Belgian GP Thursday
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This weekend's Spa race and the following event at Monza generally steer teams towards lower-downforce settings, so our tech experts Giorgio Piola and Jake Boxall-Legge have been scouring the garages and pitlane today to spot what's going on with wing settings and low-drag tweaks.
Here's their summary so far:
Here's their summary so far:
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Bottas is being quizzed further about his 'plan B' talks and how far they went, including whether he lined up potential deals with any other F1 teams.
"Unfortunately I can't really say much. That kind of question is very private. I wouldn't ever say the name of a team or person. People can trust me. I was waiting first for Mercedes to decide and still knowing that other things could be possible if for some reason we couldn't continue."
"Unfortunately I can't really say much. That kind of question is very private. I wouldn't ever say the name of a team or person. People can trust me. I was waiting first for Mercedes to decide and still knowing that other things could be possible if for some reason we couldn't continue."
Verstappen is also asked for his thoughts on whether being his team-mate is proving damaging for other drivers' careers.
He suggests that's a bit of a "shit" topic to consider.
Don't worry Max, we've done it for you - check Autosport around 7am tomorrow for Scott Mitchell's latest column, entitled 'Why Verstappen is F1's worst team-mate' (it's a compliment).
And on a related note:
He suggests that's a bit of a "shit" topic to consider.
Don't worry Max, we've done it for you - check Autosport around 7am tomorrow for Scott Mitchell's latest column, entitled 'Why Verstappen is F1's worst team-mate' (it's a compliment).
And on a related note:
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In curious questions, Verstappen is asked how long he should be considered a 'young driver'.
"Until I'm old," he replies.
He then turns to 30-years-old yesterday Bottas and asks "is it 30 when you get old?"
"Until I'm old," he replies.
He then turns to 30-years-old yesterday Bottas and asks "is it 30 when you get old?"
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At the other end of the scale, Albon is reflecting on the fact he was originally dropped by the Red Bull junior programme way back in 2012, had to scrabble just to get on the Formula 2 grid last year, then headed for Formula E thinking his F1 hopes were over only to be plucked back for Toro Rosso.
"It is quite laughable now when I look back at it," he summarises.
"It is quite laughable now when I look back at it," he summarises.
Gasly's face is a pretty accurate summary of his vibe today
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Bottas had said in Hungary that he was looking at a "plan B" in case Mercedes didn't retain him.
"You never want to be left between two chairs, so I started to make a plan for something else," he adds now. "But then things started to go in a good way. Now I can really focus on the job."
"You never want to be left between two chairs, so I started to make a plan for something else," he adds now. "But then things started to go in a good way. Now I can really focus on the job."
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Albon says he was told of his Red Bull promotion during what he thought would be a routine catch-up with Helmut Marko that then took what he describes as an "oh by the way, this is what's going" twist.
"I think you guys knew only an hour after I did," he tells the assembled media.
"I think you guys knew only an hour after I did," he tells the assembled media.
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Edd Straw has spent much of the last decade playfully urging Bottas to be more outspoken and controversial, with mixed results.
Bottas has just been asked by the Finnish media if he had a good 30th birthday yesterday. He clarifies that he had his party a day early (need a clear head for an F1 media day), and hints at wild Raikkonen-style spectacular excess (maybe):
"It was a good one, with some good people around. 30 only happens once in a lifetime. There's always a good excuse to throw a party, but that was a good one."
Bottas has just been asked by the Finnish media if he had a good 30th birthday yesterday. He clarifies that he had his party a day early (need a clear head for an F1 media day), and hints at wild Raikkonen-style spectacular excess (maybe):
"It was a good one, with some good people around. 30 only happens once in a lifetime. There's always a good excuse to throw a party, but that was a good one."
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Verstappen is asked if he expects to get a harder time from Albon than Gasly, and replies with diplomacy: "It's a bit difficult to say at the moment. I rate Alex very highly, but I also rate Pierre very highly."
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Now over to Bottas, who'll be going into a fourth year as a Mercedes driver.
"It's definitely what I wanted," he says, unsurprisingly.
"It was last weekend when we signed and the paperwork was done. I had to wait a bit until then but I still had a good break and had fun."
"It's definitely what I wanted," he says, unsurprisingly.
"It was last weekend when we signed and the paperwork was done. I had to wait a bit until then but I still had a good break and had fun."
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Sergio Perez is also being quizzed about his 2020 plans. He's expected to stay at Racing Point, and hints that he'll have an announcement very soon. Asked to clarify if that's an announcement that he's staying put, he clarifies that he'll be announcing "what my plans are"... Tease.
"I think I'm very close to finding out what I'm going to do for next year," Perez adds.
George Russell also tries to be a tease, saying "in F1" when asked where he'll be in 2020. But he then politely makes clear he's definitely staying at Williams as expected.
"I think I'm very close to finding out what I'm going to do for next year," Perez adds.
George Russell also tries to be a tease, saying "in F1" when asked where he'll be in 2020. But he then politely makes clear he's definitely staying at Williams as expected.
STUART CODLING: Max Verstappen is asked during the FIA press conference if he was surprised by the news that Alex Albon was replacing Pierre Gasly. He says no, because he was told before the announcement, when he was in the simulator. Yes, but was he surprised then?
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Albon is speaking in the main press conference now, and admits that he had been expecting a quiet summer break... That soon changed.
With the shutdown in force as his job change was announced, Albon admitted that he didn't really get chance to talk to his new crew until Monday this week.
Asked to put an out-of-10 rating on his feelings going into Spa, Albon replied: "it's a 10 for excitement, but then the number for nerves is quite high as well".
With the shutdown in force as his job change was announced, Albon admitted that he didn't really get chance to talk to his new crew until Monday this week.
Asked to put an out-of-10 rating on his feelings going into Spa, Albon replied: "it's a 10 for excitement, but then the number for nerves is quite high as well".
Autosport
We spent the last week (well, not every moment of it) debating Red Bull's decision to demote Gasly - and the other 11 times the firm has either dropped or demoted a driver from one of its F1 teams. And then we ranked those 12 calls in order of harshness, from 'probably fair enough' to 'pretty out of order'.
Here's our full countdown, plus some passionate shouts from our writers for the Red Bull juniors they think should never have been let go:
Here's our full countdown, plus some passionate shouts from our writers for the Red Bull juniors they think should never have been let go:
More coming up soon from Gasly, but it says a lot about his feelings over his demotion that he remembers that it was "8.42am" precisely when he got the call from Helmut Marko to say he was losing his Red Bull drive.
Our reporter Scott Mitchell is fresh back from Gasly's media session now and putting together a story on his feelings, which Scott has just summarised to us as "a clump of misery".
Our reporter Scott Mitchell is fresh back from Gasly's media session now and putting together a story on his feelings, which Scott has just summarised to us as "a clump of misery".
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As news emerged that Ericsson had been asked to go to Spa to potentially replace someone at Alfa, thoughts initially turned to the struggling Antonio Giovinazzi - though sources close to the situation rapidly informed us to look towards Raikkonen instead.
With the minor lingering doubt over Raikkonen still in the air, Giovinazzi was asked if potentially going into the weekend without Kimi racing put pressure on him.
His reply: "I think Kimi’s a tough guy..."
With the minor lingering doubt over Raikkonen still in the air, Giovinazzi was asked if potentially going into the weekend without Kimi racing put pressure on him.
His reply: "I think Kimi’s a tough guy..."
We're going to get Pierre Gasly's full thoughts on being demoted from Red Bull to Toro Rosso shortly. An early hint: he's a little shocked and not especially happy.
In the meantime, here's a recap of some other times in F1 history when drivers ended up in his unfortunate position and the full stories behind them:
In the meantime, here's a recap of some other times in F1 history when drivers ended up in his unfortunate position and the full stories behind them:
Autosport
Stuart Codling recently explained why the strangeness around the Rich/Haas deal might not be over yet: 
Autosport
Today has been so eventful in the paddock, the latest about the curious world of Rich Energy has been a bit of an afterthought: 
Jake Boxall-Legge
Alfa Romeo's front wing has undergone a minor change at Spa, illustrated in this image by Giorgio Piola. The old wing's inboard section (foreground) has a rounder curve at the point where the top element becomes two.
This contrasts with the new wing, in the background, which features a more diagonal slant as it moves to the inboard section of the wing. In doing so, there's a little less drag compared to the previous wing while retaining the same effect.
The caption for this image reads 'Alex Albon is presented with a musical instrument'. That is factually correct...
Codders is now allowed to talk again, and has been putting that skill to good use to conduct a special interview with Robert Kubica for a future issue of F1 Racing magazine and Autosport Plus. Here's the photoshoot taking place for it
While on the way to Spa yesterday, Edd Straw, Scott Michell and Jake Boxall-Legge conducted the latest Autosport podcast in their car, with usually loquacious raconteur Stuart Codling banned from talking because it would be dangerous to be as expressive as Codders while driving.
Here are Edd, Scott and JBL's thoughts on matters ranging from Ferrari's chances this weekend to how Albon will fare at Red Bull and much more. And obviously given how much has happened this morning, some of their musings about Honda engine choices and Mercedes driver plans have since come to pass:
Here are Edd, Scott and JBL's thoughts on matters ranging from Ferrari's chances this weekend to how Albon will fare at Red Bull and much more. And obviously given how much has happened this morning, some of their musings about Honda engine choices and Mercedes driver plans have since come to pass:
From down the hill in the F2/F3 paddock, JACK BENYON:
Alex Albon is the hottest name in the paddock this weekend. Just last year he was fighting for the Formula 2 title, so we sought out DAMS team boss Francois Sicard in the paddock to see if he could give us any insight into how Alex will perform this weekend with Red Bull.
“For sure, it’s a good opportunity,” said Sicard. “Perhaps it is coming a bit early because he is still in the learning curve so it’s pretty challenging to change already, to go mid-season from one team to another is not an easy task.
“Last year was a tough, that’s why I’m saying he is capable of handling big pressure. He is capable to adapt. Last year he coped with a pretty tricky situation. He will take the opportunity, embrace the opportunity and take the most of it I’m pretty sure.”
Alex Albon is the hottest name in the paddock this weekend. Just last year he was fighting for the Formula 2 title, so we sought out DAMS team boss Francois Sicard in the paddock to see if he could give us any insight into how Alex will perform this weekend with Red Bull.
“For sure, it’s a good opportunity,” said Sicard. “Perhaps it is coming a bit early because he is still in the learning curve so it’s pretty challenging to change already, to go mid-season from one team to another is not an easy task.
“Last year was a tough, that’s why I’m saying he is capable of handling big pressure. He is capable to adapt. Last year he coped with a pretty tricky situation. He will take the opportunity, embrace the opportunity and take the most of it I’m pretty sure.”
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Also talking about 2020 today has been Robert Kubica, whose fairytale F1 comeback season has become the sort of fairytale that veers between underwhelming and scary and looks unlikely to ever produce a happy ending.
Will he still be racing for Williams next year?
“My future, I’m concentrated on now. What will the future bring? I don’t know, everything can change very quickly. So we will have to wait and see."
Adam Cooper quizzed him further and extracted a few more thoughts, which you'll be able to read about in our news section later.
Will he still be racing for Williams next year?
“My future, I’m concentrated on now. What will the future bring? I don’t know, everything can change very quickly. So we will have to wait and see."
Adam Cooper quizzed him further and extracted a few more thoughts, which you'll be able to read about in our news section later.
Autosport
Here's the full story on Ocon's Renault move: 
Esteban Ocon replaces Nico Hulkenberg at Renault for F1 2020
Esteban Ocon will return to the Formula 1 grid in 2020 by replacing Nico Hulkenberg at Renault
Autosport
Hulkenberg's obvious option is at Haas, where earlier today boss Gunther Steiner said he expected to keep Kevin Magnussen but was choosing between three drivers - incumbent Romain Grosjean, Hulkenberg and Ocon - for the second seat.
That swiftly became a two-horse race...
That swiftly became a two-horse race...
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Hulkenberg briefly posted a response to Ocon replacing him at Renault on his Twitter feed but it appeared to be rapidly deleted.
We, however, moved fast.
Here's what he posted:
"It's a pity that the journey with Renault will end after the season, especially as we haven't been able to reach our goals yet. We had hoped to take another step forward this season, but unfortunately we haven't managed that so far.
"It is well known that the choice of drivers is not only about performance, it is a whole bundle of factors. But that's the way it is.
"Surely we would all have liked to see it differently but nevertheless, I'll keep my focus and try to reach the maximum success for our team in the remaining races!
"With regard to 2020, I am confident to find a good solution, but there is nothing to announce at the moment."
We, however, moved fast.
Here's what he posted:
"It's a pity that the journey with Renault will end after the season, especially as we haven't been able to reach our goals yet. We had hoped to take another step forward this season, but unfortunately we haven't managed that so far.
"It is well known that the choice of drivers is not only about performance, it is a whole bundle of factors. But that's the way it is.
"Surely we would all have liked to see it differently but nevertheless, I'll keep my focus and try to reach the maximum success for our team in the remaining races!
"With regard to 2020, I am confident to find a good solution, but there is nothing to announce at the moment."
Herbert was possibly telling Albon he hoped his first chance in a GP winning car would be better than Herbert's own similar experience, when he was launched into Benetton for the 1994 Japanese GP but ended up crashing in the torrential rain
Before he speaks to full press pack later, Albon is having an early chat with three-time GP winner turned Sky Sports F1 pundit Johnny Herbert
McLaren has given the livery of its Formula 1 car a ‘summer haircut’ for the Belgian Grand Prix, with the team also running some new sponsor logos for the first time.
While most of the changes are just a tidying up of its orange, black and blue colours, the most notable difference is the rear wing becoming more black.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl told Autosport about the changes: “We all went for a haircut in the summer break, and so did the car.”
As well as tweaking the colours, McLaren is also running the logos of Belgian convenience chain Night and Day in deference to its normal British American Tobacco branding.
For races such as Belgium where there are more strict tobacco advertising legislation, BAT has given over the space it has on the car to retail partners. In Australia the team ran with 7-Eleven logos, in Canada it had Couchetard and in France it had Dufry.
Scott Mitchell
If flying to Belgium didn’t indicate our summer break was over, waking up this morning and being punched in the face by a flurry of stories certainly did.
It’s been a crazy first day back in the paddock, from working out what the hell was going on with Marcus Ericsson skipping an IndyCar race to be on standby for Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo, to another Honda engine upgrade (but not for Max Verstappen), and the question of if/when we’d have a Mercedes driver announcement.
Mercedes has indeed confirmed Valtteri Bottas has been retained for 2020, which means Esteban Ocon must move elsewhere to rejoin the F1 grid - and we soon found out that will be Renault.
We still don't have all the answers we want. Nico Hulkenberg is at the centre of one of the big unknowns now Ocon is taking his seat.
Hulkenberg promised a more “fun” Thursday – he's already been proven right, and we've not even got to speak to him yet!
That’s coming up at 16.25 local time. Here are some other times to look out for:
Right now: Gasly speaks to the media for the first time since being dropped by Red Bull
15.00: Newly-confirmed Mercedes driver Bottas and newly-promoted Red Bull driver Albon appear in the official FIA press conference
It’s been a crazy first day back in the paddock, from working out what the hell was going on with Marcus Ericsson skipping an IndyCar race to be on standby for Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo, to another Honda engine upgrade (but not for Max Verstappen), and the question of if/when we’d have a Mercedes driver announcement.
Mercedes has indeed confirmed Valtteri Bottas has been retained for 2020, which means Esteban Ocon must move elsewhere to rejoin the F1 grid - and we soon found out that will be Renault.
We still don't have all the answers we want. Nico Hulkenberg is at the centre of one of the big unknowns now Ocon is taking his seat.
Hulkenberg promised a more “fun” Thursday – he's already been proven right, and we've not even got to speak to him yet!
That’s coming up at 16.25 local time. Here are some other times to look out for:
Right now: Gasly speaks to the media for the first time since being dropped by Red Bull
15.00: Newly-confirmed Mercedes driver Bottas and newly-promoted Red Bull driver Albon appear in the official FIA press conference
Twitter
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And finally from Kimi for now, some life advice.
Asked, again, for more details about how he sustained the pulled muscle, he replied: "Sport. It is dangerous. I always said it is more dangerous – drinking is probably safer.
"Usually you don’t get injured, you just get a hangover."
Asked, again, for more details about how he sustained the pulled muscle, he replied: "Sport. It is dangerous. I always said it is more dangerous – drinking is probably safer.
"Usually you don’t get injured, you just get a hangover."
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He was also mischievous about which leg he had hurt: "One of those….left. You are trying to make a big story out of it!
"Better the brake than the throttle…"
"Better the brake than the throttle…"
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Here's more from Kimi Raikkonen on his pulled muscle, a situation he discusses in what you'd have to call a Kimi-ish manner:
Asked by a reporter if the leg pain could be "a handicap" for this weekend, he replies: "I’m not handicapped. I pulled a muscle and that is about it. We will see what happens."
And as for how he did it: "Sport. I’m getting old."
Asked by a reporter if the leg pain could be "a handicap" for this weekend, he replies: "I’m not handicapped. I pulled a muscle and that is about it. We will see what happens."
And as for how he did it: "Sport. I’m getting old."
Information
Today's flurry of news means the 2020 F1 line-up so far looks like this:
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton/Valtteri Bottas
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel/Charles Leclerc
Red Bull: Max Verstappen/?
McLaren: Carlos Sainz Jr/Lando Norris
Toro Rosso: ?/?
Renault: Daniel Ricciardo/Esteban Ocon
Alfa Romeo: Kimi Raikkonen/?
Racing Point: ?/Lance Stroll
Haas: Kevin Magnussen?/?
Williams: George Russell/?
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton/Valtteri Bottas
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel/Charles Leclerc
Red Bull: Max Verstappen/?
McLaren: Carlos Sainz Jr/Lando Norris
Toro Rosso: ?/?
Renault: Daniel Ricciardo/Esteban Ocon
Alfa Romeo: Kimi Raikkonen/?
Racing Point: ?/Lance Stroll
Haas: Kevin Magnussen?/?
Williams: George Russell/?
By: Matt Beer
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