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, […]
Ricciardo ‘not at level’ of Verstappen, Perez – Marko
May 26 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has dealt a major blow to Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of a return to the very top in Formula 1. Although Australian Ricciardo, 33, will do some testing in Red Bull’s 2023 car this year, Marko says he is not a candidate to actually race. “Where is Ricciardo compared to […]
Red Bull losing Honda ‘a shame’ – Verstappen
May 26 (GMM) Max Verstappen says it’s “a shame” that Red Bull is losing Honda’s works support. Aston Martin and Honda announced this week that they are teaming up for new engine regulations era that will kick off in 2026. “It’s a bit of a shame,” world champion Max Verstappen, who looks set to win […]
Verstappen tells de Vries to not make rumours ‘bigger’
May 26 (GMM) Max Verstappen has urged Dutch countryman Nyck de Vries to stay calm amid raging speculation about his Formula 1 future. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko recently admitted the Alpha Tauri rookie is on a “yellow card” – and now he uses a boxing analogy in saying the 28-year-old is “in the count”. […]
FIA on alert for Monaco Q3 ‘mistakes’
May 26 (GMM) The FIA will be keeping a close eye on driver ‘mistakes’ in the decisive Q3 phase of qualifying in Monaco on Saturday, according to Carlos Sainz. Due to the near-impossibility of overtaking on the fabled streets, qualifying position is more important at Monaco than anywhere else on the calendar. It is therefore […]
Vasseur jokes amid swirling Hamilton rumours
May 26 (GMM) The big topic in the Monaco paddock so far is Lewis Hamilton’s rumoured talks with Ferrari about a 2024 contract. Current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz said he was taking the media coverage with a pinch of salt. “Yesterday it was me at Audi, then it was Charles (Leclerc) at Mercedes. Now it’s […]
2025 could be final Monaco GP – Boeri
May 25 (GMM) It is possible 2025 could be the final Monaco GP. That is the alarming warning of Michel Boeri, who has been president of the famous Automobile Club de Monaco since 1972. But the streets of Monte Carlo have played host to Formula 1 for much longer than that – but it could […]
Aston Martin to be sole Honda team for now
May 25 (GMM) Aston Martin will be the only recipient of works Honda engines in 2026, Japanese official Koji Watanabe insists. Team owner Lawrence Stroll was on hand in Tokyo for Wednesday’s big announcement, but Honda president Toshihiro Sanbe denied that the F1 deal is a precursor to joint Honda-Aston Martin road car projects. “This […]