Jan.25 (GMM) The demise of Formula 1 in Germany is “unbelievable”, according to top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko. While German drivers, teams, two German grands prix and a huge public following once filled F1, the situation is vastly different today. Nico Hulkenberg is the last German driver, Hockenheim and the Nurburgring are absent […]
Month: January 2023
Haas boss to keep eye on Logan Sargeant
Jan.25 (GMM) Gunther Steiner admits he already has his eye on Logan Sargeant. Sargeant, fourth in Formula 2 last year, is stepping up to Formula 1 with Williams this season. But as boss of F1’s only American team, Steiner admits will keep a close eye on the American driver’s progress in 2023. “For us at […]
Alonso ‘most difficult’ F1 teammate – Massa
Jan.24 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is the “most difficult teammate” that Formula 1 veteran Felipe Massa ever had. Brazilian Massa, now 41, most famously paired at Ferrari with F1 legend Michael Schumacher, which he describes as a “great experience”. “He was an amazing driver,” he said. “The way he was working but we were very close […]
F1 sons rev engines on road to the grid
Jan.24 (GMM) Two youngsters with familiar names are revving their engines in the direction of Formula 1. Almost two decades ago, Kimi Raikkonen and Alex Wurz were teammates for a time at McLaren. Now, in 2023, their sons are racing towards F1. 17-year-old Charlie Wurz, who is Monaco-born, made his single-seater debut in 2021 in […]
Two carmakers poised to enter F1
Jan.24 (GMM) Two car manufacturers are poised to enter Formula 1. It appears that one of them is in fact not Porsche, after fellow Volkswagen-owned carmaker Audi signed up for the new engine rules from 2026. Porsche’s separate negotiations with Red Bull failed, and rumours of an alternative deal with Williams are now believed to […]
FIA worried about $20bn F1 buyout bid
Jan.24 (GMM) The president of F1’s governing body is concerned that the financial value of the sport is being dangerously inflated. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the sport’s current American owners Liberty Media turned down an audacious $20 million buyout bid. The bid was made by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns the premier league […]
Alfa Romeo yet to name Vasseur replacement
Jan.23 (GMM) Robert Kubica and his Polish sponsor Orlen may be leaving Alfa Romeo. Polish oil company Orlen’s prominent backing of the Sauber-run team has been closely aligned with the outfit’s naming partner Alfa Romeo. But Alfa Romeo is leaving Sauber at the end of 2023, ahead of the Swiss team’s takeover and works collaboration […]
Ferrari ‘definitely’ needed 2023 shakeup – Alesi
Jan.23 (GMM) Ferrari needs to rely on a pair of French talents to put the fabled team back on track in Formula 1. That is the view of Jean Alesi, one of the most well-known former French F1 drivers who famously raced for the Italian team in the 90s. In an interview with Italy’s Autosprint, […]
George Russell the ‘revelation’ of 2022 – Andretti
Jan.23 (GMM) Up to five teams could be vying for race wins in 2023, according to Formula 1 legend and 1978 world champion Mario Andretti. The 82-year-old, whose son Michael is bidding to take an eleventh team to the grid in 2025 or 2026, was asked by RTL if he thinks Mercedes can improve enough […]
Tost wanted Schumacher for Alpha Tauri seat
Jan.23 (GMM) “Political reasons” stopped Franz Tost from rescuing Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career. Schumacher, 23, lost his race seat at Haas after two initial seasons in F1, and will instead be the official reserve driver at Mercedes in 2023. But if Alpha Tauri boss Tost had his way, the young German may have been […]
‘Impossible’ to not replace Vowles – Petrov
Jan.23 (GMM) Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov is shocked that Mercedes allowed its strategy boss James Vowles to become Williams’ new team principal. While some initially wondered if the strategy is to turn Williams into a Mercedes ‘B team’, others suspect Mercedes will in fact be significantly weakened by Vowles’ departure. When asked about Mercedes’ […]
F1 owner turned down $20bn buyout bid
Jan.23 (GMM) Liberty Media, Formula 1’s current commercial rights holder, turned down an offer to sell the sport for an impressive profit. Citing sources, Bloomberg reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund looked at a potential $20 billion takeover, but Liberty Media “was not interested in selling”. Saudi officials and US-based Liberty Media did not […]
Schumacher in ‘good position’ at Mercedes – Steiner
Jan.20 (GMM) The man who axed Mick Schumacher thinks the German driver could eventually return to Formula 1. After two seasons together, Haas boss Gunther Steiner decided against renewing the deal with 23-year-old Schumacher into 2023 – citing the need for a more experienced driver. Kevin Magnussen, who is currently recovering from reportedly minor hand […]
Abiteboul not ruling out F1 for Hyundai
Jan.20 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul is not ruling out a move into Formula 1 for the Korean carmaker Hyundai. The former Caterham and Renault team boss has just become boss of Hyundai Motorsport, where his first major outing is the Monte Carlo rally this weekend. But Hyundai has also been linked with a potential Formula 1 […]
Former backer says ‘no one’ wanted to fund de Vries
Jan.20 (GMM) The man suing Formula 1 rookie Nyck de Vries over a contract dispute says he continues to support Alpha Tauri’s new driver. Dutch real estate mogul Jeroen Schothorst alleges the 27-year-old driver breached a deal they made in 2018 involving EUR 250,000 in backing for a Formula 2 seat. According to the complaint, […]
Andretti’s F1 deadline only ‘two months’ away
Jan.20 (GMM) Formula 1 only has “a couple of months” to open the door to a new Andretti-Cadillac team in 2025 or 2026. That is the claim of 1978 world champion Mario, whose son Michael – who also raced in F1 – is bidding to bring his Andretti Autosport empire into the sport with General […]
Mercedes slams ‘wild’ Hamilton rumours
Jan.20 (GMM) Mercedes has slammed “wild speculations” about the details of Lewis Hamilton’s next Formula 1 contract. Although some publications claim the seven time world champion has now lost his status as F1’s highest earner to Max Verstappen, others have been claiming Hamilton is poised to sign an enormous new deal for 2024 and beyond. […]
F1 star slams FIA position over Russia crisis
Jan.19 (GMM) Russia’s first Formula 1 driver has blasted the sport for interfering with the professional careers of Russian athletes. At present, as a result of the Ukraine crisis, the world auto racing governing body requires Russian drivers to sign a special document and race under a neutral flag in FIA-sanctioned events. Axed Haas driver […]
Alpine undecided over 2023 F1 reserve
Jan.19 (GMM) Alpine is not ready to name Jack Doohan as the Renault-owned team’s official reserve driver in 2023. Having lost 2022 reserve Oscar Piastri to McLaren, the Formula 1 team’s most prominent development driver is Doohan, the 19-year-old son of Australian motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan. Doohan finished sixth in his first full Formula […]
F1 politics surprised new team boss
Jan.19 (GMM) Mike Krack admits the harshness of the political climate in Formula 1 was a surprise. The 50-year-old started his Formula 1 as a race engineer over 20 years ago, but last year replaced Otmar Szafnauer as team boss at Aston Martin. “I admit I was surprised by the small details reported in Formula […]