Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Wednesday, January 6.
Wednesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Marko eyes Bottas-like role for Perez
Sergio Perez should do a Valtteri Bottas-like job at Red Bull in 2021.
That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, who admits that the DTM-bound Alex Albon was unable to be consistently close enough to Max Verstappen last year.
"Perez has to be within attack range of Verstappen in the race," Marko told motorsport-total.com.
"No one has managed to get to Max's level in qualifying, but there should be a maximum difference of two tenths between them. Our team needs to be able to attack Mercedes with two cars," he said.
Marko said Bottas' role alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes is a good model for Perez to emulate.
"If Bottas isn't having a bad day as he was in Bahrain, then he is playing his part very well," he insisted. "This is what we expect from Perez."
Daimler yet to agree to new Hamilton deal
The new year has begun without Lewis Hamilton having signed a new contract with Mercedes.
According to sources, including Italy's Corriere dello Sport, team parent Daimler is balking at the new seven time world champion's contract demands.
For instance, it is claimed the almost 36-year-old wants EUR 40 million per season for four consecutive years, plus 10 percent - around EUR 10 million - of the team's title bonuses.
Reports also claim Hamilton wants a limited edition, $2.72 AMG Project One supercar and a key role in Mercedes' transition to new 'green' technologies.
Corriere della Sera newspaper claims Daimler is yet to agree to the demands, amid supposed concerns about the length of the deal and the tantalising prospects for the future of Mercedes junior George Russell.
Indeed, it is notable that while Russell is staying at Williams next year, the struggling team will begin to use Mercedes-made gearboxes and hydraulics from 2022.
"For Williams, it makes sense to acquire the integrated powertrain after running our power units since 2014 and for our team, it makes sense in terms of economies of scale to supply another team under the new rules," said Toto Wolff.
As for the Hamilton deal, Mercedes' chief bargaining chip is that the British driver would continue to have clearly the best car in the field at his disposal in 2021.
"The media does such a good job of telling everyone that Adrian Newey builds the best chassis that it convinced everyone else to copy that concept," said Mercedes technical director James Allison.
"In the meantime, we've flown under the radar with a car that everyone believed was all about its powerful engine," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
More news from Formula 1:
Lando Norris tests positive for coronavirus
The team announced the 21-year-old had lost his sense of taste and smell during a break in Dubai. Read more.
Albon's F1 career 'not over' - Marko
Alex Albon's Formula 1 career is not over, according to top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko. Read more.
Rookie Mazepin 'unbothered' by criticism
Haas is not bowing to social pressure to oust 2021 recruit Nikita Mazepin. Read more.
Vettel slams F1's 'green' strategy
Sebastian Vettel has hit out at Formula 1 for not doing enough amid the new 'green' environmental trends. Read more.
'Normal' 2021 season unlikely - Todt
The beginning of F1's 2021 season looks set for a major shakeup. Read more.
Magnussen needs winning car for F1 return
Kevin Magnussen says he is not interested in returning to Formula 1 with a back-of-the-grid seat. Read more.
Race boss confident Zandvoort will go ahead
With Melbourne and Shanghai already in doubt, race boss Jan Lammers remains confident that Zandvoort will host Formula 1 with spectators in September. Read more.
