Jul.26 (GMM) The French GP only reinforced the “big difference” between 2022 title challenger Charles Leclerc and Formula 1’s reigning champion Max Verstappen. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, but even the highly partisan Italian press agrees that mistakes look set to cost Ferrari this year’s world championship. “No one […]
Month: July 2022
Promoter ‘not resigned’ to French GP axe
Jul.25 (GMM) French GP promoter Christian Estrosi insists he is “not resigned” to seeing the race drop off the Formula 1 calendar for 2023. Although the French GP boss and mayor of Nice dismissed suggestions the city he manages could rescue the event, he thinks the record crowd at Paul Ricard will give the sport […]
Dumping Briatore was biggest mistake – Kovalainen
Jul.25 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen admits his Formula 1 career may have been cut short because he split with Flavio Briatore. The now 40-year-old Finn was once one of F1’s most promising youngsters, having initially debuted for Briatore-run Renault before being signed by McLaren as Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning teammate in 2008. But Kovalainen then terminated his […]
Schumacher to miss out on upgraded Haas
Jul.25 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will miss out on Haas’ long-awaited upgrade package for its 2022 car this weekend in Hungary. The least-updated car on this year’s grid is the Ferrari-powered Haas, but f1-insider reports that there are only enough new parts for Kevin Magnussen. “We will hardly have spare parts even for one car,” admitted […]
Leclerc mistake a ‘pity’ for title duel – Marko
Jul.25 (GMM) Even Ferrari and Charles Leclerc’s closest rivals rued the crash on Sunday that spoiled a thrilling head-to-head with championship leader Max Verstappen. The Monaco-born driver was leading the French GP at Paul Ricard when he lost control and nosed into the barriers. An initial radio call about the throttle raised suspicions that Leclerc […]
Alpine, Williams admit Piastri ‘loan’ possible
Jul.24 (GMM) Alpine looks likely to ‘loan’ Oscar Piastri to Williams next year, clearing the path for Fernando Alonso to stay with the Renault-owned team in 2023. 40-year-old Alonso’s contract expires this year, with talks scheduled to come to a head over the summer break. “We are building scenarios for him,” said Alpine CEO Laurent […]
Wolff hopes ‘straightforward’ Vettel stays in F1
Jul.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff hopes his friend Sebastian Vettel can hang onto his place in Formula 1. While the quadruple world champion is in talks with Aston Martin and expected to sign a new deal for 2023, it is also clear that he has become somewhat disillusioned with the sport. He now regularly uses the […]
City of Nice will not rescue French GP – mayor
Jul.24 (GMM) Christian Estrosi has ruled out the city of Nice as the future host of the French GP. In the Paul Ricard paddock this weekend, most Formula 1 insiders are resigned to the fact that the circuit will not appear on the 2023 schedule. But Estrosi, who doubles as French GP president but also […]
F1’s ‘most feared woman’ laughs off criticism
Jul.24 (GMM) The FIA’s new secretary-general has laughed off claims her connections to Toto Wolff and Mercedes constitute a clear conflict of interest. Earlier this year, Shaila-Ann Rao – Wolff’s former lawyer and advisor – was controversially appointed in the top FIA role by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “Toto started all this nonsense about the […]
Marko applauds Ferrari for ‘clever’ Leclerc pole
Jul.24 (GMM) Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko applauded rival Formula 1 team Ferrari after Charles Leclerc secured pole position in France. “Ferrari played it very well,” he said, referring to the way Carlos Sainz gave his teammate an aerodynamic tow that ensured championship leader Max Verstappen could only start Sunday’s race at Paul Ricard from […]
Ferrari, Red Bull ‘on equal footing’ – Marko
Jul.23 (GMM) Mattia Binotto thinks the battle at Paul Ricard “will be about fractions of a second again”, even if Ferrari appeared to have its nose ahead in French GP practice. Championship leader Max Verstappen was beaten by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc two weeks ago in Austria, but Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko says he […]
Six teams reject ‘porpoising’ rule changes
Jul.23 (GMM) Up to six teams are resisting efforts for permanent rule changes next year to stamp out ‘porpoising’. Following the recent technical directive, Formula 1’s governing body is now pushing through permanent rule changes for 2023 – but top teams Red Bull and Ferrari are furious. “A significant rule change is being pushed through […]
Seidl rules out McLaren switch for Vettel
Jul.23 (GMM) Andreas Seidl has dismissed speculation Sebastian Vettel may make a shock switch to McLaren for 2023. Although quadruple world champion Vettel said at Paul Ricard that contract talks with Aston Martin have now begun, he was asked about rumours linking him to struggling Daniel Ricciardo’s seat. “I know some people there, but I […]
Vettel’s contract talks have begun ‘now’
Jul.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says talks with Aston Martin about a new contract for 2023 will kick off “now”. The Silverstone based team has made clear it wants to keep the quadruple world champion on board, but 35-year-old Vettel has also been linked with a shock switch to McLaren. “I think Lando (Norris) has a […]
Vasseur eyes ‘solution’ to Pourchaire dilemma
Jul.22 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is still looking for an opportunity to give highly-rated development driver Theo Pourchaire a run in the 2022 car. Many were surprised when it was announced that Robert Kubica would be taking over Valtteri Bottas’ car at Paul Ricard on Friday. That is because the Swiss team’s clear favourite, 18-year-old Pourchaire, […]
Ferrari ‘more dominant’ in 2022 – Verstappen
Jul.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not taking the 2022 world championship for granted, insisting he still feels as though he is “chasing” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. In reality, the reigning world champion is 38-points clear of Leclerc, but many in the paddock believe it is Ferrari with the outright fastest car. “It feels like we’re still […]
Sainz still charging for number 1 status
Jul.22 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he is still charging for number 1 status at Ferrari. Unofficially, most regard the Spaniard as subordinate to Charles Leclerc, with many calling on the Maranello marque to boost its title chances to making that status formal. “None of that has come from me,” Sainz, who secured his breakthrough win […]
French GP ‘not dead’ yet – Boullier
Jul.22 (GMM) The French GP is “not dead”, the Paul Ricard race’s director Eric Boullier has insisted. As Formula 1 gathered at the venue in Le Castellet on Thursday, most drivers were resigned to the fact that it may be their last in France. “It might not be on the calendar next year, so it […]
F1 divided over new era of political activism
Jul.22 (GMM) The Formula 1 paddock is becoming divided over the topic of how politically active the teams and drivers should be. The big issue at present is working on measures to reduce the alleged sexist and homophobic insults made against certain fans by other spectators at the recent Austrian GP. It is something world […]
Wurz says it’s unfair to ‘blame’ race director Wittich
Jul.21 (GMM) Alex Wurz admits it’s not fair to blame one of Formula 1’s new race directors for unrest in the driver camp at present. The former F1 driver now represents the entire grid as president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which recently sent a letter to the sport’s authorities outlining the drivers’ concerns […]