Racetrackmasters

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.

AlphaTauri will be testing at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola next week, as will Ferrari. Five days are scheduled and the new car for 2021 will also be in action. The Formula One season starts in mid-March with the winter test in Bahrain, followed by the first race in Sakhir. With three days of testing in Bahrain, however, many teams and drivers are looking for other ways to get the necessary testing days. On Thursday it became clear that Ferrari will test with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc next week. With ‘Rookie’ Yuki Tsunoda in its ranks, AlphaTauri has also decided to set up a full test programme. According to Italian Motorsport.it AlphaTauri will be in action for five days at Imola. On Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 January AlphaTauri will test with the 2018 car and again on 23 and 25 February. These days will be mainly dedicated to Tsunoda, but Pierre Gasly is also expected to make his metres. In between these two tests, AlphaTauri will also hold a filming day with the new 2021 car, where we can probably get a first glimpse of Franz Tost’s new car.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will test for Ferrari next week. With Formula 1’s limited number of test days and a new driver joining the ranks, it is time to get back to the home test track. Formula 1 has become stricter and stricter when it comes to testing over the years. Where teams were allowed to test as much as they wanted in the past, this is no longer the case. There are now only three test days in Bahrain before the start of the season and only a few filming days during the year where only a limited number of metres can be driven. This is a tricky situation for Carlos Sainz, who made the switch to Ferrari this winter and is entering a new team. However, with a test track in Fiorano and a garage full of old cars Ferrari has the opportunity to test the drivers and this will happen next week. Sainz and Leclerc will be in action next week at the Fiorano test track with the 2018 Ferrari. The 2019 car would also have been possible because the car has to be at least two years old, but the chassis of the 2018 car is still in place due to a test in 2020. Sainz and Leclerc are expected to each account for one day of the test.