Jul.31 (GMM) Pirelli’s F1 boss does not disagree with drivers who are calling the full wet tyres “useless”. A Formula 1 rule dictates that if a race starts behind the safety car, as it did in the Saturday sprint at Spa Francorchamps, then the drivers must have full wets fitted. But at Spa, almost the […]
Month: July 2023
Artificial Renault engine boost could ‘ruin F1’ – Wolff
Jul.31 (GMM) Allowing Renault to enjoy special rules to boost engine power could “ruin Formula 1”. That is the view of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, after the F1 Commission last Friday rejected Alpine’s proposal that it be allowed to run higher-than-allowed fuel flow rates in order to bridge the power gap. Renault has reportedly claimed […]
Szafnauer hopes to return to Alpine-like role ‘soon’
Jul.31 (GMM) There is “fake news everywhere” in Formula 1 these days, according to departing Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer. Sunday in Belgium was the Romanian-born American’s last race in the paddock for now, as together with long-serving sporting director Alan Permane he has been ousted with immediate effect. And according to some, Szafnauer did […]
2024 contract talks a ‘rollercoaster’ – Hamilton
Jul.31 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is continuing to insist that his “plan” is to still be a Mercedes driver in 2023. However, although team boss Toto Wolff says the pair have “emotionally” agreed a new deal, a signature is not yet on paper. “I think it’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster on both sides,” seven time world […]
Verstappen could still win ‘without a front wing’
Jul.31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is starting to wonder if Red Bull can complete an astonishing and unprecedented clean sweep of victories in 2023. Max Verstappen’s championship lead over his own teammate blew out to a whopping 125 points at Spa Francorchamps on Sunday – his eighth win on the trot. But Red Bull as […]
F1 auditors even reading Whatsapps – report
Jul.30 (GMM) F1’s budget cap inspectors are even digging into Whatsapp text messages as up to three top teams risk being found guilty of spending breaches. The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports that, like last year, Red Bull and Aston Martin are under the FIA’s spotlight once again. But this time, Mercedes is also reportedly […]
Leclerc plays down risk of Ferrari exit
Jul.30 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has played down fears he might not stay with Ferrari beyond his 2024 contract. Frederic Vasseur has delayed contract talks for now, but Leclerc said at Spa-Francorchamps that he is at least happy with the team’s new boss. “I have complete confidence in Fred Vasseur,” Leclerc told the Belgian broadcaster RTBF. […]
Marko reassures Perez over 2024 contract
Jul.30 (GMM) As rumours continue to swirl about Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull, Dr Helmut Marko has moved to reassure the Mexican. Having declared his intention to charge for the title following a strong start to 2023, Perez’s performance slumped badly. It led to rumours that Red Bull may react by signing a new […]
Szafnauer doubts Sunday will be ‘last time’ in F1
Jul.30 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer thinks he will be back in the Formula 1 paddock eventually. The Alpine team boss, who was poached from Aston Martin for 2022, has been ousted by the chaos-ridden Alpine team – along with Alan Permane and Pat Fry. James Vowles, who has snapped up Fry to be Williams’ technical boss, […]
Guanyu Zhou wants ‘longer contract’ for 2024
Jul.30 (GMM) Zhou Guanyu will be pushing for a longer contract when talks kick off with Alfa Romeo. The Swiss team Sauber, currently known as Alfa Romeo but transitioning to Audi before 2026, confirmed at Spa Francorchamps that the Chinese driver is not yet signed up for 2024. 24-year-old Guanyu, and his reported EUR 20 […]
Rookie Piastri happy with Red Bull rumours
Jul.30 (GMM) Despite rumours linking him with Red Bull, Oscar Piastri says he’s content at McLaren for now. Last year, Alpine tried to promote its development driver to the departing Fernando Alonso’s race seat – but he and manager Mark Webber rejected the deal as they controversially signed instead with McLaren. The fresh-faced 22-year-old Australian […]
Sauber admits Chinese Zhou not yet signed for 2024
Jul.29 (GMM) Sauber, the Formula 1 team currently known as Alfa Romeo, has confirmed that contract talks with Zhou Guanyu are yet to take place. Recently, the Chinese driver and his reported EUR 20 million in sponsorship was linked with potential moves to Haas and Williams for 2024. Now, Alfa-Sauber team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi […]
Ricciardo could stay at Alpha Tauri in 2024
Jul.29 (GMM) It is possible that Daniel Ricciardo will stay at Alpha Tauri in 2024. That is despite the fact that rumours are swirling that team owner Red Bull actually wants to reunite the 33-year-old Australian with Max Verstappen at the energy drink company’s premier team. However, team boss Christian Horner says that cannot happen […]
Spa boss says track not too dangerous for F1
Jul.29 (GMM) Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Maes has hit back at the narrative that Spa-Francorchamps has become too dangerous for the Formula 1 calendar. The drivers have been talking about the potential of cancelled sessions this weekend due to the type of rain conditions that ended in another junior category fatality at the top of […]
Verstappen backs postponed tyre blanket ban
Jul.29 (GMM) Formula 1 has called off the planned banning of tyre-warming blankets for 2024. Ahead of Friday’s decisive F1 Commission meeting at Spa-Francorchamps, world champion Max Verstappen was among the drivers arguing against the ban. “People don’t understand how hard it is to even drive a car out of the pitlane with 1000 horsepower,” […]
Red Bull-Ford preparing to fire up 2026 engine
Jul.29 (GMM) Red Bull is preparing to fire up its first 2026 engine in collaboration with new partner Ford. “In the next few weeks, the first complete unit will be running on the test bench with the combustion engine, MGU-K and battery,” Dr Helmut Marko told Speed Week at Spa Francorchamps. “We are, we think, […]
Penalised Verstappen still confident for Spa win
Jul.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Red Bull are confident the Dutch driver can still easily win Sunday’s Belgian GP. That is despite the fact that adding a fifth gearbox to the championship leader’s allocation this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps has dropped him to P6 on the grid. His advantage in qualifying, however, was an astonishing eight […]
Red Bull, Ferrari, agree deal over Mekies
Jul.29 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits Red Bull paved the way for Laurent Mekies to finally step down at Ferrari. It was already known that Frenchman Mekies, Ferrari’s sporting director, had been signed to become the new team boss at Red Bull-owned Alpha Tauri. But he was stuck at Maranello because Ferrari would not agree […]
Prost ‘sad’ as more turmoil engulfs Alpine
Jul.29 (GMM) French F1 legend Alain Prost is “sad” about the turmoil currently taking place at the Renault-owned Alpine team. Amid performance difficulties, shareholding and management shakeups have also been the order of the day at the Enstone and Viry-based outfit over the past weeks and months. It got even more chaotic at Spa-Francorchamps as […]
Marko laughs at Hulkenberg-to-Red Bull rumours
Jul.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has grinned at rumours that Nico Hulkenberg could be a surprise contender to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing. The 35-year-old German has been impressive on his return to Formula 1 with Haas this year, and appears to be cruising towards a contract extension. But former F1 driver Timo […]