Dec.17 (GMM) Ousting the on-form Carlos Sainz and replacing him with Lewis Hamilton for 2025 and beyond is a “risk”. That’s the view of former long-time Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, as anticipation builds ahead of seven time world champion Hamilton’s big move to Maranello. With the 2024 season now over, in which 39-year-old Hamilton […]
Verstappen plays down talks with Toto Wolff
Dec.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down the likelihood that he will ever use his contract’s famous ‘exit clauses’. In an end-of-year interview with Viaplay, the new quadruple world champion was reminded of something he said earlier in 2024 – that “Toto (Wolff) has been very nice lately”. Indeed, prior to signing Kimi Antonelli as […]
Tsunoda ‘just one of many’ Red Bull talents – Marko
Dec.17 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda is “just one of many talents” among the Red Bull program, Dr Helmut Marko has warned. Appearing at a Honda event in Tokyo, the Japanese driver rated his chances of being promoted to replace Sergio Perez at the senior team next year at “50-50”. “Of course I would be happier if […]
Verstappen defends Perez amid raging speculation
Dec.17 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s career-endangering struggle with the 2024 Red Bull car “wasn’t always his fault”. That’s the view of Max Verstappen, who is facing the prospect of a new teammate for next year after Red Bull failed to win the constructors’ championship by a whopping 77 points. “That was a total failure for us,” […]
EU probe could stall Liberty’s MotoGP deal
Dec.16 (GMM) A major European Union probe into F1 owner Liberty Media’s planned acquisition of MotoGP looks set to be launched. A month ago, amid swirling rumours the EU may not allow the American company to own both F1 and MotoGP, departing Liberty CEO Greg Maffei said he was confident the deal would go through. […]
Tsunoda answers ‘no questions’ about Perez rumours
Dec.16 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda pre-empted a flurry of questions about his future whilst appearing at a Honda event in Tokyo. “No questions about next season, as we have been advised,” the Japanese told reporters. The Japanese, who tested the title-winning Red Bull Racing car just after the Abu Dhabi season finale, is considered an outside […]
Briatore plays down Colapinto’s 2025 chances
Dec.16 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has clarified speculation that Jack Doohan’s Formula 1 race career could be over almost before it even begins. Just prior to the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Alpine announced that Esteban Ocon would be replaced with immediate effect by Doohan, the Australian rookie who is already signed up for the […]
Norris hits reverse gear on Verstappen-Brazil comment
Dec.16 (GMM) Lando Norris has hit reverse gear on a controversial comment he made recently about his friend and 2024 title rival Max Verstappen. One of the final blows to Norris’ quest to prevent the Red Bull driver from winning his fourth consecutive drivers’ crown was in Brazil, where Verstappen’s race through the field in […]
FIA thanks Verstappen for F-word community service
Dec.16 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem praised Max Verstappen for completing his ‘community service’ with a smile. After Ben Sulayem clamped down on driver swearing, Verstappen immediately tested the limits of the new situation in Singapore by describing his Red Bull car as “f*cked” in an FIA press conference. “We said that we did […]
F1 calendar ‘over the limit’ with 24 races – Wolff
Dec.16 (GMM) As an African GP edges ever nearer, three top Formula 1 personalities insist the calendar must not be expanded beyond its current 24 grands prix. Max Verstappen served his F-word community service and collected his world championship trophy in Rwanda, where the nation’s president Paul Kagame said he was “happy to formally announce” […]
Hamilton facing ‘big problem’ at Ferrari – Schumacher
Dec.16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could soon be facing a “big problem” in his Formula 1 career, according to former grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher. Schumacher admits both the seven time world champion and Ferrari are “two legendary names”, noting that the Italian marque’s share price “soared” when their collaboration from 2025 was announced. “But the […]
Unpaid, inconsistent F1 stewards ‘not fair’ – Steiner
Dec.13 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says the stewarding situation in Formula 1 is his biggest gripe about the sport at the moment. Inconsistency in stewards decisions, particularly when it comes to penalties, became a hot topic in 2024 – even attracting the criticism of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. Steiner, the former Haas team boss, fully […]
F1 brake supplier hits out at Ferrari split rumours
Dec.13 (GMM) Brembo, the famous Italian brake company synonymous with Formula 1 and Ferrari, has hit back at a circulating rumour. Reports this week had suggested that incoming driver Lewis Hamilton asked Ferrari if he could stick with the French-made Carbon Industrie brakes he has become accustomed to at Mercedes. If true, it would mean […]
No ‘feelings’ amid Doohan-Colapinto rumours – Briatore
Dec.13 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has dropped a worrying hint about Jack Doohan’s immediate future in Formula 1. On the face of it, it’s smooth sailing for the son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, after taking over Esteban Ocon’s Alpine cockpit in Abu Dhabi and then following up with the post-season test. “Extremely grateful for the […]
How the intense Verstappen-Russell ‘died down’
Dec.13 (GMM) The intense heat seems to have dissipated after the Max Verstappen versus George Russell spat. When the pair were exchanging barbs and insults over the Qatar GP qualifying penalty situation, insiders raised their eyebrows about Russell’s role as senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. So while the duo sat at opposite […]
Honda ‘pray’ Tsunoda selected to replace Perez
Dec.12 (GMM) Two top Honda officials are hoping Yuki Tsunoda is chosen to replace Red Bull’s endangered Sergio Perez for 2025. Most insiders and analysts agree that Red Bull bosses Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko have decided to oust Perez. Currently underway, according to multiple reports, are complicated and expensive negotiations to terminate or […]
Ocon ‘welcome’ to say goodbye to Alpine staff
Dec.12 (GMM) Esteban Ocon is “welcome” to return to Alpine’s UK factory to say goodbye, team boss Oliver Oakes has revealed. The French driver was ousted by the team just before the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, ostensibly as part of a deal that allowed him to test for his new team – Haas […]
Identity of African GP financier emerges – report
Dec.12 (GMM) One of the financiers behind plans for a grand prix in Africa has emerged in the form of Christopher Aleo. According to Corriere dello Sport, the 38-year-old Italian – CEO of iSwiss bank – attended the season finale in Abu Dhabi last weekend. His visit was accompanied by rumours Aleo could be behind […]
Haas owner only wants to ‘participate’ in F1 – Steiner
Dec.12 (GMM) Haas’ team owner is content merely to “participate” in Formula 1. That’s the frank claim of the small American team’s former boss Gunther Steiner, who was sacked by owner Gene Haas over the telephone before the 2024 season. On the face of it, Haas made significant progress under the new reign of engineer-turned-boss […]
Five recent Maranello visits for Hamilton – report
Dec.12 (GMM) In the last few months alone, Lewis Hamilton visited Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters on no fewer than five separate occasions. That’s the claim of the authoritative Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, adding that the 39-year-old has also been taking Italian lessons. The factory visits were to establish relationships with his key engineers […]