Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Thursday, November 5.
Thursday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Verstappen better than Red Bull car - Wolff
© Reuters
Max Verstappen is the only driver capable of mixing it with Mercedes' dominant cars in 2020.
That is the claim not only of the Dutchman's own bosses at Red Bull, but also main rival Mercedes' team chief Toto Wolff.
"Max is doing fantastically," the Austrian is quoted by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
"How can I put it? He is driving better than what his car is actually capable of.
"Every weekend we see the three amigos driving at the front," Wolff added, referring to championship leader Lewis Hamilton, his teammate Valtteri Bottas and 23-year-old Verstappen.
"He always knows how to cling on," he said.
The 2020 titles are out of reach for Verstappen, but Wolff said Mercedes must take Max and his Honda-powered Red Bull team very seriously for 2021.
"I think Honda wants to finish their last year as an engine supplier in style and will be extra motivated," said Wolff. "That will also apply to Red Bull and, last but not least, also to Max."
No interest in Mercedes switch or engine - Leclerc
© Reuters
Charles Leclerc says he has no interest in moving to Mercedes - or even enjoying the superior power of the reigning world champions' dominant F1 engine.
Late last year, the impressive 23-year-old pushed his Ferrari contract out until 2024, only to find himself at the wheel of the Maranello team's 2020 slump.
However, Leclerc insists he is not tempted with a switch to Mercedes, whose Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas last weekend wrapped up the German team's seventh consecutive world championship.
"Mercedes is doing an excellent job and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the way they operate," he told Sport Bild.
"But I prefer to stay at Ferrari, where I will do everything I can to get the team back to the place where it belongs."
The biggest problem with Ferrari's 2020 package is the engine, following the controversial legality saga of last year.
But Leclerc says he wouldn't even want a dominant Mercedes engine in his red car.
"No, no," he smiled. "I drive for Ferrari and I am proud to drive for Ferrari. It is a legendary team in Formula 1.
"All I want at the moment is to get Ferrari, our engine and our car back to the top level, and I am very sure that we will succeed in doing this."
More news from Formula 1:
2020 to be one-off slump season for Ferrari - Binotto
2020 is a one-off season of struggle for Ferrari, team boss Mattia Binotto insists. Read more.
Wurz hits out at Liberty's calendar plans
Alex Wurz has hit out at Formula 1's plans to schedule longer and longer annual calendars by potentially shortening the race weekend format to just two days. Read more.
