Jan.31 (GMM) Audi’s Formula 1 boss has warned that the first couple of campaigns tackled by the Volkswagen-owned carmaker will be “tough”. Swiss-based Sauber, set to compete with the Alfa Romeo name for the last time this year, has a new title sponsor (Stake) and Group CEO in the form of Andreas Seidl for 2023. […]
Marko questions whether Saudis should own F1
Jan.30 (GMM) Outspoken Formula 1 team official Dr Helmut Marko has broken ranks to question whether the sport should be sold to Saudi Arabia. Last week, the sport’s current commercial rights holders Liberty Media lashed out at FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s alleged “unacceptable” interference in F1’s financial affairs. It followed the emergence of reports […]
F1 calls off planned car weight reduction
Jan.30 (GMM) A push to slightly reduce the weight of Formula 1 cars this year has been scrapped. Drivers, team officials and fans have often lamented the steady and dramatic rise in the cars’ weight over the years. Indeed, in the last ten years, the weight has increased from 642kg to a whopping 798kg in […]
Two F1 figures slam political speech ban
Jan.30 (GMM) Two leading Formula 1 figures have hit out at the FIA’s ban on political speech. Amid a recent spate of political slogans worn on t-shirts and helmets, and outspoken drivers on social and cultural issues including Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, the new FIA president instigated a clampdown. An FIA spokesman defended the […]
Ford opens door to F1 project with Red Bull
Jan.30 (GMM) Ford appears to have opened the door to a potentially-imminent future in Formula 1. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted last week that a new manufacturer could make an announcement within days. That tied in with speculation that Red Bull and Alpha Tauri chose New York City as the scene of their February […]
FIA defends president amid escalating F1 conflict
Jan.30 (GMM) The governing FIA has defended its president amid an escalating political climate in Formula 1. In recent days, weeks and months, it has become ever clearer that a rift is forming between the teams and Liberty Media on one side, and the newly Mohammed Ben Sulayem-led FIA. They have collided over the issues […]
No contract talks with drivers yet – Vasseur
Jan.27 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says he is yet to give any thought as to what Ferrari’s driver lineup will be beyond 2024. Currently, it is believed both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have firm deals through to the end of next year. “I joined Ferrari two weeks ago,” laughed Vasseur, Ferrari’s newly installed team principal, […]
‘Arrogant’ to make big early changes – Vasseur
Jan.27 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says it would be “arrogant” to sweep into power at Ferrari and immediately make big changes. Fresh from his departure at Sauber-Alfa Romeo, the Frenchman this week met with the media as the Ferrari drivers brushed off the winter rust with a test at Fiorano. “I was clear with Charles (Leclerc) […]
Losing Vowles to Williams ‘a surprise’ – Wolff
Jan.27 (GMM) Mercedes decided to release James Vowles from his contract so that the well-known strategy chief could become Williams’ new team boss from 2023. Initially, some believed Toto Wolff had played a smart strategic move by loaning Vowles to Mercedes-powered Williams to strengthen the teams’ political and technical collaborations. However, Wolff admits that losing […]
Alfa Romeo set to lose title sponsor
Jan.27 (GMM) Having lost boss Frederic Vasseur to Ferrari, Sauber-run Alfa Romeo now looks set to lose its title sponsor. Both Orlen, a Polish oil company, and its affiliated Polish driver Robert Kubica, are reportedly set to depart the Swiss-based team. And while Orlen could take up residency with a less prominent role at Alpha […]
No grand targets despite signing Alonso – Krack
Jan.26 (GMM) Wins and the Formula 1 title are not yet on Aston Martin’s radar for 2023. That is the insistence of boss Mike Krack, even though the Silverstone based team is now heralded as one of the most aggressively-developing and ambitious midfield teams on the grid. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has been signed […]
Ricciardo not needed in Red Bull sim – Verstappen
Jan.26 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen has bad news for Red Bull’s newly-signed test driver for 2023. In a move interpreted as clear pressure on the Dutchman’s current teammate Sergio Perez, the energy drink-owned team decided to sign former team driver and McLaren refugee Daniel Ricciardo as a tester and brand ambassador. Verstappen, however, doesn’t […]
Ferrari must avoid Vasseur ‘revolution’ – Pirro
Jan.26 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari need to resist the urge to bring “revolution” to Maranello, former Formula 1 driver Emanuele Pirro insists. Last year, the fabled Italian team looked set to mount a real challenge to eventual champions Red Bull – but repeated strategy errors in particular ultimately led to team boss Mattia Binotto […]
Hamilton not ‘begging’ for new contract – Wolff
Jan.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff denies that Lewis Hamilton is effectively ‘begging’ for a new Mercedes deal. For the past several weeks, rumours and reports have abounded as negotiations between the seven time world champion and Mercedes prepare to rev up. One interpretation, as outlined by the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, is that 37-year-old […]
Tost plays down Red Bull-Ford rumours
Jan.26 (GMM) Franz Tost has played down speculation Red Bull is preparing to announce a partnership with Ford. Some believe the fact that both Red Bull and sister team Alpha Tauri, which is run by Austrian Tost, intend to launch in New York early next month as a sign that the deal with the American […]
FIA ‘only rented out’ F1 rights – president
Jan.26 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem insists that Formula 1’s governing body will have a say on who controls the commercial rights. This week, F1’s American owner Liberty Media lashed back at Ben Sulayem after he said the FIA is “cautious” about reports that Saudi Arabia is interested in buying the sport for $20 […]
F1 warns FIA president over buyout comments
Jan.25 (GMM) The current owners of Formula 1 have lashed back at the president of the sport’s governing body. After it emerged that commercial rights holders Liberty Media had fielded a reported $20 billion offer from Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem sounded off on Twitter. “As the custodians of motorsport, […]
Vowles ‘taking engineers’ from Mercedes – Marko
Jan.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko does not think Williams is becoming a Mercedes ‘B team’. Recently, it was announced that Mercedes’ famed strategist James Vowles was leaving the former world champions to become team boss at Williams this year. And given Toto Wolff’s historical connection to Williams team, and the Oxfordshire-based outfit’s use of Mercedes […]
Marko unsure Ricciardo still at F1 level
Jan.25 (GMM) It is “difficult to judge” whether Daniel Ricciardo is still good enough for Formula 1. That is the frank admission of Dr Helmut Marko, who despite Ricciardo losing his McLaren seat decided to snap up the former Red Bull driver to be a test and ambassadorial driver for 2023. When asked how the […]
Sim outburst no ‘harm’ to Verstappen – Marko
Jan.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s passion for simulator racing does not “harm” Red Bull. That is the insistence of Dr Helmut Marko, the man most directly in charge of the energy drink company’s Formula 1 driver program. At the top of that program is back-to-back reigning world champion Verstappen, who recently lost his temper when computer […]