F1 Racing - UK (2020-03)

GP RACING MARCH 2020 37

binds him to Ferrari until the endof 2024.That

is a clear indication the 22-year old hasbecom e

the favoureddriver forthe future. At the ti me of

writingVettel will be out of contract atthe end of

2020 and has tograpplewith the idea that he will

no longer bethe unquestioned focus of theteam,

despitehis fourtitles andseniority.

How Vettel copes withLeclerc’s new-found

status – and speed – will be one of themajor

storylines that willunfold in 2020.Teamboss

Mattia Binottoknows that on-track clashes–

such as the dramatic one inBra zil last year– will

not onlydestabilise the teamfurther but will gift

points to Mercedes.Ferrari’s title challenge will

hinge onhis management of his twodrivers.

Behind the top thre e, the battle in the midfield

is expected to be as close as evergiven the

stability inthe reg ulations. Under theguidance

of new team principal Andreas Seidl, McLaren

should continue its risefrom the doldrums.At

last year’s French GP the team hadtwo cars start

in the top six forthe first time in fiveyears. When

Carlos Sainzinher ited third in Brazil, it was

McLaren’s first podium since2014. BothSainz

and younghotsh oe La ndo Norris will be expecting

more podiumsin 2020.

McLaren-Renault’s returnto fo rm has

coincided with itsengine partner’sworks team

encountering turbulence.When Daniel Ricciardo

signed his lucrative contract tomove fromRed

Bull totheRegie, he was expecting morethan

to scrapeinto the topten in thechampionship.

He will now have to contend with the welcome

return to thegrid of the likeable – and quick–

Esteban Ocon,one of only two driver changes

for 2020. After losing his seatatRaci ng Point t o

Lance Stro ll, Ocon hasbeen watching from the

sidelines, and willbe d etermined to prove whathe

is capableof as he squaresup to Ricciardo.

The only rookie in 2020is Formula2 runner-

up Nicholas Latifi. The Canadian tookpart in

six free p ractice sessions for Williams lastyear

and steps up to replace Robert Kubica, who has

movedto become test driver at Alfa Romeo.

While Haas, Alfa Romeo and Racing Point all

continue withthe same lin e-ups, there’s achang e

to the look and feel of the grid which will no

doubt bedevil commentators stillgra ppling with

Sauber’srecent rebrandas Alfa Romeo. Scuderia

Toro Rosso hasformally changed itsnamet o

Alpha Tauri,which it shareswith Re d Bull’s

fashion label. BothPier re Gasly and Daniil Kvyat

continue atthe Italian team andeach will be

determined to continuetheir career renaissance.

Fromthefrontofthegridtotheback

therearegoalsandaimsforallofthe

driversin2020.Forsome–Verstappen,

Leclerc,andBottas–itistoge tcloser

toLewisHamilton,whileforothers

–Norris,Albon,OconandLatifi–it’s

continuedimprovementormakingan

impression.Ferrari,meanwhile,must

sortoutthethornyissueoftension

betweenitstwodrivers

GP RACING MARCH 2020 37

binds him to Ferrari until the endof 2024.That
is a clear indication the 22-year old hasbecom e
the favoureddriver forthe future. At the ti me of
writingVettel will be out of contract atthe end of
2020 and has tograpplewith the idea that he will
no longer bethe unquestioned focus of theteam,
despitehis fourtitles andseniority.
How Vettel copes withLeclerc’s new-found
status – and speed – will be one of themajor
storylines that willunfold in 2020.Teamboss
Mattia Binottoknows that on-track clashes–
such as the dramatic one inBra zil last year– will
not onlydestabilise the teamfurther but will gift
points to Mercedes.Ferrari’s title challenge will
hinge onhis management of his twodrivers.
Behind the top thre e, the battle in the midfield
is expected to be as close as evergiven the
stability inthe reg ulations. Under theguidance

of new team principal Andreas Seidl, McLaren

should continue its risefrom the doldrums.At

last year’s French GP the team hadtwo cars start

in the top six forthe first time in fiveyears. When

Carlos Sainzinher ited third in Brazil, it was

McLaren’s first podium since2014. BothSainz

and younghotsh oe La ndo Norris will be expecting

more podiumsin 2020.

McLaren-Renault’s returnto fo rm has

coincided with itsengine partner’sworks team

encountering turbulence.When Daniel Ricciardo

signed his lucrative contract tomove fromRed

Bull totheRegie, he was expecting morethan

to scrapeinto the topten in thechampionship.

He will now have to contend with the welcome

return to thegrid of the likeable – and quick–

Esteban Ocon,one of only two driver changes

for 2020. After losing his seatatRaci ng Point t o

Lance Stro ll, Ocon hasbeen watching from the

sidelines, and willbe d etermined to prove whathe

is capableof as he squaresup to Ricciardo.

The only rookie in 2020is Formula2 runner-

up Nicholas Latifi. The Canadian tookpart in

six free p ractice sessions for Williams lastyear

and steps up to replace Robert Kubica, who has

movedto become test driver at Alfa Romeo.

While Haas, Alfa Romeo and Racing Point all

continue withthe same lin e-ups, there’s achang e

to the look and feel of the grid which will no

doubt bedevil commentators stillgra ppling with

Sauber’srecent rebrandas Alfa Romeo. Scuderia

Toro Rosso hasformally changed itsnamet o

Alpha Tauri,which it shareswith Re d Bull’s

fashion label. BothPier re Gasly and Daniil Kvyat

continue atthe Italian team andeach will be

determined to continuetheir career renaissance.

Fromthefrontofthegridtotheback

therearegoalsandaimsforallofthe

driversin2020.Forsome–Verstappen,

Leclerc,andBottas–itistoge tcloser

toLewisHamilton,whileforothers

–Norris,Albon,OconandLatifi–it’s

continuedimprovementormakingan

impression.Ferrari,meanwhile,must

sortoutthethornyissueoftension

betweenitstwodrivers