F1 Gossip: Mercedes ‘monitoring’ Vettel for 2021

In the latest F1 Gossip, Toto Wolff refuses to rule out Sebastian Vettel for Mercedes in 2021, Chase Carey hopes to have fans back by autumn, and Bernie Ecclestone backs Lewis Hamilton on racial injustice stance...

- Toto Wolff has confirmed that Mercedes will “monitor” Sebastian Vettel’s situation now he is leaving Ferrari and says his interest remarks about the four-time world champion are not just “lip service” (Sky Sports F1) 

- Formula 1 boss Chase Carey says he hopes the sport will be able o have fans back at grands prix by the autumn, with the opening eight-race European leg of the revised 2020 calendar held behind closed doors (Formula 1) 

- Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto says his team put the “collective interest” of Formula 1 first with its response to the radical cost-cutting measures put in place for the short and medium-term (La Gazzetta dello Sport) 

- Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has backed Lewis Hamilton and says the six-time world champion was right to speak out on racial injustice (The Daily Mail) 

- Meanwhile, Hamilton’s father, Anthony, believes it is wrong for F1 to return to racing while “thousands of people are dying from a virus” (ITV) 

- Mercedes will make one of its reserve drivers available to McLaren if the team needs a substitute this year, opening the door for Stoffel Vandoorne to drive for the Woking squad again (RaceFans) 

- Ex-McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen has revealed the advice he gave fellow countryman Valtteri Bottas on trying to beat Lewis Hamilton (Beyond The Grid) 

- Williams driver George Russell says he is “buzzing” to get back behind the wheel of his Formula 1 car once the season begins in July with the Austrian Grand Prix (BBC)