Formula 1

Kimi Raikkonen has said it was “quite clear” Alfa Romeo were not where they wanted to be as early as in pre-season testing. After a strong start under the Alfa Romeo banner, the team started to tail off somewhat in the latter stages of the 2019 campaign and it is safe to say things got no better in 2020. Ultimately, the Swiss-based team would finish the 2020 campaign P8 in the Constructors’ Championship with only eight points to their name. Raikkonen’s tally of four points, identical to team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi’s total, was the lowest points-scoring season of Raikkonen’s Formula 1 career, which began in 2001 with the same team when they were known as Sauber. And Raikkonen feared his team were not where they wanted to be in pre-season testing. “For sure it’s not what we expected before the season started, or wanted,” said Raikkonen, quoted by Motorsportweek.com. “I think it became quite clear after testing that we were not where we wanted to be, but there’s obviously many reasons why we are not as fast as we were. But from that side, it’s obviously disappointing. “Obviously a lot of work has to be done for next year so we are in a better position. “I think last year we did, let’s say, a pretty decent job even if later in the year we were definitively not where we wanted to be. “Obviously hopes were higher, but quite soon obvious for all of us that we weren’t going to be where we liked to be. “We just have to work and try to do a better job next year. But that’s how it goes, some years are more tricky for many reasons and obviously in this sport the car makes a huge difference. “Good or bad, I think every year you have disappointing results, good results and some results in the middle. It’s the name of the game.” At the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix Raikkonen officially became the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history in terms of race starts, taking the record from Rubens Barrichello. The Finn has 329 starts to his name heading into the 2021 season.

Lewis Hamilton has still not signed a contract for 2021. According to former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger, the negotiations are only about one subject, and that is money. After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Toto Wolff and Hamilton indicated that they would finally sit down to negotiate his contract. Berger tells ServusTV that according to him Wolff is in a good position, because of the good performance of George Russell in the Mercedes. He can therefore ask Hamilton to lower his demands. “Hamilton is eaten away by ambition. He sent messages all weekend when he couldn’t drive. But he didn’t write a single congratulation to Russell. He wants to dominate and play the main role. But Russell has already shown what he can do with a Williams as well,” says the Austrian. In addition to the current world champion’s contract, there is a lot to do about the seat next to Hamilton. Bottas would be under pressure, but the Finn has a contract for 2021. “Contracts must be kept and as far as I know, Bottas has a contract for 2021. They have committed already to going into the future with him,” says Berger. The ten-time Formula 1 winner concludes: “Bottas doesn’t have the speed of Russell. I don’t know whether they can decide behind the scenes to take a different route.”

Mattia Binotto has confirmed reports that several Ferrari employees will work on the design and development of Haas’ 2021 car – at Maranello. When it emerged that designer Simone Resta is moving to Haas with Mick Schumacher, some suggested Resta will actually remain based at Ferrari’s factory. Ferrari boss Binotto now confirms that. “These people will work in Maranello in a completely different building to where Ferrari works,” he told racingnews365.nl. “They also have no access to the building in which the Scuderia works. They are completely separate from each other.” Binotto insists that Haas remains a Ferrari “customer”, but he admits that the teams will be more closely aligned from 2021. “Some of our people will join their team,” said the Italian. “I think this is a great opportunity for Haas because it offers them organisational and technical advantages. “We also needed people to leave because we have to reduce the team as a result of the budget cap,” Binotto admits. However, the Italian said Ferrari and Haas will remain “completely independent” from one another. “It is not a junior team of ours and we will not exchange information outside the rules that have been set about this,” Binotto explained. “But because we have to downsize, I am very happy that our boys can go to Haas and not be available for another team. That’s how we look at the collaboration.”

Nico Hulkenberg says Sergio Perez “deserves” to have been signed up by Red Bull for 2021. Dr Helmut Marko, the key driver decision-maker in the energy drink owned camp, revealed that impressive 2020 ‘super-sub’ Hulkenberg was “definitely a serious candidate” to replace Alex Albon at the senior team. “We carefully analysed the strengths and weaknesses of the three candidates who were Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg,” he told f1-insider.com. Marko also told Servus TV that Red Bull needed a more competitive teammate for Max Verstappen. “To win the world championship, you need two cars that can compete at the front,” he said. “It’s about strategy and Perez is in the form of his life.” Marko hailed the Mexican’s “incredible tyre management” and decade of experience, but is leaving the door open for Albon’s possible return in 2022. “It was a relatively short contract negotiation for an agreement of one year,” said the Austrian. “We can intervene if he receives other offers but the truth is that, since Max has been with us, apart from Ricciardo, the second car is always behind from our own program.” Marko also admitted that Perez’s “knowledge about the Mercedes engine” at Racing Point was decisive. “After Racing Point told him about next year, he was obviously very attentive to everything Mercedes did. We hope for a lot of input on that side,” he admitted. As for why Hulkenberg was overlooked, Marko said: “Unfortunately, Hulkenberg just appeared too few times this season.” German Hulkenberg said: “Sergio deserves the seat. “I can’t change it anyway and so I will continue to prepare for my own future. I will stay fit and be ready when I’m needed because this year we saw what can happen,” the German driver added.

Nikita Mazepin is in danger of losing his seat with the Haas Formula One team for the 2021 season. Following a video posted to Instagram that has since been deleted, concerns have been raised over Mazepin’s reputation for the brand and the team’s sponsors after he filmed himself groping a young woman’s breast in the back seat of Porsche. Model Andrea D’Ival has since downplayed the incident as a ‘joke’. The video caused outrage among F1 fans and the #WeSayNoToMazepin hashtag grew quickly in a move to try and ban the Russian from entering the grid next year, but it could prove difficult given his father’s influence and investment. Ms D’Ival appeared to push Mazepin away from her in the footage as he grabbed her chest, raising her middle finger at the camera. He captioned the video: ‘She’s the best.’ However, writing on her Instagram Stories, she said: ‘Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that Nikita and I have been friends for a long time and nothing in the video was meant seriously. ‘We trust each other and it’s just been fun between the two of us. I posted the video as a joke in his story. I’m really sorry.’ After Haas announced they would deal with the matter internally, Mazepin was quick to issue an apology for the video. ‘I would like to apologise for my recent actions, both in terms of my own inappropriate behaviour, and the fact that it was posted on to social media,’ he wrote. ‘I am sorry for the offence I have rightly caused and to the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 Team. ‘I have to hold myself to a higher standard as a Formula One driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from this.’ The controversy has left the team’s brand and sponsors concerned about their reputation by associating themselves with the 21-year-old, who is set to race alongside Mick Schumacher next season. Despite Haas deciding the stick by their driver, Mazepin has now removed ‘F1 driver’ from his bio on social media and replaced with ‘Racing Driver’, adding fuel to the rumours that he may have lost his seat. Meanwhile, Piettro Fittipaldi could be set to replace him in the team as he had added the Haas’ credentials to his online profiles. The Brazilian stepped in at the end of the 2020 season following Romain Grosjean’s horror crash in the Bahrain Grand Prix for the final two races of the season. Mazepin is the son of billionaire businessman Dmitry Mazepin, who is set to invest heavily in the team following his son’s induction into the paddock. However, the 21-year-old has been at the centre of trouble before, after he punched British driver Callum Ilott in the paddock four years ago. The Russian, then a Force India F1 development team star, was banned from the first race of the Hungaroring Formula 3 European Championship after the steward found him guilty of ‘unsporting behaviour in the paddock after the finish of free practice two.’ Mazepin believed Ilott had cut him up in the pits and blocked him from getting a new set of tyres so he got out of his car and struck Ilott. Ilott was said to have suffered cuts to his face, a swollen jaw and a black eye.

Alexander Albon says “it hurts” after he was replaced at Red Bull by Sergio Perez for the 2021 season. British-Thai Albon, 24, was demoted to be the team’s reserve driver as 30-year-old Mexican Perez was brought in to partner Max Verstappen. “I gave it everything out there, but it wasn’t quite enough,” said Albon on social media. “I have more to give and my focus is getting back for 2022 and to wave the Thai flag again.” Albon was out-qualified by Verstappen at every race in 2020, and was on average 0.523 seconds a lap slower. In races, while Verstappen took two wins and nine other podiums finishes in 17 races, Albon’s best results were two third places in the Tuscan and Bahrain Grands Prix.

Max Verstappen is not yet as good as seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. That is the view of Mark Webber, a former Red Bull driver who admitted to admiring Dutch 23-year-old Verstappen’s talent. “He is in the final phase of fine-tuning his craft, if I can put it that way,” the Australian told the Dutch publication Formule 1. “Is he already Lewis on a Saturday? Yes,” Webber said. “Is he already Lewis on a Sunday? No, he is not. But that’s normal. “You don’t win five world titles in your first five years in Formula 1. Nobody ever has,” the 44-year-old, who won 9 races until his retirement in 2013, added.

The arrival of Sergio Perez at Red Bull “will make Max nervous”. That is the view of former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who was commenting on the news that Perez will replace Alex Albon for 2021. Albon will remain reserve driver. “I can’t lie, guys. It hurts,” the British-born Thai driver said. The wider F1 community, however, thinks Red Bull has made the right decision. “Red Bull is getting a driver with a lot of experience and speed,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “I see this as a strengthening of the team. “They will become an even bigger rival.” World champion Lewis Hamilton added: “Sergio Perez will make Red Bull stronger, especially if he continues to drive at the level of last season. “With all due respect to Alex, most of the races this year were between me, Valtteri and Max. So I know how Max must have felt this year, because I was in the same situation a few years ago at McLaren.” Indeed, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said while dropping Albon was a “very difficult” decision, it was “just impossible to ignore Sergio’s performance at Racing Point”. “He was particularly strong in the second half of the season.” As for Max Verstappen, while it was believed that he and his management preferred Nico Hulkenberg, the Dutchman admits he needs a faster teammate. “Sergio had an amazing season and he brings a lot of experience to the team,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine. “And thanks to him, we should have two cars for the whole season to make life a little more difficult for Mercedes. It also opens up completely different strategic options and I believe he will be fast enough to push me,” Verstappen added. “Having a teammate who can pressure you is exciting,” he said. However, according to fellow Dutchman van der Garde, Perez’s arrival may also make Verstappen “nervous”. “In general, I think it’s only the correct decision by Red Bull,” he told the Dutch publication Formule 1. “But I think Perez will make Max nervous, at least in the races. In qualifying, I don’t think he is as fast as Max, but the difference between them will be minimal.”

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020, BBC reports. One of F1’s all-time great drivers, he equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles with his fourth consecutive championship in 2020. The 35-year-old, from Stevenage, also surpassed Schumacher’s total of 91 grand prix wins. In a public vote, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson finished second while jockey Hollie Doyle was third. It is the second time Hamilton has been crowned Sports Personality of the Year, having first won the award in 2014. He is also a four-time runner-up, most recently in 2019. In a crowded field that featured representatives from five other sports, Hamilton’s achievements in a year brought to its knees by the Covid-19 pandemic had him as the standout winner. Among the seventh world title, equalling Michael Schumacher’s tally while overtaking the German’s record of 91 Grand Prix wins, was his advocacy for racial equality. This was a second victory for Hamilton after winning his second Formula One title win in 2014. Since then there have been near misses, and there was an outside chance that 2020 could be another. The 35-year old had been the favourite, and by the time the show got on the road at Salford he had crept above a 72 percent likelihood to take home the gong. When voting opened at 9:12pm, things started to fluctuate. That wasn’t a surprise. F1 has always struggled for relevance with the general public. Only those immersed in it truly appreciate what it takes to achieve transcendence beyond getting into the fastest car time after time. And even they spend most of their time rallying against that line of argument against others within the sport. There’s also a framing of Hamilton as a peripheral figure, not just by making his name in a peripheral sport, but by doing so off these shores. The most dangerous of all that is the assumption that he does not care. Yet his dragging of F1 to a better place by being one of Britain’s most prominent advocates of the Black Lives Matter movement, by being a visible presence for equality on the grid, online and in the avenues that matter with the Hamilton Foundation shot that down. At the same time, in a country where 24,500 people complained about a Black Lives Matter-inspired performance by a dance troupe over on ITV, such a stance was always going to be a stumbling block for some who copy-and-paste their excuses.

Carlos Sainz Jr spent his first day at Ferrari’s legendary Maranello base on Friday as a preliminary step in his preparations for his first season in its Formula 1 team in 2021. The former McLaren driver took the chance to take a look around the factory and meet some of the Ferrari personnel he will work with in 2021 prior to his Christmas break. He also had a seat fitting in preparation for a planned run in a 2018-specification Ferrari at Fiorano next month. “It’s my first time in red, which as you can imagine is pretty special,” said Sainz. “It’s a special day for me in general and probably a day I will never forget. “I’m fully ready, fully motivated, totally refreshed for this new challenge. [Then there will be] Christmas, some holidays to disconnect and to make sure we will recharge the batteries as quick as possible. “But you can be sure I’m going to be here pretty early in January to keep pushing, to keep helping this team to move forward and as quick as possible in the best direction. “I cannot wait, to be honest. “Today, I had my first meetings, my first look around the factory and it is something that I will never forget and I cannot wait to do more often next year.” Sainz plans to spend significant time at Maranello in January and February in preparation for his first season for the team, having found a similar process valuable when he moved to McLaren ahead of the 2019 season. This visit was the first step in that process and should help him hit the ground running when he returns next month. He also had lunch with Binotto and new team-mate Charles Leclerc during his trip. “It was a very light programme,” said Binotto. “Simply to have a factory tour as a tourist may do, to at least now where is Maranello, where are the offices, where are the departments. “It will be important in January, when he will start, to know the locations and to be capable of going around the factory. [He was able to] have a deep dive in Ferrari values, the Ferrari story. “He’s doing a seat fitting just to prepare for the test we’ll have in January. “He’s not really in technical meetings today, but it’s more knowing the people. So meeting with the people, the engineers, to know the organisation and to know that some of the technicians and engineers he will work with in the future. “So it’s a very simple Christmas time visit – factory tour, lunch and meeting engineers.” A date for Sainz’s test in the 2018 Ferrari SF71H has yet to be set, but it will be used to allow him to familiarise himself with the way the team operates and control systems. It will also allow him to get used to working with his crew, who ran Sebastian Vettel during 2020. “He will have one day and a half in winter testing in Barcelona,” said Binotto. “But we are organising a day or slightly more in January here in Fiorano. “It will be with an ‘18 car, because that’s what’s possible and permitted by regulation. “The January test will be for him the first touch with a Ferrari car on track. “It is an old car, but we feel it is important one to get used to our procedures, the way we communicate with engineers, to get the feeling with his engineers and the team itself. “His team essentially is the one of Sebastian, which will be simply passed to him. So Riccardo Adami is becoming the race engineer of Carlos. “There are no new engineers coming from outside to join his track team.”

Sergio Perez’s performances in the 2020 Formula 1 season made him simply “impossible to ignore” for a 2021 race seat, says Red Bull boss Christian Horner.Announced on Friday as a Red Bull driver for next season, Perez will be replacing Alexander Albon as Max Verstappen’s teammate after a campaign that saw his reputation skyrocket. Equipped with Racing Point’s ‘Pink Mercedes’, the Mexican finished fourth in the championship with 125 points, and secured his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix. Albon, in his first full season at the energy drinks outfit, could only manage seventh with 105 points, and while Horner indicated his team still has faith in the Thai, the numbers made the decision for them. “The decision has been an incredibly hard one,” he said after the announcement. “I think all of us wanted to see Alex succeed. What we said was that we would give Alex the season, and not make any decisions before, to have a complete set of data. And that’s obviously what we did. “But when you look at the data, and you look at the ratio between the two drivers, it was a decision that was obviously very much driven by that. “It was just impossible to ignore Sergio’s performance in the Racing Point over the course of the year, and particularly, in the second half the season. “So a very, very difficult decision, made even harder by the fact that Alex is a such a lovely guy. “But he remains an important part of the team, and very much part of the team for 2021, focusing primarily on 2022 development. “And, of course, he’ll be very focused in terms of making himself a contender to be back in 2022.” Perez, 30, is a ten-year veteran of F1, and Horner praised his ability to extract results, despite regularly having less-than-optimal cars under him. “He’s a very rounded driver now and I think he has an uncanny ability to over deliver in machinery he has had available to him,” he said of the Mexican. “If you look at the amount of podiums and success that he’s had over the over the years, I think he’ll be a good addition to the team. I think it shows again, our determination to field a competitive team against Mercedes next year.” As to the question of how Perez would gel with Verstappen, Horner said he had faith the Mexican wouldn’t ruffle any feathers. “I think both parties are very realistic,” he suggested. “I think he [Perez] knows the quality of Max. “He’s a seasoned racer now. He has a huge amount of experience and I think he knows what he’s going up against in the quality of Max. “He’s been in immense form in the last couple of years, so I don’t think he underestimates that challenge in any shape or form. But I think he’s absolutely delighted to get the opportunity to prove himself. “I think we want our drivers racing close to each other, but up the sharp end. It’s clear our objective isn’t between the two drivers, it’s trying to close the gap to Mercedes. “I think Sergio raced for several seasons with Nico Hulkenberg and I don’t remember there being any issues between those two.”

Just days after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull Racing has announced that Sergio Perez will join the Milton Keynes-based squad in 2021, replacing the team’s Thai driver Alexander Albon. It has long been mooted, and it has now been confirmed: Sergio Perez will partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing in 2021. The Mexican parted ways with Racing Point at the end of the 2020 season after the Silverstone-based outfit decided to sign four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for next season. Although there were some doubts about the Mexican’s future, Red Bull Racing decided to sign Perez for 2021. The team’s Thai driver Alexander Albon had a difficult year with the team despite the promising performances that he showed during the second half of last season. The London-born driver will remain with Red Bull Racing, taking on the role of the reserve and test driver. “Alex is a valued member of the Team and we thought long and hard about this decision,” said Christian Horner. “Having taken our time to evaluate all the relevant data and performances we have decided that Sergio is the right driver to partner Max for 2021 and look forward to welcoming him to Red Bull Racing. “Alex remains an important part of our Team as Test and Reserve Driver with a key focus on 2022 development, and we would like to thank him for his hard work and contribution.” Commenting on the announcement, Perez said: “I am incredibly grateful to Red Bull for giving me the opportunity to race for Red Bull Racing in 2021. The chance to race for a championship contending team is something I have been hoping for since I joined Formula One and it will be a proud moment to step onto the grid in Red Bull colours alongside Max. “You can be sure that I will give next season my full focus. The Team has the same winning mentality as me and I know I am here to perform and help the Team fight for another title.”

Frederic Vasseur says he isn’t sure why Ferrari has placed Mick Schumacher at rival Ferrari-powered team Haas for 2021 and beyond. “Beats me,” the Alfa Romeo boss told Blick newspaper. “Maybe it made more sense for Ferrari to take Mick to Haas and keep Giovanazzi with us for the stability of the team. But I don’t know,” he added. What the situation does indicate is that Ferrari and Alfa Romeo may be moving further apart – just as Haas becomes obviously closer to the Maranello team. For instance, Ferrari designer Simone Resta was at Alfa Romeo as recently as last year – but now he is following Schumacher to Haas. “Sorry, that’s another very difficult question,” said Vasseur. “Sometimes there are strange things in life.” Vasseur even admitted that it is possible Alfa Romeo will split with Ferrari completely in the near future. “We are tied to Ferrari until the end of 2021,” he clarified. “Then we have to go over the books because the next contract should be from 2022 to 2026 with the new cars.” When asked if that next deal will be with Ferrari, Vasseur answered: “You can never say that. It’s like a marriage – there is not a guarantee that you will stay with the same woman forever. “In a partnership, you always have to consider that there are ups and downs, so we have to ask ourselves – what is the best deal? “Until now, Ferrari has mainly been a solid partner.” However, Ferrari struggled massively for engine performance in 2020, and Vasseur said: “That’s your interpretation, but I cannot disagree with you very much. “Apart from reliability, we cannot be satisfied with our results, but this year must have been a total disaster for Ferrari,” he added. Finally, Vasseur revealed that reserve driver Robert Kubica and title sponsor Orlen are staying put for 2021. “They were satisfied with all of our activities in the most difficult year, which is great news,” he said. “We know that we have to improve in all areas, and if something comes from Ferrari, we can set our goals even higher.”

Formula One team Mercedes has all but confirmed that world champion Lewis Hamilton would continue to drive for them next season. A post on the team’s official Twitter page carried the hashtag “announce” accompanied by the “coming soon” and “pen” emojis along with a quote from Hamilton expressing his desire to stay with Mercedes.

Mexican Sergio Perez is set to replace Alexander Albon at the Red Bull Formula One team next season, according to media reports on Thursday. The Speedweek website, owned by Red Bull’s Media House, reported Perez had signed to replace the Thai youngster alongside Max Verstappen and the announcement would be made on Friday. It said Albon would drop to the role of reserve driver and work in the simulator. The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, which has close ties with Verstappen, reported the same. There was no immediate comment from Red Bull. Perez, a race winner in Bahrain this month, has lost his seat at Racing Point (Aston Martin) to four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel. Albon has failed to match Verstappen’s performances this season, with the Dutch driver winning two races and finishing third overall. The 30-year-old Perez, the first Mexican to win a grand prix in 50 years, finished fourth. He had indicated he would take a sabbatical next year if he failed to find another F1 seat.

Williams has announced the arrival of Jost Capito as its new chief executive officer, while Simon Roberts will stay on his role as team principal. The Williams team underwent a changing of the guard during the 2020 season as the family-owned business was sold to Dorilton Capital to help safeguard the team’s future throughout difficult financial times. With Sir Frank Williams and daughter, Claire, moving away from the Formula 1 operation completely, Simon Roberts was installed as the acting team principal as part of the takeover by the US private investment firm. But now Roberts has the job on a full-time basis and he also has a new boss to report to in the form of Jost Capito, who was an integral figure in Volkswagen’s successful World Rally Championship programme between 2013 and 2016. Capito did have a brief spell with McLaren before returning to Volkswagen, but is now back in Formula 1 as Williams’ new CEO. “It’s a great honour for me to join Williams Racing during these exciting and demanding times for both the team and for Formula One,” Jost Capito said. “It is an honour to be a part of the future of this storied team, and one that carries such a poignant name in the sport, so I approach this challenge with great respect and with a huge amount of relish.” Matthew Savage, chairman of Dorilton Capital, added: :We are excited to welcome Jost Capito as the new CEO of Williams Racing. “He is an experienced and competitive individual, who has built winning teams and is a winner in his own right. “He understands the Williams heritage and will work well with the team in pursuit of our objective to return to the front of the grid.” Williams will be hoping that they can continue to claw back some performance as they attempt to end what is now a three-year spell at the bottom of the Formula 1 pecking order.