Oct.25 (GMM) Colton Herta has emerged as a serious candidate to replace Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac in 2027, despite his difficult Formula 2 season and the fact he still lacks a Formula 1 super licence. Paddock reports in Austin suggest Cadillac is considering giving Herta an additional FP1 appearance before the end of the season […]
Mekies backs Vasseur amid renewed Ferrari speculation
Oct.25 (GMM) Laurent Mekies has backed Frederic Vasseur as renewed speculation continues around the Ferrari team principal’s future. Vasseur has again faced questions over whether he could be replaced, while Ralf Schumacher even suggested the strain on his health could prompt him to step away from F1. Mekies, who worked alongside Vasseur at Ferrari during […]
Ford wants Verstappen for future GT program
Oct.25 (GMM) Ford wants to bring Max Verstappen into its GT racing activities in the future, extending a relationship that already exists through Red Bull’s Formula 1 power unit project. Verstappen currently races in GT3 machinery through Verstappen.com Racing, using Mercedes-AMG cars and support. Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook told De Telegraaf that the […]
Alonso invited to join Barcelona IndyCar race
Oct.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has emerged as the obvious candidate for a possible guest entry when IndyCar races in Barcelona next year. Spanish reports say Penske Entertainment is considering whether to relax its normal 25-car limit for the Barcelona round and allow an additional local guest driver. IndyCar president Doug Boles was quoted by Spanish […]
Verstappen joins Marko in defending Rwanda race
Oct.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen has become the latest prominent Formula 1 figure to defend the sport’s controversial decision to race in Rwanda. Dr Helmut Marko last week argued that a world championship should include all regions and that criticism of Rwanda should be viewed in the context of other countries already on the calendar. Verstappen […]
Wolff relieved after son’s frightening kart crash
Oct.25 (GMM) Toto Wolff says his nine-year-old son Jack is unharmed after a frightening karting accident in Italy. The Mercedes team principal was in Austin when footage emerged of the crash at the IAME Warriors Final in Viterbo. Jack Wolff was fighting for the lead late in the race when contact triggered a multi-kart accident […]
Verstappen hits back at COTA boss over bumps
Oct.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at Circuit of The Americas boss Bobby Epstein after the US GP promoter played down concerns about Austin’s extreme bumps. Epstein told ESPN that the track was generally in “really good shape” apart from one dip near Turn 1, and suggested Verstappen might be pleasantly surprised once he […]
Alpine distances itself from Colapinto joke
Oct.25 (GMM) Alpine has distanced itself from a joke by former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson about Franco Colapinto’s nationality. Clarkson, a longstanding Alpine supporter who has collaborated commercially with the Enstone-based team through his Oxfordshire farming business, was a guest of Alpine in Austin and appeared on Sky ahead of qualifying. Discussing Colapinto’s actual […]
Antonelli takes control of Austin title chance
Oct.25 (GMM) Kimi Antonelli has put himself in position to become Formula 1 world champion on Sunday after taking pole in Austin for his first title match point. The Mercedes driver will start ahead of Max Verstappen, while Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth and George Russell only sixth. That keeps the championship scenario alive, although Antonelli […]
Cadillac refuses to rule out Ocon for 2027
Oct.24 (GMM) Esteban Ocon’s Formula 1 future may not be over, with new Cadillac boss Marcin Budkowski refusing to rule out talks with the outgoing Haas driver – or even confirm that Valtteri Bottas is contracted for 2027. The comments come as Ralf Schumacher has openly urged Cadillac to replace Bottas with Ocon. When asked […]
Superstitious Antonelli refuses to tempt fate
Oct.24 (GMM) Kimi Antonelli is trying hard not to talk about his first Formula 1 title match point in Austin – and admits superstition is part of the reason. Asked by Corriere della Sera whether he had fully realised he could become world champion on Sunday, Antonelli immediately pushed back. “Again?” he smiled, exasperated at […]
Leclerc will not miss race for baby’s birth
Oct.24 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he does not expect the imminent birth of his first child to force him to miss a Formula 1 race. The Ferrari driver and wife Alexandra are expecting their first child in the coming weeks, although no exact due date has been made public. “No, I don’t think I’ll miss […]
Newey backs Honda despite Aston Martin doubts
Oct.24 (GMM) Adrian Newey has backed Honda to recover from its difficult 2026 season amid continuing speculation that Aston Martin could reconsider its long-term engine partnership. Honda’s new role as Aston Martin’s works supplier has been troubled, with reliability, vibration and performance problems prompting repeated scrutiny and even rumours that Lawrence Stroll has explored alternatives. […]
Verstappen says online abuse ‘doesn’t bother me’
Oct.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he personally ignores social media abuse, but felt compelled to intervene when it was directed at his young GT3 teammate Chris Lulham. Lulham, the sim racer turned real-world competitor in Verstappen’s GT program, was heavily criticised online after making contact with a rival at Portimao and receiving a drive-through penalty. […]
Vettel admits Ricciardo helped trigger Red Bull exit
Oct.24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted for the first time that Daniel Ricciardo’s arrival at Red Bull played a major role in his decision to leave for Ferrari. Speaking in the new ARD documentary ‘Being Sebastian Vettel’, the retired four-time world champion described how dramatically his position changed in 2014 after four consecutive titles. “My […]
Bearman says Ferrari role is delaying Haas deal
Oct.24 (GMM) Oliver Bearman says his expected new Haas contract is being held up by details involving Ferrari rather than any doubt about whether he will remain with the team. Haas has already confirmed Rafael Camara – another Ferrari junior – for 2027, while team boss Ayao Komatsu has made clear that Bearman is also […]
Russell says Horner talks were ‘mind games’
Oct.24 (GMM) George Russell has played down Christian Horner’s claim that Red Bull seriously explored signing him, saying the contact was mainly part of the former team boss’ political games with Toto Wolff. Horner wrote in his new book Drive that he contacted Russell’s management while Wolff was openly courting Max Verstappen. Russell says it […]
Williams clarifies Sainz comments on Gulf races
Oct.24 (GMM) Williams has issued a clarification on behalf of Carlos Sainz after the GPDA director sounded notably cautious about Formula 1’s confidence that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will go ahead. Sainz had said on Thursday that it was “relatively premature” to be so convinced while the political and security situation in the […]
Hamilton unrepentant over Singapore strategy gamble
Oct.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he will not stop challenging Ferrari’s strategy calls despite admitting his decision to stay out in Singapore was a mistake. Hamilton stayed on track rather than following Ferrari’s preferred pit sequence during the race. Asked in Austin whether the outcome would make him less willing to take the initiative from […]
Ecclestone puts Verstappen top of revised all-time list
Oct.24 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly revised his personal ranking of Formula 1’s greatest ever drivers, placing Max Verstappen above Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. German journalist Ralf Bach said on f1-insider.com that he spoke with the former F1 supremo last week and that Ecclestone now wants to expand his previous top five […]