Apr.30 (GMM) Both Red Bull and McLaren admit their slow start to the 2026 season is partly the price of pushing development deep into last year’s title fight. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies said the team knowingly carried over compromises into the new regulation era. “Look, what happened in the second part of last year […]
Month: April 2026
Mekies backs ADUO ‘recovery’ role as FIA readies rollout
Apr.30 (GMM) Laurent Mekies has backed the principle behind Formula 1’s ADUO engine rules – while making clear Red Bull still expects to benefit from them. Responding to the ongoing debate about how far the system should go, amid Toto Wolff’s concerns that Honda should be the only real beneficiary, the Red Bull boss struck […]
2026 rules force drivers ‘below the limit’ – Knoors
Apr.30 (GMM) Former Ferrari engineer Ernest Knoors says Formula 1’s new rules are fundamentally flawed because they prevent drivers from pushing flat-out. “The rules now dictate that you never push the limit. That is so wrong,” he told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper. Knoors, who also worked for BMW, says the core issue is energy. “The only […]
FIA denies Mercedes trick was blatant ‘cheating’
Apr.30 (GMM) Nikolas Tombazis has denied Mercedes did anything wrong as Formula 1 prepares a key engine rule tweak for June. The FIA will begin measuring compression ratios both hot and at room temperature, closing a grey area that had sparked controversy before the season. “It’s a topic that’s been blown out of proportion,” Tombazis […]
FIA eyes V8 return as lessons learned from 2026 ‘compromise’
Apr.30 (GMM) Formula 1 could be heading back towards simpler engines – including a possible V8 concept – as the FIA moves quickly to define the next regulation cycle beyond the 2026 era. Amid growing criticism of the current hybrid-heavy rules, Nikolas Tombazis admits the sport may have overestimated the shift towards electrification. “When we […]
Silverstone offers second GP amid fears of further disruption
Apr.30 (GMM) Silverstone has offered to step in and host a second Formula 1 race this year amid fears more events in the Middle East could be cancelled. With Bahrain and Saudi Arabia already scrapped due to the ongoing conflict, creating a five-week gap in the calendar that is only now ending, uncertainty remains over […]
Verstappen future talk grows as Mekies addresses Lambiase exit
Apr.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s long-term future at Red Bull is under increasing scrutiny, as team boss Laurent Mekies moved to calm concerns over the impending departure of Gianpiero Lambiase. Verstappen’s long-time race engineer is set to join McLaren after 2027, but Mekies insists there is no immediate disruption – or sign that Verstappen could be […]
Schumacher still open to F1 return amid IndyCar struggles
Apr.29 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has admitted he still thinks about Formula 1 and would not rule out a return to the grid. “It would be a lie if I said I didn’t occasionally reminisce about my Formula 1 days and simply think about what it was like to drive back then,” he told RTL and […]
Melbourne to lose season opener despite vow to ‘make it hard’
Apr.29 (GMM) Melbourne looks set to lose its place as Formula 1’s season opener from 2027, despite earlier vows to “make it hard” for rivals to take the slot. Australian Grand Prix chief Travis Auld said just last month he would resist attempts to shift the opening race away from Albert Park. But multiple reports […]
FIA talks stall on engine re-think
Apr.29 (GMM) Formula 1 chiefs failed to reach agreement on more fundamental engine changes during recent crisis talks, settling instead for what insiders describe as a compromise. Reporting in Auto Motor und Sport, Tobias Gruner said the discussions around the controversial 2026 rules were “constructive, but in the end, as usual, they agreed on the […]
Madrid GP nearly sold out despite highest ticket prices
Apr.29 (GMM) Madrid’s new Formula 1 race remains on schedule and close to a sell-out – despite having the most expensive tickets in Europe. According to Diario Sport, the IFEMA-based ‘Madring’ circuit has already sold more than 90,000 tickets, with prices averaging around 600 euros – far above the European norm. Circuit boss Jose Vicente […]
Honda warns no quick fix to Aston crisis in Miami
Apr.29 (GMM) Honda has warned its Formula 1 struggles with Aston Martin will not be solved in Miami, despite intensive recent development work. As the forced April break comes to an end, Honda F1 engineer Shintaro Orihara said the scale of the problem goes well beyond simple performance. “The work is going in the right […]
2026 rules allowing more creativity than expected
Apr.28 (GMM) Rob Marshall says Formula 1’s much-criticised 2026 regulations are allowing far more design freedom than engineers initially expected. “We expected the regulations to be quite strict,” said the McLaren chief designer. “In the past, large amounts of numbers and data were written on paper, which to some extent determined the framework that had […]
Audi boss backs Hulkenberg, Sainz under pressure
Apr.28 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has thrown his support behind veteran Nico Hulkenberg, insisting the German still has “a lot to prove” despite being 38. “I’ve never seen Nico as focused as he has been in recent months,” Binotto, boss of the newly-rebranded full Audi works team, told Sport Bild. “It’s clear he’s enjoying this project, […]
Colapinto future questioned as Tsunoda rumours emerge
Apr.28 (GMM) Franco Colapinto’s Formula 1 future is under fresh scrutiny amid rumours Alpine could turn to Yuki Tsunoda for 2027. The Argentine has strong backing – both commercially and politically – and appeared at a major demonstration event in Buenos Aires at the weekend, reportedly drawing a crowd of 600,000. Amid a push to […]
Szafnauer keeps door open to 12th F1 team bid
Apr.28 (GMM) Fresh momentum behind a potential 12th Formula 1 team is gathering pace, with another familiar name now entering the frame. Amid confirmed interest from Chinese carmaker BYD and the FIA’s desire to further expand the grid, Otmar Szafnauer says he would still consider launching a new entry. “Should Formula 1 indeed want to […]
Tombazis plays down ADUO impact as Miami changes debut
Apr.28 (GMM) Nikolas Tombazis has played down expectations that Formula 1’s new engine balancing system will dramatically reshape the pecking order. Amid an escalating row over ADUO – Additional Design and Upgrade Opportunities – Tombazis stressed it is not a shortcut to performance. “Let’s not forget that the ADUO is not, as some might say, […]
Turkey deal confirmed as F1 eyes calendar stability
Apr.27 (GMM) Formula 1 has confirmed the Turkish GP will return from 2027 under a new long-term agreement. Istanbul Park will host races through 2031, marking a five-year deal that brings the popular circuit back to the calendar for the first time since 2021. CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed the move. “We are delighted to be […]
Horner fuels MotoGP talk amid Liberty ‘synergy’ push
Apr.27 (GMM) Christian Horner has fuelled speculation about a future in MotoGP after appearing in the Jerez paddock – but insists he is “in no hurry” to make his next move. The former Red Bull boss was a high-profile guest of MotoGP and Liberty Media, which now controls the commercial rights to both championships. “I’m […]
Vettel breaks three-hour mark in London Marathon debut
Vettel breaks three-hour mark in London Marathon debut Apr.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has impressed with a strong amateur performance in the London Marathon, completing the race in 2 hours, 59 minutes and 8 seconds. The retired four-time world champion’s debut effort equates to a pace of just over 4 minutes 14 seconds per kilometre, comfortably […]