Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Monday, February 1.
Monday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Hamilton contract situation 'unpleasant' now
© Reuters
Lewis Hamilton's contract situation is becoming "quite unpleasant" for the new seven time world champion.
That is the view of Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, who wonders if Hamilton is miscalculating his rumoured demands as he negotiates with Mercedes.
"I thought, like Bernie Ecclestone did, that this was all a marketing ploy so that people would talk about Mercedes," the Match TV broadcaster said.
"But it seems like 80 percent of British people don't want to see Hamilton in that car this season," Popov added. "Maybe it's because it would be a British driver to replace him.
"Anyway, the situation is quite unpleasant for Lewis."
Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde thinks the situation is a double-edged sword for 36-year-old Hamilton, with both his on-track dominance and off-track personality a turn-off for some fans.
"He has really changed as a person," he told RTL GP.
"Sometimes Lewis went crazy off the track, but not anymore. What he does on the track is great, but outside the track he has become a bit of a boring guy," van der Garde told the Dutch source.
"It's the opposite with Max (Verstappen). He changes zero. He has remained a normal guy who you can always laugh with."
Stroll slams Aston Martin sale rumours
F1 team owner Lawrence Stroll has slammed rumours that the Aston Martin brand may be sold once again.
A media report last week claimed that although billionaire Stroll's new acquisition will only see his team re-branded this year, Aston Martin may already have a Chinese buyer on the horizon.
"Lawrence Stroll himself describes the rumours as pure bullsh*t and completely untrue," a spokesperson for the Aston Martin team told Dutch publication racingnews365.
"Stroll stressed that he is very enthusiastic about the project, and he believes in a long and successful future in Formula 1," the source added.
More news from Formula 1:
Vettel had to leave Ferrari - Wolff
Toto Wolff has tipped Sebastian Vettel to "succeed" after switching to Aston Martin for 2021. Read more.
Eighth title 'a huge thing' - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton says winning a record eighth world championship this year would be a "huge thing". Read more.
Vettel to have 'usual hair' in Bahrain
Sebastian Vettel should be back to his "usual longer hair" by the start of the season in Bahrain. Read more.
Mercedes not blocking Red Bull-Honda deal
Mercedes will not stand in the way of Red Bull's engine plans for 2022. Read more.
Raikkonen 'still enjoys driving' in F1
Kimi Raikkonen says he is staying in Formula 1 because he still enjoys it. Read more.
'Tokens' won't make big difference in 2021
The new system of limited development 'tokens' will not make a big difference to the 2021 pecking order, according to Jody Egginton. Read more.
Kubica eyes LMP2 move for 2021
Robert Kubica is eyeing a move into Le Mans' second-tier LMP2 category in 2021. Read more.
2021 title tilt 'not realistic' - Seidl
It is not "realistic" to expect McLaren to charge for the 2021 title. Read more.
Sainz denies Ferrari lineup is too young
Carlos Sainz has played down claims that Ferrari's youngest driver lineup in decades could hurt the Maranello team. Read more.
Magnussen says end of F1 career 'boring'
Kevin Magnussen says the experience of racing in Formula 1 became "boring" for him in the past few seasons. Read more.
'Too early' to reveal Indycar news - Grosjean
It is "too early" to reveal whether Romain Grosjean will race in Indycar in 2021. Read more.
