Jan.25 (GMM) Mercedes, the once-dominant Formula 1 team, is at a “crossroads” according to former two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen. The Finn, now 55, admits that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are heading into the new season as the overwhelming favourites for a fourth consecutive triumph – although he admits he has “hope”. “The history […]
F1 media mocks Alpha Tauri’s ‘horrible’ new team name
Jan.25 (GMM) Fans and journalists have reacted with horror and amusement as the new official name for Red Bull’s Alpha Tauri team was confirmed on Wednesday. It had been rumoured that the arrival of sponsors Visa and Cash App would be combined with the ‘Racing Bulls’ moniker – perhaps shortened to ‘RB’. But although racingbulls.com […]
F1 upgrade works in Hungary ‘in full swing’
Jan.24 (GMM) The Hungaroring is making good on its promise to upgrade the almost 40-year-old Formula 1 circuit in order to secure Hungary’s place on the calendar. Early last year, with the existing contract set to run out in 2027, track boss Zsolt Gyulay admitted that the circuit facilities “no longer meet the requirements of […]
Schumacher recommends ex-F1 name for top Haas role
Jan.24 (GMM) Out-of-work F1 team boss Otmar Szafnauer would make a good addition to the embattled Haas team. That is the view of Ralf Schumacher, who was a fierce critic of the way the newly-sacked Gunther Steiner ran Haas – especially his handling of Mick Schumacher’s stint at the team. However, Schumacher thinks the popular […]
Joint F1-MotoGP race weekend idea still alive
Jan.24 (GMM) Formula 1 and MotoGP are still open to the sensational idea of staging a joint round of their respective world championships. Last year, MotoGP’s long-time boss Carmelo Ezpeleta caused a stir when he said he had spoken to his F1 counterpart Stefano Domenicali about organising “an F1 and motorcycling championship (round) on the […]
Barcelona willing to spend more to save F1 race
Jan.24 (GMM) Barcelona’s city council is open to spending more money if it rescues the embattled Spanish GP. As was predicted, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on Tuesday was in the Spanish capital to announce a ten-year deal for an annual Formula 1 race in the city of Madrid. The deal starts in 2026 – the […]
Father urges Sainz to consider Audi F1 switch
Jan.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s famous father says he will sit down with the Ferrari driver to discuss the benefits of potentially joining the Audi family. Sainz, 29, was at the finish line on the final stage of the Dakar rally last weekend, where his father and namesake won the event for the fourth time. 61-year-old […]
Madrid GP not death knell for Barcelona – president
Jan.23 (GMM) Barcelona is determined to stay on the Formula 1 calendar, even if a second grand prix in Spain is set to be imminently announced for Madrid. Photos of the stage for the announcement of a Madrid GP are now circulating online ahead of Tuesday’s event, which will be attended by F1 CEO Stefano […]
Albers tips Lawson for shock 2024 F1 seat
Jan.23 (GMM) Liam Lawson should have been promoted to a full-time Formula 1 seat for 2024, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. Last year, Red Bull junior Lawson got his big chance when he was called up to replace the injured Daniel Ricciardo at Alpha Tauri. Team owner Red Bull, however, chose to keep […]
Palou had no interest in McLaren F1 reserve role
Jan.23 (GMM) Alex Palou says he pulled the pin on his move to McLaren because he had no interest sitting on the reserve bench in Formula 1. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who has won two of the last three Indycar championships, is still embroiled in legal action after reneging on a deal to switch from Chip […]
Haas’ new boss admits 2024 car likely to be slowest
Jan.23 (GMM) Haas’ new boss says he wants to pull the struggling American team off the bottom of the constructors’ world championship this year. Team owner Gene Haas shocked the Formula 1 world recently after deciding to sack the popular long-time team principal Gunther Steiner, declaring that finishing dead last in 2023 was “embarrassing”. The […]
Andretti should have bought F1 team ‘years ago’
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 […]