Dec.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down Franco Colapinto’s chances of securing a Red Bull race seat in 2025. It is clear that, despite Sergio Perez’s protestations, the Mexican driver’s continuing performance struggles could lead to his exit at Red Bull Racing. “We lost the constructors’ title this year, unless a huge miracle happens,” […]
Category: Recent stories
Mick Schumacher ‘never got a chance’ in F1 – Wolff
Dec.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher “never really got a chance” to show what he can do in Formula 1. That’s the lament of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who took the son of the great Michael Schumacher on as a reserve driver in 2023 and 2024 following the demise of his race career with Haas. Mercedes declared […]
Wolff defends ‘slow’ and despondent Lewis Hamilton
Dec.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff has defended Lewis Hamilton, after the seven time world champion frankly admitted that he is simply “slow” in the 2024 Mercedes. Once one of Formula 1’s strongest ever qualifiers, the Ferrari-bound Briton’s record against George Russell this year is a dire 5-18 – with the gap blowing out to half a […]
Sainz defends ‘gentleman’ Norris amid 2024 ‘criticism’
Dec.1 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has jumped to the defence of his former McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Norris’ tussle with Max Verstappen for the world championship ended with the latter’s fourth consecutive title, with many having criticised the McLaren driver’s mistakes and alleged mental weaknesses throughout his 2024 campaign. The 25-year-old led throughout Saturday’s Qatar sprint […]
Audi, with Qatar, to be ‘major power’ in F1 – Haug
Nov.30 (GMM) Qatar, via its sovereign wealth fund, is tipped to eventually own a full half of Audi’s Formula 1 team. Swiss-based Sauber, and the Qatar Investment Authority, used the occasion of the Middle Eastern state’s grand prix this weekend to announce that Qatar is buying “a significant minority stake” in the team that will […]
Sainz thinks he’s as good as Leclerc, Hamilton
Nov.30 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he is “100 percent convinced” that he is as good as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Seven time world champion Hamilton is arriving at Maranello next year to oust and replace Sainz, with the Spaniard having to settle for Williams. As a gesture to Sainz, Ferrari boss team boss […]
Red Bull not ‘overlooking’ Tsunoda – Marko
Nov.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists Red Bull is not “overlooking” Yuki Tsunoda as a candidate to potentially replace the underperforming Sergio Perez next year. While Max Verstappen squeezed out P6 in sprint qualifying in Qatar, Perez’s woes continued as he lines up ten places lower. The Mexican, in part, blamed a run-in on track […]
Hamilton ‘didn’t want’ post-season Ferrari test
Nov.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton told his future Ferrari boss, Frederic Vasseur, that he didn’t want to make his debut in a red cockpit in the post-Abu Dhabi GP test. While the man he is replacing, Carlos Sainz, will be in action for his new team – Williams – after the season finale, Hamilton will be […]
Ocon hopes more F1 staff don’t ‘get sick’
Nov.29 (GMM) The final portion of the 2024 calendar has been “particularly difficult” for travelling team staff, according to Esteban Ocon. Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was absent from the Qatar paddock on ‘media day’ Thursday as he has a cold. World champion Max Verstappen predicted that the long haul from Las Vegas to Qatar would […]
‘Personal’ relationship with Leclerc still good – Sainz
Nov.29 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he still has a “very, very good” personal relationship with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. After the chequered flag in Las Vegas, Leclerc was furious as he left his radio line open and unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade after Sainz apparently passed him against team orders. Days later in Qatar, Leclerc […]
Verstappen puzzled over FIA staff replacements
Nov.29 (GMM) Max Verstappen admits he has some concerns about the continuing staff exodus at Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA. Hot on the heels of race director Niels Wittich’s ousting by controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the next sudden departures are senior steward Tim Mayer, and fellow top official Janette Tan. “I’m in […]
Tsunoda lacks ‘consistency’ for Perez’s seat – Marko
Nov.29 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda lacks the “consistency” required to be a strong contender to replace Sergio Perez next year. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s powerful team advisor who has been warning Perez that his race seat alongside Max Verstappen will be reviewed after Abu Dhabi. “There will be a meeting […]
Toyota not ruling out future F1 engine project
Nov.29 (GMM) Toyota is not ruling out eventually expanding its new involvement in Formula 1 beyond a mere technical partnership with Haas. The Japanese carmaker, via its Toyota Gazoo Racing offshoot, is helping Ferrari-powered Haas with parts manufacture, technical resources, and simulation. But Masaya Kaji, Toyota Gazoo director, says he’s also interested in F1 power […]
Three F1 drivers already eyeing Cadillac
Nov.29 (GMM) At least three current drivers are already eyeing the new Cadillac F1 team. Mercedes announced in Qatar that Mick Schumacher is stepping down from his role as the team’s reserve driver after the Abu Dhabi finale, in order to focus on the world endurance championship with Alpine. It opens up the Mercedes job […]
Norris, Leclerc hit back at Verstappen claim
Nov.29 (GMM) Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have hit back at Max Verstappen’s claims that he would have won the world championship this year in any top car. After securing his fourth consecutive drivers’ title in Las Vegas, the Red Bull driver insisted: “I would have become world champion earlier in a McLaren, and probably […]
New F1 deal sees Monza’s annual fee increase
Nov.28 (GMM) Like Monaco, another iconic and traditional Formula 1 venue, Monza, will have to pay more to safeguard its medium-term future on the calendar. When Monaco’s new race deal through 2031 was unveiled recently, authoritative sources reported that the agreement includes a doubled annual race fee. It is believed Monaco agreed to the much […]
Indycar stars not good enough for Cadillac – Schumacher
Nov.28 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher doubts an Indycar driver is good enough to fill one of the new Cadillac F1 race seats from 2026. Team advisor and Formula 1 legend Mario Andretti revealed this week that Colton Herta, who already drives for Mario’s son Michael Andretti in Indycar, is “definitely” in the running for a Cadillac […]
Perez thinks he’s keeping 2025 seat – Marko
Nov.28 (GMM) With the drivers’ title in the bag, and Dr Helmut Marko admitting the constructors’ crown is basically now “impossible”, the Red Bull advisor is looking ahead to 2025. One crucial element – a competitive teammate to put next to quadruple world champion Max Verstappen – will be analysed by the team after the […]
Ferrari ‘interested’ in Guanyu Zhou for ’25
Nov.28 (GMM) Ferrari is “very interested” in signing up Guanyu Zhou as a test driver, the Chinese driver claims. While fellow Audi-Sauber refugee Valtteri Bottas looks set to rejoin Mercedes, 25-year-old Zhou has been linked with a similar reserve role for 2025 at Ferrari. Before making his F1 debut for Ferrari-powered Sauber – then Alfa […]
Team must make better car for Max’s fifth title – Marko
Nov.27 (GMM) There may be two races left to run in 2024, but the question is already pressing – can Max Verstappen win a fifth consecutive drivers’ title in 2025? Red Bull started this season with an advantage, but team squabbles, high-profile departures and stalled car development ultimately made the Dutchman’s task much more difficult. […]