Last Thursday in timeline!

Vettel form: Ralf Schumacher thinks it is “strange”

At the end of today we have a video for you. Ralf Schumacher finds it a bit strange how Sebastian Vettel’s 2020 form has fallen compared to Charles Leclerc. But see for yourself!

By the way: Excerpts from the media event with 2021 TV experts Ralf Schumacher and Timo Glock are shown with the kind permission of Sky Deutschland.

Information on Formula 1 on Sky is available at sky.de/formel1.

See you tomorrow!

Unfortunately, we’ve already reached the end of today’s live ticker at this point. The last media Thursday of the 2020 Formula 1 season is coming to an end. Maria Reyer thanks you very much for your interest and hopes you come back tomorrow. Then again as always with Ruben Zimmermann! Beautiful sunset!

PS: This is Mick Schumacher’s helmet design for tomorrow’s free practice session!

Verstappen: Don’t look at my teammates

My Dutch colleague Erwin Jaeggi was in a press round with Max Verstappen today. In it, the Red Bull driver was asked about his teammate Alexander Albon. What have you learned from the Thai this season? “I learned that I always have to look at myself. It doesn’t make sense to look at my teammate because if you copy him, you just slow down.”

It is not yet clear if Albon will remain his teammate next year. So Verstappen doesn’t even want to talk about it. He only makes it clear: “I have a very open relationship with Helmut and Christian and this issue is also discussed sometimes, but in the end I don’t decide. I leave it to them.”

Fittipaldi: No targets have been set for Abu Dhabi

Speaking of substitute drivers, one driver can sit still: Pietro Fittipaldi. The grandson of racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi replaces the injured Romain Grosjean. “I’m looking forward to it. A new weekend, a new track, so another place where I can show what I’m capable of.” No goal has been set for his second Grand Prix.

“I prepare myself as best I can to do my best.” The large amount of new information on all processes was particularly challenging in Bahrain. “But I didn’t make any mistakes, everything went well, the team prepared me very well.” He has already driven in Abu Dhabi, which should help him this weekend.

Video Analysis: How Good Is Lewis Hamilton?

We have a new video for you! With Sky’s kind permission, we may show some excerpts from a media talk with Ralf Schumacher and Timo Glock. In it, the two former racing drivers and experts talk about the ailing Valtteri Bottas and the strengths of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Make sure to check it out!

Russell comments on Twitter

George Russell has now also commented on his “transfer back” to Williams on Twitter. He is very happy that Lewis Hamilton is fit and can drive again. He had a great time with Mercedes, now he wants to apply what he learned with Williams. “I’ll give it my all this weekend, just like you do for me every week.”

Video: Best and Worst Substitute Drivers

At this point we want to rewatch this video that we made before the Sachir Grand Prix. They are the best and worst substitute drivers in the history of Formula 1. Would you have known them all?

Two Friday Drivers

The official entry list for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is ​​available – Lewis Hamilton, of course, is already on it. There are also two drivers on Fridays in the last racing weekend of the year. Mick Schumacher will do the first free practice for Haas tomorrow, Robert Kubica for Alfa Romeo.

Aitken with Williams

It is also clear: Jack Aitken will not contest another Grand Prix for the moment and will have to make way for George Russell at Williams again. Ask on Twitter if Stoffel Vandoorne, who was ignored by Mercedes, still has a controller for the game console …

At least Aitken will be able to take a seat at the Williams again this year – that is, Tuesday of next week at the Young Drivers Test!

Russell back to Williams

Now that Lewis Hamilton is back, George Russell will have to swap his Mercedes jersey for Williams’. The Briton will compete for the auxiliary team again this weekend and will not get a second chance.

Hamilton is allowed to enter the paddock

“The FIA, Formula 1 and the Mercedes team can confirm today that Lewis Hamilton has passed a series of corona negative tests. He completed his ten-day quarantine in Bahrain and was able to leave the country in accordance with the regulations of the Bahraini health authorities. . Lewis “. it has already arrived in Abu Dhabi ”, says the official statement.

The authorities allowed him to leave because he had more negative results. This is necessary to access the paddock, as stipulated in Appendix S of the Sports Code. Hamilton will have to present another negative result within the first 24 hours after entering the paddock.

Confirmed: Hamilton tested negative for Corona!

And as soon as we write that on the ticker, the FIA ​​confirmation comes in: Lewis Hamilton has tested negative for Corona multiple times and has already made it to Abu Dhabi. That also means: you will participate in the season finale!

Media reports: Hamilton tested negative

Will Lewis Hamilton drive in Abu Dhabi? Or will George Russell get another shot at the Mercedes? Those are the big questions this Thursday before the end of the season. According to ‘auto motor und sport’ and ‘Sky’ media reports, the world champion delivered at least one negative corona test in Bahrain and is already on his way to the emirate.

Martin Brundle, Sky expert and former racing driver, says: “I heard he did a couple of negative tests in Bahrain and is on his way here as long as he tests negative again. I think it’s very likely that he will be in the car on Friday Not sure yet, but I understand. “

Important: Mercedes has not yet officially confirmed anything.

Giovinazzi can still beat Raikkonen

In Abu Dhabi, some decisions will still be made on Sunday, including in the internal qualifying matches. It is particularly close at McLaren between Sainz and Norris (8: 8) and at Alfa Romeo between Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi (8: 8). “After a long season, of course, it’s good to be so close,” said the Italian.

Of course you want to beat your experienced teammate. He also notes: “My main goal for this weekend is not to beat Kimi in qualifying, but to score points on Sunday. We have to focus on that.”

– Summary: All 2020 qualifying matches!

Hockenheim 2018: a turning point?

Was there too much pressure involved in Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel? “I don’t know. I think you put more pressure on yourself.” He is also happy to admit that the pressure is coming from Italy, the Tifosi and the media. But: “I always have the highest expectations of myself. I am my first and best judge when I have not reached them.”

For example, he mentions the Hockenheim failure in 2018. “Rest assured, I was not happy, even before the Tifosi, to have put the car in the gravel trap in Germany.” Was that moment the turnaround for Vettel and Ferrari? “No, it’s been a roller coaster ride over the years. But it didn’t help momentum that year,” he admits. It was just a small mistake, but with far-reaching consequences and consequences.

Vettel: Too hard on yourself?

Is Sebastian Vettel taking it too hard? The German has already spoken in many interviews recently that he failed with Ferrari. However, he is the third most successful Ferrari driver of all time. “But that does not change anything, we failed. We had the goal and the ambition to win world championships. And we did not achieve it,” he clarifies today.

He also realizes that he had to compete against one of the strongest drivers (Lewis Hamilton) and one of the strongest teams (Mercedes) of all time. But: “We wanted to be stronger.” There are many reasons why it didn’t work out in the end.