May 6 (GMM) South Africa’s renewed push to return Formula 1 to Africa is intensifying, with President Cyril Ramaphosa now set to personally attend a grand prix later this year as lobbying efforts ramp up. Sports minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed the visit, describing it as part of a formal campaign to bring Formula 1 back […]
Month: May 2026
Mercedes seeks McLaren clues as Ferrari waits on engine ruling
May 6 (GMM) Mercedes is reportedly seeking answers from customer team McLaren following the Woking outfit’s dramatic pace breakthrough in Miami. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mercedes engineers have asked McLaren for more information about how the team is managing the latest specification of the Mercedes power unit – particularly the software side. The […]
Rosberg predicts Antonelli-Russell clash as pressure grows
May 6 (GMM) Nico Rosberg believes a future clash between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell is now inevitable as the teenage sensation continues piling pressure on his more experienced Mercedes teammate. After Miami, Antonelli now leads Russell by 20 points in the championship following an extraordinary start to the season that has included his first […]
Ford, Cadillac back V8 return as F1 momentum builds
May 5 (GMM) Support for a return to V8 engines in Formula 1 is rapidly building – with key US manufacturers now openly backing the idea after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared the concept “will happen”. Speaking to the Detroit News, Cadillac owner General Motors as well as Ford both made clear where they […]
Vesti recalls ‘rain of missiles’ amid Bahrain test chaos
May 5 (GMM) Frederik Vesti has revealed the extent to which he was caught in the middle of escalating conflict in the Middle East when his planned Formula 1 test was abruptly cancelled. The Mercedes reserve driver was due to take part in a Pirelli test in Bahrain just prior to the season – his […]
Montreal pushes for permanent F2 race after emergency debut
May 5 (GMM) Formula 2 and the Canadian GP organisers are already discussing a long-term deal after the series’ late addition to the 2026 calendar. F1’s feeder championship will race in Montreal for the first time this month – a move triggered by the cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds due to the Middle […]
Red Bull must keep improving to keep Verstappen – boss
May 5 (GMM) Laurent Mekies admits Red Bull is under mounting pressure to continue its recovery – not least to keep Max Verstappen on board. After a difficult start to 2026, the team made a clear step forward in Miami, halving its gap to the front. But Mekies says that is only the beginning. “We […]
Mekies ‘staunch defender’ amid Hadjar’s Red Bull struggle
May 5 (GMM) Isack Hadjar is already under scrutiny after a difficult Miami weekend, with French media questioning whether the infamous “second seat curse” alongside Max Verstappen is striking again. L’Equipe correspondent Frederic Ferret noted concerns after the young Frenchman struggled to match Verstappen’s pace in the upgraded Red Bull, before crashing out of the […]
FIA backs Horner return as Alpine stake battle heats up
May 5 (GMM) Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Christian Horner would be “welcome back” in Formula 1, as interest grows in the available stake in Alpine. The former long-time Red Bull boss, who was pushed out of the team last year, is now linked with a bid for the 24 percent share offered by Otro Capital […]
Wolff warns Italy not to ‘ruin’ Antonelli with hype
May 5 (GMM) Toto Wolff has again moved to cool the surging hype around Kimi Antonelli – even while admitting the teenager could dominate Formula 1 for years. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver has made a historic start to his career, winning his first three races from pole and opening a clear gap over teammate George […]
Mercedes’ Canada upgrade ‘has to work’ – Wolff
May 4 (GMM) Kimi Antonelli has written himself into the record books by becoming the first driver ever to convert his first three pole positions into victories. The 19-year-old now leads the championship by 20 points over teammate George Russell. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised the young Italian’s rapid rise. “Grand Prix after Grand […]
Zanardi to be buried, mother Anna reveals sudden final hours
May 4 (GMM) Alessandro ‘Alex’ Zanardi will be laid to rest in Padua on Tuesday following a public memorial service, as his family begins to come to terms with his sudden death. The ceremony will take place at the Basilica of Santa Giustina, with the funeral led by Father Marco Pozza, a close friend of […]
Isola bids farewell to F1 paddock after Miami finale
May 4 (GMM) Mario Isola has said an emotional goodbye to Formula 1 after his final race weekend in Miami. The long-time Pirelli figure, who is leaving to take up a senior role with ACI Sport, reflected on his departure after more than a decade as one of the sport’s most recognisable faces. “I’m very […]
V8 return ‘will happen’, Sainz says ‘stop criticising’
May 4 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has declared that a return to V8 engines in Formula 1 is inevitable, as criticism of the new 2026 regulations continues apace. “It’s coming,” he said, amid another controversial race weekend under the new rules in Miami, where even the energy management tweaks failed to address core […]
Alonso ‘entertaining himself’ amid Aston struggles
May 4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso admits he and teammate Lance Stroll are effectively experimenting – and even entertaining themselves – during races as Aston Martin battles through a difficult 2026 season. “Yes, trying to keep ourselves entertained,” Alonso said after the Miami GP. “Lance and I always talk about it every morning – whether we’ll […]
Brown, Mekies meet to defuse Lambiase row
May 4 (GMM) Zak Brown and Laurent Mekies held talks in Miami to calm tensions over the future of Gianpiero Lambiase. The dispute had flared after Red Bull boss Mekies suggested Lambiase – who is set to join McLaren in 2028 – could eventually become team principal, prompting a public pushback from Brown. The McLaren […]
Hamilton pushes for engine help, Ferrari has ‘best car’
May 4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has openly called for Ferrari to benefit from Formula 1’s looming ADUO engine balancing decision, insisting the team’s weakness lies not in the chassis but in power. “What we desperately need is an engine upgrade because it’s very tough for us right now to compete against the power of Red […]
Leclerc backtracks after Antonelli criticism in Miami
May 3 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has backed down after sharply criticising championship leader Kimi Antonelli during the Miami sprint. In the heat of the race, the Ferrari driver had complained over team radio that “Kimi is so bad wheel-to-wheel” and described “moving under braking” as “unbelievable”. But speaking afterwards, Leclerc admitted he had gone too […]
Interpol hunts missing Sutil hypercar amid legal troubles
May 3 (GMM) Adrian Sutil is at the centre of a bizarre international investigation after a collection of his luxury cars – including a rare Koenigsegg One:1 – vanished without a trace. According to Auto Motor und Sport, “nine exclusive vehicles belonging to former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil have vanished without a trace,” with […]
Zanardi dies aged 59 as F1 paddock pays tribute
May 3 (GMM) Alex Zanardi has died at the age of 59, his family confirmed – having passed on the same date that marked the 32nd anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death. “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly on the evening of yesterday, May 1,” […]