Dec.7 (GMM) The president of Portugal’s automobile federation admits Portimao is not the only contender to replace the axed 2023 Chinese GP. “Portugal is not the only interested country,” Fernando Machado Ni Armorim confirmed to Lusa news agency. “Turkey is also in the running,” he added. McLaren supremo Zak Brown, meanwhile, confirmed speculation that another […]
Rookie Piastri a ‘risk’ for McLaren – Steiner
Dec.7 (GMM) McLaren is taking a “risk” by putting rookie Oscar Piastri at the wheel in 2023. It has now emerged that the 21-year-old Australian has secured his Formula 1 super license, meaning he will definitely be on the Bahrain grid. It’s the opposite of the situation at Haas, where the inexperienced Mick Schumacher was […]
Ferrari to reveal Binotto successor by Christmas
Dec.7 (GMM) Ferrari reportedly intends to reveal the identity of Mattia Binotto’s replacement as team boss by Christmas. Italian specialist publications report that the Maranello based outfit has now made a decision, with current Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur believed to be the frontrunner. Also linked with the role was McLaren boss Andreas Seidl. […]
Shwartzman has ‘several options’ for 2023
Dec.7 (GMM) Robert Shwartzman says he will stay in touch with the Formula 1 paddock next year – but also wants to get back to racing. The Russian, who switched his racing license to Israel to avoid sanction for the Ukraine conflict, served as Ferrari’s full-time reserve in 2022 in the hope of landing on […]
Horner shoots down Ferrari team boss rumours
Dec.6 (GMM) Christian Horner has shot down any lingering rumours that he may be a candidate to replace ousted Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. The identity of Binotto’s replacement is still unclear, with one of the 53-year-old Italian’s final appointments set to be the forthcoming meeting of the World Motorsport Council in Bologna. However, Corriere […]
Verstappen has weight to lose over winter – boss
Dec.6 (GMM) Red Bull’s team boss says back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen has a few kilos to shed over the winter break. The energy drink company’s premier team, however, couldn’t be happier with the Dutchman, who dominated the 2022 season. And even with the 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel time over the next year, […]
Schumacher never considered for 2023 role – Marko
Dec.5 (GMM) Mick Schumacher was never considered for a reserve driver role at Red Bull in 2023, Dr Helmut Marko insists. Having lost his Haas race seat after two mixed seasons, 23-year-old Schumacher is now strongly linked with a test seat at Mercedes next year. “Imagine the chance he gets if one of the two […]
Alpine drivers must be ‘mature’ in 2023 – CEO
Dec.5 (GMM) Alpine’s two drivers will need to be “mature” in 2023, CEO Laurent Rossi insists. Pierre Gasly is moving from Alpha Tauri and the Red Bull family to the Renault-owned team for next year and beyond. But he is being paired with French countryman Esteban Ocon, amid reports the pair do not get along […]
F1 legend Berger linked with top Ferrari job
Dec.5 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger is being linked with the vacant top job at Ferrari’s iconic team. The 63-year-old, who had two separate stints at the wheel of the Italian team’s Formula 1 cars in the 80s and 90s, has most recently been boss of the German touring car series DTM. However, the Austrian […]
Tost admits to budget cap worries in 2022
Dec.5 (GMM) Alpha Tauri hit a development brick-wall in 2022 over fears of a budget cap breach, team boss Franz Tost has admitted. Sister team Red Bull Racing was embroiled in a budget cap scandal this year and penalised for the ‘minor’ overspend. At the same time, the junior outfit Alpha Tauri was struggling with […]
Verstappen already among F1 ‘greats’ – Coulthard
Dec.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen is “already one of the greats” of Formula 1 history, according to broadcaster and former driver David Coulthard. The Scot was responding to mainly social media memes suggesting that the 25-year-old Red Bull driver was only able to win his back-to-back titles in controversial circumstances. “Just as Lewis (Hamilton) doesn’t need […]
Portimao may not be Chinese GP replacement
Dec.5 (GMM) Portimao may not be the replacement race for the scratched 2022 Chinese GP. Formula 1 confirmed reports that due to the “covid-19 situation” in China, the sport’s scheduled return to Shanghai after a three-year absence will in fact not take place in April. “Formula 1 is assessing alternative options to replace the slot […]
Latifi lacked confidence in Williams cars
Dec.2 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi says a lack of confidence at the wheel is why he’s been left without a place in Formula 1. The Canadian became known as the driver who normally brought up the rear during his three seasons with Williams. “I just couldn’t find the confidence that was really needed,” Latifi, 27, told […]
Montezemolo ‘worried’ about Ferrari situation
Dec.2 (GMM) Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admits he is “worried” about his former team. Specialist German reports claim Sauber-Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur has now turned down Ferrari’s invitation for him to replace axed team boss Mattia Binotto. McLaren’s Andreas Seidl and Red Bull’s Christian Horner also reportedly said no, with many […]
Hong Kong billionaire eyes 11th F1 team
Dec.2 (GMM) British reports suggest new plans are afoot for an eleventh Formula 1 team. With Michael Andretti’s well-known US-based operation openly seeking an official entry, a new suitor has now emerged – Hong Kong life insurance billionaire Calvin Lo. The Mirror newspaper reports that he is in talks with “a number of teams and […]
Crypto sponsor collapse could affect ‘every F1 team’ – Wolff
Dec.2 (GMM) Every team may ultimately be affected by the high-profile and shock demise of the crytocurrency exchange FTX. The logos of the Bahamas-based company were removed from Mercedes’ works Formula 1 cars as FTX spectacularly crashed. But most of the other teams also have crypto deals in place, including Ferrari (Velas), Alpine (Binance), Red […]
Portugal to keep F1 calendar at 24 races
Dec.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Formula 1’s annual calendar should not exceed 20 races. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali this week admitted that he would not extend the schedule beyond the unprecedented 24 grands prix next year. Mercedes boss Wolff, however, thinks teams need to look after its people by rotating travelling staff on calendars longer […]
Alonso eyes non-racing F1 role after retirement
Dec.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is already looking beyond the end of his driving career in Formula 1. The 41-year-old Spaniard is now clearly the most experienced and oldest racer on the grid, as he switches from Alpine to Aston Martin on a two-season deal starting in 2023. He is quoted by the Dutch publication Formule […]
No risk Red Bull will quit Formula 1 – Marko
Dec.1 (GMM) There is no risk the death of Red Bull mastermind Dietrich Mateschitz will result in the energy drink company pulling out of Formula 1. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, who was fellow Austrian Mateschitz’s closest confidante for Red Bull’s F1 investments including two teams. “Our success speaks for itself,” the […]
Pirelli admits wet tyre must be improved
Dec.1 (GMM) Mario Isola admits Pirelli needs to improve its full-wet tyres. After the wet weather delays at Suzuka, quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel described the sport’s official rain tyres as “junk”. Pirelli’s F1 boss Isola doesn’t deny it. “We need to improve the full wets in terms of performance,” he told motorsport-magazin.com. “That is […]