Jul.26 (GMM) After horror outings at Silverstone and in Hungary, Alpine should make a two-tenth step forward this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. It was a crash that took the pair out in Hungary, but that was hot on the heels of another double DNF for Frenchmen Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly at Silverstone. The Renault-owned team […]
Hamilton poised to sign two-year Mercedes contract
Jul.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton appears to be on track to sign a two-year contract extension with Mercedes. In Hungary, team boss Toto Wolff revealed that while a signature is still lacking, the pair have “emotionally” completed their contract negotiations. “Can someone tell me what it means when a contract is emotionally done?” Hamilton’s former teammate […]
Green light for 11th team within ‘weeks’ – FIA boss
Jul.25 (GMM) It will still take “four to six weeks” for clarity to emerge over whether Formula 1 will be getting up to two new teams. After several groups responded to the official FIA tender, it was reported recently that two prospective new teams – Andretti-Cadillac and Hitech – may already have been green-lighted by […]
F1 return for de Vries not ruled out by manager
Jul.25 (GMM) Nyck de Vries’ Formula 1 career is not necessarily over, his manager Guillaume Le Goff insists. The 28-year-old Dutch rookie, who was dumped by Alpha Tauri team owner Red Bull after his ten races into his first full season this year, has been linked with a return to a test role at Mercedes. […]
Alonso reveals bizarre F1 superstitions
Jul.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted he still indulges in certain superstitions prior to grands prix. At almost 42, the Spaniard and two-time champion is also the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history, with a record 369 race entries and counting. “I still have some superstitions,” he smiled to El Mundo Deportivo newspaper. “Less […]
Manufacturer to replace smashed Verstappen trophy
Jul.25 (GMM) The maker of the unique porcelain Hungarian GP trophies has vowed to replace the one presented to race winner Max Verstappen on Sunday. The hand-made vase, worth a reported EUR 45,000, tipped over and smashed when second-placed Lando Norris banged his champagne bottle onto the podium. “Max just placed it too close to […]
Climate stance could halt Vettel return – Marko
Jul.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s environmental stance may thwart his return to Formula 1 in a Red Bull role. That is the warning of the quadruple world champion’s former Red Bull boss Dr Helmut Marko, amid rumours Vettel could soon return from retirement with a role either at Red Bull or in a sustainability portfolio at […]
Hulkenberg advised to seek Haas exit
Jul.25 (GMM) Haas engineers and designers have a “responsibility” to improve a fundamental flaw with the 2023 car. That is the forthright claim of Nico Hulkenberg, who appears to be heading for a certain contract extension after impressing on his return to Formula 1 this year. In contrast, the established incumbent Kevin Magnussen is struggling. […]
Sainz-to-Audi rumours resurface after Hungary
Jul.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz could be destined for the exit door at Ferrari, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher claims. Team boss Frederic Vasseur ended the Hungarian GP by admitting the Maranello based team is making “too many mistakes”. “I spent the last 35 years of my life on the pitwall and every Monday I study […]
F1 threatening to block Las Vegas GP views
Jul.25 (GMM) Formula 1 is threatening to block spectacular views of its new Las Vegas GP circuit if hotels, casinos and restaurants do not pay hefty licensing fees. The New York Post reports that venues along the Strip and beyond are being told to pay $1500 per head – adding up to multiple millions per […]
F1 set for talks over engine performance, budget caps
Jul.24 (GMM) Budget caps and struggling engines will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the F1 Commission. Auto Motor und Sport claims that “comparative measurements” have shown that Renault, owner and engine supplier to the Alpine team, is “at least” 30 horsepower behind Honda, Mercedes and Ferrari. Renault would like some leeway […]
F1 teams racing away from rookie drivers – Steiner
Jul.24 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are racing away from taking a punt on rookie drivers, according to Haas boss Gunther Steiner. Steiner notoriously grappled with the frustration of Mick Schumacher’s struggles last year until he made the decision to replace the 24-year-old German with his more than decade-older countryman Nico Hulkenberg this year. “Then you […]
Alonso to sign one-year deals after 2024
Jul.24 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has revealed that after 2024, he will only sign single-year contract extensions. At almost 42, the two-time champion is clearly the oldest active driver on the grid, having last year accepted an offer from Aston Martin to race in 2023 and 2024. He says the only goal is to win a […]
Pirelli denies new tyres causing Aston Martin slump
Jul.24 (GMM) Pirelli’s F1 boss has hit back at Fernando Alonso’s suspicion that the recent mid-season tyre construction change has hurt Aston Martin. Alonso admits the Silverstone based team hasn’t kept up with car development following its strong start to 2023, but he is concerned that the slump coincided with the debut at Silverstone of […]
De Vries dumping worked out ‘perfectly’ – Marko
Jul.24 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has no regrets after making what has been described as the “brutal” decision to axe Alpha Tauri rookie Nyck de Vries. The Red Bull official said he made the call because Dutchman de Vries, and the rest of the energy drink company’s struggling junior team, were “stagnating”. “Nyck de Vries […]
Marko admits ‘relief’ after Hungary challenge
Jul.24 (GMM) Any hopes that Red Bull may be at risk of being caught by its rivals disappeared with Max Verstappen’s win by a huge 33 seconds on Sunday. The only real glitch for the Dutchman, who just a day earlier had complained about “terrible” car handling as he missed pole to Lewis Hamilton, was […]
Perez slams ‘crazy’ Red Bull sabotage claims
Jul.23 (GMM) Sergio Perez has slammed online suggestions that Red Bull is sabotaging his Formula 1 car. Fans on social media have claimed the energy drink-owned team must be somehow disadvantaging the now-struggling Mexican after he presented an early challenge to teammate Max Verstappen’s dominance in 2023. “The cars are the same,” Perez told El […]
Marko denies he will quit after 2023 season
Jul.23 (GMM) Rumours are swirling in the Hungaroring paddock that Dr Helmut Marko may step down at the end of 2023. At the age of 80, the former Formula 1 driver and 1971 Le Mans winner is still at full throttle as a key official in Red Bull’s successful F1 program. It was believed that […]
Red Bull eyeing Ricciardo for Perez’s seat – Wolff
Jul.23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is being auditioned by Red Bull as a potential successor for Sergio Perez. That is not the claim of a Formula 1 insider or broadcaster pundit, but rather Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. Earlier in Hungary, Mercedes’ engineering boss Andrew Shovlin indicated that there may be room at the team for axed […]
Aston Martin needs to improve update game – Alonso
Jul.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is clear that Aston Martin needs to get better at in-season car developments. The Spaniard has almost single-handedly propelled the vastly improved team to third overall in the constructors’ championship. He is almost 100 points ahead of the team owner’s son Lance Stroll, meaning that if his teammate had […]