F1 DIGEST THEMONTH’SBIGSTORIESAT AGLANCE
INSIDER
18 F1 RACING JANUARY 2020
18.11.19 F1 considers rule change to
promote spectacle during
Safety Car restarts20.11.19 Mercedes clears Esteban
Ocon to drive for Renault
in post-season test21.11.19 FIA to introduce extra
fuel-flow sensors for
2020 season
21.11.19 Zandvort circuit reveals its
final banked corner will be
twice as steep as Indianapolis
27.11.19 Honda commits to F1 until
at least the end of 202129.11.19 Ferrari evaluates split-
wastegate configuration in Abu
Dhabi practice29.11.19 Haas trials new simulator at
Dallara factory with Pietro
Fittipaldi
30.11.19 Engine manufacturers confirm
development freeze for some
elements from 2021 PICTURES:SAMBAGNALL;ZAKMAUGER;MARKSUTTONPICTURESThe automotive industry’s
move towards electric
cars, the cost of F1, and
possibly the success
of Formula E (above)
are all causing F1’s
car manufacturersto
question their continued
involvementin the sportcontroversial rules veto in the next Concorde Agreement.
The future of the other three manufacturers is less
clear. Toto Wolff said there are no guarantees Mercedes
will stay in Formula 1 after 2021. Discussions between
Mercedes and F1 owner LibertyMedia over terms fora
new commercial rights deal are ongoing, and Wolff says
Mercedesparen t company Daimler is weighing up its
continued involvement as a team owner.
Manufacturersare experiencingcha llengingtimes
amid theautomotive industry’s migration towards electric
vehicles andWolff admitted th e decision-making process
is complicated. “Everything indicates thatwe wil l stay, but
it’s not a given,” hesaid. “We’re inthe mi ddle of discussing
the new Concorde Agreement.In connection withthis, and
independently of it,we are discussing thedevelopment of
the automobileand its effectson sport. In which direction
is the autom otive worlddeveloping? In what form is F
relevant as anentertainment andtechnologyplatform?
As a brand whose firstcar was aracing car,do w e want to
stay onthis platform inthe longterm?
“There is the Ferrari model that says: ‘We will do it
forever. We build racing cars and we build road cars’.
The other model is tosay: ‘We had a very successful run.
There’s nothing more toprove. We’re doing something
else now’. Both are absolutely plausible strategies.”
Mercedes has already agreed customer engine supply
deals withMcLaren, Racing Point and Williams beyond
2021, but Wolff
suggested these
wouldn’t be honoured
if Mercedes withdrew
its works team.
“You can be only
pregnant or not
pregnant, not halfpregnant,” he added. “So,eithe r we participate in the
platform or we do not.”
Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr HelmutMarko
described it as “agreat relief” Honda has committed to
supply engines to Red Bull and Toro Rossofor a further
season, but what happens beyond 2021 will dependon
the amount of cost saving that can be achieved.
Honda’sF1 managingdirector MasashiYamamoto
said: “It’s very toughfor all the car manufacturers,
because ofthe environment changefor electrification.
We are summing upthe development cost and having
discussions internally. It istrue cost is thebiggest issue.”
Renault is also conducting a major overhaul of its
business, including F1, following achangein senior
management. Renault F1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul has
said he is “optimistic”his parent companywill sign the
new Concorde Agreement and commit to F1 beyond
2020, but cannot second-guess the outcome.IN WHICH DIRECTION IS THEAUTOMOTIVE
WORLD DEVELOPING?AS A BRAND WHOSE
FIRST CAR WAS A RACING CAR, DOWE WANT TO
STAY ON THIS PLATFORM IN THELONG TERM?
“
“
TOTO WOLFF