Apr.26 (GMM) Charges of sexism against FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem are ramping up. The controversial new head of Formula 1’s governing body has taken a conspicuously lower profile since quotes emerged of him declaring in 2001 that men are “smarter” than women. The saga hit a high gear when interim FIA secretary general Shaila-Ann […]
Second qualifying will be ‘more fun’ – Magnussen
Apr.26 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen thinks Formula 1 drivers will have “more fun” with two qualifying sessions this weekend at Baku. The F1 Commission met in Geneva on Tuesday where the teams voted unanimously to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s proposal to give the sprint race this weekend at Baku – and beyond – its own separate […]
Rivals didn’t ‘steal’ Red Bull sponsors – Horner
Apr.25 (GMM) Christian Horner has played down suggestions Red Bull’s rivals tried to “steal” Formula 1 sponsors over the budget cap breach drama of last year. Red Bull was fined $7 million and lost 10 percent of its wind tunnel time this year after being found by the FIA to have slightly overspent in 2021. […]
F1 to thrive even if Verstappen quits – Schumacher
Apr.25 (GMM) Formula 1 would continue to thrive even if Max Verstappen decides to quit at the age of 31. Recently, the reigning back-to-back world champion admitted he was no fan of new initiatives to spice up the ‘show’ – like the second qualifying session for the sprint weekend format that will debut at Baku. […]
Las Vegas to supercharge F1 sponsorship – Maffei
Apr.25 (GMM) Las Vegas will supercharge Formula 1’s quest for sponsorships, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei suggests. The inaugural modern Las Vegas GP that will see the cars race down the fabled ‘Strip’ is scheduled for mid November – and is attracting unprecedented ticket prices for a highly unique 10pm Saturday race time. “I think […]
Marko plays down latest Red Bull rumours
Apr.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down the latest wild rumours about Red Bull’s involvement in Formula 1. Although the premier team Red Bull Racing is dominating the sport at present, Marko is said to be an odds with the successor of his friend and the energy drink company’s late co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Rumours […]
Mazepin takes F1 legal fight to Canada
Apr.24 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is taking his fight for the right to return to Formula 1 to Canada. Recently, having been ousted by Haas and then restricted by the FIA at the outset of the Ukraine conflict, the Russian driver took his case to Europe’s court of justice – and won. The court said Mazepin, […]
Liberty CEO says F1 owner not selling
Apr.24 (GMM) Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has confirmed the company has no intention of selling Formula 1. Earlier, amid recent speculation Saudi Arabia was eyeing the sport’s commercial rights for an incredible $20 billion, the Saudi sports minister insisted he had only read about it “on the news”. “I consider that to be mere […]
Leclerc could escape Ferrari contract – Marko
Apr.24 (GMM) Charles Leclerc could probably get out of his Ferrari contract ahead of time if he really wants to. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who slammed wild online speculation in recent days suggesting Leclerc’s current teammate Carlos Sainz is being coveted by Audi. “More or less anyone can put […]
Zhou ‘on par’ with Bottas in 2023
Apr.24 (GMM) Guanyu Zhou, Formula 1’s only Chinese driver, is now “on par” with his highly experienced race-winning teammate Valtteri Bottas. That is the view of Alfa Romeo’s engineering chief Xevi Pujolar, following a notably lacklustre start to 2023 for both Finn Bottas and the Swiss F1 team. “In 2022, Bottas was still Zhou’s teacher,” […]
Power cuts could red-flag Monaco GP
Apr.24 (GMM) A cloud has moved above this year’s running of the fabled Monaco GP. Amid highly intense anti-Emmanuel Macron protests throughout France, the major energy sector union Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT) is warning that power supplied to major sporting events may be disrupted by strikes. According to RMC Sport and other sources, the […]
Allison returns to top Mercedes role
Apr.24 (GMM) Just two weeks after denying the rumours, James Allison is indeed returning to a highly-prominent role at Mercedes. Earlier in April, team boss Toto Wolff denied speculation the team was losing faith in Mike Elliot and may reinstate Allison as the full-time technical director. Late in 2021, Allison took on a new role […]
Qualifying tweak set for Baku sprint race
Apr.21 (GMM) The proposed tweaks to the ‘sprint race’ format are set to be set in stone ahead of the first such weekend of 2023 in Azerbaijan next weekend. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali wants to spice up the format by deleting a practice session so that there are separate qualifying sessions for both the sprint […]
Sainz denies Audi rumours
Apr.21 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has angrily rejected claims he is Audi’s number 1 driver pick for 2026. The claim was made this week by the veteran Formula 1 journalist Roger Benoit, writing in the Swiss newspaper Blick. “The first serious rumour emerges from Spain,” Benoit said. “Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is said to be at […]
Schumacher family to sue over ‘fake’ interview
Apr.21 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s family has confirmed it will take legal action against a German gossip magazine. In its latest edition, weekly women’s magazine Die Aktuelle published a fake interview purported to be with Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. Schumacher has not been seen or heard from publicly since his late 2013 skiing accident in […]
Michelin not interested in ‘show’-focused F1
Apr.20 (GMM) Michelin has ruled out bidding to succeed Pirelli as Formula 1’s sole tyre supplier. Pirelli – the sport’s sole supplier since 2011 – has the exclusive contract until 2024, but the governing FIA has just launched the next tender to cover 2025, 2026, 2027 and possibly 2028. “Obviously the decision is not in […]
French GP race rotation ‘on the table’ – Alesi
Apr.20 (GMM) Renewed rumours about two circuits alternating single annual calendar spots in Formula 1 are giving hope to axed French GP host Paul Ricard. As the sport’s calendar aggressively expanded, some traditional hosts including France and Germany were priced out of the market. Former race host Hockenheim is now hopeful that talks with F1 […]
Verstappen also regarded as ‘impolite’ – Alonso
Apr.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen could be set to match Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton’s joint all-time record for the number of Formula 1 drivers’ titles. That is the view of Fernando Alonso, a two-time champion who at 41 is widely regarded as having had similar potential to run away with many more championships. Now, as […]
Marko admits key mistake over Hamilton future
Apr.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits he made a fundamental mistake by advising Mercedes to sign Lewis Hamilton in late 2012. The 79-year-old, a top official at Red Bull, told Sport Bild magazine that he gave his fellow Austrian Niki Lauda key information about Hamilton’s McLaren contract at a key moment in the now seven […]
Vowles banned from poaching Mercedes staff
Apr.20 (GMM) James Vowles says he was prohibited from taking Mercedes personnel with him to Williams. Mercedes’ former strategy boss succeeded the ousted Jost Capito to become Williams’ new team principal this year. He says the struggling former champions began to decline some years ago because the team was merely fighting to survive from one […]