Nov.15 (GMM) Formula 1 should “thank Max Verstappen” rather than criticise him, according to the sport’s former long-time supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The 92-year-old no longer attends races after being ousted by Liberty Media in 2017, but he was back in the paddock at Interlagos – as he lives nearby with his Brazilian wife and child. […]
Month: November 2022
Shwartzman admits F1 dream may be over
Nov.15 (GMM) Robert Shwartzman admits his dream of racing in Formula 1 could be over. This year, the Russian – who kept his motor racing career alive amid the Ukraine conflict by switching to an Israeli license – has been the full-time reserve driver at Ferrari. But the 23-year-old says the way the 2023 grid […]
Red Bull driver episode is ‘personal’ – Lammers
Nov.15 (GMM) The best Formula 1 drivers always have “some sharp edges”, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. He was commenting after fellow Dutchman Max Verstappen, the back-to-back reigning world champion, inexplicably refused to let teammate Sergio Perez past in Brazil so the Mexican can secure second overall in the drivers’ standings. “I understand […]
Vasseur linked with Binotto’s Ferrari job
Nov.15 (GMM) There is “a lot of talk” about Mattia Binotto’s future at Ferrari. That is the view of the highly authoritative Italian media source Leo Turrini, who told Formula Passion that Ferrari president John Elkann will be alarmed that Mercedes sped ahead of the Maranello team in Brazil. According to team boss Binotto, Ferrari […]
Schumacher looks to ‘restart’ F1 career in 2024
Nov.14 (GMM) It is now all but official – Mick Schumacher will not be on the Formula 1 grid in 2023. Haas boss Gunther Steiner says he is ready to complete the small American team’s 2023 driver lineup, with the big paddock buzz in Brazil suggesting it will be Nico Hulkenberg. An announcement is expected […]
Alonso wants to drive ‘green car’ in Abu Dhabi
Nov.14 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is heading to Abu Dhabi this week with one colour on his mind – green. That is despite the fact that he will actually be wearing Alpine blue when the 2022 season finale kicks off, as he looks forward to bidding farewell to the Renault-owned team after a troubled […]
Hamilton says 2021 title outcome ‘manipulated’
Nov.14 (GMM) As Formula 1 prepares to return to the scene of the ultra-intense 2021 championship finale, Lewis Hamilton has ripped the bandaid off the wound. The seven time world champion sat down in Brazil for an interview with Sky Deutschland conducted by former F1 driver Timo Glock. Today, Glock is perhaps best remembered for […]
Ferrari team order to help Leclerc ‘too risky’
Nov.14 (GMM) It was too “risky” to impose a team order and boost Charles Leclerc’s chances of finishing second overall in the 2022 drivers’ standings. That was the explanation of Ferrari’s team bosses after Leclerc – now dead even on points with Sergio Perez with just the Abu Dhabi finale to go – admitted his […]
‘Something bigger’ behind ‘selfish’ Verstappen move
Nov.14 (GMM) As tempers eased after an eventful Brazilian GP, all the talk was about Max Verstappen’s refusal to help Sergio Perez finish second in the drivers’ standings. Former driver Ralf Schumacher said it was incomprehensible why the back-to-back world champion didn’t take the perfect opportunity to obey and team order as “payback” for his […]
Plot thickens after Verstappen refused team order
Nov.14 (GMM) Even Dr Helmut Marko looked upset late on Sunday after world champion Max Verstappen refused to help Red Bull and Sergio Perez’s quest for second overall in the 2022 drivers’ standings. Instead, Mexican Perez is now locked on points with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc heading into the season finale this weekend in Abu Dhabi. […]
Haas finally decides second 2023 driver
Nov.13 (GMM) Mick Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg are currently unaware if they will be racing a Haas in 2023, according to team boss Gunther Steiner. He half-seriously admitted in Brazil that the delay in finalising the last cockpit on next year’s Formula 1 grid is because he is a “slow decider”. In truth, Steiner actually […]
Marko yet to meet with new Red Bull CEO
Nov.13 (GMM) Red Bull’s top Formula 1 team is still getting to know the energy drink company’s new upper management. Previously, the way Red Bull’s founder and figurehead Dietrich Mateschitz communicated with the team was simple – via the similarly-aged 79-year-old Austrian and former F1 driver Dr Helmut Marko. Mateschitz passed away late last month, […]
Late Mercedes surge in 2022 ‘not a surprise’ – Binotto
Nov.13 (GMM) Ferrari should consider a change at the very top at Ferrari, as a season of often impressive competitiveness but calamitous strategic errors nears its end. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who said the most obvious mistake in Brazil was the choice of tyres for Charles Leclerc in qualifying. […]
Alonso happy Alpine career ‘finally’ almost over
Nov.13 (GMM) Fernando Alonso in Brazil shattered the illusion that his Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon was ever his “friend”. The pair clashed during Saturday’s sprint race at Interlagos, and afterwards 41-year-old Alonso admitted he will be relieved when the season ends in Abu Dhabi next week. “One more race and it’s over – finally,” said […]
Pourchaire on pole for works Audi future
Nov.12 (GMM) Theo Pourchaire appears to be in pole position for a future at Sauber, with the team set to be majority-controlled by Audi by 2026. Team boss Frederic Vasseur said recently that it’s too early to discuss who the first works Audi driver will be. “For sure we have Valtteri (Bottas) on board, we […]
Verstappen, Sky end F1 boycott spat
Nov.12 (GMM) Formula 1 broadcaster Sky and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen have declared that their spat and boycott are now over. In Mexico, the energy drink owned team back its driver and imposed a boycott of Sky’s British, Italian and German coverage of the sport, with world champion Verstappen hitting out at arguably biased recent […]
Magnussen pole is more bad news for Schumacher
Nov.12 (GMM) Mick Schumacher did his chances of a new Haas contract no help at Interlagos by qualifying by qualifying dead last for the sprint race. Even worse for the 23-year-old German, his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen stunned the Formula 1 world by achieving his and the team’s first ever pole position – helped, of […]
Wolff reignites F1 driver salary cap talk
Nov.12 (GMM) Just as Lewis Hamilton pushes for a new Mercedes contract, his boss has re-fired the conversation about the need for a drivers’ salary cap. Seven time world champion Hamilton is still the highest earner in Formula 1 – although new back-to-back title winner Max Verstappen is now close with their approximate $40 million […]
Ecclestone misses the ‘old’ Sebastian Vettel
Nov.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he misses the ‘old’ version of Sebastian Vettel. Indeed, in the German driver’s formative years in Formula 1, he was famously close to the now-former F1 supremo. “He has changed,” the 92-year-old told RTL. “When I first met him, he was a little boy. Very shy and very polite,” Ecclestone […]
Two major sponsors set to leave F1
Nov.11 (GMM) Two major sponsors in Formula 1 look set to exit the sport. Mercedes has confirmed that, at least this weekend in Brazil, the logos of collapsing cryptocurrency exchange FTX will remain on the car. It is also reported that Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, is set to leave Formula 1 after failing to agree […]