Dec.2 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi says a lack of confidence at the wheel is why he’s been left without a place in Formula 1. The Canadian became known as the driver who normally brought up the rear during his three seasons with Williams. “I just couldn’t find the confidence that was really needed,” Latifi, 27, told […]
Montezemolo ‘worried’ about Ferrari situation
Dec.2 (GMM) Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admits he is “worried” about his former team. Specialist German reports claim Sauber-Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur has now turned down Ferrari’s invitation for him to replace axed team boss Mattia Binotto. McLaren’s Andreas Seidl and Red Bull’s Christian Horner also reportedly said no, with many […]
Hong Kong billionaire eyes 11th F1 team
Dec.2 (GMM) British reports suggest new plans are afoot for an eleventh Formula 1 team. With Michael Andretti’s well-known US-based operation openly seeking an official entry, a new suitor has now emerged – Hong Kong life insurance billionaire Calvin Lo. The Mirror newspaper reports that he is in talks with “a number of teams and […]
Crypto sponsor collapse could affect ‘every F1 team’ – Wolff
Dec.2 (GMM) Every team may ultimately be affected by the high-profile and shock demise of the crytocurrency exchange FTX. The logos of the Bahamas-based company were removed from Mercedes’ works Formula 1 cars as FTX spectacularly crashed. But most of the other teams also have crypto deals in place, including Ferrari (Velas), Alpine (Binance), Red […]
Portugal to keep F1 calendar at 24 races
Dec.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Formula 1’s annual calendar should not exceed 20 races. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali this week admitted that he would not extend the schedule beyond the unprecedented 24 grands prix next year. Mercedes boss Wolff, however, thinks teams need to look after its people by rotating travelling staff on calendars longer […]
Alonso eyes non-racing F1 role after retirement
Dec.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is already looking beyond the end of his driving career in Formula 1. The 41-year-old Spaniard is now clearly the most experienced and oldest racer on the grid, as he switches from Alpine to Aston Martin on a two-season deal starting in 2023. He is quoted by the Dutch publication Formule […]
No risk Red Bull will quit Formula 1 – Marko
Dec.1 (GMM) There is no risk the death of Red Bull mastermind Dietrich Mateschitz will result in the energy drink company pulling out of Formula 1. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, who was fellow Austrian Mateschitz’s closest confidante for Red Bull’s F1 investments including two teams. “Our success speaks for itself,” the […]
Pirelli admits wet tyre must be improved
Dec.1 (GMM) Mario Isola admits Pirelli needs to improve its full-wet tyres. After the wet weather delays at Suzuka, quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel described the sport’s official rain tyres as “junk”. Pirelli’s F1 boss Isola doesn’t deny it. “We need to improve the full wets in terms of performance,” he told motorsport-magazin.com. “That is […]
Binotto linked with Audi or Mercedes move
Dec.1 (GMM) Axed Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto could be snapped up by Mercedes, according to Italy’s authoritative Corriere della Sera newspaper. After 28 years with the Maranello-based team, Binotto has resigned following a period of speculation about his future. He is expected to be replaced by Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur from 1 January. […]
F1 to have ‘no more’ than record 24 races – CEO
Nov.30 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali says the Formula 1 calendar is capped at a maximum of 24 grands prix for now. There were a lot of tired faces in the Abu Dhabi paddock recently at the finale of the long 22-race calendar – but next year Las Vegas is hosting a much-anticipated race and China is […]
Marko tips Binotto’s successor to be internal pick
Nov.30 (GMM) Mattia Binotto’s demise at Ferrari might be traced back to the moment Charles Leclerc had the now-ousted team boss’ finger pointed at him at Silverstone. Despite denying it in Abu Dhabi, the Maranello marque has now confirmed that after 28 years with Ferrari, Binotto will not be team principal beyond New Year’s Eve. […]
Ricciardo to attend ‘a dozen’ races in 2023
Nov.29 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo will attend “a maximum of a dozen races” in 2023 as he faces his first season off the Formula 1 grid in over a decade. Although he could have lobbied for the Haas seat, the struggling 33-year-old opted instead to recharge his batteries with a purely test and marketing role at […]
Many names linked with ousted Binotto’s top job
Nov.29 (GMM) Ross Brawn put a swift halt to rumours his next move could be to replace Ferrari’s soon-to-be-ousted team boss Mattia Binotto. Although the initial rumours of Binotto’s demise were denied by the Maranello team, they are back with a vengeance this week in authoritative Italian specialist publications. “After Abu Dhabi, there were no […]
Newey changes mind about ground effect rules
Nov.29 (GMM) Adrian Newey has changed his mind about Formula 1’s new-in-2022 aerodynamic rules. Before the cars underwent their radical transformation from traditional downforce to the current ‘ground effect’ principle of today, Red Bull’s famous technical boss denounced it as a “shame”. “I think if you come up with completely new regulations, we should make […]
F1 to keep ‘tough’ stance on Russia – Popov
Nov.28 (GMM) Alexey Popov is not confident Formula 1 will return to Russian television screens any time soon. Along with Nikita Mazepin and his sponsor Uralkali’s departure from Haas early this year over the Ukraine conflict, Ferrari lost its Kaspersky backing and the Russian GP at Sochi was scrapped. And for Russian fans, they cannot […]
Kubica admits F1 exit likely
Nov.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits 2022 may have been his final outing in Formula 1. The 37-year-old Pole stunned the sporting world by staging his 2019 return to the F1 grid despite the permanent arm injury sustained ahead of the 2011 season. However, Kubica struggled at Williams and subsequently took his Orlen sponsorship to Alfa […]
Rosberg rules out F1 team boss role
Nov.28 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has ruled out return to Formula 1 in a team management role. Last week, rumours swirled that Sebastian Vettel’s next move after retiring as a driver might be a future role in charge of a team. So with 2016 title winner Rosberg already owner of his own Extreme E team, might […]
De Vries had given up on ‘realistic’ F1 dream
Nov.28 (GMM) Nyck de Vries admits he thought his Formula 1 dream was over. Although he’ll be a rookie in 2023 with Alpha Tauri, Red Bull’s ‘junior’ F1 team, the Dutchman is actually 27-years-old. “Now comes the realisation that it really is going to happen,” de Vries, this year’s Mercedes reserve, told the Dutch program […]
Alonso did ‘2pc’ of Alpine workload – Ocon
Nov.28 (GMM) Esteban Ocon claims he did “98 percent” of the work at Alpine as he hit back at Fernando Alonso’s recent comments. Although they appeared to have gotten along at the Renault-owned team, Alonso became publicly critical of both Alpine and Ocon as he prepared to move to Aston Martin for 2023. “Of course […]
F1 will cope with Vettel exit – Doohan
Nov.28 (GMM) Formula 1 will brush off the loss of two of its most familiar names, according to motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan. Today, Doohan’s 19-year-old son Jack – sixth overall in Formula 2 this year – is starting to make a name for himself in the F1 paddock as he signs up in a […]