Feb.15 (GMM) As the wraps came off Ferrari’s 2023 car, new boss Frederic Vasseur hit back at the theory that the Maranello team has added 30 horsepower to its engine. “A joke,” the Frenchman told the Swiss newspaper Blick as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz put the first few laps on the visibly tweaked car […]
FIA must end F1 budget cap breach delays – Domenicali
Feb.14 (GMM) Formula 1 must speed up the process of dealing with potential breaches of the annual budget cap, Stefano Domenicali has admitted. Last year, the issue of Red Bull’s alleged minor overspend remained in limbo for weeks – ultimately culminating in a $7 million fine and 10 percent reduction in car development time. But […]
Tsunoda must score ‘a lot more points’ in 2023
Feb.14 (GMM) Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost says Yuki Tsunoda must score “a lot more points” in 2023. Japanese Tsunoda, 22, is kicking off his third consecutive season in Formula 1 with the second Red Bull-owned team. He was notably erratic on debut in 2021 and subsequently relocated at Dr Helmut Marko’s behest from the […]
Binotto tipped to return to F1 with Audi
Feb.14 (GMM) Well-known Italian journalist Leo Turrini thinks sacked Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto could re-emerge as Audi’s new Formula 1 boss. Last week, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he has “sympathy” for Binotto’s situation as he did a “good job” in charge of the Maranello team. However, both Horner and his Mercedes counterpart […]
FIA extends restrictions on Russian drivers
Feb.14 (GMM) As Nikita Mazepin secured a podium on his return to top-level circuit motor racing, the FIA has announced new measures relating to Russian drivers. Early last year, at the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the FIA introduced a measure requiring Russian drivers to sign a document denouncing their country. Several FIA-sanctioned Russian drivers […]
McLaren ‘not completely happy’ with 2023 car
Feb.14 (GMM) McLaren admits it is “not completely happy” with its newly-launched Formula 1 car for 2023. The latest teams to launch their respective cars for the new season are McLaren and Aston Martin – with Alpine carrying out a low-profile ‘shakedown’ at Silverstone. Red Bull boss Christian Horner is expecting the midfield teams to […]
Drivers must maintain Mercedes ‘harmony’ – Russell
Feb.13 (GMM) George Russell expects his “good relationship” with teammate Lewis Hamilton to continue in 2023 – even if they are wheel-to-wheel for the title. Felipe Massa, who so nearly beat seven time world champion Hamilton to the title in 2008, says the 38-year-old’s status came under threat last year as Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas […]
Ecclestone tells ‘truth’ about 1981 F1 injustice
Feb.13 (GMM) Former F1 driver Carlos Reutemann’s daughter says she is glad that Bernie Ecclestone confessed to interfering in the outcome of the 1981 world championship. In his early days of running the sport, Ecclestone doubled as owner of the Brabham team – whose Nelson Piquet arrived at the Las Vegas finale locked in a […]
Ben Sulayem limited to ‘strategic’ role – CEO
Feb.13 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali says FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is best to leave “everyday life” in Formula 1 to others. Amid a particularly tense moment between the sport’s governing body and the commercial rights holders at Liberty Media, Ben Sulayem told the teams last week that he will take a step back from the […]
Red Bull goes ‘full circle’ with Ford – Marko
Feb.13 (GMM) Red Bull’s preparations to defend Max Verstappen’s back-to-back world titles in 2023 are going “smoothly” and “on schedule”. That is the relaxed assessment of the energy drink company’s top F1 official Dr Helmut Marko, speaking as the premier team conducted a low-profile ‘shakedown’ run with the 2023 car at Silverstone. Dutchman Verstappen, again […]
Sargeant in F1 won’t ‘turn people on’ – Horner
Feb.13 (GMM) Formula 1 is unlikely to get a boost in popularity within American as a result of Florida-born Logan Sargeant’s race debut in 2023. That is the view of Red Bull boss Christian Horner, after the energy drink owned team decided to launch its new F1 season in New York. Red Bull-owned Alpha Tauri […]
‘Enormous pressure’ on Vasseur at Ferrari – Massa
Feb.13 (GMM) Former Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur insists he didn’t consult with Audi officials before taking up the offer to become Ferrari’s new chief. Frenchman Vasseur has swept into Maranello to replace the axed Mattia Binotto, leaving former McLaren chief Andreas Seidl to lead Sauber’s transition from Sauber to Audi for the future. […]
Andretti ‘not smart’ to pressure F1 – CEO
Feb.13 (GMM) Andretti officials are “not very smart” to denounce the existing Formula 1 team bosses as “greedy”, the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has instigated a process to potentially allow two new team entrants on the grid – and is openly backing the Andretti-Cadillac bid. Various existing F1 […]
Stroll a potential F1 champion – Alonso
Feb.13 (GMM) Lance Stroll is a potential world champion, his two-time title winning new teammate says. Fernando Alonso, the 41-year-old Spaniard who has moved from Alpine to Aston Martin over the winter, is paired this year with Stroll – the son of the team’s Canadian billionaire owner Lawrence. Alonso says he has ‘two or three’ […]
Verstappen settles dispute with Netflix
Feb.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks Formula 1 fans will get a “true image” of his character when the latest series of Netflix’s Drive to Survive drops later in February. It will be season 5 of the popular yet divisive documentary-style series – credited on one hand for F1’s surging popularity but criticised by some for […]
Las Vegas should sign ‘eternal’ F1 deal
Feb.10 (GMM) Formula 1 should stay in Las Vegas forever, according to a commissioner of the local jurisdiction Clark County. Commissioner Jim Gibson is quoted by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf as saying a three-year deal has been agreed with the local Liberty Media-linked promoters for an annual race including the fabled ‘Strip’. “We decided […]
Alfa Romeo not ruling out staying in F1
Feb.10 (GMM) Alfa Romeo’s CEO still isn’t sure if the Ferrari-linked Italian carmaker will stay in Formula 1 beyond 2023. After the season finale this year, the naming deal with Sauber expires. “We have gone our separate ways,” Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, referring to the Swiss-based team’s 2026 works deal and buyout by Audi, […]
Bottas not ruling out Audi-powered future
Feb.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits he is already beginning to think about an Audi-powered future in Formula 1. Currently, the former Mercedes driver is looking ahead to his second consecutive year with Alfa Romeo – and he says he would like to have contract extension talks early in 2023. It is believed the 33-year-old Finn’s […]
Piastri reputation at stake in 2023 – Eng
Feb.10 (GMM) Oscar Piastri’s first year on the Formula 1 grid will be critical for his stellar reputation. That is the view of Austrian racing driver Phillip Eng, although Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer thinks rookie Piastri’s most recent reputation is that of a disloyal junior. “Species that cooperate survive,” Szafnauer is quoted as saying. “Species […]
No race seat for Ricciardo ‘his choice’ – Albon
Feb.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he will assess whether he has the motivation to return to Formula 1 around mid-season. Similar to Alex Albon a few years ago, the Australian lost his race seat for 2023 following some disappointing campaigns for McLaren. Having lost his Red Bull seat, Albon – now firmly at Williams – […]