Jan.22 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has added weight to the increasingly viral prediction that Fernando Alonso could be a genuine contender for the 2026 world championship. Speaking at Audi’s Formula 1 presentation in Berlin, the former Ferrari boss – now leading Audi’s F1 project – was asked about Alonso after the Spaniard was voted into the […]
Verstappen future speculation grows amid Mercedes links
Jan.22 (GMM) Speculation over Max Verstappen’s future has flared up again, with renewed talk of Mercedes interest and fresh debate about how open the four-time world champion really is to leaving Red Bull. Rumours persist that Verstappen could trigger a contract exit clause if he is running outside the top two in the standings by […]
Honda admits early 2026 engine struggle possible
Jan.21 (GMM) Honda has openly acknowledged it may start the 2026 Formula 1 season on the back foot, despite high expectations surrounding its new works partnership with Aston Martin and the arrival of Adrian Newey’s first car under the new rules. At the unveiling of its 2026 power unit in Tokyo, senior Honda figures conceded […]
Ferrari delays Hamilton engineer decision
Jan.21 (GMM) Ferrari will not immediately appoint a new race engineer for Lewis Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc’s engineer expected to oversee both cars during next week’s first on-track running of the 2026 machine. Following the reassignment of Riccardo Adami away from the race team, the Scuderia has confirmed that Hamilton’s long-term replacement will be named […]
Binotto urges new engine rules as FIA meeting looms
Jan.21 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has warned that unresolved questions over how Formula 1 measures engine compression ratios could hand rivals a decisive early advantage, on the eve of a crucial FIA meeting with power unit manufacturers. Speaking as Audi unveiled its 2026 livery on Tuesday, the former Ferrari boss – now leading Audi’s F1 project […]
Hulkenberg’s Audi deal includes lucrative points bonus
Jan.21 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg’s new contract with Audi is set to pay off handsomely as the German transitions with the team from Sauber into its full factory era. According to Austria’s Osterreich newspaper, the 38-year-old is earning a reported and modest base salary of around EUR 5 million per season – but that is only […]
Aston Martin exits F1 safety car role
Jan.20 (GMM) Aston Martin will no longer supply Formula 1’s safety and medical cars from 2026, ending a five-year arrangement at a moment when the team itself is ramping up ambitions under the new regulations. From this season, Mercedes will once again be the sole provider of both vehicles, bringing an end to the shared […]
Alonso tipped for 2026 title as Marko eyes Mercedes edge
Jan.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has emerged as an unlikely early favourite for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship, with a growing number of paddock voices pointing to experience – and Mercedes power – as decisive factors under the new rules. Former grand prix winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen raised eyebrows a few days ago when he named […]
Marko rules out F1 return but hints at TV role
Jan.20 (GMM) Helmut Marko says his time in an official Formula 1 role is over for good, despite what he describes as ongoing interest following his departure from Red Bull. Speaking to ORF, the long-time Red Bull powerbroker dismissed persistent rumours linking him to a return elsewhere in the paddock. “Yes, it’s absolutely out of […]
Verstappen future clouds Ford debut as Merc links intensify
Jan.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s long-term future is again under scrutiny just days before the first group test of the 2026 cars, with fresh reports suggesting his Red Bull contract could open the door to a departure as early as 2027. According to Sport Bild, a performance clause negotiated by the now-departed Dr Helmut Marko would […]
Sutil-linked firm insolvent, ex-F1 driver still in custody
Jan.19 (GMM) The legal and financial troubles surrounding former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil have deepened, with a luxury car company closely linked to him now declared insolvent. According to WirtschaftsWoche, Munich-area firm DS Motoren GmbH has filed for insolvency following Sutil’s arrest late last year. The 42-year-old former F1 racer has been in pre-trial […]
Red Bull plays down pre-test engine row ‘noise’
Jan.19 (GMM) Red Bull Powertrains-Ford technical director Ben Hodgkinson says the growing pre-season focus on alleged engine loopholes is being driven more by rivals’ “nervousness” than substance, as Formula 1 edges closer to its first full 2026 group test. With the FIA due to meet engine manufacturers this week, Mercedes and Red Bull remain under […]
Ford, Cadillac clash as US rivalry ignites early
Jan.19 (GMM) Formula 1’s expanding American footprint is already producing sparks, with Ford and Cadillac trading pointed words over who is really doing the hard work behind their respective 2026 projects. Cadillac, backed by General Motors, will join the grid this year and has already completed an initial shakedown of its 2026 car at Silverstone. […]
Ferrari removes Hamilton engineer as ‘disaster’ looms
Jan.19 (GMM) Ferrari has ended the strained relationship between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami, confirming the Italian has been moved out of a trackside role ahead of the crucial 2026 reset. In a statement, Scuderia Ferrari announced that Adami will take up a “new role” within the Ferrari Driver Academy. “His extensive […]
Wolff ends Mercedes side projects amid title drought
Jan.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes is shutting down its diversification experiments and returning to a single-minded focus on Formula 1, as the team prepares for a decisive reset under the 2026 regulations. Speaking to Forbes, the Mercedes boss confirmed that ventures beyond F1 – including involvement in the America’s Cup and technology consulting – […]
Dunne explains McLaren exit amid Red Bull intrigue
Jan.12 (GMM) Alex Dunne has played down speculation surrounding his shock decision to leave McLaren’s driver development program last year, insisting the move was a calculated step toward his ultimate goal of reaching Formula 1. The Irishman’s mid-season exit in October raised eyebrows across the paddock, coming after a breakout rookie Formula 2 campaign with […]
Wittich ‘still doesn’t know’ why FIA sacked him
Jan.12 (GMM) Former Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich says he was dismissed by the FIA without explanation, describing his sudden removal as “the disappointing truth” of how senior officials are treated under the governing body’s leadership. Speaking to DPA news agency, Wittich recounted being summoned to Geneva during a race-free window late in the […]
Rovanpera’s early deficit ‘not surprising’
Jan.12 (GMM) Kalle Rovanpera’s first full race weekend in formula cars ended abruptly in New Zealand, but senior figures close to the Finnish star are playing down suggestions of early trouble. Rovanpera’s Oceanian Formula Regional weekend at Hampton Downs concluded with a first-lap retirement on Sunday after contact in a multi-car incident, sending his Hitech-run […]
FIA sets January 22 meeting as engine tensions rise
Jan.12 (GMM) The FIA has confirmed a January 22 technical meeting with Formula 1 engine manufacturers amid growing unease over the interpretation of the new 2026 power unit regulations. Controversy has been building around a Mercedes concept that rivals believe delivers a real-world advantage while remaining technically legal under current measurement methods. The focus is […]
Million-euro super licence bills await F1’s top drivers
Jan.12 (GMM) The FIA’s super licence fees for 2026 are pushing the sport’s biggest names past the million-euro mark. Every F1 driver must renew a super licence annually, and the cost is tied directly to World Championship points scored the previous season. The structure is simple but brutal – a base fee of EUR 11,842, […]