Dec.14 (GMM) Haas will hit Formula 1’s budget limit in 2023, team boss Gunther Steiner has revealed. The small American team, eighth overall this year, ended the season by announcing that Ferrari-backed Mick Schumacher will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg in 2023. That is in part possible thanks to the arrival of a title sponsor […]
Hamilton plays down risk of Russell conflict
Dec.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton does not think his relationship with teammate George Russell will become strained in 2023. This year, 24-year-old Russell arrived at the works team to replace Valtteri Bottas – and not only out-scored seven time world champion Hamilton but became the only Mercedes race winner in 2022. Hamilton, 37, insists he wasn’t […]
Green light for F1 team now ‘really close’ – Andretti
Dec.14 (GMM) Michael Andretti is hoping the green light for his Formula 1 team aspirations will be “a nice Christmas present”. It is well known that the former McLaren driver, who now heads a US-based motor racing empire including a top Indycar team, is trying to convince F1, the FIA and the existing teams to […]
Honda ‘not necessarily’ set for full 2026 F1 return
Dec.14 (GMM) It is not yet certain that Honda will definitely return to Formula 1 with a fully-fledged works factory effort in 2026. That is despite the fact that the Japanese carmaker, currently involved at Red Bull with technical support from Honda Racing Corporation and on-car branding, has signed up for the sport’s next set […]
Vasseur arriving to Ferrari ‘conflict’
Dec.14 (GMM) Even before he starts work at Maranello on January 9, new Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur looks set to deal with immediate internal “conflict”. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, whose brother Michael famously dominated the sport at the wheel of a Ferrari early this century. Now, former Alfa […]
Biggest F1 team boss shake-up ‘in years’
Dec.14 (GMM) “One of the biggest managerial shake-ups in years” is taking place in Formula 1 just over a week before Christmas. That is how Britain’s Sun newspaper summed up the current round of perhaps-unprecedented musical chairs at the very top of the sport. Ferrari has now confirmed that Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur […]
Vandoorne not giving up on F1 yet
Dec.13 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he hasn’t given up on reviving his career in Formula 1. Now 30, the Belgian contested two full F1 seasons for McLaren in 2017 and 2018 but was overshadowed by the Honda debacle and teammate Fernando Alonso. He became a Mercedes F1 test and reserve driver after that whilst also […]
Long calendars ‘too much’ for Verstappen
Dec.13 (GMM) Reigning back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen says it’s Formula 1’s ever-expanding annual race calendars that will drive him off the grid. The 25-year-old Dutchman is openly declaring that he might call it quits after his 2028 contract with Red Bull – when he will be just 31. When asked by De Limburger newspaper […]
Honda signs up for new F1 engine rules in 2026
Dec.13 (GMM) Honda has signalled its intention to return to Formula 1 in earnest for the new engine regulations from 2026. The Japanese carmaker, having withdrawn as Red Bull’s works partner after Max Verstappen’s 2021 title win, remained with the team with technical support and ‘Honda Racing Corporation’ branding this year. Towards the end of […]
F1 looking beyond 2023 ‘sprint race’ expansion
Dec.13 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has defended the sport’s expansion of the ‘sprint race’ weekend format in 2023. For the past two years, three sprint weekends were held per season – but three more are being added for 2023 including Baku, Spa, Qatar and Austin. World champion Max Verstappen, however, is no fan of […]
Capito could be new Alfa Romeo boss – report
Dec.13 (GMM) Jost Capito has immediately leapt into potential contention to become the new team boss at Alfa Romeo. It is believed the Williams team boss, who was formerly the highly successful world rally boss at Volkswagen, is now a contender to lead Audi into Formula 1 at Sauber. After two years at Williams, the […]
French GP organiser to be disbanded this week
Dec.12 (GMM) The French GP is dead for now. Formula 1 and organisers of the event at Circuit Paul Ricard were unable to reach a deal for 2023 and beyond. However, the possibility that the venue at Le Castellet might return to the calendar in 2024 as part of an annual rotation deal with another […]
Perez ‘not worried’ about Ricciardo return
Dec.12 (GMM) Sergio Perez insists he is “not too worried” about Daniel Ricciardo’s return to Red Bull. With Australian Ricciardo having lost his race seat at McLaren for 2023, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner last week said he thinks the 33-year-old was “stupid” to have left the energy drink owned stable in 2018. The […]
Mazepin preparing for motor racing return
Dec.12 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin could be preparing for his return to circuit-based premier motor racing in February. The Russian, ousted by Haas along with his controversial father and sponsor Dmitry (Uralkali) over the Ukraine conflict, won in his category in the Russian Silk Way Rally in November. And according to Endurance-Info, the 23-year-old will take […]
F1 still ‘interesting’ for Porsche
Dec.12 (GMM) Formula 1 remains “interesting” to Porsche, the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker’s sports boss Thomas Laudenbach insists. Prior to sister brand Audi announcing its tie-up with Sauber for the new powertrain rules in 2026 and beyond, Porsche was in detailed talks with Red Bull Racing. “The fact that the cooperation with Red Bull didn’t work […]
F1 eyes reduced DRS influence for 2023
Dec.12 (GMM) Formula 1 is considering shortening various DRS overtaking zones for the 2023 season. A goal of the new technical rules that debuted last year was to improve the quality of the racing and the chances of overtaking. But many think the existing drag reduction system (DRS) innovation, enabling chasing drivers to open their […]
Vasseur a ‘very good team boss’ – Leclerc
Dec.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says Frederic Vasseur, the clear favourite to become Ferrari’s new boss, is a “very good team principal”. It is believed Frenchman Vasseur is finalising his departure from Sauber-Alfa Romeo this week – and has even already bought a new house near Maranello. One complication, according to Blick newspaper, is his work […]
Sauber founder names candidate to replace Vasseur
Dec.12 (GMM) Ferrari is reportedly set to lift the lid on Mattia Binotto’s successor as team boss this week. It is believed Frederic Vasseur is set to finalise his departure from Swiss-based Sauber, currently known in Formula 1 as Alfa Romeo, in the coming days. When asked if he is surprised that the Frenchman is […]
Binotto successor must handle driver pairing
Dec.12 (GMM) Ferrari’s new team boss will need to prioritise the relationship between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in 2023, according to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Under the ousted Mattia Binotto’s leadership, although many in the Formula 1 world see Leclerc as the top Ferrari driver, Spaniard Sainz enjoyed equal number 1 status. “Lewis Hamilton […]
Hamilton ‘no longer number 1’ at Mercedes
Dec.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has lost his de-facto status as Mercedes’ ‘number 1’ driver in Formula 1. That is the view of Sascha Roos, the long-time commentator for Sky Deutschland’s coverage of the sport. For 2022, Mercedes replaced Hamilton’s teammate of the previous five years – Valtteri Bottas – with the younger charger George Russell. […]