Jun.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen will appear “a little more” in the next series of the controversial yet popular official Formula 1 documentary Drive to Survive. The reigning world champion withdrew from featuring prominently in the latest series because he sees the way it is produced is “fake”. “There were some things I wasn’t happy about,” […]
Piquet denies racism over ‘N-word’ storm
Jun.30 (GMM) F1 legend Nelson Piquet says he was not being racist when he called fellow multiple world champion Lewis Hamilton an ‘N-word’. The world of Formula 1 reacted in disgust when Brazilian Piquet, whose daughter Kelly is dating Hamilton’s 2021 title rival Max Verstappen, was quoted as referred to the Mercedes driver as “neguinho”. […]
Barrichello won’t say Sainz is new ‘number 2’
Jun.30 (GMM) Rubens Barrichello has refused to weigh in on the discussion about whether Carlos Sainz is his modern-day successor as Ferrari’s ‘number 2’ driver. The Brazilian was one of the sport’s longest-serving veterans with 11 career victories, but he is best remembered as the clear secondary driver during Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher era. He thinks […]
Ricciardo relationship not broken – Brown
Jun.29 (GMM) Speculation Daniel Ricciardo may lose his McLaren seat at the end of the season appears to be fading for now. Team CEO Zak Brown caused a stir recently when he said there were “mechanisms” to extract the struggling Australian from his 2023 contract, as he had “generally not met his or our expectations”. […]
Schumacher struggle ‘typical’ of Haas – Grosjean
Jun.29 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s struggles in 2022 is part of a “typical” trend at Haas, according to his predecessor at the small Ferrari-linked American team. Romain Grosjean, who was replaced by young German Schumacher at the end of 2020 and now races in Indycar, agrees that it has “not been easy” for the 23-year-old so […]
Alonso could be five-time champion – Berger
Jun.29 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger says he is “100 percent sure” Fernando Alonso would be charging for the title this year at the wheel of a Red Bull or Ferrari. The comments come as Renault-owned Alpine reportedly dithers over whether to re-sign the 40-year-old Spaniard for 2023 or instead promote young reserve driver Oscar […]
Marko expects biggest ever crowd in Austria
Jun.29 (GMM) More spectators than ever will flock to the forthcoming Austrian GP, which will take place just days after this weekend’s race at Silverstone. “Sunday was sold out long ago,” said Dr Helmet Marko, the top Austrian official for Red Bull – owner and promoter of the F1 race at the Red Bull Ring. […]
Schumacher camp hits back at Porsche reports
Jun.29 (GMM) The camp surrounding F1 legend Michael Schumacher have denied he ever drove a Porsche Carrera GT. In recent days, the auction of a Porsche reportedly driven ‘in secret’ by the seven time world champion attracted widespread media attention. It is alleged that, because of Schumacher’s then contract with Ferrari, the great German got […]
Rules not to blame for porpoising – Smedley
Jun.29 (GMM) Formula 1’s new ground-effect regulations have been a success, according to former long-time Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley. The Briton is now data systems director and technical consultant for the Liberty Media-owned Formula One Group, in charge of about 100 people charged with analysing information to improve the sport’s ‘show’. “We have transferred methods […]
Tension resurfaces in new F1 racism scandal
Jun.29 (GMM) A new line of tension has opened up in Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with 2021 championship rival Max Verstappen. Footage of triple world champion Nelson Piquet calling the seven time world champion “neguinho” after Hamilton and Verstappen’s Silverstone crash last year has emerged. Formula 1, the FIA and almost every F1 team came out […]
Hamilton wants Russell to do ‘experiments’
Jun.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton wants to hand the mantle of experimental car setups to teammate George Russell ahead of the British pair’s home race this weekend. The seven time world champion called his Mercedes “undriveable” in Montreal practice recently but ultimately raced to the podium by Sunday. The problem on Friday appeared to be radical […]
Aston Martin hopes for quick Vettel decision
Jun.28 (GMM) Aston Martin is applying gentle pressure on Sebastian Vettel to sign up for 2023. The 34-year-old German, who was chided this week by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone for his political activism, is openly undecided about extending his career. Silverstone based Aston Martin, however, is keen to keep the quadruple world champion on […]
Mayor plays down Madrid’s F1 race bid
Jun.28 (GMM) The mayor of Madrid has played down reports the Spanish city could soon host a Formula 1 race. Days ago, it emerged that Madrid cabinet minister Enrique Lopez had written to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to “express our interest” in joining the sport’s ever-expanding annual calendar. “I would like to confirm our commitment […]
Brown worried Andretti F1 bid ‘dead’
Jun.28 (GMM) McLaren supremo Zak Brown is worried former team driver Michael Andretti’s bid to bring a new team into Formula 1 could be “dead”. Andretti Autosport is a big name not only in US-based motor racing but globally, including in the all-electric Formula 1 series. However, Formula 1 and the FIA appear reluctant to […]
F1, teams set to compromise over inflation crisis
Jun.27 (GMM) F1’s governing body has proposed to end the current budget cap argument by paying teams a fixed amount to counteract raging inflation. Although many of the smaller teams insist the $140 million budget cap should be strictly enforced this year, others – including Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari – argue that the inflation […]
Porsche still ‘confident’ about F1 entry
Jun.27 (GMM) Porsche is showing no signs of backing away from its stated intention to enter Formula 1 in 2026. Last week, we reported that Porsche and another Volkswagen-owned German carmaker – Audi – were getting nervous about the delayed confirmation of the next set of engine regulations. But Oliver Blume, Porsche’s CEO, seems comfortable […]
F1 inks massive new US television deal
Jun.27 (GMM) Formula 1 has managed to multiply the value of its television rights deal in the United States by a staggering factor of 15. That is the revelation of Sports Business Journal, reporting that Liberty Media-owned Formula One Management has leveraged the sport’s popularity explosion in the US in renewing its deal with ESPN […]
FIA lawyer tipped-off Toto Wolff – Ecclestone
Jun.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has no problem being the target of Formula 1’s political shark-tank at present. The Mercedes boss is being blasted by all sides at present, particularly on the topic of Mercedes’ struggles with the ‘porpoising’ phenomenon and Wolff’s supposed efforts to drive the FIA’s clampdown. He has even been accused […]
Vettel should drop interest in politics – Ecclestone
Jun.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel should stop worrying about global issues and instead re-set his full focus on Formula 1. That is the advice of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who was asked about the quadruple world champion’s current situation in the sport and his obvious new activism in environmental, social and political matters. “He’s not […]
Hamilton now happy to lose in 2022 – Ecclestone
Jun.27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton, who is the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, has stopped caring about winning. That is the sensational claim of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who thinks the seven time world champion may even be losing the support of his own Mercedes boss. “Toto (Wolff) is getting a bit fed […]