Apr.8 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is reporting “no after-effects” of his recent high-speed qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia. The German was briefly hospitalised in nearby Jeddah and missed Sunday’s grand prix, but it wasn’t because of his health – it was because of a lack of spare parts. And now, 23-year-old Schumacher is being asked to […]
Month: April 2022
F1 should brace for more freight chaos
Apr.8 (GMM) Freight chaos could become commonplace in Formula 1 this year, according to Gunther Steiner. The Steiner-led Haas team missed the start of the final pre-season test in Bahrain due to a freight delay, while DHL had to intervene to get all of the Melbourne-bound F1 equipment that was delayed at sea to Australia […]
Volkswagen to F1 in 2026 ‘confirmed’
Apr.8 (GMM) Volkswagen has officially “confirmed” its intention to see the Audi and Porsche brands on the Formula 1 grid in 2026. We have reported for weeks and months that McLaren could tie up with Audi, while the similarly VW-owned Porsche is eyeing a works deal with Red Bull. The issue came to a head […]
VW to approve F1 deals for McLaren, Red Bull
Apr.7 (GMM) Formula 1 is now tantalisingly close to officially welcoming Volkswagen – the world’s second largest carmaker – to the grid for 2026. While F1 congregates in Melbourne, the German giant’s supervisory board is meeting back in Europe on Thursday where it is expected that Audi and Porsche will get the green light for […]
Canal Plus agrees to pay more for F1 deal
Apr.7 (GMM) Formula 1 has improved the terms of its broadcasting deal with French television channel Canal Plus. Canal Plus’ CEO Maxime Saada told L’Equipe sports newspaper that the broadcaster has extended its deal with F1 until 2029. “We have signed an exclusive broadcasting agreement until 2029 for France and Africa and we thus become […]
F1’s close call with Melbourne sea freight delay
Apr.7 (GMM) Formula 1 team’s crucial sea freight almost didn’t arrive on time for the Australian GP this weekend. Austria’s Osterreich reports that although the teams put the Melbourne-bound equipment to sea some weeks ago, a combination of covid, Russia-Ukraine and Brexit issues forced a delay. Formula 1’s transport partner DHL leapt to the rescue, […]
Red Bull set to race much lighter car
Apr.7 (GMM) Red Bull’s already-competitive 2022 car has been on a serious weight-loss diet, according to Dutch insider and racing driver Tom Coronel. Coronel, who is close to the Verstappen family, says he has heard from “a very reliable source” that Red Bull has been working hard to slim the car down and get it […]
Mazepin says he’s victim of ‘cancel culture’
Apr.7 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin says he is a victim of “cancel culture”. The son of Russian oligarch Dmitry, whose fertiliser company Uralkali was Haas’ main sponsor, was recently ousted by the small American F1 team amid widespread sanctions against Russian interests. European sanctions said Mazepin snr is a “member of the closest circle of Vladimir […]
Too soon for F1 to scrap DRS – FIA’s Tombazis
Apr.6 (GMM) Nikolas Tombazis admits that Formula 1 is not ready to dump the controversial ‘DRS’ system despite the apparent success of the new aerodynamic rules. The FIA’s technical boss says he was pleasantly surprised with the spectacle of the opening two races of the revolutionary new ‘ground effect’ era. “I wouldn’t have been surprised […]
More talented drivers in Formula E than F1
Apr.6 (GMM) Former F1 driver Andre Lotterer says Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s criticism of Formula E is actually a “compliment”. Horner said recently that the all-electric single seater series “doesn’t work” because it “doesn’t take people with it”. “There is no noise, there is no passion,” he told the OMR podcast. “There is no […]
F1 looking for ‘better TV deal’ in USA
Apr.6 (GMM) Formula 1 is now turning its focus to a more lucrative television rights deal in the United States. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali freely admits that the American market is a “massive focus” for the sport, as Las Vegas is added to an ever-expanding calendar alongside existing US-based races in Miami and Austin. “We […]
Era of non-political F1 drivers ‘gone’ – Wurz
Apr.6 (GMM) The days are over when Formula 1 drivers could stay out of political matters. That is the view of Alex Wurz, a former F1 driver who is now president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association – the union representing the active drivers in Formula 1. In Saudi Arabia recently, reports emerged that the […]
Budget cap gamble paid off for Alfa Romeo
Apr.6 (GMM) Sauber-run Alfa Romeo appears to have benefitted in more ways than one by taking more control of its Swiss-based Formula 1 team. With the budget cap, the big technology and engine makers – predominantly Ferrari and Mercedes – reportedly insisted upon provisions whereby smaller teams who buy their components also have to take […]
DRS still helping F1 ‘show’ – Wolff
Apr.5 (GMM) There will be no fewer than 4 separate DRS zones on the Albert Park layout this weekend as Formula 1 finally returns to Australia. With the ‘ground effect’ 2022 cars proving much easier for drivers to chase and pass rivals with, some have questioned whether the drag-reduction rear wing system is even needed […]
F1 shouldn’t ‘write off’ Ricciardo – Marko
Apr.5 (GMM) Formula 1 should not “write off” Daniel Ricciardo, according to Red Bull driver mogul Dr Helmut Marko. This week, as the sport finally returns to Australia, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner reveals that the 32-year-old rejected a “stratospheric” offer to remain Max Verstappen’s teammate beyond 2018. Instead, Ricciardo went to Renault and […]
Lance Stroll attends grandfather’s funeral
Apr.5 (GMM) Lance Stroll attended the funeral of his grandfather before flying to Australia for this weekend’s grand prix. The Aston Martin driver was photographed at the Paperman et Fils funeral complex in his native Montreal to farewell Leo, father of team owner and fashion billionaire Lawrence. Both Strolls wore Jewish skullcaps or yarmulkes as […]
‘Three months’ until Magnussen fit for F1
Apr.5 (GMM) It will take “three months” before Kevin Magnussen is match-fit for Formula 1. After losing his Haas seat, the Dane spent a full year in sports cars before being recalled by the small American team to replace Nikita Mazepin. He struggled physically in Bahrain, but team boss Gunther Steiner is happy about the […]
Budget cap hardest on Alfa Romeo – Monchaux
Apr.5 (GMM) Formula 1’s budget cap is harder on Swiss-based Alfa Romeo. That is the view of the Sauber-run team’s technical boss Jan Monchaux, who told motorsport-magazin.com: “Have you ever been to a restaurant in Switzerland? “The problem is that the budget cap does not currently compensate for the differences in the cost of living […]
Hamilton open to working with Will Smith
Apr.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he would like to work with Hollywood actor and producer Will Smith. Smith is all over the headlines at present after slapping comedian presenter Chris Rock in the face just 30 minutes before receiving the best actor Academy Award for King Richard. The film is a biographical sports drama in […]
Alpine denies 2022 engine ‘concept’ wrong
Apr.5 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is “already on the edge” with his engine allocation for 2022, according to Russian Formula 1 commentator Alexey Popov. Alpine is boasting about a solid start to its 2022 campaign, but Spaniard Alonso has been plagued with engine trouble so far – including in Saudi Arabia. “It wasn’t the engine itself,” […]