Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Thursday, February 18.
Thursday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Haas could turn pink for 2021
© Reuters
Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin could be wearing pink for their Formula 1 debuts in 2021.
As Russian rookie Mazepin visited Haas' factory on Wednesday for his seat fitting, rumours swirled that - with Aston Martin turning green for 2021 - the pink-coloured Austrian sponsor BWT could switch camps.
Kolner Express newspaper cited a source who claims BWT, a water treatment company, is in talks with Haas about becoming title sponsor.
Schumacher, who lives in Switzerland, says he is unable to visit Haas for now.
"Not yet. Because of covid everything is very limited but the plan is to be there soon," the German told Auto Motor und Sport.
"There was one opportunity for drivers to go to their teams, but recently these rules for athletes was changed again at super short notice," he added.
The son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher also admits that reduced winter testing and Friday practice this season will not help him.
"As a team we only have three days of testing instead of six or eight days as in the previous years," he said. "That means I only get one and a half days of testing before my first race - and then an hour less practice.
"No, I don't like to hear that. But those are the rules and we'll certainly do our best with it."
Yet another problem is that Schumacher is struggling even to gain access to Ferrari's simulator at Maranello.
"Fortunately, I can do it at home but it's of course not as good as sitting in a real car or a big simulator that a Formula 1 team has," he said.
"It's all very difficult, and very different from the years before. Unfortunately, covid has restricted so much."
Vettel confirms Ferrari car sale reports
© Reuters
Sebastian Vettel's spokeswoman has confirmed reports that the quadruple world champion is offloading several of his privately-owned Ferrari road cars.
The reports indicate that, alongside Vettel's BMW Z8 and two Mercedes, a dealer is claiming that a Ferrari Enzo, a La Ferrari, a F50, a F12 and a Ferrari 458 are all up for sale from the German driver's private collection.
Vettel, 33, lost his Ferrari race seat in Formula 1 last year and for 2021 has switched to Aston Martin.
His spokeswoman Britta Roske confirmed that the reports about Vettel selling his Ferrari road cars are correct.
However, Auto Motor und Sport said Vettel "does not want to comment publicly on the reasons for the sale".
More news from Formula 1:
RTL not commenting on F1 return reports
RTL, F1's well-known German broadcaster of the last three decades, could be returning to the paddock in 2021 after all. Read more.
Gasly can return to Red Bull - Tost
Pierre Gasly still has a chance to return to a front-of-the-grid team, according to his current boss Franz Tost. Read more.
Ricciardo not McLaren 'number 1' - Seidl
Neither Daniel Ricciardo nor Lando Norris will be McLaren's "number 1" driver, team boss Andreas Seidl insists. Read more.
Ricciardo struggled to fit in 2021 McLaren
Daniel Ricciardo has revealed how he initially struggled to fit inside his new McLaren cockpit. Read more.
Perez set for early Red Bull test
Sergio Perez looks set to get an early taste of life at the wheel of a Red Bull cockpit. Read more.
