Sep.28 (GMM) Formula 1 is already working on the next set of measures designed to spice up the sport’s spectacle. F1’s governing body, the FIA, announced on Tuesday that the amount of ‘sprint race’ weekends will be expanded from three to six from 2023. “The sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all […]
Verstappen is ‘very clear number 1’ at Red Bull
Sep.28 (GMM) There is no more “freaking out” in the character of soon-to-be double consecutive world champion Max Verstappen, according to Dr Helmut Marko. As head of the energy drink company’s F1 driver program, Marko is perhaps most responsible for bringing the now dominant 23-year-old into F1. The 79-year-old Austrian says his development as a […]
Red Bull ‘brave’ to reject Porsche deal – Wolff
Sep.27 (GMM) Red Bull is “brave” to have said no to a works Porsche collaboration and partial team buyout, according to Formula 1 rival Toto Wolff. Most insiders thought the Red Bull-Porsche deal was essentially set in stone until both sides confirmed that talks ultimately did not result in a deal. “It’s a brave strategy […]
Elkann misspoke over ‘number 1’ policy – Binotto
Sep.27 (GMM) Ferrari does not have a ‘number 1’ driver policy, Mattia Binotto insists. The issue returned to the headlines recently when the Maranello marque’s John Elkann said at Monza that Ferrari is aiming to win the title by 2026 “with Charles Leclerc in pole position”. But team boss Binotto insists that doesn’t mean Carlos […]
Briatore aims to ‘raise the bar’ in F1
Sep.27 (GMM) Flavio Briatore is aiming to “raise the bar” in Formula 1 with his new role. Once banned from the paddock over the ‘crashgate’ scandal of over a decade ago, the former Renault boss and driver manager is now back in a different role. “My contact with Bernie (Ecclestone) was never cut off,” he […]
F1 boss Brawn ‘stepping back’ from role
Sep.27 (GMM) Formula 1’s managing director says he wants to ‘step back’ from his role. Having entered retirement in the wake of his leading roles at Ferrari and Mercedes and even a year as Brawn GP team owner, the 67-year-old returned to F1 in 2017 to work for the sport’s new owners Liberty Media. “Life […]
Germany has given up on F1 race – Domenicali
Sep.27 (GMM) Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has slammed German officials for giving up on the German GP. In the not-too-distant past, the country had two races on the calendar – at Hockenheim and the Nurburgring. But now, Domenicali says he is the only one actively ruing the event’s absence. “If someone pushes for a […]
Hamilton in ‘twilight of his career’ – Brawn
Sep.27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is still charging for a record eighth drivers’ world championship. Some believe his narrow title loss to Max Verstappen last year, and his subsequent struggle with Mercedes’ 2022 car, should be a prelude to retirement for the 37-year-old. “Lewis is in the twilight of his career,” F1 managing director […]
Todt plays down rumours of Ferrari return
Sep.26 (GMM) Former FIA president Jean Todt has played down rumours that he might be poised to return to Ferrari. Prior to heading Formula 1’s governing body, the now 76-year-old Frenchman was the ultra-successful team principal at Ferrari throughout the Michael Schumacher era. Now, some insiders speculate that Todt might make a comeback to replace […]
Schumacher deserves another chance in F1 – Brawn
Sep.26 (GMM) Mick Schumacher deserves another chance to prove himself in Formula 1, according to Ross Brawn. Brawn, currently F1’s managing director, is well placed to comment about Schumacher’s current situation as he worked closely at both Ferrari and Mercedes with the German’s father Michael. He admits that the 23-year-old is “different from his father”. […]
South Africa now eyes 2024 F1 deal
Sep.26 (GMM) South Africa’s expected return to the Formula 1 calendar for 2023 collapsed for financial reasons. Many insiders had expected that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s push to add Kyalami to next year’s schedule would be successful, but the event is missing from the official 2023 calendar. “The reason is that the F1-appointed local promoter […]
Alfa Romeo eyes Haas as BMW says no to F1
Sep.26 (GMM) BMW says it will not be following Audi and Porsche into Formula 1. Although Porsche is yet to find an alternative after the Red Bull option was scuppered, the VW-owned German brands were enticed into F1 because of the engine regulation changes for 2026. But BMW’s racing boss Andreas Roos insisted: “We are […]
Alpine undecided over Piastri legal action
Sep.26 (GMM) Alpine is looking into whether to pursue legal action against Oscar Piastri. The Renault-owned team questioned the 21-year-old Australian’s integrity after he shunned the Alpine development program and even the prospect of a 2023 race seat with the team in favour of a contract with McLaren. However, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi makes clear […]
Binotto calls for engine penalty rule re-think
Sep.23 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has called on Formula 1 to consider a change to the sport’s long-life engine rules. After Monza, where the grid order was once again shaken up by a spate of grid penalties for engine component changes, Alpine driver Esteban Ocon called for a re-think. “Obviously no manufacturer is able to provide […]
De Vries unable to do pre-Singapore sim testing
Sep.23 (GMM) Nyck de Vries is travelling to Singapore next week where he could reprise his stand-in role for Alex Albon at Williams. The Dutchman, who is in the running for the vacant race seats at Williams but also Alpine and Alpha Tauri for 2023, tested a year-old Alpine in Hungary this week. He was […]
Axed Red Bull star reveals Marko nightmares
Sep.23 (GMM) A former Red Bull driver in Formula 1 says he still has nightmares about Dr Helmut Marko. Jaime Alguersuari was left disillusioned with motor racing altogether after he was dumped by the energy drink company’s F1 program. The Spaniard, now 32, became a DJ after quitting motorsport at the age of 25. “At […]
Colombia could join F1 calendar in 2024
Sep.23 (GMM) Colombia has become the latest country interested in joining Formula 1’s ever-expanding race calendar. With the publication of the official schedule for 2023, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he was proud that “new venues” were signing up amid the “retention of traditional events”. One of the next ‘new venues’ in F1 could […]
Father to be trackside for Verstappen’s second title
Sep.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s famous father says he will be trackside at the next two grands prix in case the runaway world championship leader wraps up his second title. Mathematically, the Red Bull star can secure his back-to-back drivers’ title triumph in Singapore next weekend – although it is more likely to happen a week […]
Zhou admits 2023 race seat ‘not decided yet’
Sep.22 (GMM) Guanyu Zhou is still not worried that he will be left without a race seat in Formula 1 next year. The Chinese rookie says Alfa Romeo is “very happy” with him – but the Sauber-run team is still yet to confirm that he will be staying alongside Valtteri Bottas next year. “It is […]
‘Fans would love’ Hulkenberg at Haas – boss
Sep.22 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg appears to be at the top of Haas’ shortlist of drivers to pair with Kevin Magnussen next year. The American team’s boss says it’s only “50-50” that Mick Schumacher will be re-signed for 2023. 23-year-old Schumacher also appears to have lost the support of Ferrari’s development academy. “We said that it […]