Dec.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen has dropped another hint that he may retire from Formula 1 at the youthful age of just 31. The reigning and back-to-back drivers’ world champion admits that – like former Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso – he is also eyeing the biggest prize in endurance sports car racing in the future. […]
Alonso ‘the same’ as in Minardi days – de la Rosa
Dec.8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is “exactly the same” as he was at McLaren in 2007, according to fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa. The pair worked together at both McLaren and Ferrari, but they are now reuniting yet again as de la Rosa takes on a non-driving role at Aston Martin. “He is ten years […]
McLaren happy with team’s budget cap management
Dec.8 (GMM) Andreas Seidl is proud of the way McLaren handled the Formula 1 budget cap so far. While Red Bull copped penalties for a minor overspend, and Aston Martin was chided for a procedural breach, McLaren boss Seidl says it was smooth sailing for the Woking based team. “We were in a position where […]
Axed Binotto not heading to Mercedes – Wolff
Dec.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ruled out speculation that axed Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto could be snapped up by Mercedes. It is believed one of Binotto’s final duties in his decades-long Ferrari career was Wednesday’s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Bologna. FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem acknowledged that it was Binotto’s […]
No more F1 ban for unvaccinated people
Dec.8 (GMM) Unvaccinated members of the Formula 1 community will be able to return to the paddock in 2023. For 2022, the FIA and Formula 1 made getting fully vaccinated against covid-19 a requirement of attending grands prix. Medical car driver Alan van de Merwe and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, a pundit for the […]
Turkey also ‘in the running’ to replace China GP
Dec.7 (GMM) The president of Portugal’s automobile federation admits Portimao is not the only contender to replace the axed 2023 Chinese GP. “Portugal is not the only interested country,” Fernando Machado Ni Armorim confirmed to Lusa news agency. “Turkey is also in the running,” he added. McLaren supremo Zak Brown, meanwhile, confirmed speculation that another […]
Rookie Piastri a ‘risk’ for McLaren – Steiner
Dec.7 (GMM) McLaren is taking a “risk” by putting rookie Oscar Piastri at the wheel in 2023. It has now emerged that the 21-year-old Australian has secured his Formula 1 super license, meaning he will definitely be on the Bahrain grid. It’s the opposite of the situation at Haas, where the inexperienced Mick Schumacher was […]
Ferrari to reveal Binotto successor by Christmas
Dec.7 (GMM) Ferrari reportedly intends to reveal the identity of Mattia Binotto’s replacement as team boss by Christmas. Italian specialist publications report that the Maranello based outfit has now made a decision, with current Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur believed to be the frontrunner. Also linked with the role was McLaren boss Andreas Seidl. […]
Shwartzman has ‘several options’ for 2023
Dec.7 (GMM) Robert Shwartzman says he will stay in touch with the Formula 1 paddock next year – but also wants to get back to racing. The Russian, who switched his racing license to Israel to avoid sanction for the Ukraine conflict, served as Ferrari’s full-time reserve in 2022 in the hope of landing on […]
Horner shoots down Ferrari team boss rumours
Dec.6 (GMM) Christian Horner has shot down any lingering rumours that he may be a candidate to replace ousted Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. The identity of Binotto’s replacement is still unclear, with one of the 53-year-old Italian’s final appointments set to be the forthcoming meeting of the World Motorsport Council in Bologna. However, Corriere […]
Verstappen has weight to lose over winter – boss
Dec.6 (GMM) Red Bull’s team boss says back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen has a few kilos to shed over the winter break. The energy drink company’s premier team, however, couldn’t be happier with the Dutchman, who dominated the 2022 season. And even with the 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel time over the next year, […]
Schumacher never considered for 2023 role – Marko
Dec.5 (GMM) Mick Schumacher was never considered for a reserve driver role at Red Bull in 2023, Dr Helmut Marko insists. Having lost his Haas race seat after two mixed seasons, 23-year-old Schumacher is now strongly linked with a test seat at Mercedes next year. “Imagine the chance he gets if one of the two […]
Alpine drivers must be ‘mature’ in 2023 – CEO
Dec.5 (GMM) Alpine’s two drivers will need to be “mature” in 2023, CEO Laurent Rossi insists. Pierre Gasly is moving from Alpha Tauri and the Red Bull family to the Renault-owned team for next year and beyond. But he is being paired with French countryman Esteban Ocon, amid reports the pair do not get along […]
F1 legend Berger linked with top Ferrari job
Dec.5 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger is being linked with the vacant top job at Ferrari’s iconic team. The 63-year-old, who had two separate stints at the wheel of the Italian team’s Formula 1 cars in the 80s and 90s, has most recently been boss of the German touring car series DTM. However, the Austrian […]
Tost admits to budget cap worries in 2022
Dec.5 (GMM) Alpha Tauri hit a development brick-wall in 2022 over fears of a budget cap breach, team boss Franz Tost has admitted. Sister team Red Bull Racing was embroiled in a budget cap scandal this year and penalised for the ‘minor’ overspend. At the same time, the junior outfit Alpha Tauri was struggling with […]
Verstappen already among F1 ‘greats’ – Coulthard
Dec.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen is “already one of the greats” of Formula 1 history, according to broadcaster and former driver David Coulthard. The Scot was responding to mainly social media memes suggesting that the 25-year-old Red Bull driver was only able to win his back-to-back titles in controversial circumstances. “Just as Lewis (Hamilton) doesn’t need […]
Portimao may not be Chinese GP replacement
Dec.5 (GMM) Portimao may not be the replacement race for the scratched 2022 Chinese GP. Formula 1 confirmed reports that due to the “covid-19 situation” in China, the sport’s scheduled return to Shanghai after a three-year absence will in fact not take place in April. “Formula 1 is assessing alternative options to replace the slot […]
Latifi lacked confidence in Williams cars
Dec.2 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi says a lack of confidence at the wheel is why he’s been left without a place in Formula 1. The Canadian became known as the driver who normally brought up the rear during his three seasons with Williams. “I just couldn’t find the confidence that was really needed,” Latifi, 27, told […]
Montezemolo ‘worried’ about Ferrari situation
Dec.2 (GMM) Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admits he is “worried” about his former team. Specialist German reports claim Sauber-Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur has now turned down Ferrari’s invitation for him to replace axed team boss Mattia Binotto. McLaren’s Andreas Seidl and Red Bull’s Christian Horner also reportedly said no, with many […]
Hong Kong billionaire eyes 11th F1 team
Dec.2 (GMM) British reports suggest new plans are afoot for an eleventh Formula 1 team. With Michael Andretti’s well-known US-based operation openly seeking an official entry, a new suitor has now emerged – Hong Kong life insurance billionaire Calvin Lo. The Mirror newspaper reports that he is in talks with “a number of teams and […]