Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Monday, February 22.
Monday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Red Bull targets Mercedes with 'B' car
© Reuters
Red Bull is hoping to finally beat Mercedes this year with a 'B' car.
Team boss Christian Horner says that although the 2020 car was called the RB16, "there will never be an RB17".
"Next year's car will be RB18," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
"This season is the first time we're taking a chassis with us from the previous season. Because of the homologation regulations, there is also a high percentage of carry over parts.
"That's why it's more honest to call this car (for 2021) the RB16B."
With the RB16, Max Verstappen dominated the season finale in Abu Dhabi, but there were claims Mercedes turned down performance to protect a reliability concern.
"The question is how much they lost because of that," Horner said. "Even so, you still have to beat them.
"The win was good for us but I'm afraid it will have also helped to motivate Mercedes even more."
Also true is that Red Bull kept pushing with 2020 car development long after Mercedes.
"We have a different philosophy," said Horner. "We developed the car for so long because so many of the parts will be carried over. And we wanted to learn from that for 2021."
Finally, Horner admitted that it was "an unusual gift" to find Sergio Perez on the market towards the end of 2020, just as Alex Albon was struggling to perform alongside Verstappen.
Albon is being kept on as a reserve driver, with Horner denying that the Perez signing puts a big question mark over the future of the Red Bull junior development program.
"Liam Lawson and Juri Vips are making a very good impression," he insisted. "I'm not worried about our young guys."
Red Bull, Aston Martin could lead in 2021 - Wolff
© Reuters
Toto Wolff is warning that Mercedes may be overtaken in 2021.
His counterpart at Red Bull, however - Christian Horner - warns that the reigning champions remain the clear favourites to keep dominating this year.
"They had an incredible car last year and the main features of it will be at the start this year as well," he said.
Wolff, however, thinks the mandatory changes to floor designs for 2021 could actually shake up the pecking order.
"The change to the floor, from which a part has to be cut out basically, is decisive in a technical sense," the Mercedes team boss told Speed Week.
"It has forced a rethink of the entire concept. So we cannot rule out that Red Bull or Aston Martin will come up with a better solution."
More news from Formula 1:
McLaren drivers better than Aston Martin's - Jordan
A fascinating midfield battle is shaping up between McLaren and Aston Martin for the 2021 season. Read more.
F1 should tweak new 'sprint race' idea - Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone is worried Formula 1 could make a grave mistake with the new 'sprint race' format. Read more.
No F1 spectators 'until summer' - Domenicali
Stefano Domenicali doubts spectators will be allowed to watch Formula 1 races at the circuits "until the summer". Read more.
No 'green Mercedes' saga in 2021 - Domenicali
Stefano Domenicali doesn't think the 'pink Mercedes' controversy will reignite in 2021. Read more.
Honda fast-tracked 2022 engine for new season
Honda has prepared a more reliable and powerful engine in order to "leave Formula 1 with a bang" at the end of 2021. Read more.
Tsunoda to struggle at some tracks - Tost
Franz Tost is expecting a mixed first season of Formula 1 for Alpha Tauri's 2021 rookie Yuki Tsunoda. Read more.
Ocon, Russell in the running for 2022 - Wolff
Toto Wolff has named two drivers who may be in the running to succeed either Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas in 2022. Read more.
