Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Wednesday, February 10.
Wednesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Lauda would have signed Hamilton 'at any cost'
© Reuters
Niki Lauda would have signed up Lewis Hamilton for 2021 "at any cost", according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
F1 legend Lauda, who died in 2019, ran the German team alongside Wolff. And so the latter Austrian was asked what Lauda would have done amid the farcically-delayed recent contract negotiations with Hamilton.
"Niki always seems to be there with me when I am in situations where I would have wanted his advice," Wolff told the German broadcaster RTL.
"And so I ask myself 'What would Niki have said?'. The answer is that Niki always had two caps on - that of the driver and of the team leader. He could see from both perspectives.
"He would have said 'Lewis is the best driver and he suits Mercedes. This combination should be pursued at any cost'. Sorry, not at any cost, but in the sense of a good sporting future for both him and the team," Wolff added.
However, the lengthy delay in signing the deal, and its ten-month duration, is raising many questions about what lies ahead in the Hamilton-Mercedes collaboration.
Hamilton's father Anthony is suggesting that his 36-year-old son is not even setting a record eighth world championship as his "target" for this season.
"I don't think the record is the target," he told Talksport radio. "There's a realisation that obviously he's getting older and wants to do other things in life.
"There's more to life than racing, but for now he's happy to do another year," Hamilton snr added.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hamilton's 2021 contract includes an automatic single-year renewal option. The Italian newspaper explained that it means that in the event of future stalled negotiations, the collaboration can simply roll into the following season.
Grosjean backs Alpine's new F1 boss Brivio
© Reuters
A third well-known F1 personality has backed Renault's decision to install Davide Brivio in a leading managerial position at the newly-rebranded Alpine team.
In January, former Renault boss Flavio Briatore said the fact MotoGP team Suzuki's former boss has no experience in F1 will not be a problem.
"I had no experience when I got there either," said the Italian. "I had never even seen a race. Then I won seven world championships."
Renault CEO Luca de Meo also defended Brivio's appointment, declaring that "it doesn't matter that Formula 1 has two more wheels" than premier motorcycle racing.
Now, former Renault driver Romain Grosjean is expecting Brivio entering Formula 1 to be "a good move".
"I have been observing and following the changes at Alpine and I think I was quite surprised," the Frenchman is quoted by Marca sports newspaper.
"I know Brivio a little. I am a big MotoGP fan, so obviously I have been looking at his trajectory in the world's top motorcycle racing competition and watching the championship that he won with (Joan) Mir in 2020," said Grosjean.
"He knows racing very well, so I hope for Renault it will be a good move. Also Marcin (Budkowski) at the top of the team will contribute a lot as well. So I wish them the best.
"I spent 10 years of my life with Renault, so I really wish them the best and hope they can build on what they did last year. They should do well," he added.
More news from Formula 1:
Raikkonen could return to Nascar after F1
Kimi Raikkonen says he could return to Nascar once he retires from Formula 1 for good. Read more.
Domenicali looking beyond current F1 calendar
Despite the uncertainty surrounding this year's calendar amid the covid crisis, Formula 1 is looking to expand into other countries in the future. Read more.
Teams to 'quickly recover' lost 2021 downforce
Pirelli is expecting F1 teams to "quickly recover" the downforce that will be lost by the tweaked aerodynamic regulations for 2021. Read more.
