F1 information LIVE: Aston Martin announce Otmar Szafnauer exit, Williams win case and Lewis Hamilton linked to Hollywood film

Aston Martin have introduced the shock departure of workforce boss Otmar Szafnauer.

In a press release, Aston Martin mentioned: “Otmar Szafnauer has left the corporate and his function at Aston Martin will probably be managed throughout the management workforce till a alternative is appointed.

“We wish to thank him for the service offered to the workforce over the previous 12 years and want him properly for the long run as he’ll undoubtedly tackle new challenges.

“Happily, we’re led and managed by a robust group of people, and we’re comfy to take a while to discover choices earlier than saying a brand new workforce construction.

“The main target of the workforce is at present on getting ready essentially the most aggressive automotive doable for the beginning of the 2022 season.”

Whereas Szafnauer has not introduced his subsequent transfer, he denied experiences final season linking him with Alpine.

Martin Brundle believes Honda will probably be again quickly after waving goodbye to Components after clinching glory with Purple Bull following Max Verstappen’s world title.

The Japanese engine producer will proceed to work alongside Purple Bull and AlphaTauri by way of Purple Bull’s new Powertrains division, however they’ve taken a step again when it comes to being an official engine producer.

However Brundle believes Honda might properly resume a extra distinguished function within the sport within the close to future.

“Purple Bull have nonetheless been very beneficiant and wanting to keep up a relationship with Honda within the transition,” Brundle mentioned on Sky Sports activities F1.

“They’ll come again, and we hope that the Volkswagen Group, Audi will be a part of. Components 1 is stratospheric for the time being, to allow them to all the time decide to come back again.”

Jenson Button admits it’s “a disgrace” McLaren didn’t lengthen their relationship with Honda in F1 after the Japanese producer’s world title success in partnership with Purple Bull.

After ending a six-year absence from the game in 2015, three unsuccessful years with McLaren noticed Honda initially hyperlink up with Toro Rosso in 2018.

And after switching over to Purple Bull the next season, they delivered for Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, earlier than saying an finish to their time within the sport as soon as once more, going out on a excessive.

“I used to be with them at the beginning of this [V6 hybrid] challenge and it wasn’t straightforward for them,” Button instructed Autosport. “Within the hybrid period, they struggled after they first got here in. They had been clearly a few years behind everybody else. [There were] a number of reliability points.

“And I believe it’s a disgrace that McLaren didn’t hold on with them. It was very straightforward for them to level the finger after they weren’t aggressive they usually pointed to essentially the most unreliable half, which was the engine.

“However now shifting ahead, working with a workforce like Purple Bull and all their expertise, it appears that evidently they’ve discovered a very good partnership. It’s good to see Honda profitable once more, as a result of their final win earlier than the period with Purple Bull was mine in 2006, a very long time in the past in sport. So it’s nice to see them profitable.”

Fernando Alonso insists he stays as completely happy as ever in F1 after a season with Alpine due to misconceptions about him in 2007.

A podium and a giant half in Alpine’s fifth-placed end within the constructors’ championship has not made him happier, with the Spaniard insisting his time with McLaren in 2007 was misinterpreted.

“I in all probability disagree with that, as a result of after I joined Ferrari, I had precisely the identical questions from you guys,” Alonso mentioned.

“I keep in mind completely, answering questions: ‘Why do you are feeling so completely happy now? Is it being in an Italian workforce and you might be Spanish, it’s a greater match and you’re feeling completely happy?’ And I mentioned sure, perhaps it’s due to that, we’ve the identical sense of humour, we’ve the identical Latin character, so perhaps that’s the rationale why I’m completely happy.

“Then I got here again to McLaren in 2015, and it was the identical feedback: ‘Why are you so completely happy now? As a result of in Ferrari, you felt a bit of bit down the final two years and pissed off, and now you appear that even if you’re not combating for the championship and it was the unhealthy seasons of Honda and many others, you’re nonetheless fairly completely happy off-track, so why that change from Fernando?’

“After which after I was in endurance [racing] or Dakar or Indy: ‘Why are you a lot extra relaxed now? In Components 1, you appeared pissed off and many others?’ And now it’s the identical remark.”

Alpine government director Marcin Budkowski maintains it’s “very encouraging” how his workforce progressed final season.

Regardless of inconsistency, Alpine landed a shock maiden win for Esteban Ocon in Hungary, whereas Fernando Alonso delivered a podium end in Qatar.

It was sufficient to edge out AlphaTauri for fifth within the constructors’ championship, whereas Budkowski is inspired forward of the problem to shut the hole on Ferrari and McLaren to struggle for third.

“Provided that we’ve had the identical engine just about for the final three years, the frozen chassis and gearbox for strategic causes to take a position our assets elsewhere, we’ve truly completed fairly properly with the platform that we had,” Budkowski mentioned.

“Each on the monitor and when it comes to growing the areas the place we may, so it is vitally encouraging for subsequent season. Now we all know our numbers, however we don’t know different individuals’s numbers.”

Mercedes’ resolution to decide on George Russell over Lando Norris to doubtless be Lewis Hamilton’s teammate subsequent season has been questioned.

The Silver Arrows opted for Russell to interchange Valtteri Bottas for the upcoming 2022 season.

The F1: Chequered Flag podcast workforce have detailed why Norris would have been a greater choice.

Jack Nicholls mentioned: “If I’m Mercedes and I’ve a free alternative in that second seat alongside Hamilton, I believe I’m selecting Norris over Russell after this 12 months.”

Jolyon Palmer agreed: “I’m going with Jack on it, I’m going with Lando.

“The best way that he held off Lewis Hamilton on the finish of that Sochi race till the technique and the tyre alternative acquired away from him, was unbelievable.

“For a man that has by no means gained a race, to have a seven-time World Champion respiratory down his neck in a Mercedes…

“Then it begins raining, and he’s nonetheless off the street a few instances, scrabbling round, however retaining Hamilton, everyone knows how good he’s within the moist, behind him.

“It was actually legendary stuff I believe from Norris.”

Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton will return to F1 in 2022 regardless of hypothesis over his future after falling brief towards Max Verstappen in final season’s dramatic title race.

“Something is feasible as everyone knows in sport. We’re very emotional characters and tensions run excessive,” Button, the 2009 champion, instructed Sky Sports activities.

“Personally – I don’t know Lewis that properly now, I knew him seven or eight years in the past – however I wouldn’t see him strolling away, particularly as he’s simply misplaced the world championship, I believe he’ll come again combating subsequent 12 months and we’ll be again on, recreation on in March.”

Nico Rosberg maintains that F1 should tightened up its rules after a controversial end to the season with off-track selections influencing outcomes on the monitor as Max Verstappen edged out Lewis Hamilton to land his maiden world title.

“The game must make progress,” Rosberg instructed Sky Sports activities Information.

“It begins even with all of the overtaking, the wheel-to-wheel motion.

“The FIA must tighten all that up in order that we don’t have all these discussions.

“It will be higher for the game if it was a lot simpler to know. Additionally in wheel-to-wheel racing; who’s now proper and unsuitable, what must be completed. A fast resolution is made, and we go on.

“We have to do away with all these discussions, that’s vital.”

Williams have been awarded $35.7 million (£26.3m) in an arbitration case after a dispute with former title sponsor ROKiT.

The case in america comes after the pair joined forces in 2019 on a three-year contract, whereas shortly extending the partnership to 2023 later that 12 months.

However after the 2020 season was delayed because of the Covid pandemic, the pair break up.

As reported by MotorsportWeek.com, Williams gained the case towards ROKiT at a London Courtroom of Worldwide Arbitration tribunal in 2021, ordering ROKiT to stump up “roughly £26.2m in missed funds, in addition to a $1m in bonus cost.”

Arbitrator Klaus Reichert SC has now dominated in favour of Williams, stating that ROKiT didn’t pay the cash owed to Williams, that means the matter is now settled and the Grove outfit can think about the 2022 season, with the excellent sponsorship cash now due quickly.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says it’s “simply rumours” that Lewis Hamilton will retire from Components 1 earlier than the 2022 season.

Hamilton has hardly been seen in public since, solely being pictured at Windsor Fortress after being given his knighthood.

Ben Sulayem mentioned: “No, I don’t suppose so, they’re simply rumours. Has he declared that he’s not going to run? Precisely, no. If you end up a driver, you communicate for your self and never what others say about you.

“I belief that this isn’t the case. Lewis is a crucial a part of the game and of F1, his achievements, Verstappen is there…I’m positive we are going to discover a very thrilling F1 subsequent season.”