Aug.31 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton returned from the summer break vowing to relax and enjoy himself again, but Ferrari’s struggles continue. The seven-time champion had labelled himself “useless” before the break, but looked more upbeat at Zandvoort despite only managing P7 in qualifying – one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who described his own performance as […]
Month: August 2025
Marko credits Newey as Aston’s revival continues
Aug.31 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s flashes of speed at Zandvoort have reignited talk about Aston Martin’s sudden progress. Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko suggested the team may finally be reaping the benefit of Adrian Newey’s arrival earlier this year – which may also explain Red Bull’s own current struggles. “I don’t know,” he told Sky […]
Hadjar shines as Red Bull teammate debate intensifies
Aug.31 (GMM) Red Bull’s question mark over Max Verstappen’s 2026 teammate shows no sign of fading. The latest wild rumour – that Indycar dominator Alex Palou is being lined up – has again been flatly denied. “We’ve never spoken to him,” Dr Helmut Marko told Sky Deutschland at Zandvoort. “We have our drivers, and he’s […]
Piastri ‘steals Norris’ pole’ at Zandvoort
Aug.31 (GMM) Oscar Piastri kept his cool at Zandvoort to snatch pole from McLaren teammate Lando Norris. The Australian championship leader had been slightly behind Norris all weekend – but found the speed exactly when it mattered. “That was the definition of peaking at the right time,” Piastri smiled. “I think the whole weekend I’ve […]
No ‘magic button’ to catch McLaren – Mekies
Aug.30 (GMM) Laurent Mekies admits his sudden promotion to Christian Horner’s old role at Red Bull came as a shock. “Completely out of the blue for me,” the 48-year-old Frenchman told De Telegraaf. “In the weeks that followed, I had tons of conversations and felt like I was in a state of flux. So the […]
Verstappen hints at GT3 if Red Bull falters in 2026
Aug.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen has warned he could branch out into other forms of motorsport if Red Bull’s 2026 project falls short. The quadruple world champion told Viaplay: “It depends on how fast we are next season. If we’re in it, then my focus will be completely on Formula 1. “But if not, then you […]
Barrichello, Lammers sons make moves toward F1
Aug.30 (GMM) Two more famous names are edging closer to Formula 1. Fernando Barrichello, 19-year-old son of F1 legend Rubens, will make his FIA Formula 3 debut at Monza with AIX Racing before contesting the full 2026 season. “I’m excited to fight for big things,” he said. Team boss Kenny Kirwan added: “We will be […]
Villeneuve senses ‘strange’ Ferrari crisis
Aug.30 (GMM) Ferrari’s troubled 2025 season rolled on at Zandvoort, even as the fabled team clings to second place in the constructors’ championship. Lewis Hamilton, who earlier in the weekend sounded refreshed after branding himself “useless” before the summer break, spun 360 degrees in Friday practice. “Not much has changed,” admitted the seven time world […]
Marko delays Tsunoda call as Palou keeps door ajar
Aug.30 (GMM) Red Bull will not rush to decide Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 future, with advisor Dr Helmut Marko confirming a verdict is now due only in September or October. “We have extended the options and will observe a few more races,” Marko told Sport1. “We want to make a decision in September or October.” […]
Wolff injects 400kph claim into 2026 rules debate
Aug.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff injected intrigue into the 2026 rules debate by suggesting Formula 1’s new-generation cars could hit an eye-popping 400 kph. The Mercedes boss admitted at Zandvoort that the remark was partly tongue-in-cheek, as scepticism mounts over the incoming power unit formula and aerodynamic concept. “Sounds good, no?” Wolff smiled. “Everybody’s talking those […]
Aston emerges as McLaren’s main rival at Zandvoort
Aug.30 (GMM) Aston Martin stunned the paddock at Zandvoort by emerging as McLaren’s closest challenger after Friday practice for the Dutch GP. Fernando Alonso was the big surprise, with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko admitting: “After Budapest, something changed that is really effective.” Williams driver Carlos Sainz agreed: “In Hungary, they were close to pole position. […]
Briatore cool on Colapinto as Alpine eyes Gasly deal
Aug.30 (GMM) Flavio Briatore admits Alpine is losing patience with Franco Colapinto, even as the rookie insists he still has more to show in the second half of the 2025 season. The 21-year-old Argentine was prised from Williams on loan after Alpine advisor Briatore convinced Renault to pay heavily for the deal. But after a […]
Bottas admits Alpine option before Cadillac deal
Aug.30 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says his path back to the Formula 1 grid with Cadillac was already mapped out long before this week’s official announcement in New York. The 35-year-old Finn, who struggled through his final season with Sauber in 2024 and has spent this year as Mercedes’ reserve, suddenly found himself back at the […]
Mercedes duo relieved Verstappen rumours faded
Aug.28 (GMM) George Russell and Kimi Antonelli walked back into the Formula 1 paddock at Zandvoort this week noticeably more relaxed – with both knowing that Max Verstappen will not be moving to Mercedes in 2026. The speculation over Verstappen’s contract exit clauses had put particular pressure on Mercedes’ young Italian rookie, but for now […]
Perez-Bottas ‘conservative’ call sparks debate
Aug.28 (GMM) Cadillac’s decision to launch its Formula 1 program with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas is dividing opinion in the paddock. Dr Helmut Marko, part of the decision to axe Perez after 2024, told Kleine Zeitung that the pairing is solid but cautious. “They’ve chosen the conservative route,” the Red Bull advisor said. “So […]
Hamilton denies physical struggle behind ‘useless’ comment
Aug.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he has returned from Formula 1’s summer shutdown with a new outlook after branding himself “useless” before the break. “In the heat of the moment, it can happen to anyone, and that’s how I felt,” the seven-time champion admitted at Zandvoort. “There was so much pressure in the first half […]
Red Bull denies Palou link as ’26 race heats up
Aug.28 (GMM) Red Bull has moved to shut down speculation that Indycar champion Alex Palou could be drafted in to partner Max Verstappen next season. “That’s not true,” Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s long-time motorsport advisor, told Kleine Zeitung when asked about the rumours. Palou, 28, is a four-time Indycar title winner and has dominated […]
Verstappen ‘tone has changed’ since Horner axe
Aug.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen returns from the August break seemingly recharged, though no longer a central figure in the 2025 world championship fight. “What did I miss? Not the media – that was nice,” the four-time champion smiled at Zandvoort. “I didn’t even race. I just had a vacation and meetings.” When asked if slipping […]
Herta dodges F2 rumours amid Cadillac speculation
Aug.28 (GMM) Colton Herta has declined to confirm or deny mounting speculation that he could be placed in Formula 2 next year to secure the Super License points required for a potential Cadillac Formula 1 seat from 2027. “Oh boy, I don’t really have any comments for any of that stuff, to be honest,” the […]
2026 F1 rules becoming even more complex – report
Aug.28 (GMM) Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport has revealed the extraordinary complexity of Formula 1’s incoming 2026 regulations – raising concerns the sport is straying even further from its racing roots. Journalist Michael Schmidt was given access to the FIA’s confidential energy management charts, which outline how power use will be individually restricted at every […]