May 29 (GMM) Ferrari is pinning its hopes on key car upgrades that the fabled Italian team will unveil this weekend in Barcelona. Red Bull went to Monaco expecting that Ferrari’s slower-corner strength may pose a threat to the energy drink-owned team’s dominance in both qualifying and therefore the race. Ultimately, it was another messy […]
Momentum builds for French GP comeback
May 29 (GMM) Momentum is building as France aims to return to the Formula 1 calendar. Paul Ricard lost its place on the schedule amid mounting losses at the now-disbanded promoter – but there were plenty of signs of life behind the scenes in Monaco last weekend. RMC reports that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali met […]
Szafnauer uncomfortable with Alpine team structure
May 29 (GMM) Esteban Ocon raced through an apparent spat between his Alpine team bosses to put the Renault-owned team back on track in Monaco. In Miami recently, it became clear that new-in-2022 team boss Otmar Szafnauer was in the hot seat as Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi singled him out amid Alpine’s failure to improve […]
‘Patient’ de Vries tries to revive F1 career
May 29 (GMM) Nyck de Vries hopes he put his Formula 1 career back on track on the streets of Monaco. The 28-year-old Dutch rookie headed to the Principality having been warned by Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko that he perhaps only has three more races to rescue his seat after a disappointing start to […]
Apologetic Perez ‘broken’ after Monaco zero
May 29 (GMM) Max Verstappen looks set to enjoy a clear run to his third consecutive drivers’ title in 2023. His Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, travelled to Monaco determined not to let Verstappen’s points gap grow – but he left the Principality a hefty 39 points behind. “He’s broken,” former Formula 1 driver Giedo […]
Mekies still blocked from making Alpha Tauri move
May 28 (GMM) Laurent Mekies is currently blocked from leaving Ferrari in order to prepare to take over as Alpha Tauri team boss next year. Red Bull-owned Alpha Tauri made the announcement about Mekies’ forthcoming new role at the end of April – so early that Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur called the timing of the […]
Marko insists ‘no problem with Schumacher name’
May 28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at claims he has “a problem with the Schumacher name”. Last week, Mick Schumacher’s uncle Ralf suggested Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost actually wanted to sign Mick for 2023 rather than struggling rookie Nyck de Vries. Ralf says team owner Red Bull’s top Austrian official Marko […]
Marko slams Perez for ‘stupid’ qualifying crash
May 28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko lashed out at Sergio Perez’s “stupid” qualifying crash that may just have cost the Mexican his shot at the world championship. Trailing teammate Max Verstappen by 14 points in the drivers’ standings, Perez said Monaco was a critical weekend for him. “I don’t want him to start building that […]
Wolff slams ‘Cirque du Soleil’ Monaco crane
May 28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hit out at Monaco track workers for lifting Mercedes’ newly-launched ‘B’ car high in the air for all rivals to see in Monaco. After Lewis Hamilton crashed in the last practice session in Monte Carlo, a crane lifted his car high into the air – and within minutes high-resolution […]
No talks with other drivers amid Hamilton ‘pact’
May 28 (GMM) There are “no stumbling blocks” in Toto Wolff’s negotiations with Lewis Hamilton over a new Mercedes contract. The pair arrived in Monaco this week amid swirling rumours about a big-money offer to the seven time world champion supposedly made by Ferrari president John Elkann. Even Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko doesn’t believe […]
‘Political issues’ driving F1 future – Schumacher
May 27 (GMM) It is clear that Formula 1 is moving away from its European origins, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher. Automobile Club de Monaco chief Michel Boeri this week warned that the fabled Monaco GP could drop off the calendar after 2025 as Liberty Media shifts focus elsewhere. Some believe Monaco’s only chance […]
No F1 ‘doors’ open for Schumacher in 2024 – Wolff
May 27 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits Mick Schumacher may not be able to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2024. There have been rumours that the 24-year-old German, who lost his Haas race seat at the end of last season, could replace the struggling rookie Logan Sargeant at Mercedes-powered Williams. Schumacher is currently Mercedes’ […]
Vettel makes flying visit to Monaco paddock
May 27 (GMM) On his first visit to a Formula 1 paddock since retiring, Sebastian Vettel admitted he has “missed” the sport. Wearing a plain white shirt and blue pants, the quadruple world champion caught up with old colleagues at his former teams Red Bull and Aston Martin as he visited the Monaco paddock on […]
Alonso will stay in F1 after 2024 – de la Rosa
May 27 (GMM) One of Fernando Alonso’s most enduring colleagues and friends believes the Spaniard will stay in Formula 1 well into his mid-40s. With Aston Martin teaming up with Honda from 2026, many have wondered if 41-year-old Alonso will want to extend his stay with the team beyond next season. Honda president Toshihiro Sanbe […]
‘Reality caught up’ with Red Bull in Monaco
May 27 (GMM) Red Bull’s clean sweep of grand prix wins in 2023 could come to a halt this weekend in Monaco. The team knew that the particular strengths of the car – top speed and fast corners – would not be exercised on the tight Monte Carlo streets. “Max was super happy after the […]
Red Bull would have stuck with Honda for 2026
May 27 (GMM) Red Bull wouldn’t have set up its own engine division if the team knew a full works arrangement was on the table for 2026. World champion Max Verstappen, set to win his third consecutive Honda-powered drivers’ championship this season, said in Monaco that it’s a “shame” the Japanese manufacturer is switching from […]
Alonso’s manager says no Honda-powered negotiations yet
May 26 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s personal manager says it’s possible the 41-year-old will race with Honda works power in 2026. Although the two-time champion’s past Honda alliance at McLaren ended badly, Honda president Toshihiro Sanbe insisted he would not veto Aston Martin’s right to choose its own drivers for the next engine rules era. “The […]
Former F1 team boss ends Villeneuve’s Le Mans dream
May 26 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve’s quest for motorsport’s ‘triple crown’ has come crashing to a halt. Having already won the Formula 1 world championship and the Indy 500, the French Canadian was gearing up to race in the top Hypercar category in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. But former F1 team boss Colin […]
New sidepods not ‘magic trick’ for Mercedes – Russell
May 26 (GMM) The emergence of sidepods on Mercedes’ heavily updated 2023 car at Monaco won’t be a “magic trick” that blasts the struggling team back to P1. That is the warning of team driver George Russell after Red Bull-style sidepods emerged on the car concept that both this year and last year was dubbed […]
Ocon not commenting on CEO Rossi’s ‘criticism’
May 26 (GMM) Esteban Ocon in Monaco refused to comment on recent statements made by Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi. In Miami, Rossi warned there would be “consequences” for the Renault-owned team’s struggles in 2023, and pointed the finger at new team boss Otmar Szafnauer. “It hasn’t been an easy start to the season,” Szafnauer responded, […]