Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Tuesday, January 26.
Tuesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Hamilton contract uncertainty to end in 'days'
© Reuters
The uncertainty about Lewis Hamilton's future will be "cleared up in the next few days".
That is the view of Felix Gorner, the F1 correspondent for the German broadcasters RTL and n-tv.
His comments come after Toto Wolff broke his recent silence on the matter to admit he and Hamilton have been "arguing" over the seven time world champion's 2021 contract.
"We don't make life easy for the lawyers when we both argue over Zoom and keep sending them curveballs," the Mercedes team boss told Austrian broadcaster ORF.
"But he's in America now and I'm here in Austria. At some point we will finalise it. It's how it is with negotiations."
Wolff said the final deadline for all the signatures is Bahrain - where both pre-season testing and the first race of the season will take place in March.
But Gorner doesn't think the world of F1 will wait that long for official news.
"The problem will be cleared up in the next few days," he predicts, adding that the probability that the negotiations will ultimately collapse and fail is "zero".
"Both sides want to work together, Hamilton wants his eighth world title. That's why the contract will be signed in January," said Gorner.
Former F1 driver David Coulthard predicts that the major stumbling block in the negotiations is probably money - the actual value of the contract, plus Hamilton's desire for more freedom in his marketing rights.
"Business is business," Coulthard told Express newspaper. "Nobody just gives money away because somebody is nice or somebody is good at what they're doing. There has to be an agreement on what the perceived value is."
Red Bull 'a lot stronger' with Perez - Wolff
© Reuters
Red Bull is "a lot stronger" with Sergio Perez on the team in 2021.
That is the view of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, whose driver Lewis Hamilton once again dominantly won the world championship ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull's Max Verstappen last year.
"Red Bull has become a lot stronger with the arrival of Perez," Wolff told the Austrian broadcaster ORF. "He is a very good driver.
"As a result, they will perform a lot better in the battle for the constructors' championship. Sergio is a strong driver and I am curious to see how he will handle Verstappen."
Wolff also thinks Red Bull will have a shot at the drivers' title in 2021, despite the fact that a Mercedes driver has won every championship since 2014.
"The cars will hardly change from last year, but Red Bull have a faster driver and Honda will be an engine supplier in Formula 1 for the last time so I expect them to go flat out for the title," said the Austrian.
"It will be a very interesting season."
More news from Formula 1:
Jenson Button to own and drive team in Extreme E
The former Formula One world champion has founded the JBXE team for the series. Read more.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reveals positive coronavirus test
Toto Wolff spent 10 days in quarantine and reported barely any symptoms. Read more.
Grosjean will sit out Indy 500 in 2021
Romain Grosjean will sit out the Indy 500 this year - even if he signs up to race in the Indycar championship. Read more.
Vettel plays down Red Bull-Aston Martin comparison
Sebastian Vettel has played down the comparison between his arrival at Aston Martin this year and the way he dominated at Red Bull between 2010 and 2013. Read more.
Wolff hits back at Horner's 'teasing' comments
Toto Wolff has dismissed "teasing" comments made recently by his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner. Read more.
