Nico Hülkenberg before IndyCar test
But let’s start with another piece of news from across the pond: Next Monday, Nico Hülkenberg will drive a test at the IndyCars. The German drives an Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet at Barber Motorsports Park.
Hulkenberg recently admitted that his Formula 1 days would probably be over if he didn’t get a cockpit for 2022. And it doesn’t look like that: Only at Alfa Romeo there is still a place free, and Hülkenberg is not considered a promising candidate.
The test is just an evaluation / rookie test and does not indicate that Arrow McLaren SP, where McLaren’s influence will increase, will launch a third car for Hülkenberg in 2022. With Felix Rosenqvist and Patricio O’Ward, two drivers have already been confirmed.
For Hülkenberg it is the first drive in an IndyCar bolide.
Sauber-Andretti Deal: No announcement in Austin
Actually, those involved had hoped to be able to announce the takeover of Sauber at Andretti’s home game in the USA. But nothing will come of it at first, because there are “a few loose ends” that need to be linked.
Michael Andretti’s father Mario, 1978 world champion, knows that there will be talks revealed in the podcast ‘F1 Nation’.
Our editor-in-chief Christian Nimmervoll has compiled the current status here.
Also read: How Colton Herta is slowed down by the super license points.
Sainz: Ferrari signature in pajamas
Carlos Sainz gave some interesting insights in an exclusive interview with our English-speaking colleagues from ‘Motorsport.com’. The story about his contract signing at Ferrari last year, which took place in the middle of the corona pandemic, is curious.
In other words: negotiations were carried out via Zoom. “We spent the entire lockdown time with the family, and then one day I wake up around 8 a.m. still in my pajamas.”
“I come into this room and see that my father is standing by with a pen. He says, ‘You have to sign here: this is the Ferrari contract. And if you sign, it’s done.’
“So I signed my pajamas at 8 a.m., right after I woke up! I said, ‘Okay, good morning to you too …'”
There will be more of it later in the day in our news.
Aston Martin still believes in sixth place
Aston Martin still believes in sixth place in the constructors’ championship. The team is currently only seventh with 61 points and is more than 30 points behind AlphaTauri (92).
You still have six races for this, but you have only scored 24 points over the past ten races – and AlphaTauri is not a stationary target either.
“It’s difficult, but it’s still possible,” says team boss Otmar Szafnauer. “I think we’re going to need some exceptional races, but we’ve seen them in the past. When Max and Lewis are fighting for the championship, they’ll be pushing each other hard. So if something happens up front, you can do good with both drivers in midfield Get points. If it’s still possible, we’ll fight for it. ”
But why only attack P6? Alpine is also only twelve points ahead of AlphaTauri;)
Mika Häkkinen at the Race of Champions
This is now unexpected: the two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Häkkinen is making his racing comeback and will compete in the Race of Champions, which will take place on 5th / 6th February 2022 in Sweden. In addition to the individual title, he will also be reaching for the nation ranking, where he will attack for Finland together with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.
“I’m really looking forward to racing again and finally being able to take part in the Race of Champions. It will be very different from Formula 1, but I love the competition and it is so spectacular to drive on snow and ice”, says Hakkinen. “I’ll try to train at my home in Northern Finland before the race.”
Bottas is also looking forward to forming a team with his compatriot: “I’m good friends with Mika, so I’m very happy to have him as my team-mate who represents Finland in the ROC Nations Cup. But then of course we have to try to beat us in the individual Race Of Champions. It will be fun for the fans no matter who wins it. “
Häkkinen used to be part of the Bottas management team.
Domenicali: The universe is the limit
In addition to Texas, the USA will get a second race with Miami from 2022. But that might not be the end. Formula 1 has long dreamed of racing in front of the New York skyline. A few years ago you got close with a race in New Jersey, but the dream never materialized.
Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali is also holding on to the dream, even though he knows that it could be quite difficult. Nevertheless, he does not want to rule out anything: “If we continue to work in this direction, then all is the limit,” he says ‘CBS News’.
According to Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer, the USA could also stand a third race: “The American market is big enough that we are not at the saturation point,” he says. “NASCAR has almost 40 races and everyone loves NASCAR. The demand would certainly be there.”
This is what awaits us in the PK
Here we have the pairings from tomorrow’s Austin press conference. Again, the 20 drivers in pairs answer journalists’ questions. Here with us in the ticker you won’t miss any important statements. But be careful: Due to the time difference, the PK does not begin in this country until 7:30 p.m.!
On Friday at 8 p.m. German time, four team representatives will then answer the questions: Toto Wolff (Mercedes) and Zak Brown (McLaren) will start, followed by Günther Steiner (Haas) and Jost Capito (Williams).
After qualifying and the race, the top 3 are sitting there as usual.
Howdy!
America is calling! Formula 1 is facing its 17th race of the season, which will take place in Austin this weekend. Not only Mick Schumacher is preparing intensively for the race, everything is already geared towards the US race.
The cowboy is at this point today Norman Fischerwho will guide you through the ticker day. Do you have any questions or comments? Then use the contact form or the hashtag #FragMST on Twitter.