Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Tuesday, November 24.
Tuesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Hamilton hits back at 'lucky champion' jibe
© Reuters
Lewis Hamilton has hit back at the idea that he is simply "lucky" to have benefitted from Mercedes' utter dominance in past seasons.
By matching Michael Schumacher's record tally of seven titles this year, 35-year-old Hamilton says he now fully appreciates the work that goes into that level of success.
"As a young driver, you just don't understand how Michael Schumacher was able to put such a successful package on the road, or how I have done that now with Mercedes," the British driver told Auto Motor und Sport.
"Half of them believe that I'm just lucky to be in a good car, but today I am able to appreciate what Michael did back then.
"You have to be at the helm to steer this group of smart, determined and creative people on a direction of development so that at some point the car and driver harmonise perfectly," Hamilton added.
For instance, he says he sits down with his team "every week" to analyse the situation and propose changes.
"At my request, we did this more often and made the group bigger and I always know which way we are going to go with the next car," said Hamilton.
"In the past, the aerodynamicists would tell me which problems they are solving in the wind tunnel and what the next steps with the car would be, and every now and then I had to tell them 'This is not our problem'.
"That kind of direct conversation was more and more important to me."
Indeed, former Mercedes boss Norbert Haug - who worked with both seven time champions - said he sees many parallels between the methods of Schumacher and Hamilton.
"Both love what they do, they both demand more of themselves than anyone else, they both never give up, and they are both 'positively dissatisfied'," he told Sport1.
"That may sound like a contradiction but it is the elixir of the super champion," Haug added. "Without that you can be a winner, but not a permanent winner."
Engine not Ferrari's only 'big problem' - Vettel
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Sebastian Vettel says there is more to Ferrari's problems than simply an underperforming engine.
Team boss Mattia Binotto said last week that the Maranello-made power unit is up to 50 horsepower down on the Mercedes engine in 2020.
He said work on a completely new 2021 engine is looking "very promising".
"In terms of engine power, yes we lost some performance compared to last year," quadruple world champion Vettel, who is switching to Aston Martin next year after being dumped by Ferrari, is quoted by Globo.
"Regarding the car, we took a small step forward this year. Last season, our car was very efficient - we had a lot of downforce without a lot of drag," said the German.
"This year we have more downforce but also more drag - and that is a big problem," he added.
More news from Formula 1:
Raikkonen 'still one of F1's best' - Giovinazzi
Kimi Raikkonen remains one of the very best drivers in Formula 1. Read more.
Monza wants funds to restore banking 'for racing'
Monza is seeking government backing in the hope of restoring the old banked sections of the historic Autodromo "for racing". Read more.
Questions about Ferrari regret 'annoying' - Sainz
Carlos Sainz says being asked if he regrets his 2021 move to Ferrari is now becoming "annoying". Read more.
Sir Andy Murray echoes calls for Lewis Hamilton knighthood
Andy Murray, knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours, hailed Lewis Hamilton as "one of the most successful sportspeople in the history of the country". Read more.
Schumacher took 'one or two tips' from father
Mick Schumacher says he has used "one or two tips" from his famous father throughout his rise to Formula 1. Read more.
