Sep.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen and his father have denied that the runaway world championship leader will not “slack off” in the last part of the 2023 season. After Red Bull’s performance suffered a rare slump in Singapore, Dutchman Verstappen can no longer mathematically wrap up his third consecutive drivers’ title this weekend in Japan. But […]
Schumacher defends Marko amid racism scandal
Sep.21 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has leapt to the defence of Red Bull’s under-fire team advisor Dr Helmut Marko. Marko recently found himself at the centre of a scandal after suggesting it was Sergio Perez’s Mexican background that explained his lack of focus compared to Dutchman Max Verstappen. 80-year-old Marko’s stance was denounced as racist, and […]
Red Bull-Norris rumours just ‘stirring’
Sep.21 (GMM) McLaren CEO Zak Brown has pulled itself off the Formula 1 driver market for now. The Woking based team announced ahead of the Japanese GP that its newest recruit, impressive Australian rookie Oscar Piastri, will potentially be staying at McLaren even longer than Lando Norris. 22-year-old Piastri’s new deal extends all the way […]
Alonso’s Singapore negativity ‘not a problem’
Sep.20 (GMM) Mike Krack has played down Fernando Alonso’s rare negativity in the wake of the Singapore GP weekend. Amid Red Bull’s high profile slump on the city-state’s floodlit streets, Aston Martin also had a shocker – with Alonso failing to score a point for the first time in 2023. The 42-year-old Spaniard said his […]
Marko hopes ‘incredible’ Perez saga now behind him
Sep.20 (GMM) Having kept quiet on the matter throughout the Singapore GP weekend, Dr Helmut Marko has broken his silence once again on the Sergio Perez affair. The Red Bull team advisor, 80, admits that amid the furore about his comments about “South American” Perez’s comparative lack of focus, he was warned by the FIA. […]
Tsunoda-Honda negotiations underway – Bayer
Sep.20 (GMM) Liam Lawson looks set to be left out of Alpha Tauri’s race driver lineup for 2024. Since jumping into the injured Daniel Ricciardo’s cockpit at Zandvoort, the 21-year-old New Zealander has impressed – and almost caught up with team regular Yuki Tsunoda’s points haul. It triggered speculation that Japanese Tsunoda might be relegated […]
Mercedes not supporting Massa’s ‘crashgate’ push
Sep.20 (GMM) Felipe Massa will not have Mercedes’ backing as he pushes ahead with potential legal action against the FIA and Formula 1. Last weekend, although Ferrari is not backing former team driver Massa’s push to be handed the 2008 title and compensation over the ‘crashgate’ scandal, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko indicated he supports […]
Mazepin’s lawyer slams new European sanctions
Sep.19 (GMM) The EU’s European Council is still trying to thwart the Formula 1 aspirations of axed Haas racer Nikita Mazepin. Haas ousted the Russian driver and the team’s title sponsor Uralkali, headed by Mazepin’s father Dmitry, at the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict early in 2022. Separately, F1’s governing FIA said Russian drivers would […]
Sainz could be new Ferrari ‘number 1’ – Italy
Sep.19 (GMM) The Italian press is openly wondering whether Ferrari has a new ‘number 1’ driver. Carlos Sainz has appeared more competitive than de-facto Ferrari favourite Charles Leclerc since the summer break, with back-to-back poles at Monza and Singapore and a second career victory on Sunday. “But that doesn’t mean that he has now replaced […]
‘Mystery’ Singapore slump will not reoccur – Marko
Sep.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull will be back firing on all cylinders this weekend at Suzuka. Max Verstappen’s run of ten consecutive wins came to a screaming halt with a surprise loss of form for the dominant Formula 1 team in Singapore. Curiously, both Red Bull and even its closest rivals denied […]
Alpha Tauri to confirm Tsunoda for 2024 at Suzuka
Sep.19 (GMM) Contrary to recent rumblings, Yuki Tsunoda seems destined to keep his Alpha Tauri seat for 2024. Outgoing team boss Franz Tost said just a week ago that the Japanese driver being offered a new deal for next season is already “more or less fixed”. But with Liam Lawson performing so well in injured […]
Alpine-bound Schumacher can keep F1 reserve seat – Wolff
Sep.18 (GMM) Mick Schumacher can keep his reserve seat at Mercedes even if he signs up with Alpine, according to Toto Wolff. As Mercedes boss, Wolff kept Schumacher’s Formula 1 career alive this year after he was dumped for poor performance by Haas. The German, 24, had hoped to return to the grid for 2024, […]
Ricciardo will not be at Suzuka – CEO
Sep.18 (GMM) Liam Lawson will definitely keep filling in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at Suzuka this weekend. Since filling in for Alpha Tauri at the last moment from Zandvoort following Ricciardo’s crash and broken hand there, the 21-year-old New Zealander has seriously impressed. He has already caught up with team regular Yuki Tsunoda’s points […]
Alpha Tauri driver talks ‘in full swing’ – CEO
Sep.18 (GMM) “Discussions” about Alpha Tauri’s full-time driver lineup for 2024 are currently “in full swing”. That’s what the Red Bull-owned team’s new CEO Peter Bayer said in Singapore, as rookie Liam Lawson continues to impress in the injured Daniel Ricciardo’s car. The latest rumblings suggest that New Zealander Lawson, 21, has been so impressive […]
Rivals tip Red Bull to bounce back at Suzuka
Sep.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Red Bull’s rivals must not fall into the trap of thinking the team’s dominant new era may already be coming to an end. After a record-setting ten wins on the trot, Max Verstappen found himself at the wheel of a particularly difficult car to drive in Singapore. McLaren’s Lando Norris, […]
Driver hierarchy on the move at Ferrari
Sep.18 (GMM) As Carlos Sainz stakes his claim on a now-likely Ferrari contract extension, teammate Charles Leclerc is having more of a struggle in 2023. As Red Bull faltered in Singapore, Spaniard Sainz took his stand-out performance at Monza to the streets of the city-state to secure a solid and smart second career victory. Concurrently […]
Alpha Tauri could be called Adidas from 2024 – report
Sep.17 (GMM) Another big fashion company could be set to join Hugo Boss at the rebranded Alpha Tauri team next year. According to veteran Swiss journalist Roger Benoit, writing for Blick newspaper, team owner Red Bull has acknowledged that its new Alpha Tauri fashion label is a failure and will be dropped as the team […]
Surprise Red Bull slump not because of FIA flex-clampdown
Sep.17 (GMM) Red Bull team figures have scotched suggestions the FIA’s new clampdown on flexible bodywork could explain the dominant Formula 1 team’s sudden slump. After Max Verstappen won the last ten grands prix on the trot, with the energy drink owned team also collecting a full victory clean-sweep in 2023 so far, the Dutchman […]
Sauber wanted to sign Hulkenberg for 2024
Sep.16 (GMM) Sauber made a move to replace one of its current drivers with on-form Haas racer Nico Hulkenberg for 2024. That is the claim of the well-connected and respected veteran journalist Roger Benoit, writing for the Swiss newspaper Blick. The rumour is hot on the heels of Sauber, currently called Alfa Romeo but transitioning […]
Albon leaving options open beyond contract
Sep.16 (GMM) Alex Albon is leaving his options open for the future beyond his current contract. Williams is obviously happy with the on-form British-born Thai driver, with boss James Vowles declaring in Singapore: “Alex is here for a long time, I can already tell you that.” But as his standout performances are turning heads in […]