Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Monday, November 2.
Monday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
F1 should move to 'rotating' races idea - Seidl
Andreas Seidl has admitted his opposition to the trend for longer Formula 1 calendars made possible by the likely introduction of Imola-like two-day race weekends.
Just as news of the unprecedentedly long 2021 calendar featuring 23 races broke, Formula 1 descended on the much-loved former San Marino GP venue Imola for a novel two-day race weekend experiment.
McLaren boss Seidl is worried about the trend.
"I'm not a fan of a calendar of 23 races. I think 20 is really enough," he said.
It is believed the draft 23-race schedule is almost identical to the original 2020 calendar, except that it features a new race in Saudi Arabia.
That would mean highly popular former F1 circuits drafted in at short notice amid the corona crisis this year - such as Mugello, Imola, Portimao and Turkey - will not be returning in 2021.
"What I would like better is a rotation principle, which means we could keep visiting different places while still building new venues," Seidl said.
McLaren driver Carlos Sainz agrees with his boss.
"I don't like the plan to hold more two-day events," he said at Imola.
"We're a circus and when the circus is in town it should make an impression on the fans. We won't do that if we're only there for two days and then - whoosh - we're gone again."
Sainz says he likes the sound of Seidl's idea that new circuits and more historic circuits share the Formula 1 calendar by annually rotating or alternating.
"This year we have learned that there are tracks on which Formula 1 can offer a great show. This does not apply to all the circuits on the calendar," he said.
"So I think it would be good if we took turns like that," said the Spanish driver. "We should sprinkle tracks like Imola, Portimao and Mugello in there every few years to offer more variation.
"I would prefer that to more and more races over fewer days."
Kvyat out but Marko gives Albon more time
© Reuters
While one Red Bull-contracted driver's exit appears set in stone, another still has a few races to prove he still belongs in Formula 1.
Although driving for the energy drink company's second team Alpha Tauri, Daniil Kvyat thinks he easily outperformed the struggling Alex Albon at Imola.
"From the very beginning of the race I was much stronger than Albon, who has a potentially faster car," Russian Kvyat said.
However, 26-year-old Kvyat appears to have already been given his marching orders by the boss of Red Bull's driver program.
When asked if finishing fourth at Imola had improved Kvyat's chances of retaining his seat in 2021, Dr Helmut Marko told Sky Deutschland: "No.
"It was a very good performance, but it will not help him in the future," he said.
It appears to be a cold-hearted rebuke of Kvyat, but also true is that Red Bull is under pressure to promote the Honda-linked Yuki Tsunoda for 2021 - or potentially give Albon's career a lifeline.
Under huge pressure and amid rumours that Nico Hulkenberg or Sergio Perez could replace him for 2021, the 24-year-old British born Thai driver - Albon - finished dead last on Sunday.
Even so, Marko insists that he will be given more time.
"Even after Imola, we will not make a decision about Albon," the Austrian is quoted by German-language motorsport-total.com. "We'll give him some more time.
"Albon has until the last race in Abu Dhabi to prove himself and then we will make an internal decision about whether he can stay or whether we are looking for someone from outside," said Marko.
"There are many drivers on the market, so we do not have to make a hasty choice."
More news from Formula 1:
Lewis Hamilton suggests he could quit Formula One at end of the year
The Mercedes driver, edging towards a record-equalling seventh world title, says there is a lot that excites him about life after F1. Read more.
George Russell insists he will learn from 'stupid mistake'
The British driver crashed at low speed towards the end of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Read more.
Result: Lewis Hamilton wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to close in on record-equalling seventh world championship
He can clinch the title with a win at the Turkish Grand Prix in two weeks' time. Read more.
Wolff thinks 'tired' Hamilton will stay in F1
Toto Wolff remains confident that Lewis Hamilton will eventually sign a new Mercedes contract for 2021 and beyond. Read more.
Toto Wolff: 'I don't think Lewis Hamilton will retire'
Lewis Hamilton, 35, will win a record-equalling seventh title if he triumphs at the Turkish Grand Prix a week on Sunday. Read more.
Covid threatens tail-end of 2020 season - Wolff
The rest of this year's makeshift Formula 1 calendar is in "the hands of the national authorities". Read more.
