Mar.1 (GMM) Three former Formula 1 drivers are wondering if Lewis Hamilton may be edging towards retirement. Recently, Toto Wolff said contract talks with the 38-year-old are imminent. But 2009 world champion Jenson Button, who was the seven time world champion’s teammate at McLaren, wonders whether the delayed talks are because Hamilton is waiting to […]
Alpha Tauri sale makes ‘no sense’ – Schumacher
Feb.28 (GMM) Simply getting an official Formula 1 team entry could cost Andretti a staggering $600 million – and even well in excess of $740 million. The sport’s existing teams are believed to be pushing the FIA to increase the current $200 million entry fee for new teams up to $600 million. It comes as […]
Iconic Barcelona corners return in 2023
Feb.28 (GMM) The Spanish GP this year will be more spectacular this year with the return of the iconic final two fast right-hand corners. The current slow chicane was introduced in 2007 for safety reasons, with the Circuit de Catalunya saying it was “due to the proximity of the barriers and because the run-off was […]
F1 champion Verstappen lost 10kg over winter
Feb.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen put on, and then lost again, an astonishing 10 kilograms over the winter break. Observers at the Bahrain test noticed the back-to-back title winner looking particularly slim. The 25-year-old Dutchman admitted he put on weight over Christmas, with De Telegraaf newspaper reporting that he then lost the entire 10 kilos in […]
Stroll boards flight for simulator return
Feb.28 (GMM) Lance Stroll boarded a flight to Britain on Monday. It comes after Aston Martin boss Mike Krack said the next step in his recovery from unspecified wrist and hand injuries would be a session on the simulator at the team’s Silverstone factory. Krack has decided that if the 24-year-old Canadian is unable to […]
Ferrari could ‘annoy Red Bull’ in 2023 – Wurz
Feb.28 (GMM) In the few days between pre-season testing and the season opening race at the same Bahrain circuit, experts and pundits are busily predicting the likely pecking order. Alex Wurz, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association and a former Formula 1 driver himself, thinks Ferrari is looking “similar to last year”. “They can […]
Ocon criticises latest F1 ‘Drive to Survive’
Feb.27 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has become the first Formula 1 driver to openly criticise the latest instalment in the sport’s official Netflix series Drive to Survive. Denouncing many the series’ narratives as “fake”, world champion Max Verstappen boycotted the series in recent years but has returned for season 5 following talks with producers. He is […]
Williams in no rush for new technical, aero bosses
Feb.27 (GMM) Williams is heading into the new Formula 1 season without a technical director. The British team’s boss Jost Capito was ousted over the winter and replaced with former Mercedes strategy boss James Vowles. But another high-profile departure was Francois-Xavier (FX) Demaison – Williams’ technical director. And new boss Vowles is quoted by French […]
Spa GP promoter in Bahrain for 2024 contract talks
Feb.27 (GMM) Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Maes hopes to secure Spa-Francorchamps’ future on the Formula 1 calendar “in the weeks and months to come”. It is one of the most historic and loved traditional stops on the grand prix schedule, but F1’s soaring popularity means rival promoters are keen to out-bid Spa for one of […]
Alpha Tauri team sale ‘up to shareholders’ – Marko
Feb.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is not denying that Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team could be sold. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, with team boss Franz Tost calling ninth in the constructors’ championship last year “catastrophic”, Alpha Tauri has been told by its owners that it may need to be sold or […]
D’Ambrosio linked with Mercedes F1 role
Feb.27 (GMM) Eagle-eyed Formula 1 observers spotted a familiar face in the Mercedes garage during Bahrain testing. He was Jerome d’Ambrosio, best known for racing in F1 for the Virgin and Lotus teams a decade ago. Subsequently, the now 37-year-old Belgian switched to Formula E, but in 2020 entered the world of team management as […]
Verstappen sponsors young DTM driver, team
Feb.27 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull have put their names to sponsorship of a rising young talent. 20-year-old Dutch driver Thierrey Vermeulen, the son of Max and Jos’ manager Raymond, has signed up with Swiss team Emil Frey in this year’s German touring car championship DTM. Curiously, young Vermeulen will be at […]
Aston Martin ‘amazes’ in Bahrain test
Feb.27 (GMM) With the sole three-day pre-season test in Bahrain now complete, Italy’s Corriere della Sera neatly summed up the major conclusion. “Red Bull, perfect. Ferrari, hidden potential. Aston Martin amazes,” the headline read. New Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur said: “Overall, we look ok in terms of performance.” However, he’s not too worried about Red […]
Aston Martin rules out Vettel for Stroll’s seat
Feb.27 (GMM) Aston Martin has now ruled Sebastian Vettel out of the running to replace the injured Lance Stroll in Bahrain this weekend. The team is being coy about the extent of Stroll’s injuries, but paddock rumours suggest hr fell during a mountain bike ride – and damaged a wrist. Other rumours suggest both of […]
Unvaccinated Rosberg returns to F1 paddock
Feb.24 (GMM) After a full season on the sidelines, Nico Rosberg will return to the Formula 1 paddock in 2023. Last year, the 2016 world champion was unable to be on-site for his broadcasting duties with British and German television as he chose to remain unvaccinated against covid-19. But Formula 1 has now relaxed its […]
Stroll will ‘try’ to race in Bahrain – Drugovich
Feb.24 (GMM) Lance Stroll is still hoping to race next weekend in Bahrain. At the sole pre-season test at the same circuit this week, however, the 24-year-old son of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll is missing. Alongside new teammate Fernando Alonso, Stroll has been replaced in the impressive new 2023 car so far by […]
Mercedes, Ferrari play down early pecking order
Feb.24 (GMM) While world champions Red Bull got off to an imperious start to the sole pre-season test, the team’s key rivals were left to wonder how far behind they are. After Max Verstappen set the pace, with Lewis Hamilton sixth and George Russell just ninth overall in Bahrain, Mercedes’ engineering boss Andrew Shovlin insisted […]
Red Bull’s early 2023 form ‘frightening’ – Marko
Feb.24 (GMM) Smiles filled the Red Bull garage on Thursday as the mere three days of pre-season testing kicked off in Bahrain. It was the world’s first real look at the car in which Max Verstappen will defend his back-to-back titles – and the Dutchman led the lap times on day 1. “It’s almost frightening […]
New Williams boss puts focus on 2024 and beyond
Feb.23 (GMM) James Vowles admits it may take time to power Williams off the back row of the Formula 1 grid. Last year, the Grove based team slumped to dead last in the constructors’ championship, after which team boss Jost Capito was ousted. And Marc Surer, a former F1 driver turned German-language broadcaster, expects more […]
Drugovich on pole to replace Stroll in first race
Feb.23 (GMM) Reigning Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich is in pole position to replace Lance Stroll in next weekend’s Bahrain season opener. Stroll, the son of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll, has been sidelined for the start of pre-season testing this week by a bicycle accident. The team, and 24-year-old Stroll, have not disclosed […]