Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Wednesday, August 26.
Wednesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Now Imola wants spectators at 2020 F1 race
© Reuters
A third circuit on the 2020 calendar says it wants spectators to be able to attend this year.
Earlier, we reported that some teams are nervous about Sochi and Portimao's plans to allow 30,000 and 50,000 spectators respectively to attend their races later this season.
Imola has now joined them.
"We expect the possibility to host the public," Imola race promoter Uberto Selvatico Estense is quoted by Italy's Autosprint.
"The (Emilia-Romagna) president (Stefano) Bonaccini has issued a provision to allow Misano to host up to 10,000 spectators, and we believe it is possible to confirm this capacity also for Imola at the end of October and beginning of November," he said.
"We are working to try to get something more, in total safety," Selvatico Estense added.
Imola's race is scheduled for 1 November, and it will be the former San Marino GP host's first grand prix since 2006.
"Over the years we had the common sense to keep the Grade 1 homologation active and valid for Formula 1, implementing the safety levels that have been acknowledged by Michael Masi," he continued.
"I think it has made ours one of the tracks that is considered among the best in the world."
Also at Imola on Monday was Valtteri Bottas, who drove a Mercedes road car around the famous layout.
"I've never raced here so I took advantage of the opportunity to get to know the track," said the Finn.
"It's such an iconic circuit with so much history. I understand why the drivers love it."
Honda has better race engine than Renault - Marko
© Reuters
Honda is now the best engine manufacturer in Formula 1 behind Mercedes, according to Dr Helmut Marko.
Red Bull's top Austrian official is looking forward to the banning of 'party mode' engine settings from Monza - even though Toto Wolff has warned that it could actually make Mercedes stronger in the races.
"Mercedes may be able to continue with a strong engine mode for longer," Marko admits, according to the German-language motorsport-total.com.
"But we see it that the obvious superiority in qualification will no longer be there. This also applies to in laps and out laps so we think this (ban) will bring us closer.
"Although right now our race pace - if everything is right - is already quite good anyway," he added.
Red Bull switched from Renault power for the start of 2019, and Marko thinks Honda is now ahead of the team's former supplier.
"Renault has a quite good qualifying mode," said the Austrian. "But in the race they are weaker than us.
"In qualifying, Renault is at the same level or slightly ahead of us, but in the race, we are clearly number two behind Mercedes in terms of engine power."
Another concern for Marko is the coronavirus pandemic, with Sergio Perez having already been sidelined for two races with a mild infection.
"Corona can destroy an entire world championship," he said.
"Perez actually lost nothing, but if Verstappen gets the virus, the world championship will be over."
However, Marko said Red Bull will not overly protect Max Verstappen from the virus beyond the team's existing measures.
"We appeal to his own responsibility," he said.
"He is aware of the situation as there are already cases of corona close to him, so he has noticed how easily these people are infected."
More news from Formula 1:
Motorhomes make F1 comeback at Spa
F1's grand 'motorhomes' are making their return to the paddock this week at Spa-Francorchamps. Read more.
Formula 1 confirms final 17-race schedule for 2020 ending on December 13
F1 is set to return to Turkey for the first time in nine years. Read more.
Bottas must 'get into Hamilton's head' - Villeneuve
Merely trying to beat Lewis Hamilton "on the track" will not be enough for Valtteri Bottas. Read more.
Marko not ruling out Ricciardo return
Dr Helmut Marko says there may be "a way back" to Red Bull for Daniel Ricciardo. Read more.
Mercedes gave Racing Point 'data and drawings' - Marko
Racing Point must have received "data" and "drawings" from Mercedes in order to create a fully-competitive copy of the reigning champion team's 2019 car. Read more.
Raikkonen plays down pressure on Vettel
Kimi Raikkonen has played down the pressure that is mounting on the shoulders of his former Ferrari teammate. Read more.
Honda wants Alpha Tauri debut for Tsunoda
Honda is admitting it would like to see Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda make his way into Formula 1 with Alpha Tauri. Read more.
Team boss says F1 'still works' for Gene Haas
Formula 1 still "works" for Haas team owner Gene Haas. Read more.
Mercedes' team culture 'impressive' - Vandoorne
Stoffel Vandoorne says the culture inside the Mercedes team is what makes it so dominant. Read more.
Albon's confidence 'badly damaged' - Heidfeld
It is "extremely important" that Red Bull continues to support struggling driver Alex Albon. Read more.
