Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Thursday, September 3.
Thursday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Binotto has 'nothing' to say after Wolff comments
© Reuters
Mattia Binotto says there is "nothing" he wants to say in reply to his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff.
As Ferrari descended into one of its worst-ever slumps at Spa, Wolff said he blames "certain team members" rather than the fabled Maranello camp as a whole and feels sorry for the Tifosi.
Many think that was a direct dig at Binotto's leadership.
"I know that there are certain people on other teams who like to talk about our situation and our fans," Binotto responded.
"There is nothing I would like to answer to him," he added. "I know what's going on with our fans. I'm a fan myself. I've worked in this team for 25 years.
"We know our priorities and that there is no magic in Formula 1. You just have to develop as quickly as possible and try to set the right priorities."
However, with F1 now heading to its historic Italian double-header at Monza and Ferrari-owned Mugello, the questions about Binotto's future will surely only grow.
"As in business, a team boss is responsible for his team," former Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn told Sport1.
"That means that the people, the structures and the processes have to be questioned."
Even Binotto admits that Ferrari's deep slump will continue for now, as "nothing can be done about the engine" within this season.
"We need to focus on 2021 and the following season," the Italian told Corriere della Sera.
Ralf Schumacher thinks that work will already be well underway.
"I can imagine that the team is already completely rethinking the concept," he told Sky Deutschland. "Maybe something big will change.
"But unfortunately that won't be seen on the track for three to four weeks at the earliest."
Vettel rumours 'suddenly quiet' - Schumacher
© Reuters
Sebastian Vettel may now have decided to take a sabbatical in 2021, according to his countryman and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher notes that after all the hype about a potential Aston Martin seat for the quadruple world champion, it has suddenly become "very, very quiet around him".
Indeed, Sergio Perez has at the same time been sounding increasingly confident of remaining at the Silverstone based team for 2021.
It means the situation for Vettel is suddenly unclear.
"As far as he is concerned, it's just a matter of being ahead of his teammate in the last races and then going home and thinking about whether he wants to go any further," Schumacher told Sky Deutschland when asked about Vettel.
"At the moment it has become very, very quiet around him. It may well be that he has now decided to take a year off."
It would be a bitter end for Vettel, having arrived at Ferrari in 2014 with such high hopes, and then leaving the Maranello team amid its deep slump.
"I don't regret going to Ferrari," the German told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I may not have been able to win another title, but I fully support my choice at the time. We've had good and bad times, but I've mostly just lived in the moment.
"In the end, everything comes to an end and that's it. I'm already working on my new goals," Vettel added.
He has been linked with certain projects outside of Formula 1, but Vettel in fact seems more likely to secure a competitive F1 seat for 2021 or simply call it a day.
"I can stop and sit on the couch at home, but I still think Formula 1 is really cool," he said.
"What I know is that I would only choose a team that has ambitions to achieve big goals."
Vettel's final act may turn out to be a horror last series of races for crisis-struck Ferrari.
"A lot of people have tried to help me over the past few years," he admitted. "I think it's just a show of respect to try to do the same in return."
More news from Formula 1:
Turkey eyes 100,000 spectators, longer F1 deal
For Ferrari, the absence of the Tifosi at Monza this weekend may actually be a blessing. Read more.
'Political' reason for Renault surge - report
There is a "political" factor behind Renault's surge towards the front of the grid. Read more.
Tsunoda getting closer to Alpha Tauri debut
Yuki Tsunoda is shaping up as the most likely rookie on Formula 1's 2021 grid. Read more.
'Too early' to decide Kvyat's future - Marko
It is "too early to speculate" about Daniil Kvyat's future in Formula 1. Read more.
Magnussen stayed at Haas 'too long' - Nielsen
Formula 1 is leaving Kevin Magnussen behind, according to former Le Mans winner John Nielsen. Read more.
Steiner ramps up pressure on Haas supplier Ferrari
Gunther Steiner is ramping up the pressure on Haas' crisis-struck engine supplier Ferrari. Read more.
2020 season 'not boring' - Petrov
Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov has hit back at claims that Formula 1 is "boring" in 2020. Read more.
Vettel stopped feeling Ferrari support - Montezemolo
Sebastian Vettel was never a troublemaker at Ferrari, the team's former president Luca di Montezemolo insists. Read more.
Red Bull applied pressure for 'party mode' ban - Marko
Dr Helmut Marko has admitted Red Bull applied "necessary pressure" to help get what he describes as Mercedes' "extreme" party mode engine settings banned. Read more.
Red Bull scraps plans for 'DAS' copy
Red Bull has scrapped plans to copy Mercedes' 'DAS' steering system. Read more.
Just three days of winter testing in 2021
There will be just three days of winter testing before the 2021 season kicks off, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. Read more.
Melbourne 2021 in doubt, rival venue could step in
A small town in South Australia has emerged as a potential Formula 1 venue for 2021. Read more.
Ferrari management made mistakes - Montezemolo
Ferrari "paid a very high price" for Formula 1's move to hybrid engine technology in 2014. Read more.
