In the round-up: Covid-19 travel restrictions have forced Mercedes to delay Romain Grosjean’s F1 test, although the team say it will still go ahead.
In brief
Mercedes say Grosjean test will still go ahead
Mercedes promised Grosjean two test runs in their car – one public, one private – following the crash which cut short his F1 career last year. However, travel restrictions and schedule changes have so far made those tests impossible.
Grosjean was to perform a demo run in Mercedes’ 2019 car during the French Grand Prix on its original date. However, as the event was moved forward to this weekend, he is unable to attend due to a clash with IndyCar’s Road America race.
Now travel restrictions have scuppered plans for a private test on 29th June, also at Paul Ricard.
A Mercedes spokesperson said: “We’re disappointed to announce that we’ve had to postpone Romain Grosjean’s test with us, due to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
“However, we’re committed to giving Romain his chance to drive one of our Mercedes F1 cars, so we’re working to reschedule the test for later this summer.”
F3 driver Tóth to miss races after positive Covid test
Formula 3 issued a statement saying one of their drivers would not participate in the races at Paul Ricard, following a positive Covid-19 test. No replacement, if he will have one, has been announced by his Campos team or F3 as yet.
F3’s statement reads: “The FIA, Formula 3 and Campos Racing can confirm that during mandatory pre-race PCR testing for the 2021 French Grand Prix and its associated support events, Campos Racing driver László Tóth tested positive for Covid-19.
“In accordance with Covid-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines, he will continue to isolate for the required period and therefore not compete during the French Grand Prix weekend. No other members of the Campos Racing team have been affected by this situation.”
Binotto: Ferrari not on pace of top teams yet
Mattia Binotto says despite Ferrari’s back-to-back pole positions in Monaco and Baku, they remain only the third-fastest team. However, he expects more gains over the course of the season.
“There are two cars ahead of us which are still stronger, no doubt. It was great to have pole positions both in Monaco and in Baku but I don’t think that’s reflecting our true performance overall. So I think there are two cars which are stronger but I think that we are progressing.
“We are progressing because eventually we are learning the car. We are exploiting it better compared to the start of the season.
“And we know that there will be some developments coming in the future. So overall, I think that that’s where we are.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Hamilton at the Baku Grand Prix: racism, Verstappen, Skydiving and how Angela Cullen saved his life (source)
“Drivers usually have a trainer, I had one too until I realised I didn’t need him. I needed someone who would support me through the ups and downs, who would make my life as simple as possible.”
Sadiq Khan interview: ‘If you’re a real fan, you don’t boo your team… I’m proud our players take a knee’ (Evening Standard)
“Khan said: ‘We’re speaking to Formula 1 and they’re really receptive. The reality is that the reigning champion of the world is a Brit. Lewis Hamilton is a credit to our nation and the sport, and it would great to have a grand prix in the capital city, to have Silverstone and London on the calendar.'”
Karun Chandhok joins Motorsport UK board (source)
“The 37-year-old is a member of Motorsport UK’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and sits on its Racial Diversity Sub-Committee. As a member of the FIA Drivers’ Commission – the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile of which Motorsport UK is a founding member – he is an advocate for the rights and views of drivers across the world, and he has been a Driver Representative on the FIA Single Seater Commission.”
Making music, playing Call of Duty and listening to Bob Dylan: get to know the real Dan Ticktum (Formula 2)
“Tickum: ‘I wouldn’t say that I’ve got any incredible mates here that I would go and have a beer with because we’ve always all lived so far apart from each other, which means that you never really have a chance to do that.I get on very well with my teammate Jehan (Daruvala), I like Christian (Lundgaard) and Jüri (Vips). I haven’t got any enemies, which is the good thing.'”
F1 2021 | Features Trailer (Formula 1 Game)
W Series: Driven documentary trailer (W Series)
93-year-old Japanese ex-taxi driver becomes YouTube legend at racing games (South China Morning Post via YouTube)
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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On this day in F1
- 70 years ago today Giuseppe Farina won the Belgian Grand Prix for Alfa Romeo, two minutes and 51 seconds ahead of Alberto Ascari’s Ferrari, whose team mate Luigi Villoresi was another minute and a half behind.
