Nov.7 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has predicted one of the next moves in Formula 1 – a culling of several grands prix. Next year, the calendar will swell to an unprecedented 24 grands prix. In contrast, when Ecclestone was ousted as F1 CEO by new owners Liberty Media, he left behind a 20-race schedule. And the […]
Drivers not oblivious to global unrest – Russell
Nov.7 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers are not oblivious to the precarious global situation, George Russell insists. While a major exception was the social justice movement of a few years ago and even covid-19 and the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the drivers have been largely quiet about more recent global goings-on – like the new […]
Gene Haas should sell dead-last F1 team – Schumacher
Nov.7 (GMM) Gene Haas should think about selling his small Formula 1 team, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Haas gave experienced German Nico Hulkenberg his return to the sport this year, and he has impressed. But after Brazil, the third outing for the team’s highly-anticipated ‘B’ car, the 36-year-old admitted Haas may well […]
Pundits deny Perez was impressive in Brazil
Nov.7 (GMM) Two former F1 drivers remain lukewarm about Sergio Perez’s suitability to stay at Red Bull for his 2024 contract. The team extended the Mexican’s contract to remain dominant world champion Max Verstappen’s teammate last year, taking him through to the end of 2024. Since then, however, speculation about Red Bull potentially scrapping the […]
Not betting on Vegas: F1 stars lukewarm on newest GP
Nov.7 (GMM) Formula 1’s next and penultimate stop on its long 2023 calendar is the new Las Vegas GP – but is world champion Max Verstappen looking forward to it? “A lot colder,” the Dutchman smiled when asked about the sport’s new blue-riband event that even speeds down the iconic ‘strip’. “Street circuit, new for […]
Massa hit reverse gear on Brazil GP absence
Nov.6 (GMM) Retired Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa ultimately scrapped his decision to steer clear of his home Brazilian GP. Amid his threatened legal action against the sport and the governing FIA over the ‘crashgate’ scandal in a bid to be retrospectively crowned the 2008 world champion, F1 asked the Brazilian to temporarily hang up […]
Domenicali ‘open’ to weekend format tweaks for 2024
Nov.6 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admits that significant tweaks to the ‘sprint’ weekend format are likely to be made for 2024. The topic of format tweaks, potential reverse grids, sprint race prize money, a separate sprint championship and many other floated proposals will be considered by the Formula 1 Commission at its forthcoming Abu […]
Haas could be dead last again in 2024, Hulkenberg warns
Nov.6 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is not far away from agreeing with critics of the Haas team that the small American team’s ‘B-spec’ upgrade is a total flop. The experienced German, who returned to Formula 1 this year to be arguably the stronger of the Haas duo, has been forthright in his own criticism of the […]
Norris issues coy ‘no comment’ to Red Bull question
Nov.6 (GMM) Lando Norris gave an interesting answer to a straightforward question about his future in Formula 1. The McLaren driver was already regarded as one of the most impressive young drivers behind Max Verstappen, but given Mercedes and Ferrari’s struggle for pace lately, Norris is also quite literally Verstappen’s closest rival at present. In […]
Perez now emerging from performance slump – Marko
Nov.6 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is relieved that Sergio Perez seems to finally be getting back in top form. Team bosses have been at pains to deny raging speculation that Red Bull intends to oust the Mexican despite his 2024 contract, but there is no doubt Perez has been struggling for form. Marko, though, admits […]
Ferrari reserve filling in for sick F1 mechanics
Nov.5 (GMM) A new and unusual ‘mechanic’ could be on pitstop duty for Ferrari in Brazil. According to the French broadcaster Canal Plus, several red-clad mechanics have fallen ill in Brazil, triggering an unusual shortage of team members. So serious is the shortage that reserve driver Robert Shwartzman has been lending his assistance to fill […]
Sauber denies Audi doing F1 decision U-turn
Nov.5 (GMM) Sauber has finally issued a clear denial of swirling rumours suggesting Audi is about to perform a U-turn on its decision to enter Formula 1. The VW-owned German carmaker has already bought 25 percent of the Swiss team, with a further 50 percent share set to also change hands by the time a […]
Race engineer would quit Red Bull without Verstappen
Nov.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s high-profile race engineer hopes to keep working with him all the way to the end of the Dutchman’s Red Bull contract in 2028. Team advisor Dr Helmut Marko recently described Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase – otherwise known as ‘GP’ – as an “old married couple”, given how often they gripe and […]
’24 Red Bull return would be ‘fairytale’ – Ricciardo
Nov.5 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits it’s his “dream” to be told by his Red Bull bosses that he’s returning to the premier team for 2024. Those Red Bull bosses have insisted numerous times in past days, weeks and months that they will honour Sergio Perez’s contract for next year, despite his performance slump. But world […]
Marko admits sudden Mercedes slump ‘surprising’
Nov.5 (GMM) A recent surge in performance by Mercedes looks to have collapsed in Brazil. After Lewis Hamilton’s run of back-to-back second placed finishes with a new floor, hopes were high that the former champions might finally be closing the big gap to Red Bull. Heading into the weekend at Interlagos, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut […]
Haas threatens huge shake-up of US GP race results
Nov.5 (GMM) Haas is bidding to totally shake up the results of the recent US GP in Austin – amid a frantic battle for millions in official F1 prize money. At Interlagos, the small American team is still struggling badly with the performance of its new ‘B’ car – which made its debut in Austin. […]
Wolff ponders buying into Manchester United
Nov.4 (GMM) There’s a football flavour at Interlagos this weekend – with well-known former player Adriano wearing his old Inter Milan team shirt in the Ferrari garage. At the same time, Mercedes boss and one-third team co-owner Toto Wolff is now revealing that he is eyeing a stake in Manchester United. Another one-third of the […]
Liberty taking ‘time to analyse’ Andretti entry
Nov.4 (GMM) Andretti’s entry into Formula “would be good for the sport”. That is the claim not only of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, but also the Paris-based federation’s new-in-2022 CEO, Natalie Robyn. F1’s governing body has actually approved the Andretti-Cadillac bid, but it is now in the hands of the much-less-keen commercial rights holder […]
New wild rumour: F1 rival tries to poach Marko
Nov.4 (GMM) The rumours just keep on coming as the tail end of the 2023 Formula 1 season approaches. Fernando Alonso warned in Brazil that there would be “consequences” for those who dreamed up the lie about his potential retirement or 2024 switch to Red Bull. Spanish journalist Albert Fabrega has now apologised. “I want […]
Williams drops big hint about Sargeant future
Nov.4 (GMM) Williams has issued the clearest sign yet that Logan Sargeant will be offered a contract extension for 2024. It’s the final official vacancy on next year’s grid, with team boss James Vowles insisting Williams supports the rookie American but needs to see steady progress to the end of the season. Sargeant, whose crash […]