Aug.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton admits he lied about his piercings as Formula 1’s clampdown on the wearing of jewellery by drivers came into force this year. The seven time world champion admits he rebelled against the FIA over the issue, even though new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he was only acting in the interests […]
‘No evidence’ of Piastri deal collusion – Szafnauer
Aug.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Flavio Briatore may have “shared information” that led to the Oscar Piastri saga which appears destined for court. Spaniard Alonso triggered the ‘silly season’ shenanigans by opting to reject Alpine’s offer of a one-year contract extension for 2023 and switch to Aston Martin on a multi-season deal. Renault-owned […]
Porpoising rules impact to be ‘interesting’ – Wolff
Aug.9 (GMM) The impact of Formula 1’s anti-‘porpoising’ guidelines, which are set to debut just after the August break at Spa-Francorchamps, will be “very interesting” to observe. That is the view of Toto Wolff, who has been accused of lobbying the hardest for the changes. Even more contentious changes are on the way for 2023, […]
‘Thank God’ Honda staying with Red Bull – Marko
Aug.8 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is relieved Honda is staying in Formula 1 until the end of 2025. Officially, it has always been known that Red Bull would keep using the basic Honda power unit architecture even after the Japanese manufacturer’s official withdrawal from F1. But Marko explains that the original plan was for the […]
Binotto denies Ferrari needs personnel shakeup
Aug.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto could end up paying for Ferrari’s flagging championship hopes with his job. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who worked with the Italian team’s current team boss when he was still in charge of the engine program. “He’s a very good engineer – a very professional guy,” […]
Aston Martin expects rear wing copies in Singapore
Aug.8 (GMM) Aston Martin’s F1 team boss admits he will be “surprised” if copycat versions of a new rear wing concept do not appear after the August break. Alpine sporting boss Alan Permane thinks there will be “nine other teams” studying the idea after Hungary, where Aston Martin revealed an intriguing rear wing that appears […]
Money ‘likely’ reason for Alonso switch – Szafnauer
Aug.8 (GMM) It appears Aston Martin simply offered Fernando Alonso substantially more money than Alpine was willing to pay for 2023, according to Otmar Szafnauer. Szafnauer is uniquely qualified to comment on Alonso’s surprise 2023 team switch, as he was Aston Martin’s long-time team boss before he switched camps over the winter. It is believed […]
Alpine to claim ‘compensation’ for Piastri snub
Aug.8 (GMM) Alpine has a right to seek “compensation” if Oscar Piastri doesn’t make his Formula 1 debut for the Renault-owned team in 2023. That is the insistence of the Enstone based team’s new-in-2022 boss Otmar Szafnauer, whose former employer Aston Martin kicked off the latest ‘silly season’ shakeup by poaching Fernando Alonso for next […]
Prince involved in Monaco’s F1 contract talks
Aug.8 (GMM) The Prince of Monaco has intervened directly in the Principality’s troubled negotiations with Formula 1 over a new contract for 2023. That is the claim of long-time Monaco resident and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, as the sport prepares to unveil what is expected to be a 24-race schedule for next season. F1 […]
Perez ‘too young’ to consider F1 retirement
Aug.8 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he is “too young” to be considering following Formula 1 rival Sebastian Vettel into retirement. At the age of 35, quadruple world champion Vettel has called time on his own F1 career at the end of the 2022 season. Mexican Perez is currently 32, but he will be almost 35 […]
Haas calls off Schumacher contract talks
Aug.5 (GMM) Haas has called off all contract talks with Mick Schumacher for the duration of the August break, according to German broadcasters RTL and ntv. Boss Gunther Steiner had flagged F1’s calendar break as the right time to consider the small American team’s driver lineup for 2023, with Kevin Magnussen already under contract. But […]
Ferrari doing ‘everything wrong’ in 2022 – Marko
Aug.5 (GMM) Ferrari is doing “pretty much everything wrong” in the battle for the world championship, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Even though the Maranello-made car has arguably been quicker than Red Bull’s overall so far this year, Charles Leclerc is a whopping 80 points behind reigning champion Max Verstappen. When asked how […]
Mark Webber plays down Red Bull-Porsche link
Aug.5 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is “under a lot of pressure” because of Ferrari’s struggles with reliability and strategy blunders so far in 2022. That is the view of Mark Webber, who currently finds himself at the centre of Formula 1’s ‘silly season’ as manager of Alpine refugee Oscar Piastri. While his fellow Australian is linked […]
De Vries ‘flattered’ by Williams rumours
Aug.5 (GMM) Nyck de Vries says he is “flattered” that his name is being linked with the Williams race cockpit for 2023. It was rumoured that Alpine would ‘loan’ Oscar Piastri to Williams for the next two years, as the team privately acknowledges the need to move on from Nicholas Latifi. Dutchman de Vries, the […]
Vettel retirement ‘absolutely’ right decision – Marko
Aug.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he “absolutely” supports Sebastian Vettel’s decision to retire from Formula 1. Marko is head of Red Bull’s notorious driver program, which propelled the now 35-year-old German into Formula 1 and onto four drivers’ world titles. But after subsequent moves to Ferrari and Aston Martin, Vettel is now stepping back. […]
No Chinese sponsor boom at Alfa Romeo
Aug.5 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is yet to decide if Chinese rookie Guanyu Zhou will remain Valtteri Bottas’ teammate in 2023. Recently, the Swiss-based team’s technical boss Jan Monchaux said 23-year-old Guanyu had been “a surprise of the season”. “If you read back some of the comments of journalists last winter, they were quite sceptical – […]
Domenicali to offer Vettel new F1 job
Aug.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel may be offered a new job by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The Italian admitted in Hungary that quadruple world champion Vettel’s decision to retire at the age of 35 late this year came as a surprise. “I read it on the news,” said Domenicali last weekend. “Now I will speak […]
‘No doubt’ Red Bull, Ferrari pushing rules – Russell
Aug.4 (GMM) “A lot of lobbying” is still taking place as Formula 1 decides what to do about the so-called ‘porpoising’ phenomenon. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the aerodynamic bouncing caused by the reversion to ground-effect regulations this year risks the health and safety of the drivers. But the complaints have coincided with Mercedes falling […]
‘No problem’ with Alpine return for Ricciardo
Aug.4 (GMM) Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer says it would be “no problem at all” for Daniel Ricciardo to consider returning to the Renault-owned team. In the Enstone based team’s previous Cyril Abiteboul-run era, Ricciardo disappointed Renault by leaving the team to join McLaren. Now, however, he faces the prospect of racing out of Formula 1’s […]
Aston Martin not ‘backwards step’ for Alonso
Aug.4 (GMM) Aston Martin “needed a driver like Fernando Alonso” to push towards the front of the grid, according to fellow Spaniard and friend Pedro de la Rosa. 41-year-old Alonso’s mission at Alpine became known as ‘El Plan’ – but he is now jumping ship to the Silverstone based F1 team. “‘El Plan’ continues – […]