Ferrari expect “easy discussion” on Sainz future
Ferrari says they are expecting to have an “easy discussion” to extend the contract of Carlos Sainz beyond the end of this season, after an impressive 2021. The Spaniard scored four podiums and finished fifth in the drivers after joining on a two-year deal last season.
He also quickly formed a good relationship with new teammate Charles Leclerc as the duo combined to secure Ferrari third in the constructors’ standings. Sporting director Laurent Mekies said in Abu Dhabi he thought Sainz and Leclerc were “as good as it gets” as F1 teammates, while team principal Mattia Binotto revealed he planned to talk to Sainz about his future over the winter.
Binotto said in his end of year media briefing that talks with Sainz about a new deal would talk to Sainz about a new Ferrari contract to secure his services beyond the end of 2022.
Binotto said, “As we said I think in the last race, we will discuss through the winter time the extension of his contract, We’ll sit down with time and try to understand. Certainly, I think he did very well during the season, [we are] very happy the way that he has integrated”
“The way that he has been performing on-track and during the race weekends. So no doubt that we’ll sit down and try to find an agreement. That will be part of the winter period.” Binotto says that formal discussions are yet to start with Sainz, but anticipated it would be a straightforward conversation.
He says that his first task would be reviewing the last year with him, the looking towards the future together.
Ferrari signed Leclerc to a new long-term contract at the end of the 2019 season, committing him to the team until the end of 2024.
Changes go beyond replacing Masi – Wolff
Mercedes F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff says Formula One needs to implement more changes than just “replacing the race director”. The fallout from the controversial final few laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, rumbles on and questions continue about the future of race director Michael Masi.
Speaking to the Spanish language edition of Motorsport.com, Wolff said, “It’s a bigger problem, my values are simply not compatible with the decisions that were made. It is not just about replacing the race director. The whole decision-making system must be improved.
“It’s one thing to drive hard and have different points of view between drivers and teams, that’s normal. But inconsistent decisions inevitably lead to controversy, much of it totally unnecessary.”
However, the Austrian did concede that throughout the season Mercedes had been “luckier” when it came to some decisions made by the stewards.
Szafnauer leaves Aston Martin
Aston Martin has announced that its team principal Otmar Szafnauer has left the team. The departure of the German had been long expected, with reports and speculation that he could move to a senior role with Alpine.
Szafnauer said he had “no intention” of leaving Aston Martin and that he had a long-term contract in place. But Aston Martin announced on Wednesday that Szafnauer had left his role as team principal and CEO of its F1 team.
The German had been with the Silverstone based team since 2009, when the team was called Force India. Aston Martin says Szafnauer’s position “will be managed within the leadership team until a replacement is appointed. Otmar Szafnauer has left the company and his role at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team will be managed within the leadership team until a replacement is appointed.
“We would like to thank him for the service provided to the team over the past 12 years and wish him well for the future as he will undoubtedly take on new challenges.” Aston Martin says that the team was managed by a strong group of individuals and will take their time to explore options for ‘team structure.’
But they say the focus is on preparing the most competitive car possible. Szafnauer has been linked to a move to Alpine. However in November, he played down a move as “pure media speculation.”
It also comes a day after an interview where he spoke enthusiastically about the team’s prospects for 2022.
Alonso doesn’t think he is happier since comeback
Fernando Alonso does not believe he is noticeably happier since making his comeback, saying his season with McLaren in 2007 led to incorrect perceptions of him.
Last year the two times champion returned to the sport following a two-year break with Alpine. He scored his only podium in Doha which helped the team to finish fifth in the constructors’ championship last year, as well as playing a key role in teammate Esteban Ocon’s shock win in Hungary.
Alonso said early last season that he was enjoying his return more than expected, having overcome an initial battle to adjust to life back in F1. Reflecting on the whole season with Alpine, he dismissed the suggestion that he was now more relaxed and happier than he was when he last raced in F1, and noted that it was a recurring question he faced.
He added, “I probably disagree with that because when I joined Ferrari, I had exactly the same questions from you guys. I remember perfectly, answering questions: ‘Why do you feel so happy now?”
“Is it being in an Italian team and you are Spanish, it’s a better fit and you feel happy?’ And I said yes, maybe it’s because of that, we have the same sense of humour, we have the same Latin character, so maybe that’s the reason why I’m happy.”
Alonso said his final years at Ferrari he was a little bit down, with him feeling frustrated on track but was quite happy off-track. He says the misconnections about him not being happy stem from his tense 2007 season alongside then-rookie Lewis Hamilton which ended in his contract being terminated by mutual consent after just a single year.
Adding “it was the wrong message that people perceived and people spread about me – that from 2007, everyone is surprised about how good I feel and how happy I am.” Alonso admitted that he felt “tired” towards the end of his last stint in F1 with McLaren prior to his decision to race in other categories at the end of the 2018 season.
Schumacher named as Ferrari reserve
Mick Schumacher was named just before Christmas as joint Ferrari reserve driver for 2022 alongside Antonio Giovinazzi. The German driver, who drives for Haas will be available to stand in at eleven of the scheduled twenty-three races, should Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz be unavailable.
Giovinazzi, who lost his place at Swiss-based Alfa Romeo this year but has secured a drive in Formula E, will be reserve for the twevle races that do not clash with the electric series. Binotto said, “Whenever he (Giovinazzi) will be at the race track he will be our reserve driver.”
“As well he will be available to our customer teams, so both Haas and Alfa Romeo.For the remaining eleven races… Mick Schumacher will be reserve driver for Ferrari.” Haas and Alfa Romeo also have their own reserves, Pietro Fittipaldi and Robert Kubica respectively.
Schumacher, son of seven time champion Michael, made his debut with Haas alongside fellow-rookie Nikita Mazepin but neither scoring a point for the team who devoted all their resources to the 2022 car.
Binotto said Mick had improved through the season, in his consistency and speed, and Ferrari’s support would continue with the simulator available at Maranello and Ferrari engineers working with him.
He added, Giovinazzi would have a full programme of simulator work and suggested the Italian had a chance of returning to the starting grid full time in 2023.
