Apr.25 (GMM) Ferrari’s surprise decision to use a blue livery in Miami next weekend suddenly makes more sense. Ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s huge-money move to Maranello for 2025 and beyond, the fabled team has announced a title sponsorship deal with HP – an American computer company with a blue logo. Ferrari has immediately become Scuderia […]
Month: April 2024
Audi agrees three-year deal with Hulkenberg – report
Apr.25 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg’s rumoured move from Haas to Audi-owned Sauber for 2025 and beyond looks to be all but signed and sealed. F1-insider.com, a German specialist source, claims that with Audi’s reported mid-May deadline for a decision looming, Hulkenberg has agreed a three-year deal – for 2025, 2026 and 2027. “Only the signature is […]
Ferrari ‘can’t do much’ about F1 driver spat
Apr.24 (GMM) “Sparks” between Ferrari’s current drivers could soon become “a fire”, according to a well-known Italian F1 insider. Over at struggling Mercedes, an awkward situation is also playing out in the cockpit, with Lewis Hamilton arguably underperforming in his final season before ousting Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. “Lewis is in a surprisingly good mood,” […]
Hopeful rookie on standby for two F1 teams
Apr.24 (GMM) A hopeful rookie is hoping his big chance to prove himself in Formula 1 may be looming just around the corner. After years of waiting for his own chance, reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire turned his attention to Japan’s Super Formula series this year – whilst also getting his first couple of […]
Top F1 teams not blocking points system tweak
Apr.24 (GMM) A proposal to extend the points-paying positions in Formula 1 from its current P10 all the way to P12 looks set to soar through the first decision-making hurdle. The F1 Commission – a decision-making body that precedes the rubber-stamping by the World Motor Sport Council – will discuss the idea in Geneva this […]
Ferrari set for big-money F1 title sponsor deal
Apr.23 (GMM) Ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, the fabled Italian Formula 1 team is now tipped to sign a lucrative deal with a title sponsor. Ferrari has not had a title sponsor since the ‘Mission Winnow’ project involving ongoing but behind-the-scenes tobacco backer Philip Morris. But before Hamilton arrives with salary requirements that […]
Kovalainen returns to F1 duties after surgery
Apr.23 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen is on the road to recovery, following open-heart surgery. It emerged in March that the former Formula 1 driver, who is 42, was being forced to put his rallying career on hold after doctors discovered an enlarged aorta during a routine check. He had the required operation shortly afterwards. And now, […]
F1 accusers lack ‘guts’ to confront FIA president
Apr.23 (GMM) Mohammed Ben Sulayem is charging ahead amid an obvious and escalating power struggle, denying that he necessarily needs the support of “the Formula 1 teams”. It’s well known that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s wife Susie has commenced defamation claims against the controversial FIA president, following comments Ben Sulayem made earlier this year. But […]
Opinions start to split over F1 points proposal
Apr.23 (GMM) Opinions are already divided, as Formula 1 stakeholders gear up for talks about expanding the current points system. The F1 Commission will discuss a proposal, forwarded by the smaller teams but also reportedly supported by Red Bull, to expand the points-scoring places from P10 to P12. Six teams must vote in favour of […]
F1 CEO in Thailand for grand prix talks
Apr.23 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has added Thailand to his travelling itinerary this week. It was already clear that, after a South Korean delegation visited Suzuka recently for talks about a Formula 1 race, Domenicali intended to visit the country this week “for further discussions”. But on Monday, the Italian was not in Korea […]
Upgrades keep McLaren on path to beating Red Bull
Apr.23 (GMM) After Lando Norris chased his friend Max Verstappen to the chequered flag in China, McLaren is now setting its sights on Red Bull. It’s been a low-profile start to 2024 for the Woking based team, despite quietly and comfortably sitting between Ferrari and Mercedes in the pecking order. Indeed, Norris made a friendly […]
Pressure piling up on ‘worst’ F1 driver Stroll
Apr.22 (GMM) The pressure is piling on the shoulders of Lance Stroll. Daniel Ricciardo, struggling to hang onto his Formula 1 career, lost control of his tongue in Shanghai when talking to reporters about being rear-ended by Stroll’s Aston Martin behind the safety car. “I slowly started to calm down and then I was told […]
2025 F1 ‘silly season’ nearing boiling point
Apr.22 (GMM) Christian Horner has slammed his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff’s intensifying push to woo Max Verstappen away from Red Bull for 2025 and beyond. The ‘silly season’ is reaching an early boiling point at present, largely because of Lewis Hamilton’s shock Ferrari move opening up his Mercedes race seat. That’s making Carlos Sainz, set […]
F1 considers another points system overhaul
Apr.22 (GMM) Formula 1 is on the cusp of what would almost certainly be another highly controversial reform. After 2002, at the height of Ferrari’s ultra-dominant Michael Schumacher era, F1 expanded the awarding of points for P1 through P6 all the way to P8 as well. By 2010, the top 10 were all scoring points […]
Wolff looking forward to post-Hamilton ‘refresh’
Apr.22 (GMM) Just like Ferrari and also McLaren, Mercedes is planning a key car update for the forthcoming Miami GP. The formerly-dominant team, now in a three-season slump that has cost Mercedes the post-2024 services of Lewis Hamilton, showed no signs of recovery last weekend in China. “This is a bad car,” an increasingly forthright […]
Ferrari scrambles to prepare updates for Miami, Imola
Apr.22 (GMM) There’s still a long way to go in 2024, but Dr Helmut Marko admits Max Verstappen is essentially on a cruise to his fourth consecutive title. Indeed, such was the Dutchman’s comfort at the front of the pack in Shanghai on Sunday that he said of his Red Bull car: “I could do […]
‘Almost everything’ points at new Perez deal – Marko
Apr.21 (GMM) A contract extension for Sergio Perez is appearing more and more likely. His current deal expires at the end of 2024, and at a very awkward time for the 34-year-old Mexican – just as on-form Ferrari refugee Carlos Sainz is also on the move. But Perez has, so far in 2024, suddenly taken […]
Chassis change working out for embattled Ricciardo
Apr.21 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is hopeful his Formula 1 career is back on track. The embattled Australian had hoped to humble his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda this year and leapfrog into the Red Bull Racing seat next to Max Verstappen for 2025. Tsunoda, however, has had the clear edge so far, even triggering speculation that […]
‘Joke’ Alpine still fending off F1 sale rumours
Apr.21 (GMM) For about the third time in as many weeks, Bruno Famin has once again rejected persistent rumours that Alpine’s Formula 1 team is on the market. After a couple of seasons of management and shareholding chaos, Renault’s works team emerged with arguably the slowest car of all for the 2024 season. Esteban Ocon […]
Audi ‘putting pressure’ on 2025 F1 driver market – Haas
Apr.21 (GMM) Haas looks set to lose Nico Hulkenberg at the end of the season. Last year, the now-ousted team boss Gunther Steiner brought the 36-year-old out of retirement to replace Mick Schumacher – and he promptly shone. It’s put long-time Haas driver Kevin Magnussen in difficulty, as new boss Ayao Komatsu told the Danish […]