Apr.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is continuing to play down speculation of a power struggle at the very top of Red Bull’s Formula 1 program. It appears as though rumours of the second team Alpha Tauri’s sale were prompted by Oliver Mintzlaff – the new Red Bull CEO in the wake of founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s […]
Hamilton ‘weaknesses’ showing in 2023 – Alonso
Apr.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s claim that the 2023 Red Bull is the fastest-ever Formula 1 car. “He has a short memory. He’s getting old!” the 41-year-old laughed to France’s L’Equipe. Alonso and Hamilton, 38, were infamously paired together at McLaren in 2007 – but the latter went on to […]
Leclerc’s F1 career ‘slipping through his fingers’
Apr.1 (GMM) Ferrari is in “crisis”, according to the Maranello team’s former and highly-successful president Luca di Montezemolo. “You put a knife in the wound,” he said on the LA7 program Piazzapulita, “because together with my family, Ferrari has been the most important thing in my life. “I’m sorry to see it in this state […]
F1, MotoGP could share single race weekend in Madrid
Apr.1 (GMM) Formula 1 and its two-wheeled equivalent MotoGP may be exploring the idea of sharing a single race weekend. Recently, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admitted talks are underway with potential organisers of a new Formula 1 race in the Spanish capital Madrid. And now, MotoGP rights holder Dorna’s CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta revealed that – […]
Bridgestone eyeing F1 return – report
Apr.1 (GMM) Japanese tyre marque Bridgestone may be considering a return to Formula 1. Recently, it emerged that F1’s governing FIA had kicked off a new mandatory tender process to determine the identity of the sole tyre supplier for 2025, 2026, 2027 and possibly 2028. The successful applicant will also supply Formula 2 and F3. […]
Red Bull to vote for second qualifying session
Apr.1 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are set to be invited to vote for a shakeup of the already-controversial ‘sprint race’ weekend format within mere days. Having already revealed his desire to scrap most practice sessions in Formula 1, the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali is now proposing that a second qualifying session be added to the […]
Michael Masi ‘open’ to chat with Hamilton, Wolff
Apr.1 (GMM) Former race director Michael Masi says he is “done” with Formula 1. After the highly controversial outcome of the 2021 world championship, Australian Masi, 44, was ousted by the FIA and subject to waves of hostility on social media. He relocated to his native Australia, now has prominent roles in local motor racing, […]
F1 capable of 30-plus races per season – CEO
Mar.31 (GMM) Formula 1 is capable of organising more than 30 grands prix per season, according to CEO Stefano Domenicali. Currently, there are 23 races – more than ever before – with plans for 24 next year thanks to China’s expected return. But Domenicali admits that demand from potential promoters is through the roof. “We […]
Vettel not ruling out F1 comeback
Mar.31 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not ruling out a potential return to Formula 1. The quadruple world champion, 35, retired at the end of last season – and now admits it’s “a bit strange” to see Fernando Alonso doing so well in the Aston Martin cockpit he used to occupy. “But it is outweighed by […]
Alonso hoping for ‘hot environment’ at Red Bull
Mar.31 (GMM) With Red Bull so dominant early in 2023, the only real championship intrigue could be an apparently tetchy relationship in the Red Bull garage. Back to back world champion Max Verstappen admits Sergio Perez is his only realistic challenger in Melbourne this weekend – and clear signs of tension have been obvious for […]
Talks underway for Melbourne F1 night race
Mar.31 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admits talks are underway about converting the Australian GP from a daytime race to one that is run under floodlights. Melbourne’s current Formula 1 contract runs all the way until 2035, but if organisers want the race to take place after dark then it will require the installation of […]
Verstappen warns against scrapping F1 practice
Mar.31 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen has warned F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali not to tinker too hard with Formula 1’s basic race weekend format. Prior to the Australian GP weekend, Domenicali said he was pushing to eliminate as many practice sessions as possible from the existing schedule. And in Melbourne, many of the top drivers […]
Ricciardo eyes getting ‘back on the grid’ in 2024
Mar.31 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits he doesn’t want to settle in to ‘sabbatical’ life too much. When he lost his McLaren race seat, and signed up as a Red Bull third driver rather than seek a drive further down the grid, the 33-year-old said he was looking forward to time off. “It’s only been a […]
Sainz admits ‘concept problem’ with 2023 Ferrari
Mar.31 (GMM) Carlos Sainz admits Ferrari is starting to lose faith in the basic ‘concept’ of its 2023 car. Earlier, after disappointing showings in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, new team boss Frederic Vasseur insisted the basic concept is sound – with excessive tyre wear in the race more of a setup problem. But Spaniard Sainz […]
Norris cannot quit McLaren contract early – CEO
Mar.31 (GMM) McLaren supremo Zak Brown is not worried Lando Norris may be scouring his contract for an exit clause. The 23-year-old Briton is regarded as one of the top young drivers on the grid – and he has been linked with a potential move to a faster team. And so, at Woking, work is […]
Hamilton wants Mercedes cockpit position changed
Mar.31 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is pushing for a basic change to his seating position as he struggles to keep up with his much younger Mercedes teammate George Russell. Michael Masi, the ousted Australian race director who played such a highly controversial role in Hamilton’s 2021 title loss, is back in the paddock this weekend in […]
Hamilton ‘detractors’ push for Mercedes exit
Mar.30 (GMM) A former Formula 1 driver has played down rumours Lewis Hamilton could be on the way out of Mercedes. While major team funder and 30 percent owner Ineos is reportedly prepared to pay for a lucrative new contract with the 38-year-old, there are also “detractors”. That is the claim of Times newspaper correspondent […]
Big Ferrari changes to wait until Imola
Mar.30 (GMM) Ferrari is holding off major upgrades for its disappointing 2023 car until the team fully understands the reasons for the problems. Charles Leclerc said in Melbourne on Thursday that while he thinks winning the title is “still possible”, the Maranello team acknowledges it must aggressively develop the car. “We can’t fool ourselves by […]
‘No chance’ Perez can beat Verstappen
Mar.30 (GMM) Sergio Perez has “no chance” of beating Max Verstappen to the 2023 drivers’ title. That is the view of former F1 driver Christian Danner, who said Verstappen’s fight-back drive in Jeddah after a qualifying fault showed how the 25-year-old has developed as a back-to-back champion. “For the first few laps I didn’t even […]
Germany’s F1 demise ‘a tragedy’ – Haug
Mar.30 (GMM) The demise of German involvement and popularity in Formula 1 is a “tragedy”, according to former Mercedes engine boss Norbert Haug. “The term tragedy pretty much describes what Germany currently has to offer in Formula 1,” he told Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland. “Or, more accurately, what German currently does not have to offer.” “No […]