Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Monday, July 20.
Monday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Lewis Hamilton accuses Formula One of lacking leadership in tackling racism
© Reuters
Lewis Hamilton moved to the top of the world championship – and then accused Formula One of lacking leadership in tackling racism.
Hamilton wore a Black Lives Matter T-shirt and stood in front of an 'End Racism' message as he took the knee ahead of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton was joined by a number of drivers in performing the gesture, but, as in previous weeks, some stood, and some were late to the pre-race ensemble.
The split is continuing to prove an embarrassing spectacle for F1 bosses, with Hamilton also moving to single out Grand Prix Drivers' Association director Romain Grosjean – the Frenchman who races for Haas – for failing to convince the grid to be united.
Grosjean is one of three directors for the organisation alongside Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who did take a knee, and chairman Alex Wurz, a former F1 driver.
"There is definitely not enough support for it," said Hamilton. "It is like it has gone off the agenda. It is lacking leadership.
"From a drivers' point of view, many seem to be of the opinion they've done it once and they're not going to do it again.
"We are all members of the GPDA and the GPDA is run by three people – two who are really supportive, and one who tends to think it is not important to continue with.
"I don't think it's being taken seriously. There are perhaps people who have not grown up around racism so don't understand it and because of that it doesn't affect them.
"I have heard people say 'it doesn't do anything for me so why should I do it?' But it's not about me and you, it's about this fight for the people out there who are experiencing discrimination."
F1 chairman Chase Carey has vowed to put in $1million of his own money to improve diversity in the sport he rules. The FIA has also pledged more than £900,000.
Hamilton said he will speak to F1 bosses and the president of its governing body, Jean Todt, in the hope of bringing the grid together.
He added: "I will get in touch with Formula One this week and I will speak to Jean because no-one else is going to do it.
"We have not made any progress. We have not changed anything. You need a leader. Where is Jean in that scenario?
"It shouldn't be down to me to call the teams out for not being accountable on the issue. That should come from the top down and the higher powers, who pull the strings."
The @FIA gives one million euros in contribution to diversity in motor sport ⬇️https://t.co/Lu8LPmrsLK
— FIA (@fia) July 5, 2020
Responding to Hamilton's latest comments, an F1 spokesperson said: "Ending racism and increasing diversity and inclusion in F1 is a clear priority and something everyone supports.
"We set out our plans for diversity and inclusion last November and have in recent weeks announced additional plans to create a Taskforce to tackle these issues and a foundation with over $1m already donated to create apprenticeships and job opportunities for under-represented groups.
"We want to make lasting change and are acting to do this."
No 'fundamental' problem with 2020 Red Bull - Horner
© Reuters
Red Bull's 2020 car is not fundamentally flawed.
That is the claim of team boss Christian Horner, after Max Verstappen bounced back from poor qualifying pace and even a pre-race crash to finish second behind Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in Hungary.
Before that, team official Dr Helmut Marko said he thinks the 1.4 second qualifying gap to Lewis Hamilton showed that the 2020 car has a "fundamental problem".
"There are some anomalies in the car," Horner confirmed to Auto Motor und Sport.
"The aerodynamics do not behave as we would expect and we're working hard to understand that, but I think the fundamentals of the car are right.
"We just need to somehow extract the pace that the simulations are promising us. Then we should be much closer," he added.
After his pre-race crash and impressive 12-minute repair job on the grid by the mechanics, Verstappen said finishing second on Sunday was "the maximum" possible.
"Mercedes is so dominant so to be in between them is of course a great achievement," the Dutchman told RTL.
But others are worried about the 2020 season overall, as amid Red Bull and Ferrari's struggles, Mercedes is currently alone at the top of the field.
"From the point of view of audience interest, the current season is lost," said former Minardi driver Sergey Zlobin.
"All the teams' budgets have been protected to save the people's jobs, so at least the drivers are driving and the mechanics and engineers have work to do," he told Izvestia news agency.
"But there is nothing really interesting. Mercedes will easily take the title."
More transfer news from Formula 1:
Racing Point 'interested' in signing Vettel - boss
Racing Point has declared its clear interest in signing up Sebastian Vettel for 2021. Read more.
'Too early' to consider 2021 F1 seat for Schumacher - Binotto
It is "too early" to consider whether Mick Schumacher will be promoted into Formula 1 for 2021. Read more.
Ferrari must have 'courage to make changes' - Binotto
Ferrari will take a sharp turn away from its planned "development path" for the 2020 car, after being lapped by race winner Lewis Hamilton in Hungary. Read more.
Red Bull to use 'Racing Point model' for Alpha Tauri - Marko
Alpha Tauri will 'do a Racing Point' if the FIA declares that the Silverstone based team's controversial 2020 car is fully legal. Read more.
FIA boss Todt says 'all lives' matter
As Lewis Hamilton blasts Formula 1's anti-racism measures as "not good enough", FIA president Jean Todt has declared that "all lives" matter. Read more.
Max Verstappen: 'Second-place finish felt like victory in Hungarian GP'
Max Verstappen ended up in the barriers at Turn 12 after he lost control of his Red Bull on his way to the grid. Read more.
Lewis Hamilton wants "more of a battle" from rivals after dominant victory
Lewis Hamilton moved to the top of the title standings for the first time this season. Read more.
Lewis Hamilton wins Hungarian Grand Prix for eighth time
The Briton dominated from start to finish. Read more.
Another technical controversy for Racing Point
Another war front has opened up for the Racing Point team. Read more.
Wolff scoffs at Binotto's engine power claims
Toto Wolff used an expletive to describe his feelings about Ferrari's apparent engine power drop from 2019 to 2020. Read more.
Wolff slams Ferrari over Concorde comments
Toto Wolff has slammed Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto for making "ridiculous" comments in Hungary about the new Concorde Agreement. Read more.
Mercedes' 2021 driver lineup appears to now be set in stone. Read more.
Albon has 'huge support from Thailand' - Gasly
Sebastian Vettel says he is still yet to decide how to proceed with his life in 2021 and beyond after being dropped by Ferrari. Read more.
2020 Red Bull car design 'in wrong direction' - Marko
As Ferrari and now Red Bull notably struggle, Mercedes are racing "in a different universe". Read more.
