Formula One's official safety and medical cars will be provided by both Aston Martin and Mercedes at different events this season, the governing body FIA confirmed on Monday. Mercedes had been sole supplier of both cars since 1996, but the sharing arrangement was flagged up last year. Aston Martin are returning as a constructor this season for the first time in 60 years with the rebranded Racing Point team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.
The 34-year-old Frenchman Grosjean, whose left foot was initially trapped, said afterwards that he thought he was going to die but willed himself out of the wreckage for the sake of his children. The governing FIA's report into the accident said the fuel tank inspection hatch on the left side of the chassis was dislodged and the engine fuel supply connection was torn from the fuel tank 'safety bladder'. Grosjean managed to extricate himself after 27 seconds, suffering burns to his hands.
Formula One's governing body extended Pirelli's contract as sole tyre supplier by one year to 2024 on Friday to reflect disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. FIA president Jean Todt said the change of tyre size represented a significant technical challenge and investment for Pirelli.
Britain's George Russell played down talk of a future move from Williams to Mercedes on Friday by saying he was focused on the present and the Formula One champions had not promised him anything. The 23-year-old is managed by Mercedes, who have seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton and Finland's Valtteri Bottas on one-year deals, and out of contract at Williams at the end of the season. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said at his team's launch that the future was "very bright" for the 2018 Formula Two champion.