Oct.8 (GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has spoken out in support Valtteri Bottas’ quest to remain in the sport in 2025. Although plenty of alternatives, including Mick Schumacher, have been linked with the final real vacancy on next year’s grid, it was strongly rumoured at the Singapore GP that the Audi-owned team […]
Month: October 2024
Suzuka prepares for future as Osaka eyes rival F1 bid
Oct.8 (GMM) Japanese GP host Suzuka is sparing no effort in looking to safeguard the future of its Formula 1 race. As-web.jp, a specialist Japanese motor racing portal, noticed that Honda-owned Suzuka’s president Tsuyoshi Saito attended the Italian GP at Monza last month. When asked about it, Saito answered: “We are considering what improvements are […]
Renault F1 staff can depart without ‘gardening leave’
Oct.8 (GMM) Renault will not block disaffected engine staff at Viry-Chatillon from immediately signing up with another Formula 1 team. Group CEO Luca de Meo told L’Equipe sports newspaper that he is “deeply sorry” to staff who are angry and disappointed about the decision to scrap Alpine’s works engine program. He says Viry will be […]
Ferrari ‘short sighted’ to miss out on Newey
Oct.8 (GMM) 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell thinks Ferrari was “short sighted” to not chase Adrian Newey more stridently. Newey, who Mansell suspects will get more “energy” for his calling as a Formula 1 designer by leaving Red Bull, ultimately opted to move to Aston Martin from 2025. But specialist media sources in Italy note […]
Hamilton ‘depression’ reveals key Verstappen difference
Oct.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s recent interview with the Sunday Times newspaper reveals a key difference between him and drivers like Max Verstappen. That’s the view of well-known former Dutch racing driver and two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, referring to Hamilton’s admission that he has “struggled with mental health through my life”. “Depression,” the seven […]
Father has ‘respect’ for Sainz turning down Audi
Oct.7 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s famous father says he has “respect” for his son’s decision to sign with Williams for 2025. Williams boss James Vowles said last week that he is not hurt by Sainz, 30, declaring that he might return to Ferrari some day, admitting the Grove based team is smaller and currently not as […]
Renault ‘don’t need the money’ from Alpine team sale – CEO
Oct.7 (GMM) Luca de Meo says Alpine needed a big change in Formula 1 because the brand had become “invisible”. The Renault Group CEO says making the decision to scrap the works F1 engine program at Viry-Chatillon was “heartbreaking”, but insists it was the result of “months and months of deliberation”. During that period, angry […]
Antonelli success in F1 ‘not guaranteed’ – Marko
Oct.7 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits it is “not guaranteed” that Kimi Antonelli’s clear potential will be converted into success at Mercedes. Toto Wolff openly flirted with Max Verstappen as the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes, but ultimately decided to fast-track 18-year-old Italian rookie Antonelli directly into the works seat from 2025. “It’s time […]
Perez’s Red Bull race seat still in danger
Oct.7 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s race seat at Red Bull could still be in danger. Before the team’s overall performance slumped in mid-2024, the gap between Perez and Max Verstappen was so stark that Red Bull seriously considered dropping him with immediate effect. However, the Mexican survived Formula 1’s August break, even though one well-known journalist […]
Neurosurgeon doubts Schumacher saw daughter’s wedding
Oct.7 (GMM) A leading neurosurgeon has pushed back on claims that Michael Schumacher was very likely present for the recent wedding of his daughter Gina-Maria. The speculation ramped up because Gina chose the family vacation home in Mallorca as the scene of her nuptials, where her father, now 55, is rumoured to spend most of […]
Mick Schumacher told to ‘go to Indycar’ in 2025
Oct.7 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should consider a move to Indycar, according to fellow former F1 driver Christian Danner. Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko predicted last week that if Schumacher, 25, does not put together a deal to return to the Formula 1 grid next year, his career in the world’s premier category of open […]
Piastri flattered by comparison with Prost
Oct.4 (GMM) Oscar Piastri is flattered by the recent praise of his talent and potential coming from some very high places recently. Just this week, even though it is Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris with the better shot at the 2024 title, former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone hailed the 23-year-old McLaren driver. “The Australian, I […]
Audi choosing Bottas is ‘incomprehensible’ – Marko
Oct.4 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says it would be “incomprehensible” if Audi really does elect to simply keep Valtteri Bottas on board for 2025. Red Bull’s famous F1 consultant is a consistent champion of young drivers, successfully campaigning to oust Daniel Ricciardo in favour of 22-year-old rookie Liam Lawson at RB. “Oliver Bearman and especially […]
Alonso tells Verstappen to ‘control yourself’ with swearing
Oct.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has broken ranks with many of his fellow Formula 1 personalities over the Max Verstappen swearing affair. Most drivers and officials stridently agreed with Verstappen that his penalty for calling his Red Bull “f**ked” in a FIA press conference in Singapore was excessive. Lewis Hamilton even urged his fellow multiple world […]
Audi-Sauber yet to make 2025 driver decision – Alonso
Oct.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks Audi-owned Sauber is still mulling over its final driver decision for the 2025 season. The seat alongside the already-signed Nico Hulkenberg is the last official vacancy on next year’s grid, even though widespread reports suggest Valtteri Bottas has clinched the deal to remain at the Swiss-German team. Williams boss James […]
Real champagne to return to F1 podium
Oct.3 (GMM) Real champagne will soon return to the Formula 1 podium. Spraying genuine French champagne on the podium is a long-held tradition in the sport, but for the past several years, drivers have actually been spraying Italian sparkling wine courtesy of sponsor Ferrari Trentino. But that’s about to change. Liberty Media, F1’s commercial owner, […]
US GP happy Verstappen no longer winning
Oct.3 (GMM) Promoters of the upcoming US GP in Austin are happy that Max Verstappen is no longer dominating Formula 1. Bobby Epstein, executive chairman of the Texan track, says ticket sales for the race weekend later this month “took off” when Red Bull began to struggle. Reuters quotes him as saying he had expected […]
F1 ‘rookie race’ axe catches Marko by surprise
Oct.3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko, like most others in Formula 1, was caught by surprise with the news that a ‘rookie race’ will in fact not take place later this year. On Wednesday, before the F1 Commission met at the headquarters of Red Bull’s second F1 team RB in Faenza, Italy, Speed Week published a […]
Ricciardo could make ‘massive’ Supercars switch – CEO
Oct.2 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo would be welcomed with “open arms” if he wants to keep his motor racing career alive in his native Australia. That’s the invitation of Supercars Australia boss Shane Howard, after Ricciardo was dropped with immediate effect by Red Bull’s F1 program. Red Bull is offering the 8-time grand prix winner a […]
Second places ‘not enough’ for Verstappen title – Marko
Oct.2 (GMM) A new wind tunnel should help Red Bull return to full competitiveness in the future, according to the brand’s top F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko. Amid the scandals of early 2024, preceding a loss of dominance and several top staff and raging speculation about the future, Max Verstappen’s father Jos says he “warned […]