Jan.31 (GMM) Promoters of the fabled Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps may need to pay a lot more to extend its Formula 1 race deal beyond 2025. Late last year, the immediate dark cloud of uncertainty over the race’s future was lifted when Spa Grand Prix, the promoter, managed to sign a mere one-year extension to […]
Month: January 2024
How Verstappen helps DTM team get ‘faster’
Jan.31 (GMM) The boss of a DTM team says it was “extremely fascinating” to get a close-up look at the working methods of Formula 1-dominator Max Verstappen. Via his marketing company Verstappen.com, triple world champion Verstappen sponsors his friend Thierry Vermeulen in GT and DTM – the 21-year-old son of his manager Raymond. And recently, […]
Sainz’s Ferrari contract talks ‘complicated’
Jan.31 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s negotiations with Ferrari over a new deal beyond 2024 “have become complicated”. That is the claim of the authoritative Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, which hints that the Spaniard could depart Maranello at the end of the year. The latest news comes after Ferrari inked a new, long and lucrative new […]
Ex-Alpha Tauri team still ‘independent’ of Red Bull
Jan.31 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists that the Red Bull-owned Formula 1 team formerly known as Alpha Tauri and Toro Rosso remains “independent” of Red Bull Racing. Now with the clunky new official name Visa Cash App RB, the Italy-based team has been causing a stir recently as it moves certain operations to the UK […]
Cold water thrown on Chicago GP rumours
Jan.30 (GMM) A Chicago politician has thrown cold water on excited speculation about the potential for a fourth Formula 1 race in America. Media outlets have noticed that F1’s owner, Liberty Media, has trademarked several names recently, including ‘Formula 1 Chicago Grand Prix’. Last year, Nascar raced for the first time on the new Chicago […]
Madrid GP could be ‘disaster’ like Valencia – economist
Jan.30 (GMM) A highly-respected Spanish economist has put a dark cloud above the optimistic financial predictions made by organisers of the newly-announced Madrid GP. It is widely believed that, as it committed to the calendar for 2026 through 2035, the Madrid GP will pay an annual fee to Formula 1 of about EUR 60 million. […]
F1 owner is world’s richest sports empire
Jan.30 (GMM) The company that controls Formula 1’s commercial rights is the most valuable sports empire on earth. That is the finding of the renowned business magazine Forbes, who despite a year-on-year value drop of 12 percent for Liberty Media nonetheless list F1’s American owners at being worth a staggering $18 billion. Alongside many other […]
All signs point at another Verstappen title – Berger
Jan.30 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks every sign is pointing towards a fourth-consecutive world championship triumph for Red Bull and Max Verstappen in 2024. The former driver, who has also held prominent roles at BMW, Toro Rosso and in charge of DTM, is now fully retired from the motor racing scene. Berger, 64, hopes […]
F1 teams in full swing as launch season looms
Jan.30 (GMM) As car launch and winter testing season now looms, Formula 1 teams are in full swing to prepare for the 2024 world championship. Alpine intends to reveal its new car in just over a week, but nervousness may be high at the Renault-linked team as it emerges the 2024 machine has failed its […]
Button bemused by F1 team’s ‘ridiculous’ rebrand
Jan.29 (GMM) Red Bull has already benefitted from its “ridiculous” new name for the Formula 1 team formerly known as Alpha Tauri. That is the view not only of a respected F1 journalist, but also 2009 world champion Jenson Button – whose job as a part-time pundit for British broadcaster Sky means he will have […]
2024 Ferrari feels ‘better’ in simulator – Marc Gene
Jan.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s new car for 2024 gives “better feelings” to the drivers, long-time test driver Marc Gene has revealed. Red Bull utterly dominated the 2023 season, but Toto Wolff is making similarly hopeful sounds about Mercedes’ new challenger, revealing simulation driver Anthony Davidson reports it “feels like a car for the first time in […]
Bottas, girlfriend cleared over covid-19 border breach
Jan.29 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas and his girlfriend have been cleared of wrongdoing over a breach of Finland’s covid-19 lockdown back in 2020. Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reports that Tiffany Cromwell, an Australian citizen and professional cyclist, wrongly entered Finland with her Formula 1 driver boyfriend when only Finnish citizens were allowed to. Correspondent Lasse Kerkela reports […]
Reports: Will Sainz stay or make Audi F1 switch?
Jan.29 (GMM) Sauber, the Formula 1 outfit known as Alfa Romeo last year that in 2024 will be called ‘Stake F1 Team’, intends to clear out its driver lineup at the end of the season. That is the claim of the authoritative and highly respected long-time F1 correspondent Roger Benoit, as the sport turns its […]
New deal means Norris staying until 2027 – media
Jan.29 (GMM) McLaren has followed in Ferrari’s wheel-tracks by inking a new contract with its existing Formula 1 driver – and not revealing the length of the deal. According to the team, Lando Norris’ new “multi-year contract” means he will be staying at McLaren “beyond the 2025 season” – but for exactly how long remains […]
Melbourne fans banned from entering F1 track post-GP
Jan.26 (GMM) Spectators have been banned from being allowed on Melbourne’s Formula 1 circuit after the chequered flag. In 2023, a worrying track invasion before the cars had even crossed the finish line at the end of the Australian GP occurred at Albert Park, sparking an FIA investigation. The governing body chastised the race organisers […]
Faenza-based F1 team company name now ‘Racing Bulls’
Jan.26 (GMM) ‘Racing Bulls’ may indeed be how Formula 1 fans come to refer to Red Bull’s Faenza based team. Fans and journalists this week slammed the declared official new name for the re-branded Alpha Tauri outfit – Visa Cash App RB. Even Dr Helmut Marko admitted it was a “tongue twister”, with rumours suggesting […]
Potential African GP host emerges in Zanzibar
Jan.26 (GMM) A solution to the notable absence of an African GP may be emerging in the shape of Zanzibar – an archipelago off the coast of the African mainland. It is believed that both Liberty Media and the FIA are united when it comes to acknowledging that the sport needs a race in Africa. […]
Newey may assume non-F1 Red Bull role ‘in medium term’
Jan.26 (GMM) Adrian Newey might be shuffled into a non-Formula 1 role at Red Bull Racing, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. Correspondent Michael Schmidt explains that the reason is because of the budget cap, as the team seeks a way to make the most of the budget cap rules. “The large teams continue […]
Madrid layout to have F1’s most extreme banking
Jan.26 (GMM) Madrid’s new Formula 1 circuit will include the most steeply banked corner on the entire calendar. The new ten-year race deal from 2026 was announced this week, with officials insisting that it will not cost the taxpayer a cent – throwing a big dark cloud over the future of the existing Spanish GP […]
Questions arise over length of Leclerc’s new contract
Jan.26 (GMM) Authoritative Italian media sources are unsure as to the length of Charles Leclerc’s newly-announced new Formula 1 contract with Ferrari. The press release declared that the highly-rated 26-year-old is now staying on “beyond the 2024 season”, while Leclerc was quoted as saying he will keep driving in red “for several more seasons to […]