Oct.12 (GMM) The unresolved track limits issue in Formula 1 is “unacceptable” and “inappropriate”. That is the word from Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur, following a repeat of what he called a “penalty festival” in Qatar last weekend – echoing the even more farcical situation earlier this year in Austria. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is […]
Schumacher says Alpine deal still not done
Oct.12 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is still not ready to announce his plans for 2024. The current Mercedes reserve driver had hoped to return to the racing grid next year, but it recently emerged that he may need to be content with keeping his current back-up role in F1 alongside a world endurance championship […]
Hamilton will get new cockpit position – Wolff
Oct.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton will be happier at the wheel of Mercedes’ all-new 2024 car. After dominating Formula 1 throughout the initial ‘hybrid’ era that began in 2014, Mercedes and Hamilton dropped off the boil as the ‘ground effect’ rules came into force from 2022. Hamilton, in particular, has complained consistently about […]
Bridgestone admits interest in future F1 return
Oct.12 (GMM) Bridgestone has admitted it remains interested in returning to Formula 1. F1 and the FIA have now confirmed that Pirelli has been successful in securing the exclusive F1 tyre supply deal through 2027, with an option for 2028. But Bridgestone’s technical capabilities were also green-lit by the governing body amid the recent tender […]
Spa inks new F1 deal through 2025
Oct.12 (GMM) There’s good news for Formula 1 fans out of Belgium – the fabled Spa-Francorchamps circuit will host at least two more grands prix. Multiple local media outlets, including the French-language Le Soir newspaper, report that Belgian GP race organisers have extended another 1-year contract extension. That means the race will definitely take place […]
Marko backs Berger over extreme heat comments
Oct.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has backed fellow Austrian and F1 legend Gerhard Berger’s view that it is up to the drivers to be ready for extremely hot races. With the FIA accepting responsibility for the group of drivers who suffered with heat stroke and dehydration in Qatar last Sunday, Berger said the issue is […]
Marko declares that Perez needs a ‘team change’
Oct.12 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s time at Red Bull appears to be running out – despite his 2024 contract. On a Red Bull-owned Servus TV television program this week, F1 legend Gerhard Berger said it is clear that Mexican Perez’s future at the team is very much in doubt. “Because of all these discussions about how […]
Williams still waiting to decide Sargeant future
Oct.12 (GMM) Williams will continue to give struggling rookie Logan Sargeant more time to prove he deserves to keep his race seat in 2024. In Qatar, already on notice after a series of crashes and incidents, the 22-year-old spun out of the sprint shootout, and in the main race had to retire with heat stroke […]
Boss defends Stroll amid FIA probe
Oct.12 (GMM) Aston Martin boss Mike Krack has leapt to the defence of the team’s under-fire Lance Stroll. Amid rumours about his future at his own father’s Formula 1 team, 24-year-old Stroll found himself in hot water with the FIA after the Qatar GP. It is believed Stroll’s talks this week with the FIA compliance […]
Andretti’s Renault engine deal ‘has expired’
Oct.12 (GMM) Andretti-Cadillac’s Formula 1 technical deal with Renault and Alpine has expired. That is the news from the French team’s interim boss Bruno Famin, after the FIA green-lighted Andretti’s bid to enter the sport – triggering commercial talks with Liberty Media. But if F1 now also gives Andretti the green light, the American concern […]
Piastri breaking F1 rookie narrative – Berger
Oct.11 (GMM) An impressive rookie like Oscar Piastri is breaking the narrative in Formula 1, according to F1 legend Gerhard Berger. With the young Australian on the podium in Qatar alongside McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, Corriere dello Sport newspaper said it was “the podium of the future”. The stand-out man of the […]
FIA not to blame for drivers’ fitness problems – Berger
Oct.11 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has rubbished the suggestion that F1’s governing body needs to intervene to protect the health of the drivers in extreme heat. Multiple drivers really struggled throughout the Qatar GP, involving vomiting in their helmets, extreme dehydration and heat exposure. George Russell said many of his rivals admitted they were “close to […]
Marko says Alonso only real alternative to Perez
Oct.11 (GMM) Sergio Perez might find himself with a contractual “problem” if Red Bull had better immediate opportunities to replace him. That is the word from powerful Red Bull figure Dr Helmut Marko, who admits that the 33-year-old Mexican has a signed a sealed deal for 2024 involving multiple sponsors. However, Perez has also entered […]
Stroll in ‘exceptional situation’ amid F1 dramas
Oct.11 (GMM) Lance Stroll has found himself at the centre of multiple intersecting narratives in Formula 1 – as it emerges that the FIA is now investigating his behaviour. Amid the Canadian’s performance slump, and after his calamitous participation in the most recent race weekend, an FIA spokesman said the body’s compliance department is in […]
F1 drivers should prepare better for extreme heat
Oct.10 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers should be looking at their training regimes after the scorching Qatar GP. That is the opinion of former driver turned pundit Christian Danner, after the FIA released a statement about the multiple drivers who suffered medical issues with dehydration and heat exposure last Sunday. “While being elite athletes, they should […]
Sainz fuel leak ‘probably’ due to Qatar kerbs
Oct.10 (GMM) The new ‘pyramid’ kerbs in Qatar may have posed trouble for more than just the tyres last weekend at Qatar. After qualifying, Lewis Hamilton was actually complimentary of the pyramid-shaped kerbs at the refurbished Losail circuit, believing they might solve the track limits issue. “They look quite big, but when you go beyond […]
‘Idiotic’ to expect miracles with B-car – Magnussen
Oct.10 (GMM) It would be “idiotic” to predict a giant step forwards for Haas at the team’s home race in Austin next weekend. That is the warning of team racer Kevin Magnussen, who is nonetheless looking forward to the end of a long development delay for Haas at the US GP with the introduction of […]
FIA boss wants full grid of teams and fewer races
Oct.10 (GMM) If Mohammed Ben Sulayem had his way, F1 would say ‘yes’ to Andretti-Cadillac and one more brand new entrant – whilst slashing some of the 24 race dates on future calendars. According to France’s L’Equipe, the FIA president’s chat with a select handful of journalists in his office at the Qatar GP was […]
Red Bull ‘want’ to respect Perez’s 2024 deal – Marko
Oct.10 (GMM) The signs are growing by the day that Sergio Perez should be very worried about the validity of his Red Bull contract for 2024. Red Bull bigwigs Dr Helmut Marko and Christian Horner are now making consistently pessimistic public comments about Mexican Perez’s flagging form. “We have a contract and we want to […]
Marko names McLaren as likely 2024 title challenger
Oct.10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has named McLaren as perhaps the biggest challenger to Red Bull’s current dominance of Formula 1 for 2024. His prediction comes after McLaren’s major resurgence this season following a less impressive start to 2023, with Oscar Piastri winning the sprint race at Qatar from pole and his teammate Lando Norris […]