Feb.8 (GMM) Some elements of Alfa Romeo’s newly-launched 2023 car have a distinct Red Bull flavour to them, technical boss Jan Monchaux admits. According to the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, Hinwil based Sauber’s French-German technical boss admitted the Red Bull-like changes to the car are “quite obvious”. “It’s just about acknowledging that a particular team […]
Red Bull lost patience with ‘indecisive’ Honda
Feb.8 (GMM) An “indecisive” Honda is the reason Red Bull is teaming up with Ford for the new Formula 1 regulations in 2026. That is the view of Christijan Albers, who agrees that the energy drink-owned team ruled out a collaboration with Porsche because the VW-owned brand wanted equity. Honda, though, is another story – […]
F1 will not ‘gag’ drivers’ speech – Domenicali
Feb.8 (GMM) Formula 1 will not “gag” its race drivers in 2023, the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali insists. In recent days and weeks, drivers and team bosses have been speaking out about controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s new guidelines against political speech and gestures. “We were supportive of the We Race As One initiative […]
New Alfa Romeo looks and ‘seems fast’ – Bottas
Feb.7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas thinks this year’s Alfa Romeo, the last Sauber to feature the name of the Italian carmaker ahead of the transition to Audi, will be “fast”. The now 25 percent Audi-owned Swiss-based team’s 2023 car is yet to be seen publicly ahead of the forthcoming launch event. But Finn Bottas is quoted […]
Vowles not present for 2023 Williams reveal
Feb.7 (GMM) Williams on Monday pulled the wraps off its livery for 2023 without new boss James Vowles being in attendance. While the new paint job is similar, the back-of-the-grid team has snapped up former McLaren sponsor Gulf Oil – but most were disappointed with the minor presence on the livery given recent rumours. And, […]
‘No place’ for Binotto at Red Bull
Feb.7 (GMM) There is “no place” for Mattia Binotto at Red Bull, team boss Christian Horner insists. When Binotto was ousted by Ferrari late last year for the Italian team’s 2022 errors, Horner admits being approached to potentially be the new boss was “flattering”. Horner says he is happy running Red Bull, but he doesn’t […]
FIA president now a Trump-like character – boss
Feb.6 (GMM) The president of F1’s governing body has become a Donald Trump or Elon Musk-like character. That is the view of one unnamed Formula 1 boss, as speculation of a growing rift between Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the team principals grows. The FIA boss was even threatened with legal consequences by F1 owner Liberty […]
Mercedes, not Ferrari, to be ‘first rival’ – Verstappen
Feb.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen says it’s “hard to tell” if Red Bull’s top rivals Ferrari and Mercedes will suffer as a result of their respective management shakeups. The back-to-back world champion told reporters he is heading into 2023 without considering himself the favourite. “I never really think about being the favourite because you have to […]
Ricciardo still happy with 2023 ‘rest’
Feb.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez has denied that Daniel Ricciardo’s new role at Red Bull is a worrying sign for his own future in Formula 1. Towards the end of last season, internal tension between the Mexican driver and world champion Max Verstappen became obvious over a team orders controversy. At around the same time, Red […]
Dutch rookie de Vries wins legal action
Feb.6 (GMM) Nyck de Vries says he is relieved to put a legal dispute behind him ahead of his full Formula 1 race debut in 2023. In January, it emerged that the Alpha Tauri rookie was being sued by his former Formula 2 backer Joroen Schothorst, who alleges a EUR 250,000 loan deal involved de […]
No ‘national will’ for French GP – Alesi
Feb.6 (GMM) France fell off the Formula 1 calendar because it lacks the “national will” to organise an annual grand prix. That is the claim of French F1 legend Jean Alesi, who after the circuit lost its grand prix following the 2022 edition has just become president at Paul Ricard. Now, the simple dissolution of […]
F1 CEO feared bias at Red Bull-Ford launch
Feb.6 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali caused a stir at Red Bull’s announcement of a 2026 Formula 1 tie-up with Ford last Friday. The Italian was even in the room in New York as the wraps were pulled off this year’s Red Bull and Domenicali was invited on stage during the live event. Initially, according […]
Haas eyes ‘independence’ from Ferrari
Feb.3 (GMM) Haas may achieve greater “independence” from technical partner Ferrari within a few years, according to team boss Gunther Steiner. Currently, the small American team has small US and UK headquarters, but the bulk of the team is based on the grounds of Ferrari’s Maranello factory in Italy. But Steiner says the covid-19 pandemic […]
Serving as F1 boss was ‘exhausting’ – Capito
Feb.3 (GMM) Jost Capito says his time as boss of the Formula 1 team Williams was “exhausting”. The German, who served as the British team’s boss for two seasons, has been replaced for 2023 and beyond by the former Mercedes strategy chief James Vowles. It is rumoured that Capito, best known for his managerial success […]
Two Russian F1 drivers returning to racing
Feb.3 (GMM) Two Russian former Formula 1 drivers are returning to international-level competition in 2023. Having been ousted by Haas at the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, and with his father even personally named in anti-Putin western sanctions, Nikita Mazepin will race in the Asian Le Mans series this year. “Together with my teammates at […]
Huge debt clouds French GP future
Feb.3 (GMM) Hopes that France’s new absence from the Formula 1 calendar may be short-lived appear to have been dashed. Var Matin, a French daily, has published sections of a confidential letter that was sent to Christian Estrosi – promoter of the newly-defunct French GP at Paul Ricard. The author of the letter is Jean-Louis […]
Horner in New York for Red Bull-Ford announcement
Feb.3 (GMM) Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has jetted into New York where the energy drink-owned Formula 1 champions are expected to lift the lid on a 2026 works deal with Ford. Ahead of Red Bull’s 2023 team launch on Friday, the Italian news agency Ansa quoted from an official Ford press release that […]
New F1 teams must be able to ‘pull it off’ – Capito
Feb.3 (GMM) Any new Formula 1 team must have the appropriate “infrastructure” and “financial background” in order to be welcomed from the existing competitors. That is the view of former Williams boss Jost Capito, just as the governing FIA officially launched the application process for “prospective Formula 1 teams”. And as well as a “rigorous […]
Team races on with Mateschitz ‘spirit’ – Marko
Feb.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko wants Red Bull to defend its Formula 1 titles this year with the “spirit” of the energy drink’s late founder Dietrich Mateschitz. It’s been an emotional few years for 79-year-old former F1 driver Marko, who lost his long-time friend and confidante Niki Lauda in 2019. Then, 78-year-old Mateschitz died of […]
De Vries ‘almost gave up’ on F1
Feb.2 (GMM) Nyck de Vries says he “almost gave up” on his Formula 1 career. Even in his successful karting days, the Dutchman’s F1 destiny appeared clear as a prominent member of McLaren’s junior program. “Everything looked fine then,” said the 27-year-old former Formula 2 and Formula E champion, who will make his full-time F1 […]