Feb.28 (GMM) In the few days between pre-season testing and the season opening race at the same Bahrain circuit, experts and pundits are busily predicting the likely pecking order. Alex Wurz, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association and a former Formula 1 driver himself, thinks Ferrari is looking “similar to last year”. “They can […]
Ocon criticises latest F1 ‘Drive to Survive’
Feb.27 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has become the first Formula 1 driver to openly criticise the latest instalment in the sport’s official Netflix series Drive to Survive. Denouncing many the series’ narratives as “fake”, world champion Max Verstappen boycotted the series in recent years but has returned for season 5 following talks with producers. He is […]
Williams in no rush for new technical, aero bosses
Feb.27 (GMM) Williams is heading into the new Formula 1 season without a technical director. The British team’s boss Jost Capito was ousted over the winter and replaced with former Mercedes strategy boss James Vowles. But another high-profile departure was Francois-Xavier (FX) Demaison – Williams’ technical director. And new boss Vowles is quoted by French […]
Spa GP promoter in Bahrain for 2024 contract talks
Feb.27 (GMM) Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Maes hopes to secure Spa-Francorchamps’ future on the Formula 1 calendar “in the weeks and months to come”. It is one of the most historic and loved traditional stops on the grand prix schedule, but F1’s soaring popularity means rival promoters are keen to out-bid Spa for one of […]
Alpha Tauri team sale ‘up to shareholders’ – Marko
Feb.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is not denying that Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team could be sold. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, with team boss Franz Tost calling ninth in the constructors’ championship last year “catastrophic”, Alpha Tauri has been told by its owners that it may need to be sold or […]
D’Ambrosio linked with Mercedes F1 role
Feb.27 (GMM) Eagle-eyed Formula 1 observers spotted a familiar face in the Mercedes garage during Bahrain testing. He was Jerome d’Ambrosio, best known for racing in F1 for the Virgin and Lotus teams a decade ago. Subsequently, the now 37-year-old Belgian switched to Formula E, but in 2020 entered the world of team management as […]
Verstappen sponsors young DTM driver, team
Feb.27 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull have put their names to sponsorship of a rising young talent. 20-year-old Dutch driver Thierrey Vermeulen, the son of Max and Jos’ manager Raymond, has signed up with Swiss team Emil Frey in this year’s German touring car championship DTM. Curiously, young Vermeulen will be at […]
Aston Martin ‘amazes’ in Bahrain test
Feb.27 (GMM) With the sole three-day pre-season test in Bahrain now complete, Italy’s Corriere della Sera neatly summed up the major conclusion. “Red Bull, perfect. Ferrari, hidden potential. Aston Martin amazes,” the headline read. New Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur said: “Overall, we look ok in terms of performance.” However, he’s not too worried about Red […]
Aston Martin rules out Vettel for Stroll’s seat
Feb.27 (GMM) Aston Martin has now ruled Sebastian Vettel out of the running to replace the injured Lance Stroll in Bahrain this weekend. The team is being coy about the extent of Stroll’s injuries, but paddock rumours suggest hr fell during a mountain bike ride – and damaged a wrist. Other rumours suggest both of […]
Unvaccinated Rosberg returns to F1 paddock
Feb.24 (GMM) After a full season on the sidelines, Nico Rosberg will return to the Formula 1 paddock in 2023. Last year, the 2016 world champion was unable to be on-site for his broadcasting duties with British and German television as he chose to remain unvaccinated against covid-19. But Formula 1 has now relaxed its […]
Stroll will ‘try’ to race in Bahrain – Drugovich
Feb.24 (GMM) Lance Stroll is still hoping to race next weekend in Bahrain. At the sole pre-season test at the same circuit this week, however, the 24-year-old son of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll is missing. Alongside new teammate Fernando Alonso, Stroll has been replaced in the impressive new 2023 car so far by […]
Mercedes, Ferrari play down early pecking order
Feb.24 (GMM) While world champions Red Bull got off to an imperious start to the sole pre-season test, the team’s key rivals were left to wonder how far behind they are. After Max Verstappen set the pace, with Lewis Hamilton sixth and George Russell just ninth overall in Bahrain, Mercedes’ engineering boss Andrew Shovlin insisted […]
Red Bull’s early 2023 form ‘frightening’ – Marko
Feb.24 (GMM) Smiles filled the Red Bull garage on Thursday as the mere three days of pre-season testing kicked off in Bahrain. It was the world’s first real look at the car in which Max Verstappen will defend his back-to-back titles – and the Dutchman led the lap times on day 1. “It’s almost frightening […]
New Williams boss puts focus on 2024 and beyond
Feb.23 (GMM) James Vowles admits it may take time to power Williams off the back row of the Formula 1 grid. Last year, the Grove based team slumped to dead last in the constructors’ championship, after which team boss Jost Capito was ousted. And Marc Surer, a former F1 driver turned German-language broadcaster, expects more […]
Drugovich on pole to replace Stroll in first race
Feb.23 (GMM) Reigning Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich is in pole position to replace Lance Stroll in next weekend’s Bahrain season opener. Stroll, the son of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll, has been sidelined for the start of pre-season testing this week by a bicycle accident. The team, and 24-year-old Stroll, have not disclosed […]
Sauber ‘boss’ defends unique team structure
Feb.23 (GMM) Alessandro Alunni Bravi has defended Sauber’s new approach to Formula 1 team management. Over the winter, team boss Frederic Vasseur switched to Ferrari to replace the axed Mattia Binotto. McLaren boss Andreas Seidl also made a move over the winter – from the Woking based team to Sauber, which will race as Alfa […]
Teams must speed up at sole F1 test – Marko
Feb.23 (GMM) Formula 1 teams will be quickly up to speed this week as pre-season testing shrinks to just three days in total. “You can’t do big tests – you’ll have to set times as quickly as possible,” Dr Helmut Marko, a top official at world champions Red Bull, told f1-insider.com. Mere days then separate […]
F1 race return unlikely for Schumacher – Ecclestone
Feb.22 (GMM) Mick Schumacher would still be on the Formula 1 grid if his famous father Michael was in good health. That is the view of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, after young Schumacher, 23, lost his Haas race seat late last year and settled for the Mercedes reserve role for 2023. The German is […]
De Vries must avoid Verstappen comparison – boss
Feb.22 (GMM) Nyck de Vries should be careful not to compare himself with fellow Dutchman Max Verstappen in 2023. That is the warning of Formula 1 rookie de Vries’ first team boss Franz Tost, who will oversee the 28-year-old’s first season on the grid at Alpha Tauri this year. De Vries is actually almost 3 […]
Red Bull not so dominant in 2023 – Marko
Feb.22 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is confident Red Bull will be able to defend Max Verstappen’s back-to-back titles in 2023. The energy drink owned team also won the constructors’ championship last year. “Yes, we want to defend both titles,” said Marko, the team’s 79-year-old top Austrian official. “But I don’t expect a season as dominant […]