May 18 (GMM) Formula 1’s 23-race calendar is “insane”, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Actually, this year’s schedule was originally supposed to be 24 grands prix – but due to China’s handling of the covid situation, the Shanghai round was once again cancelled. Now, the calendar has shrunk again to 22 races […]
‘Obvious’ Verstappen will win third title – Schumacher
May 18 (GMM) It is “obvious” that Max Verstappen will win a third consecutive drivers’ world championship in 2023. That is the view of former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who thinks the foundation of 25-year-old Verstappen’s current dominance was laid when he was a child. “Upbringing plays a big role,” the German told ran.de. […]
Axed Imola GP ’99pc’ likely for 2026 re-run
May 18 (GMM) It is “99 percent” certain that the newly-cancelled Imola GP will not be rescheduled in 2023. Amid a regional flooding disaster, and with the F1 television compound and Formula 2 and Formula 3 support paddocks under water, Stefano Domenicali made the call in conjunction with local organisers and authorities. “We are sorry […]
F1 teams support Imola GP cancellation – Domenicali
May 18 (GMM) This weekend’s grand prix at Imola has been cancelled. After Formula 1 team personnel were evacuated from the paddock on Tuesday amid flooding around the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, they were then asked not to return on Wednesday. That was because parts of the circuit itself began to quite seriously flood. […]
McLaren hoping new wind tunnel ends aero woes
May 17 (GMM) McLaren is hoping its imminent move into a brand new wind tunnel will put the Formula 1 team back on track. It has been a lacklustre start to the famous Woking-based team’s 2023 campaign, with CEO Zak Brown admitting the main problem is “too much drag”. “We need to create downforce without […]
Ferrari admits trying to poach Adrian Newey
May 17 (GMM) The son of Ferrari’s infamous founder Enzo Ferrari has admitted Adrian Newey turned down multiple offers to move to the Maranello-based team. Piero Ferrari, the 77-year-old vice chairman of the fabled Italian company, admits the 2023 season has not started well for the Scuderia. “Of course not,” he told Italy’s Autosprint. “But […]
‘Looks like’ F1 heading to Madrid – Agag
May 17 (GMM) Reports that Madrid is gearing up to host Formula 1 in the future are more than unsubstantiated rumours. That is the view of Alejandro Agag, boss of the all-electric series Formula E. There is no doubt that plans are afoot for street circuit in the Spanish capital that hopes to secure a […]
Flooding threatens running of Imola GP
May 17 (GMM) A giant rain cloud has moved above this weekend’s running of the grand prix at Imola. Multiple international journalists report that they were asked to evacuate the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit on Tuesday due to the risk of the nearby Santerna river breaking its banks. “Sky (Deutschland) employees report […]
Axed Russian GP still seeking F1 fee refund
May 16 (GMM) Promoters of the axed Russian GP are still asking Formula 1 to return the race fee for 2022. The race at Sochi, and the remainder of the Russian GP contract, was terminated unilaterally by F1 at the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. “They owe us money,” promoter Alexey Titov told the […]
F1 should allow spending outside budget cap – Alpine
May 16 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer says Renault-owned Alpine is pushing hard to up its game in Formula 1. Recently, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi pointed the finger directly at Szafnauer for a lacklustre start to the season for the Enstone and Viry-based team. The comments coincided with rumours that Rossi was in Miami for the most […]
Italian govt wants both Imola and Monza on F1 calendar
May 16 (GMM) Italy’s deputy prime minister says the government is determined to keep both Imola and Monza on the Formula 1 calendar. This weekend, the sport is gathering at Imola – ahead of F1’s return to the country in September for the fabled Italian GP at Monza. Imola and Monza have separate contracts to […]
Rules will not change to help Red Bull’s rivals
May 16 (GMM) Formula 1 will not “intervene” to slow Red Bull and help the dominant team’s rivals to close the performance gap. After a clean-sweep of five wins from five grands prix so far, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has played down suggestions the energy drink-owned team will also be victorious in all other […]
Barcelona knows ‘nothing’ about rival Madrid bid
May 15 (GMM) Circuit de Catalunya boss Jose Luis Santamaria says he knows “nothing” about plans to get a Formula 1 race on the streets of Madrid up and running. The current Spanish GP contract with the venue outside Barcelona runs until 2026, and plans appear to be well advanced for a potential switch to […]
No plans yet for return to F1 paddock – Vettel
May 15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he isn’t sure when he will return to the Formula 1 paddock. The quadruple world champion has been completely absent since retiring as a race driver at the end of 2022. “After such a long time in racing, I have something like an everyday life for the first time,” […]
Ferrari needs a technical boss, not Vasseur
May 15 (GMM) Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola is not confident new team boss Frederic Vasseur can turn the situation around at Maranello. Having ousted Mattia Binotto at the end of last year, the fabled Italian team is struggling even more than it did in 2022 now with Frenchman Vasseur at the helm. “I’m sorry,” […]
Briatore told Alonso to join Aston Martin
May 15 (GMM) Flavio Briatore says he spotted Aston Martin’s rise to shock competitiveness in Formula 1 ahead of time. The former Renault team boss is still involved in the overall management of Fernando Alonso’s career. He told Italy’s Il Riformista newspaper that he spotted Aston Martin’s likely leap up the F1 grid this year […]
Alpha Tauri will not be sold – Marko
May 15 (GMM) Red Bull has decided against selling its second Formula 1 team Alpha Tauri, Dr Helmut Marko has revealed. The 80-year-old Austrian admits that in the period following the death last year of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz until recently, rumours of a potential shake-up at the struggling team were not wide of […]
Fallows not surprised top teams sticking with ‘concept’
May 15 (GMM) Dan Fallows says he’s not surprised that Mercedes and Ferrari are sticking with the ‘concept’ of their respective 2023 cars in order to catch Red Bull. The centrepiece of Ferrari’s upgraded car for Imola is new rear suspension, while a major upgrade for Mercedes is being played down by team boss Toto […]
De Vries shown ‘yellow card’ at Alpha Tauri – Marko
May 15 (GMM) Nyck de Vries has been shown a “yellow card” and needs to improve, but the Dutchman will not yet be ousted. That is the word from Dr Helmut Marko, the architect of Red Bull’s highly successful F1 driver program, following rumours a decision has already been taken to axe the 28-year-old rookie […]
Verstappen-Perez is like Senna-Prost – Perez’s father
May 12 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s father has likened the 2023 title fight to the infamous scrap between F1 legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. While some believe Max Verstappen is the obvious de-facto ‘number 1’ at Red Bull, Mexican Perez is only 14 points behind – and his father Antonio says the 33-year-old is definitely […]