Nov.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he’s sure Mercedes isn’t heading into a Ferrari-like period of championship drought. After almost completely dominating the initial ‘power unit’ era between 2014 and 2021, Lewis Hamilton failed to win a single grand prix this past season. Team boss Wolff says it was purely about the car. “It was our […]
Mazepin not giving up on F1 return
Nov.25 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he hasn’t abandoned his dream of racing in Formula 1. The Russian and his father’s company were expelled by the Haas team at the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. Since then, 23-year-old Mazepin has insisted that he would not return if it means agreeing with the FIA’s rules about denouncing […]
Alonso will thrive at Aston Martin – Briatore
Nov.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is a “rottweiler” who will survive and thrive at Aston Martin. That is the view of Flavio Briatore, who has been intimately wrapped up with the management of the 41-year-old’s entire and long Formula 1 career. Alonso’s latest move is from Alpine to Aston Martin for 2023 and 2024, where he […]
Verstappen denies pushing for Perez axe
Nov.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at rumours he might be pushing Sergio Perez out of the sister Red Bull cockpit. In Brazil, the picture of a harmonious team was smashed when the reigning world champion refused to let Perez past to maximise the Mexican’s chance of securing second overall in 2022. Perez’s father […]
Vettel could be eyeing Red Bull role
Nov.25 (GMM) Red Bull’s door is “open” to welcoming Sebastian Vettel in the event the quadruple world champion wants to re-enter Formula 1. The energy drink stable has just snapped up its out-of-work former grand prix winner Daniel Ricciardo for a test and marketing role in 2023. 35-year-old Vettel, however, may not be interested in […]
Mick’s uncle Ralf ‘wanted public fight’ – Steiner
Nov.24 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has hit back hard at axed Haas driver Mick Schumacher’s outspoken uncle Ralf. In the media, the pair have been at loggerheads in the second part of the 2022 season amid team boss Steiner’s criticism of Mick’s performance and apparent dithering over his 2023 contract. “We didn’t play any game for […]
Chinese GP not yet cancelled – F1
Nov.24 (GMM) Shanghai remains scheduled to host China’s return to the Formula 1 calendar next year after a three-year absence for covid. Since the Chinese GP was given an April race date on the 2023 schedule, scepticism has abounded that the country’s ultra-strict ‘covid-zero’ approach would be compatible with F1. “When I saw it was […]
Ricciardo won’t attend 24 races in 2023
Nov.24 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he won’t be attending all 24 grands prix in 2023. That is despite the fact that Red Bull has now confirmed widespread expectations that the 33-year-old Australian is returning to the team next year. The role will involve testing, marketing and simulator work. “Daniel will give us the chance to […]
F1 facing ‘three-way battle’ in 2023
Nov.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen is heading into his winter break vowing to keep the coveted number 1 on his Red Bull for 2023. Throughout his title reign, Lewis Hamilton opted to keep wearing his personal number 44. “Yes, I’ll compete again with the 1,” Verstappen, 25, is quoted by Speed Week. “For me that’s the […]
No new Red Bull talks with Porsche – Marko
Nov.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied that Red Bull’s negotiations with Porsche are set to resume. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem hinted recently that despite the breakdown in the initial talks between Red Bull and Porsche about 2026, talks with other teams are ongoing. So with Red Bull’s figurehead Dietrich Mateschitz having recently died, […]
Alonso more than happy with Aston Martin car
Nov.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso sounds more than happy with his new Formula 1 team. The Spaniard has switched from Alpine to Aston Martin for 2023, and he got off to an early start in Abu Dhabi with testing in an unbranded green car that was driven only last week by the now-retired Sebastian Vettel. On […]
Leclerc not ruling out Ferrari exit
Nov.23 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is not ruling out a move from Ferrari in the future. The Monaco-born driver, who is currently on a long-term contract, admitted that the 2022 season was “up and down” for the Maranello team. But Leclerc, 25, told France’s L’Equipe that “mistakes can happen when you push to the max” – […]
Wolff admits Ricciardo signing for Red Bull
Nov.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits Daniel Ricciardo is poised to sign a contract with Red Bull for 2023. The McLaren refugee had reportedly been in talks about a third driver role with both Red Bull, for whom he raced in Formula 1 previously, and fellow top team Mercedes. “There were certainly discussions,” Mercedes boss Wolff […]
Verstappen tackles ‘sadness’ when booed – Lammers
Nov.22 (GMM) Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers says he sees “sadness” in Max Verstappen’s eyes when he is booed by Formula 1 spectators. The booing is a relatively modern phenomenon in F1 that is also experienced regularly by seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. But in Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen marked the end of his […]
Perez’s father should ‘stay out’ of F1 – Villeneuve
Nov.22 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has urged Sergio Perez’s father to “stay out” of the controversial public discussions about his son’s place in Formula 1. After the team orders controversy of Brazil, the discord between Red Bull drivers Perez and Max Verstappen was still a topic of conversation in Abu Dhabi. That’s when Perez’s father Antonio […]
Three F1 names predict Vettel ‘comeback’
Nov.22 (GMM) Three well-known former Formula 1 drivers think Sebastian Vettel will return to the grid one day. Hans-Joachim Stuck, a German racing legend, said he was astonished by the celebrations of the quadruple world champion’s retirement last weekend in Abu Dhabi. “I can’t remember a driver ever getting such a farewell,” he told Sport1. […]
Alpine’s 2023 lineup ‘better’ than original plan – boss
Nov.22 (GMM) Team boss Otmar Szafnauer says Alpine’s 2023 teammate is “better” than the Renault-owned team’s original plan. The Enstone based team had intended to pair the continuing Esteban Ocon with Oscar Piastri next year – before rookie Piastri denied his 2023 contract was valid and he signed with McLaren. “I am happy because our […]
Russell beating Hamilton ‘irrelevant’ – Wolff
Nov.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff says it’s “irrelevant” that George Russell beat seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton in their first year as Mercedes teammates in 2022. Not only did Russell, 24, finished two places and 35 points ahead of Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, the more than decade-younger Briton also secured Mercedes’ sole race win […]
Hulkenberg not sorry about ousting Schumacher
Nov.22 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg insists he has “absolutely no worries” about becoming Kevin Magnussen’s teammate at Haas next year. The 35-year-old is returning to Formula 1 next year to replace his much younger German compatriot Mick Schumacher. Some think Haas boss Gunther Steiner was too hard on Schumacher. “Gunther is Gunther – that’s his management […]
Verstappen ‘done’ with long 2022 season – father
Nov.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father says the back-to-back reigning world champion is more than ready for the winter break. “Try not to do too much,” Max, 25, smiled when asked what he has planned for the short break that now lies ahead before the 2023 season gets into full swing. Ultimately, in the Abu Dhabi […]