Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Tuesday, February 2.
Tuesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Haas unable to fire up 2021 Ferrari engine
© Reuters
Haas is currently unable to fire up its Formula 1 engines in preparation for the 2021 season that begins with testing and the opening race in Bahrain next month.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the small American team, which will field rookie Mick Schumacher this year, has received its customer engines for the new season from supplier and partner Ferrari.
"The engine is allowed into Britain, but not the engineers you need to start it," revealed correspondent Michael Schmidt.
"As things stand at the moment, the earliest possible moment to bring the engine to life is the test in Bahrain."
Normally, Haas' cars are assembled at the Dallara facility, which like Ferrari's Maranello factory is based in Italy.
But for the first time, Haas is assembling the 2021 car at its own Banbury (UK) base.
"This year, that is easier in terms of logistics than to send our parts to Italy for assembly," confirmed team boss Gunther Steiner.
The problem is that Britain is requiring all Italian travellers to quarantine for 14 days, meaning that even Steiner himself is unable to travel to the Haas factory from the US at present.
"If I wanted to fly to England, I would have to be in quarantine for two weeks," Steiner said. "There are only exceptions for athletes."
Haas has made aerodynamic tweaks to its 2020 car in preparation for this season, but the team has decided against using any of the development 'tokens'.
"We could have built a new nose, but we were too late," said Steiner. "The wind tunnel program had been shut down too long for us to have the nose ready before the deadline at the end of September."
2022 Honda engine plan still alive - Marko
© Reuters
Red Bull remains confident rival Formula 1 teams will agree to an engine development 'freeze' from 2022.
Top official Dr Helmut Marko insists the measure is the only way Red Bull's plan to take over the works Honda operation can go ahead following the Japanese manufacturer's departure at the end of the year.
Last week, F1 managing director Ross Brawn denied that teams voted down the plan, but Marko told motorsport-magazin.com: "The agreement that still existed on Friday was no longer available on Monday."
Nonetheless, ahead of a rumoured vote by the World Motor Sport Council on February 21, Marko remains confident agreement will eventually be reached.
"We need six of the ten votes from the teams - only a simple majority," he told f1-insider.com.
"I assume that, in addition to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, the three Ferrari teams Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Haas as well as Renault will agree," Marko added.
Moreover, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has told the RTL and n-tv broadcasters: "If the freeze is necessary to keep Red Bull-Honda in business, we will support it."
More news from Formula 1:
Vaccine plan for F1's Imola spectators
A push is on to ensure that spectators are able to attend Imola's Formula 1 race in April. Read more.
Senna was also 'alone' in F1 system - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton has likened his experiences in Formula 1 to those of his childhood hero and F1 legend Ayrton Senna. Read more.
Rio mayor nixes F1 circuit project
A bid to launch a Formula 1 race in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro has now collapsed. Read more.
