F1 Tuscan Grand Prix practice LIVE: Follow all the very latest ahead of the big race on Sunday
FORMULA ONE remains in Italy this week for an extra special 1000th Grand Prix.
For the first time this season, spectators will be allowed into the track to watch on Sunday as Lewis Hamilton looks to bounce back from the disappointment of Monza.
Follow all the latest build-up to the big race below…
SEB'S S-MARTIN
Sebastian Vettel says he has got a licence to thrill now he has joined Aston Martin, writes BEN HUNT.
The four-time world champ agreed a deal with the team, rebranded under the badge of James Bond's favourite motor.
Formerly known as Force India and now called Racing Point, the Silverstone-based team gave him a lifeline after he was dumped by Ferrari.
Vettel says he considered QUITTING F1, admitting he and Ferrari FAILED in their mission to win world titles.
When quizzed on quitting F1, the German, 33, said: “It was close in terms of having a lot of thoughts and deciding. I had to put myself first.
“What I've decided now I believe is the best for me and looking forward to proving that.
“It wasn't an easy call because the last weeks and months have been quite intense. I joined Ferrari not just to join Ferrari and not just win races, but win championships.
“Obviously in that regard, you can say we failed.
“But I have a good feeling. The comeback of Aston Martin to Formula One is probably one of the most exciting things to happen and it's great to be part of that.”
GREEN WITH ENVY
Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has a collection of supercars worth millions of dollars but he no longer drives any of them.
The Mercedes driver, announced this week as the new owner of a team in the electric off-road Extreme E series starting up next year, told reporters he was doing his best to be environmentally friendly.
Hamilton said: “It's difficult because there are people (who say) like 'yeah, but you race a Formula One car around every weekend.
“Some of it's education because not everyone knows the footprint that our sport currently has and what we're doing in terms of trying to improve that. But I'm making a lot of changes in my personal life.
“I don't drive any of the cars that I own any more. I only drive my (electric Mercedes) EQC.”
Formula One issued a sustainability plan last year with the aim of achieving a net zero-carbon footprint for the sport by 2030. It has also promised that all Formula One events would be sustainable by 2025.
Hamilton, a vegan, said he also drove a Smart car and requested to be collected from airports in electric vehicles. He has sold his private jet.
According to media reports, he owns a Ferrari LaFerrari, Pagani Zonda, McLaren P1 and 1960s Shelby Cobra among other cars.
The championship leader said he was impressed by Extreme E's aims and goals, with each team crew having a mandatory female driver.
The races will be held in some of the most remote and harsh environments including the Brazilian rain forest, Greenland, Saudi Arabian deserts and mountains of Nepal to highlight global warming.
There will be no spectators but races will be broadcast on TV and social media, with cars transported around the world on a boat that doubles as a floating paddock.
View this post on Instagram
Recently I’ve been making many changes in my life to reduce my impact on the environment. The first step in this journey was to understand my personal impact on the planet so I could make changes to improve it. Since then, I have offset my carbon footprint from my Formula 1 career dating back to 2007, I have reduced travel where possible, I have gone plant-based and outside of the track, I try to use electric cars wherever possible. I also want to use my position as a racing driver to enforce positive and permanent change, which is why I’m working closely with Mercedes to slowly move their fleet of cars towards electric. This is my new dream car, the new EQS fully electric Mercedes. I can’t wait until it’s released! It’s difficult to always be perfect when we go about our daily lives, but I’m continuing to learn how to be better and I’m committed to staying educated and informed so I can play my part. Small steps lead to big change, so it’s important we all take a moment to understand our footprint and the small changes we can make in our everyday lives to put our planet first. The last step for me will be when I step away from this sport and can focus fully on helping heal the world to provide a better future for our kids and our kids, kids. #VisionEQS @mercedesbenz
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CAN'T LET VETT GO
Formula One needed Sebastian Vettel to stay and Racing Point, who become Aston Martin F1 next season, made a smart move in signing him, according to Lewis Hamilton.
The 35-year-old Briton said at the Tuscan Grand Prix on Thursday that Vettel's move from Ferrari to the Silverstone-based team, announced earlier, was exciting for the sport.
Hamilton told Sky Sports: “It's quite a big shift from Ferrari to an up-and-coming team.
“But I think Formula One really needs to keep the great driver that he is in the sport so I'm really happy that he's continuing and not stopping.
“I'm just really happy for him because it's not been the easiest of journeys at Ferrari, and I think he'll learn so much from there.”
Racing Point have said four times world champion Vettel will drive for them in 2021 and beyond, replacing Mexican Sergio Perez.
Vettel, 33, told reporters he had come close to retiring before signing the deal.
His staying means the sport will have three multiple world champions still racing, with Spain's double champion Fernando Alonso returning after two seasons out to drive for Renault, who will be renamed Alpine F1.
He added: “I think it's one of the smartest moves that Aston Martin could do and I'm excited to see what he contributes and how he helps progress that team forward.”
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