Apr.25 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo’s boost from his fresh monocoque in China may have been merely “psychological”. That’s the suspicion of Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s top Austrian F1 consultant, amid ongoing speculation that the Australian driver is not doing enough at the junior outfit RB this year to secure a 2025 seat. After struggling alongside Yuki Tsunoda early this season, Ricciardo campaigned to be allocated a fresh monocoque for China. The team obliged, but sporting boss Alan Permane admitted he was sceptical. However, the 34-year-old driver did seem to take a clear step forward in Shangha ..read more

Apr.24 (GMM) A proposal to extend the points-paying positions in Formula 1 from its current P10 all the way to P12 looks set to soar through the first decision-making hurdle. The F1 Commission – a decision-making body that precedes the rubber-stamping by the World Motor Sport Council – will discuss the idea in Geneva this week. If the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) green-light the idea, which appears likely, then only half of the ten teams also need to say ‘yes’ for the proposal to proceed to the World Motor Sport Council. It’s no surprise that most, if not all, of the smaller teams – th ..read more

Apr.24 (GMM) A hopeful rookie is hoping his big chance to prove himself in Formula 1 may be looming just around the corner. After years of waiting for his own chance, reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire turned his attention to Japan’s Super Formula series this year – whilst also getting his first couple of opportunities in Indycar. Pourchaire’s F2 runner-up last year was Frederik Vesti, who this year was signed for the European Le Mans series in the LMP2 class. But the 22-year-old Dane, who reportedly came close to replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams this year, is also not giving up o ..read more

Apr.23 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen is on the road to recovery, following open-heart surgery. It emerged in March that the former Formula 1 driver, who is 42, was being forced to put his rallying career on hold after doctors discovered an enlarged aorta during a routine check. He had the required operation shortly afterwards. And now, after resting completely for a time, the ex-McLaren and Renault driver returned to F1 commentary duties over the recent Chinese GP weekend. “The recovery is going very well in every way,” the Finn told Ilta Sanomat newspaper. “But recovery is a long process.” Kovalain ..read more

Apr.23 (GMM) Mohammed Ben Sulayem is charging ahead amid an obvious and escalating power struggle, denying that he necessarily needs the support of “the Formula 1 teams”. It’s well known that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s wife Susie has commenced defamation claims against the controversial FIA president, following comments Ben Sulayem made earlier this year. But he’s also been accused of trying to block Liberty Media’s new blue-riband Las Vegas GP last year, and of interfering in stewards decisions at grands prix. In reaction, the FIA has been publishing multiple letters of support from automobil ..read more

Apr.23 (GMM) Opinions are already divided, as Formula 1 stakeholders gear up for talks about expanding the current points system. The F1 Commission will discuss a proposal, forwarded by the smaller teams but also reportedly supported by Red Bull, to expand the points-scoring places from P10 to P12. Six teams must vote in favour of an eventual concrete proposal for it to debut in 2025. “The competition is tough,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Bild newspaper. “Two groups have formed – the top 5 and then the teams from sixth to tenth places. “Every single point is hard fought for. Of c ..read more

Apr.23 (GMM) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has added Thailand to his travelling itinerary this week. It was already clear that, after a South Korean delegation visited Suzuka recently for talks about a Formula 1 race, Domenicali intended to visit the country this week “for further discussions”. But on Monday, the Italian was not in Korea – he was in Thailand. Domenicali met with prime minister Srettha Thavisin, according to RMC Sport, with Bloomberg also reporting both Thailand and F1 are keen on a race deal. Government spokesperson Chai Watcharong is quoted as saying: “Basically, if F1 is to take ..read more

Apr.23 (GMM) After Lando Norris chased his friend Max Verstappen to the chequered flag in China, McLaren is now setting its sights on Red Bull. It’s been a low-profile start to 2024 for the Woking based team, despite quietly and comfortably sitting between Ferrari and Mercedes in the pecking order. Indeed, Norris made a friendly bet with his engineer on Sunday that he would be 35 seconds behind the nearest Ferrari in the Chinese GP. Ultimately, he beat both red cars. “I was very wrong,” he smiled. Norris is under contract to McLaren through 2026, but Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko has mentioned hi ..read more

Apr.23 (GMM) Ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, the fabled Italian Formula 1 team is now tipped to sign a lucrative deal with a title sponsor. Ferrari has not had a title sponsor since the ‘Mission Winnow’ project involving ongoing but behind-the-scenes tobacco backer Philip Morris. But before Hamilton arrives with salary requirements that no doubt dwarf that of his predecessor Carlos Sainz, Sport Business reports that Ferrari is set to announce a title sponsor deal with Hewlett-Packard (HP). “Driver salaries do not count against Formula 1’s ‘cost cap’,” explained F1 correspondent M ..read more

Apr.22 (GMM) Christian Horner has slammed his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff’s intensifying push to woo Max Verstappen away from Red Bull for 2025 and beyond. The ‘silly season’ is reaching an early boiling point at present, largely because of Lewis Hamilton’s shock Ferrari move opening up his Mercedes race seat. That’s making Carlos Sainz, set to lose his seat at Maranello, a key player – with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez also out of contract at the end of the season. “Apparently they’re only offering Carlos a one-year contract,” 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg said on Sky Deutschland in Shangha ..read more