Feb.13 (GMM) Red Bull’s preparations to defend Max Verstappen’s back-to-back world titles in 2023 are going “smoothly” and “on schedule”. That is the relaxed assessment of the energy drink company’s top F1 official Dr Helmut Marko, speaking as the premier team conducted a low-profile ‘shakedown’ run with the 2023 car at Silverstone. Dutchman Verstappen, again […]
Month: February 2023
Sargeant in F1 won’t ‘turn people on’ – Horner
Feb.13 (GMM) Formula 1 is unlikely to get a boost in popularity within American as a result of Florida-born Logan Sargeant’s race debut in 2023. That is the view of Red Bull boss Christian Horner, after the energy drink owned team decided to launch its new F1 season in New York. Red Bull-owned Alpha Tauri […]
‘Enormous pressure’ on Vasseur at Ferrari – Massa
Feb.13 (GMM) Former Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur insists he didn’t consult with Audi officials before taking up the offer to become Ferrari’s new chief. Frenchman Vasseur has swept into Maranello to replace the axed Mattia Binotto, leaving former McLaren chief Andreas Seidl to lead Sauber’s transition from Sauber to Audi for the future. […]
Andretti ‘not smart’ to pressure F1 – CEO
Feb.13 (GMM) Andretti officials are “not very smart” to denounce the existing Formula 1 team bosses as “greedy”, the sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has instigated a process to potentially allow two new team entrants on the grid – and is openly backing the Andretti-Cadillac bid. Various existing F1 […]
Stroll a potential F1 champion – Alonso
Feb.13 (GMM) Lance Stroll is a potential world champion, his two-time title winning new teammate says. Fernando Alonso, the 41-year-old Spaniard who has moved from Alpine to Aston Martin over the winter, is paired this year with Stroll – the son of the team’s Canadian billionaire owner Lawrence. Alonso says he has ‘two or three’ […]
Verstappen settles dispute with Netflix
Feb.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks Formula 1 fans will get a “true image” of his character when the latest series of Netflix’s Drive to Survive drops later in February. It will be season 5 of the popular yet divisive documentary-style series – credited on one hand for F1’s surging popularity but criticised by some for […]
Las Vegas should sign ‘eternal’ F1 deal
Feb.10 (GMM) Formula 1 should stay in Las Vegas forever, according to a commissioner of the local jurisdiction Clark County. Commissioner Jim Gibson is quoted by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf as saying a three-year deal has been agreed with the local Liberty Media-linked promoters for an annual race including the fabled ‘Strip’. “We decided […]
Alfa Romeo not ruling out staying in F1
Feb.10 (GMM) Alfa Romeo’s CEO still isn’t sure if the Ferrari-linked Italian carmaker will stay in Formula 1 beyond 2023. After the season finale this year, the naming deal with Sauber expires. “We have gone our separate ways,” Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, referring to the Swiss-based team’s 2026 works deal and buyout by Audi, […]
Bottas not ruling out Audi-powered future
Feb.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits he is already beginning to think about an Audi-powered future in Formula 1. Currently, the former Mercedes driver is looking ahead to his second consecutive year with Alfa Romeo – and he says he would like to have contract extension talks early in 2023. It is believed the 33-year-old Finn’s […]
Piastri reputation at stake in 2023 – Eng
Feb.10 (GMM) Oscar Piastri’s first year on the Formula 1 grid will be critical for his stellar reputation. That is the view of Austrian racing driver Phillip Eng, although Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer thinks rookie Piastri’s most recent reputation is that of a disloyal junior. “Species that cooperate survive,” Szafnauer is quoted as saying. “Species […]
No race seat for Ricciardo ‘his choice’ – Albon
Feb.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he will assess whether he has the motivation to return to Formula 1 around mid-season. Similar to Alex Albon a few years ago, the Australian lost his race seat for 2023 following some disappointing campaigns for McLaren. Having lost his Red Bull seat, Albon – now firmly at Williams – […]
Schumacher could replace Hamilton in 2024
Feb.9 (GMM) Mick Schumacher could find himself in arguably the best cockpit on the Formula 1 grid as early as 2024. That is the view of the 23-year-old German’s uncle Ralf Schumacher, who also weighed into Mick’s career at Haas – especially when the relationship between the young driver and Gunther Steiner publicly broke down […]
Audi eyes top F1 engine by 2029 – Baker
Feb.9 (GMM) Audi wants its Formula 1 engines to be near the front of the grid by 2029. While that sounds like a long time for now, the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker will only fire up a power unit for the beginning of the new engine rules era in 2026. 25 percent of Sauber – currently […]
Boss not worried about ‘team killer’ Alonso
Feb.9 (GMM) Aston Martin boss Mike Krack says he’s not worried about Fernando Alonso’s reputation as a “team killer”. Amid its clear push to develop the Lawrence Stroll-owned Silverstone based team, Aston Martin signed 41-year-old former two-time champion Alonso to replace the retiring Vettel in 2023 and beyond. That is despite the feisty Spaniard’s reputation […]
Horner expects more powerful Ferrari engine
Feb.9 (GMM) Christian Horner expects Ferrari will field a more powerful Formula 1 car in 2023. Last year, the Maranello team’s initial challenge to Horner-led Red Bull ultimately petered out – but reports from Italy suggest the Ferrari power unit will be 30 horsepower better this season. The same reports suggest Ferrari’s chassis will also […]
FIA president takes step away from F1
Feb.9 (GMM) In the heat of obvious tension with the teams and Liberty Media, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed he is taking a step back. In recent days and weeks, the new-in-2022 president of Formula 1’s governing body has clashed with Liberty, the teams and drivers on a number of contentious issues. But […]
Bottas sees ‘many years’ ahead in F1 career
Feb.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is kicking off his 2023 campaign by insisting he still has “many years” in Formula 1 ahead of him. Many believed the Finn’s new Alfa Romeo-Sauber contract last year was for multiple seasons, but he says an early priority in 2023 will be contract talks. “I have no doubt I still […]
Sauber in trouble over new title sponsor
Feb.8 (GMM) Sauber has brushed off concerns it breached Swiss advertising laws during its reveal of the 2023 car on Tuesday. The Alfa Romeo-branded team has a new title sponsor this year – Stake, a Curacao-registered online casino and gambling portal. The Swiss newspaper Blick reports that the actual Stake logo, however, will only be […]
Steiner expecting no ‘problems’ with Schumacher
Feb.8 (GMM) Gunther Steiner isn’t expecting too much awkwardness when he bumps into Mick Schumacher in the F1 paddock this year. After months of tension and internal criticism of the young German driver in 2022, the Haas boss ultimately decided to oust Schumacher in favour of returning veteran Nico Hulkenberg. “There’s a reason why we […]
Alfa Romeo admits Red Bull-like car tweaks
Feb.8 (GMM) Some elements of Alfa Romeo’s newly-launched 2023 car have a distinct Red Bull flavour to them, technical boss Jan Monchaux admits. According to the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, Hinwil based Sauber’s French-German technical boss admitted the Red Bull-like changes to the car are “quite obvious”. “It’s just about acknowledging that a particular team […]