Oct.3 (GMM) Formula 1’s return to Sepang looks unusually open, with Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli each topping a practice session and severe tyre degradation emerging as the key factor. Verstappen led FP1, Leclerc FP2 and Antonelli FP3, while Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies believes as many as eight cars could realistically be […]
Month: October 2026
Alonso tease sparks Verstappen GT3 speculation
Oct.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hinted at more racing outside Formula 1, but Max Verstappen has ruled out one obvious theory – that the pair are about to team up in GT3. With his new Aston Martin deal for 2027 now in place, Alonso said at Sepang that he still wants to explore forms of […]
Bottas clarifies Imola tax comments
Oct.3 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has moved to clarify his comments about the tax implications of a possible Imola finale. The Cadillac driver had said earlier that “none of the drivers want to race in Imola” partly because of recent Italian tax demands. Max Verstappen hit back: “There is no tax issue. You just have to […]
Vasseur rejects Hamilton hint over Ferrari bosses
Oct.3 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has pushed back against Lewis Hamilton’s suggestion that Ferrari’s deeper problems may involve people above the team principal, insisting his relationship with senior management is strong and the organisation itself is not the issue. Hamilton said on Thursday that Ferrari’s structure may need reviewing and that “there are also people above” […]
Briatore says Colapinto case is ‘finished’
Oct.3 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has confirmed he was furious with Franco Colapinto after the costly Baku crash, but says Alpine has now closed the matter internally and will impose no publicly disclosed consequences. Colapinto said at Sepang that despite Briatore’s angry post-race statement, Alpine never seriously considered sidelining him. Asked directly about consequences during the […]
Broadcaster claims Qatar, Abu Dhabi are on
Oct.2 (GMM) Formula 1’s long-running uncertainty over Qatar and Abu Dhabi may finally be ending, with Sky Deutschland reporting that both races will go ahead as scheduled. According to the German broadcaster, Qatar will remain on November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi will host the season finale on December 4-6, meaning the Imola contingency would not […]
Bearman thought Monaco sprint was a ‘prank’
Oct.2 (GMM) Oliver Bearman says he initially thought Formula 1’s decision to add a sprint race at Monaco in 2027 was a joke – and Max Verstappen is hardly convinced either. “When they told us that we would get a sprint race in that weekend,” Bearman told Viaplay, “I really thought it was a joke.” […]
Ocon insists Haas axe was ‘not performance’
Oct.2 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he knows why Haas decided not to retain him for 2027 and insists the reason was not his performance, as several fellow drivers publicly backed the Frenchman at Sepang. “I’m not going to comment on that any further because I want to look forward and not back,” he said when […]
Antonelli considering Monaco move
Oct.2 (GMM) Kimi Antonelli could soon join Formula 1’s growing Monaco contingent, with Prince Albert revealing that the Mercedes championship leader is considering moving to the Principality. Antonelli, who was born in Bologna and currently lives in San Marino, moved away from the family home as his Formula 1 career accelerated. Prince Albert revealed the […]
Mercedes claims three-tenth gain from Sepang upgrade
Oct.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen topped opening practice at Sepang, but Mercedes believes its substantial new upgrade could yet transform the competitive picture this weekend. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli said he had been told the long-awaited package is worth around three tenths. “I’ve been told that it’s three tenths, which is an important jump, but we […]
Audi unveils plans for new Hinwil F1 campus
Oct.2 (GMM) Audi has unveiled plans for a major new Formula 1 campus in Hinwil as it continues building towards its long-term target of challenging for championships by 2030. The new facility, less than one kilometre from Audi’s existing Swiss base, is already partly operational and is scheduled for full completion in 2030. The current […]
Hamilton backs Vasseur but points finger ‘higher up’
Oct.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has strongly defended Frederic Vasseur amid the current Ferrari turmoil, but in doing so pointedly suggested that some of the team’s deeper problems sit above the team principal. “Fred is a fantastic leader,” he said at Sepang, after Ferrari denied rumours that Vasseur’s position was once again in doubt. “He really […]
Verstappen confirms October GT3 return
Oct.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen has confirmed he will squeeze another GT3 race into an already packed Formula 1 schedule later this month. Speaking to Dutch media at Sepang on Thursday, Verstappen said he will race for his own outfit in the GT World Challenge Europe event at Portimao on October 17. “I’m looking forward to […]
Colapinto denies Briatore considered race ban
Oct.1 (GMM) Franco Colapinto has denied suggestions Alpine seriously considered benching him after his controversial Baku crash, saying the team’s plans never changed despite Flavio Briatore’s anger. Briatore’s post-race statement that Alpine would “evaluate what measures to take” fuelled speculation that Colapinto could be stood down for a race. “That’s not true,” Colapinto told media […]
Bottas says drivers not keen on Imola finale
Oct.1 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says Formula 1 drivers are not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of a December season finale at Imola, with both weather and Italian tax concerns weighing on the alternative. Imola is the clear contingency if the planned Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds cannot go ahead because of the Middle East situation. […]
Honda keeps developing 2026 engine after Spec 2
Oct.1 (GMM) Honda says development of its troubled 2026 power unit is continuing beyond the recently introduced Spec 2 package, with further gains now being sought through drivability and energy management. The Japanese manufacturer introduced a major engine upgrade at Zandvoort, followed only a few races later by another step centred on the turbocharger. Speaking […]
Schumacher expects Antonelli rebound in Malaysia
Oct.1 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher does not expect Kimi Antonelli’s difficult Baku weekend to develop into a slump, and believes Mercedes’ new Sepang upgrade could quickly put the championship leader back on top. “I don’t think Kimi will get tense,” Schumacher said on Sky Deutschland ahead of the ‘Bahrain GP’ in Malaysia. “I also think the […]
Formula E boss says electric series can catch F1
Oct.1 (GMM) Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds believes the electric championship can eventually challenge Formula 1 on outright performance as battery technology continues to improve. Speaking to f1-insider.com, Dodds said the coming Gen4 cars are only the next step. “I’m really looking forward to Gen4, but I’m already thinking about Gen5 and the development path […]
Alonso lands career-best Aston deal – report
Oct.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s decision to stay with Aston Martin for 2027 has reportedly come with the biggest contract of his career – potentially explaining both the lengthy negotiations and why the commitment is for only one season. Mundo Deportivo says it has learned exclusively that Alonso’s new salary exceeds what he earned during his […]
Mateschitz invests another 25m in Red Bull Ring
Oct.1 (GMM) Mark Mateschitz is investing another EUR 25 million in the Red Bull Ring as Spielberg prepares for the long-term future of the Austrian GP. Kleine Zeitung reports that construction began immediately after the MotoGP weekend on a major expansion of the pit building. A covered and fully glazed rooftop terrace around 250 metres […]