Jul.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has questioned the “timing” of the recent Nelson Piquet scandal. Just before Lewis Hamilton’s home British GP at Silverstone recently, video emerged of triple world champion Piquet calling the Mercedes driver an ‘N-word’ pejorative. It whipped up a firestorm of controversy, including calls for lifetime F1 bans and even criminal […]
Ferrari to argue against porpoising changes – VP
Jul.28 (GMM) Ferrari is not ruling out a protest against the controversial anti-‘porpoising’ clampdown in Formula 1. We reported last weekend that Red Bull and Ferrari are leading a coalition of six teams in total who are resisting the push for greater controls to prevent the aerodynamic phenomenon. They suspect that struggling Mercedes is behind […]
Filings show Porsche buying into Red Bull
Jul.28 (GMM) Porsche is buying a full 50 percent of Red Bull Racing, according to official document filings. It is well known that the Volkswagen-owned German sports car maker actually wanted to make its 2026 collaboration official at the Austrian GP recently. However, Formula 1’s all-new engine regulations for 2026 are still delayed – but […]
Monza eyeing record crowd for Italian GP
Jul.27 (GMM) Monza is preparing for a record crowd at this year’s Italian GP. Formula 1’s popularity is surging this year, which looks set to translate into a huge crowd at Monza as the Tifosi support Charles Leclerc’s title push. “We are still expanding the temporary stands so as not to leave anyone out,” said […]
No ‘politics’ in Red Bull vs Ferrari battle – Horner
Jul.27 (GMM) Red Bull is enjoying a more respectful head-to-head for the world championship in 2022, according to team boss Christian Horner. Last year, the energy drink-owned outfit’s duel with Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton was one of the most intense in Formula 1 history. Horner said Max Verstappen and Red Bull are enjoying the new […]
Red Bull to keep developing title-leading car
Jul.27 (GMM) Red Bull will keep its foot to the throttle on car upgrades despite Max Verstappen’s 63-point lead over Charles Leclerc with ten races left to run. Ferrari has been criticised – and even ridiculed – for what is becoming a comedy of driver and team errors despite having apparently the fastest car. “They […]
The ‘big difference’ between Leclerc and Verstappen
Jul.26 (GMM) The French GP only reinforced the “big difference” between 2022 title challenger Charles Leclerc and Formula 1’s reigning champion Max Verstappen. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, but even the highly partisan Italian press agrees that mistakes look set to cost Ferrari this year’s world championship. “No one […]
Promoter ‘not resigned’ to French GP axe
Jul.25 (GMM) French GP promoter Christian Estrosi insists he is “not resigned” to seeing the race drop off the Formula 1 calendar for 2023. Although the French GP boss and mayor of Nice dismissed suggestions the city he manages could rescue the event, he thinks the record crowd at Paul Ricard will give the sport […]
Dumping Briatore was biggest mistake – Kovalainen
Jul.25 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen admits his Formula 1 career may have been cut short because he split with Flavio Briatore. The now 40-year-old Finn was once one of F1’s most promising youngsters, having initially debuted for Briatore-run Renault before being signed by McLaren as Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning teammate in 2008. But Kovalainen then terminated his […]
Schumacher to miss out on upgraded Haas
Jul.25 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will miss out on Haas’ long-awaited upgrade package for its 2022 car this weekend in Hungary. The least-updated car on this year’s grid is the Ferrari-powered Haas, but f1-insider reports that there are only enough new parts for Kevin Magnussen. “We will hardly have spare parts even for one car,” admitted […]
Leclerc mistake a ‘pity’ for title duel – Marko
Jul.25 (GMM) Even Ferrari and Charles Leclerc’s closest rivals rued the crash on Sunday that spoiled a thrilling head-to-head with championship leader Max Verstappen. The Monaco-born driver was leading the French GP at Paul Ricard when he lost control and nosed into the barriers. An initial radio call about the throttle raised suspicions that Leclerc […]
Alpine, Williams admit Piastri ‘loan’ possible
Jul.24 (GMM) Alpine looks likely to ‘loan’ Oscar Piastri to Williams next year, clearing the path for Fernando Alonso to stay with the Renault-owned team in 2023. 40-year-old Alonso’s contract expires this year, with talks scheduled to come to a head over the summer break. “We are building scenarios for him,” said Alpine CEO Laurent […]
Wolff hopes ‘straightforward’ Vettel stays in F1
Jul.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff hopes his friend Sebastian Vettel can hang onto his place in Formula 1. While the quadruple world champion is in talks with Aston Martin and expected to sign a new deal for 2023, it is also clear that he has become somewhat disillusioned with the sport. He now regularly uses the […]
City of Nice will not rescue French GP – mayor
Jul.24 (GMM) Christian Estrosi has ruled out the city of Nice as the future host of the French GP. In the Paul Ricard paddock this weekend, most Formula 1 insiders are resigned to the fact that the circuit will not appear on the 2023 schedule. But Estrosi, who doubles as French GP president but also […]
F1’s ‘most feared woman’ laughs off criticism
Jul.24 (GMM) The FIA’s new secretary-general has laughed off claims her connections to Toto Wolff and Mercedes constitute a clear conflict of interest. Earlier this year, Shaila-Ann Rao – Wolff’s former lawyer and advisor – was controversially appointed in the top FIA role by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “Toto started all this nonsense about the […]
Marko applauds Ferrari for ‘clever’ Leclerc pole
Jul.24 (GMM) Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko applauded rival Formula 1 team Ferrari after Charles Leclerc secured pole position in France. “Ferrari played it very well,” he said, referring to the way Carlos Sainz gave his teammate an aerodynamic tow that ensured championship leader Max Verstappen could only start Sunday’s race at Paul Ricard from […]
Ferrari, Red Bull ‘on equal footing’ – Marko
Jul.23 (GMM) Mattia Binotto thinks the battle at Paul Ricard “will be about fractions of a second again”, even if Ferrari appeared to have its nose ahead in French GP practice. Championship leader Max Verstappen was beaten by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc two weeks ago in Austria, but Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko says he […]
Six teams reject ‘porpoising’ rule changes
Jul.23 (GMM) Up to six teams are resisting efforts for permanent rule changes next year to stamp out ‘porpoising’. Following the recent technical directive, Formula 1’s governing body is now pushing through permanent rule changes for 2023 – but top teams Red Bull and Ferrari are furious. “A significant rule change is being pushed through […]
Seidl rules out McLaren switch for Vettel
Jul.23 (GMM) Andreas Seidl has dismissed speculation Sebastian Vettel may make a shock switch to McLaren for 2023. Although quadruple world champion Vettel said at Paul Ricard that contract talks with Aston Martin have now begun, he was asked about rumours linking him to struggling Daniel Ricciardo’s seat. “I know some people there, but I […]
Vettel’s contract talks have begun ‘now’
Jul.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says talks with Aston Martin about a new contract for 2023 will kick off “now”. The Silverstone based team has made clear it wants to keep the quadruple world champion on board, but 35-year-old Vettel has also been linked with a shock switch to McLaren. “I think Lando (Norris) has a […]