2021 The Wimpiest of Silly Seasons.

Itburns under the Formula 1 Christmas tree - and I do not mean any Advent candles that are lit in the contemplative Advent season by F1 marketer Liberty. The Americans around CEO Chase Carey and Head of Sport Ross Brawn have to plan the future. Goal: sweeter the cash registers never sound!
That's why the Formula 1 makers are planning megadeals behind the scenes. The focus is on the world champions Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso . The Spaniard, who talked his way out of Formula 1 with sports cars in Le Mans and Daytona and the Dakar 2019/20, wants to return to the premier class.
For this he has asked the Formula One bosses for help. And came across open ears. Because Liberty knows: Not only sex sells, but also big names.
Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko confirmed to me in the summer, asking the new "Alonso managers" at Red Bull. "We immediately said that there is no need for Alonso", reveals the lawyer from Graz. "It's also not possible because of our engine partner Honda - if they only hear the name Alonso, all the hackles on their backs are annoyed."
Background: too often had the Spaniard in his McLaren Honda time publicly blasphemed about the engine of the Japanese. Highlight: At the home race Honda in Suzuka 2018 he etched on the radio: "GP2 engine!" The comparison with the about 400 hp weaker drive units of the junior class was too much for the proud sons from the land of the rising sun. Since then, Alonso is an absolute no-go.
The Formula 1 makers do not give up. For the year 2021 they continue to work on mega deals with the two superstars Hamilton and Alonso. An idea: Hamilton should drive at Ferrari and Alonso replace him at Mercedes . For the Americans, this constellation would be a pure money printing machine. Comparable to the golden age of the big boxing matches between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
It's not that easy. Ferrari and there specifically Fiat boss John Elkann show interest in a commitment Hamilton instead of Sebastian Vettel . But the Briton, in principle, also interested in just breaking the records of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari at the end of his career , The Formula 1 makers do not give up. For the year 2021 they continue to work on mega deals with the two superstars Hamilton and Alonso. An idea: Hamilton should drive at Ferrari and Alonso replace him at Mercedes . For the Americans, this constellation would be a pure money printing machine. Comparable to the golden age of the big boxing matches between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
It's not that easy. Ferrari and there specifically Fiat boss John Elkann show interest in a commitment Hamilton instead of Sebastian Vettel . But the Briton, in principle, also interested in just breaking the records of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari at the end of his career , career , coupled his future plans to those of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff - and makes it even a secret.
In public, Hamilton makes his contract extension at Mercedes dependent on Wolff's position on the top of the team. And also from Maranello is to hear that Hamilton would like to have his team boss in a possible change to Italy at his side - also to create a counterweight to the axis Leclerc-Todt.
Wolff has corresponding rumors in the realm of the fable. But it is also clear that after winning six world titles in a row with Mercedes he can only lose in the future. Especially because there is another wind blowing there.
Ola Källenius, new Mercedes boss since May, has to save money. Up to 1.3 billion euros, so the Swede announced he wants to put back in the coming years to be prepared for the mobility of the future and potential penalties for the diesel scandal. Only if Wolff succeeded in financing the approx. 500 million Euro Formula 1 project completely through sponsors from 2021 onwards, would the Swede be willing to continue leading the factory team. If not - according to the corporate headquarters in Stuttgart - he would like to only deliver customer motors. That's why Wolff has already contracted the Cologne marketing specialist Walter Mertes for the sponsorship acquisition. For many years, Mertes was on the board of ITR, the parent company of the DTM.
A change from Wolff to Formula 1 marketer Liberty as successor to CEO Chase Carey also seems to be off the table. Reason: The Viennese would have to wait three years for the new post as Formula 1 boss. This is the condition of the Americans, when someone from the inner circle of the premier class overflows to the F1 owners. This is to exclude a possible bias. Wolff could already change to Ferrari in 2021. His Mercedes contract expires at the end of 2020.
Hamilton is informed about everything. He also knows: Mercedes could live well with his departure. A total of 50 million euros a year (with bonuses) to cash the Briton. Alonso and also interested in Mercedes Dutchman Max Verstappen would drive for a third of the fee.
Helmut Marko knows the situation around Alonso, Hamilton and Verstappen. "We have to offer Max 2020 a car that will make him a world champion, otherwise he'll be gone, it's going to be crucial weeks, right now it's going on behind the scenes."