Dec.21 (GMM) Formula 1 is clamping down on political gestures and statements by drivers at grands prix. The FIA has revealed a ban on “political statements” from the start of the 2023 season, following the emergence of social activism by drivers including champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. No longer allowed is “the general making […]
Alpine’s F1 engine only ‘a tenth’ behind rivals
Dec.20 (GMM) Renault-owned Alpine has played down reports that becoming a Formula 1 frontrunner before 2026 will be impossible due to the current power unit. Some believe the current development ‘freeze’ until the new engine rules come into force in 2026, allied with Fernando Alonso’s complaints this year about reliability, mean that fourth in the […]
F1 sustainability heading in ‘illogical’ direction – Newey
Dec.20 (GMM) Adrian Newey has questioned the narrative surrounding the future of Formula 1 and motoring in general. Arguably the most famous designer in the sport’s history admits that the environment and sustainability are “big issues” that should be paid attention to. “Formula 1 can and must play a role in that,” Newey, the chief […]
Red Bull to pay Verstappen’s F1 license bill
Dec.20 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen has copped the highest-ever bill for a Formula 1 super license in the sport’s history. The credential, of course, is mandatory – and the cost for the driver is calculated on the basis of a base amount plus extra for every single point. In the end, it left Dutchman […]
Leclerc showed Sainz ‘new limits’ in 2022
Dec.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says Charles Leclerc’s pace in 2022 forced him to find new “limits” as a driver. The Spaniard had a good first season in red alongside Leclerc in 2021, but the 2022 car was much more competitive – and his teammate was clearly ahead early in the season. “This was the first […]
Vasseur can lead Ferrari to 2023 title – Grosjean
Dec.20 (GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean has backed fellow Frenchman Frederic Vasseur to handle his new role as Ferrari team boss. With Mattia Binotto ousted at the end of the season, his successor is Vasseur – the highly experienced motor racing manager whose last assignment was running the Alfa Romeo-branded Sauber team. “Ferrari […]
Porsche CEO says ‘we’ll see’ to new F1 talks
Dec.19 (GMM) Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has said “we’ll see” to speculation the famous Volkswagen-owned German sports car maker may still enter Formula 1. The FIA declared recently that following the breakdown of takeover talks with Red Bull Racing, Porsche is now looking into opportunities elsewhere in pitlane for the new 2026 engine rules. “The […]
Susie Wolff could be new Williams boss – reports
Dec.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff could see a familiar face in Formula 1 team principals’ meetings next year. Multiple authoritative sources – including Blick newspaper, Speed Week, f1-insider.com and others – are reporting that Susie Wolff is a leading candidate to become Williams’ next team boss. Susie Wolff, nee Stoddart, was a Williams test driver in […]
Perez should ‘accept’ no.2 status, Verstappen hints
Dec.19 (GMM) Without mentioning Sergio Perez’s name, world champion Max Verstappen has re-fired the potential for more tension with his teammate Sergio Perez. Mexican Perez insisted last week that he is “not too worried” about the new appointment of Verstappen’s successful former teammate Daniel Ricciardo as third driver for 2023. “We drivers are under a […]
Marko, new Red Bull boss on same page for F1 future
Dec.19 (GMM) Red Bull’s premier Formula 1 team, and new management at the famous energy drink company, are already on the same page. There had been some nervousness following the death in October of Red Bull’s co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz that his successors may not share the Austrian billionaire’s affection for F1. The new man in […]
Alonso, Vettel question success of new F1 cars
Dec.16 (GMM) Two world champions have questioned the success of Formula 1’s new-in-2022 ‘ground effect’ technical regulations. It was hoped the new cars would make it easier for chasing cars to follow and overtake their rivals. Quadruple title winner Sebastian Vettel said: “I don’t want to say it has failed, but certainly a lot of […]
Melbourne to share F1 season opener slot
Dec.16 (GMM) Melbourne will return to the top of the Formula 1 calendar – but not quite yet. Daniel Andrews, the premier of the state of Victoria, announced that Albert Park will continue to host the sport until “at least 2037”. “Part of the deal will see Melbourne host the first race of the Formula […]
Public to play minor role at Las Vegas GP
Dec.16 (GMM) The general public will not play a massive role in the inaugural Las Vegas GP next November. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has already warned that tickets will be unprecedentedly expensive for the event that will include a run down the fabled ‘Strip’. The sport’s owners, Liberty Media, have spent a reported quarter […]
F1 engineer Slade says Raikkonen ‘best driver’
Dec.16 (GMM) Highly experienced F1 engineer Mark Slade says retired 2007 world champion was in one way “the best driver I’ve ever worked with”. Slade, with a wealth of experience gathered at McLaren, Renault and Mercedes, moved recently to Haas where he now works with Kevin Magnussen. But he is most famous for engineering Raikkonen’s […]
Ford not denying Formula 1 rumours
Dec.16 (GMM) Ford is not denying speculation that it may re-enter Formula 1. The FIA has now published the 2023 entry list, and it shows that Red Bull will be powered by ‘Honda RBPT’ (Red Bull Powertrains) engines next year. It is yet another sign that Honda is backtracking on its decision to pull out […]
Schumacher needs ‘time to digest’ F1 demotion
Dec.16 (GMM) Mick Schumacher needs “warmth” in order to get his Formula 1 race career back on track. That is the view of German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, after Ferrari confirmed that 23-year-old axed Haas driver Schumacher has also been released by Ferrari’s development academy. In a statement, the Maranello team said the decision […]
Wind tunnel ban will ‘hurt’ Red Bull – Verstappen
Dec.15 (GMM) Reigning back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen admits losing wind tunnel time in 2023 will “hurt” Red Bull’s performance. As well as the $7 million fine for the ‘minor’ budget cap overspend, the new constructors’ world champions will also suffer a 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel time over the next 12 months. “Reducing […]
McLaren reserve Palou not counting on F1 future
Dec.15 (GMM) Alex Palou insists he hardly thinks about Formula 1 “at all” despite signing up to become McLaren’s reserve driver in 2023. Indeed, the 25-year-old Spaniard says his full focus remains on Indycar, where earlier this year he found himself in a tug-of-war as McLaren’s team in the US-based series tried to extract him […]
Peter Sauber offers ‘no names’ for team boss vacancy
Dec.15 (GMM) Team founder Peter Sauber is offering “no names” as Formula 1 wonders who will replace the Ferrari-bound Frederic Vasseur at Hinwil. Andreas Seidl, the McLaren principal, has been drafted to the role of Sauber CEO – but that will be a wider-reaching job as the Swiss team transitions to Audi over the next […]
Vasseur needs ‘time’ to shine in red – Sainz
Dec.15 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur needs “time” to settle into his new job as Ferrari team boss. That is the view of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, following Mattia Binotto’s ousting – with Sauber-Alfa Romeo chief and Frenchman Vasseur set to start work early in the new year. “I had my first contact with him as a […]