Breaking F1 News, Live Ra United Kingdom

Rivals: Hamilton's numbers are very impressive | F1 News by PlanetF1 - PlanetF1

Sebastian Vettel admits he never thought anyone would ever match Michael Schumacher's all-time win tally and yet Lewis Hamilton has done just that.

Sebastian Vettel admits he never thought anyone would ever match Michael Schumacher’s all-time win tally and yet Lewis Hamilton has done just that. Hamilton secured his 91st grand prix win on Sunday, taking the chequered flag at the Eifel Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen. His seventh race win of this season put him on a par with Schuamcher’s all-time record which Hamilton will be looking to break when Formula 1 races in Portimao in two weeks. It also saw the Brit slide out to a 69-point advantage as he cruises towards another of Schumacher’s records, seven World titles. “I can’t respect his efforts enough, said Vettel. I think it’s been a number in my head that I’d always thought would never be beaten, or equalled. I think we’re generally quite certain that he will exceed this number! “Nevertheless, I have to say that Michael will always be my hero, and I think Michael had something about him that I haven’t seen in other drivers so far. “It’s probably the fact that I looked up to him when I was a child, and Lewis I didn’t look up to when I was a child because I was racing him, so it’s a different situation going in. “But probably in another 10, 15, 20 years’ time, there will be more admiration for that, but obviously when you’re still active, you’ve looking at yourself and not so much at others. But as I said, you can’t cherish him enough for what he has achieved.” Verstappen, who joined Hamilton on the podium on Sunday, says he also thought Schumacher’s record would stand the test of time. He does, however, wonder if anyone else will ever get close. “Its an incredible achievement, said Verstappen. “91 wins, everyone thought that was almost impossible to reach, right? “To be there now, himself, its incredible and very impressive. And Im pretty sure there will be some more victories coming his way and probably also championships. “So, yep, just very impressive. And hard to beat.” Get your hands on the official Mercedes 2020 collection via the Formula 1 store And while Daniel Ricciardo acknowledges that to achieve Hamilton’s success a driver has to have the package to succeed, he says the Brit deserves “big respect” for what he has achieved. Tip of the hat at the very least! said Ricciardo. With how much success Lewis has now had, obviously Michael as well his career now has been well over a decade in the sport and to keep coming back and to show that level of consistency at the front, thats also not easy. I think us up here I think we understand that. You can have a package and a car to do it, but its doing it every weekend when the lights go out. Its easier said than done. Certainly big respect. I think also the gift that he received, one of Michaels helmets, thats one of the coolest gifts Ive ever seen in the sport, so its really nice to see that today. Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.

Record-equalling Lewis Hamilton has 'reinvented himself' - PlanetF1

Lewis Hamilton has “reinvented himself” as a driver in recent years to become the complete F1 competitor, according to his father Anthony.

Lewis Hamilton has reinvented himself as a driver in recent years to become the complete F1 competitor, according to his father Anthony. In the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, the World Champion became the joint most successful racer in Formula 1 history as he equalled Michael Schumachers record of 91 victories. The outright record is surely only just around the corner while, at some point before the end of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in mid-December, Hamilton looks certain to match another of Schumachers records by claiming his seventh World Championship title. He holds a 69-point lead in the standings over his team-mate Valtteri Bottas. #91 pic.twitter.com/rNW8oaiVH0 — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 12, 2020 Get your hands on the official Mercedes 2020 collection via the Formula 1 store Although the 35-year-old Briton frequently credits his Mercedes team for the part they have played in his success, Anthony Hamilton believes the way in which his son has developed as a driver is also worthy of huge praise. Lewis’ early formative years were probably the most influential and the most important to his achievements today, Hamilton snr told Sky Sports. As you get older and wiser and more experienced, you start to reinvent yourself. If you look at the way Lewis is racing now, certainly in the last two or three years he has completely reinvented the way he has approached his racing and drives. There’s no accounting clearly for talent, but being able to develop control of the tyres, manage the race…it takes a huge amount of skill and, I must say, patience. In terms of how long Hamilton will continue as a Formula 1 driver, Anthony offered no specific timeframe but cited enjoyment as a key factor in future decisions. Hamilton jnr has yet to commit to Mercedes beyond the end of this season, but the likelihood is that he will extend his tenure with the all-conquering team for potentially another three years. As I keep saying to him, you’re a long time retired in this sport – continue for as long as you enjoy doing it, said Anthony. When you get to that stage where you are no longer having fun then you should stop doing it. But I know Lewis absolutely adores the sport, he loves winning, he loves competing and loves the competition. Most of all he loves standing up on the podium hearing the national anthem played for him. Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!

Conclusions from the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring - PlanetF1

Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 F1 race wins at the Nurburgring. Here are our Eifel Grand Prix conclusions.

Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumachers record of 91 Formula 1 race wins at the Nurburgring on another disappointing day for his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Here are our conclusions from the first and possibly only ever Eifel Grand Prix. Hamiltons historic day He's done it! Lewis Hamilton has tied the all-time record of 91 #F1 race wins after victory at the #EifelGPpic.twitter.com/l4jahLABZz — Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) October 11, 2020 In a race that will be remembered much more for what certain drivers achieved than for the action on track, Lewis Hamilton nipped in the bud any notion that the World Championship pendulum might be starting to swing back towards Valtteri Bottas. Even Nico Rosberg, surely more in hope than expectation, had raised that suggestion after Bottas, who triumphed in Russia last time out, claimed pole position at the Nurburgring. But the title race is now done and dusted for sure with the Briton holding a 69-point lead with six races remaining. Bottas had to retire with a power-unit problem, yet the writing had been on the wall when he was overtaken for the lead by Hamilton on lap 13 after locking up and running wide at turn 1. From then on, there was never any serious danger that Hamilton would miss out on matching Schumachers total of 91 race victories at a circuit just 55 miles from the seven-time World Champions home town of Kerpen. And it was a real poignant moment when Hamilton was presented with one of the German legends race helmets by Schumachers son Mick during the post-race interviews a gesture which clearly touched the 35-year-old. The outright record will almost certainly be Hamiltons within the next few races and 100 victories reached next year. But of more immediate significance will be drawing level with another Schumi record the seven World Championships, which he can look forward to doing at some point this autumn. Possibly even as early as the Turkish Grand Prix on November 11. Ricciardos Renault regrets? Finally, the tattoo story has been put to bed. We now have the dubious pleasure of looking forward to seeing what design, and where, is inked in on Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul after Daniel Ricciardo gave the team their first podium finish since 2011. From the driver domino rally that took place during the spring and summer, Ricciardo must be the one having the biggest doubts about the move he decided to make. Not that Sebastian Vettel had any choice but he gives the impression he cannot wait to get out of Ferrari, while Carlos Sainz will at least have the kudos of joining a team as prestigious as the Scuderia and is now starting to voice discontent about his treatment at McLaren. However, for Ricciardo, things are working well at Renault. The Australian justified his claim that he is the guy to beat outside the top three in the Championship at present with P3 at the Nurburgring and has risen to fourth in the drivers standings. Only two points separate McLaren and Renault in the constructors list but momentum is with the French manufacturer, whose company CEO Luca de Meo was present at the Nurburgring and has grand plans for a team that will be rebranded as Alpine next year. Despite putting on a brave face about his departure, saying he will be happy to leave Renault on a high, Ricciardo must be fearing he has jumped ship too soonas he makes way for Fernando Alonso. Ricciardo will need to hope that McLaren switching to Mercedes power for 2021, which was high up on the list of factors that influenced his decision, does pay the dividend he hopes for. All power to the Hulk They were quick with the Hulkenback banner!#EifelGPpic.twitter.com/kVDvlkqwqK — tami. (@Vetteleclerc) October 11, 2020 From sitting chilling with a coffee an hour away from the circuit, preparing for some TV punditry work, to finishing P8 at the Eifel Grand Prix in the space of 29 hours meant the weekend was some turnaround for Nico Hulkenberg. It was, of course, the second time the German had been called up to stand in for a Racing Point driver this season and after understandably qualifying slowest of the 20 cars, to score points was an accomplishment well worthy of being awarded Driver of the Day. Yet again, Hulkenberg illustrated that he remains deserving of a permanent drive. The problem is that spaces for next year are desperately few, especially with Alfa Romeo appearing set to announce Kimi Raikkonen and Mick Schumacher as their partnership. Ironically, Sergio Perez, who was Hulks team-mate this weekend – as he was between 2014 and 2016 – finds himself in the same boat. He again advertised his credentials to stay on the grid by finishing P4, whereas his Racing Point successor Vettel had another scruffy race. Its starting to look like Haas or nothing for both Hulkenberg and Perez, unless a big surprise is in store. Which brings us on to Albon facing Red (Bull) alert This race could hardly have gone any worse for Alex Albon. He produced one of his stronger qualifying performances, starting P5, but not for the first time was never a factor at the sharp end after lights out. Eventually retired by the team with a pierced radiator, Albon had caused his own problems with a big early lock-up that flat-spotted his tyres and he also did himself no favours when taking off Daniil Kvyats front wing during an overtaking move. Another lock-up on lap 23 when trying to pass the other AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly prompted a radio message of they race me so hard from Albon, clearly referencing his promotion to Red Bull last year at the expense of the Frenchman with whom he was dicing. Red Bull now have a major quandary. Christian Horner has defended Albon staunchly all year but even he appeared to be clutching at straws when he said the driver had made another step forwardit looked like a definite step backwards to us. Hulkenberg and Perez are available for next year. It would require a big policy shift to make either of them Max Verstappens team-mate, but can Red Bull really persist with Albon? Another option is to switch him back with Gasly, but Paul di Restas claim on Sky Sports that the Italian Grand Prix winner had upset a few people at Red Bull sounds like it could count against him and we may well hear more about that in the coming weeks. Friday on their minds The consensus among the drivers was that a two-day weekend of running albeit unscheduled after the weather put paid to FP1 and FP2 had been a positive. One practice session on Saturday morning and then straight into qualifying. Thats what they will experience on a planned basis at Imola at the end of this month and you have to wonder if it will become a more regular occurrence, if not the norm. Hamilton said in the post-qualifying press conference I dont think we need to be here on Fridays while Perez went one further after the race and mentioned Thursdays too, referring to media commitments. Come on, Sergio, that would make life harder for us! Circuits would obviously be up in arms about losing a days revenue when full crowds are able to return, but you suspect that if the drivers and teams have their way then two-day weekends will not only be limited to this highly unusual season. Jon Wilde Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!

'Dangerous' Lewis Hamilton escaped with 'mild' penalty - PlanetF1

Lewis Hamilton got off lightly with a 10-second penalty at the Russian Grand Prix because his practice starts were “dangerous”.

Lewis Hamilton got off lightly with a 10-second penalty at the Russian Grand Prix because his practice starts were dangerous. Thats according to ex-F1 racer and now pundit Marc Surer, who asked: Why does he think he is the only driver who can [practice] start at a different location? Hamilton finished third at Sochi behind his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen after incurring two separate five-second penalties, both of which he served at the same pit-stop, for practising starts in the wrong place. The World Champion started the race from pole position and was in the lead when he made his only pit-stop, whereafter he never looked like finishing higher than P3. Get your hands on the official Mercedes 2020 collection via the Formula 1 store Surer was unhappy that the Briton had performed his practice starts at the end of the confusing, curved pit exit at almost a 45-degree angle – as quoted by Motorsport-Total.com for whom he allocates driver gradings race-by-race on the basis of their performance across the whole weekend. At this point, someone who practised the start correctly at the end of the box is already 200 km/h on it. So it was also dangerous and so, in my opinion, the penalty was mild, said the 69-year-old Swiss who drove in F1 races for several teams, including Brabham, between 1979 and 1986. With Surers gradings ranging from a top score of one down to six, he gave Hamilton a three for his performance at Sochi but was much more scathing of the World Champions race engineer Pete Bono Bonnington. It was Bonnington who had given Hamilton the go-ahead over the team radio to practise the starts where he did. Bonnington actually deserves a sixth grade, said Surer, who gave none of the drivers lower than a four which applied to seven of the 20 in the field. Top marks from Surer went to Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who finished second and fourth respectively for Red Bull and Racing Point. Verstappen was given a grade one especially for the qualifying lap. Perez, who, like the Red Bull driver, finished the grand prix in the same position as his grid spot, got the same score having lived up to his reputation as a tyre whisperer and showed a strong performance both in training and in the race. Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page

Conclusions from the 2020 Russian Grand Prix - PlanetF1

A 10-second time penalty cost Lewis Hamilton as Valtteri Bottas triumphed at Sochi. Here are our conclusions from the Russian Grand Prix.

A 10-second time penalty cost Lewis Hamilton the chance to equal Michael Schumachers record of 91 race wins as Valtteri Bottas returned to winning ways at Sochi. Here are our conclusions as Mercedes maintained their 100% victory record at the Russian Grand Prix with a seventh straight triumph. Bottas back on the top step Race win number 91 on hold for Lewis Hamilton as Valtteri Bottas secures his first race win since the opener in Austria!#RussianGP#F1pic.twitter.com/11GymkfxwI — Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) September 27, 2020 It has to turn out well for me at some point its just a matter of things going my way sometimes and it will come. Those were the words of Valtteri Bottas after another frustrating afternoon at the Tuscan Grand Prix two weeks ago. It took only 14 days for his prophecy to come true. This was the Finns ninth career F1 win and an entirely typical one. Bottas is at his best when allowed to do his own thing in clear air, setting fast lap times metronomically under no pressure from any rivals. As soon as his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton was forced to serve his 10-second time penalty, there was never any doubt about who would end up on the top step of the podium especially on a circuit where Bottas has thrived, and won, before. But dont think for one second, as Johnny Herbert hinted in his post-race interviews and even Bottas himself – that the World Championship fight could be back on. Hamilton surely will not let his big advantage slip away. The gap is still as big as 44 points and Bottas was essentially gifted this success. He had an opportunity to grab the lead into Turn 2 on the opening lap but could not get past Hamilton, later bizarrely blaming it on a massive bee that had flown into his eyeline and blocked his vision of the braking point. At least, with seven races of the season remaining, the 31-year-old should now have renewed confidence to take further chances as and when they come along. Hopefully he can act out the fight portrayed in his first words over the team radio after taking the chequered flag: Its a nice moment to thank my critics. To whom it may concernf*** you. Never give up. Hamilton pulled back from brink of a ban Lewis Hamilton drove another faultless race it was on the way to the grid where it all went wrong, with two practice starts in the wrong place that each earned a five-second penalty. Such is the Britons supreme ability that complacency is among the few things with the potential to derail him. Whether rules breaches can be properly described as complacency is debatable, but it was a similar thing that cost Hamilton at Monza where he entered the pit-lane under red-flag conditions. It looked like the World Champion would have two more penalty points added to his licence, taking him to 10 and only two short of a one-race ban, but that sanction was rescinded when it was announced he was merely following an instruction from the team at Sochi. And it’s certainly a good thing that Hamilton is no closer to being forced to sit out a race, with none of his points being shed until the Turkish Grand Prix in November. Should the one-race ban be activated, is it really fair that a grand prix this autumn, with fans now returning to circuits in large numbers, would be robbed of the World Championship leader’s participation? Is it something that would genuinely be deserved, even if he did reach the 12-point threshold? Okay, rules are rules, but it’s not like F1’s dominant driver makes a habit of shunting rivals off the circuit (Alex Albon may disagree!) Nevertheless, Toto Wolff gave a reminder after the race that we win and lose together and if there is one area Mercedes and Hamilton need to improve, its having a 100% understanding of what can and cant, where and when, be done during a race weekend. Perez making his Point LAP 16/53 Terrific stuff as Ricciardo and Perez battle – it's the Mexican who comes out on top as he forces his way past the Renault #RussianGP#F1pic.twitter.com/RXqp4vJtJD — Formula 1 (@F1) September 27, 2020 Sergio Perez hasnt had the best couple of months, missing two races with Covid-19 and then being turfed out of the Racing Point team. But he was understandably very chipper at Sochi after securing P4 in both qualifying and the race, just at a time when he is looking for a new job. The Mexican really ought to be the No 1 choice for any team seeking a driver for 2021, but his options are not the strongest with Haas looking favourites to snap him up ahead of Alfa Romeo. Perez said after the race he had not signed anything yet and it almost makes you wonder whether he should bide his time, just in case anything unexpected were to happen. It does strike us as being slightly strange that Hamilton has not yet committed to staying at Mercedes or extending his F1 career, more generally – as we head towards October, but perhaps nothing should be read into that at all. Maybe Perez would prefer the security of knowing he has something sorted for next year but, either way, he did his future prospects plenty of good in Russia. Leclerc fulfils Ferraris limited potential Just as upbeat as Perez post-race was Charles Leclerc, who again got 100% out of his Ferraris potential by finishing P6, four places above his grid position. Apart from a first-lap incident with Lance Stroll that contributed to the appearance of the Safety Car, Leclerc drove another excellent race but was helped greatly by his team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who held up Esteban Ocon in the Renault. That meant Leclerc was ultimately able to split the Renaults. However, Vettel, reduced to the role of wingman here, ended up in P13. That situation is a symbol of the former World Champions decline and things will need to be very different when he joins Aston Martin next year. After all, if Vettel found himself having to play second fiddle to Lance Stroll, something really would be drastically wrong. Ricciardo wins the Renault battle Lap 32 // Daniel is told about his penalty: Ok, Ill drive faster. Thats my bad. Ill make up for it. #RSspirit#RussianGP — Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) September 27, 2020 While Leclerc was the filling in that Renault sandwich, it was Daniel Ricciardo who was on top of Esteban Ocon to continue the trend of the whole season. Granted, Ricciardo is much the more experienced of the duo, but he is leaving the team at the end of the season to join McLaren whereas Ocon stays on to partner Fernando Alonso. The Frenchman was given more than enough opportunity to attack and pass Vettel but could not pull it off, whereas Ricciardo did so relatively quickly after being let through by Ocon under team orders albeit the Australian incurred a five-second penalty, which was eventually rendered academic, when he locked up and went off track at Turn 2. For much of the campaign, Ocon has not been doing enough to show why he was so highly-rated during his Mercedes junior days and having been clear second best to Ricciardo again here, you have to wonder just how he will fare up against Alonso directly in 2021. Jon Wilde Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!

Ross Brawn: Valtteri Bottas let Tuscan GP 'slip through his fingers' - PlanetF1

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn fears that failing to win the Tuscan GP will have a big psychological effect on Valtteri Bottas.

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn fears that failing to win the Tuscan GP will have a big psychological effect on Valtteri Bottas. Bottas came into the 2020 season confident of taking the Championship fight to Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the fourth time of asking. Things started well, the Finn would win the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix whilst Hamilton had a difficult afternoon before finishing P4. But from there the fortunes of both drivers have swapped around completely. Hamilton has gone on to win six of the following eight races, whilst Bottas is yet to make another visit to the top step of the podium. The chaotic Tuscan Grand Prix was the perfect opportunity, but a poor restart after the second red-flag period at Mugello saw Bottas drop to P3 behind Daniel Ricciardo. He was able to clear the Renault driver, but there was no catching Hamilton who went on to snatch the win. The gap is now 55 points between Hamilton and Bottas in the Drivers’ Championship, and Brawn worries this latest setback could really drag Bottas down. “Valtteri Bottas will leave Tuscany believing he should have a victory trophy in his possession, the Finn was in tremendous shape after snatching the lead from Lewis Hamilton,” he wrote in his column for the Formula 1 website. “But he let the win slip through his fingers and he must be struggling to come to terms with another defeat to the reigning World Champion. “This one will hurt and will leave him asking himself what does he need to do to get the better of his team mate? “Hes still in the championship hunt, of course, but as every race goes by, his chances are slipping away. “Its now a mental battle, because he has the speed. But Lewis is relentless, takes every opportunity and rarely gives one to his opposition.” Making it a 1-2 for the Team, VB! Eyes on Sochi now, the track where our Finn got his first @F1 win But do you remember which year… pic.twitter.com/kQUSFF7Xh9 — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 14, 2020 Head on over to the Formula 1 store for all your official Valtteri Bottas merchandise Bottas though by his own admittance is left hoping that something will come good for him soon. My pace has been good all weekend, thats a positive, and its just a matter of things going my way sometimes and it will come,” he said in the post-race press conference at Mugello. Ill just keep pushing, trying to get better. It has to turn out well for me at some point. Ive lost many times in qualifying this year by just a few hundredths I think thats the first thing, I need to try and get those few hundredths on my side. Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.

Valtteri Bottas: 'It has to turn out well for me at some point' - PlanetF1

Valtteri Bottas insisted “one day it will come” after another race in which fortune conspired against him at a dramatic Tuscan Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas insisted one day it will come after another race in which fortune conspired against him at a dramatic Tuscan Grand Prix. The Finn was denied the chance to challenge for pole position when his final qualifying run was ended by a yellow flag, although that did not matter as he took the lead at Mugello from P2 and held it until the first of two red-flag stoppages. However, on the restart, he was passed by his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and when the grid formed up for the third and final time, Bottas was unable to repeat his earlier trick and eventually had to settle for P2 behind the World Champion. Disappointing because it was a dream start for me and I also managed to hold my position at the Safety Car restart, said Bottas, who is now 55 points behind Hamilton in the World Championship standings. After that, not my day. It feels like we had three races today. The first part was really good but pretty short. Once I lost the position to Lewis it was tricky to get it back. Obviously I tried everything I could, but it seemed like there were no opportunities anymore once I lost the position at the last restart but thats how it goes. On the second restart, on the left-hand side it felt like there was a lot of marbles and the start was pretty bad, I lost one position (to Daniel Ricciardo) but managed to gain it back. I was trying at the end but there was not much more I could have done. WHAT. A. RACE!! Lewis WINS the first @F1 race at Mugello!!! Valtteri crosses the line in second place, to make it a 1-2 for the Team in Tuscany!! pic.twitter.com/psn1lRlGgz — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 13, 2020 Head on over to the Formula 1 store for all your official Valtteri Bottas merchandise Bottas believes his luck is bound to change at some point, however, saying: My pace has been good all weekend, thats a positive, and its just a matter of things going my way sometimes and it will come. Ill just keep pushing, trying to get better. It has to turn out well for me at some point. Ive lost many times in qualifying this year by just a few hundredths I think thats the first thing, I need to try and get those few hundredths on my side. The 31-year-old even tried urging his Mercedes team to adopt a different strategy to Hamilton, saying he wanted to use the opposite tyre when they stopped, but both went onto the hardest compound. Ultimately it did not matter anyway as tyres could again be changed during the second red-flag period. I realised with the medium it just doesnt last, so the only option was to go to the hard tyre and make it to the end, explained Bottas. Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!

Sebastian Vettel doesn't have the 'hang' of SF1000 | PlanetF1 - PlanetF1

Sebastian Vettel said he is still yet to get the "full hang" of his Ferrari SF1000 after a Q2 elimination at the Tuscan Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel said he is still yet to get the “full hang” of his Ferrari SF1000 after a Q2 elimination at the Tuscan Grand Prix. The four-time World Champion came into the race weekend fresh off the news that his Formula 1 career has been given a lifeline. That’s because Vettel will join the Aston Martin team for 2021, replacing Sergio Perez. But any hopes of Vettel coming into the weekend of Ferrari’s 1000th World Championship race revitalised were dashed by a sub-standard performance in qualifying. The German racer would manage only P14 on the grid for the Tuscan Grand Prix, while his team-mate Charles Leclerc will start from P5. When asked about his struggles to get to grips with the Ferrari, Vettel did say it’s getting a “bit better”, but evidently he and the SF1000 are not on the same page. “It was getting a little bit better, but obviously not yet getting the full hang of it,” a subdued Vettel told reporters at Mugello. “It should be a little bit better [on the long runs], but it’s hard to say now, but for sure we’ll try everything that we can.” Our 1000th Grand Prix in #F1 is almost here! Powered by @Hublot#essereFerrari#TuscanGP#SF1000GPpic.twitter.com/LnBNlUQEkt — Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 12, 2020 Get your hands on the official Ferrari 2020 collection via the Formula 1 store Leclerc meanwhile is rightfully delighted to be starting Ferrari’s 1000th race from P5. It was amazing, P5 was definitely the best we could have done today and I didnt expect it, so Im very happy with the lap overall. I put everything together, he said. Monza and Spa were extremely difficult for the whole team and the characteristics of this track are better for our car, but that doesnt explain all of the performance this weekend. I think its still a bit of an unknown and this is very important for us to understand because thats how consistently we will be at our best. At Monza I really wasnt confident with the car and I probably wasnt driving at my best because I didnt have the confidence in the car. This weekend I have more confidence and so it helps me to give my best. I struggle massively to drive the car with low downforce settings, but here we managed to put the balance right and it felt very good in the car. We are lacking overall performance to be able to fight with the guys in front, but the balance gave me confidence. Follow all the action from the Tuscan Grand Prix with the PlanetF1 live centre

Andreas Seidl: Slowing Mercs down only way for exciting F1 - PlanetF1

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl says "artificially" slowing Mercedes down is the only way to make F1 exciting before 2022.

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl says “artificially” slowing Mercedes down is the only way to make F1 exciting before 2022. Lewis Hamilton had dominated drab Spanish and Belgian GPs before Monza as he closes in on a seventh World Championship, so a repeat performance was expected. And that’s exactly how it was going to plan out as the Briton pulled away from Carlos Sainz in P2, but then all hell broke loose. A Safety Car, red flags and a 10-second stop-go penalty for Hamilton himself after he entered the pit lane when closed flipped the order on its head. Pierre Gasly ended up winning his first Formula 1 race, whilst Sainz and Lance Stroll completed a shock podium. There is no doubt that result was a breath of fresh air for Formula 1 at a time when it was really starting to struggle with Mercedes now more dominant than ever in their seventh year as the sport’s unstoppable team. The talk of reverse-grid sprint races has returned following the events of Monza, and while he respects Mercedes’ achievements, Seidl believes that artificially slowing the team down is the only way F1 can be exciting again in the short term. “Given the dominance of Mercedes, for which they worked hard for several years to achieve this dominance, of course they also deserve to drive where they drive, and unfortunately that leads to boring races,” Seidl told Motorsport-Total.com. “So it’s obviously a good thing at the moment when something like Monza happens. “I believe that the only way to have more interesting races in the next year and a half will be to artificially slow Mercedes down or create some kind of coincidence with reversed grid positions. That is the reality we are in. “I think that’s the discussion that Mercedes should have with the FIA or Formula 1 if they were open to something like that.” CHAMP Lewis finished in the points for the 221st time in his career, equaling the great Michael @schumacher for most points finishes in @F1! #ItalianGPpic.twitter.com/tYvt7zfNej — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 7, 2020 Get your hands on the official Mercedes 2020 collection via the Formula 1 store But Seidl hopes that in 2022 under the new regulations and the budget cap, Formula 1 can become more competitive without the gimmicks. “I am absolutely convinced that with what comes from 2022, with the budget cap, with another technical regulation where we should get closer to each other on the track, we will do everything to have [races like Monza] more often or to hopefully have a new normal in Formula 1,” he said. Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn, who said after the Italian GP that reverse grid races would be discussed again, said that different tyres that degraded faster would be no good for slowing Mercedes down. “I don’t think that you can solve this problem, for example, by developing different tyres so you have to make more stops,” he said. “Because then Mercedes simply gives full throttle for the first ten laps, and even before the first pit stop they are behind and come back to number one. ” Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.

McLaren 'second strongest force' behind Mercedes | PlanetF1 - PlanetF1

McLaren team principal, Andreas Seidl, has said that the Woking team were the "second strongest force" behind Mercedes at Monza.

McLaren team principal, Andreas Seidl, has said that the Woking team were the “second strongest force” behind Mercedes at Monza. McLaren are sat third in the Constructors’ Championship after Carlos Sainz’s podium finish and Lando Norris’ P4 put them on the verge of breaking the 100-point mark. And while we were treated to a crazy, crazy race and a shock win for Pierre Gasly, Seidl thinks that irrespective of the circumstances, McLaren showed they were the next best team after Mercedes at the ‘Temple of Speed’. “We go away from here with a lot of positives, because in the end today we scored some very important points for the constructors’ championship,” Seidl said. “And I think the most important thing is that we actually had a very competitive car, and behind the Mercedes I think we can say we have been the second strongest force, which was great to see. And again, another great confirmation that we made a good step forward with the car in the winter. “It’s clear to see that we also made big improvements on the team side. “We obviously have again seen that we have two heroes of the sport in our car, two sensational drivers that did everything right at the start, at the restarts, and put in a sensational performance.” Get your hands on the official McLaren 2020 collection via the Formula 1 store A lot of restructuring has gone on behind the scenes at McLaren in recent years to help them take some big steps forward. Seidl took the time to praise some of the key figures of the new operation. He added: “It is great to see also how the race team here under the leadership of Andrea Stella, working together with James Key on the development side in order to keep pushing and steering the direction of the development. “The guys back home under the leadership of Piers Thynne, and the production side. They give it all to make sure they deliver the parts as quickly as possible. Very happy, I have to say.” Seidl is also encouraged by the fact that they seem to have picked up another Mercedes trait in being competitive at different circuits. “I think we have seen in Spa already that the low downforce package was competitive,” Seidl said. “But I think with the track here in Monza where you run even lower downforce, plus the combination of the corners here, the characteristics of the corners, I think it was hitting somehow the sweet spot of the car, where we could use a lot of strength that the car has. “It’s encouraging to see that our car seems to be competitive in all kinds of circuits. “We’re always able to get into Q3, we’re always able to fight with the cars around us, which is good, and gives us a lot of optimism also now going to Mugello and to the races afterwards.” Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!