Racetrackmasters

Haas announced earlier this season that it would feature an all-new line up next season, dropping both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. Team boss Guenther Steiner opened the door to an all-rookie line up, saying the team had discussed the pros and cons. “We discussed this, the risks, the opportunities with them,” he said earlier this month. “There is obviously a risk that two rookies, they have nobody experienced to look at [for] the data and stuff like this. They need to find out between them what is going on, and there is risk that it goes wrong. “But the pros are you can put them in the direction you want to put them, and they grow with the team. “Because it was never done, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work. For sure there is a risk that it doesn’t work. I don’t want to be ignorant to that one.” That line up, Soymotor reports, has now been decided with Schumacher set to team up with Mazepin. While reports of Schumacher heading to Haas have been around for a while, Mazepin could have the FIA to thank for his promotion. Earlier this year motorsport’s governing body announced that the number of super license points required to race in Formula 1 would still be 40 but that drivers “will have the opportunity for their case to be considered by the FIA” if they only have 30 as many drivers have missed out on a full season of racing due to Covid-19. Under the old score, Mazepin would have needed to finish seventh or higher in this year’s Formula 2 series to qualify for a super license with the Hitech Grand Prix driver currently P6 in the standings with two rounds remaining. Schumacher has to finish sixth or higher to secure the 40 points. He is currently leading the championship. “Haas has already confirmed that they are in no rush to officially announce their lineup for next year and will likely wait until the current season is over,” reports Soymotor.

Williams will field Jack Aitken and Roy Nissany at the young driver test in Abu Dhabi next month, with Nissany also set for another FP1 appearance. Formula 1 will hold a Young Driver Test on the 15th December, after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with teams given the option of staying on to take part if they wish. The test replaces the usual end of season Pirelli Tyre Test, and is specifically for Young Drivers – the definition of this being drivers who have started fewer than two Grands Prix. Williams have confirmed their line-up: Reserve Driver Jack Aitken and Test Driver Roy Nissany will drive the FW43 at the test. Aitken took part in FP1 at the Styrian Grand Prix earlier this season, while Nissany took part in FP1 at the Spanish and Italian Grands Prix. Nissany will also take part in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday 27th of November. “Of course I’m delighted to be able to step back into the FW43 in Abu Dhabi.” said Aitken, who wraps up his Formula 2 season with Campos Racing in Bahrain. The British driver is currently P12 in the Championship, with his best results being a pair of P3s at the second Silverstone round. “After my FP1 outing with the team earlier in the year, I’ll be looking to build upon my experience with the team and get some ever-welcome laps under my belt. Although we won’t be able to test too much with the way the programme is set, there are always things to learn, and it will be a great way to finish the season.” Nissany, driving for Trident in F2, is currently P19 with five points scored this year. He says he’s looking forward to the chance to drive another FP1 session: “The Abu Dhabi test is another great opportunity for me to develop my connection with the car. In contrast to an FP1, the test gives us much more time and miles to fine tune and synergise the car and my driving.”

Aston Martin is set to share safety car duties with Mercedes at Formula 1 races from next year. Mercedes has exclusively provided the official F1 safety car since 1996, starting out originally with a Mercedes-AMG C36 and currently using a Mercedes-AMG GT R. While the German manufacturer has been fully committed up until now, discussions are underway about a revised deal for 2021, when a new Concorde Agreement comes in. Although it is understood that no final decision has been made, sources have revealed that it is looking increasingly likely that Mercedes will step back from being the sole safety car supplier. It will continue to play a major role – which will include providing F1’s medical car – but talks are ongoing about a revised arrangement that will likely result in the safety car responsibilities being shared with Aston Martin. Such a change of deal, that could see the safety car use split evenly between the two manufacturers across the season, would help share the financial burden between the two companies as F1 expands to a 23-race schedule. A deal has been made for Aston Martin to supply the safety and medical cars at 12 of the planned 23 races next season. A reliable source said that the existing Mercedes safety and medical cars will not be scrapped and they will feature at 11 of the races, with Aston Martin taking preference for which weekends they will supply their cars for. It is understood that the decision will be dictated by markets, with Aston Martin expected to pick countries where they have bigger interests, while Mercedes would supply races like the Brazilian Grand Prix where Aston Martin have a smaller market share. It is believed the Aston safety car will be a Vantage. Racefans understands the medical car at races where Aston Martin supply the cars will be a DBX, which uses the same four-litre V8 engine as the current AMG GT R cars. The Daimler group, which owns Mercedes Benz, recently took a 20% shareholding in Aston Martin. Mercedes and Aston Martin have become increasingly close over the past 12 months, having reached deals on shareholding agreements and closer technical cooperation. It was recently announced that Mercedes will increase its stake in Aston Martin to 20%, while also giving access to a range of its technologies – including powertrain and electric/electronic architecture. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also has a private shareholding in Aston Martin, and is close friend with owner Lawrence Stroll. Next year, Aston Martin is returning to F1 with its own works team, as it takes over the naming rights for the Racing Point outfit. Stroll wants to use the marketing benefits of the series to help boost Aston Martin’s road car sales as it embarks on an ambitious renewal of its operations following some difficult years. The current Mercedes safety car is the fastest in the sport’s history, having been upgraded from the start of the 2018 season. Its 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine produces 585hp and it can reach a top speed of 198mph. The safety car is driven by Bernd Maylander. The Mercedes medical car is an AMG C 63 S Estate, which is driven by Alan van der Merwe.

Sebastian Vettel says he has “zero tolerance” for the mistake the FIA made in starting Formula 1 qualifying in Turkey with a crane still on the track. The recovery vehicle had been sent out to retrieve the stricken Williams of Nicholas Latifi, who had spun off at the high-speed Turn 8 in the first section of qualifying in Turkey. But the Q2 session began with the crane still in front of the barriers and it only being protected by local double waved yellow flags in the slippery conditions. F1 race director Michael Masi explained afterwards that the situation had been prompted because the clerk of the course had assured him that the crane would be clear by the times the cars got there. However, a delay in getting the crane behind the barriers meant that did not happen. Vettel, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, remains unimpressed by the explanation and thinks that there is no room in F1 for such errors. “I think we are all humans, and mistakes happen,” said Vettel. “But this mistake has a zero tolerance. I think we’re all well aware and I’m very confident that it will not happen in the future again. But we will for sure talk about this and disclose the reasons why.” Despite Vettel’s stance, Masi said he remained “fully comfortable” with the decision he took based on the information he was being given by track officials. “It was quite close to the barrier opening, and the crane was on its way,” said Masi. “We were given assurances that it would be well and truly clear. And looking at everything, I was more than comfortable with the local assurances on that basis. “With the benefit of hindsight, you would do something different. But based on it all, and the available information at the time, that was the call that we made. Masi said that the FIA would review what happened, though, so similar mistakes were not made again in the future. “From an FIA perspective, we review every incident that takes place,” he explained. “Be it minor, major, in between or otherwise, at any point in time during a session, outside of a session, and continually learn from everything that takes place. “So from that handbook, we will continue to learn. It’s no different to a team learning about different elements over a weekend and in between. “We are absolutely no different. And from our end, as I’ve said many times, safety is our number one priority and you learn from everything, every time a car rolls out of pit lane, every time you look at something different.” Charles Leclerc backed up Vettel’s thoughts that the drivers would want to discuss the matter with Masi in the next meeting they have in Bahrain. “For the crane, obviously, I think we have all been a bit shocked to see that,” he said. “And we’ll probably speak together at the next briefing to avoid these types of situations. “There is no need to say what happened in the past with these sorts of situations. So yeah, I think it shouldn’t happen, and we need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.” F1 has been especially mindful about the presence of cranes on the circuit since Jules Bianchi died from injuries he sustained in a collision with such a recovery vehicle during the wet Japanese Grand Prix in 2014.

Pirelli Formula 1 tyre chief Mario Isola has tested positive for COVID-19 following the latest round of screening at the Turkish Grand Prix. F1 issued a statement on Monday following the grand prix weekend at Istanbul Park announcing that Isola, who heads up the series’ tyre supplier’s activities at races, had contracted COVID-19 and tested positive on Sunday. But F1 has said that all of Isola’s close contacts have been traced and re-tested, and have all returned negative results. “The FIA, Formula 1 and Pirelli can confirm that Pirelli Head of F1 and Car Racing Mario Isola has tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday 15 November at the Turkish Grand Prix,” the statement reads. “Mario returned a positive result during the regular Sunday COVID testing schedule. “He is now isolating, and is asymptomatic and will adhere to the local medical guidelines. “All close contacts have been declared, retested, and no further positive cases have been returned.” All F1 personnel entering the circuit are required to undergo a test at least every five days across grand prix events, in line with the FIA’s COVID-19 protocols. They are also required to complete a test within 24 hours of entering the venue. Isola is the second notable manager within the F1 paddock to have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. Acting Williams F1 team principal Simon Roberts tested positive last Wednesday, and opted not to travel to Turkey as a result. The most recent update on COVID-19 testing figures was released by F1 and the FIA on Friday, which said there had been eight positive results in addition to Roberts out of 2,543 tests conducted. Isola served on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic in his native Italy, having worked as a volunteer ambulance driver and paramedic for the last 30 years in addition to his motorsport duties and activities. Isola regularly completed shifts in Milan at the height of the pandemic in Italy through spring, as well as completing fundraising for the volunteer ambulance service and helping to train future ambulance drivers.

Mattia Binotto says he is pleased that his experiment of sitting out a grand prix at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters over the weekend was a success. For the first time since becoming team boss, the Italian did not travel to the race location at the weekend. Ultimately, Istanbul turned out to be Sebastian Vettel’s first podium of the season, while Charles Leclerc only lost that place in a late race error. “Maybe they can leave Mattia at home more often? I’m joking obviously,” German Vettel, who will leave Ferrari after next month’s Abu Dhabi finale, laughed. Binotto had explained his planned absence in Turkey on the basis that Ferrari is now fully focused on 2021. “In general we saw a competitive Ferrari on Friday, Saturday morning and today, and this is the most important point of the weekend,” he told Sky Italia on Sunday from Maranello. “In the last few races the car has proved to be more competitive than at the start of the season, proving that we have taken the right direction of development. “We are focusing on 2021, but these are encouraging signs,” the Italian added. “So if you ask if I am sorry for not being at the track, no,” Binotto insisted. “I have to be present especially in difficult moments so I decided not to go to Turkey because the car was already improving with a few races left. “These results are welcome so now maybe I will not go to Bahrain either.” Vettel, meanwhile, dismissed any suggestion that his renowned superstitious nature could mean he wants Binotto to keep staying away for that reason alone. “I don’t believe in things like that at all,” the four-time world champion insisted. “We have so many people who do so many different things in a weekend, and ultimately that is what the picture of an entire weekend is made of.”

Lewis Hamilton will celebrate making Formula One history on Sunday in surprising fashion.The newly-crowned seven-time drivers’ world champion may be Britain’s richest sportsperson with a net worth reported by The Sunday Times of 224 million pounds ($A406 million). Yet after winning the Turkish Grand Prix he said he had become used to the strict coronavirus protocols that required him to adopt a quiet, no-frills lifestyle. “This year, I haven’t gone out and I haven’t gone to dinner,” he said. “I have just been staying in my bubble. “I get room service every day and it’s not really anything exciting and that’s naturally because I’ve got a championship to fight for. “So, I didn’t want to take any risks. I think, this year, I sacrificed more than I have in my whole life. “And, you know, it’s really made it quite difficult. I’m going to go home tonight and most likely it is not going to be the most exciting thing. “I’m probably just going to maybe watch the race and I usually have like a minestrone soup, but I’ll definitely have a bottle of wine.” Team chief Toto Wolff conceded on Sunday that Mercedes’ next contract with Lewis Hamilton had “got really more expensive.” Wolff, the man behind Hamilton and Mercedes’ amazing run of success since 2014, also forecast that the pair – who are both out of contract this year – would likely delay their contract finalisation talks until the season ends. “I don’t feel like I should add any pressure,” he said. “It has to be organic and not something that’s forced – we have three races ahead in the Middle East so it’s a bit more chilled. “It’s not done, but we will get it done I’m sure.”

Lewis Hamilton clinched the 2020 Formula 1 world title with victory in a wet and wild Turkish Grand Prix over Sergio Perez, while Valtteri Bottas finished 14th after several spins.The majority of the race was led by polesitter Lance Stroll, who lost out by taking a second stop for intermediates, a strategy Charles Leclerc used to charge to third in the closing stages, which he lost to teammate Sebastian Vettel after making a last-gaps move on Perez, while Mercedes opted to leave Hamilton on a one-stopper after he had charged up the leading Racing Point cars. The result gives Hamilton his seventh world championship, level with Michael Schumacher’s record title haul. At the start, all the cars made slow, slippery starts, but it was the Red Bull cars that could not carry enough momentum off the line, which meant Max Verstappen and Alex Albon were quickly swamped from second and fourth by the Renault and Mercedes cars. Esteban Ocon followed Perez into Turn 1 in third place as Stroll led away from pole, but he was tapped into a spin by Daniel Ricciardo, who had turned out of the left-hander to avoid Hamilton, with the Mercedes suddenly appearing on his inside. Ocon spun around and Bottas was left with nowhere to go, spinning in sync with the Renault as he avoided contact – although the Mercedes driver later tagged Ocon into a second spin, giving him a left-rear puncture, as he lost the rear of his W11 at the Turn 9 left-hander later on lap one. Stroll and Perez surged clear, with Hamilton up to third from sixth on the grid, but he slid off at Turn 9 and was jumped by the fast-starting Vettel, who was up from 11th on the grid, and the recovering Verstappen. At the end of lap one of 58, Stroll had a lead of 3.6s over Perez, which he set about extending to over five seconds with a series of fastest laps over the next few tours before the Mexican driver started to ease back towards his teammate. After Leclerc had proved the time was right to take intermediates with a stop from P14 on lap six, the leaders started to come in two laps later, led by Vettel and Hamilton from third and fifth – by which time Hamilton had become the fastest driver on track. When they came in on lap eight, Verstappen was unleashed from behind Vettel and he insisted on staying out on his full wets until lap 11, two laps after Stroll had come in and easily retained the net lead. Perez pitted the lap ahead of Verstappen, but had a slow right front change, and when the Red Bull finally came in – with Albon waiting until lap as the last of the leaders to change tyres – Verstappen just manage to jump ahead of Vettel, fractionally behind Perez. Stroll’s lead once the stops had shaken out was up to 10.7s, with the race then neutralised on lap 13 by the virtual safety car as Antonio Giovinazzi – who had crashed on the way to the grid ahead of the race, as did George Russell – pulled over to retire on the straight down the hill from Turn 8. When the race resumed two laps later, the Red Bull drivers were able to fire their tyres up best of the leaders, with Verstappen harrying Perez and Albon easily passing Vettel at Turn 7 on lap 16 after Hamilton had locked up and slid off at Turn 12 – the track’s main passing point – the lap the VSC ended. Verstappen had a chance to pass Perez when the Racing Point slipped out of Turn 9 on lap 18, after he had begun to make significant in-roads into Stroll’s lead, but after the Red Bull looked to Perez’s inside of the Turn 11 kink he shot out on the kerbs on the outside and lost the rear, spinning off at high speed and falling behind Albon, Vettel and Hamilton. As he had flat-spotted his tyres, Verstappen had to pit for another set of inters, falling to eighth with Albon then homing in on Perez as Hamilton struggled to stay with Vettel as the teams started to think about switching to dry tyres. By lap 24, Perez had whittled Stroll’s lead down to the four-second mark, with Albon following closely behind before then fading back over the next five laps as he struggled with the inters starting to wear on the drying track. The tread falling away on the green-walled tyres seemed to favour Vettel and Hamilton, as they started to home in on the leaders as the race approached the halfway stage, when Leclerc again triggered another round of stops as he pitted for more inters from ninth. His pace encouraged Vettel to pit as well, with Albon then gifting Hamilton third with spin at Turn 4 on lap 34, after which he immediately pitted. Up front, Perez was suddenly closing right up to Stroll, getting with one second – DRS had been activated on lap 30 – as Racing Point considered whether to take the fresh inters or leave its drivers out. But with Hamilton suddenly looming and the Ferraris flying on their new tyres, Stroll pitted on lap 36, coming out fourth, behind Verstappen – a factor again thanks to his early second stop. Hamilton instructed Mercedes to leave him out and by the start of lap 37 he was within one second of Perez’s car, then making a simple DRS pass on the long run to Turn 12 to take P1, which he had in the opening laps been nearly a pitstop behind. The Briton quickly dropped Perez, who also did not pit for a second set of inters, building a gap on nearly 20s over the next 10 laps. In the pack behind, Vettel, now being followed by the charging Leclerc, attacked a struggling Stroll into Turn 12 on lap 39, and when the…

In the aftermath of Saturday’s hectic Formula 1 qualifying session for the Turkish Grand Prix and Lance Stroll’s shock pole position, it briefly seemed his jubilation would be short-lived. As the stewards picked their way through the various incidents in a messy qualifying that included two red flags and an hour-long Q1 session, pole-man Stroll came into the spotlight for a possible yellow flag infringement. TV footage showed that Stroll’s teammate, Sergio Perez, had spun ahead of him on track during his fastest Q3 lap, resulting in a yellow flag being waved at Turn 7. Stroll was informed of the spin, but nevertheless set his fastest time and grabbed a shock pole position. The stewards reviewed the incident and ultimately cleared Stroll, deeming that he had slowed down for the yellow flag, but that the telemetry data had not shown as much due to the significant time gains made elsewhere in the changeable conditions. McLaren driver Lando Norris was also investigated over a yellow flag incident, concerning Nicholas Latifi’s spin at Turn 8 towards the end of Q1. While Norris was also deemed to have slowed down for the yellow flags, he still got copped with a five-place grid penalty that dropped him back to 16th on the grid. So why was there such a big difference in the penalties applied to the two drivers? It ultimately comes down to the regulations, and the fact that single-waved yellow flags were shown for Perez’s spin, but double-waved yellows were shown for Latifi. The single-waved yellow was shown at Turn 7 following Perez’s spin, prompting Stroll’s engineer to inform him of the need to ease off. The telemetry showed that Stroll “clearly came off the throttle, coasted into the corner, and then accelerated when clear of the incident”, as per the stewards’ report. As Stroll exited Turn 8, his engineer came back on the radio to say: “That was a single yellow so keep pushing.” It was an important message, as even thought Stroll had slowed for Perez’s spin, had there been double yellow flags, he would have been forced to abandon his lap completely. This is where Norris tripped up. The stewards noted that although the McLaren driver “was not attempting to set a quick laptime, due to the changing track conditions, he nevertheless did so and thereby breached the referenced regulations”. The regulations in question are buried in Appendix H of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, which straightforwardly explains the meaning of the marshal flag signals. Under double-waved yellow flags, it reads: “Reduce your speed significantly, do not overtake, and be prepared to change direction or stop. There is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track. “During free practice and qualifying, it must be evident that a driver has not attempted to set a meaningful lap time”. It then clarifies that “this means the driver should abandon the lap”, although there is no requirement to pit. Therefore as the track improved significantly and offered huge gains to drivers, even when trying to back off and abandon the lap, Norris’s improvement was enough to trigger a sizeable penalty. And in Stroll’s case, the fact it was just a single-waved yellow meant he was free to complete his shock charge to pole position, and ensure his fairytale day did not end on a sour note.