Nov.3 (GMM) Formula 1 has entered the Max Verstappen era, according to Haas boss Gunther Steiner. Although the 2021 season finale and this year’s budget cap scandal muddied the Dutchman’s achievements, Steiner says the Verstappen era is similar to the Hamilton, Vettel and Schumacher eras that preceded it. “Every era has its champion. In this […]
Penalties won’t throw Red Bull ‘off course’ – Marko
Nov.3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down the impact that Red Bull’s budget cap penalties will have on the team’s competitiveness going forward. One element of the fine for the ‘minor’ 2021 overspend is a $7 million fine. “Seven million dollars is a lot of money. But it won’t hurt them,” Gunther Steiner, boss […]
F1 equipment ‘arrived’ amid Brazil protests
Nov.3 (GMM) Brazil’s automobile federation CBA has responded to reports that Ferrari equipment was stuck in transit to the Interlagos circuit. Since Jair Bolsonaro reportedly lost the presidential election to left-wing candidate Lulu, huge protests and almost 400 road blockades have swept Brazil. We reported on Wednesday that a truck carrying fabled Formula 1 team […]
Steiner ‘a fool’ to oust Schumacher – Stuck
Nov.3 (GMM) Gunther Steiner would be a “fool” to show Mick Schumacher the exit door at Haas, according to German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck. With the small American team reportedly planning to name Kevin Magnussen’s 2023 teammate prior to Brazil next weekend, Steiner admits it is a 50-50 toss-up between Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg. […]
Gasly unsure Tsunoda ready to lead Alpha Tauri
Nov.3 (GMM) Pierre Gasly isn’t sure whether his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ready to lead Alpha Tauri from the cockpit. Frenchman Gasly is leaving the Red Bull orbit to join Renault-owned Alpine next year, as he is replaced by the highly rated 27-year-old rookie Nyck de Vries. Team boss Franz Tost admits it’s a risk. […]
Verstappen now among richest Dutchmen on earth
Nov.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen has been named among the 500 richest Dutch people on earth. The currently-dominant back-to-back world champion has slipped onto the list for the first time at 500th place, even though the cut-off for the list has risen by EUR 10 million to a minimum of EUR 120m net worth. 120 million […]
Gasly must be ‘careful’ to avoid race ban
Nov.2 (GMM) Pierre Gasly has been told to “be careful” by his next Formula 1 team – Alpine. The Frenchman is switching from Red Bull’s second F1 team, Alpha Tauri, to Renault-owned Alpine next year. But team boss Otmar Szafnauer admits he is nervous that Gasly may need to serve a race ban at some […]
Haas set to name 2023 driver before Brazil
Nov.2 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has all but confirmed rumours that Haas intends to finalise its 2023 driver lineup ahead of next weekend’s Brazilian GP. Mick Schumacher’s main rival for the race seat, his veteran German countryman Nico Hulkenberg, said after Mexico that he is “optimistic” of securing the deal. “We’re close now,” team boss Steiner […]
Protest blockades threaten Brazilian GP
Nov.2 (GMM) A cloud has moved above next weekend’s Brazilian GP in the shape of thousands of determined protesters. In the wake of the country’s presidential election, in which incumbent Jair Bolsonaro was defeated by the left-wing and mononymously-known Lula, huge protests and civil unrest has broken out. So far, it has been in the […]
Ferrari ‘stopped development’ of 2022 car ‘early’
Nov.2 (GMM) Mattia Binotto admits Ferrari’s pace may have trailed off at the tail end of the season due to switching focus to the 2023 car. After Mexico, where the Maranello based team notably struggled and Mercedes was dominant Red Bull’s main competitor, many wondered why that happened. “It’s unclear what is happening to Ferrari,” […]
Hulkenberg ‘optimistic’ about 2023 Haas seat
Nov.1 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is “optimistic” about returning to the Formula 1 grid in 2023. According to reports, the 35-year-old German – who has been out of the sport full-time since 2019 and most recently serving as Aston Martin reserve – is now more likely than Mick Schumacher to secure the Haas seat. […]
Ocon denies Alonso’s Alpine reliability claims
Nov.1 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has hit back at departing Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso’s claim that “only the number 14 car” breaks down in 2022. A frustrated Alonso intends to get his Aston Martin career up and running as quickly as possible by testing the green car in the post-Abu Dhabi test. “I think our legal […]
Wolff wore Ricciardo merchandise in Mexico
Nov.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff may have dropped a major hint about the identity of Mercedes’ next official reserve driver in Mexico. After weeks of leaving the door open, Daniel Ricciardo finally confirmed last weekend that he will “not be on the grid in 2023”. He will, however, “keep my foot in the door” in view […]
Domenicali touches down for Colombia GP talks
Nov.1 (GMM) Colombia’s chances of joining the ever-expanding Formula 1 calendar have been given a major boost. In September, we reported that the Colombian city of Barranquilla was bidding to become a F1 race host, with mayor Jaime Pumarejo confirming: “Representatives of Formula 1 have already visited the city and they like it”. And now, […]
FIA should give $7m fine to ‘a good cause’ – Horner
Nov.1 (GMM) Christian Horner says he hopes the FIA does “something good” with Red Bull’s $7 million fine over the budget cap saga. “It’s an enormous amount of money, payable within a 30 day period,” said the team boss. “Obviously it’s up to the FIA what they do with it, but we hope it goes […]
Red Bull to end Sky boycott in Brazil
Nov.1 (GMM) Red Bull and Max Verstappen will end their boycott of Sky’s Formula 1 coverage at the next grand prix in Brazil. Boss Christian Horner said the Dutch driver and the energy drink owned team had become a “cheap target” of many critics – including Sky’s F1 broadcasters in the UK, Germany and Italy […]
Schumacher’s Haas fate sealed after Mexico
Oct.31 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s fate at Haas may now have been sealed. It is rumoured the small American team has decided to split with the 23-year-old German, after owner Gene Haas indicated that only a late string of points-scoring results would safeguard his seat for 2023. In Mexico, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher […]
Ricciardo in talks with Mercedes and Red Bull – Wolff
Oct.31 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has finally confirmed that he “won’t be on the grid next year”. The eight-time grand prix winner turned down Haas’ offer of talks about a 2023 race seat after losing his place at McLaren. “I won’t be on the starting grid next year, but I will be here because I have […]
Ferrari, Alpine suffered in Mexican altitude
Oct.31 (GMM) Ferrari and Alpine struggled to cope with the thinner air throughout the Mexican GP weekend. At the fabled Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, the altitude is 2,238 – meaning much thinner air for the aerodynamics but also the power units. It emerged over the course of the weekend that Ferrari’s struggles for […]
Drivers concerned about Mexico GP security
Oct.31 (GMM) Organisers of the Mexican GP have vowed to improve the security situation for Formula 1 drivers when they return to the venue in future. Although the crowd at the fabled Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City is famously passionate, Lewis Hamilton was booed throughout proceedings on Sunday. “This has been an amazing crowd, […]