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 […]
New F1-backed female racing series has ‘no chance’
Nov.19 (GMM) Formula 1’s plans for an all-female support category is already attracting early speculation. With the ‘W Series’ having packed up early in 2022 due to financial problems, Liberty Media-owned F1 on Friday announced the launch of a new women’s category – F1 Academy. Existing Formula 2 and F3 teams will run five three-car […]
Ricciardo not replacing Perez in 2023 – Marko
Nov.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko moved to put an early stop to wild rumours that Daniel Ricciardo could stay on the Formula 1 grid next year – in Sergio Perez’s place. The rumours were fuelled by the 79-year-old Austrian’s admission on Sky Deutschland ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale that Ricciardo will be the Red […]
Sainz wants F1 rule for deliberate crashes
Nov.18 (GMM) Red Bull touched down in Abu Dhabi determined to move on from a major spat between its two Formula 1 drivers. In a statement, the dominant 2022 team insisted it had “not agreed a strategy” prior to the race that involved Max Verstappen moving over for Sergio Perez. “This put Max, who has […]
Ocon ‘surprised’ by Alonso’s criticism
Nov.18 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he is “surprised” that his relationship with departing Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso is ending badly. The pair appeared to have gotten on well throughout their two years together since Alonso returned to Formula 1. But the two-time champion’s rhetoric changed markedly more recently, and after a clash in Brazil Alonso […]
Commenting on Binotto rumours ‘unnecessary’ – Sainz
Nov.18 (GMM) Carlos Sainz told reporters in Abu Dhabi, the last race of 2022, that he doesn’t want to speculate about Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto’s future. Authoritative Italian media sources, including the prestigious La Gazzetta dello Sport, think Ferrari and Stellantis president John Elkann has decided to oust Binotto and replace him in January by […]
Next move for Schumacher ‘private’ – Steiner
Nov.18 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says he doesn’t blame Mick Schumacher for Haas’ struggles in 2022. It was finally confirmed on Thursday that the 23-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher will be replaced next year by the more than decade-older Nico Hulkenberg. “Experience,” team boss Steiner said when asked why Hulkenberg is a better choice […]
Magnussen reveals ‘strange’ adventure in Brazil
Nov.18 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has revealed the alarming struggle he faced simply to return to the Formula 1 paddock last Sunday at Interlagos. The Haas driver was punted into a crash by Daniel Ricciardo at the start of the Brazilian GP – and then spent the entire rest of the afternoon trying to get back […]
Haas news to kick off busy 2022 finale
Nov.17 (GMM) A busy weekend lies ahead as Formula 1 rounds out the long and intense 2022 season in Abu Dhabi. Haas looks set to kick off the intrigue by confirming the departure of Mick Schumacher – to be replaced by the 12-years older fellow German Nico Hulkenberg. A press announcement has been scheduled for […]
Perez moves to end Verstappen spat
Nov.16 (GMM) Sergio Perez says his spat with Red Bull teammate and world champion Max Verstappen is “behind us” now. Some were wondering if the spat, triggered by Verstappen refusing to obey a team order in Brazil to bolster Perez’s chances of beating Charles Leclerc to second overall in the championship, had rendered their partnership […]
Another F1 name linked with Binotto’s job
Nov.16 (GMM) Ferrari has hit back at rumours that Mattia Binotto could be ousted as boss – just as a second familiar name is linked with the top job at Maranello. Multiple authoritative Italian media sources, including the notable sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, claim Italian Binotto will be ousted in January after the […]
Hulkenberg signing 2023 Haas contract on Tuesday
Nov.15 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is signing on the dotted line of his 2023 race contract on Tuesday, according to multiple authoritative sources including Bild newspaper. According to the reports, which include Italy’s leading sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport and the German broadcasters Sky and RTL, the 35-year-old German’s return to Formula 1 will then […]