Racetrackmasters

Jenson Button will be taking part in the series, which is run by Formula E founder Alejandro Agag, scheduled to begin in April after its opening race in Saudi Arabia was pushed back by two weeks. Rounds will also be held in Senegal, Greenland, the Brazilian rainforest and Argentine glaciers of Tierra del Fuego. Former Formula One world champion Jenson Button will race for his own team when the new Extreme E off-road all-electric series begins later this year, the Briton said on Monday. Every team in the series, which aims to raise awareness about climate change by racing in some of the world’s most remote and harsh environments, must have a male and a female driver. Button’s team mate will be announced in due course. Rivals will include teams owned by Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Formula 1 team Haas has received a torrent of vile abuse after posting a clip of Nikita Mazepin winning in F2. After being announced as a Haas driver for the coming season at the start of December, Mazepin then became the villain of F1 days later after the Russian posted on social media a video of himself groping a woman. Pressure mounted on Haas to drop the 21-year-old. Although the team initially described the incident as “abhorrent”, it later announced the issue had “been dealt with internally and no further comment shall be made”. Since declaring its decision on December 23, Haas had not mentioned Mazepin on its social media channels, posting only about former drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen and its other new recruit for this year, Mick Schumacher. Responses, however, often included the hashtag ‘WeSayNoToMazepin’. The team’s decision to post its first tweet about Mazepin since the incident has sparked a torrent of abusive messages towards the team and driver. As of 1pm UK time, there had been over 2,600 replies to the tweet. One reply to the video of Mazepin’s past success read: “How disgusting from Haas to give him a seat. I thought it was a team of values and respect. Clearly it is not.” Others pointed to the financial benefit to Haas of Mazepin being in the seat and twisted the F1 ‘WeRaceAsOne’ message to read “WeRaceForMoney”. Among the expletive-laden responses to the Haas tweet, there were a number of fans who, whether through tiredness of the topic or an acceptance that Haas has made its decision, simply want to move on from the discussion. The Haas Twitter admin was also a figure of much ire, but this stopped as a growing number of people pointed out that person would not have had a say in the team’s decision to hire Mazepin. Given the nature of the incident and the sensitivity of the topic, it is unlikely the tension between Haas and the fans will ease as the season approaches. How the team attempts to rebuild bridges with F1’s fanbase is yet to be seen, but with a single tweet garnering such a high level of attention, the scale of the task before the team has now been revealed.

Mick Schumacher, who will race for Haas in the 2021 F1 season, is among the seven drivers taking part in the Ferrari 2018 car test this week. Ferrari have announced they will be at Fiorano from Monday to Friday with the SF71H, giving a variety of drivers track time to prepare them for the new campaign. They are due to include Charles Leclerc, who has been suffering from COVID-19 but the intention is that he will be able to travel from his home in Monaco after completing his self-isolation period. Also, Carlos Sainz is set to try out a Ferrari for the first time since joining the team following his move from McLaren. But the other intriguing aspect will be the appearance of Schumacher, who joins four other Ferrari Academy Drivers in taking part even though he will be donning Haas overalls come the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain on March 12. The son of Michael Schumacher, the seven-time former World Champion, remains very much a member of the Ferrari programme despite his connection to Haas, with whom he is effectively ‘on loan’ for 2021. Schumacher was also involved in a similar exercise at Fiorano with the 2018 Ferrari last autumn, in between the Russian and Eifel Grands Prix, when he joined counterparts Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman in being given experience of an F1 car. ADVERTISEMENT That duo will also be participating again, with the trio of 2020 Formula 2 rivals having diverged towards different roles since then. While Schumacher, who won the series title, is heading for Haas in F1, his former Prema team-mate Shwartzman will be among the favourites to succeed him as champion in the second-tier category. Ilott, meanwhile, who finished second to Schumacher in the standings, is not expected to be racing in 2021 and will instead be Ferrari’s test driver. The other two drivers taking part in the test, who are somewhat further away from F1 as things stand, are Giuliano Alesi, son of ex-Ferrari driver Jean, and Marcus Armstrong of New Zealand. In terms of the test schedule, Ferrari said Sainz “will be at the wheel of a Ferrari for the very first time on Wednesday 27th and the morning of Thursday 28th”. Shwartzman, Alesi and Armstrong will get things under way on Monday, Leclerc will take over on Tuesday and after Sainz’s day-and-a-half stint, Schumacher and Ilott round things off on Thursday afternoon and Friday.

Dutch driver Maya Weug is to become the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy after outshining her competitors at the evaluation camp which took place at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, as part of the final stage of the FIA “Girls on Track-Rising Stars” programme. The initiative was set up by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, in conjunction with the FDA. It aims to promote women in motorsport and support the most talented young female drivers between the ages of 12 and 16. Jean Todt, President of the FIA was very complimentary of Maya and the program as a whole, “This is an important moment in Maya Weug’s career, and I extend my warmest congratulations to all four drivers who reached this final selection. “The FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme is key to our commitment to supporting gender diversity in our sport. I would like to thank Ferrari Driver Academy all our partners who have joined us in embracing such an innovative and positive initiative.” Weug, who was born in Spain to a Belgian mother, inherited her passion for motorsport from her father, and tried a kart for the first time at the age of seven and fell in love with it. For Christmas in 2011, she was given a kart of her own and from then on, nothing could keep her away from racing. Awaiting Weug is a busy training program, which includes taking part in a FIA certified Formula 4 Championship. The first edition of the FIA “Girls on Track-Rising Stars” may have come to a close but entries will soon be open for the second edition on the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission portal. Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal & Managing Director Mattia Binotto highlighted the success of the Ferrari Driver academy, and looks forward to seeing her development over the years to come : “Over the course of this year, she will progress along with us and also take part in one of the F4 Championships Certified by FIA, the category seen as the first step in single-seaters on the road to Formula 1. “Maya’s arrival is a clear indication of the Scuderia’s commitment to making motorsport increasingly inclusive, in line with the hashtag supported by the entire Formula 1 community, #weraceasone. “This project is therefore a new element to mark the start the year for the FDA, which is proving to be a great success: five of its 19 students have made it to Formula 1 and four of them, 20% of the entire grid, will be racing this coming season in the top level of motorsport.” Marco Matassa, head of the Ferrari Driver Academy was impressed with the speed of Weug even with little experience in single-seater cars, “We were impressed with her dedication and preparation, from a physical perspective and also with her approach to competition. Despite very limited experience in a single-seater, she had a good turn of speed and demonstrated a mastery of the car that meant she could immediately implement the instructions she was given.” The understandably excited Weug cannot wait to get started, adding “I will never forget this day! I am so happy to be the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy. Winning the final stage of the FIA “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” programme makes me realise that I was right to pursue my dream of becoming a racing driver. “I will give my all to show the people who believed in me that I deserve to wear the Ferrari Driver Academy uniform and I can’t wait to come to Maranello to start preparing for my first season of single-seater racing”

Sebastian Vettel is not drawing too many parallels between starting life with Aston Martin and the time when he joined Red Bull in 2009 – because he is now much older. On the face of it, there are some similarities to the two jobs the German began 12 years apart. Not least is the geography, with the respective factories being only half an hour or so from each other. Also, on both occasions he left an Italy-based team, Toro Rosso to Red Bull and now Ferrari to Aston Martin. In addition, each of those times he was joining a relatively fresh team looking to work their way up to launch a challenge for the World Championship. However, the most obvious difference is the stage of his career Vettel is now at. Instead of being a fresh-faced 21-year-old youngster, he is now a more grizzled 33 with four World Championship titles for Red Bull followed by a less successful six years with Ferrari. “On paper there are certainly some things that seem similar, but I think the situation is different. Mainly because I’m at a different point myself today,” said Vettel, quoted by F1 Insider. “At a better point, with far more experience, with a clearer view. Therefore you cannot really compare the two starting points with each other. At that time I did not have the knowledge I have today, so the approach is completely different.” That knowledge is being brought to bear at Aston Martin, who have undergone a transformation from Racing Point with a darkish green livery anticipated instead of the previous pink as Vettel joins team owner’s son Lance Stroll in the driver line-up. Although he will have to wait to try his new car on track at pre-season testing in Bahrain from March 12-14, Vettel has begun to integrate himself by way of visiting the factory and having a seat fit. “Everyone is different, but nevertheless everyone probably likes to have an environment where they stand up for one another and work for one another,” he added. “So far, there are of course a lot of new faces for me at Aston Martin, but I am confident it will work. “You always have to be open to new things. I will meet a lot of new people, new ways of working, new approaches – and I would not be well advised to believe that only my way is the right one.”

Antonio Giovinazzi admits he did not take the decision by Scuderia Ferrari to overlook him for a drive in the 2021 Formula 1 season very well, although he has not given up on his dream to race for the Maranello-based outfit in the future. Giovinazzi has been racing for Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN for the past two campaigns and has been a long-time junior member of Ferrari, even acting as their test driver through the 2018 season. However, when Sebastian Vettel was informed that his services with Ferrari were surplus to requirements after 2020, the team opted to sign Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. from the McLaren F1 Team instead, leaving Giovinazzi with Alfa Romeo for a third consecutive season. The Italian knows he will have to continue working hard in order to fulfil his dream of racing for Ferrari in the future, with Sainz’s arrival not likely to be the final time he could be considered. “Of course, I did not receive Ferrari’s decision very well,” said Giovinazzi to Autosprint. “That seems clear to me. “I am still employed by Ferrari and I thought there would be a chance for me to race for the Scuderia. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for me. “Choosing Sainz does not mean that I will not be able to get that seat in the future. A seat at Ferrari will always be my dream. I have never received anything for free in my career. I have always had to work hard to earn a place.” Giovinazzi says his aim in 2021 is to continue his improvement with Alfa Romeo and fight for more regular points’ finishes. He picked up only four points throughout 2020, the same as team-mate Kimi Räikkönen, as the team struggled for performance, but he wants to use 2021 to keep improving as a Formula 1 race driver. “Right now I am focused on Alfa Romeo,” said Giovinazzi. “I want to help my team move forward as much as possible and that is why I would like to secure a place on the podium. “To do that, I have to keep improving and seize my opportunities. Let’s see if that works in 2021.”

Last season, all teams should have been testing individually for the new 18-inch 2021 tyres. However, due to the coronavirus, many of those tests were cancelled and so they are now scheduled for 2021. However, the regulations stated that you could only test with a 2018, 2019, or 2020 car, but that creates problems. McLaren will be driving a Mercedes power unit in 2021 and all the older cars have Renault’s power unit, which they cannot use. Next season Pirelli gets 25 test days from the FIA to test the 18-inch tyres. At the moment they are still using 13-inch tyres in Formula 1, but that is to change next year with the arrival of the 18-inch tyres. For Pirelli, it is a huge amount of adjustment work and that is why the Italian tyre manufacturer also gets the test days to test the tyres. They divide the 25 days across all the teams so that everyone gets a chance to test with the new tyres and give feedback. This year, they get to do that in a modified version of the 2021 car, reports Motorsport.com. All F1 teams will be allowed to use a modified 2021 car after the start of the F1 season in Bahrain and this will not only benefit McLaren, as every team will test with a modified car from the 2021 season. For Pirelli, this will also provide more representative data, as they get to test with the latest cars.

Former Formula One champion Jenson Button has returned to the Williams team as a senior advisor on a multi-year deal. Button made his F1 debut with Williams in 2000, aged 20. The English driver went on to win the championship with Brawn in 2009 and retired in 2016 with 15 grand prix race wins to his name. Williams announced the appointment on Friday, saying Button will provide guidance and advice to the team at its Grove headquarters. He will also aid the development of drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi as well as those currently part of the Williams driver academy. Button will attend a number of races throughout the season as part of the role. “I am so delighted to once again be able to say that I’ve signed for Williams,” Button said. “Back when I was 19 it was a moment that changed my life and, despite the fact it was over 20 years ago, I already feel like I never really left. “Sir Frank Williams showed faith in me which I will be eternally grateful for and I am incredibly excited to have the chance to come back and help the team as it strives once more for success. “There’s a lot of hard work to be done but I have no doubt the future is incredibly bright for this fantastic team and I can’t wait to get started.” The Williams family no longer controls the team, having sold it to investment firm Dorilton Capital in August last year.

The fate of Monaco’s fabled grand prix this year is about more than just a press release. That is the news from Red Bull’s highly-influential Dr Helmut Marko, who was speaking with the German media after the Automobile Club de Monaco earlier this week scotched rumours the street race may once again be cancelled. “I heard that they are currently working on a concept to allow the race to take place with half of the spectators,” Marko said. The Austrian said he has faith that new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali can navigate the sport through a second consecutive covid-affected season. “The new Liberty CEO Stefano Domenicali is doing an extremely good job,” said Marko. “You can tell that he’s a racer.”

Kevin Magnussen can now “move on” after winning a court battle against his former manager, the Danish ex-Haas driver’s father says. On Thursday, in a Copenhagen court, a judge ruled in favour of Magnussen after his ex-manager Dorte Riis Madsen alleged the 28-year-old owed her 20 percent of his career earnings. Madsen was also ordered to pay about $90,000 in court costs. Magnussen, currently testing with the Chip Ganassi sports car team in the US, did not comment, and neither did his former manager. But Magnussen’s father Jan told BT newspaper: “I am happy for him. Now he can move on and concentrate on what he needs to concentrate on. “The case affected him, not so much in his everyday life, but when there is a lot of talk about something it’s hard not to think about it. “So I’m glad that he can now concentrate on creating a new life. I’m just glad it’s over,” said Jan, also a former F1 driver.

Rumours have linked Sir Lewis Hamilton with a move to Ferrari for several years – and now he has been invited to drive one of their Formula 1 cars. But Mercedes need not worry, nor Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for that matter. The car in question is from 1970 – just the 15 years before the World Champion was born! It’s the Ferrari 312B that was raced that season by Swiss driver Clay Regazzoni and the one in which he won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. These days, it is owned by Paolo Barilla, himself a former F1 racer who drove in the first 14 races of the 1990 season for Minardi with a best result of 11th position at San Marino. Now a highly successful businessman, the 59-year-old from Milan is deputy chairman of the Barilla Group, the world’s largest pasta producer. Speaking about his classic Ferrari which is now more than half a century old, Barilla told the Italian version of Motorsport.com in a video interview: “I drove it in Monte Carlo and it really touched me. But the car is difficult to drive, so I won’t do it again. “It would have to be a driver who can appreciate the emotions when you are behind the wheel of this car. I think Lewis Hamilton is such a driver. “When I hear him talking about driving, I can feel he is a driver who can appreciate the special features of a car.”

Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull have reached an agreement with Honda to use its engines beyond 2021. The Japanese engine supplier will leave the sport after 2021, so Red Bull have been looking for a new engine supplier. The only thing left to do is wait for the FIA, because a development stop is required to finalise the deal. Red Bull have an agreement with Honda to continue using their engines from 2022 onwards, but the Austrian formation itself does not have the knowledge and resources to continue developing the engine until 2025 or 2026. A development stop on the engines is required, but this has been under discussion for months. Helmut Marko told Auto, Motor und Sport that the FIA will probably provide clarity next week. The other manufacturers (Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault) all have to agree to the plan as well and that is quite a task. Marko appealed to his colleagues: “It is a very clear common sense decision for Formula 1.” At least with Honda, the final details have been agreed. “Everything is settled between us. The moment is there. Everyone is on the starting blocks. But there is no agreement until we have written proof from the FIA that the development stop on the engine side will be there,” continued Marko.