Oct.10 (GMM) Formula 1 has been hit by another operational embarrassment just days after the Sepang software chaos, with the FIA admitting a human error affected performance during Sprint qualifying in Singapore. After Sergio Perez’s crash caused a red flag in SQ1, Race Control failed to reactivate Overtake Mode when the session resumed. The FIA […]
Berger calls modern wet-weather F1 a ‘farce’
Oct.10 (GMM) Gerhard Berger says Formula 1’s handling of wet races has become a “farce”, while questioning whether the Sepang software chaos justified stopping the start at all. Speaking to Kronen Zeitung about the chaos in Malaysia last weekend, Berger said the first issue is establishing how much responsibility lay with the FIA and how […]
Antonelli family denies Monaco move
Oct.10 (GMM) Kimi Antonelli’s family has pushed back against Prince Albert’s suggestion that the Mercedes driver is considering a move to Monaco. The Monaco ruler recently told Corriere della Sera that “Kimi Antonelli is also thinking about moving to Monaco.” But Antonelli’s father Marco has now denied that anything is imminent. “We’re fine and don’t […]
Racing Bulls, Haas hold up 2027 driver moves
Oct.10 (GMM) Racing Bulls and Haas remain the main unresolved pieces of the 2027 Formula 1 driver market. Racing Bulls team boss Alan Permane says no decision is imminent between Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Formula 2 contender Nikola Tsolov. “We’re in no rush,” he said in Singapore. “We’ve got two fantastic drivers. We’ve got […]
Top teams cool on Vowles cost-cap plan
Oct.10 (GMM) James Vowles’ push to give lower-ranked teams more spending freedom under Formula 1’s cost cap is facing resistance from some of the sport’s biggest teams. The Williams boss wants a mechanism linked to championship position or points, allowing teams further down the order greater scope to invest in infrastructure and close the gap. […]
Gasly avoids flight with Singapore road trip
Oct.10 (GMM) Pierre Gasly has joined Gabriel Bortoleto in admitting he hates flying, with the Alpine driver choosing to travel by road from Malaysia to Singapore. While Valtteri Bottas famously made the journey by bicycle, Gasly opted for the car. “I arrived a bit faster than Valtteri,” he joked. “It took us four and a […]
Cooling vest row deepens in Singapore
Oct.10 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers remain sharply divided over cooling vests in Singapore, with Carlos Sainz pushing back at George Russell’s call to move their development outside the budget cap. Russell has argued that Mercedes should be allowed to improve its system without sacrificing development spending elsewhere. But Sainz said Williams simply chose to make […]
Mercedes upgrade gap widens as Antonelli struggles
Oct.10 (GMM) Mercedes’ troubled upgrade has come under even more pressure in Singapore, with Kimi Antonelli around six tenths slower than George Russell in Sprint qualifying. Russell, running the older specification, was only a tenth off Max Verstappen’s Sprint pole, while championship leader Antonelli continued with most of the newer package after abandoning the new […]
Perez backs Vowles over F1 cost-cap reform
Oct.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez has backed James Vowles’ push to rethink Formula 1’s budget cap, arguing that the current system can actually make life harder for smaller teams. The Cadillac driver said newer operations must spend more simply to build the systems and efficiency already established at the front. “We’re a new and small team,” […]
Hamilton, Vasseur do not read Ferrari criticism
Oct.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has again defended Frederic Vasseur, saying much of the criticism surrounding Ferrari is coming from people who do not know what is happening inside the team. Speaking to Canal Plus after Malaysia, Hamilton said he personally avoids the noise. “I don’t read anything,” said the seven time world champion. “So the […]
Gov’t source says Rwanda F1 deal ‘approved’
Oct.9 (GMM) Formula 1’s return to Africa now appears all but certain, with multiple reports claiming Rwanda has indeed reached an agreement to host a grand prix from around 2030. AFP reports that sources close to both the Rwandan government and the FIA say an agreement has been reached, with an official announcement expected next […]
Hamilton says FIA, young drivers too cautious in rain
Oct.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says both the FIA and Formula 1’s younger generation have become too cautious about racing in wet conditions. The Ferrari driver was speaking in Singapore just days after the chaotic race at Sepang, where heavy rain and delays again raised questions about modern wet-weather racing. “Wet weather races aren’t the same […]
Singapore haze adds new concern before GP
Oct.9 (GMM) Air pollution has emerged as a significant issue ahead of the Singapore GP, with smoke from major Indonesian wildfires pushing conditions into the unhealthy range. The FIA says the situation is being monitored closely but does not currently expect the haze to threaten track activity. Carlos Sainz, a GPDA director, admitted the conditions […]
Honda admits ‘pride deeply wounded’ by 2026 failure
Oct.9 (GMM) Outgoing Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe says the manufacturer’s difficult return to Formula 1 in 2026 has deeply hurt Honda’s pride. Watanabe, who will step down as HRC president and CEO on January 1, told motor.es that Honda had aimed much higher under the new regulations. “Many people had high hopes for […]
Nike poised to enter F1 with Vegas announcement
Oct.9 (GMM) Nike is set to enter Formula 1 from 2027, with Bild newspaper reporting that the deal is done and expected to be announced around the Las Vegas GP. Unlike Adidas and Puma, Nike is not expected to outfit a team. Instead, the US sportswear giant will reportedly supply Formula 1 personnel with products […]
Hulkenberg unimpressed by Bottas bike adventure
Oct.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ 420-kilometre bike ride from Malaysia to Singapore has drawn plenty of admiration – but Nico Hulkenberg was not impressed. Bottas’ early spin at Sepang triggered the Safety Car that ruined Hulkenberg’s gamble on slick tyres, and the Audi driver made that clear when asked about the Finn’s journey. “I would have […]
Mercedes splits cars as Russell misses upgraded engine
Oct.9 (GMM) Mercedes will run different specifications in Singapore, with George Russell returning to the older aerodynamic package while Kimi Antonelli continues with the troublesome Sepang upgrade. Championship leader Antonelli admitted the decision was not entirely his. “I couldn’t really decide much,” he smiled. “But we firmly believe that the new package can work well. […]
Ocon open to reserve role if no F1 race seat
Oct.9 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he would accept a reserve role in 2027 if he cannot secure a Formula 1 race seat, and has ruled out racing elsewhere for now. The departing Haas driver was unusually open about his situation in Singapore. “Still working on it, still discussing,” said the Frenchman. “When I will have […]
Alonso denies Dakar plan, reports insist deal is done
Oct.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has denied reports that he will return to the Dakar Rally in 2027, despite Spanish media insisting the project is already arranged and testing will begin next week. SoyMotor has reported that Alonso will drive a Prodrive-built car rebadged as an Aston Martin, with Marc Coma again alongside him as co-driver. […]
Verstappen says Red Bull life calmer without Horner
Oct.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen says life at Red Bull has become less stressful since Christian Horner’s departure, while playing down talk of either a Horner comeback or his own future move to Ferrari. Speaking to the Press Association, Verstappen said he prefers the calmer atmosphere around the team since Laurent Mekies took over. “To be […]