Dec.7 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says the underperforming Alpine team is “hungry for more” in Formula 1. Having lost Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin over the winter, Ocon got a new teammate in the form of fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly for 2023 – and the pair were closely matched. The Renault-linked team, however, was embroiled in […]
Verstappen ‘best F1 driver of all time’ – Berger
Dec.7 (GMM) Gerhard Berger is more and more convinced that Max Verstappen is the “world’s best racing driver of all time”. It’s a big call from the F1 legend, especially as he was once teammate to the great Ayrton Senna at McLaren. But he told Kronen Zeitung newspaper that “never in my life” has he […]
Horner, F1 teams, deny triggering Wolff scandal
Dec.7 (GMM) Red Bull, and every other Formula 1 team, have distanced themselves from the exploding controversy surrounding Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his wife Susie. The FIA stunned the paddock this week by announcing an investigation into a conflict of interest and the exchange of confidential information between Wolff and his spouse, who is […]
Are Wolff and Horner ‘friends’ again?
Dec.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff has stopped short of declaring that he is now “friends” with his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner. The pair have shared a tense and fiery rivalry over the last several years, reaching its peak in 2021 as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clashed during that season’s ultra-intense world championship battle. But, […]
FIA plays down Red Bull-Alpha Tauri ‘clone’ rumours
Dec.7 (GMM) A top FIA official has played down rumbling whispers about the apparently ever-closer technical relationship between Red Bull’s two Formula 1 teams. After a decision was made to create more ‘synergy’ between Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri, Auto Motor und Sport believes the latter became the most prevalent team on the grid […]
Jean Todt backs Massa over ‘rigged’ 2008 race
Dec.7 (GMM) Jean Todt, the former Ferrari boss and ex-FIA president, has offered words of support for Felipe Massa’s quest to be named the 2008 world champion. Few respected figures in Formula 1 have gotten behind Massa’s threatened legal action, based on revelations about the infamous ‘crashgate’ scandal of the 2008 Singapore GP. Frenchman Todt, […]
Ferrari can ‘absolutely’ catch Red Bull – Baldisserri
Dec.6 (GMM) Ferrari can “absolutely” catch up with Red Bull as soon as 2024, according to highly successful former Formula 1 engineer Luca Baldisserri. Most famous for being Michael Schumacher’s race engineer at the peak of Ferrari’s ultra-successful title-winning era, the Italian hit back at the notion that Maranello was crushed by Red Bull’s dominance […]
Red Bull bans Verstappen from ‘dangerous sports’
Dec.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted that he is banned from taking part in various “dangerous sports” when he’s away from the world’s Formula 1 circuits. At the recent Honda Thanks Day at the Motegi circuit in Japan, the triple world champion demonstrated a Red Bull F1 car and went wheel-to-wheel in a kart race. […]
F1 host Barcelona downplays Madrid GP ‘rumours’
Dec.6 (GMM) Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya says it will not give up on hosting a Formula 1 race. It is believed Formula 1 is poised to announce a new addition to the world championship calendar for 2026 – a city race near the Real Madrid training ground in the Spanish capital, with ‘Madrid GP’ trademarks […]
Wolff claims sexism behind new F1 scandal
Dec.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff’s wife believes sexism is what lies beneath the shocking new Formula 1 investigation into an alleged conflict of interest. In its December issue, Business F1 magazine claims rival teams believe the fact that Susie Wolff is the new managing director of the F1-run female series F1 Academy means that confidential information […]
‘Reverse grid’ sprints still possible for 2024
Dec.6 (GMM) Formula 1 is still pondering whether to add a sensational ‘reverse grid’ feature to the tweaked sprint weekend format in 2024. The sport has now announced the six grand prix venues where sprint races will be held next year – including sprint newcomers Shanghai and Miami. The format has proved controversial, but Liberty […]
Verstappen rivals ‘don’t even fight’ – Abiteboul
Dec.5 (GMM) No team and driver combination has ever dominated Formula 1 in the way that Red Bull and Max Verstappen did in 2023. That is the claim of former Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul, who says even Michael Schumacher’s title-winning streak at Ferrari hardly compares. “Ferrari’s dominance was at a time when F1 was […]
Brand new car ‘exactly what Sauber needs’ – Bottas
Dec.5 (GMM) Alfa Romeo may be disappearing from the team name, but what Sauber really needs for 2024 is a “completely new car”, driver Valtteri Bottas agrees. At an awards event in London, the Swiss outfit’s ‘team representative’ Alessandro Alunni Bravi said the new team name will be announced this Sunday. It was believed that […]
Mega Leclerc contract ‘good move’ says former boss
Dec.5 (GMM) Offering Charles Leclerc a mega new Formula 1 contract is a “good move”, according to former Ferrari team boss Cesare Fiorano. It is rumoured this week that while the Maranello team may only offer a one-year extension for 2025 to Carlos Sainz, Frederic Vasseur is in the process of signing a whopping 2025-2029 […]
F1 set to announce 2026 grand prix in Madrid
Dec.5 (GMM) Formula 1 will have an early Christmas present for fans of the sport in Madrid. This year, speculation has ramped up to fever pitch about a likely new street race in the Spanish capital – including news that F1 has registered the ‘Formula 1 Madrid Grand Prix’ trademarks. It is believed F1 CEO […]
Wolff not yet worried about Red Bull-Alpha Tauri ties
Dec.5 (GMM) Toto Wolff has put a straight face to growing whispers about the intensifying technical ‘synergy’ between Red Bull’s two Formula 1 teams. A decision was made during the course of the season to ramp up the legal transfer of additional components from the energy drink company’s main team to Alpha Tauri. Red Bull […]
Sainz unhappy with Ferrari’s 2025 contract offer
Dec.4 (GMM) Teammate Carlos Sainz is reportedly unhappy with the deal Ferrari is offering him for a new contract beyond 2024. According to the authoritative Italian journalist Luigi Perna, the Maranello team is wooing Charles Leclerc for the future with a huge five-year contract and a salary doubled from 25 to 50 million euros per […]
F1 must not try to slow Verstappen down – Steiner
Dec.4 (GMM) Formula 1 must not implement any special measures to try to slow Max Verstappen’s dominance. That is the view of Gunther Steiner, boss of the team at the exact opposite end of the grid to Red Bull. “At the beginning of the season, it looked like it was going to be a good […]
Verstappen’s father underwent heart surgery in 2023
Dec.4 (GMM) Jos Verstappen underwent heart surgery during the course of his son’s ultra-dominant performance in the 2023 season. “It’s annoying that I had to have it, but it’s now resolved,” the 51-year-old former Formula 1 driver told the Dutch magazine Formule 1. Although now less involved in son Max Verstappen’s day-to-day management, Dutchman Jos […]
Hamilton surprised F1 with Russell defeat in 2023
Dec.4 (GMM) Although close in pace with Lewis Hamilton in 2023, this season was a wake-up call for his much younger teammate George Russell. That is the view of Jack Plooij, a commentator for Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport. “I really expected Russell to beat Hamilton this year,” he admits. “Lewis is better than I think.” […]