May 16 (GMM) Axed and disgraced former F1 race director Michael Masi could make a comeback. While many applauded the Australian’s forced departure after the controversy of the 2021 championship showdown in Abu Dhabi, new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem insists he hasn’t sacked Masi. “He had a personal overload – safety delegate as well […]
Month: May 2022
Hamilton ‘hunted’ by ‘new generation’ – Ickx
May 16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is being “hunted” by Formula 1’s “new generation”, according to F1 legend Jacky Ickx. The 77-year-old Belgian’s comments come as Hamilton, 37, struggles not only with Mercedes’ uncompetitive 2022 car, but also to keep up with his young new teammate George Russell. At the same time, Hamilton has gone to […]
Vettel invited to test Indycar
May 13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel could turn to Indycar if his Formula 1 career ends at the conclusion of this year’s world championship. The quadruple world champion has said in recent weeks and months that he is struggling to adjust to the consistent F1 midfield. Aston Martin, though, is not giving up on giving the […]
Alpine eyes Silverstone for Alonso contract talks
May 13 (GMM) Alpine has earmarked Silverstone as the scene of the first talks with Fernando Alonso about potentially extending the 40-year-old’s contract. The former two-time champion, who returned to Formula 1 last year on a two-year deal following a sabbatical, said recently that he envisages racing on for another few years. Friend and fellow […]
Mercedes committed to F1 amid 2022 struggle
May 13 (GMM) Mercedes’ 2022 struggles are not so woeful that the German carmaker’s CEO is considering pulling out of Formula 1. Toto Wolff says being in “no man’s land” behind Red Bull and Mercedes is so painful at present that it’s “boring”, as the team boss looks towards upgrades and a comparison with the […]
Miami GP boss admits shock financial loss
May 12 (GMM) Top race executive Tom Garfinkel admits the otherwise popular and celebrity-fuelled inaugural Miami GP actually lost money. In fact, he says the losses were greater than were actually anticipated, even though he doesn’t regret spending big to put the new street event on the map. “If you’d asked me six months ago, […]
Marko allays fear about Red Bull spending
May 12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists Ferrari has nothing to worry about in terms of Red Bull breaching this year’s budget cap. Mattia Binotto, the team boss at Ferrari, admitted after a second consecutive defeat in Miami that Red Bull’s rapid pace of development has been a surprise in the context of the limited […]
F1 allies defend Mick Schumacher after crash
May 11 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s closest allies in Formula 1 are rallying to his defence as the pressure starts to mount in 2022. After dealing easily with the Nikita Mazepin challenge last year, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher is having a much tougher time alongside new Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen. Worse still, he’s […]
‘Grumpy’ Hamilton rattled by Russell – pundits
May 11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s problems in 2022 extend further than just an uncompetitive car. According to Mathias Lauda, the son of F1 legend Niki, the fact that the seven time world champion is so “grumpy” this year is also because of George Russell. “He’s really having a difficult time driving around in the midfield,” […]
Half of F1 teams support Andretti bid
May 11 (GMM) Michael Andretti found resistance in the Formula 1 paddock when he spoke with current team principals over the Miami GP weekend. The former McLaren driver is trying to convince F1, the FIA and his potential rival teams to open the doors to an eleventh team entry for 2024. One hurdle is the […]
Williams preparing for Audi ‘talks’
May 11 (GMM) Williams is preparing for “talks” with Audi about a Formula 1 tie-up with the Volkswagen-owned carmaker. It comes amid rumours of Audi’s other talks with Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo (Sauber), and after Zak Brown insisted in Miami that McLaren is “not for sale”. It may be a different story for Williams, […]
Tension mounting in Red Bull vs Ferrari battle
May 11 (GMM) It has been a civil head-to-head so far, but tension could be starting to heat up between 2022 title protagonists Red Bull and Ferrari. Dr Helmut Marko has said the battle is much more civilised than Red Bull’s 2021 clash with Mercedes – but then a story about a supposedly ‘illegal’ floor […]
Vettel, Schumacher still friends after crash
May 10 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher buried the hatchet after crashing in Sunday’s Miami GP. Each driver immediately blamed the other after Haas driver Schumacher, the son of Vettel’s mentor and hero Michael Schumacher, tried to pass the quadruple world champion. Vettel, a close friend of 23-year-old Schumacher’s, called the incident “stupid for […]
Miami open to F1 circuit changes for 2023
May 10 (GMM) Top Miami GP executive Tom Garfinkel is open to making changes to the Formula 1 event for 2023. It comes after a roll-call of drivers criticised the new street layout that winds around the Hard Rock Stadium – of which Garfinkel is CEO. Both Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon were actually furious […]
Wolff admits 2022 car concept could be scrapped
May 10 (GMM) The basic “concept” of Mercedes’ uncompetitive 2022 car is under review. For Barcelona, the reigning constructors’ champions intend to put the current ‘no sidepods’ design of the W13 head-to-head with the data collected with the launch specification at the same circuit in the winter. “Then we have to look in the mirror,” […]
Dehydrated Verstappen lost 3kg in Miami
May 10 (GMM) Max Verstappen reportedly lost three kilograms due to dehydration en route to victory in Miami. The Floridian sun and new street circuit made Sunday’s race a particularly tough one for the F1 drivers, but it emerges that world champion Verstappen was deprived of a drop of water throughout. “Installing a hydration system […]
2022 is ‘changing of the guard’ at Mercedes
May 10 (GMM) The world of Formula 1 is witnessing a changing of the guard at Mercedes this year, according to two former drivers. Jan Lammers, who is now the Dutch GP boss, thinks 24-year-old George Russell is getting “too little credit” for showing the way to seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton, 37, so […]
Perez on track for new Red Bull contract
May 10 (GMM) Sergio Perez appears to be on track for another one-year deal to remain Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull in 2023. There has been speculation the energy drink-owned team may be looking to re-promote Pierre Gasly, or perhaps even snap up Fernando Alonso, whose Alpine deal expires this year. “Alonso is a […]
‘No question’ about Latifi’s 2022 seat – boss
May 9 (GMM) There is “no question” about Nicholas Latifi’s place at Williams for the remainder of the 2022 season. That is the latest denial of rumours linking the struggling and error-prone-in-2022 Canadian driver with the exit door – potentially to make room for Alpine reserve and reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri. “We have […]
Race boss credits Netflix for F1 popularity
May 9 (GMM) Formula 1’s popularity is booming – and Netflix deserves the credit. That is the view of Canadian GP Francois Dumontier, who popped over from Montreal to Miami at the weekend to check out F1’s newest promoter. And he is certainly not afraid of the competition. “I have often deplored the fact that […]