Apr.6 (GMM) F1 legend Jean Alesi has bucked the trend by leaping to the defence of the sport’s under-fire new-in-2022 race director Niels Wittich. Multiple drivers and media outlets utterly slammed the farcical end of last weekend’s Australian GP, insisting the red flags and re-starts was all about putting ‘the show’ above the sport. “It […]
F1’s newest billionaire is Toto Wolff
Apr.6 (GMM) Formula 1 has its newest billionaire, according to the authoritative American finance and business magazine Forbes. Correspondent Matt Craig explained that the rise of Toto Wolff to his new billionaire status is due to Formula 1’s surging Netflix-fuelled popularity and his third-share stake in the works Mercedes team. Austrian Wolff, 51, also has […]
2028 Verstappen contract ‘best decision’ for Red Bull
Apr.6 (GMM) Signing up Max Verstappen for the long term was “one of the best decisions” Red Bull has made in Formula 1. That is the view of the energy drink company’s Dr Helmut Marko, after two-time champion Verstappen pulled out a 15-point lead over his own teammate Sergio Perez in Melbourne. Mercedes’ George Russell […]
F1 teams say ‘yes’ to second qualifying
Apr.5 (GMM) Formula 1 teams have apparently approved CEO Stefano Domenicali’s plan to spice up the ‘sprint’ race weekend format. It emerged in Australia that the sport’s Italian chief wanted to replace a practice session with a second qualifying session. “Of course the drivers need time to practice,” Domenicali told Sky Deutschland. “But the people […]
Father Jos denies he ‘abused’ Max Verstappen
Apr.5 (GMM) Jos Verstappen has denied suggestions he “abused” his son Max on the two-time champion’s road to Formula 1. An official documentary about 25-year-old Verstappen’s rise to F1 is just now being released, with the Red Bull driver saying “very close family members” were involved in the project. “I’m normally not a guy who […]
Red Bull’s DRS speed ‘breathtaking’ – Wolff
Apr.5 (GMM) Following an early battle in Melbourne last Sunday, Max Verstappen accused his former world championship rival Lewis Hamilton of not following the racing rules. With his current position of dominance, Dutchman Verstappen says he simply “tried to avoid a contact” with the Mercedes driver. “It’s quite clear in the rules what is allowed […]
Alpha Tauri ‘intensifying’ Red Bull cooperation
Apr.5 (GMM) The 2023 car is “too slow” but Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost says the Red Bull-owned team is making changes. Recently, it was rumoured that Red Bull’s new CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was so unhappy with the Faenza based team’s on-track and financial performance that it could be sold. But while a sale was […]
‘Other teams’ eyeing F1 returnee Hulkenberg
Apr.4 (GMM) As far as Nico Hulkenberg is concerned, he’d rather the Chinese GP had not been cancelled. After a forced three-year sabbatical, the 35-year-old German returned to Formula 1 this year to replace the struggling Mick Schumacher. And suddenly, Schumacher’s former teammate Kevin Magnussen – now paired with Hulkenberg – is no longer looking […]
Aston Martin not ruling out Monaco victory
Apr.4 (GMM) After three consecutive podiums in 2023, Aston Martin is now targeting its first Formula 1 win. “I think there are some tracks where the combination of this driver with this car may still be even more magical,” said team boss Mike Krack, referring to one of F1’s men-of-the-moment, former two-time champion Fernando Alonso. […]
Finland ‘really worried’ about Bottas’ F1 future
Apr.4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas needs to up his game after a horror start to 2023. That is the view of the normally fully-supportive Finnish media, after the Alfa Romeo driver started and then finished dead last in Melbourne. “The Finn should grab himself by the neck,” the editorial at Iltalehti newspaper read. “Funny hair and […]
Melbourne chided for ‘dangerous’ F1 incidents
Apr.4 (GMM) F1’s rights holders Liberty Media, and the governing FIA, were not the only organisations receiving flak after the chaotic Australian GP. The Albert Park race’s local organisers were also in the dock for two incidents amid the late-race chaos on Sunday. First, a fan was left bleeding after his arm was struck by […]
Three F1 bosses defend under-fire race director
Apr.4 (GMM) Three team bosses have defended Formula 1’s latest under-fire race director Niels Wittich following the chaotic and controversial Australian GP. The media and many drivers were scathing of the handling of Sunday’s Melbourne race and repeated questionable red flags and re-starts. “The drivers are revolting against this chaotic Formula 1,” observed Italy’s Corriere […]
Red Bull ‘holding back’ true 2023 dominance
Apr.4 (GMM) The jury is out as to whether Mercedes really narrowed the gap to Red Bull’s dominance in Melbourne. “You shouldn’t have any illusions,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said after Lewis Hamilton finished second behind back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen on Sunday. “The Red Bulls are still in a league of their own,” he […]
F1 slammed as ‘animator of chaos’ in Australian GP
Apr.3 (GMM) Formula 1 is facing near-unanimous backlash after “the show” overtook the sport at the Australian GP. World champion and Melbourne winner Max Verstappen warned earlier in the weekend that he “won’t be here long” if F1 pushes ahead with initiatives like the proposed sprint format shakeup for qualifying. “This does not help in […]
Leclerc backtracks after sarcastic Sainz jibe
Apr.2 (GMM) Tension between Ferrari’s race drivers spilled out into the public after qualifying in Melbourne. Having qualified just seventh, two places behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc criticised Carlos Sainz for blocking him on a fast lap. “Thanks to Carlos for the slipstream through turns 3 and 4,” he sarcastically told the French broadcaster Canal […]
Nobody knows Schumacher’s health status – Todt
Apr.2 (GMM) Nobody except Michael Schumacher’s closest confidantes knows anything about his medical condition. That is the word from former FIA president Jean Todt – who is undoubtedly among the privileged few who have been allowed into the inner sanctum in the wake of Schumacher’s skiing crash a full decade ago. In those almost ten […]
Wolff says Schumacher a proper reserve driver
Apr.2 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will definitely race a Mercedes this year if the regular drivers are unable to. That is the clear message from team boss Toto Wolff, who denied that the ousted Haas driver’s new role at Mercedes is more symbolic than actual. Indeed, when Lewis Hamilton had covid in 2020, Wolff chose to […]
Hulkenberg lost 7 kilos for F1 comeback
Apr.2 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is taking his return to Formula 1 very seriously. Haas brought the 35-year-old out of a three-year sabbatical this season to replace his struggling and much younger German countryman Mick Schumacher. “We got exactly what we wanted,” team boss Gunther Steiner confirmed. “I think he’s enjoying life here. He works hard, […]
Former driver questions Bottas’ F1 ‘hunger’
Apr.2 (GMM) Well-known racing driver Toni Vilander has criticised his fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas. Since losing his Mercedes seat at the end of 2021, 33-year-old Bottas has seemed much more relaxed. He even strolled into the Melbourne paddock this weekend with a local ‘mullet’ hairstyle, Australian style ‘flip flops’ and a self-styled ‘tank top’. He […]
Red Bull contradicts Perez twice in Melbourne
Apr.2 (GMM) Red Bull has contradicted Sergio Perez for the second time this weekend in Melbourne. First, the Mexican driver suggested that Red Bull is not used to running “two cars” equally. “Before I came, basically they were just going racing with two cars because they had to,” he said. Team boss Christian Horner hit […]