Sep.21 (GMM) Mercedes is in the process of deciding the basic “concept” of its 2023 car. It is of particular concern for seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has struggled arguably more than new teammate George Russell with the win-less current single seater. “Right now my focus is on expressing what I want for […]
Herta won’t fight FIA’s super license decision
Sep.20 (GMM) Colton Herta says he won’t fight the FIA’s decision to keep him out of Formula 1 for 2023. Although Red Bull wanted to facilitate Pierre Gasly’s move to Alpine next year by filling the Alpha Tauri seat with the Indycar star, Herta did not qualify for a mandatory F1 super license. “I understand […]
Piastri saga puts Alpine program under cloud
Sep.20 (GMM) Alpine’s young driver program is under a cloud as a result of the Oscar Piastri affair. Although the young Australian was funded and supported by the Renault-owned outfit since 2020, he controversially slipped out of his agreement and had his new McLaren deal cleared by the FIA’s contract recognition board. “Beyond our little […]
Ferrari needs ‘rhythm’ for 2023 battle – Sainz
Sep.20 (GMM) Ferrari’s focus is clearly shifting to the 2023 season, as Max Verstappen closes in on what appears to be an inevitable second drivers’ title. In fact, while it will rely on a particularly bad weekend for Ferrari and Charles Leclerc, the Red Bull star could theoretically wrap up the title next weekend in […]
Stroll doing better than Ricciardo – pundits
Sep.20 (GMM) Lance Stroll is underrated, according to former Formula 1 driver Marc Surer. The 23-year-old Canadian is often dismissed by purists as having a secure seat only because his billionaire father Lawrence owns Aston Martin. But Surer says Stroll is “a much better driver than you might think”. “Yes, it is difficult to call […]
Mazepin will not renounce Russia for F1 return
Sep.19 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin insists he will not return to Formula 1 if it means denouncing Russia. A renewed controversy surrounding the Ukraine conflict has emerged in Russia, with athletes including Dakar rally driver Konstantin Zhiltsov forced either to revoke their Russian citizenship or give up their professional careers. Earlier this year, Nikita Mazepin and […]
Verstappen camp plays down sponsor scandal
Sep.19 (GMM) A prominent and long-time personal sponsor of world champion Max Verstappen is at the centre of a major scandal in the Netherlands. The home belonging to supermarket chain Jumbo’s CEO and owner Frits van Eerd was raided by police last week amid what Eindhoven News described as a “large money laundering investigation”. The […]
Teams to blame for Monza safety car fizzer
Sep.19 (GMM) Formula 1 teams shouldn’t be pointing the finger at the governing FIA for the way in which the recent Italian GP at Monza ended, according to Andreas Seidl. F1 fans but also many prominent personalities of the sport, including Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto, blasted the FIA for ending the race behind a protracted […]
Herta dream over as de Vries meets with Marko
Sep.19 (GMM) Colton Herta’s Formula 1 dream is over for now after Red Bull gave up its push to secure a mandatory super license for the American star of Indycar racing. “We’re proceeding without Herta,” Auto Bild quoted Dr Helmut Marko as confirming, amid reports the FIA refused to give the 22-year-old an exemption to […]
Da Matta tipped to run Audi’s F1 project
Sep.15 (GMM) Cristiano da Matta, a former F1 driver, has emerged as a leading candidate to head Audi’s new works collaboration in Formula 1 from 2026. The Italian specialist newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that while Porsche’s future remains unclear, fellow Volkswagen-owned German marque Audi has now started an aggressive recruitment process. “The plan […]
All eyes on Hungary as ‘silly season’ races on
Sep.15 (GMM) Before Formula 1 moves on to the next world championship round in Singapore, all eyes will be on Hungary. That’s where, at the Hungaroring, Alpine will conduct a private test with a year-old car to assess an impressive shortlist of contenders to replace Fernando Alonso in 2023. The latest to join the action […]
Alesi backs Binotto to make Ferrari changes
Sep.14 (GMM) Former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi has backed Mattia Binotto to make changes to the fabled team in order to match Red Bull. The Frenchman, who drove for the Maranello outfit in the 90s, told Corriere della Sera newspaper that he is not one of those insiders calling for team boss Binotto to be […]
Red Bull, Alpine not giving up on Herta saga
Sep.14 (GMM) Red Bull and Alpine are not giving up on their plans surrounding Indycar star Colton Herta for the 2023 season. Renault-owned Alpine has reached an agreement with Red Bull to see Pierre Gasly released from his deal at Alpha Tauri to be Esteban Ocon’s teammate next year. American Herta, 22, has even secured […]
No ‘special lightweight car’ for Red Bull in 2022
Sep.14 (GMM) Red Bull will not be introducing a special lightweight chassis ahead of the final six grands prix of 2022. The team’s top Austrian official Dr Helmut Marko thinks runaway championship leader Max Verstappen could be on course to break the all-time record for most victories in a single season. “Max is now at […]
Italians slam Vettel for ‘flyover’ controversy
Sep.13 (GMM) Italian officials have slammed quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel for criticising an aircraft flyover ahead of Sunday’s Italian GP. La Gazzetta dello Sport quoted the German driver as blasting the grid flyover of a commercial airliner and the aerobatic military ‘Frecce Tricolori’, who spectacularly trailed smoke in the colours of the Italian flag. […]
Alpine, Williams eyeing de Vries for 2023
Sep.13 (GMM) Alpine may now be emerging as another potential full-time home for Formula 1’s rookie-of-the-moment Nyck de Vries in 2023. It now seems likely that the Dutchman will get a second consecutive grand prix at the wheel of a Williams in Singapore, as it emerges that Alex Albon suffered respiratory failure and spent time […]
F1 should ‘bring Masi back’ after Monza fizzer
Sep.13 (GMM) Formula 1 should consider reinstating its axed race director Michael Masi. That is the view of well-known Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, as the Italian media slammed the way Masi’s successors handled the end of the race at Monza last Sunday. “The centenary grand prix should not have ended like this,” La Gazzetta […]
‘Options open’ for Alfa Romeo’s post-F1 move
Sep.12 (GMM) Alfa Romeo could turn its attention to America once it leaves Formula 1 at the end of next year. With the Swiss team Sauber looking likely to pair up with Audi for 2026, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato confirmed at Monza that the Italian carmaker will drop its naming rights after 2023. Imperato […]
Williams may not sign de Vries for 2023 – Lammers
Sep.12 (GMM) Even his highly impressive Formula 1 debut at Monza may not guarantee Nyck de Vries a full-time race seat in 2023. Up and down pitlane, the sport’s most seasoned operators had to applaud the manner in which 27-year-old Dutchman de Vries handled his sudden F1 opportunity. It came after his planned Friday outing […]
Bottas ‘can’t say anything’ about Audi rumours
Sep.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is keeping conspicuously quiet about rumbling speculation about his future as a works Audi driver in Formula 1. After serving as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes on a series of one-year deals between 2017 and 2021, the Finn says he is enjoying the stark contrast of his role at Alfa Romeo. […]