Mercedes engine deals unrelated to future plans
NEW engine deals with McLaren and Williams are not linked to Mercedes’ future in Formula One as a works team and the brand’s involvement in the all-electric Formula E series, motorsport head Toto Wolff has said.
Mercedes and McLaren announced an engine supply deal from 2021 until at least the end of 2024 at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday. The German manufacturer had previously extended the Williams contract through to 2025.
Asked whether the deals might reflect planning for a future where Mercedes focused on supplying engines rather than running a works team in Formula One, Wolff told Sky Sports television there was no connection.
“One is not linked to the other. I think we’ve got to see how Formula One develops and we are at a crucial time now to see where the regulations go and how it all pans out,” said the Austrian, principal of the Mercedes Grand Prix team.
“Its a different topic in supplying customers, which is a standalone decision.”
Formula One is set for a major shake-up in 2021 with new regulations designed to make the sport more competitive along with the introduction of a budget cap. A new commercial agreement has yet to be finalised, however.
Mercedes, the home of world champion Lewis Hamilton, have won the Formula One drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the past five seasons and are making their debut in Formula E in November.
Wolff said he and Niki Lauda, the team’s late non-executive chairman, used to have “big discussions” about whether Mercedes should supply other teams or just concentrate on the works outfit.
“Since then times have changed a little bit. We believe that the learning curve is steeper with having more engines out there,” he said.
“You saw that we had some failures on (Robert) Kubica’s (Williams) car in Spa and on (Sergio) Perez’s (Racing Point) car in Monza and that is part of the learning process.
“It is a cash topic also, one more customer means better cash flow for Daimler (Mercedes’ parent company) overall and we are up for the challenge. McLaren is a great team and a good group of people.”
Mercedes engines look set to be supplied to four of the 10 teams in 2021, with Racing Point currently using them along with the world champions. | FRESH from holding on to his title as South Africa’s 10km champion, Precious Mashele has his sights set on clocking a personal best at the Durban 10k CITYSURFRUN next weekend.
“It would be great to run a sub 28 (minutes) in Durban. That would be my PB and I believe it is possible,” said the Boxer Athletic Club’s short distance star who currently boasts a 28:32 PB in the 10km.
Given his stellar showing at the Athletics South Africa 10km Championships at the weekend, it will not be surprising to see Mashele dip under 28 minutes in Durban.
The man coached by the legendary Hendrick Ramaala smashed the course record in Middleburg on Saturday where he ran a 29:20 to retain the title he won last year.
“I had a very good run. The course was the same as last year except for the start and I really felt good from the onset. Thabang Mosiako set the pace and I kept up with him. He gave me a good challenge, but in the end I prevailed. I was never really under pressure just because I was the defending champion,” Mashele said.
Mashele was also crowned SA’s 10km champion last year. Earlier this year he had a fantastic run at the World Cross Country Championships where he finished 16th.
“That run gave me a lot of confidence and since then I have gone into each race believing I can win,” Mashele said.
And he has won alright! Just this year he was victorious at the Mandela Day 10k as well as defending his Cape Town Peace Run 10k title.
In between those two, Mashele was victorious at the ASA Cross Country Championships 10k in Centurion at the beginning of September.
It is this fantastic form that has seen Ramaala predict a superb future for him should he remain disciplined and of course injury free.
And there can be no denying the man from Limpopo will respect his chosen profession. After all he is a breadwinner following his mother’s recent death.
“I have a lot of reasons to do well in my races. One of those is the fact that I have siblings that I must take care of. My little sisters want Christmas clothes and they can only get them from me,” Mashele said.
After the race in Durban, Mashele has a half marathon race in Europe towards the end of the year.