Aug.24 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should secure the last remaining vacancy on the 2025 grid, according to a former Formula 1 driver. With Carlos Sainz now signed to Williams, rookie Jack Doohan securing the Alpine seat, and RB likely to field Liam Lawson, only Audi-owned Sauber is still completely undecided about its second and final place […]
Month: August 2024
Rumours swirl of Newey’s secret Aston Martin contract
Aug.24 (GMM) It is becoming increasingly clear that Adrian Newey will eventually switch to a green uniform in Formula 1. Earlier, the departing Red Bull technical ‘genius’ looked destined for a move to Ferrari, but Maranello officials reportedly baulked at Newey’s demands for control. When asked at Zandvoort if the ‘group’ at Ferrari matters more […]
Verstappen hits back at FIA ‘hate’ clampdown
Aug.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at a new FIA clampdown on “negative comments” made by Formula 1 “drivers and team members”. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared recently on social media that in his “fight against online abuse”, a link was found between “increased hate” directed at FIA officials and “negative comments from […]
Staff lash out at axed Renault F1 engine program
Aug.24 (GMM) Staff at Renault’s Formula 1 engine factory in Viry-Chatillon have lashed out over plans to stop producing works power units for the Alpine team. Now advised by Flavio Briatore, Renault CEO Luca de Meo has decided to repurpose the Viry facility and its 300 employees and switch to customer Mercedes engines for 2026 […]
Marko hits reverse gear on Liam Lawson declaration
Aug.24 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit reverse gear, after declaring that Liam Lawson will “definitely” be racing a Red Bull-branded Formula 1 car in 2025. Team boss Christian Horner was asked about Marko’s declaration at Zandvoort and answered: “I asked Helmut about it and he said Liam will have a seat in F1. “But […]
Politicians ‘listening’ to Dutch GP money problems
Aug.24 (GMM) Dutch politicians are finally “listening” to warnings that the country could lose its Formula 1 race after 2025. Zandvoort director Robert van Overdijk has been sounding the alarm for weeks that, at present, race promoters do not feel comfortable entering another agreement with Liberty Media. “The interest is still very high,” he said […]
Dutch authorities seize Haas’ F1 cars at Zandvoort
Aug.24 (GMM) The Haas team cannot currently leave the Netherlands once the chequered flag waves at Zandvoort late on Sunday. Operating on legal authority, Dutch police and bailiffs entered the Formula 1 team’s garages at the Dutch GP venue and formally seized the race cars, motorhome, trucks and all other equipment. Haas can continue to […]
Hamilton wanted ‘Bono’ to make Ferrari switch
Aug.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hinted that he would have liked his long-time Mercedes race engineer to follow him to Ferrari next year. Mercedes this week confirmed reports that despite speculation that Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington might also be wearing red in 2025, he has in fact been handed an internal promotion. ‘Bono’ has been Hamilton’s […]
Piastri reveals F1 seat broke his ribs
Aug.23 (GMM) Oscar Piastri has admitted he broke his ribs earlier this season simply by driving his McLaren. The impressive young Australian, fourth in the 2024 championship standings, shocked his fans on social media at the start of the August break by publishing a photo – without explanation – of an alarming x-ray. When asked […]
‘Negotiations underway’ for African GP in Rwanda
Aug.23 (GMM) Rwanda has emerged as a strong candidate to become Formula 1’s African GP. Recently, Thailand was strongly linked with a solid grand prix bid – but Lewis Hamilton insists that F1’s priority must be on completing a truly global world championship. “It’s 100 percent the right time,” he declared at Zandvoort. “You can’t […]
2025, not 2024, should be Aston Martin’s focus – Alonso
Aug.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks Aston Martin should tweak its goals for the remaining ten races of the 2024 season. This year, after a highly promising 2023, the Silverstone based team – and its 43-year-old top Spanish driver – has taken a major step backwards. “It’s been up and down,” Alonso said at Zandvoort, also […]
Lawson will ‘definitely’ race in F1 in 2025 – Marko
Aug.23 (GMM) Liam Lawson can breathe a little easier, because Red Bull’s driver-focused F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko has very good news for the New Zealander rookie. “He will definitely be in one of our cars next year ,” the 81-year-old declared ahead of the Dutch GP to Kleine Zeitung newspaper. And what is good […]
2025 driver market still shaping up at Dutch GP
Aug.23 (GMM) A big group of drivers are still clamouring for the last remaining seats on the 2025 Formula 1 grid. Carlos Sainz finally pulled himself off the market just before the August break by signing with Williams – a disappointing shock for many of his fans. “I understand that perfectly,” the departing Ferrari driver […]
Red Bull seeking ‘downdates’ not updates – Marko
Aug.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen has denied Red Bull had to remove a now-illegal technical innovation from its 2024 car. It’s been a rocky period for the recently-dominant Formula 1 team, amid declining performance, internal conflict, and the loss not only of Adrian Newey but also sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. Because of the budget cap, consultant […]
Liberty to sell F1 shares to fund MotoGP deal
Aug.22 (GMM) Liberty Media will partly fund its acquisition of MotoGP by selling more than 10 million shares in Formula 1. “Liberty Media intends to exercise its option to deliver additional cash in lieu of shares of (Formula 1) as part of its previously disclosed proposed acquisition of Dorna Sports,” part of an official media […]
Sauber told to change F1 team name for Dutch GP
Aug.22 (GMM) Sauber has been told to drop its official team name and related branding at this weekend’s Dutch GP. For 2024, with the Alfa Romeo naming deal now lapsed, the Swiss outfit decided to adopt a blatant sponsorship approach to its new title – with the online casino Stake taking centre stage. But the […]
Thailand’s F1 hopes hit by political turmoil
Aug.22 (GMM) Hopes that Thailand could be Formula 1’s next exotic new grand prix destination appear to have taken a hit. In April, amid rumours of a potential street race in Bangkok, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali travelled to the Southeast Asian country to meet with prime minister Srettha Thavisin. Thavisin was then at Imola for […]
Antonelli set for Friday debut, 2025 Mercedes deal
Aug.22 (GMM) According to reports in the Dutch and Italian specialist media, Kimi Antonelli really is set to make his Formula 1 race debut in 2025. De Telegraaf newspaper says Toto Wolff has finally given up on the possibility of trying to lure Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Mercedes to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis […]
Losing race engineer a 2025 hazard for Hamilton – Villeneuve
Aug.22 (GMM) Mercedes may be losing Lewis Hamilton, but his race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington will not be following the seven time world champion to Ferrari. A Mercedes spokesman confirmed reports that Bonnington, who was Hamilton’s race engineer throughout almost his entire decade-long career at the team, is staying put. 49-year-old Bonnington will remain a […]
Red Bull to ‘fight’ further F1 staff losses – Marko
Aug.22 (GMM) Red Bull will “fight” against any further efforts from Formula 1 rivals to poach staff. Since Max Verstappen began to dominate, the energy drink company’s top F1 team has been leaking top employees – including Dan Fallows, Rob Marshall, Lee Stevenson, Adrian Newey, and Audi’s future new team boss, Jonathan Wheatley. Red Bull […]