Apr.26 (GMM) The 2022 demise of the French GP at Paul Ricard has now become a full-scale disaster, with local prosecutors opening an investigation into “embezzlement of public funds”. Le Monde newspaper also said the former legal structure of the organisation in charge of the Formula 1 race – public interest group GPF-le Castellet – […]
Hockenheim inches closer to F1 race return
Apr.26 (GMM) Hockenheim has inched closer to reviving the defunct German GP. Private investors have bought 75 percent of the well-known former Formula 1 circuit from the city of Hockenheim, raising hopes that the new owners could have the money to entice the sport back to Germany. DPA news agency says the buyers are “five […]
Hulkenberg news set to be announced on Friday – report
Apr.26 (GMM) Audi-owned Sauber is tipped to officially confirm authoritative reports suggesting Nico Hulkenberg has agreed a three-year deal starting in 2025. The Swiss Formula 1 team, which is now 100 percent owned by German giant Volkswagen’s Audi subsidiary, is said to be willing to wait a little longer for Carlos Sainz to consider a […]
Red Bull, Ferrari play down sensational Newey reports
Apr.26 (GMM) Two top Formula 1 teams have played down sensational and widespread new reports suggesting Red Bull Racing is set to lose Adrian Newey. From De Telegraaf in the Netherlands to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport and the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport – and a slew of other authoritative specialist sources […]
Fresh chassis ‘psychological’ for Ricciardo – Marko
Apr.25 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo’s boost from his fresh monocoque in China may have been merely “psychological”. That’s the suspicion of Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s top Austrian F1 consultant, amid ongoing speculation that the Australian driver is not doing enough at the junior outfit RB this year to secure a 2025 seat. After struggling alongside […]
F1 CEO hits back at drivers’ schedule gripes
Apr.25 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali is taking a hard-line stance against drivers griping about Formula 1’s ever-intensifying schedule. Max Verstappen complained about the extra “stress” the sprint weekend format puts on the mechanics in particular, with Lando Norris agreeing: “It’s not healthy for them. “It’s not sustainable,” the McLaren driver added. These new complaints are on […]
New F1 deal for Barcelona ‘just as close’ as before
Apr.25 (GMM) A new deal to keep Formula 1 in Barcelona beyond 2026, when Madrid is taking over the official Spanish GP moniker, is “just as close” as it was a few months ago. That’s the news from the mouth of Oriol Sagrera, the new CEO of the Circuit de Catalunya – home of the […]
F1 governing body threatens to leave France
Apr.25 (GMM) F1’s governing body has revealed it may move out of France. The more than century-old FIA, as well as the similarly Paris-founded football sanctioning body FIFA, have told French publications that their major gripe is a “legal and tax system” and is “not adapted to their activities”. “Although France is the cradle of […]
Father has no fears Perez will lose F1 seat
Apr.25 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s father says he has no fear the Mexican will be left off the Formula 1 grid in 2025 and beyond. Dr Helmut Marko made clear in Shanghai that Red Bull has turned down the 34-year-old driver’s request for a three-year contract extension – but he’s not out of the frame to […]
Blue livery and logo for Ferrari in 100m F1 deal
Apr.25 (GMM) Ferrari’s surprise decision to use a blue livery in Miami next weekend suddenly makes more sense. Ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s huge-money move to Maranello for 2025 and beyond, the fabled team has announced a title sponsorship deal with HP – an American computer company with a blue logo. Ferrari has immediately become Scuderia […]
Audi agrees three-year deal with Hulkenberg – report
Apr.25 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg’s rumoured move from Haas to Audi-owned Sauber for 2025 and beyond looks to be all but signed and sealed. F1-insider.com, a German specialist source, claims that with Audi’s reported mid-May deadline for a decision looming, Hulkenberg has agreed a three-year deal – for 2025, 2026 and 2027. “Only the signature is […]
Ferrari ‘can’t do much’ about F1 driver spat
Apr.24 (GMM) “Sparks” between Ferrari’s current drivers could soon become “a fire”, according to a well-known Italian F1 insider. Over at struggling Mercedes, an awkward situation is also playing out in the cockpit, with Lewis Hamilton arguably underperforming in his final season before ousting Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. “Lewis is in a surprisingly good mood,” […]
Hopeful rookie on standby for two F1 teams
Apr.24 (GMM) A hopeful rookie is hoping his big chance to prove himself in Formula 1 may be looming just around the corner. After years of waiting for his own chance, reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire turned his attention to Japan’s Super Formula series this year – whilst also getting his first couple of […]
Top F1 teams not blocking points system tweak
Apr.24 (GMM) A proposal to extend the points-paying positions in Formula 1 from its current P10 all the way to P12 looks set to soar through the first decision-making hurdle. The F1 Commission – a decision-making body that precedes the rubber-stamping by the World Motor Sport Council – will discuss the idea in Geneva this […]
Ferrari set for big-money F1 title sponsor deal
Apr.23 (GMM) Ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, the fabled Italian Formula 1 team is now tipped to sign a lucrative deal with a title sponsor. Ferrari has not had a title sponsor since the ‘Mission Winnow’ project involving ongoing but behind-the-scenes tobacco backer Philip Morris. But before Hamilton arrives with salary requirements that […]
Kovalainen returns to F1 duties after surgery
Apr.23 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen is on the road to recovery, following open-heart surgery. It emerged in March that the former Formula 1 driver, who is 42, was being forced to put his rallying career on hold after doctors discovered an enlarged aorta during a routine check. He had the required operation shortly afterwards. And now, […]
F1 accusers lack ‘guts’ to confront FIA president
Apr.23 (GMM) Mohammed Ben Sulayem is charging ahead amid an obvious and escalating power struggle, denying that he necessarily needs the support of “the Formula 1 teams”. It’s well known that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s wife Susie has commenced defamation claims against the controversial FIA president, following comments Ben Sulayem made earlier this year. But […]
Opinions start to split over F1 points proposal
Apr.23 (GMM) Opinions are already divided, as Formula 1 stakeholders gear up for talks about expanding the current points system. The F1 Commission will discuss a proposal, forwarded by the smaller teams but also reportedly supported by Red Bull, to expand the points-scoring places from P10 to P12. Six teams must vote in favour of […]
F1 CEO in Thailand for grand prix talks
Apr.23 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has added Thailand to his travelling itinerary this week. It was already clear that, after a South Korean delegation visited Suzuka recently for talks about a Formula 1 race, Domenicali intended to visit the country this week “for further discussions”. But on Monday, the Italian was not in Korea […]
Upgrades keep McLaren on path to beating Red Bull
Apr.23 (GMM) After Lando Norris chased his friend Max Verstappen to the chequered flag in China, McLaren is now setting its sights on Red Bull. It’s been a low-profile start to 2024 for the Woking based team, despite quietly and comfortably sitting between Ferrari and Mercedes in the pecking order. Indeed, Norris made a friendly […]