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 – […]
Andretti’s F1 deadline for 2024 ‘very close’
Aug.3 (GMM) A deadline that will derail Andretti’s plans to enter Formula 1 is fast approaching. Former McLaren driver Michael Andretti is pushing hard to get the green light for a new American entry in F1, but meeting severe resistance from some existing teams. When asked about the status of the Formula 1 plans, Andretti […]
Dutch GP survives another F1 axe attempt
Aug.3 (GMM) The Dutch GP has survived yet another attempt to strike Zandvoort off the Formula 1 race calendar. According to local media reports, environmentalist organisations had asked the country’s Raad van State (Council of State) to revoke the circuit’s environmental permit until a final ruling in 2023. The revocation would have cast serious doubt […]
Mick Schumacher could leave F1 after 2022 – report
Aug.3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher risks falling out of Formula 1 in 2023, the major German newspaper Bild reports. Retiring quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel had recommended his 23-year-old countryman for the Aston Martin seat next year, but the team signed up Fernando Alonso. “Sebastian’s good words to Lawrence Stroll didn’t help,” RTL pundit Felix Gorner […]
Zanardi involved in house fire in Italy
Aug.3 (GMM) Alex Zanardi’s bad luck has continued to chase the former Formula 1 and Indycar driver into 2022. Two years ago, the now 55-year-old – who lost both legs in an horrific 2001 Indy crash – sustained head and facial injuries in a serious hand-cycling accident in Italy. Now, Italian media report that Italian […]
Former boss says Binotto must end turmoil
Aug.3 (GMM) Mattia Binotto’s new task is ending the turmoil that has derailed the 2022 world champion championship hopes of Charles Leclerc. That is the view of Cesare Fiorio, a former boss of the fabled Maranello team – as multiple pundits marvel at the ways in which Binotto-led Ferrari has upset its star driver. “I […]
Piastri stars as F1 ‘silly season’ explodes
Aug.3 (GMM) Formula 1’s ‘silly season’ has exploded into high drama just as the sport prepares to enter its August break. Otmar Szafnauer admits Fernando Alonso’s decision to turn down a one-year deal and instead sign what is believed to be a $25 million per season multi-year contract with Aston Martin caught Renault-owned Alpine by […]
Kvyat ‘refused’ to denounce Russia – official
Aug.1 (GMM) Former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat “refused” to denounce Russia in order to continue his FIA-sanctioned motor racing career. That is the claim of Viktor Kiryanov, the president of Russia’s automobile federation and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council since 2009. He was speaking after Kvyat made his debut in America’s […]
Alonso’s Alpine future to be clear by Spa – boss
Aug.1 (GMM) Only “little things” stand in the way of a new contract between Fernando Alonso and Alpine for the 2023 season. When Sebastian Vettel announced his impending retirement from Formula 1 and Aston Martin, Spaniard Alonso grinned to Spanish reporters in Hungary: “This is good news for me.” Indeed, the newly-41-year-old is currently in […]
More porpoising risks driver ‘brain damage’ – Wolff
Aug.1 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are opening the door to drivers sustaining “brain damage” if they try to block the FIA’s proposed anti-porpoising rules for 2023. At least six teams, led by Ferrari and Red Bull, are opposing the proposed changes – while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff leads the call for the rules on the […]
Mick ‘first’ in line for Vettel seat – Schumacher
Aug.1 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher says his own nephew Mick should be a leading candidate to replace fellow German Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in 2023. On the face of it, the recommendation from the former Formula 1 driver – whose brother Michael is Mick’s famous father – is obvious. But Vettel has also tipped Schumacher, […]
Heads might roll at Ferrari over break – Schumacher
Aug.1 (GMM) Insiders wondered if a couple of Ferrari heads might be on the chopping block over Formula 1’s August break following another clear strategy blunder. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher said the decision to put Charles Leclerc on the hard tyre for his final stint of the Hungarian GP was “incomprehensible”. “I don’t think […]