepared for […]
Even Batman may not win in a 2025 Ferrari – Briatore
Feb.2 (GMM) Many of the most well-known names in the Formula 1 paddock are already chewing over Lewis Hamilton’s shock decision to scrap his Mercedes deal for 2025 in order to move to Ferrari. “I’m very surprised,” said former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, “but he must have his reasons. “The only thing I can say […]
Hamilton ‘turns F1 world upside down’ with Ferrari switch
Feb.2 (GMM) The Formula 1 media is in a spin as the pre-season ‘silly season’ goes into overdrive, with Lewis Hamilton sensationally switching to Ferrari for 2025. The seven time world champion only signed a new two-year Mercedes contract at the end of last August – but the Toto Wolff-led team now admits it featured […]
Backer denies talks to revive Malaysian GP
Feb.1 (GMM) A proposed backer has poured cold water on new reports that Malaysia could soon be back on the Formula 1 calendar. Sepang, located close to Kuala Lumpur, hosted the sport between 1999 and 2017, eventually opting to bow out after the Malaysian sports minister declared the “cost too high”. There were rumours of […]
MotoGP not ruling out Madrid for joint F1 race weekend
Feb.1 (GMM) Formula 1 and MotoGP, the top global motor racing categories on four and two wheels respectively, are inching towards a sensational joint race weekend. Long time MotoGP supremo Carmelo Ezpeleta, 78, has been dropping hints about the idea for months, with the new 2026 F1 venue in Madrid seen as a possible host […]
2025 Aston Martin contract very likely, Alonso hints
Feb.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has dropped a clear hint that he intends to negotiate a new contract with Aston Martin to keep him in Formula 1 beyond this year. After returning to the sport from a sabbatical with Alpine in 2021 and 2022, the 42-year-old two-time champion switched to Aston Martin last year. The last […]
Mercedes must end ‘continuous’ weakness in 2024
Feb.1 (GMM) Mercedes has arrived at a critical moment in its Formula 1 history, according to former grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher. Overall, the German says it’s obvious to him that Red Bull remains the favourite to stay clear of every rival in 2024 – with even greater dominance not even ruled out. “I think […]
Mick Schumacher keeps eye on ‘active’ F1 driver market
Feb.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher sees signs ahead that his Formula 1 career is not yet over. Since losing his Haas race seat for poor performance at the end of 2022, the 24-year-old has had to settle for the reserve role at Mercedes. This year, though, he will return to racing for Alpine in the Le […]
F1 insiders slam rejection of Andretti-Cadillac
Feb.1 (GMM) Two prominent Formula 1 insiders have criticised the decision to slam the door shut to Andretti-Cadillac. Although former McLaren driver Michael Andretti’s US-based motor racing empire was welcomed by the governing FIA, commercial rights holder Liberty Media has finally now issued a resounding “No” – at least for now. In a statement, F1 […]
Promoter must pay more to save Belgian GP – report
Jan.31 (GMM) Promoters of the fabled Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps may need to pay a lot more to extend its Formula 1 race deal beyond 2025. Late last year, the immediate dark cloud of uncertainty over the race’s future was lifted when Spa Grand Prix, the promoter, managed to sign a mere one-year extension to […]
How Verstappen helps DTM team get ‘faster’
Jan.31 (GMM) The boss of a DTM team says it was “extremely fascinating” to get a close-up look at the working methods of Formula 1-dominator Max Verstappen. Via his marketing company Verstappen.com, triple world champion Verstappen sponsors his friend Thierry Vermeulen in GT and DTM – the 21-year-old son of his manager Raymond. And recently, […]
Sainz’s Ferrari contract talks ‘complicated’
Jan.31 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s negotiations with Ferrari over a new deal beyond 2024 “have become complicated”. That is the claim of the authoritative Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, which hints that the Spaniard could depart Maranello at the end of the year. The latest news comes after Ferrari inked a new, long and lucrative new […]
Ex-Alpha Tauri team still ‘independent’ of Red Bull
Jan.31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists that the Red Bull-owned Formula 1 team formerly known as Alpha Tauri and Toro Rosso remains “independent” of Red Bull Racing. Now with the clunky new official name Visa Cash App RB, the Italy-based team has been causing a stir recently as it moves certain operations to the UK […]
Cold water thrown on Chicago GP rumours
Jan.30 (GMM) A Chicago politician has thrown cold water on excited speculation about the potential for a fourth Formula 1 race in America. Media outlets have noticed that F1’s owner, Liberty Media, has trademarked several names recently, including ‘Formula 1 Chicago Grand Prix’. Last year, Nascar raced for the first time on the new Chicago […]
Madrid GP could be ‘disaster’ like Valencia – economist
Jan.30 (GMM) A highly-respected Spanish economist has put a dark cloud above the optimistic financial predictions made by organisers of the newly-announced Madrid GP. It is widely believed that, as it committed to the calendar for 2026 through 2035, the Madrid GP will pay an annual fee to Formula 1 of about EUR 60 million. […]
F1 owner is world’s richest sports empire
Jan.30 (GMM) The company that controls Formula 1’s commercial rights is the most valuable sports empire on earth. That is the finding of the renowned business magazine Forbes, who despite a year-on-year value drop of 12 percent for Liberty Media nonetheless list F1’s American owners at being worth a staggering $18 billion. Alongside many other […]
All signs point at another Verstappen title – Berger
Jan.30 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks every sign is pointing towards a fourth-consecutive world championship triumph for Red Bull and Max Verstappen in 2024. The former driver, who has also held prominent roles at BMW, Toro Rosso and in charge of DTM, is now fully retired from the motor racing scene. Berger, 64, hopes […]
F1 teams in full swing as launch season looms
Jan.30 (GMM) As car launch and winter testing season now looms, Formula 1 teams are in full swing to prepare for the 2024 world championship. Alpine intends to reveal its new car in just over a week, but nervousness may be high at the Renault-linked team as it emerges the 2024 machine has failed its […]
Button bemused by F1 team’s ‘ridiculous’ rebrand
Jan.29 (GMM) Red Bull has already benefitted from its “ridiculous” new name for the Formula 1 team formerly known as Alpha Tauri. That is the view not only of a respected F1 journalist, but also 2009 world champion Jenson Button – whose job as a part-time pundit for British broadcaster Sky means he will have […]
2024 Ferrari feels ‘better’ in simulator – Marc Gene
Jan.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s new car for 2024 gives “better feelings” to the drivers, long-time test driver Marc Gene has revealed. Red Bull utterly dominated the 2023 season, but Toto Wolff is making similarly hopeful sounds about Mercedes’ new challenger, revealing simulation driver Anthony Davidson reports it “feels like a car for the first time in […]