Aug.27 (GMM) Only “small details” are still to be ironed out of Lewis Hamilton’s new Mercedes contract for 2024. Some fans had expected the Brackley based team to finally end the long-running saga of the seven time world champion’s delayed negotiations this weekend at Zandvoort. But Hamilton, 38, told reporters “No” on Thursday when asked […]
Month: August 2023
Marko insists 2024 Red Bull lineup ‘clear’
Aug.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has brushed aside new claims suggesting Sergio Perez may be ousted at the end of the season. At Zandvoort, Mexican Perez was a massive 1.3 seconds slower than dominant teammate Max Verstappen’s pole position time. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told Auto Motor und Sport that the result is bizarre. “Perez […]
Leclerc delighted Ferrari will scrap 2023 car
Aug.27 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is delighted that Ferrari will essentially scrap the current 2023 car at the end of the season. The 25-year-old crashed out of qualifying at Zandvoort, amid speculation in the paddock that the Italian team arrived at the Dutch GP with a fundamentally incorrect choice of aerodynamic settings. “There are no excuses […]
Brown slams Palou for burning F1 chance with McLaren
Aug.27 (GMM) Zak Brown thinks Indycar star Alex Palou has hurt his chances of taking the step up to Formula 1. Brown is the CEO of McLaren, who tried to poach Spaniard Palou – the 2021 champion, current Indycar leader, and recent McLaren F1 reserve driver – from Chip Ganassi to McLaren’s own Indycar squad. […]
CEO hits back at Verstappen’s criticism of F1
Aug.27 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has defended all the changes that are being made to Formula 1’s traditional format. World champion Max Verstappen has warned that he could actually quit F1 prior to the expiry of his 2028 contract – with rule changes made for the ‘show’ given as a main reason. “I think it’s good […]
F1 CEO admits Dutch GP may need to alternate
Aug.27 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has played down fears about the future of the highly popular Dutch GP – even though he admits it may cease to be run every year. Zandvoort’s contract with Formula 1 runs only until 2025, with circuit director Robert van Overdijk admitting this weekend that negotiations about the future may be […]
F1 CEO defends utter Verstappen dominance
Aug.27 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has defended Max Verstappen’s utter dominance of the sport this year. The Red Bull driver’s closest challenger in Zandvoort qualifying was Lando Norris, whose McLaren was half a second adrift. When asked if he was surprised at the big gap, Norris said: “No, no. It’s never a surprise anymore. […]
Zhou, Sargeant struggling to keep F1 seats
Aug.26 (GMM) Two current Formula 1 drivers are struggling to hang onto their race cockpits for 2024. One of them is Guanyu Zhou, despite the Alfa Romeo driver declaring at Zandvoort that he was “a lot more nervous” about his contractual situation a year ago. “We’ve been talking together before the summer shutdown and we […]
‘Crashgate’ legal action not against Hamilton – Massa
Aug.26 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he has “nothing against” Lewis Hamilton even though he wants the 2008 world championship to be taken away from his former F1 rival. At Zandvoort, Hamilton was asked about the news that former Ferrari driver Massa’s lawyers have written to Formula 1 authorities warning of legal action over the ‘crashgate’ […]
Bottas ‘of course’ eyeing Audi deal for 2026
Aug.26 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is not hiding his desire to remain at Sauber as the Swiss team transitions to its works Audi future. Some observers have been wondering if the experienced Finn, a former race winner at Mercedes, has been impressive enough at Sauber – currently known as Alfa Romeo – this year to secure […]
New Mercedes deal ‘just taking time’ – Hamilton
Aug.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that speculation during the summer break that his Mercedes contract has finally been signed for 2024 was wide of the mark. “No,” the seven time world champion said clearly when asked about the rumours by Italian reporters at Zandvoort. Hamilton has even been linked with Carlos Sainz’s seat at […]
Marko hits back at Verstappen speeding controversy
Aug.26 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at the controversy surrounding a video of Max Verstappen speeding on a motorway at the wheel of the Adrian Newey-penned Valkyrie supercar. Some reports suggest that French police have not ruled out prosecuting Red Bull’s dominant world championship leader. “Max always has stories like this going on,” […]
Dutch GP every two years a possibility – boss
Aug.26 (GMM) It is possible Zandvoort will have to settle for hosting a Dutch GP once every two years. The highly popular event has an annual contract only until 2025 – and circuit director Robert van Overdijk admits that talks with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali may not be straightforward. “Whether we still prefer to […]
No Red Bull return for de Vries – Horner
Aug.26 (GMM) Nyck de Vries will not re-fire his Formula 1 career with Red Bull. That is the clear message from Christian Horner, who admits he was never supportive of Dr Helmut Marko’s decision to sign de Vries to Alpha Tauri for 2023. The 28-year-old Dutchman has now been ousted for poor performance and replaced […]
Ricciardo pledges rest of career to Red Bull
Aug.26 (GMM) Just before breaking his hand at Zandvoort, Daniel Ricciardo pledged the rest of his Formula 1 career to Red Bull. The Australian, 33, met with Dr Helmut Marko in Graz during the summer break – just a few days before Marko suddenly started to indicate that Sergio Perez’s place at Red Bull Racing […]
Ricciardo may need surgery after crash – Tost
Aug.26 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo may need to undergo surgery for a broken bone in his left hand. The Australian, who was only a few races into his return to Formula 1 and linked with a sensational promotion back to Red Bull Racing in 2024, crashed during practice at Zandvoort. “There was little he could do […]
Father may ‘worry’ about Stroll’s F1 future
Aug.25 (GMM) Eyebrows were raised in the Zandvoort paddock on Thursday when Lance Stroll bowed out of his media duties. A Le Journal de Montreal correspondent spotted the Canadian with a bandage beneath his ear, as Aston Martin explained that Stroll skipped speaking to the press because he is “recovering from an infection”. “He is […]
Leclerc scoffs at $200m Ferrari deal rumours
Aug.25 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has scoffed at wild rumours that emerged during Formula 1’s August break that he had signed an enormous new $200 million Ferrari contract. “It sounds like a good contract,” the Monegasque laughed when asked about the rumours at Zandvoort. “But no, there were no new deals and no discussions at all,” […]
Palou hits $30 million roadblock on road to F1
Aug.25 (GMM) Dominant Indycar driver Alex Palou’s road to Formula 1 has hit a $30 million roadblock. The Indianapolis Star reports that McLaren, who signed to switch to the marque’s Indycar team only to renege and stay at Chip Ganassi, is now being sued by McLaren to the tune of a rumoured $20-30 million. McLaren […]
‘No reason’ for Haas to dump Magnussen – Steiner
Aug.25 (GMM) Gunther Steiner admits he never even contemplated parting with current Haas team lineup Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for 2024. F1 pundit Marc Surer recently said Hulkenberg’s strong return to Formula 1 this year was “ruining” team incumbent Magnussen’s career. However, the pair have both been re-signed for next season. “I think we […]