F1 Gossip: Sergio Perez weighing up Alfa Romeo for F1 2021?

- With speculation gathering pace that Sebastian Vettel has first refusal on a drive with Racing Point (soon to be Aston Martin Racing) for the 2021 F1 season following his exit from Ferrari, Sergio Perez has reportedly received interest from Alfa Romeo Racing for next season. Though the Mexican has a contract in place with Aston Martin for the next two seasons, the availability of Vettel has reportedly instigated a chance of heart in among bosses who want to make the biggest impact possible when the British marque enters the fray.

As such, the Lawrence Barretto writing for the official F1 website says his sources indicate Vettel has an offer on the table, with Perez considering an alternative option at Alfa Romeo to replace Kimi Raikkonen. Such a move would see Perez return to the Swiss-based team, formerly known as Sauber, after it gave him his F1 debut back in 2011 (F1.com)

- A spike in COVID-19 cases in the Catalonia region could force F1 bosses into a re-think for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, held just outside Barcelona in the town of Montmelo. The event is set to take place directly after the two back-to-back events at Silverstone, but concerns over safety could prompt the series to resort to ‘Plan B’ by adding a third race at the Northamptonshire track if it becomes unfeasible to travel to Spain. (Auto Motor und Sport)

- Mercedes’ dominance during the opening three rounds of the 2020 F1 World Championship means Valtteri Bottas is the only driver capable of getting in the way of Lewis Hamilton’s quest for a seventh world title, according to the Ferrari drivers. The Italian marque had hoped to take the fight to its arch rivals but the SF1000’s lack of competitiveness – which has seen it out performed by the likes of Red Bull, Racing Point and McLaren – has so far scuppered any hopes of getting on terms with the team. (ESPN)

- Unable to recreate the last lap heroics that grabbed headlines in Austria, Lando Norris stayed after the Hungarian Grand Prix to help his McLaren mechanics strip down his car at the end of what has been an intense three weeks for the entire F1 paddock.

How often do you see an F1 driver helping his crew strip down his own car after a race? ⁦⁦⁦@LandoNorris⁩ take a bow. pic.twitter.com/s312UqUBPW

— Tim Bampton (@TimBampton) July 19, 2020