Jun.22 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Max Verstappen could have a fight on his hands next time out at Red Bull’s home Austrian GP. World champion Verstappen continued his run of dominance in Montreal, but it was a much closer affair with fellow champions Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) also on the […]
Madrid mayor ‘optimistic’ about Spanish GP deal
Jun.21 (GMM) The mayor of Madrid says he is “optimistic” the Spanish capital will secure a Formula 1 race. Although the Spanish GP at Barcelona has a contract until 2026, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali freely admits that there are now “two projects on the table” for the future beyond that. “All I can say is […]
FIA official says Red Bull rivals will catch up soon
Jun.21 (GMM) Top FIA official Nikolas Tombazis thinks Red Bull’s rivals will soon prove that the current ‘ground effect’ regulations are not a failure. At present, although the intention of the rules was for close wheel-to-wheel racing up and down the grid, Max Verstappen and Red Bull are clearly and utterly dominating. But Tombazis, a […]
Only Verstappen deserves Senna comparison – Marko
Jun.21 (GMM) It’s too “dangerous” for Red Bull to let Max Verstappen loose on the fabled Nordschleife layout in a decade-old Formula 1 car. That is the clear admission of Dr Helmut Marko, after dominant world champion Verstappen said he wanted to join Sebastian Vettel at the September event and his 80-year-old boss answered “No, […]
Ocon doesn’t mind ‘tough guy’ image
Jun.20 (GMM) Esteban Ocon admits that his image as a “tough guy” on the Formula 1 track is probably deserved. Recently, former F1 driver and veteran British commentator Martin Brundle said the contrast between the Frenchman’s lovely demeanour off the track and his highly aggressive style on the track is stark. But Ocon, 26, says […]
Wolff plays down Mick Schumacher-Williams rumours
Jun.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down new reports linking Mick Schumacher with an imminent return to the grid. Rumours in Montreal suggested the 24-year-old axed Haas driver is now being recommended by his new boss, Mercedes’ Wolff, as a replacement for struggling rookie Logan Sargeant at Mercedes-powered Williams. “I think whoever wants him would […]
De Vries could be ousted by home Dutch GP
Jun.20 (GMM) Nyck de Vries’ Formula 1 career is still under a very dark cloud. That is the admission of two of his well-known Dutch compatriots, even if the 28-year-old rookie showed signs of improving recently after a warning from Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel, however, admitted to the Dutch […]
Marko scoffs at Wolff over Verstappen claim
Jun.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has scoffed at Mercedes boss Toto Wolff for failing to recognise Max Verstappen’s talent as a youngster. When Red Bull snapped up the then teenaged Dutchman in the earliest moments of his move from karts to single seaters, there were rumours Wolff also held talks with the Verstappen camp. But […]
Hulkenberg cautiously keen on another year at Haas
Jun.20 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg sounds keen on securing another year at Haas. The 35-year-old has impressed at the team this year after Haas ousted the underperforming Mick Schumacher – with boss Gunther Steiner hinting in Montreal last weekend that Hulkenberg will once again join Kevin Magnussen in the garage in 2024. “Sounds good,” the German […]
Schumacher ‘ready’ to replace struggling Sargeant
Jun.19 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is “ready” to jump back onto the Formula 1 grid – even within the 2024 season. The German magazine Sport Bild says the axed Haas driver, who is now Mercedes’ official test and reserve driver, is being eyed by both Williams and Sauber for 2024. However, there are also […]
Belgian GP boss ‘confident’ after Montreal meeting
Jun.19 (GMM) The future of the Belgian GP at the fabled Spa-Francorchamps circuit is now looking more secure, promoter Vanessa Maes admits. She recently met in London with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to discuss the race’s expiring contract, amid rumours Spa could be the next victim of the Liberty Media-fuelled push into new markets. […]
Tyre choice debacle was ‘Leclerc’s fault’ – Schumacher
Jun.19 (GMM) It’s not fair for Charles Leclerc to point the finger of blame so squarely on Ferrari for the spate of recent strategy mistakes. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, after Leclerc so publicly chided the Maranello based team for the latest tyre compound blunder in Montreal qualifying. “Ferrari was […]
Perez slump ‘not my problem’ – Verstappen
Jun.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen insists it’s “not my problem” that Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez’s championship challenge is evaporating. After a third consecutive failure to even reach Q3, the Mexican is now a whopping 69 points behind back-to-back world champion Verstappen’s utter 2023 dominance. “Somehow the boys have to be ashamed,” Dr Helmut Marko told […]
Hulkenberg not thinking about 2026 Audi possibility
Jun.18 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says it’s not his problem that his performance in 2023 may have terminally ended Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career. The 35-year-old was drafted in by Haas to replace his struggling young German compatriot Schumacher this year – and has even showed the way at times for the team incumbent Kevin Magnussen. […]
Wolff not confirming Hamilton-Shakira rumours
Jun.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff passed the buck when asked if Lewis Hamilton has begun to date the 46-year-old Colombian pop star Shakira. “I don’t know anything about that,” the Mercedes team boss told Osterreich newspaper. When told that Shakira was recently in the team’s Formula 1 garage, Wolff smiled: “I didn’t see anything. I was […]
There are ‘signs’ F1 wants to revive German GP
Jun.18 (GMM) Formula 1 wants to revive the defunct German GP, Hockenheim boss Jorn Teske insists. Nico Hulkenberg, at the lower midfield team Haas, admits it is a “pity” that he is currently the only German driver on the grid. Also missing are Hockenheim and the Nurburgring. “Of course it’s a pity that the air […]
‘All employees’ will end Ferrari crisis – Vasseur
Jun.18 (GMM) “All employees” will help to pull Ferrari out of its current situation, according to new team boss Frederic Vasseur. After qualifying second to last with a key upgrade package in Barcelona recently, Charles Leclerc lost his cool with the Maranello team when he failed to make Q3 yet again in Canada. “This is […]
Villeneuve backtracks over Leclerc helmet
Jun.18 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has backtracked after throwing a spanner in the works of Charles Leclerc’s helmet tribute in Montreal. Leclerc turned up at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to honour Jacques’ fabled late father with an almost identical helmet livery. But at one stage during the Canadian GP weekend, the Monegasque Ferrari […]
Kallenius must approve Hamilton contract – Schumacher
Jun.17 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher thinks he knows why Lewis Hamilton’s contract negotiations are taking so long. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said earlier this week that he hoped to get the seven time world champion’s signature on a new deal by Sunday’s Canadian GP. But Hamilton, 38, then said in Montreal that it could actually take […]
Father ‘unrealistic’ about Stroll podium – Marko
Jun.17 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll for setting an “unrealistic” goal for this weekend’s Canadian GP. Stroll said he expected his son, Lance, to finally join teammate Fernando Alonso on a 2023 podium at the end of Sunday’s proceedings in their native Montreal. “That’s more than overconfident,” Red […]