Jan.30 (GMM) Christian Horner has added further fuel to speculation about his Formula 1 future after being spotted at the FIA’s Paris headquarters for talks with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The meeting comes just days after Flavio Briatore confirmed that Horner and his backers are among those exploring the purchase of the 24 percent Otro […]
Month: January 2026
Red Bull warns rules could lock in engine advantage
Jan.30 (GMM) Ben Hodgkinson has warned that Formula 1’s 2026 power unit regulations risk freezing in an early competitive advantage – amid growing paddock belief that Mercedes may already be setting the clear benchmark. As ‘shakedown week’ in Barcelona races towards its end, the Red Bull-Ford engine boss said the FIA’s homologation framework could unintentionally […]
Aston rolls out radical Newey car, Mercedes ‘shocks’
Jan.30 (GMM) Aston Martin finally joined Formula 1’s Barcelona shakedown late on Thursday, unveiling a strikingly radical 2026 car that contrasts strongly with the totally-absent Williams. The Silverstone-based team only arrived late on Wednesday night, its car running late in the day on Thursday in bare carbon with no sponsors. Lance Stroll completed what a […]
Vowles hits back as rivals keep running in Barcelona
Jan.29 (GMM) Williams boss James Vowles has moved to shut down growing speculation over the team’s absence from Formula 1’s Barcelona shakedown week, insisting the FW48 has passed all mandatory crash tests and rejecting claims it is massively overweight. Williams has been at the centre of intense scrutiny after missing the entire closed-door test, with […]
Antonelli reveals psychologist support after tough rookie year
Jan.29 (GMM) Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed he worked with a psychologist over the winter after a difficult rookie Formula 1 season that included a mid-year slump and emotional moments in public. The 19-year-old, now entering his second season with Mercedes, said the break was used to reflect and reset after the pressures of 2025. […]
No more ‘driver change button’ at Alpine – Briatore
Jan.29 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has moved to shut down speculation about Franco Colapinto’s future at Alpine, joking that he has “lost” the button used to change drivers. Colapinto endured a difficult 2025 after being promoted mid-season at the expense of Jack Doohan, who has now left Alpine altogether and is now heading to Super Formula […]
Ralf tells Ferrari to ‘shut up’ over Mercedes engine row
Jan.29 (GMM) former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has told Ferrari to keep quiet amid growing speculation that the Italian team is preparing an official protest over a perceived Mercedes engine loophole. Speaking on Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse, Schumacher reacted to reports that Ferrari – potentially alongside Honda and Audi – could challenge Mercedes at […]
Hadjar crashes as rain disrupts Barcelona shakedown
Jan.28 (GMM) Formula 1’s tightly guarded Barcelona ‘shakedown week’ delivered its first real incident on Tuesday when Isack Hadjar crashed the new Red Bull car in the fast final corner amid treacherous conditions. With heavy rain forecast, most teams elected not to run at all, leaving only Red Bull and Ferrari on track. Rain arrived […]
Capelli questions delay over Hamilton race engineer
Jan.28 (GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Ivan Capelli has questioned why Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer at Ferrari has yet to be formally announced, describing the situation as unusual. Speaking to Sky Italia, Capelli said Ferrari appeared well placed competitively for 2026, but suggested the lack of clarity around the seven time world champion’s pitwall structure […]
‘Impossible’ to contact Michael Schumacher – Briatore
Jan.28 (GMM) Reports suggesting an improvement in the condition of Michael Schumacher have drawn reaction from across the motorsport world, including fellow seven-time champion Vladimir Chagin. Speaking in Moscow to TASS, Chagin – a seven-time winner of the Dakar Rally – said news that Schumacher is no longer bedridden was encouraging. “Schumacher is a great, […]
Isola set to leave Pirelli before 2026 season – rumour
Jan.28 (GMM) Mario Isola is expected to leave Pirelli before the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, according to a rumour coinciding with ‘shakedown week’ in Barcelona. Isola, who has overseen Pirelli’s Formula 1 operations at races for the past nine seasons and later became the company’s racing director, is reportedly set to join […]
Alpine hits 2026 weight limit as rivals struggle
Jan.28 (GMM) Alpine is understood to have reached Formula 1’s new 2026 minimum weight limit straight out of the box, marking an early technical success after a disastrous 2025 season. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Alpine’s new A526 is already at the FIA-mandated minimum of 770 kilograms – a target many in the paddock […]
UK inquiry adds pressure on Ben Sulayem over FIA Foundation
Jan.27 (GMM) Mohammed Ben Sulayem is facing fresh scrutiny after the UK’s Charity Commission opened an inquiry into the FIA Foundation, intensifying concerns about governance and conflicts of interest at the top of world motorsport. The regulator confirmed it has launched the investigation to protect the charity’s assets, issuing an immediate temporary protective order that […]
Nurburgring shifts NLS date to accommodate Verstappen
Jan.27 (GMM) Organisers of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie have altered their 2026 calendar in a move that opens the door for Max Verstappen to race on the Nordschleife alongside his Formula 1 commitments. The VLN announced that the second round of the NLS season has been brought forward by one week, from March 28 to March […]
‘Two-horse race’ predicted as testing begins
Jan.27 (GMM) Formula 1’s first group test of the 2026 era got underway in Barcelona on Monday under near-total secrecy, with teams running behind closed doors and no official laptimes released. Journalists were kept well away from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Formula 1 only distributing a handful of brief video clips. Despite the blackout, […]
Michael Schumacher ‘understands some things’ – report
Jan.26 (GMM) A new report has offered rare insight into the physical condition of Michael Schumacher, following a visit by a journalist to the F1 legend’s property in Majorca. Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy says he travelled to Majorca to investigate persistent speculation surrounding Schumacher’s health, reporting that the seven-time world champion remains wheelchair-bound and […]
Gasly rejects criticism over Schumacher ski jacket post
Jan.26 (GMM) Pierre Gasly has dismissed criticism over a recent social media post showing him skiing in a vintage Michael Schumacher-era jacket, insisting there was no negative intent. The Frenchman faced backlash over the winter after sharing an Instagram photo of himself skiing while wearing a classic red Michael Schumacher ‘Marlboro’ Ferrari jacket, with some […]
Briatore confirms Horner interest in Alpine stake
Jan.26 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Christian Horner is among those interested in buying into Alpine, amid moves by an existing shareholder to sell its stake. Speaking on the sidelines of Alpine’s 2026 car presentation in Barcelona, Briatore said the 24 percent holding owned by Otro Capital is on the market and has attracted […]
F1 world sees active front wing moving for first time
Jan.26 (GMM) A clip from Ferrari’s Fiorano running has provided the first clear on-track glimpse of the 2026 cars’ active front wing system in motion, with the upper flaps visibly flattening on the straights. While active aerodynamics are central to the 2026 regulations, the precise mechanism teams would use has been unclear. According to Auto […]
Mekies urges patience as Verstappen plays down 2026 fears
Jan.26 (GMM) Laurent Mekies says Max Verstappen fully understands the challenge facing Red Bull as it prepares for the 2026 regulations alongside new power unit partner Ford, amid renewed speculation about the Dutchman’s long-term future. Speaking to De Telegraaf, Mekies said there is no illusion within Red Bull about where the team currently stands heading […]