F1: Sebastian Vettel’s rallying cry and Ross Brawn on Silverstone’s future

Vettel: we must continue to fight

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel says if his Italian team continue to improve their SF71H car then it will give him “something to fight with” in the Formula 1 title race.

The German is eight points clear of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton after securing victory at last weekend’s British Grand Prix. But with 11 races still to go there are many points to be won in the F1 drivers’ and constructors’ title battles.

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F1.com reports that Vettel has “issued a rallying cry to his foot soldiers working in the Ferrari factory back in Maranello”.

He said: “I think we need to improve our car until the end of the year. I think our car is very good. I think our car is working well on these [Silverstone] type of tracks. [But developing] will be key, because then you have something to fight [with]. And if you have something to fight [with], something to play with, then you can make it happen.”

The next grand prix takes place at Hockenheim in Germany on 22 July followed by the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest on 29 July.

‘F1 can’t leave Silverstone behind’

F1 managing director Ross Brawn believes a solution must be found regarding the future of Silverstone following last weekend’s huge turn-out for the British GP.

ESPN reports that 140,000 fans attended the race but the future of Silverstone is in doubt “after it triggered a break clause in its contract last year”.

This would mean the end of Silverstone’s tenure as British GP host after 2019, ESPN adds, “unless it reaches a new deal with F1”.

Brawn told Sky Sports: “I am sure we are going to find a solution with Silverstone because we can’t leave this behind. The frustration is the negotiations are taking place in public.

“Every other circuit we deal with we do it quietly and get on with it. For some reason Silverstone choose to make everything public which causes more difficulty, but we will find a solution. I love this place, we all have so many great memories. It’s a very important race for Formula One.”

‘If I’m old and slow, I may race in Le Mans or IndyCar’

When asked if he would consider driving at Le Mans or in IndyCar, Red Bull star Max Verstappen gave a very honest answer.

The 20-year-old told Autoweek.com: “Doing things outside F1 is something that happens mainly with drivers who are not winning. Maybe, if I’m old and slow, I will do it.

“When you have the best car on the grid, everyone can win with that car. Any F1 driver could have won in the Mercedes for the last four years. Everyone knows that. That’s why you don’t see [Lewis] Hamilton leaving to do these things because he doesn’t need to.

“It’s the same for me. I’m in a position to fight for victories, so my motivation is very high. I don’t want to do Le Mans or IndyCar or whatever.”