Jul.20 (GMM) George Russell’s championship deficit to Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli has doubled to 50 points after another power unit problem contributed to his first-lap retirement at Spa. Antonelli won the Belgian GP from pole, while Russell tangled with Lewis Hamilton – now P2 in the drivers’ standings ahead of Russell – after suddenly losing […]
‘Max knows’ Red Bull rebuilding for future – Mekies
Jul.20 (GMM) Laurent Mekies says Red Bull can silence the continuing speculation about Max Verstappen’s future only by giving the Dutchman a genuinely competitive car. Verstappen remains at the centre of intense rumours because of an exit clause in his contract and Red Bull’s struggles in the post-Christian Horner, Adrian Newey and Dr Helmut Marko […]
Red Bull says no to Abu Dhabi-backed Racing Bulls bid
Jul.20 (GMM) Red Bull has reportedly rejected an offer worth up to $3 billion for its second Formula 1 team Racing Bulls. “Red Bull spurns $3bn Abu Dhabi-backed bid for Racing Bulls F1 team,” The Times reported. According to the British newspaper, the approach was led by US-based investor Dean Attew and financier Andrew Herriot, […]
Red Bull moves for Mercedes junior chief Lagrue
Jul.20 (GMM) Red Bull is reportedly trying to poach the man behind Mercedes’ highly successful young driver program as it rebuilds the structure once dominated by the now-retired Dr Helmut Marko. According to De Telegraaf and other reports, Gwen Lagrue is in talks to leave Mercedes and take charge of Red Bull’s famous junior program. […]
Ben Sulayem admits FIA ‘mistakes’ over 2026 rules
Jul.20 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has acknowledged that mistakes were made with Formula 1’s controversial 2026 regulations following intense criticism from drivers at Spa. Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton were among those questioning how the regulations had ever been approved after the severe energy-management problems became particularly visible on the long Belgian circuit. […]
Alonso says 2027 decision hinges on rules, not Aston slump
Jul.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin’s disastrous start to 2026 will not decide whether he remains in Formula 1 next year, insisting the regulations themselves are now the bigger issue. Spa marked the final race for Aston Martin’s original and effectively unchanged 2026 car, before a major Adrian Newey-led chassis package arrives in Hungary […]
Sainz hints Williams stay despite Audi rumours
Jul.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has given his clearest indication yet that he in fact intends to remain with Williams in 2027, despite months of criticism of the team’s current car and persistent links with Audi. The Spaniard has repeatedly admitted Williams has failed with its 2026 project and doubts even the lighter ‘B’ chassis arriving […]
F1 rejects claims Spa coverage hiding energy problem
Jul.19 (GMM) Formula 1 has denied deliberately hiding the true extent of the 2026 cars’ energy management problems after broadcasters questioned the television coverage from Spa. Sky Deutschland commentators noticed that onboard cameras repeatedly cut away before the end of the Kemmel Straight, with speed and battery graphics also largely absent. “Why don’t they just […]
Wolff admits Ferrari will try to sign Antonelli
Jul.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted Ferrari will almost certainly try to lure Kimi Antonelli away from Mercedes, as the Italian youngster continued his impressive run of form with pole position at Spa. Championship leader Antonelli’s performances are increasingly making him one of Italy’s biggest sports stars, despite driving for Mercedes rather than Ferrari. “We’re […]
Red Bull names Verstappen’s next race engineer – report
Jul.19 (GMM) Red Bull has reportedly decided who will replace Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen’s race engineer, even as speculation about the Dutchman’s own future refuses to disappear. According to De Telegraaf, long-time performance engineer Tom Hart has been chosen to succeed Lambiase, who is set to leave for McLaren no later than 2028. The […]
Spa pushing to reclaim permanent place on F1 calendar
Jul.19 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps is already lobbying Formula 1 to restore its permanent place on the calendar despite only recently agreeing to an alternating contract. Under the current arrangement, the Belgian GP is guaranteed a place in 2027, 2029 and 2031, alternating with Barcelona. But circuit chairman Melchior Wathelet says the ultimate goal remains a return […]
Sainz insists Williams has ‘failed’ with 2026 car
Jul.19 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has delivered his strongest criticism yet of Williams’ 2026 campaign, admitting the team has “failed” with this year’s car as speculation about his future continues. The Spaniard, increasingly linked with a move to Audi, says even the team’s heavily anticipated ‘B’ car – set to debut at Baku – is unlikely […]
Verstappen saga deepens as father, manager visit McLaren
Jul.18 (GMM) Fresh intrigue surrounds Max Verstappen’s future after both his father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen were spotted separately entering McLaren’s hospitality unit on Friday at Spa. The visits came just days after Vermeulen and Jos Verstappen met the now-retired Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko in Amsterdam, fuelling yet more speculation about the […]
Bearman’s future ‘not up to us’, admits Komatsu
Jul.18 (GMM) Haas boss Ayao Komatsu admits Oliver Bearman’s Formula 1 future is ultimately out of the team’s hands amid growing speculation linking the Briton with both Red Bull and Ferrari. Bearman has emerged as one of the names tipped to replace Max Verstappen should the Dutchman leave Red Bull, while others believe Ferrari would […]
Sainz says Antonelli crossed the line with ‘insult’
Jul.18 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has told teenaged world championship leader Kimi Antonelli to “relax” after the pair clashed during Friday practice at Spa. Antonelli believed the Williams driver had compromised his flying lap, while Sainz insisted the Mercedes youngster had overreacted. “I suppose nowadays if you don’t move out of the way exactly as the […]
Hungary-Zandvoort upgrade to shape Aston, Alonso future
Jul.18 (GMM) Aston Martin hopes this weekend’s Belgian GP marks the low point of its troubled 2026 season, with a major upgrade package now just one race away. The Silverstone-based team arrived at Spa expecting to struggle with its unchanged car, before introducing an all-new and highly anticipated chassis package in Hungary next weekend and […]
Domenicali still pushing to revive cancelled GP
Jul.18 (GMM) Formula 1 is drawing up multiple contingency plans as renewed conflict in the Middle East throws the final months of the 2026 calendar back into doubt. The sport had hoped to reschedule the postponed Bahrain GP later this year, but the renewal of the Middle East conflict has forced Formula One Management to […]
Madrid GP sells out despite Hamilton overtaking doubts
Jul.18 (GMM) Formula 1’s new Madrid street race has sold out almost two months before its debut, underlining the sport’s commercial momentum even as Lewis Hamilton questions whether the circuit will produce exciting racing. Organisers confirmed that all 100,000 tickets released so far have been sold, while sponsorship revenue alone has already covered the cost […]
‘Big money’ will keep Verstappen in F1 – Marko
Jul.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen again refused to clarify his Formula 1 future at Spa on Thursday, as the retired Dr Helmut Marko continued to play down speculation surrounding their recent meeting in Amsterdam. The quadruple world champion has been heavily linked with McLaren in recent weeks, while reports have suggested relations with Red Bull have […]
Red Bull drops ‘Macarena’ as Verstappen backs team
Jul.17 (GMM) Red Bull has abandoned its troublesome ‘Macarena’ rear wing for this weekend’s Belgian GP after the recent failures that left Max Verstappen furious at Silverstone. The aggressive concept, which attracted attention for opening even wider than Ferrari’s version, was abandoned after Verstappen twice ended up off the track with failures in Austria and […]