In the round-up: Max Verstappen says Red Bull’s performance at the beginning of the 2020 F1 season will have a significant bearing on his next move in F1.
What they say
Verstappen is one of several drivers on the grid who is a free agent for the 2021 F1 season:
To be honest I don’t really think about it too much. I know there are possibilities, of course after next year, I have one more year on my contract. But I think what is more important is that we just see what happens in the beginning of the season. And then from there on also we’ll see what happens.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Since childhood I’ve wanted to hold this trophy, hoisted high during the past 70 years by F1 superstars. I don’t deserve to hold it, don’t even come close to deserving it – but last night I got a fleeting chance, and that does me just fine. pic.twitter.com/O9G3e2v2jU
— Fritz-Dieter Rencken (@RacingLines) December 7, 2019
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Mazepin finishes fastest on final day of testing (F2)
"Nikita Mazepin finished the final post-season testing session of 2019 in first place, with the Russian impressing in Carlin around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The 20-year-old’s time of 1:50.473 in the morning was enough to put him top overall, ahead of Callum Ilott for Virtuosi and Louis Deletraz at Charouz."
Behind the scenes with Carlos Sainz: Movie night, testing and sixth in the championship (F1)
"Staying out on that one-stop strategy was no longer looking like the right strategy to score the point that I needed and as soon as Checo got behind me we decided to pit again. That meant I had to recover all the way back to Hulkenberg and overtake him in the last laps of the race. Those 15 laps were proper qualifying laps"
Full electrification the 'Logical Step' for Trophee Andros (e-racing365)
"For manufacturers such as Renault, marketing (through e-Trophee Andros) is important. It is of prime importance to have a ‘daily look’ car in competition, unlike in Formula E."
Berger: DTM can't avoid Le Mans clash in 2020 (Autosport)
"It's not because I don't want to, it's a nightmare - a total nightmare - just to let you know, you have some race tracks that you give dates to - like Norisring for example - it's blocked."
Todt pays tribute to those lost from the FIA family in 2019 at annual awards ceremony (FIA)
"FIA President Jean Todt has dedicated his first Tribute Award to beloved friends and colleagues lost from the FIA family during 2019 and to the 1.35 million people who lost their live on the road this year. "
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Comment of the day
Don wishes Fernando Alonso’s IndyCar ambitions extended to more than just its most famous race:
Get a ride with Andretti full-time (Honda willing) for 2020 and give yourself a real chance to win the 500. Probably a low chance to win with McLaren.
More experience in the car would be good, and we’d love to see how you do on the road and street courses. If things don’t pan out for a 2021 F1 return, stick to real racing in IndyCar.
Don
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Jonathan Parkin
8th December 2019, 4:49
Question about the FIA prize giving ceremony. Attendance for the top three in the championship is mandatory to pick up their prize, but what happens if a 2nd place driver for instance doesn’t attend
Jere (@jerejj)
8th December 2019, 7:36
@Jonathan Parkin Nothing, I guess. The prize would then probably just get sent to that driver.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th December 2019, 7:50
Regarding the Autosport-article: No biggie.
Sainz’s columns, like Palmer’s, have been an interesting reading over the year, so I hope they keep on coming next year as well.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
8th December 2019, 9:59
I imagine there’ll be a fair bit of agonising by a few of the top drivers over their 2021 choice.
Given that it’s likely the top 3 will get on top of the chassis regulations, it’ll probably be a choice of who has the best power train.
Honda will have to make a fairly big leap forward to match Mercedes and Ferrari in that regard. If all things are as equal as they hope the new Reg’s will provide, then Max, Seb, Lewis and even Dan will all be looking purely at who is likely to have the best, most reliable PU.
Balue (@balue)
8th December 2019, 12:36
Verstappen will surely be wanting single year contracts after this in wait for when Hamilton retires, and he’ll likely get it IMO. Why wouldn’t he. Going to Ferrari is likely not an option.
JeffreyJ
8th December 2019, 15:21
Well it’s very possible that Mercedes and Honda, and by extension both RBR and STR will leave F1 after next season. Ferrari might be the default team to beat and Verstappen might be driving a Haas or something (even they might leave the sport though)
Ver would be a decent Grosjean replacement in terms of crashing the car and whining on the radio! ;)
Bart
8th December 2019, 20:04
Why, Ferrari would hire the devil if they could – or they might have already.