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 […]
Month: September 2023
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 […]
Sainz, Leclerc see their F1 futures in red
Sep.16 (GMM) Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are both indicating that they can imagine their futures in Formula 1 at Ferrari. The pair are already teammates at the fabled Maranello based team, but both have been linked with the exit after their respective 2024 contracts. Spaniard Sainz’s father has indicated that they are happy with […]
Le Mans would be good move for Schumacher
Sep.16 (GMM) It would be “a shame” if the rumours are true that Mick Schumacher is set to depart Formula 1. That is the view of the 24-year-old’s current boss, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, who kept F1’s career alive with the offer of the reserve seat following his Haas dumping last year. New rumours are […]
Red Bull not suddenly in ‘crisis’ – Sainz
Sep.16 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has rubbished suggestions that Red Bull is suddenly ‘in crisis’ at the Singapore GP. The Spaniard, and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, resumed their new Monza-style competitiveness in Singapore on Friday – while the Red Bulls were a huge 7 tenths behind. “The gap is far too big,” said Dr Helmut […]
Marko wants Massa to be handed 2008 title
Sep.16 (GMM) It is possible Felipe Massa will be retrospectively awarded the 2008 world championship, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. A spokesperson for the FIA has confirmed that it has received the legal warnings of Massa’s lawyers, the situation is being reviewed, and no further information is forthcoming for now. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff […]
FIA steps in after ‘grumpy’ Marko comments
Sep.16 (GMM) The FIA has stepped into the affair surrounding Dr Helmut Marko’s “South American” comment about Sergio Perez. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton thinks the 80-year-old Red Bull team advisor should be “fired” for the allegedly discriminatory remark, after Marko suggested Perez’s cultural background explains his struggle against Max Verstappen. Hamilton’s boss Toto Wolff agrees. “Shameful,” […]
Details of Vettel’s ‘plan bee’ emerge
Sep.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will be trackside at Suzuka next weekend as the retired quadruple world champion considers a ‘plan bee’ for his future. The 36-year-old is back in the headlines this week amid rumours he might consider a return to the Formula 1 grid. “It’s up to him, obviously, if he’s thinking about it,” […]
Schumacher in talks with Alpine over 2024 role
Sep.15 (GMM) The details about Mick Schumacher ‘plan B’ for 2024 are now beginning to emerge. Motorsport Aktuell, a German-language weekly, claims the axed Haas racer and current Mercedes reserve is in detailed talks with Renault-owned Alpine. Alpine, of course, has a Formula 1 team, but it is believed German Schumacher, 24, is being lined […]
Boss admits Haas ‘B’ car coming in Austin
Sep.15 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has confirmed reports that Haas will try to end its performance crisis with a ‘B’ car at the team’s home US GP in Austin. After re-signed driver Nico Hulkenberg was scathing in his criticism of the 2023 single seater after a dismal performance at Monza, reports emerged that Red Bull’s dominant […]
Perez moves on amid ‘South American’ affair
Sep.15 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he was “not at all” offended by Red Bull boss Dr Helmut Marko’s allegedly “discriminatory” comments about him recently. Organisers of the Mexican GP were among those who hit out at Marko having linked Perez’s “South American” characteristics with his lack of focus in comparison to Dutchman Max Verstappen or […]
Verstappen sleeps well amid Hamilton ‘jealousy’
Sep.15 (GMM) A new round of barbs fired between Red Bull and Mercedes personnel has set the scene for this weekend’s Singapore GP. Hopes among Red Bull’s rivals are high that Max Verstappen will see his ten-race winning streak end on the hot and difficult street circuit that he has previously never won at. Even […]
Vettel ‘misses the competition’ of F1 racing
Sep.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has this week found himself at the centre of ongoing speculation that he might soon launch an effort to return to Formula 1. The quadruple world champion, newly retired in 2023, will be present at Suzuka next weekend for an undisclosed “project” – almost certainly related to environmentalism. But it has […]
Russia not severing ties with F1 governing body
Sep.14 (GMM) Russian motorsport is not going to sever relations with Formula 1’s governing body. That is the news from Russian billionaire Boris Rotenberg, a former judo partner of Russian president Vladimir Putin and co-owner of SMP Bank. Rotenberg also headed SMP Racing – the motorsport subsidiary that has even funded Russian drivers all the […]
Bottas says 2024 contract ‘already fixed’
Sep.14 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has rubbished any speculation that he might be pushed out of the Alfa Romeo-Sauber team for 2024. Following a period of rumours, Canal Plus and other specialist sources are now reporting that teammate Guanyu Zhou will get another one-year deal for next year. There had been speculation of trouble between the […]
Winning every race in 2023 now a ‘goal’ – Marko
Sep.14 (GMM) Red Bull Racing is so far ahead of the competition that a very bad weekend for Mercedes will mean the energy drink-owned team could actually clinch the constructors’ title in Singapore this weekend. It could also be Max Verstappen’s first ever win on the streets of the tiny city-state, and alleviate Dr Helmut […]
Ricciardo, in Singapore, has ‘seven fractures’ – Marko
Sep.14 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo actually has “seven fractures” in his broken hand, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko has revealed. After crashing in practice at Zandvoort and sustaining the injury, Australian Ricciardo also missed the Italian GP whilst recovering from surgery. He will again be replaced by Liam Lawson this weekend in Singapore, but 33-year-old Ricciardo […]
Massa legal action only about ‘money’ – Ecclestone
Sep.13 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has hit out at Felipe Massa for daring to mount a legal challenge to the outcome of the 2008 world championship. Brazilian Massa, now retired from Formula 1 and 42, admits that it was former F1 CEO Ecclestone’s admission that key figures knew about the ‘crashgate’ scandal before the 2008 ended […]
‘Impossible’ to predict 2024 title challenge – Russell
Sep.13 (GMM) George Russell says it’s “impossible” to predict that Mercedes will be back in the fight for the title with Red Bull in 2024. While Red Bull has totally dominated in the ‘ground effect’ era that kicked off last season, Mercedes has struggled to recapture the glory of its own dominance between 2014 and […]