Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Wednesday, August 5.
Wednesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Newey's design dominance may be over - Albers
© Reuters
Max Verstappen should re-focus his target for 2020 and instead aim to be runner-up behind Mercedes' dominant champion Lewis Hamilton.
That is the view of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who told De Telegraaf that while Hamilton is untouchable, his teammate Valtteri Bottas appears beatable.
"Max can create opportunities there. He is a fighter," Verstappen's fellow Dutchman said.
However, Red Bull is disappointed that its pre-season title target appears wide of the mark. Albers, who last raced for Spyker in 2007, thinks Red Bull's chassis is the problem.
"I don't think it's the engine that has gotten worse," said the 41-year-old.
"It's a pity that Mercedes is so dominant. But where is Adrian Newey now? I've heard for years that he's the best designer in the world, but the world constantly changes.
"Maybe he has had his best times," Albers suggested.
He also thinks Red Bull needs to think hard about whether to remain committed to Verstappen's struggling teammate Alex Albon.
"Red Bull now only has one driver," he charged, "and that doesn't help Max get those last tenths that he needs."
Honda's technical boss Toyoharu Tanabe, however, admitted the Japanese manufacturer has work to do as well.
"It is true that we are a little behind Mercedes, but the gap is not so big in the race as it is in qualifying," he told as-web.jp.
"Now we have to make efforts to come up with solutions, but so will the competition. Of course we want to improve, but I think it will be difficult."
Finally, Albers hit out at the penalties levied against drivers in recent F1 races.
"Let's be honest: these drivers make between 5 and 30 million euros a year. If we start dealing with safety like this, they might as well earn normal amounts of money," he said.
Talks needed with drivers who won't kneel - Hamilton
© Reuters
"More conversations" should take place to convince drivers like Kevin Magnussen to kneel down before races, according to Lewis Hamilton.
Having kneeled for anti-racism with 14 other drivers in Austria and Hungary, Haas driver Magnussen elected to stand up with six of his peers at Silverstone.
"I do not fully support what the organisation Black Lives Matter stands for," the Dane told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.
Hamilton's boss Toto Wolff said the six-time world champion is justified in crusading against racism.
"We as middle-aged white men can never put ourselves in a situation of someone who has been racially abused," the Mercedes chief told the Guardian.
"I think he realised that a peaceful, silent protest hasn't changed anything in the last 60 years. So maybe it's time to utilise your voice in a more polarising and confrontational way with the hope that he can trigger change."
Wolff's wife Susie, who runs a Formula E team, agrees.
"As much as we think the sport might not be racist, if Lewis is telling us it is, it's from his own personal experience and that counts for so much," she told CNN.
So when asked if drivers like Magnussen should be forced to kneel rather than stand, Hamilton answered: "I'm not going to tell you my opinion on whether everyone needs to or not.
"But if you look at all the other sports - look at basketball, look at football, Spanish teams, Italian teams, teams all over the world - no matter what nationality or mixture, they are all doing it united," he said.
"I don't know why Magnussen hasn't done it, I've not spoken to him. Maybe there needs to be more conversations."
More news from Formula 1:
Juan Mata celebrates Common Goal's third birthday - Tuesday's sporting social
Five-time Olympic gold medal winner Katie Ledecky also stepped up the #gotmilkchallenge. Read more.
F1 doctor 'surprised' by low coronavirus infections
FIA doctor Professor Gerard Saillant says he is "surprised" that so few cases of coronavirus have been detected since the 2020 'corona calendar' kicked off last month. Read more.
Szafnauer not denying Vettel rumours
Sebastian Vettel insists he has not made a decision about his next move in Formula 1. Read more.
Wolff hints Mercedes 'foursome' staying together
Mercedes will soon announce that its 'dream team' is staying together for another season. Read more.
Binotto denies Ferrari to test new parts on Wednesday
Mattia Binotto has denied that Ferrari will use a 'filming day' at Silverstone on Wednesday to try urgent car updates. Read more.
Raikkonen will not quit mid-season - Lehto
Kimi Raikkonen is not about to quit in the middle of a Formula 1 season. Read more.
Didier Pironi's son on Silverstone podium
Didier Pironi's son was on the Silverstone podium last Sunday. Read more.
Pirelli reveals reasons behind punctures at British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag for Mercedes despite having to navigate the final lap with a puncture. Read more.
Spectators need 'patience' before returning to F1 tracks
As the 'ghost races' roll on in Formula 1, the question of when spectators will be able to return to the circuits is now being posed. Read more.
Ferrari must find up to 80 horsepower - Berger
It will take "a year or two" before Ferrari can start thinking about beating Mercedes on merit, according to former team driver Gerhard Berger. Read more.
Physio says Perez wants to race this weekend
Sergio Perez's trainer admits they are hoping the Mexican can return to the wheel of his Racing Point at Silverstone this weekend. Read more.
Ferrari adds weight to 'pink Mercedes' controversy
Ferrari has now joined the growing push against Racing Point's 'pink Mercedes'. Read more.
Tyres 'have not kept pace' with F1 - pundit
An F1 pundit claims that Pirelli "has not kept pace" in 2020 as Formula 1 speeds race ahead. Read more.
