Dec.19 (GMM) Red Bull’s premier Formula 1 team, and new management at the famous energy drink company, are already on the same page. There had been some nervousness following the death in October of Red Bull’s co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz that his successors may not share the Austrian billionaire’s affection for F1. The new man in […]
Alonso, Vettel question success of new F1 cars
Dec.16 (GMM) Two world champions have questioned the success of Formula 1’s new-in-2022 ‘ground effect’ technical regulations. It was hoped the new cars would make it easier for chasing cars to follow and overtake their rivals. Quadruple title winner Sebastian Vettel said: “I don’t want to say it has failed, but certainly a lot of […]
Melbourne to share F1 season opener slot
Dec.16 (GMM) Melbourne will return to the top of the Formula 1 calendar – but not quite yet. Daniel Andrews, the premier of the state of Victoria, announced that Albert Park will continue to host the sport until “at least 2037”. “Part of the deal will see Melbourne host the first race of the Formula […]
Public to play minor role at Las Vegas GP
Dec.16 (GMM) The general public will not play a massive role in the inaugural Las Vegas GP next November. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has already warned that tickets will be unprecedentedly expensive for the event that will include a run down the fabled ‘Strip’. The sport’s owners, Liberty Media, have spent a reported quarter […]
F1 engineer Slade says Raikkonen ‘best driver’
Dec.16 (GMM) Highly experienced F1 engineer Mark Slade says retired 2007 world champion was in one way “the best driver I’ve ever worked with”. Slade, with a wealth of experience gathered at McLaren, Renault and Mercedes, moved recently to Haas where he now works with Kevin Magnussen. But he is most famous for engineering Raikkonen’s […]
Ford not denying Formula 1 rumours
Dec.16 (GMM) Ford is not denying speculation that it may re-enter Formula 1. The FIA has now published the 2023 entry list, and it shows that Red Bull will be powered by ‘Honda RBPT’ (Red Bull Powertrains) engines next year. It is yet another sign that Honda is backtracking on its decision to pull out […]
Schumacher needs ‘time to digest’ F1 demotion
Dec.16 (GMM) Mick Schumacher needs “warmth” in order to get his Formula 1 race career back on track. That is the view of German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, after Ferrari confirmed that 23-year-old axed Haas driver Schumacher has also been released by Ferrari’s development academy. In a statement, the Maranello team said the decision […]
Wind tunnel ban will ‘hurt’ Red Bull – Verstappen
Dec.15 (GMM) Reigning back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen admits losing wind tunnel time in 2023 will “hurt” Red Bull’s performance. As well as the $7 million fine for the ‘minor’ budget cap overspend, the new constructors’ world champions will also suffer a 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel time over the next 12 months. “Reducing […]
McLaren reserve Palou not counting on F1 future
Dec.15 (GMM) Alex Palou insists he hardly thinks about Formula 1 “at all” despite signing up to become McLaren’s reserve driver in 2023. Indeed, the 25-year-old Spaniard says his full focus remains on Indycar, where earlier this year he found himself in a tug-of-war as McLaren’s team in the US-based series tried to extract him […]
Peter Sauber offers ‘no names’ for team boss vacancy
Dec.15 (GMM) Team founder Peter Sauber is offering “no names” as Formula 1 wonders who will replace the Ferrari-bound Frederic Vasseur at Hinwil. Andreas Seidl, the McLaren principal, has been drafted to the role of Sauber CEO – but that will be a wider-reaching job as the Swiss team transitions to Audi over the next […]
Vasseur needs ‘time’ to shine in red – Sainz
Dec.15 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur needs “time” to settle into his new job as Ferrari team boss. That is the view of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, following Mattia Binotto’s ousting – with Sauber-Alfa Romeo chief and Frenchman Vasseur set to start work early in the new year. “I had my first contact with him as a […]
All teams to reach budget limit in 2023 – Steiner
Dec.14 (GMM) Haas will hit Formula 1’s budget limit in 2023, team boss Gunther Steiner has revealed. The small American team, eighth overall this year, ended the season by announcing that Ferrari-backed Mick Schumacher will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg in 2023. That is in part possible thanks to the arrival of a title sponsor […]
Hamilton plays down risk of Russell conflict
Dec.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton does not think his relationship with teammate George Russell will become strained in 2023. This year, 24-year-old Russell arrived at the works team to replace Valtteri Bottas – and not only out-scored seven time world champion Hamilton but became the only Mercedes race winner in 2022. Hamilton, 37, insists he wasn’t […]
Green light for F1 team now ‘really close’ – Andretti
Dec.14 (GMM) Michael Andretti is hoping the green light for his Formula 1 team aspirations will be “a nice Christmas present”. It is well known that the former McLaren driver, who now heads a US-based motor racing empire including a top Indycar team, is trying to convince F1, the FIA and the existing teams to […]
Honda ‘not necessarily’ set for full 2026 F1 return
Dec.14 (GMM) It is not yet certain that Honda will definitely return to Formula 1 with a fully-fledged works factory effort in 2026. That is despite the fact that the Japanese carmaker, currently involved at Red Bull with technical support from Honda Racing Corporation and on-car branding, has signed up for the sport’s next set […]
Vasseur arriving to Ferrari ‘conflict’
Dec.14 (GMM) Even before he starts work at Maranello on January 9, new Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur looks set to deal with immediate internal “conflict”. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, whose brother Michael famously dominated the sport at the wheel of a Ferrari early this century. Now, former Alfa […]
Biggest F1 team boss shake-up ‘in years’
Dec.14 (GMM) “One of the biggest managerial shake-ups in years” is taking place in Formula 1 just over a week before Christmas. That is how Britain’s Sun newspaper summed up the current round of perhaps-unprecedented musical chairs at the very top of the sport. Ferrari has now confirmed that Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur […]
Vandoorne not giving up on F1 yet
Dec.13 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he hasn’t given up on reviving his career in Formula 1. Now 30, the Belgian contested two full F1 seasons for McLaren in 2017 and 2018 but was overshadowed by the Honda debacle and teammate Fernando Alonso. He became a Mercedes F1 test and reserve driver after that whilst also […]
Long calendars ‘too much’ for Verstappen
Dec.13 (GMM) Reigning back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen says it’s Formula 1’s ever-expanding annual race calendars that will drive him off the grid. The 25-year-old Dutchman is openly declaring that he might call it quits after his 2028 contract with Red Bull – when he will be just 31. When asked by De Limburger newspaper […]
Honda signs up for new F1 engine rules in 2026
Dec.13 (GMM) Honda has signalled its intention to return to Formula 1 in earnest for the new engine regulations from 2026. The Japanese carmaker, having withdrawn as Red Bull’s works partner after Max Verstappen’s 2021 title win, remained with the team with technical support and ‘Honda Racing Corporation’ branding this year. Towards the end of […]