Jun.30 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers may recommend a major change to the qualifying format for shorter circuits like the Red Bull Ring. Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director George Russell on Thursday said it’s a good thing that the FIA has agreed to meet with the drivers this weekend in Austria. “I think it’s important that […]
Ferrari rivals upset about testing ‘cheat’ – reports
Jun.30 (GMM) Some of Ferrari’s Formula 1 rivals are reportedly upset with the Maranello based team. According to Auto Motor und Sport (Germany) and the Swiss newspaper Blick, the unnamed rival teams are unhappy that Ferrari arguably abused the rules to test recent car upgrades. One update was run during Pirelli’s post-Spanish GP tyre test, […]
Contract talks ‘gradually’ beginning now – Leclerc
Jun.30 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has revealed that contract talks with Ferrari are now in their early stages. Team boss Frederic Vasseur said mere days ago that talks with his drivers will not begin until at least later in the summer, because with 18 months to go it would only be a “distraction” now. However, Leclerc […]
Albon plays down Red Bull return rumours
Jun.30 (GMM) Alex Albon has played down wild rumours suggesting he is in the running to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull next year. Last time out in Canada, only Albon’s Williams was fitted with an impressive car upgrade – but it appears as though it was a big step forwards. Team boss James Vowles, […]
Tsunoda in dark over Alpha Tauri name change
Jun.30 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda says he’s in the dark about Alpha Tauri’s impending name change for 2024. Team owner Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko revealed this week that Alpha Tauri will form a closer alliance with the premier team from next year – including new sponsors and a new name. “The results of the last […]
De Vries must improve F1 form ‘now’ – Marko
Jun.30 (GMM) Team owner Red Bull is still “closely” assessing the mediocre form so far of Alpha Tauri rookie Nyck de Vries. It is clear the 28-year-old Dutchman is at risk of losing his race seat, after Dr Helmut Marko admitted Red Bull boss Christian Horner was right about de Vries perhaps not being good […]
Verstappen’s father confirms early Mercedes talks
Jun.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has admitted they once flirted with the idea of signing up with Mercedes instead of Red Bull. When Max was just 16 and turning heads in Formula 3, the teenager and his co-managers – father Jos and Raymond Vermeulen – received an invitation to meet up with Toto Wolff. Wolff, […]
Driver contract talk ‘a distraction’ – Vasseur
Jun.29 (GMM) It’s still too early to be thinking about Ferrari’s driver lineup for 2025. That is the view of new team boss Frederic Vasseur, even though the contracts held by current stars Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz expire at the end of next year. “There are 18 months left before the deadline,” the Frenchman […]
Palou admits eyeing F1 seat for 2024
Jun.29 (GMM) Alex Palou admits he is trying to prove “to Formula 1” that he deserves a shot at the pinnacle of motorsport. Currently, although already connected with McLaren’s F1 team, the 26-year-old is dominating in Indycar – having already won that title for the first time in 2021. According to one of his rivals, […]
Berger admits to ‘talks’ with Ferrari
Jun.29 (GMM) Gerhard Berger admits he had “talks” with Ferrari about helping his former team Ferrari out of its current slump. The F1 legend spent two stints at the Maranello marque in the 80s and 90s, and subsequently went on to lead BMW in Formula 1 and co-own the Toro Rosso team. Most recently he […]
Jordan scoffs at Alpine’s $1bn F1 valuation
Jun.29 (GMM) Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has scoffed at the huge valuation of Renault’s Formula 1 outfit Alpine. It emerged this week that Hollywood actors and investment companies are part of a EUR 200 million, 24 per cent buyout of the Enstone based team. That values Alpine at almost a billion dollars. “I […]
New name, driver for Alpha Tauri in 2024 – Marko
Jun.29 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that Alpha Tauri will have a new name for 2024. It has already been announced that Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team will undergo a full leadership shakeup at the end of the year, with Laurent Mekies (Ferrari) and Peter Bayer (FIA) drafted in to replace Franz Tost. […]
Ricciardo, Perez comments ‘out of context’ – Marko
Jun.29 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says his latest comments about Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez were “taken out of context”. Red Bull’s 80-year-old top official said he will “evaluate” Australian Ricciardo’s form at the post-British GP Pirelli tyre test, adding that the team needs to “keep our options open” about Sergio Perez’s successor. “A lot […]
Hamilton wrong about cockpit position – Allison
Jun.29 (GMM) James Allison has hit back at the notion that a cockpit position tweak could be the key to Lewis Hamilton’s return to winning form. There is no doubt that the latest major upgrade to Mercedes’ 2022 and 2023 ‘no sidepods’ car concept has finally put the team on the right track to chasing […]
Ricciardo a ‘safe bet’ to replace Perez – Berger
Jun.28 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo would be a “safe bet” as Max Verstappen’s next teammate at the dominant Red Bull team, according to F1 legend Gerhard Berger. After abandoning his role as Verstappen’s teammate after the 2018 season, Australian Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career began to nosedive first at Renault and then at McLaren. But after losing […]
Stroll boasts about ‘stagging’ F1 investments
Jun.28 (GMM) Lawrence Stroll says Aston Martin’s performance in Formula 1 is now flowing directly into the coffers. After finishing a long way ahead of the Stroll-owned Silverstone based team in 2022, Alpine’s CEO Laurent Rossi says the step Aston Martin took over the winter was a “reality check”. “It’s true for everything – for […]
Budget cap penalty to have ‘massive’ impact – Wache
Jun.28 (GMM) Although Red Bull’s rivals have taken steps towards the dominant F1 team’s dominance recently, Alex Wurz says Max Verstappen is the clear favourite for the Austrian GP this weekend. “They have a car with good top speed, good downforce in slow corners and little drag on the straights. That’s what’s needed at the […]
Aston Martin leap a ‘reality check’ for Alpine – CEO
Jun.28 (GMM) Alpine’s sale of a EUR 200 million stake in its Renault-owned Formula 1 team could be linked with the realisation of what it takes to step up the grid. The Enstone based outfit is currently in the midst of a 100-race plan to get itself into a front-running position – but Alpine CEO […]
Palou could replace de Vries at Alpha Tauri – report
Jun.28 (GMM) Nyck de Vries appears to still be under mammoth pressure to keep his seat at Alpha Tauri. After a difficult start to the 28-year-old rookie’s first full-time Formula 1 drive this year, team owner Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko indicated that the Dutchman could soon be ousted. He then showed signs of improving […]
Alpha Tauri almost became top Red Bull team – Marko
Jun.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says the team that ultimately became Alpha Tauri was once in the running to be Red Bull’s premier outfit in Formula 1. This weekend’s Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring will be the first held since the death late last year of team founder Dietrich Mateschitz. “We come with […]