Sep.9 (GMM) Well over two years after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, F1’s governing body is maintaining a strong anti-Russian sentiment. That is the claim of Vladimir Chagin, a legendary Russian rally raid driver who is also involved in the organisation of the country’s Silk Way rally. Last year, Chagin had to pull his […]
Month: September 2024
Verstappen suddenly in ‘same situation’ as Perez
Sep.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez insists Red Bull’s recent performance slide is no real surprise from his perspective. The Mexican headed into the recent summer break amid raging speculation that the team would cancel his newly-signed 2025 and 2026 contract, due to poor performance. Former double world champion Mika Hakkinen is among those who think Red […]
Verstappen’s engineer turned down F1 rivals’ offers
Sep.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s well-known race engineer has reportedly turned down offers from both Ferrari and McLaren. Corriere dello Sport claims Gianpiero Lambiase, otherwise known as ‘GP’, was approached with the enticing offer to become Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer at the Maranello based team from 2025. He apparently turned down that offer, with other reports […]
Russell not worried about Antonelli ‘shootout’
Sep.9 (GMM) George Russell insists he is not worried he could be left without a Mercedes race seat for 2026. Red Bull’s leadership power struggle this year triggered a series of high-profile personnel departures – including Adrian Newey. The turmoil, with Max Verstappen’s father Jos very much now in the anti-Christian Horner camp, has now […]
Audi contender Bortoleto gets first F1 test
Sep.9 (GMM) Gabriel Bortoleto, a named contender to complete Audi-owned Sauber’s 2025 driver lineup, got his Formula 1 career up and running last week. “No decision has been made yet,” boss Mattia Binotto said at Monza, “but it won’t take too long.” The Italian admitted that Audi is undecided about signing a young driver like […]
F1 to unveil new race-rotation scheme ‘soon’
Sep.6 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has teased that Formula 1 will soon boast “many” grands prix in Europe. Currently, although the old continent was the traditional and historic centrepiece of the sport, there are only 9 races in Europe on the 24-round schedule. But there is currently a lot of talk about F1 wanting to expand […]
Aston Martin denies Alonso’s Valkyrie broke down
Sep.6 (GMM) Aston Martin has dismissed widespread reports about the health of Fernando Alonso’s new hypercar. This week, the Silverstone based Formula 1 team and its carmaker parent proudly boasted that two-time champion Alonso received delivery of his custom multi-million dollar ‘Valkyrie’ hypercar – “a true F1 car for the road”. The Spaniard, according to […]
Renault F1 engine axe decision not final yet – CEO
Sep.5 (GMM) Renault CEO Luca de Meo insists a final decision about the fate of the French carmaker’s works Formula 1 engine program is yet to be taken. At Monza last weekend, scores of upset and striking employees of the F1 engine factory in Viry-Chatillon staged a peaceful protest from the grandstands. They believe the […]
F1 CEO coy about Barcelona GP survival beyond 2026
Sep.5 (GMM) Formula 1’s CEO insists it is possible that the sport’s calendar can cope with two world championship rounds in Spain. In 2026, traditional Spanish GP host Barcelona is still set to host its race, but it will be in addition to the brand new street event in Madrid. And while Madrid has a […]
Mere days left in Red Bull’s ‘option’ to retain Lawson
Sep.5 (GMM) Even with an almost fully subscribed grid of drivers already signed up for 2025, the ‘silly season’ is still rumbling along. On the face of it, the only real vacancy is at Audi-owned Sauber, who so far have struggled to attract a truly top driver to pair with Nico Hulkenberg from next year. […]
Aston Martin set to announce Newey deal on Tuesday
Sep.5 (GMM) Aston Martin has scheduled a press conference for next Tuesday, September 10. The Lawrence Stroll-owned team summoning specialist Formula 1 journalists to Silverstone comes amid rampant speculation that Adrian Newey has been signed up for 2025 and beyond. The subject of the press conference has not been disclosed, but De Telegraaf newspaper claims […]
Mick Schumacher ‘on our list’, says Audi-Sauber boss
Sep.4 (GMM) Another name or two can be added to the list of drivers linked with Audi-owned Sauber for 2025. The team has the final real vacancy on next year’s Formula 1 grid, with truly top drivers like Carlos Sainz reportedly having turned down the seat due to uncertainty about the looming new works project […]
Stroll ‘very excited’ at prospect of signing Newey
Sep.4 (GMM) Aston Martin is no longer denying that Adrian Newey really could be set to join the Silverstone based team. Rumours have been swirling ever since the 65-year-old Briton decided to leave Red Bull – with his friend and manager Eddie Jordan revealing that every team in pitlane made a bid for his title-winning […]
Norris does not deserve number 1 status – Doornbos
Sep.4 (GMM) Lando Norris does not deserve clear number 1 status within the McLaren team, even for his escalating title fight with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. That is the view of former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos, in the wake of the Italian GP. At Monza, Oscar Piastri pushed the bounds of McLaren’s new so-called […]
Red Bull now working towards 2024 car fix – Marko
Sep.4 (GMM) The departure of Adrian Newey is too simple an explanation for Red Bull’s performance slide, team consultant Dr Helmut Marko insists. The team is not hiding either the progressively worsening handling of its 2024 car, nor that the engineers even fully understand what is going wrong. Some think the explanation is as simple […]
FIA cannot stop front wing flexing until 2025
Sep.4 (GMM) Formula 1’s governing body has given the controversial front wing designs of the rapidly-improved McLaren and Mercedes teams a clean bill of health. The steadily less competitive Red Bull team, and also Ferrari, have questioned whether their top rivals’ front wing designs flex too much beyond the spirit of the current regulations. It’s […]
Red Bull to look into McLaren-like flexible wing design
Sep.3 (GMM) Red Bull looks set to reluctantly follow the lead of McLaren and Mercedes in terms of front wing design. Although the reigning champions started 2024 strongly, the car’s handling, resistance to tyre degradation and pace have significantly waned through the car update process. “I think Max (Verstappen) was able to keep up the […]
Ferrari yet to release Bearman to Haas for Baku
Sep.3 (GMM) Ferrari is not yet ready to confirm that it will release its reserve driver for another one-off Formula 1 race. Kevin Magnussen’s clash with Pierre Gasly at Monza tipped the Haas driver over the 12-penalty point limit on his super license – resulting in an automatic one-race ban for Baku. Team boss Ayao […]
Colapinto should ‘prepare well’ for Singapore – Alonso
Sep.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has told Formula 1’s newest rookie to prepare for more physical pain in 2024. Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams as of last weekend’s Italian GP, impressed the paddock with his maiden run from P18 on the grid to P12 at the chequer. “Colapinto even overtook Valtteri Bottas in […]
Even Newey won’t be quick fix for Aston Martin – Alonso
Sep.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists Aston Martin will not be able to rely on Adrian Newey to put the team back on the right track in Formula 1. It is now widely expected by insiders that the Silverstone based team will admit this week that it has successfully secured the services of the departing Red […]