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 […]
Three more manufacturers eyeing F1 in 2026
Nov.21 (GMM) Honda, Porsche and perhaps even Ford may be about to surprise the Formula 1 world by signing up for the new 2026 engine rules. According to Auto Motor und Sport, although some think Honda’s potential decision would be a deeper collaboration with Red Bull, the energy drink company appears determined to maintain full […]
Vettel could return as F1 team boss – Marko
Nov.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel could return to Formula 1 as a driver – or even a team boss. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, a top Red Bull official who as head of Red Bull’s driver program brought a then teenaged Vettel onto the grid some 15 years ago. Abu Dhabi was a […]
Sargeant ends Schumacher’s F1 hopes for 2023
Nov.21 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s last chance of staying on the Formula 1 grid in 2023 evaporated in Abu Dhabi. Williams boss Jost Capito had admitted there was still a 2 percent chance a race seat could open up again if Logan Sargeant did not secure his F1 super license. But the 21-year-old American ultimately secured […]
Ferrari yet to sign up for F1’s 2026 rules
Nov.20 (GMM) Ferrari is yet to sign up for Formula 1’s new engine rules in 2026. Initially, the FIA set a deadline of October 15 for the 2026 entries – but it was then extended as talks about the new rules rolled on and only Audi signed up. A new deadline of November 15 was […]
President says FIA lawyer did not leak Red Bull news
Nov.20 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has lashed back at suggestions a former Toto Wolff-linked lawyer is the source of a media leak. Ever since Shaila-Ann Rao was made the FIA’s interim secretary general of sport earlier this year, many wondered if her previous links to Wolff and Mercedes would bias her decisions. Then, […]
Haas gave Schumacher ‘time’ to shine – Hulkenberg
Nov.20 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says Haas gave Mick Schumacher time to prove he deserved the Haas seat for 2023. The 35-year-old, who has been without a full-time race seat since 2019, says he began serious talks with the small American team “during the summer break”. “After that it was bit by bit,” Hulkenberg, in Abu […]
F1’s ‘big rule revolution’ didn’t work – Vettel
Nov.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is leaving Formula 1 after Sunday’s Abu Dhabi finale wondering if the sport was right to shake up the technical rules in 2022. He said that while 2021 was an ultra-intense and close thriller that went down to the wire, “It would have been better for the sport to have left […]
Verstappen, Perez’s fathers weigh into saga
Nov.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s respective fathers have weighed into the post-Brazilian GP saga. A week on from Verstappen’s ignored team order in Brazil, rumours suggest some teams may push the FIA to investigate claims it was payback for Perez supposedly deliberately crashing in Monaco qualifying. However, there appears to be no such […]
Schumacher keen on accepting Wolff’s offer
Nov.20 (GMM) Mick Schumacher seems keen to take up Toto Wolff’s offer of a role with the Mercedes team next year. Having lost his Haas seat, and failed to secure a cockpit elsewhere, it appears as though a Mercedes reserve role is the best option for the 23-year-old. Amid rumours his contract with the Ferrari […]
‘No foundation’ to Ferrari axe rumours – Binotto
Nov.20 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says rumours he is on the cusp of being ousted as Ferrari team boss are “with no foundation”. After missing the Brazilian GP, as did his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff, the pair are back trackside in Abu Dhabi for the 2022 season finale. During the week, Italian media have been speculating […]
Ricciardo not replacing Perez at Red Bull – Horner
Nov.20 (GMM) Christian Horner has joined fellow top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko in ruling out Daniel Ricciardo taking over from Sergio Perez next year. Although the news is not yet official, Marko let the cat out of the bag in Abu Dhabi by revealing that Australian Ricciardo, 33, will return to the energy […]
Binotto, Vasseur spotted in Abu Dhabi talks
Nov.19 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down the significance of a conspicuous meeting in the Abu Dhabi paddock with Mattia Binotto and Frederic Vasseur. Prompted by the Italian media, wild rumours are circulating at Yas Marina that Ferrari boss Binotto could be replaced as team boss early next year by Alfa Romeo’s Vasseur. Ferrari’s reshuffle […]
Zhou unsure F1 can race on in Shanghai
Nov.19 (GMM) Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou is worried his country’s Formula 1 race will be scratched for the fourth consecutive year in 2023. Shanghai is actually back on next year’s calendar with an April date, having sat out 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to covid restrictions. “First of all I’m very excited about the idea, […]
FIA not ruling out Perez deliberate crash probe
Nov.19 (GMM) The FIA is not currently looking into whether Sergio Perez crashed his Red Bull deliberately in the dying moments of Monaco qualifying. In Brazil and again ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale at Yas Marina, Max Verstappen hinted that he refused the team order at Interlagos as payback for Perez’s Monaco spin that […]
Wolff hints at reserve role for Mick Schumacher
Nov.19 (GMM) A role at Mercedes appears to be the likely next move for axed Haas driver Mick Schumacher. Boss Gunther Steiner said Haas needs the experience of Schumacher’s 2023 replacement Nico Hulkenberg, having also shown early interest in Daniel Ricciardo. “He (Ricciardo) never spoke to me. Still hasn’t,” Steiner said in Abu Dhabi. “Then […]