[raceweekendpromotion]In the round-up: The controversial team orders seen in DTM’s finale wouldn’t happen in Formula 1, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
In brief
Inter-team orders “modus operandi” in DTM but not part of F1 – Wolff
Could a similar scenario involving F1 title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen unfold? Wolff says no.
“In my opinion, that has never happened in Formula 1, that other teams have given up positions for anybody else, at least not in my recollection,” he said.
“In touring cars it’s a modus operandi in the DTM that we have known for a long time. In the DTM 30 years ago, they started to do that and we saw that also in the last race. But that’s not going to happen in Formula 1.”
More races in Americas ‘better for time zone’
Alejandro Soberon, the president of Mexico City Grand Prix promoter CIE, says having more F1 races in the Americas will be better for the sport’s global popularity.“I think the more races that there is in our continent, the better for all the races because it draws more interest in general for people to be able to watch it on TV,” he said. “Or at least more interest to be in this time zone, it’s more interesting to watch a race at 2pm or 1pm or seven at night than do it at seven in the morning or six in the morning or three in the morning. So I think it’s something that it’s good for Formula 1 in general to balance out.
Soberon said he isn’t concerned by regional competition from the two US rounds on the 2022 F1 calendar. “I don’t see that the Miami race has to affect in any way the Mexico race, or the or Austin race, I think there’s enough space.
“Latin America has 500 million people. What you need to have is a race people want to attend and to go and to have the competition where it has to be. I think, in that regard, Formula 1 is a better race and more competitive race than [previous] years.”
Alonso: second title “doesn’t feel like it was 15 years ago”
“Obviously, the place brings back very good memories and it doesn’t feel like it was 15 years ago that I won my second title there,” said Alonso. “We had a strong package that year, but as the season entered the latter stages the Ferraris were very quick and consistent.
“However, Michael [Schumacher] had a retirement in Suzuka, which was the round just before Brazil, and this meant we only needed one point to take the championship. In the end we delivered a good race to finish second and it was enough for the title. The feeling afterwards was amazing.”
Formula 2 test for Williams
Formula 3 race Calan Williams will take part in the post-season test for Formula 2 teams at the Yas Marina from December 18th-18th.
“I’ve been preparing physically for the testing for the past few months,” he said. “The step up to a car that is heavier and corners and accelerates faster than anything I’ve ever experienced before will push me even further, so I need to be ready.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
It appears somebody wrote off a GP3 car in testing at Silverstone today. One less private testing tool for the super-rich
— Ida (@wood_ida_) November 10, 2021
I hope it happens, but forgive us if we are skeptical of the proposed #F1 race in #London… pic.twitter.com/OLDEX7PLXt
— Brad Philpot 🏎🏁 (@BradleyPhilpot) November 10, 2021
Stefano Domenicali:
Fantastic to be @HardRockStadium with @TomGarfinkel and his team to see the great progress being made for the @f1miami next season. It’s going to be a place everyone will want to be and the work being delivered is impressive. We can't wait to be there racing! pic.twitter.com/ugnMLGZqe9
— F1 Media (@F1Media) November 10, 2021
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Pato O'Ward: hungry for more (McLaren)
"Honestly, for me, there were five or six levels of emotion. You’re happy (because you’re in contention), but then you’re sad, you’re irritated, you’re angry, you’re pissed off, and then you just have to laugh about it."
Andretti Autosport welcomes Hunter McElrea to 2022 Indy Lights program (Andretti)
"Andretti Autosport announced today that New Zealander Hunter McElrea will make the step up to the Indy Lights championship for the 2022 season."
FIA and Formula E deliver sustainability message at COP26 (FIA)
"Di Grassi: 'Creating a platform to push electric technologies forward is something that the FIA has done very well. Formula E has already inspired people to buy electric vehicles and encourage manufacturers to expand electric technology development.'"
First FIA Formula 3 test achieved for Iron Dames' Weug and Pin (Formula 3)
"Perrin: 'Maya and Doriane have done a good job today. They were very attentive to every detail, and they were able to get comfortable in the car quite quickly. It’s been a good and studious day on all fronts.'"
"Eaton: 'I’ve never looked at doing single-seaters purely because of the cost - it’s very expensive,' she says. 'Another reason is probably my dad, I’ve watched him racing tin tops and touring cars, so it was never really on my radar as something, but then the opportunity of W Series came about and it’s something new and different.'"
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
After Dieter’s analysis of how teams might fare with the 2022 regulations, Tifoso1989 says team cutlures might prove less adaptable than the rules, when it comes to how they deliver them.
I don’t expect Red Bull to be the outright fastest from the first race. I think Mercedes will be the team to beat. In any aero rule change Newey himself has admitted that his main concern is to get the car concept right from the beginning which will serve for him and his team as the baseline which they can build on top of it.
I suspect Red Bull (just like in 2017) will launch a basic car to validate the aero concepts and then they will gradually start upgrading it during the first races. Once they have a clear understanding of the development direction they will follow, they will start developing it intensely during the season.
Mercedes on the other hand are famous for getting to validate their car concept during their first outing at Silverstone and make sure everything is running according to the plan. They do have a lot of trust in their simulations, wind tunnel, systems and tools. Then they arrive at Melbourne with a heavily upgraded B-version of their car.
Though anything can happen in F1 and it usually does (Murray Walker). Theoretically speaking someone can still pull a Brawn and have a jump start over the competition.
@tifoso1989
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Brendan, Catalina, Drmouse and Ramatlhodi!
S
11th November 2021, 0:48
Either Toto has a terrible memory, or he is simply blinded by his own unsporting attitude.
Do we really think that Alpha Tauri or Aston Martin wouldn’t move over to let their respective big brothers take an extra point or two to win the championship if the opportunity arises?
I certainly don’t.
The manufacturer and political links in DTM are not really very different to the ones in F1. Some might argue that F1’s are even stronger, given the higher stakes involved.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
11th November 2021, 1:28
He has to say that.
jff
11th November 2021, 7:24
Let’s play back a few quotes of Wolff (about Russell in Imola):
But then of course he was only joking :P
Jason (@jasonj)
11th November 2021, 5:20
Laughable comment from a man that publicly criticised a Williams driver and then reminded the same driver he was a ‘team mate’ to the Mercedes.
We don’t even know how often customer teams are given their marching orders for an upcoming race.
erikje
11th November 2021, 9:43
There was a report of Williams, obeying a Mercedes “order” somewhere in the past . Will search for the source/link.
Initially
11th November 2021, 11:04
Especially considering the man who says it. Toto will never give up a chance to use whatever legal however morally questionable tactic possible to him to win. This man has changed F1 imo.
Initially
11th November 2021, 11:10
Of course Senna and Schumacher did horrible stuff in the past. But Toto in my opinion plays a much deeper political game than I remember seeing.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
11th November 2021, 7:05
I can think of at least three occasions in my own time watching the sport. Williams for McLaren at Jerez 1997. Virtually everybody (with one or two honourable exceptions) for Michael Schumacher at Interlagos 2006. And Toro Rosso for Vettel at Interlagos 2012 (almost catching him out with a yellow flag in the process).
Jere (@jerejj)
11th November 2021, 7:48
Having more races in North America has one downside:
More unideal timings for East Asia, where F1 has always had a big following.
Brad Philpot’s tweet shows why a London GP coming true is unlikely despite a saying never say never.
London GP proposals have come out ever since 2012, but nothing concrete at any point, so doubtful.
Another interesting COTD. Possible, but too early for judgment this far in advance.
davidhunter13 (@davidhunter13)
11th November 2021, 13:02
Instead of London I’d LOVE to see an Edinburgh Grand Prix. That would be crazy and ludicrously picturesque. It would be easier to close the city centre down compared to London. Hold it along Princes St climbing up and back down to the castle and along some of the Royal Mile.
That’s the circuit of my dreams to see F1 at.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
11th November 2021, 11:04
Maybe Toto forgets that time at Spa in 2015 when Mercedes allowed Lotus to run a different map or something so he could catch and overtake Vettel in the Ferrari.
Or his comments toward Russell at Imola this year…
Not that Red Bull isn’t guilty of that either, since they use Toro Rosso/Alpha Tauri that way too.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
11th November 2021, 14:41
RE: More races in Americas ‘better for time zone’
Erm, no.
This timezone effectively alienates most of Asia and Australasia. I live in Perth Western Australia (GMT +8), races on the American continent start between 1 am and 3 am on a Monday morning. My brethren over on the East coast, will be looking at races starting around when they need to leave to work. This would the same across most of the Asian continent as well.
I’d argue that this time would not be convenient for fans in Europe either, where races are traditionally a “Sunday afternoon” affair. Later races will clash with other “prime time” events as well, like football matches. A lot of the bigger games typically have late Sunday kick offs, case in point, last week’s Milan derby.
Perhaps I am being selfish!
Nick T.
11th November 2021, 23:02
Welcome to the Americas’ world. 85% of the races occur during the middle of the night for us. So, we have a disproportionate number of non-viewer friendly races. Luckily for me, I am a night owl and love races that begin between midnight and 3am. Sadly though, there are many more races which begin at 5am to 9am, which is the least ideal.