Motorsport News 31/12/20

For any young racing driver, joining a top team’s or a manufacturer’s young driver scheme can seem like nirvana. There is a sniff of the top table, and a healthy wad of cash to help the climb up the nursery slopes of motorsport. But is it really the dream ticket that it appears to be? Sure, there are some great examples of drivers who have made it work for them. Think of the likes of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc and you can see that there can be a steering wheel of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, those chances are so few and far between that it seems a driver chasing a young driver development path can be on just as perilous a position as a driver trying…

Reigning Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton thinks that Red Bull’s decision to sign Sergio Perez to partner Max Verstappen for 2021 will make his life harder. The Briton said that Perez’s ability to push Verstappen in terms of on-track performance will mean the threat from the Milton Keynes team will be tougher in the year ahead. Hamilton said: “With all due respect to [outgoing race driver] Alex [Albon], in the races that we’ve had, it’s been me and Valtteri [Bottas] against Max. “I’ve been in the position that Max is in, particularly when I was at McLaren, where I was the lead car and the second car wasn’t in the fight. So when we were fighting against Ferrari, they could really move around with the strategy and make it a lot harder for…

AlphaTauri has confirmed that Japanese Red Bull protege Yuki Tsunoda will partner Pierre Gasly at the Formula 1 team next season. Tsunoda will be the first Japanese driver to contest grand prix racing since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014. The 20-year-old finished third in Formula 2 in 2020 behind Mick Schumacher and Calum Ilott, with two feature race victories. Tsunoda will replace Russian Daniil Kvyat. Tsunoda said: “Like most racing drivers, it has always been my goal to race in F1, so I am very happy with this news. I realise that I will be carrying the hopes of a lot of Japanese F1 fans next year and I will be doing my best for them too.” AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost added: “In F2 this year, Yuki has demonstrated the right mix of…

Ilott joins Ferrari Formula 2 runner up and Ferrari development driver Calum Ilott has been named as the Scuderia’s official test driver for the 2021 season. The 22-year-old Briton was a three-time winner in F2 in 2020. He said: “I look forward to contributing to the work the team does on and off track, and to all of the new things I can learn by taking on this exciting new challenge. I will give my all to do a good job and gain as much experience as possible to continue making progress as a driver.” Wolff not at the door Mercedes has confirmed that Toto Wolff will remain at the helm of the Formula 1 team for another three seasons, ending speculation that he would quit his role. Chiefs also said that the…

Double F1 world beater Fernando Alonso headed the pack in the traditional young driver test in Abu Dhabi just before Christmas and says it has reignited his spirit ahead of his grand prix comeback in 2021. The Spaniard, who is returning to F1 after two years away, got his first official running in the 2020 Renault R.S.20 and completed 105 laps to head the 15 runners on the day. He was clear of Mercedes junior Nyck de Vries and fellow Mercedes runner Stoffel Vandoorne. Alonso, 39, said: “It was good and very nice to be back in the car especially with the race team. I’ve been testing the 2018 car in preparation but this one felt a bit more serious and it ignited a little bit the competitive spirit. It was great…

The W Series has confirmed a line-up with 18 drivers from 12 different countries set to do battle, with the inaugural champion Jamie Chadwick topping the list. The 2021 W Series – the second running of the contest after the 2020 version was scuppered by the global health pandemic – is set to support eight Formula 1 meetings. Series chief Catherine Bond Muir said: “This year has been incredibly testing for everybody, but our fast and fearless drivers have displayed remarkable resilience and dedication, and they can now look forward to competing on motor racing’s biggest stage thanks to W Series’ new partnership with Formula 1. Our 18 drivers represent 12 countries, therefore helping us to enhance the reach and impact of W Series globally, and to achieve our mission of inspiring…