Nov.14 (GMM) Damon Hill says the great Michael Schumacher convinced him he was “useless”. Wednesday was the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s first of a record seven world championships, achieved when he deliberately crashed into Hill in Adelaide in 1994. On the anniversary, the major German newspaper Bild asked Hill, the 1996 world champion, to recall […]
Sainz says he would be good teammate for Verstappen
Nov.14 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks he would be a good teammate for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The Spaniard is being replaced at Ferrari next year by Lewis Hamilton, with only teams like Williams, Audi-owned Sauber and Alpine making clear moves to snap him up for 2025 and beyond. Sainz’s father, rally legend Carlos Sainz snr, […]
Alpine reacts to Doohan axe rumours
Nov.14 (GMM) Alpine has apparently reacted swiftly to rumours suggesting Jack Doohan could be ousted from his Formula 1 race seat before turning a wheel in 2025. Bolstered by Bernie Ecclestone, who told Blick newspaper Williams’ $20 million release fee would be “no problem” for Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore, it was rumoured the Enstone based […]
Maffei out, question-mark over Domenicali’s F1 future
Nov.14 (GMM) A big question mark continues to hang over Stefano Domenicali’s top job in Formula 1. Liberty Media, the sport’s owner, has announced that its CEO, Greg Maffei, is to step down. His full-time replacement was not named, ramping up speculation that Maffei could be a victim of the US government investigations into Liberty’s […]
RB to get parts from title-charging Red Bull team
Nov.13 (GMM) The cars of Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team will benefit from new world championship-level parts as of next weekend’s Las Vegas GP. The reliable Italian portal formu1a.uno claims RB’s 2024 car is to be fitted with the rear suspension and gearbox of Red Bull Racing’s current single seater. The report said the […]
Alpine not selling engine IP to Cadillac – Famin
Nov.13 (GMM) Bruno Famin, still in charge of Alpine’s overall motorsport activities, has denied the Renault Group might sell the intellectual property of the axed 2026 engine. In a short media statement, Alpine has confirmed that it will use customer Mercedes engines and gearboxes for the start of the new regulations era until “at least […]
Antonelli may not be ‘ready’ for 2025 F1 debut
Nov.13 (GMM) The jury is out regarding the start of Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 career. That is the view of well-known former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, who admits he was not impressed with the 18-year-old’s initial Friday practice outings at Monza and Mexico. Italian teenager Antonelli crashed within minutes of hitting the track at […]
Russia may turn down chance to return to F1
Nov.13 (GMM) Russia may not accept a hypothetical invitation by Formula 1 to eventually return to the annual race calendar. The Sochi round was unilaterally scrapped by the sport at the outset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Back then, Alexey Titov was in charge of the Russian GP as boss of the promoter Rosgonki. […]
Leclerc ‘angry’ at claims of Sainz rift
Nov.13 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has lashed back at those claiming his relationship with departing Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz has fallen apart. A short video has been doing the rounds on social media showing Sainz celebrating his Mexico GP win immediately after the race – and Leclerc apparently completely ignoring him. Spaniard Sainz appears shocked by […]
‘Only some’ 2025 cars to be at F1 season launch
Nov.13 (GMM) “Only some” teams will reveal their 2025 cars at the newly-announced Formula 1 season launch at London’s O2 arena next February. It is believed Justin Bieber and Madonna will perform at the event, which will feature all 20 drivers and team bosses. F1 said it will be a “special night to welcome in […]
No room in Indycar for Sargeant in 2025
Nov.13 (GMM) Logan Sargeant, recently ousted by Williams mid-season, looks set to face at least a year on the sidelines in 2025. That is despite the fact that the Indycar team Meyer Shank Racing published new photos of the American driver undergoing a seat fitting ahead of a forthcoming test. Sargeant, 23, will test the […]
T-tray, water-in-tyres investigations ‘closed’ – FIA
Nov.13 (GMM) The FIA has drawn a line under both the Red Bull ‘T-tray’ and McLaren ‘water in tyres’ technical controversies. As they battle for the 2024 world championship between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, the two teams have been trading allegations of technical breaches. On the adjustable T-tray controversy, the FIA declared in a […]
F1 race director denies he ‘resigned’
Nov.13 (GMM) Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has denied he willingly “stepped down” in order to “pursue new opportunities”. The governing FIA made the claims in a statement, adding that the tall German will be replaced by F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques for the remaining three grands prix of 2024 and beyond. […]
Schumacher set to stay with Alpine for 2025
Nov.12 (GMM) Mick Schumacher looks set to pivot away from his Formula 1 dream. When Audi-owned Sauber announced that it has signed rookie Gabriel Bortoleto rather than Valtteri Bottas or Schumacher, Mattia Binotto insisted the 25-year-old German would have been a “good choice” among “many candidates”. The Audi F1 boss added: “I know him very […]
Vasseur vows to maintain Ferrari’s low-profile 2024
Nov.12 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says Ferrari will maintain a minimally controversial presence in Formula 1 as it has become a “strength” of his reign at Maranello. While Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and other teams have been more willing to stir the pot over various issues in 2024, Ferrari has been keeping a conspicuously lower profile. […]
Alpine to release Ocon for Haas test in Abu Dhabi
Nov.12 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has been approved by Alpine to test for his 2025 Formula 1 team Haas before the end of his existing contract. The Frenchman will get an early taste of the Ferrari-powered 2024 Haas car at the post-season Abu Dhabi test. “This will be the first time Esteban will drive our car, […]
Qatar could eventually buy majority Audi F1 stake
Nov.12 (GMM) Audi’s new Formula 1 venture looks set to completely sidestep the financial crisis at Volkswagen. It is emerging this week that, amid the ongoing VW crisis, Sauber’s new 100 percent owner Audi could be set to sell up to half of the F1 team for a tidy profit. Osterreich newspaper reports that Audi’s […]
Horner gives go-ahead for Perez sponsors in 2025
Nov.12 (GMM) Powerful commercial interests look set to cement Sergio Perez in place at Red Bull Racing for 2025. Despite his 2025 contract, the Mexican’s future has been under a dark cloud all season as he struggled with the current car – resulting in Red Bull lagging both McLaren and Ferrari in the lucrative constructors’ […]
Villeneuve statue stolen, Lauda helmet found
Nov.12 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve admitted to losing sleep after a life-size bronze statue of his iconic father, Formula 1 legend Gilles Villeneuve, was stolen. Days ago, operators of the Gilles Villeneuve Museum in Ferrari legend Gilles’ hometown of Berthierville, in Quebec, were stunned to discover the statue – which had stood there for three decades […]
Stroll, Perez, in F1 for money not talent – experts
Nov.11 (GMM) Two Formula 1 drivers are surviving in the sport for reasons of money rather than talent, prominent pundits suspect. Lance Stroll has contested well over 160 grands prix for teams either funded or owned by his billionaire father Lawrence, including Williams, Racing Point and now Aston Martin. The now 26-year-old has had scores […]