Racetrackmasters

Toto Wolff says the decision to only agree to a one-year contract extension with Lewis Hamilton was the result of both parties wanting time to finalise a longer deal. Mercedes ended weeks of speculation on Monday when it announced that seven-time Formula 1 world champion Hamilton would be staying on with the team in 2021. But the fact that only a single-season contract was agreed prompted some surprise, and fuelled talk that 2021 could be the British driver’s last season in F1. Speaking to media on Monday, Wolff explained the background to Hamilton’s contract length – and made clear that there was a desire from both to delay lengthier discussions regarding 2022 and beyond until the current season got going. Wolff said that complications caused by both he and Hamilton catching coronavirus, which derailed hope of talks taking place towards the end of last season, forced a change of plan. “We jointly agreed on a one year deal,” said Wolff. “First of all, there is a substantial regulation change in 2022. “We also want to see how the world develops, and the company. Plus on the other side, it’s because we kept it very late. “We wanted to discuss the contract at the end of the [2020] season between the Bahrain races and then obviously, Lewis didn’t feel well. “In the end, we started our conversation just before Christmas so it was important to get it done as soon as possible. “And in that respect, we thought, let’s postpone the discussion about 2022 and onwards to a later stage in 2021.” Wolff explained that the ongoing uncertainties about the impact of coronavirus on F1, and especially in relation to team budgets, meant that it was difficult to make certain commitments now about a longer term contract. That is why he feels contract talks in summer will be much clearer – and will allow time for proper discussion. “There are uncertainties in the world that affect the way that the sport can operate, that have an influence on our revenue, TV monies, and on sponsorship income,” he said. “Daimler, Mercedes, is in a huge transformation towards electric mobility and that means investments. So we are living in a financial reality that is very different to what it was a few years ago. “But having said that, we are totally in line, Lewis and me and the wider group at Mercedes about the situation. So there was never any discrepancy in opinion. “It was just that we felt we could get a good signature on the 2021 contract because we just need to get going and then find some time during 2021, earlier than this time around, to discuss the future. “And it’s not only specifically to 2022, but also beyond. And that is not something that we wanted to carve out via videoconferencing between Christmas and the end of January.” Wolff also rubbished any talk of Hamilton demanding a driver veto in his contract to avoid being partnered with another superstar driver, like Red Bull ace Max Verstappen. He added that suggestions pay talks had hit a sticking point over a potential revenue share of Mercedes incomes were “baseless”. “On the specific clauses that were out there in the media, I don’t know where they came from because none of that is true,” he said. “I actually read about this, and I found it interesting, but the truth is that there was not one second of discussion about any driver specific clause. “He has never asked for that in the last eight years and it’s a team decision. “And the other clause about a revenue share – that came out of nowhere. “That rumour was baseless too, so none of that was ever part of our discussions.”

The on-going contract saga at Mercedes has finally come to an end with world champion Lewis Hamilton signing a new deal for the 2021 season. The 36-year-old won his record-equalling seventh title last season in dominant fashion over teammate Valtteri Bottas, but a new deal for the Brit was a long time in the making. With rumours about Hamilton’s salary demands, Team Principal Toto Wolff admitted there were ‘curve balls’ for the lawyers to deal with in recent weeks. However, Mercedes and Hamilton today (Monday) confirmed an extended deal for the forthcoming season. A statement read: “A significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year by Lewis and Mercedes. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.” “I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” Hamilton said. “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track. “I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue. I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.” Wolff added: “We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process. “Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport. “Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners. The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.” Mercedes will launch their 2021 contender on March 2.

Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed the team’s first car this year will carry an entirely new chassis despite the supposed carryover of parts from last season. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that severely affected F1 over the first part of last season, it was agreed that the introduction of new regulations would be delayed by a year to 2022 and there would be a freeze on last year’s cars into this season in a bid to save money. The teams, however, were still permitted two development tokens each under the rules to use as they saw fit, which has resulted in Aston Martin opting for chassis changes. This is due to the fact the FIA has made significant tweaks to the regulations to trim downforce. “We didn’t have the normal latitude of development that we usually do, so from a philosophy standpoint in running a low-rake car, that has stayed the same,” Szafnauer told Sky Sports F1. “Having said that, even though we didn’t have a lot of latitude for development, the FIA did make aerodynamic changes, and significant ones to take downforce away and slow us down. Because of that, we have had to redevelop the whole thing. “This is the first time that a carryover car has had many of its parts new, so although the philosophy is carryover we will still have a lot of new parts on the car, a lot of new aerodynamic development, even a new chassis for us as well. “Although the car will be similar to last year, it’s predominantly new.” The four aerodynamic changes are all relatively minor, but when added together they do significantly affect downforce, leading to a team like Aston Martin opting to work on how it can make gains again in this area. Whichever team has greater success then it could ultimately prevail in the race for the best of the rest behind Mercedes and Red Bull. After narrowly missing out on third in the constructors’ championship last season to McLaren, Szafnauer has confirmed “it will be the target for us” for the coming year. “I don’t think it will be easy, we’ve got some formidable competitors there,” he added. “Ferrari will work hard over the winter to do better than they did last year; McLaren gets a new powertrain, the same one that we have, and I’m sure they did that for reasons of competitiveness. “And then there are some driver movements as well, so we’ll see how all that pans out. There are some differences. “And, of course, the FIA have big rule changes. They took out big chunks of the floor for us to lose downforce and depending on how the teams claw that downforce back, that’ll have a big impact on performance as well. “So there are some things that have changed over the winter, and it will be really interesting to see the job everybody has done and how it pans out in the competitiveness stakes.”

Haas Formula 1 boss Guenther Steiner hasn’t ruled out calling on Romain Grosjean or Kevin Magnussen should the team need a replacement driver during the 2021 season. However the priority will be to employ a reserve who can attend all the races and at the track in case of any late issues with regulars Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. Both of Haas’s former drivers have found employment in the USA, with Magnussen competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and starring in the recent Daytona 24 Hours, while Grosjean confirmed his move to IndyCar. Neither would be available or willing to travel to F1 races regularly as a reserve but could still be called upon if they were free from other commitments and there was sufficient lead time to get them to a race venue. Grosjean made it clear this week that he would be ready to step in if he gets a call from an F1 team. “I wouldn’t mind if they are free,” Steiner told Autosport. “I think they will be happy to come back as well. I haven’t asked them, but I don’t think they have any bad feelings.” Steiner is still regularly in touch with both men and he’s pleased that they have found new jobs. “I actually texted Romain just before, because I had to ask him something, I spoke with Kevin last weekend when he was in Daytona. So I’m very happy for them,” Steiner said. “And as was always said, we parted ways, but I think in life, we still work together. There was no fallout. For sure, they weren’t happy, but they weren’t unhappy. They had a good time, we had a good time. “All good things come to an end in life, that was one of them, but we still keep our relationship. I’m very happy that they both keep on doing what they like to do.” Steiner confirmed that the team intends to have a reserve on site on race weekends, as was the case last year, and hasn’t ruled out renewing the deal with Pietro Fittipaldi, who replaced the injured Grosjean in the last two events of 2020. “I think we have to carry on this year with a third driver like we did last year, because of COVID. You never know when it hits you. If you ever need a third driver at the track, it is now,” he said. “There’s no rush to name anybody. We are talking with Pietro, obviously. But there is no big rush from our side and not from his side.”

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has donated the Ayrton Senna-inspired helmet that he wore at last year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to the Senna Foundation. Gasly wore the helmet, designed with the blessing of the Senna family, upon Formula 1’s return last year to Imola, the venue where Senna sustained fatal injuries in 1994. Gasly qualified a standout fourth for AlphaTauri but retired from the race due to a power unit issue. The helmet will now go up for auction in order to raise funds for the Senna Foundation, which supports the education of children and young people in Senna’s native Brazil. Gasly has also made 1:2 scale mini helmets available, which have been signed on the visor, and funds raised from those sales will also be donated to the Senna Foundation. Gasly, who won last year’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, will stay on at AlphaTauri this year, alongside rookie Yuki Tsunoda. Formula 1 is due to return to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on April 18.

Russian driver Nikita Mazepin will almost certainly have to race as a ‘neutral’ driver in Formula 1 when he makes his maiden appearance for the Haas F1 Team this season. Russia is currently banned from competing at all world championship sporting events as a result of state-sponsored doping that took place at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. It means that there will be no Russian team competing in this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, or next year’s FIFA World Cup. And last month the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed that the two-year ban also extended to F1. The Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) said this week that it had received clarification from the FIA about the CAS ruling that this ban would extend to drivers racing under the Russian flag. It means that Mazepin will not be allowed to use national flags, emblems, symbols and anthems and will instead race as a ‘neutral athlete from Russia’ and be listed as ‘Russia. Neutral athlete’. Any use of the word ‘Russia’ on their clothing must be balanced by ‘Neutral Athlete’ with equal prominence. The colours of the Russian flag are permitted, and the FIA will also allow the acronym RAF to appear. The Russian national anthem at FIA events will be banned meaning it will not be played before this year’s race in Sochi. But the Grand Prix itself can still go ahead and Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin will be allowed to attend, while fans will be able to bring Russian flags to wave in the grandstands. The ban on official Russian participation also extends to other FIA world championships including Formula E, the World Rally Championship, the World Endurance Championship, and World Rallycross. But it is not expected to be imposed in Formula 2 which is not considered a world championship under the CAS ruling, meaning that Ferrari junior driver Robert Shwartzman is not expected to be affected.

Seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton is currently locked in a contract stand off with Mercedes, after his £40million-a-year deal with his Formula One team expire at the end of December and Hamilton appeared keen to distract himself from the ongoing drama on Friday, when he was spotted jewellery shopping at Beverly Hills’ XIV Karats Ltd. The racecar driver, 36, departed his spending spree in style, exiting the upscale establishment sporting a neck full of blinding bling as he drove off in his £140,000 2000 Porsche Taycan Turbo S. Sources tell MailOnline that the Hertfordshire-native spent more than three hours in the tony jewellery store, located just a stone’s throw away from the famed Rodeo Drive. He stepped out in casually cool style for the solo excursion, sporting a cream sweater emblazoned with the word ‘optimism’, which he teamed with a pair of matching jogging bottoms and box fresh white Jordans. Adhering by COVID-19 safety protocols, he wore a white face mask, while he shielded his eyes from the Southern California sunshine with a pair of stylish shades. Lewis’ spending spree comes amid reports he’s been locked in a contract stand off with Mercedes as both sides struggle to settle on a new deal. Mercedes has just a month to tie him down and the length of a new deal appears to be the sticking point with the Silver Arrows only willing to offer him a one-year deal. It would be a PR disaster to at least not have Lewis on board by March 2 to help unveil Mercedes’ new car they hope can lead them to double world championship glory for the eighth season in a row. Meanwhile, the star’s social life has been under the spotlight over the past week, after American model Grace Lindley was spotted leaving his Beverly Hills hotel cabana on Monday morning. Grace was seen emerging from the same cabana as Lewis, moments before the star sheepishly made his way towards his parked Mercedes at around 9.30am. Hamilton is relaxing in California after testing positive for COVID-19 less than 24-hours after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix on November 29th. He has since made a full recovery.

Rich Energy, the mysterious energy drink manufacturer owned by the equally mysterious William Storey, is still in business after the debacle during the 2019 F1 season. Storey is even planning a return to Formula One. But what team still wants to work with this man? Rich Energy made a name for themselves as the main sponsor of the Haas team in 2019. However, the partnership soon broke down when Rich Energy failed to meet payments, causing a row not only with the Haas team but also with their own shareholders. The affair has brought Rich Energy more publicity than a whole season of Formula 1, but with the result that few people in the paddock take Storey seriously any more. Nevertheless, he recently announced that he would like to return to the sport and we might get a decision as soon as next week. Rich Energy’s official Twitter account reports that a major announcement is imminent.

Formula 1 has confirmed it is in discussions with multiple American and African venues interested in hosting future races. At present, there is just one race in the United States, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. F1 owners Liberty Media has long been in talks with promoters for a grand prix in Miami, with a track around the Hard Rock Stadium, however, that race has yet to come to fruition due to ongoing local opposition. New F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed Miami remains on the table, but there are a number of other US venues interested in hosting F1 events. “Miami, there are discussions in place, it is true,” said Domenicali, in a conference call with selected F1 media, including GPFans Global. “But I want to tell you that our strategy in the future is to be more present in the US with more than one grand prix. “As you know, Austin has been important in the last years of our calendar, it will also be in the future. “We are discussing with them the renewal of our agreement. Miami is a place we are looking, I cannot say more than that. For sure there is a big interest from both parties to make it work. “There are other possibilities in the US. Miami is the most advanced in terms of discussions. There are others that are in other areas of the country but they are not at the level that I can say ‘they are there’. “But for sure, I think in the next couple of months we will decide what will be possible in that country, whether it will be rotation.” The Vietnamese Grand Prix, slated for its F1 debut last season before Covid-19 struck the race from the calendar, has been removed altogether following political issues in the country. Whilst confirming the Hanoi street circuit would be considered for a spot on the calendar in the future, Domenicali also suggested there may yet be an Africa-based grand prix. “For sure, Vietnam is not on the calendar but it is still an open option,” he added. “It has been an incredible investment and therefore it is still on the table of discussions for a future event, for sure. “There are other areas that have shown interest that is basically in the north of Africa, South Africa, none that I can tell you. This is something very important, having new places and old places that have a great heritage in Formula 1. “We don’t have to forget that we have lost some European races that are now showing interest to be considered again. We need to decide what is the right balance for the number of races. “We need to see what areas we need for strategic interests, for team interests, for broadcaster interests, for media interests and decide what will be the right way to go.”