Aug.3 (GMM) Formula 1’s ‘silly season’ has exploded into high drama just as the sport prepares to enter its August break. Otmar Szafnauer admits Fernando Alonso’s decision to turn down a one-year deal and instead sign what is believed to be a $25 million per season multi-year contract with Aston Martin caught Renault-owned Alpine by […]
Kvyat ‘refused’ to denounce Russia – official
Aug.1 (GMM) Former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat “refused” to denounce Russia in order to continue his FIA-sanctioned motor racing career. That is the claim of Viktor Kiryanov, the president of Russia’s automobile federation and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council since 2009. He was speaking after Kvyat made his debut in America’s […]
Alonso’s Alpine future to be clear by Spa – boss
Aug.1 (GMM) Only “little things” stand in the way of a new contract between Fernando Alonso and Alpine for the 2023 season. When Sebastian Vettel announced his impending retirement from Formula 1 and Aston Martin, Spaniard Alonso grinned to Spanish reporters in Hungary: “This is good news for me.” Indeed, the newly-41-year-old is currently in […]
More porpoising risks driver ‘brain damage’ – Wolff
Aug.1 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are opening the door to drivers sustaining “brain damage” if they try to block the FIA’s proposed anti-porpoising rules for 2023. At least six teams, led by Ferrari and Red Bull, are opposing the proposed changes – while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff leads the call for the rules on the […]
Mick ‘first’ in line for Vettel seat – Schumacher
Aug.1 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher says his own nephew Mick should be a leading candidate to replace fellow German Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in 2023. On the face of it, the recommendation from the former Formula 1 driver – whose brother Michael is Mick’s famous father – is obvious. But Vettel has also tipped Schumacher, […]
Heads might roll at Ferrari over break – Schumacher
Aug.1 (GMM) Insiders wondered if a couple of Ferrari heads might be on the chopping block over Formula 1’s August break following another clear strategy blunder. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher said the decision to put Charles Leclerc on the hard tyre for his final stint of the Hungarian GP was “incomprehensible”. “I don’t think […]
Vettel to ‘save bees’ rather than race – Berger
Jul.31 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not interested in a move to the German touring car series DTM for 2023, according to series boss Gerhard Berger. Quadruple world champion Vettel, 35, shocked the world of Formula 1 by announcing his impending retirement earlier this weekend in Hungary. However, he refused to rule out a return to […]
Kvyat can race despite Russian sanctions
Jul.31 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he can return to international racing categories even despite the purge of Russian drivers and athletes from the world stage. Nikita Mazepin and his sponsor Uralkali were kicked out of Haas and Formula 1 this year over the Russia-Ukraine crisis, while Robert Shwartzman was only able to stay at Ferrari […]
Albon doesn’t want Aston Martin switch – boss
Jul.31 (GMM) Alex Albon is not interested in moving from Williams to Aston Martin. That, however, is not the claim of the British-born Thai driver himself, who has impressed since being loaned by Red Bull to the Grove-based team for 2022. When Sebastian Vettel announced his impending retirement a few days ago, 26-year-old Albon’s name […]
Perez ‘too far away’ from Verstappen – Marko
Jul.31 (GMM) He already has a new two-year deal through 2024, but Sergio Perez has not escaped a back-to-back rebuke by Red Bull’s top official Dr Helmut Marko. “He is too far away from Max at the moment,” the 79-year-old said in Hungary. That rebuke was just a week after Mexican Perez was also chided […]
‘Nine teams’ look to copy Aston Martin innovation
Jul.31 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are looking into Aston Martin’s rear wing innovation that emerged in Hungary this weekend. Pundits referred to the ‘armchair’-style additions to the endplates on Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll’s green cars that make the rear wing more resemble the high-downforce wings of 2021. “I guess if it complies with the […]
Engine parts change for Verstappen in Hungary
Jul.31 (GMM) Red Bull may need to change parts on Max Verstappen’s power unit ahead of the Hungarian GP on Sunday. “It was a mechanical problem,” said Dr Helmut Marko, after Verstappen qualified just tenth at the circuit near Budapest on Saturday. “In his second run he didn’t have the full engine power at his […]
No Red Bull-Porsche ‘celebrations’ yet – Marko
Jul.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says it’s “premature” to start celebrating Red Bull’s works Formula 1 collaboration and 50 percent buyout by Porsche for 2026 and beyond. Leaked company filings this week showed that Volkswagen-owned Porsche is buying half of the energy drink company’s premier F1 team. “I’m not allowed to accept congratulations yet,” Red […]
Red Bull resigned to Ferrari dominance in Hungary
Jul.30 (GMM) Red Bull is resigned to trailing behind championship rivals Ferrari this weekend in Hungary. Championship leader Max Verstappen’s team knew the tight and twisty Hungaroring circuit would suit Ferrari’s aerodynamic strengths in 2022. But when the extent of the gap became clear on Friday, Dr Helmut Marko predicted that the Hungarian GP would […]
Haas boss hits back at ‘white Ferrari’ jibe
Jul.29 (GMM) Team boss Gunther Steiner has defended Haas amid claims the updated car revealed in Hungary might aptly be described as a ‘white Ferrari’. Only Kevin Magnussen will be at the wheel of the American team’s long-awaited update this weekend in Budapest, with early photos of the car revealing key visual similarities to engine […]
McLaren facing F1 legal battle over Palou
Jul.29 (GMM) McLaren looks set for a legal battle over the services of reigning Indycar champion Alex Palou. McLaren and the 25-year-old Spaniard shocked the racing world recently when it was revealed that Palou would be heading to Formula 1 in some capacity next year. Palou’s current team, the top Indycar outfit Chip Ganassi, is […]
Schumacher, Ricciardo play down Aston Martin link
Jul.29 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is not dismissing early speculation that he could replace his mentor and countryman Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin next year. After his shock retirement announcement on Thursday, German Vettel admitted that Schumacher might be a potential candidate to replace him. “I have my job here,” said 23-year-old Schumacher, who struggled at […]
Candidates build for Vettel’s vacant 2023 seat
Jul.29 (GMM) A list of potential successors for the retiring Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin is already starting to build. Team boss Mike Krack had made no secret in past weeks and days about his desire to ink a new contract with the 35-year-old for 2023. “It’s obviously a setback for the team, but that’s […]
Vettel’s father reveals 2022 ‘low point’
Jul.29 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s father says the quadruple world champion inched close to his decision to retire from Formula 1 after the recent Austrian GP. Until then, the 35-year-old German and Aston Martin were in talks about a new contract for 2023. Ultimately, Vettel announced his decision to quit F1 ahead of the Hungarian GP […]
Red Bull admits F1 ‘discussions’ with Porsche
Jul.29 (GMM) Red Bull has confirmed that “constructive discussions” are taking place with Porsche. Mandatory antitrust filings with about 20 non-European countries have revealed that the two companies are working on a 50 percent buyout of Red Bull Racing by the Volkswagen-owned German sports car maker. Eric van Haren, the correspondent for the Dutch newspaper […]