Feb.9 (GMM) Mick Schumacher could find himself in arguably the best cockpit on the Formula 1 grid as early as 2024. That is the view of the 23-year-old German’s uncle Ralf Schumacher, who also weighed into Mick’s career at Haas – especially when the relationship between the young driver and Gunther Steiner publicly broke down […]
Audi eyes top F1 engine by 2029 – Baker
Feb.9 (GMM) Audi wants its Formula 1 engines to be near the front of the grid by 2029. While that sounds like a long time for now, the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker will only fire up a power unit for the beginning of the new engine rules era in 2026. 25 percent of Sauber – currently […]
Boss not worried about ‘team killer’ Alonso
Feb.9 (GMM) Aston Martin boss Mike Krack says he’s not worried about Fernando Alonso’s reputation as a “team killer”. Amid its clear push to develop the Lawrence Stroll-owned Silverstone based team, Aston Martin signed 41-year-old former two-time champion Alonso to replace the retiring Vettel in 2023 and beyond. That is despite the feisty Spaniard’s reputation […]
Horner expects more powerful Ferrari engine
Feb.9 (GMM) Christian Horner expects Ferrari will field a more powerful Formula 1 car in 2023. Last year, the Maranello team’s initial challenge to Horner-led Red Bull ultimately petered out – but reports from Italy suggest the Ferrari power unit will be 30 horsepower better this season. The same reports suggest Ferrari’s chassis will also […]
FIA president takes step away from F1
Feb.9 (GMM) In the heat of obvious tension with the teams and Liberty Media, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed he is taking a step back. In recent days and weeks, the new-in-2022 president of Formula 1’s governing body has clashed with Liberty, the teams and drivers on a number of contentious issues. But […]
Bottas sees ‘many years’ ahead in F1 career
Feb.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is kicking off his 2023 campaign by insisting he still has “many years” in Formula 1 ahead of him. Many believed the Finn’s new Alfa Romeo-Sauber contract last year was for multiple seasons, but he says an early priority in 2023 will be contract talks. “I have no doubt I still […]
Sauber in trouble over new title sponsor
Feb.8 (GMM) Sauber has brushed off concerns it breached Swiss advertising laws during its reveal of the 2023 car on Tuesday. The Alfa Romeo-branded team has a new title sponsor this year – Stake, a Curacao-registered online casino and gambling portal. The Swiss newspaper Blick reports that the actual Stake logo, however, will only be […]
Steiner expecting no ‘problems’ with Schumacher
Feb.8 (GMM) Gunther Steiner isn’t expecting too much awkwardness when he bumps into Mick Schumacher in the F1 paddock this year. After months of tension and internal criticism of the young German driver in 2022, the Haas boss ultimately decided to oust Schumacher in favour of returning veteran Nico Hulkenberg. “There’s a reason why we […]
Alfa Romeo admits Red Bull-like car tweaks
Feb.8 (GMM) Some elements of Alfa Romeo’s newly-launched 2023 car have a distinct Red Bull flavour to them, technical boss Jan Monchaux admits. According to the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, Hinwil based Sauber’s French-German technical boss admitted the Red Bull-like changes to the car are “quite obvious”. “It’s just about acknowledging that a particular team […]
Red Bull lost patience with ‘indecisive’ Honda
Feb.8 (GMM) An “indecisive” Honda is the reason Red Bull is teaming up with Ford for the new Formula 1 regulations in 2026. That is the view of Christijan Albers, who agrees that the energy drink-owned team ruled out a collaboration with Porsche because the VW-owned brand wanted equity. Honda, though, is another story – […]
F1 will not ‘gag’ drivers’ speech – Domenicali
Feb.8 (GMM) Formula 1 will not “gag” its race drivers in 2023, the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali insists. In recent days and weeks, drivers and team bosses have been speaking out about controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s new guidelines against political speech and gestures. “We were supportive of the We Race As One initiative […]
New Alfa Romeo looks and ‘seems fast’ – Bottas
Feb.7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas thinks this year’s Alfa Romeo, the last Sauber to feature the name of the Italian carmaker ahead of the transition to Audi, will be “fast”. The now 25 percent Audi-owned Swiss-based team’s 2023 car is yet to be seen publicly ahead of the forthcoming launch event. But Finn Bottas is quoted […]
Vowles not present for 2023 Williams reveal
Feb.7 (GMM) Williams on Monday pulled the wraps off its livery for 2023 without new boss James Vowles being in attendance. While the new paint job is similar, the back-of-the-grid team has snapped up former McLaren sponsor Gulf Oil – but most were disappointed with the minor presence on the livery given recent rumours. And, […]
‘No place’ for Binotto at Red Bull
Feb.7 (GMM) There is “no place” for Mattia Binotto at Red Bull, team boss Christian Horner insists. When Binotto was ousted by Ferrari late last year for the Italian team’s 2022 errors, Horner admits being approached to potentially be the new boss was “flattering”. Horner says he is happy running Red Bull, but he doesn’t […]
FIA president now a Trump-like character – boss
Feb.6 (GMM) The president of F1’s governing body has become a Donald Trump or Elon Musk-like character. That is the view of one unnamed Formula 1 boss, as speculation of a growing rift between Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the team principals grows. The FIA boss was even threatened with legal consequences by F1 owner Liberty […]
Mercedes, not Ferrari, to be ‘first rival’ – Verstappen
Feb.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen says it’s “hard to tell” if Red Bull’s top rivals Ferrari and Mercedes will suffer as a result of their respective management shakeups. The back-to-back world champion told reporters he is heading into 2023 without considering himself the favourite. “I never really think about being the favourite because you have to […]
Ricciardo still happy with 2023 ‘rest’
Feb.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez has denied that Daniel Ricciardo’s new role at Red Bull is a worrying sign for his own future in Formula 1. Towards the end of last season, internal tension between the Mexican driver and world champion Max Verstappen became obvious over a team orders controversy. At around the same time, Red […]
Dutch rookie de Vries wins legal action
Feb.6 (GMM) Nyck de Vries says he is relieved to put a legal dispute behind him ahead of his full Formula 1 race debut in 2023. In January, it emerged that the Alpha Tauri rookie was being sued by his former Formula 2 backer Joroen Schothorst, who alleges a EUR 250,000 loan deal involved de […]
No ‘national will’ for French GP – Alesi
Feb.6 (GMM) France fell off the Formula 1 calendar because it lacks the “national will” to organise an annual grand prix. That is the claim of French F1 legend Jean Alesi, who after the circuit lost its grand prix following the 2022 edition has just become president at Paul Ricard. Now, the simple dissolution of […]
F1 CEO feared bias at Red Bull-Ford launch
Feb.6 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali caused a stir at Red Bull’s announcement of a 2026 Formula 1 tie-up with Ford last Friday. The Italian was even in the room in New York as the wraps were pulled off this year’s Red Bull and Domenicali was invited on stage during the live event. Initially, according […]