Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Monday, February 15.
Monday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Alonso should be fit for Bahrain - de la Rosa
© Reuters
Despite undergoing surgery for a fractured upper jaw and having teeth removed, Fernando Alonso should be "fine" to test and race in Bahrain next month.
"I'm ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway," said the Spaniard, after Alpine announced that its 39-year-old driver will remain in hospital for the next two days.
And the Renault-owned team said in a statement: "Looking forward, after a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training.
"We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season."
Alonso's former McLaren and Ferrari stablemate Pedro de la Rosa agrees that the two-time world champion "will have time to recover" before Bahrain.
"Fernando is fine and there is still a whole month to go, there is time for him to take part in the tests," de la Rosa, who is also Spanish, told the Marca newspaper.
"Of course, the helmet fits snugly to the jaw and on the straights the driver has to withstand serious upwards loads, but it is encouraging that it is only the jaw and some teeth.
"That means recovery will not take long, although it will affect Fernando because he cannot train for the moment," he added.
Maxillofacial surgery specialist Juan Rey Biel told the same newspaper that Alonso will be on antibiotics at present but should be able to train again in two weeks.
Spanish journalist Carlos Miguel reported: "Alonso plans to return to training in five or six days.
"He's in a good mood, chatting with friends and responding to messages from the hospital. He has several tiring days ahead, but the upper jaw heals faster than the lower one, he added.
Another maxillofacial surgeon, Dr Julio Acero, told Spanish newspaper Cadena Cope: "Once the bone is put back in place, recovery is quite fast. In five or six days, he can return to sport.
"In four weeks, the fracture could already be healed."
Vettel can eye 'a few wins' in 2021 - Szafnauer
© Reuters
Sebastian Vettel should be able to compete for podiums, poles and even "a few wins" this season, according to his new team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
The quadruple world champion finished just 13th in his final disappointing season for Ferrari, but Szafnauer thinks German Vettel should be able to help Aston Martin finish just behind Mercedes and Red Bull in 2021.
"We want to start where we left off last year," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
"We had the third fastest car over long runs but we only finished fourth behind McLaren," said Szafnauer. "We were unlucky. For us, it will be about smoothing out the downward swings.
"If we can score more consistently, we can be third. That has to be our goal."
However, Vettel will have little time to adjust to his first new team since moving to Ferrari at the end of 2014. Szafnauer has ruled out running an older car for the 33-year-old to test prior to Bahrain.
"We are not a big team and we lease our engines and transmissions. They don't belong to us," said Szafnauer. "We have to return them after the season.
"So we don't have an old or driveable car that we can give him."
However, he is confident that Vettel will still be able to shine in 2021.
"I think we should get out of the starting blocks quickly and fight for podium places," said Szafnauer. "If things go our way, as they did in Bahrain or Turkey, we should be able to put the car on pole position and have the chance of a few wins."
He said Aston Martin will then get more and more confident about operating at the very top of Formula 1 as it adjusts to the extra resources brought by billionaire team owner Lawrence Stroll.
"Yes, we are still learning," said Szafnauer.
"You drive different races when you're consistently at the top, and Sebastian will help us with that.
"We have to get used to it but we are able to. Over time, we'll fight at the top more and more often, and feel more comfortable up there too," he added.
More news from Formula 1:
Audi denies latest F1 project rumours
Audi has played down new speculation of a potential F1 project for 2025. Read more.
Red Bull to run engine program from existing factory
Red Bull will operate its own Formula 1 engine program for 2022 out of a rejuvenated building at its existing team facility in Milton Keynes. Read more.
F1 CEO wants spectators 'as soon as possible'
Stefano Domenicali is hoping Formula 1 races can be held in front of live crowds in 2021. Read more.
Schumacher admits 2021 preparation not perfect
Mick Schumacher says he feels "ready" for his Formula 1 debut next month - even though his preparation has not been ideal. Read more.
Marko reveals Verstappen 'performance clause'
A driver-sided 'performance clause' in his current contract would allow Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull at the end of 2021. Read more.
