Sep.25 (GMM) The brain drain at embattled reigning world champions Red Bull continues, with news that long-term strategy chief Will Courtenay to join direct rivals McLaren in 2026. It has been a calamitous period for the energy drink-owned Formula 1 powerhouse, beset by high-profile staff departures, internal conflicts and a sharp performance decline in 2024. […]
Month: September 2024
Madrid GP fails to secure private investors
Sep.25 (GMM) The new-in-2026 Formula 1 race on the streets of Madrid has failed so far to attract private investors. According to Soy Motor, officials at the Madrid council admitted this week that the city’s events organisation, Ifema, will therefore make losses relating to the race’s planning both this year and in 2025. “It has […]
Perez hits back at latest F1 retirement rumours
Sep.24 (GMM) Sergio Perez has hit reverse gear on swirling rumours about his future in Formula 1. With Daniel Ricciardo expected to be dropped from the lineup of the junior team RB with immediate effect, a new rumour about Perez at the main Red Bull Racing outfit also did the rounds in Singapore. “This is […]
RB boss hints Ricciardo situation unfair in Singapore
Sep.24 (GMM) The boss of Red Bull’s second F1 team, RB, admits the “communication” strategy surrounding Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore was perhaps not top-notch. Even before the race weekend, rumours were firming up that the 35-year-old Australian would be driving his last-ever grand prix in Singapore. He completed the event with tears in his eyes […]
GPDA to discuss Verstappen’s F-word penalty with FIA
Sep.24 (GMM) The Formula 1 drivers’ union, the GPDA, appears to be fully supportive of Max Verstappen in the wake of the ‘F-word’ saga in Singapore. Just as FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he was clamping down on foul language, Verstappen immediately tested the waters by describing his Red Bull car as “f**ked” in […]
Rivals criticise Colapinto’s Singapore GP start
Sep.24 (GMM) Two Formula 1 drivers pointed the finger at the sport’s newest rookie for his actions at the start of Sunday’s Singapore GP. Franco Colapinto has caused a stir since replacing Logan Sargeant as of the recent Italian GP – even triggering rumours he may be a contender at Audi-Sauber for 2025. But the […]
Verstappen slams ‘soft’ modern F1 amid FIA scandal
Sep.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen on Sunday admitted the scandal surrounding his ‘F-word’ penalty is only pushing him closer to the exit door in Formula 1. After almost completely refusing to speak in the FIA post-qualifying press conference in Singapore, the triple world champion kept his answers conspicuously abrupt and blunt in the post-race session as […]
Pirelli had talks with Russell after criticism
Sep.23 (GMM) Pirelli’s F1 boss sought out George Russell for a chat over the Singapore GP weekend. A week ago, the Mercedes driver slammed the inconsistency of the tyres in Formula 1 today, claiming even Pirelli “don’t understand them” and denouncing the product as “not good enough”. “I always talk to the drivers because it’s […]
Criticism for Norris despite dominant F1 win
Sep.23 (GMM) Although Lando Norris utterly dominated the Singapore GP, he still faced criticism from a couple of former Formula 1 drivers. “When you’re so far ahead, you should actually be driving relaxed,” Jan Lammers, who is also the boss of the Dutch GP, told NOS. Indeed, even McLaren CEO Zak Brown admitted he directly […]
Bortoleto could be Audi-Sauber ‘third driver’
Sep.23 (GMM) Audi is planning to integrate a much younger driver into its works Formula 1 plans for 2026. That is the new revelation from veteran Blick journalist Roger Benoit, who similarly confidently declared that 34-year-old Valtteri Bottas will be retained on a one-year deal for 2025. The Finnish driver called it “fake news”, but […]
Mercedes drivers ‘fine’ after Singapore exhaustion
Sep.23 (GMM) Mercedes’ driving duo is “fine” despite finishing the hot and humid Singapore GP dehydrated and exhausted. Race winner Lando Norris admitted his “head is spinning” after the race, while Nico Hulkenberg revealed that he lost an incredible 3 kilograms in sweat. But Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were so exhausted after spending Sunday […]
F1 farewells ‘great person’ and driver Ricciardo
Sep.23 (GMM) Although Daniel Ricciardo’s strategic fastest race lap enraged his former team McLaren on Sunday, Zak Brown admitted he feels sorry for the Australian. The RB driver was close to tears after qualifying in Singapore, with real tears filling his eyes as it dawned on him that he probably climbed out of a cockpit […]
Red Bull ‘urgently’ needs to improve, admits Marko
Sep.23 (GMM) Red Bull’s need to add performance in 2024 has become urgent, team advisor Dr Helmut Marko admits. Even though Max Verstappen managed to qualify and finish P2 in Singapore, Lando Norris utterly dominated the Singapore GP in his McLaren. “It’s crazy how he pulled away,” Marko said. “Our deficit is alarming. We urgently […]
Red Bull hints at immediate Ricciardo ousting
Sep.22 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo appeared close to tears after qualifying eight places behind his teammate in Singapore. On Sunday, the popular Australian, who has underperformed in recent years, will almost certainly race in Formula 1 for the 257th and final time. “This performance probably makes the decision easier for Red Bull,” former F1 driver and […]
Bottas slams 2025 Sauber contract ‘fake news’
Sep.22 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas slammed as “fake news” reports that he has definitely signed a one-year contract extension to remain at Audi-owned Sauber next year. The claim was made by the normally well connected and highly respected veteran Formula 1 journalist Roger Benoit, who lamented in Blick newspaper that Sauber had been “cowardly” to overlook […]
McLaren didn’t deserve ‘exaggerated’ wing ruckus – FIA
Sep.22 (GMM) The Formula 1 world overreacted to the controversy surrounding McLaren’s controversial ‘mini DRS’ rear wing, a top FIA official admits. Red Bull, supported behind the scenes by Ferrari, protested to the FIA three times about the clever bending of McLaren’s Baku-spec rear wing. It is believed the FIA ultimately told McLaren a good […]
No further penalty for Verstappen’s FIA protest
Sep.22 (GMM) “Nobody” on the Formula 1 grid agrees with the new FIA clampdown against swearing, according to the president of the drivers’ union. After qualifying in Singapore, Max Verstappen staged a protest against his penalty for saying “f**k” in Thursday’s official FIA press conference. In the post-qualifying FIA conference, he basically refused point-blank to […]
Verstappen swearing penalty ‘excessive’, says Steiner
Sep.21 (GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks the FIA penalising Max Verstappen for swearing during a press conference in Singapore is “excessive”. As news swirled about FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s swearing clampdown, Verstappen immediately tested the waters in the FIA press conference on Thursday by describing his Baku-spec Red Bull as “f**ked”. Later in the same […]
Bottas secures new one-year Audi-Sauber deal – source
Sep.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas appears to have won the race for the last remaining vacancy on the 2025 Formula 1 grid. Plenty of candidates were in the running to become Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate at Audi-owned Sauber next year – including rookies Gabriel Bortoleto and the impressive new Williams driver Franco Colapinto. “We’re waiting for Audi […]
Hope for Renault’s endangered F1 engine program
Sep.21 (GMM) Renault CEO Luca de Meo has given angry and worried Alpine F1 staff members reason to hope. For weeks, workers at the Viry-Chatillon facility, where Alpine’s works Renault engines are designed and made for Formula 1, have been protesting. Although the decision is not final, de Meo is openly planning to scrap the […]