Feb.3 (GMM) Any new Formula 1 team must have the appropriate “infrastructure” and “financial background” in order to be welcomed from the existing competitors. That is the view of former Williams boss Jost Capito, just as the governing FIA officially launched the application process for “prospective Formula 1 teams”. And as well as a “rigorous […]
Team races on with Mateschitz ‘spirit’ – Marko
Feb.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko wants Red Bull to defend its Formula 1 titles this year with the “spirit” of the energy drink’s late founder Dietrich Mateschitz. It’s been an emotional few years for 79-year-old former F1 driver Marko, who lost his long-time friend and confidante Niki Lauda in 2019. Then, 78-year-old Mateschitz died of […]
De Vries ‘almost gave up’ on F1
Feb.2 (GMM) Nyck de Vries says he “almost gave up” on his Formula 1 career. Even in his successful karting days, the Dutchman’s F1 destiny appeared clear as a prominent member of McLaren’s junior program. “Everything looked fine then,” said the 27-year-old former Formula 2 and Formula E champion, who will make his full-time F1 […]
‘Stormy’ political times in F1 – report
Feb.2 (GMM) A new front in the latest political battle between the FIA, Formula 1 and the competing teams has opened up. Recently, the trio of parties have seemed at loggerheads over a range of issues – the most pressing being F1’s legal warning to the FIA over the issue of a potential $20bn sale […]
Grosjean not ruling out F1 with Andretti
Feb.2 (GMM) “Never say never” is how Romain Grosjean sums up his chances of returning to Formula 1. The Frenchman’s former Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen is now back on the grid, but Grosjean admits that his last two years alongside the Dane were “not very enjoyable”. “You get to a point where you know you’ve […]
2022 rules delivered ‘weak’ F1 show – Berger
Feb.2 (GMM) Gerhard Berger hopes Sauber will now be “good enough” to succeed with Audi backing. It has emerged that the VW-owned German carmaker has bought into the Swiss-based team currently known as Alfa Romeo – with an eventual 75 percent takeover thought to be in the works. In the past, Sauber was allied for […]
No F1 test laps scheduled for Schumacher
Feb.2 (GMM) Mercedes is not currently planning to give Mick Schumacher outings at the wheel of its Formula 1 car. This week, the Haas refugee had seat fittings not only at Mercedes’ Brackley headquarters, but in the cockpit of a Mercedes-powered McLaren. “McLaren will be able to call on Mick as a reserve driver during […]
Vettel must ‘find himself’ before F1 boss role
Feb.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko still isn’t sure if Sebastian Vettel is interested in returning to Formula 1 in a managerial role. The top Red Bull official, who brought the German and eventual quadruple world champion into the sport as a teenager, recently said he was waiting for 35-year-old Vettel’s winter holidays to end before […]
Livery car no hint of final 2023 Haas – report
Feb.1 (GMM) Formula 1 fans should not look beyond the striking new livery unveiled by Haas on Tuesday, according to a respected specialist publication. As former team driver Mick Schumacher underwent a seat fitting for his new reserve role at Mercedes, Haas published rendered images of the black, white and red livery that will be […]
Audi expects ‘tough’ start to F1 foray
Jan.31 (GMM) Audi’s Formula 1 boss has warned that the first couple of campaigns tackled by the Volkswagen-owned carmaker will be “tough”. Swiss-based Sauber, set to compete with the Alfa Romeo name for the last time this year, has a new title sponsor (Stake) and Group CEO in the form of Andreas Seidl for 2023. […]
Marko questions whether Saudis should own F1
Jan.30 (GMM) Outspoken Formula 1 team official Dr Helmut Marko has broken ranks to question whether the sport should be sold to Saudi Arabia. Last week, the sport’s current commercial rights holders Liberty Media lashed out at FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s alleged “unacceptable” interference in F1’s financial affairs. It followed the emergence of reports […]
F1 calls off planned car weight reduction
Jan.30 (GMM) A push to slightly reduce the weight of Formula 1 cars this year has been scrapped. Drivers, team officials and fans have often lamented the steady and dramatic rise in the cars’ weight over the years. Indeed, in the last ten years, the weight has increased from 642kg to a whopping 798kg in […]
Two F1 figures slam political speech ban
Jan.30 (GMM) Two leading Formula 1 figures have hit out at the FIA’s ban on political speech. Amid a recent spate of political slogans worn on t-shirts and helmets, and outspoken drivers on social and cultural issues including Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, the new FIA president instigated a clampdown. An FIA spokesman defended the […]
Ford opens door to F1 project with Red Bull
Jan.30 (GMM) Ford appears to have opened the door to a potentially-imminent future in Formula 1. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted last week that a new manufacturer could make an announcement within days. That tied in with speculation that Red Bull and Alpha Tauri chose New York City as the scene of their February […]
FIA defends president amid escalating F1 conflict
Jan.30 (GMM) The governing FIA has defended its president amid an escalating political climate in Formula 1. In recent days, weeks and months, it has become ever clearer that a rift is forming between the teams and Liberty Media on one side, and the newly Mohammed Ben Sulayem-led FIA. They have collided over the issues […]
No contract talks with drivers yet – Vasseur
Jan.27 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says he is yet to give any thought as to what Ferrari’s driver lineup will be beyond 2024. Currently, it is believed both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have firm deals through to the end of next year. “I joined Ferrari two weeks ago,” laughed Vasseur, Ferrari’s newly installed team principal, […]
‘Arrogant’ to make big early changes – Vasseur
Jan.27 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says it would be “arrogant” to sweep into power at Ferrari and immediately make big changes. Fresh from his departure at Sauber-Alfa Romeo, the Frenchman this week met with the media as the Ferrari drivers brushed off the winter rust with a test at Fiorano. “I was clear with Charles (Leclerc) […]
Losing Vowles to Williams ‘a surprise’ – Wolff
Jan.27 (GMM) Mercedes decided to release James Vowles from his contract so that the well-known strategy chief could become Williams’ new team boss from 2023. Initially, some believed Toto Wolff had played a smart strategic move by loaning Vowles to Mercedes-powered Williams to strengthen the teams’ political and technical collaborations. However, Wolff admits that losing […]
Alfa Romeo set to lose title sponsor
Jan.27 (GMM) Having lost boss Frederic Vasseur to Ferrari, Sauber-run Alfa Romeo now looks set to lose its title sponsor. Both Orlen, a Polish oil company, and its affiliated Polish driver Robert Kubica, are reportedly set to depart the Swiss-based team. And while Orlen could take up residency with a less prominent role at Alpha […]
No grand targets despite signing Alonso – Krack
Jan.26 (GMM) Wins and the Formula 1 title are not yet on Aston Martin’s radar for 2023. That is the insistence of boss Mike Krack, even though the Silverstone based team is now heralded as one of the most aggressively-developing and ambitious midfield teams on the grid. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has been signed […]