Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Thursday, November 26.
Thursday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Ross Brawn says Ferrari 'must prioritise 2022'
© Reuters
Ferrari "must" prioritise preparations for the 2022 season, the Maranello team's former highly-successful technical boss Ross Brawn insists.
Now F1's sporting boss, Brawn was asked by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport about how long it might take Ferrari to pull out of its competitive trough.
"I think 2022 is a great opportunity, with a new car philosophy," he responded, referring to the all-new regulations.
"I have no doubt that they will be working hard at Maranello on next year's car, but their priority must be 2022. They cannot waste such an opportunity."
After Michael Schumacher moved from Benetton to Ferrari in 1996, Brawn joined him a year later and as technical director oversaw the F1 legend's run of five titles between 2000 and 2004.
Later, the pair reunited at Mercedes to less success.
But former Mercedes boss Norbert Haug denied that Schumacher was pushed out of the team by Lewis Hamilton, arguing that the famous German could have won titles in 2014 and beyond.
"No, he wasn't," Haug told Sport1 when asked if Schumacher's was a forced final retirement.
"If you look, you will see that Michael was close to his 44th birthday when he retired, but that doesn't mean he was no longer capable of winning in 2013, 2014 and 2015. I think he could even have won more titles," he said.
"When Michael was with us, everything was geared towards the hybrid engine era which began in 2014."
F1 to keep two-day race format 'in our pockets' - Brawn
© Reuters
Ross Brawn says Formula 1 will "keep in our pockets" the controversial two-day race weekend format.
Some think the format, which was trialled at Imola this year, is not only snappier but will help the teams cope with the ever-lengthening annual race calendars.
Others, though, say it only robs race promoters of a day of ticket sales and stabs at the heart of F1's traditions.
"The experiment in Imola was for logistical reasons due to the cars coming in from Portugal," F1 sporting boss Brawn told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"There were some positive and some less positive aspects, but it is a possibility that we keep it in our pockets even if it will not be the norm.
"Let's just say that, in case we need it, we have a good solution. But as you know, in 2022 Friday will be different anyway.
"We will have only two practices in the afternoon and fewer areas on which you can work. This will allow the teams, in the face of a richer calendar, to come to the circuits one day later."
Brawn also admitted that with F1 now tipping over the 22-race mark, teams may have to rotate staff at the grand prix weekends - which may solve the problem of redundancies under the budget cap.
"That should be the approach of the teams," he said.
"We used to have 18-19 races but a lot of testing between them and also before and after the season. And the teams rotated the staff."
Apart from that, Brawn said he is proud of the efforts to organise a busy calendar this year amid the pandemic, and is keen to get back to a more normal situation from next year.
When asked how much money Liberty Media lost in 2020, he said: "I can't say, but it's correct to say that Formula 1 was going through a period of strong growth until this crisis.
"No one could have foreseen it and it strongly reduced both our and the teams' receipts. At the Formula 1 group, we did everything in our power to ensure that the teams at least survived.
"We haven't lost any and that's what matters," Brawn said. "Now I am convinced that a good future is ahead of us."
More news from Formula 1:
Lewis Hamilton hailed for highlighting human rights issues
Formula One is staging back-to-back races in Bahrain. Read more.
Money to decide 23rd race host in 2021 - Brawn
Ross Brawn has named three leading contenders to complete Formula 1's planned 23-race calendar in 2021. Read more.
Kubica not sure he will remain F1 reserve
Robert Kubica says he is yet to decide if he will remain Alfa Romeo's official F1 reserve driver in 2021. Read more.
'Fingers crossed' for Schumacher's debut - Brawn
Ross Brawn says he will be keeping his "fingers crossed" for Mick Schumacher's highly anticipated Formula 1 debut next year. Read more.
Saudi Arabia defends F1 race amid criticism
Saudi Arabia's motor racing chief has defended the addition of the Arab Kingdom to the 2021 Formula 1 calendar. Read more.
