Jun.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen is having an “easy time” en route to his second consecutive drivers’ world championship, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The 91-year-old, who ran Formula 1 for decades until the Liberty Media era began five years ago, has always consistently said that a competitive Ferrari is crucial to the sport’s […]
Axed Mazepin suing Haas over unpaid wages
Jun.21 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has confirmed that he is proceeding with legal action against Haas. The Russian driver, and his father’s company Uralkali that was the American Formula 1 team’s title sponsor at the time, were instantly expelled from the paddock early this year amid the wave of western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. Mazepin, […]
F1 set to drop legendary Spa-Francorchamps race
Jun.21 (GMM) The legendary Formula 1 circuit at Spa-Francorchamps is tipped to be missing from the 2023 calendar. On the sidelines in Montreal last weekend, team bosses heard F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s news that the schedule could be set to grow yet again – to a record 24 races next year. “It’s not a big […]
2022 title outcome already ‘clear’ – expert
Jun.21 (GMM) The outcome of the 2022 world championship is already “clear”, according to a well-known Formula 1 expert and pundit. Kees van de Grint, a Ferrari and Bridgestone engineer in the Michael Schumacher era, thinks world champion Max Verstappen’s almost 50 point lead over Charles Leclerc and dominance in Montreal means the title is […]
F1 teams revolt over ‘porpoising’ clampdown
Jun.21 (GMM) Formula 1 team bosses are revolting against the FIA’s technical directive against the ‘porpoising’ phenomenon in 2022. Among them are Ferrari and Red Bull, who may even suspect that Mercedes had advance notice of the contents of the directive – including permission for teams to add a second ‘stay’ to the floor. “The […]
Sauber, Audi ‘hiding’ 2026 F1 buyout – boss
Jun.21 (GMM) Sauber and Audi are “hiding” the fact that they will team up in a works collaboration in Formula 1 from 2026. That is the word from an unnamed rival team boss, as the Volkswagen Group holds off on announcing the details of its F1 foray with both the Audi and Porsche brands. Red […]
Red Bull car can get even faster – Marko
Jun.20 (GMM) As Max Verstappen continues to build his world championship lead, boss Christian Horner warned on Sunday that Red Bull must not become complacent. Following power unit-related grid penalties for Charles Leclerc, another win for reigning world champion Verstappen in Canada pulled his points lead out to almost 50. “We’ve now won a few […]
Wolff slammed rival bosses in Montreal meeting
Jun.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff went “full Abu Dhabi-spec” as he lost his temper with fellow Formula 1 team bosses during a meeting in Montreal. That unnamed source was referring to the Mercedes chief’s legendary outbursts following the highly controversial outcome of the 2021 world championship. After the Canadian meeting, convened to discuss pertinent issues including […]
Vettel goes quiet after dropping ‘climate’ helmet
Jun.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel on Sunday was in no mood for questions about his suddenly-missing “climate crime” helmet. Earlier in Montreal, the quadruple world champion was slammed by Alberta’s energy minister Sonya Savage after Vettel blasted the mining of “tar sands”. He had ridden a rainbow-coloured bicycle into the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve paddock with a […]
Verstappen ‘a second faster’ in Canada – Marko
Jun.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s dominance of Formula 1 is hitting new heights in Canada. That is the view of Red Bull top official Dr Helmut Marko, who is delighted that the Dutch racer looks set to further extend his 34 point lead over Charles Leclerc on Sunday. Leclerc, one of many Ferrari-powered drivers suddenly down […]
Energy minister slams Vettel ‘hypocrisy’
Jun.19 (GMM) A Canadian politician has slammed Sebastian Vettel for “hypocrisy” as the quadruple world champion continued his environmental activism in Montreal. The German rode into the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve paddock on a rainbow-coloured bicycle wearing a t-shirt accusing Canada of “climate crime”. “Stop mining tar sands,” the t-shirt declared. He told the media: “What […]
Domenicali to get ‘quick answer’ on African GP
Jun.19 (GMM) Formula 1 is preparing to reveal another unprecedentedly-long race calendar for 2023. “30 grands prix would not be reasonable,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “Our preferred option would be to stay at 23 or 24 races,” he told France’s L’Equipe. The latest buzz in the Montreal paddock is about two potential new races […]
Mercedes removes controversial floor ‘stay’
Jun.19 (GMM) Mercedes in Montreal removed an additional ‘stay’ on the floor of its struggling 2022 car following the suspicions of rival Formula 1 teams. The rivals wondered how the uncompetitive reigning constructors’ world champions knew in advance about the new FIA technical directive on porpoising that opened the door for teams to add the […]
‘No hurry’ to rule out 2022 Latifi-Piastri swap
Jun.19 (GMM) Formula 1’s traditional ‘silly season’ is now in full swing, as the occupants of the race seats for 2023 begin to emerge. Pierre Gasly, for instance, has been told in no uncertain terms by Red Bull that he must honour his contract all the way to the end of next year. “He will […]
Williams plays down Renault engine deal talks
Jun.18 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi’s boss has allayed fears that he may be unceremoniously dropped immediately after his first home race in Canada this weekend. It is widely reported that Oliver Piastri, Alpine’s Australian reserve driver who is the reigning Formula 2 champion, will be loaned to Williams in both 2023 and 2024. Williams boss Jost […]
No Schumacher contract news ‘until summer’
Jun.18 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says he will not be commenting on Mick Schumacher’s future at Haas until “at least the summer”. After a period of off-track unrest in the wake of Schumacher’s lack of performance and a series of high speed crashes, the German driver and his boss touched down in Montreal insisting peace has […]
Domenicali confirms F1 talks with Nice, France
Jun.18 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted the sport may be heading to Nice, France. Paul Ricard’s existing French GP contract expires after next month’s race at Le Castellet, near Marseille. “You are probably not aware, but there is an incredible project in Nice. They want a grand prix,” he told L’Equipe, having recently […]
Marko slams ‘nonsense’ porpoising clampdown
Jun.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed the new porpoising clampdown in Formula 1 as “nonsense”. The top Red Bull official suspects the governing FIA has only reacted to the issue of excessive bouncing as a result of the new ‘ground effect’ aerodynamics because of Mercedes’ loud complaints. “It should not be that one of […]
F1 not returning Russia’s 2022 race fee
Jun.17 (GMM) Formula 1 kept the 2022 race fee even after axing the Russian GP contract. That is the claim of VTB Bank, the Russian state-owned bank that was the event’s title sponsor until Formula 1 joined the widespread sanctions as a result of the Ukraine conflict. VTB chairman Andrey Kostin was asked by the […]
Domenicali working on ‘plan B’ for French GP
Jun.17 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali may be working on a ‘plan B’ to keep France on Formula 1’s race calendar. The contract of current French GP host Paul Ricard expires after the event in late July. “I think there are countries that we need to race in and one of them is France,” said […]