Jan.20 (GMM) The man suing Formula 1 rookie Nyck de Vries over a contract dispute says he continues to support Alpha Tauri’s new driver. Dutch real estate mogul Jeroen Schothorst alleges the 27-year-old driver breached a deal they made in 2018 involving EUR 250,000 in backing for a Formula 2 seat. According to the complaint, […]
Andretti’s F1 deadline only ‘two months’ away
Jan.20 (GMM) Formula 1 only has “a couple of months” to open the door to a new Andretti-Cadillac team in 2025 or 2026. That is the claim of 1978 world champion Mario, whose son Michael – who also raced in F1 – is bidding to bring his Andretti Autosport empire into the sport with General […]
Mercedes slams ‘wild’ Hamilton rumours
Jan.20 (GMM) Mercedes has slammed “wild speculations” about the details of Lewis Hamilton’s next Formula 1 contract. Although some publications claim the seven time world champion has now lost his status as F1’s highest earner to Max Verstappen, others have been claiming Hamilton is poised to sign an enormous new deal for 2024 and beyond. […]
F1 star slams FIA position over Russia crisis
Jan.19 (GMM) Russia’s first Formula 1 driver has blasted the sport for interfering with the professional careers of Russian athletes. At present, as a result of the Ukraine crisis, the world auto racing governing body requires Russian drivers to sign a special document and race under a neutral flag in FIA-sanctioned events. Axed Haas driver […]
Alpine undecided over 2023 F1 reserve
Jan.19 (GMM) Alpine is not ready to name Jack Doohan as the Renault-owned team’s official reserve driver in 2023. Having lost 2022 reserve Oscar Piastri to McLaren, the Formula 1 team’s most prominent development driver is Doohan, the 19-year-old son of Australian motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan. Doohan finished sixth in his first full Formula […]
F1 politics surprised new team boss
Jan.19 (GMM) Mike Krack admits the harshness of the political climate in Formula 1 was a surprise. The 50-year-old started his Formula 1 as a race engineer over 20 years ago, but last year replaced Otmar Szafnauer as team boss at Aston Martin. “I admit I was surprised by the small details reported in Formula […]
De Vries in legal dispute ahead of full F1 debut
Jan.19 (GMM) Ahead of his first full Formula 1 season, Dutch rookie Nyck de Vries has found himself at the centre of a legal dispute. De Telegraaf newspaper reports that the former Mercedes reserve and Formula E champion borrowed money from real estate mogul Jeroen Schothorst to fund his racing in Formula 2. This week, […]
Bottas hoping for contract talks ‘soon’
Jan.19 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is hoping to settle the issue of a new Formula 1 contract “soon”. After five seasons with Mercedes, the now 33-year-old Finn inked a ‘multi-year’ deal with the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo ahead of last season. It was believed the deal was for three fixed years – 2022, 2023 and 2024. “It […]
Verstappen, Wolff say Red Bull could have 2023 edge
Jan.18 (GMM) Both Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff agree that Red Bull may keep its nose ahead in 2023. Dutchman Verstappen has won the past two world championships back-to-back, including a dominant display in 2022 with the all-new chassis rules. “When there is a rule change like that, there will always be teams that get […]
Ferrari reaches 2026 engine deal with FIA
Jan.18 (GMM) Ferrari has agreed to keep racing in Formula 1 under the all-new engine rules of 2026. Earlier, the sport’s most fabled team was threatening to veto the regulations on the grounds that Red Bull Powertrains will be regarded as a ‘new manufacturer’ with extra benefits. As such, Ferrari had as yet refused to […]
Symonds understands cool Andretti reaction
Jan.18 (GMM) Pat Symonds has defended the reluctance of Formula 1 and the existing teams to welcome Michael Andretti’s motorsport empire to the sport. Now with key GM-Cadillac backing, Andretti has the support of the governing FIA for his 2025 or 2026 team entry bid, but is still facing opposition from top teams including Mercedes. […]
Mercedes prepared to ‘let Schumacher go’
Jan.18 (GMM) Mercedes will be prepared to release Mick Schumacher to a rival Formula 1 team in the years to come. That is the vow of team boss Toto Wolff, who snapped up the out-of-work son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher following his axing from the Haas outfit. Schumacher, 23, will be reserve driver in […]
No free races on German TV in 2023
Jan.18 (GMM) Formula 1 will not be on free-to-air television in Germany this year. RTL lost its rights to pay broadcaster Sky two years ago, although the latter agreed a deal to allow RTL to broadcast four live grands prix until last season. It is believed Sky was open to continuing that deal in 2023. […]
F1 rules out China revival for 2023
Jan.18 (GMM) Formula 1 has dashed any hopes Chinese officials had of reviving the axed Shanghai race this year. Amid the country’s ongoing and harsh covid restrictions, the sport cancelled the scheduled April round following its similar absence in 2020, 2021 and last year. But this week, speculation re-emerged that race organisers had got back […]
Williams not becoming ‘mini Mercedes’ – boss
Jan.17 (GMM) Williams’ new team boss insists he will not make the famous British team a “mini Mercedes”. After the ousting of Jost Capito, Williams kicked off the new year by appointing Mercedes’ well-known strategy boss James Vowles as its new team principal. Williams is already powered by customer Mercedes engines, and has close historical […]
Andretti says F1 must not ‘reject’ Cadillac
Jan.17 (GMM) General Motors and Cadillac really are serious about succeeding in Formula 1. That is the insistence of Mario Andretti, Formula 1’s 1978 world champion whose son Michael is bidding to enter a team in the sport in 2025 or 2026. Initially, it would be with a customer Renault or Honda engine – but […]
Newey the key to Ferrari’s 2023 hopes – Alesi
Jan.17 (GMM) Adrian Newey is the key to Formula 1’s next championship battle in 2023, according to former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi. When asked about his former team’s chances against Red Bull this year, the 58-year-old Frenchman also thinks Ferrari will face a second challenger. “I don’t think Mercedes make a mistake twice when designing […]
Wolff looks ahead to Hamilton’s F1 return
Jan.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff is looking forward to forthcoming meetings with Mercedes’ seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Various matters will be on the table as the 37-year-old driver returns from his winter break – having holidayed with a group of high-profile friends in Antarctica. “As for contract discussions, we have a full year to […]
Williams rejects Porsche rumours
Jan.17 (GMM) Porsche and Williams disappointed fans early this week amid expectations of a Formula 1 collaboration. With Porsche’s earlier plans to enter the sport with Red Bull also coming to nothing, some fans on social media on Monday spotted the signs of a potential Porsche-Williams project. Ultimately, the Porsche news was the re-branding of […]
F1 teams split with crypto sponsors
Jan.16 (GMM) The crypto hype in Formula 1 is definitely over. Late last year, Mercedes took FTX branding off its Formula 1 car as the cryptocurrency exchange collapsed – later leading to the arrest of its boss Sam Bankman-Fried. It now emerges that, over the winter break, Ferrari has also split with its own major […]