Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Tuesday, July 28.
Tuesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Heidfeld says expectations on Leclerc 'unrealistic'
© Reuters
Charles Leclerc has not had a good start to 2020, according to former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld.
Indeed, although he was a surprise second in the uncompetitive Ferrari in the first Austrian race, the 22-year-old took all of the blame for a crash with his teammate Sebastian Vettel in the second.
And although he's leaving the Italian team at the end of the year, it was Vettel who looked the more competitive driver last time out in Hungary.
"Leclerc has not done well in the last two races," Heidfeld, who contested 185 grands prix until 2011, told Sky Deutschland.
In fact, he called Hungary a "weak race" for Leclerc.
"I've been saying for months that Leclerc is being seen in Italy as the great saviour of Ferrari," Heidfeld said.
"The plan was to get him into the car and succeed where so many others have failed by winning the world championship. In the weeks and months before the season, he was almost a God who could do anything.
"But so much was projected onto him that he could not achieve it," Heidfeld insisted. "It is clear now that what was expected of him is completely unrealistic."
That pressure will only ramp up even further, given Ferrari's lack of pace and the fact that Italy will host no fewer than three races in 2020.
"Especially as Ferrari in Italy, it can and will be a very difficult time for Charles with that car," Heidfeld said.
"At the beginning the perception is positive because he stands by his mistakes. But he cannot keep doing that.
"If he keeps making mistakes and keeps saying 'My mistake', then the press will start asking why he is there. Very quickly it could become a difficult situation for him.
"Nowhere is the pressure greater than at Ferrari," Heidfeld added. "Fortunately, that's exactly one of Charles's great strengths - coping with pressure.
"But the biggest question is how will he continue to develop? I'm curious to see how far the curve goes up. It will be exciting to watch."
Red Bull, Honda to hold meeting before Silverstone
© Reuters
Honda officials are meeting with their Red Bull counterparts this week to discuss the disappointing start to their 2020 championship campaign.
Red Bull went into the year confident Max Verstappen may become the youngest ever Formula 1 title winner.
But in Austria and Hungary, Mercedes clearly dominated, and that dominance is expected to be even stronger through the fast corners at Silverstone.
Red Bull admits it has an aerodynamic problem, but team figures have also said the Honda engine is lacking power.
"As Red Bull-Honda, it is necessary for both Red Bull and Honda to share the feelings about not being in a situation to challenge Mercedes at the moment," Honda's F1 boss Masashi Yamamoto told as-web.jp.
"Therefore, we decided to hold a meeting with the leaders before Silverstone," he added.
"It is not an emergency meeting," the Japanese insisted. "We have already talked a few times over the three races, but now we will do it properly.
"I would like to discuss about the RB16, the evolution of Honda's power unit, and how we can keep fighting in the future," said Yamamoto.
He said all the well known top Honda and Red Bull officials will attend the meeting, and also "various other people depending on the content of the discussion".
"For example, if it's technical, Adrian Newey will definitely be present, and perhaps (technical director Pierre) Wache as well.
"We will do it at the Red Bull factory in Milton-Keynes around July 29 or 30," Yamamoto added.
More news from Formula 1:
Haas undeterred by Hungary radio penalty
Gunther Steiner says Haas will not change its approach to racing, even though it cost the small American team in Hungary. Read more.
Aston Martin deadline looming for Vettel - report
Sebastian Vettel has mere days to decide if he wants to join the Racing Point team - set to become Aston Martin - in 2021. Read more.
Zanardi 'stable' after fourth operation
Alex Zanardi's condition is once again listed as "stable" following a fourth operation. Read more.
Turkey could return to F1 calendar in 2020
The Turkish government has admitted Istanbul could be yet another venue to be added to the 2020 'corona calendar'. Read more.
Lando Norris tips Lewis Hamilton to win every remaining race this season
The world champion has been tipped by his fellow Briton to win the remainder of the races. Read more.
Vettel could go to Alpha Tauri in 2021 - Schumacher
Yet another option for Sebastian Vettel may have emerged for 2021. Read more.
'Unstable' Zanardi back in intensive care
Alex Zanardi is back in intensive care. Read more.
Ferrari team tweak 'not the solution' - Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher doubts Ferrari's organisational shakeup will fix the struggling Italian team's problems. Read more.
Promoter claims Canada GP health plan 'was not even read'
The promoter of the Canadian GP has hit out at local authorities for not supporting his push to bring Formula 1 to Montreal amid the corona crisis. Read more.
Alfa Romeo admits 2020 pace 'a disaster'
It will "take time" for Alfa Romeo to pull itself off the very bottom row of the Formula 1 grid. Read more.
