Feb.17 (GMM) Mika Salo doubts he will be serving as an occasional Formula 1 steward this year. Fellow former F1 driver Johnny Herbert was actually scheduled to serve as a steward at the opening grand prix of 2025 in Melbourne next month. But the FIA performed a u-turn, concluding that Herbert’s parallel media work – […]
F1 finally admits reason for scrapping bonus point
Feb.14 (GMM) Formula 1 axed the bonus point for fastest lap for the 2025 season because it was “controversial”. Last October, the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council ratified the removal of the extra point for a top-10 finisher – but did not explain why. Many suspected it was directly related to a highly controversial incident […]
Red Bull, Audi, Aston all rejected Vettel – report
Feb.14 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has revealed that he issued a clear “no” to Sebastian Vettel’s desire to return to Formula 1 in 2025 with Red Bull. Amid the swirling rumours about Sergio Perez’s uncertain future last year, advisor Marko admits the team’s former quadruple world champion Vettel picked up the phone. That is despite […]
Aston Martin expectations ‘low’ for 2025 season
Feb.14 (GMM) Aston Martin’s expectations are “low” for the 2025 season. That’s the claim of the team’s new simulator driver Dani Juncadella, who told L’Angle Del Miramar podcast that the all-new regulations for 2026 and beyond will be a key focus this season. The team finished fifth overall in 2024, but Aston Martin struggled to […]
Alpine ‘must’ fight for title in 2027 – Briatore
Feb.14 (GMM) Alpine is hoping for the odd podium in 2025, regular top-three finishes in 2026, “and in 2027 we must be able to fight for the title”. That’s the word from team advisor Flavio Briatore, after announcing that he has successfully wooed the Italian oil giant Eni back to Enstone and Formula 1. Since […]
Journalists notice modified McLaren for 2025 season
Feb.14 (GMM) McLaren has revealed to the world some significant modifications to its title-winning Formula 1 car for the all-new season. For the last year of the current regulations, each team will undoubtedly base their 2025 car on the previous version. In McLaren’s case, it powered them to the 2024 constructors’ championship. But McLaren is […]
Verstappen hoping for ‘more stable’ 2025 season
Feb.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen is openly hoping for a “more stable” season with Red Bull in 2025. F1 legend Gerhard Berger – the first-ever Red Bull-backed athlete – this week lamented the turmoil and performance decline at the F1 team last year. “It will be exciting to see whether Red Bull can return to its […]
Conflict could derail Rwanda’s F1 race bid
Feb.13 (GMM) African country Congo has thrown a spanner in the works of neighbouring Rwanda’s clear plans to join the Formula 1 calendar. When Rwandan capital Kigali hosted the FIA’s end-of-year prize giving gala in December, its president Paul Kagama took the opportunity to formalise the country’s intentions to become host of the African GP. […]
Insiders think Doohan will lose seat to Colapinto
Feb.13 (GMM) Two Formula 1 figures agree that Jack Doohan’s career at the pinnacle of motorsport could be very short-lived. Although the 22-year-old Australian will “definitely” start the season as Pierre Gasly’s teammate, Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore has also not ruled out promoting his new protege and reserve driver Franco Colapinto within 2025. “Alpine have […]
Barcelona ‘silent’ but ‘optimistic’ over new F1 deal
Feb.13 (GMM) Organisers of the grand prix in Barcelona remain hopeful they can successfully negotiate a new race contract with Formula 1. Although the event at the Circuit de Catalunya will definitely run in 2025 and 2026, next year it will share the calendar with a street race in Madrid – with the Spanish capital […]
FIA could permit twelfth team on F1 grid
Feb.12 (GMM) A twelfth Formula 1 team could soon be following in Cadillac’s wheel-tracks. After a long fight with F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media and the existing ten teams, Cadillac – originally Andretti – was finally allowed to enter the sport from 2026. “I didn’t understand it,” F1 legend Gerhard Berger told Auto Motor […]
Mercedes will ‘let me race’ in 2025, Bottas thinks
Feb.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits one of his roles in 2025 will be to serve as a “kind of mentor” to Lewis Hamilton’s replacement, teenager Kimi Antonelli. Team boss Toto Wolff made the claim a few days ago, revealing that supporting Antonelli will be part of the ousted Sauber driver’s duties as he returns to […]
Verstappen could leave Red Bull after 2025 – Berger
Feb.12 (GMM) 2025 could be Max Verstappen’s final year at Red Bull, according to the energy drink brand’s first ever sponsored athlete. Amid rumours Ferrari will unveil a darker red livery this season, there are also rumblings that Red Bull could finally take a bold step away from its usual dark blue matte look for […]
Hamilton ‘comfortable’ as F1 legend predicts success
Feb.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is settling into his Ferrari cockpit well, according to the authoritative Italian specialist sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. Amid rumours of discomfort with his initial pedal setup, and a minor ‘off’ in Barcelona driving an older Maranello-made single seater, the latest tweaks reportedly made the seven time world champion “immediately […]
Wolff not expecting Mercedes success until 2026
Feb.11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down expectations about Mercedes’ 2025 Formula 1 season. After achieving near-unprecedented title success with Lewis Hamilton until 2021, the team and the seven-time world champion slumped in the new ‘ground effect era’. Hamilton, 40, has fled to Ferrari. “I don’t deny the problems we have been having,” team boss […]
Prost ‘sure’ Verstappen will beat F1 title tally
Feb.11 (GMM) Alain Prost is “sure” he will soon be left behind as one of just three precisely four-time world champions in Formula 1 history. While Michael Schumacher (7), Lewis Hamilton (7) and Juan Manuel Fangio (5) have all won more titles, Prost, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen share the prestige of all being quadruple […]
Deputy F1 race director about merit, not gender – FIA
Feb.11 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has denied that the new permanent deputy Formula 1 race director was selected because of her gender. That is despite the fact that the sport’s governing body often talks about the need for greater diversity. Indeed, at the recent FIA officials summit in Madrid, the federation boasted about […]
Hamilton ‘won’t last long’ at Ferrari – Ecclestone
Feb.10 (GMM) Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone thinks Lewis Hamilton has “lost motivation”. While some admire the 40-year-old’s boldness in switching from Mercedes to Ferrari, others see it as more marketing and money-oriented for both Ferrari and the seven time world champion. Ecclestone doesn’t even think Hamilton will make it to the end of his […]
Mexico GP promoter worried about post-Perez future
Feb.10 (GMM) The promoter of the Mexican GP is confident the event can survive even without local hero Sergio Perez in Formula 1 – but nonetheless worried about being offered a contract extension. The race weekend in Mexico City has been a notable celebration of Perez with a true party atmosphere since it returned to […]
Colton Herta good enough for F1 – Ericsson
Feb.10 (GMM) Colton Herta is good enough to race in Formula 1. That is the word from his teammate at the Andretti team in Indycar, former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson. The Andretti-instigated Cadillac team entry for 2026 has made clear from the start that Herta, 24, is the clear favourite to represent America from the […]