Oct.27 (GMM) Robert Shwartzman says switching up his nationality kept his Formula 1 dream alive. While fellow Russian Nikita Mazepin lost his Haas seat over the Ukraine conflict, Ferrari reserve Shwartzman reacted to the anti-Russian sanctions early this year by applying for an Israeli racing license. The 23-year-old now wears an Israeli flag on his […]
Red Bull future ‘set’ despite Mateschitz death
Oct.27 (GMM) Red Bull’s future in Formula 1 is “set” despite the death last weekend of the energy drink company’s founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Under the reclusive 78-year-old Austrian billionaire’s tutelage, Red Bull owns two Formula 1 teams, promotes the Austrian GP and has the Austrian TV rights via Servus TV. Red Bull also rejected Porsche’s […]
Mercedes set for car ‘DNA’ change in 2023
Oct.27 (GMM) The basic concept of Mercedes’ Formula 1 car will undergo a fundamental change for 2023, team boss Toto Wolff has admitted. For the first year of the sweeping new ground effect aerodynamic rules, the former champions emerged with a visibly dramatic ‘no sidepods’ car philosophy. However, it clearly trailed Red Bull and Ferrari […]
Sergey Sirotkin announces retirement as driver
Oct.26 (GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Sergey Sirotkin has announced his retirement from racing. The Russian, 27, drove for Williams in 2018 but lost that seat at the end of the year. He subsequently served as reserve driver for McLaren and Renault, raced a prototype for the Russian SMP Racing program at Le Mans, and […]
Haas set to ‘get rid of’ Schumacher for 2023
Oct.26 (GMM) Mick Schumacher appears set to be ousted from the Haas team, and therefore the Formula 1 grid, at the end of the season. The 23-year-old German was warned by low-profile team owner Gene Haas before Austin that only a string of points finishes would be enough to secure another contract. Schumacher looked to […]
Vettel not reconsidering retirement decision
Oct.26 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel insists he is not rethinking his decision to retire from Formula 1. At Suzuka, the quadruple world champion admitted he might consider a one-off return in future but only at the Japanese GP venue, where he was voted ‘driver of the day’ by fans. He repeated that feat in Austin, with […]
Red Bull facing ‘new era of dominance’ – Schumacher
Oct.26 (GMM) A “new era” of dominance is shaping up in Formula 1, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher. He is talking about Red Bull, and the fact that new back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen now appears poised to dominate the current rules era – perhaps all the way to 2025. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc hopes […]
Thursday ‘an important day’ for F1 – Alonso
Oct.26 (GMM) Thursday will be “an important day” for Formula 1, according to Fernando Alonso. It will be on that day that the FIA will consider Alpine’s protest against the highly controversial penalty that dropped Alonso out of the points after Austin. The Spaniard was hailed for his recovery drive after a scary crash with […]
Four F1 teams still linked with Porsche
Oct.26 (GMM) Four teams are in the running to team up in Formula 1 with Porsche, according to reports. Jack Plooij, a well-known Dutch F1 broadcaster, said on Ziggo Sport that the Volkswagen-owned German sports carmaker is in talks with Williams. Porsche had intended to enter the sport from 2026 with Red Bull, but those […]
Palou not willing to be mere F1 reserve
Oct.24 (GMM) 2021 Indycar champion Alex Palou says he won’t make a bid to enter Formula 1 full-time by initially accepting a seat as a reserve driver. The 25-year-old Spaniard may have made his official F1 debut with a Friday practice drive for McLaren in Austin, but he says he isn’t tempted to sign up […]
Modern F1 like a ‘movie in fast forward’ – Villeneuve
Oct.24 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says the way Formula 1 cars have developed over the past 16 years is “amazing”. The 1997 world champion, whose last grand prix was with BMW in 2006, was given the chance to drive a 2021 Alpine recently at Monza. According to Le Journal de Montreal, he was ultimately less than […]
Reserve seat ‘better’ than Haas move – Ricciardo
Oct.24 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has now confirmed Gunther Steiner’s suspicion that the Australian does not want to keep his Formula 1 racing dream alive at Haas in 2023. Team boss Steiner said in Austin that he didn’t know why the axed McLaren driver seemed to prefer a reserve seat with a top team next year […]
2023 sabbatical ‘not bad’ for Schumacher – Danner
Oct.24 (GMM) A 2023 sabbatical wouldn’t be “so bad” for Mick Schumacher as the German struggles to keep his seat at Haas. Team owner Gene Haas had warned before the US GP that the 23-year-old, who has cost the team “a fortune” in crash damage, needed more “points” to deserve a new contract. And while […]
Red Bull penalty talks paused after Mateschitz death
Oct.24 (GMM) Red Bull and the FIA have reportedly reached an agreement over the penalty for the 2021 budget cap breach – but it won’t be revealed for now. In Austin, team boss Christian Horner had warned that without a positive outcome to talks with F1’s governing body, the saga could rage on in an […]
Red Bull ‘absolutely’ deserves 2022 titles – Wolff
Oct.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits that Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s world title wins in 2022 are “absolutely deserved”. As the uncertainty and anger surrounding Red Bull’s budget cap breach continues, Red Bull paid ultimate tribute to the death of late founder Dietrich Mateschitz on Sunday by sewing up the first constructors’ title win since […]
FIA rules ‘provocative’ Mercedes wing illegal
Oct.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is disappointed that Mercedes’ final upgrade package of 2022 did not deliver the expected performance boost. Although Red Bull and Ferrari were clearly superior in 2022, the reigning constructors’ champions touched down in Austin with a significant package of upgrades. The Mercedes package included a new floor, key weight savings, and […]
‘Everyone’ involved in Brad Pitt’s F1 film
Oct.23 (GMM) All teams and drivers will get involved in a feature film about Formula 1 involving Hollywood icon Brad Pitt. “It’s exciting because all the teams will be involved,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, speaking in Austin where 58-year-old Pitt is a prominent guest at the US GP. “Drivers also – everyone,” he added. […]
Red Bull no ‘victim’ in cheating scandal – Wolff
Oct.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff has mocked and slammed Christian Horner for playing the “victim” in the raging budget cap scandal. Although penalties are yet to be set, Red Bull’s 2021 budget overspend is such a hot topic in the Austin paddock that Max Verstappen was showered with chants of “cheater” at a fan event. “This […]
Steiner wonders why Ricciardo ‘doesn’t want to race’
Oct.23 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says he isn’t sure why Daniel Ricciardo would choose a reserve role over a full-time Formula 1 race seat for 2023. As it became clear that the 33-year-old Australian was losing his place at McLaren, Haas boss Steiner revealed that he sent a “text” to Ricciardo in September. Nothing came of […]
Mateschitz wants Red Bull, F1 to ‘keep going’ – Marko
Oct.23 (GMM) The Formula 1 paddock in Austin is mourning the news from Austria about the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Austria’s richest billionaire, and the owner of two Formula 1 teams, has died after a long period of illness. “Apparently it was pancreatic cancer,” revealed Roger Benoit, the veteran Swiss journalist for […]