Racetrackmasters

Sergio Perez is the king of Baku. The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will either prove that the Mexican is capable of providing the much-needed support for Max Verstappen in the Championship or showcase just how focused the Red Bull car is on his Dutch teammate. This is the biggest weekend so far for Christian Horner’s team in 2021. Perez has secured two podiums in the four races completed on the Baku street circuit. The new Red Bull driver managed to get his Force India car on the podium in the 2016 European Grand Prix, and the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This during the era where the absolute majority of podiums fell into the hands of either Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull. To add to this, Perez has always qualified and finished the race inside the top 10. In 2017, Perez retired due to a broken seat. But during this version, Perez ran in P3 for 18 laps after gaining three places on the opening round. He also climbed up to P2, but only very briefly. Was the Force India car just really strong in the streets of Baku? It wasn’t a bad car for sure, in 2016 and 2017 the team finished fourth in the Constructors Championship. But Perez has only been out-qualified by a teammate once in Baku. And the gap to Esteban Ocon on that day was just 0.024 seconds. On Sunday’s Perez always finished ahead of his teammates in Azerbaijan. The only time he didn’t was when he retired in 2017. Perez has 44 points to his name so far this season. Which is a strong tally compared to Gasly and Albon at this stage in years gone by. And it is strong enough to give Red Bull a one-point advantage in the Constructors Championship. However, Perez has only qualified inside the top five on two occasions. When he had his best qualifying result and actually started ahead of his teammate in Imola, he dropped back and didn’t score any points. He is yet to score a podium finish, but he has been consistent around the P4 and P5 mark. In four of those five races, Perez has either gained places from his grid spot or stayed level showcasing his tyre saving and racing skills. But in qualifying, he has been way off Verstappen. Perhaps showing just how the RB16B is built for Verstappen. Perez will be flying to Baku with a spring in his step. Red Bull’s strategy last time out gave him a massive advantage in the Monaco Grand Prix. In fact, the strategy allowed him to jump rival Hamilton. He even had a battle with Lando Norris for P3, but couldn’t get through on the narrow streets. To add to that, Perez knows how to perform in Baku. He has strong results at this venue and this is his best chance yet to provide Red Bull with strategy options. He should be full of confidence. It’s his best chance of properly nailing down a weekend for Red Bull to show he is fully capable of supporting Verstappen in the Championship. And in the process, potentially become the first driver to get three podiums at the venue.

George Russell says it would be “in everybody’s best interests” to have his future decided by F1’s summer break. Russell is contracted to Williams until the end of this season, but the 23-year-old also remains under Mercedes’ management. The Briton says he hasn’t engaged in discussions with either party so far about 2022 but hopes to have clarity on his future by early August. Russell is seen as Lewis Hamilton’s natural successor at Mercedes if the seven-time world champion retires at the end of the year. But he could also replace Valtteri Bottas should Hamilton decide to extend his contract with the Brackley squad. Furthermore, Williams is also keen to retain the services of its driver, but Russell’s priority is likely to secure a seat with F1’s reigning world champions, having made his mark with the team during his one-off with Mercedes in Bahrain last year. “I think, naturally, we all want something decided either way by the summer break, really,” Russell told Autosport. “I think it’s in everybody’s best interests. “But to be honest, I’m really not pushing the subject with anybody really – with Mercedes, with Williams. Because I am purely just focused on my job here. “And I know that, as I’ve always said, if I perform to my potential [that I] believe I’m capable of, you’re putting yourself in the shop window. “I think that race in Bahrain gave me a unique opportunity to almost prove it. “Whereas, prior to that, it was always a small unknown – because of the situation I found myself in [with Williams]. “So, I’m really not pushing the subject. Just enjoying every single race, enjoying where I find myself.” So far, Hamilton has given no indication that he’ll be riding into the sunset at the end of 2021. On the contrary, the 98-time Grand Prix winner says he has every intention of remaining on the grid, whether he bags an eight title this year or not. But Russell insists he has no inhibitions about going up against F1’s mega star. “I think it’s really exciting that Lewis has openly been talking about the next couple of years. And it’s clear that he’s still performing at an incredibly high level. “I think it will be amazing for the sport, and for Mercedes, if he were to continue. And obviously, as any young driver, you want to go against the best. And Lewis is the best.” Mercedes and Williams appear to be Russell’s only options for 2022, but the young charger says he trusts his main employer – Mercedes – to make the right call at the end of the day. “I mean, obviously, there’s a lot of talk about a promotion to, or ‘a move’, I should say, to Mercedes,” said Russell. “But I think for all of us at the end of the day – Mercedes do manage me, and they do want the best for my career. They are in a unique position, in that sense. “But they just want the best for me and if they believe I deserve the opportunity, then it’ll be there. If they don’t believe I deserve it, then they will find me a seat somewhere where I can continue to develop. “I feel like I’m ready to fight for world championships and fight for victories. I feel ready right now to be able to do that, let alone with another year under my belt by the end of this season. “Wherever I find myself next year, I want to be in a car that will give me the chance to win races because I didn’t fight my whole career to get to F1 to be fighting for 15th and 16th. “I fought my whole career to get here and to win and that’s what I’m so focused more than ever on doing.”

Antonio Giovinazzi says he can handle the pressure of keeping his seat at Alfa Romeo, as a group of potential replacements nip at his heels. After two fairly nondescript seasons in Formula 1, the 27-year-old Italian is now beginning the show the way to his famous teammate Kimi Raikkonen – at least in qualifying. At the same time, while Giovinazzi is a leading member of Ferrari’s driver academy, the next group of juniors are now champing at the bit for a chance, led by Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman. Mick Schumacher must also be considered a candidate for 2022. However, it is not clear if Hinwil based Sauber’s naming deal with Alfa Romeo – a Ferrari-associated carmaker – will even continue beyond 2021. That could affect Sauber’s driver arrangements with Ferrari. “You have to ask the question to Alfa Romeo first,” said team boss Frederic Vasseur when asked about the expiring deal. “But we are in discussions for the future and I hope that we will be able to continue together.” Therefore, the Vasseur-promoted French 17-year-old Theo Pourchaire – who won the F2 race at Monaco from pole – should also be considered an outside contender for Giovinazzi’s seat in 2022. Giovinazzi admits he is under pressure. “There are only 20 drivers in Formula 1,” he said. “But I’ve always driven with pressure. “In Formula 3, I had an Indonesian sponsor and I knew that I had to deliver results in order to move forward,” the Italian told Auto Motor und Sport. “And that’s the way it is here too. I have to be good and then I’ll stay.” Giovinazzi admits, therefore, that his future on the grid could be made or broken on the basis of the following few months. “No, there isn’t one,” he said when asked if he has a plan. “I just want to perform well. I’m here with Alfa Romeo now and then we’ll see what happens next year. Every driver has the goal of becoming world champion, of course, but that’s not easy. “For now, let’s wait.”

CEO Zak Brown will get back behind the wheel of a racing car when he competes at Zandvoort later this month in the GT4 European Series. Brown will drive for his own United Autosports team alongside fellow owner Richard Dean in a one-off outing in the championship. The McLaren boss previously raced in sportscars and GT machinery before focusing on his managerial and business career. “I’m so excited to be getting back behind the wheel of a race car at Zandvoort,” said Brown in a press release. “I have tested with the team in our McLaren a couple of times now and I’m so ready to head to Zandvoort to see what we can do. “It will be nice to return to modern day racing, having focused on my historic racing for the last few years and I can’t wait to get back on track.” The event takes place on June 18-20, whilst Formula 1 is set to visit the famous Dutch circuit on September 3-5 for the return of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car was thoroughly inspected by the FIA after his victory at the Monaco Grand Prix as part of the FIA’s regular inspections on cars throughout the season. Verstappen’s RB16B was randomly chosen among the points-paying cars and met the FIA’s technical regulations following tests on various parts of the car including the power unit, brakes and the chassis. “After the race of the Monaco GP car number 33 was randomly chosen among the top ten cars for more extensive physical inspections,” the FIA said in a press release. “Subject to these physical inspections were the pedal assembly including brake master cylinders, throttle pedal position sensing, associated dampers, surroundings within the survival cell, sensors and their loom rooting and connections to the SECU and other units. “All inspected components were found to be in compliance with the 2021 Formula 1 Technical Regulations.” Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his F1 career going into this weekend’s Azerbaijan GP with a four-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton.

Toto Wolff has conceded he fears the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could be another “tricky” weekend for Mercedes. The Silver Arrows surrendered the lead in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championship standings following a nightmare Monaco Grand Prix which saw Valtteri Bottas retire through a machined wheel nut and Lewis Hamilton languishing in seventh after failing to show pace all weekend. Although Mercedes has taken victory on each of the past two visits to Baku, Wolff is concerned things will get worse before they get better for the reigning champions. He said: “Baku is next up. While it’s a very different street circuit to Monaco, we expect it to be another tricky one for us, not particularly suiting the characteristics and traits of the W12. “Red Bull will be strong again, while both Ferrari and McLaren have made great progress recently.” Championships are not won or lost at one race alone and although Mercedes will hope to score maximum points at venues that suit the W12 better, Wolff is acutely aware the team cannot afford to drop too far behind Red Bull. He added: “A key focus for us has to be exploiting the opportunities available to us on those outlier tracks which aren’t suited to our car – when the points are there, we need to grab them.”

Dr Helmut Marko has ruled out a return to Red Bull’s Formula 1 camp for Daniil Kvyat. “Definitely not,” said the 79-year-old Austrian, when asked if the Russian and former Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri driver has a chance of a Red Bull comeback. “We are focused on working with our current drivers, but he also has a contract with Alpine,” Marko added, referring to Kvyat’s new reserve role. Speaking to formel1.de, Marko also seemed to play down a promotion for Pierre Gasly. “As far as I remember, Gasly’s contract is for another two years, so either at Red Bull Racing or Alpha Tauri. But as I said, we are not thinking about lineups. “We will think it over and make a decision during the summer break.” While Marko is worried about Alpha Tauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda’s current progress, he is slightly less concerned about Sergio Perez at the senior team. “The positive thing is that Perez is performing in the races,” he said. “Sometimes he is even at the level of Max Verstappen. But we do have to find something extra in qualifying. We must see an improvement there.” Mexican Perez is on a single-year contract. “We are a very popular destination in the driver market, so I don’t think anyone will negotiate until they have had a chance to sit down with us,” said Marko. An outsider for a 2022 seat is Nico Hulkenberg. “He is doing very well at Servus TV at the moment,” said Marko, referring to the former F1 driver and the German’s new role as a TV pundit. “The ratings are very good. “He is the reserve driver for both Aston Martin and Mercedes, so he has to stay fit anyway.”

Ex driver turned commentator Marc Duez from Walloon TV station RTBF in Belgium loses his job with the broadcaster after making several of what many might describe as misogynistic comments during the Formula 1 race in Monte Carlo targetted at Serena Williams. Tennis superstar Serena Williams was invited to the Monaco Grand Prix as Aston Martin’s guest of honour. The 23-time Grand Slam winner was even allowed to wave the chequered flag. Duez commented: “Serena Williams will be waving something different today.” presumably in reference to what would normally be her tennis racket, but in a manner that inferred something else less savoury. When Red Bull driver Max Verstappen then crossed the finish line first, things got even worse. The TV commentator made a snide assessment that one could clearly see that Williams was “not a cheerleader”. But it went further: a friend of the US-American, who was standing next to her on the balcony, called Duez “ugly” – much to the astonishment of his co-commentator Gaëtan Vigneron. For this reason, according to “Het Laatste Nieuws”, his broadcaster RTBF has launched an internal investigation and suspended the commentator. Duez himself has since apologised. “I want to apologise to the people who might be affected by my statements. I didn’t want to shock anyone,” he told Walloon media. However, this does not change his suspension for the time being. Duez was once a racing driver himself. In the 1990s, he won the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring four times. The 64-year-old also made a name for himself as a rally driver.

Red Bull expect to poach 50 Mercedes staff for their new power-unit division including their former engine boss Andy Cowell, according to a report. With Honda set to pull out of Formula 1 at the end of 2021, Red Bull Powertrains has been born to take over the work of the Japanese manufacturer and ensure Red Bull do not need to return to being a customer team. The recruitment drive is already well under way and one of the major talking points has been Red Bull’s contact with Mercedes’ nearby Brixworth engine base. Already six Mercedes staff have jumped ship, the most high-profile being Ben Hodgkinson, who will leave his position as head of engineering at Mercedes High Performance Powertrains to become Red Bull Powertrain’s first technical director. Auto Motor und Sport report another six staff have been lured away from Mercedes to link up with Red Bull, whose team principal Christian Horner “expects the number to rise to 50 by the end of the hiring process”. But by far the biggest name whom the report states will join Red Bull is Cowell, the former head of Mercedes’ engine operations. Cowell left the team in 2020 in search of a new challenge, although one that was not related to F1. Cowell led the design of the Mercedes V6 turbo-hybrid engine introduced in 2014 and which since then has powered the team to seven Drivers’ and Constructors’ title doubles in a row. As recently as the Monaco Grand Prix, Horner said Cowell was not going to Red Bull, while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said his regular chats with Cowell had not given any hints either that he was interested in Red Bull. “Obviously, there’s a lot of media traction on these topics and with personnel joining obviously this new venture,” Horner told reporters. “But I can say I was surprised to read a story this morning that apparently Andy had agreed to join us because that isn’t the case.” “It would be a great surprise,” Wolff responded. “Because it would mean it’s different to what we have discussed. But there’s nothing stopping him from taking any decision, whether he continues on his entrepreneurial journey or returns to Formula 1 in a different role. “I speak to Andy every week about different things and for me it doesn’t seem he’s going to Red Bull. But in this sport, we’ve seen many black swans, so at the moment what I think? He’s not going there.”