Mar.31 (GMM) Formula 1 is capable of organising more than 30 grands prix per season, according to CEO Stefano Domenicali. Currently, there are 23 races – more than ever before – with plans for 24 next year thanks to China’s expected return. But Domenicali admits that demand from potential promoters is through the roof. “We […]
Month: March 2023
Vettel not ruling out F1 comeback
Mar.31 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not ruling out a potential return to Formula 1. The quadruple world champion, 35, retired at the end of last season – and now admits it’s “a bit strange” to see Fernando Alonso doing so well in the Aston Martin cockpit he used to occupy. “But it is outweighed by […]
Alonso hoping for ‘hot environment’ at Red Bull
Mar.31 (GMM) With Red Bull so dominant early in 2023, the only real championship intrigue could be an apparently tetchy relationship in the Red Bull garage. Back to back world champion Max Verstappen admits Sergio Perez is his only realistic challenger in Melbourne this weekend – and clear signs of tension have been obvious for […]
Talks underway for Melbourne F1 night race
Mar.31 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admits talks are underway about converting the Australian GP from a daytime race to one that is run under floodlights. Melbourne’s current Formula 1 contract runs all the way until 2035, but if organisers want the race to take place after dark then it will require the installation of […]
Verstappen warns against scrapping F1 practice
Mar.31 (GMM) World champion Max Verstappen has warned F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali not to tinker too hard with Formula 1’s basic race weekend format. Prior to the Australian GP weekend, Domenicali said he was pushing to eliminate as many practice sessions as possible from the existing schedule. And in Melbourne, many of the top drivers […]
Ricciardo eyes getting ‘back on the grid’ in 2024
Mar.31 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits he doesn’t want to settle in to ‘sabbatical’ life too much. When he lost his McLaren race seat, and signed up as a Red Bull third driver rather than seek a drive further down the grid, the 33-year-old said he was looking forward to time off. “It’s only been a […]
Sainz admits ‘concept problem’ with 2023 Ferrari
Mar.31 (GMM) Carlos Sainz admits Ferrari is starting to lose faith in the basic ‘concept’ of its 2023 car. Earlier, after disappointing showings in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, new team boss Frederic Vasseur insisted the basic concept is sound – with excessive tyre wear in the race more of a setup problem. But Spaniard Sainz […]
Norris cannot quit McLaren contract early – CEO
Mar.31 (GMM) McLaren supremo Zak Brown is not worried Lando Norris may be scouring his contract for an exit clause. The 23-year-old Briton is regarded as one of the top young drivers on the grid – and he has been linked with a potential move to a faster team. And so, at Woking, work is […]
Hamilton wants Mercedes cockpit position changed
Mar.31 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is pushing for a basic change to his seating position as he struggles to keep up with his much younger Mercedes teammate George Russell. Michael Masi, the ousted Australian race director who played such a highly controversial role in Hamilton’s 2021 title loss, is back in the paddock this weekend in […]
Hamilton ‘detractors’ push for Mercedes exit
Mar.30 (GMM) A former Formula 1 driver has played down rumours Lewis Hamilton could be on the way out of Mercedes. While major team funder and 30 percent owner Ineos is reportedly prepared to pay for a lucrative new contract with the 38-year-old, there are also “detractors”. That is the claim of Times newspaper correspondent […]
Big Ferrari changes to wait until Imola
Mar.30 (GMM) Ferrari is holding off major upgrades for its disappointing 2023 car until the team fully understands the reasons for the problems. Charles Leclerc said in Melbourne on Thursday that while he thinks winning the title is “still possible”, the Maranello team acknowledges it must aggressively develop the car. “We can’t fool ourselves by […]
‘No chance’ Perez can beat Verstappen
Mar.30 (GMM) Sergio Perez has “no chance” of beating Max Verstappen to the 2023 drivers’ title. That is the view of former F1 driver Christian Danner, who said Verstappen’s fight-back drive in Jeddah after a qualifying fault showed how the 25-year-old has developed as a back-to-back champion. “For the first few laps I didn’t even […]
Germany’s F1 demise ‘a tragedy’ – Haug
Mar.30 (GMM) The demise of German involvement and popularity in Formula 1 is a “tragedy”, according to former Mercedes engine boss Norbert Haug. “The term tragedy pretty much describes what Germany currently has to offer in Formula 1,” he told Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland. “Or, more accurately, what German currently does not have to offer.” “No […]
Mazepin and son eye new F1 team project
Mar.30 (GMM) Yet another group is reportedly looking to enter a team into Formula 1 in the near future. Andretti-Cadillac and Craig Pollock’s new ‘Formula Equal’ project have made headlines already, but now the names of ousted Haas financier Dmitry and his son Nikita Mazepin are connected with a potential entry. At the outbreak of […]
Craig Pollock setting up new F1 team
Mar.29 (GMM) BAR co-founder Craig Pollock is now aiming to set up another Formula 1 team. The 67-year-old, who entered the sport as 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve’s manager, is busily making plans for a project called ‘Formula Equal’. Pollock told CNN that the premise of the team is that it will be completely gender-equal […]
2024 F1 return ‘goal’ still on track – Schumacher
Mar.29 (GMM) Mick Schumacher insists that his “goal” is to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2024. After two mixed seasons at Haas, the great Michael Schumacher’s newly 24-year-old son lost his race seat and this year is the full-time Mercedes reserve. But the German told Sky Deutschland: “The goal is to get back […]
Audi confident of ‘competitive’ 2026 debut
Mar.29 (GMM) While Porsche has reportedly ruled out entering Formula 1, fellow Volkswagen brand Audi is busily preparing for its 2026 debut. Adam Baker, the head of Audi’s project involving a collaboration and buyout of the Swiss team Sauber, has warned that joining the frontrunners will take three years. But he told France’s Auto Hebdo […]
Aston Martin suffer ‘leak of engineers’ – report
Mar.29 (GMM) A “worrying leak of engineers” is taking place at the suddenly-competitive Aston Martin team. That is the news from Alguer Tulleuda Bonifacio, a correspondent for the Spanish sports daily Diario Sport. He claims that, off the back of Fernando Alonso’s surprise back-to-back podiums behind the dominant Red Bull drivers so far in 2023, […]
Mercedes recovery could take a whole year – Wolff
Mar.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he often feels like “stopping” his Formula 1 career. The seven time world champion recently lamented Mercedes’ decision to stick with its flawed ‘no sidepods’ concept for 2023, insisting the team “didn’t listen” to his advice. Teammate George Russell denies that. “We were aware of the concept,” the […]
Ricciardo won’t return to Formula 1 – Jones
Mar.29 (GMM) 1980 world champion Alan Jones doubts fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo will return to the Formula 1 grid. Ricciardo, 33, will make his first on-site appearance at a grand prix this year in Melbourne this weekend, on standby for Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at Red Bull. Ricciardo said he will be using his […]