F1 Gossip: All change at Alfa Romeo, Albon to Williams?

- George Russell is poised to be announced as a Mercedes driver for 2022, with the Briton’s promotion set to trigger a series of further moves.

A report by RaceFans claims former Red Bull driver Alex Albon will replace Russell at Williams, while Kimi Raikkonen’s impending retirement will pave the way for fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas to join Alfa Romeo.

According to F1 journalist Dieter Rencken, Formula E champion Nyck de Vries will also get a seat at Alfa Romeo to partner Bottas, leaving Antonio Giovinazzi without a seat (RaceFans) 

- Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix should have gone ahead and has accused the sport’s rulemakers of lacking courage (Independent) 

Speaking to the PA news agency, Ecclestone said: “I would have told the teams and the drivers at 3pm, ‘it is raining, we are prepared to put it off for an hour and hope the weather is going to change. But no matter what happens the race will start at 4pm and then it is up to you whether you take part or not’.

“’If you want to take a risk it is up to and if you don’t want to, don’t. If you think it is dangerous racing quickly, don’t race quickly’. But it is a different group of people now and they didn’t have the courage and they don’t want to take risks.

“They could have done two laps, five laps, 50 laps or no laps, but the decision should have been with the individual driver.”

- Sergio Perez has revealed he knew he was going to remain as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate for the 2022 F1 season long before the summer break (MotorsportWeek) 

- Monza’s legendary Parabolica will be renamed the ‘Curva Alboreto’ after the late Ferrari driver Michele Alboreto (F1.com) 

- Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle believes the time has come for a rules “reset” in the sport following the confusion witnessed at the abandoned Belgian Grand Prix (Sky Sports) 

- The Zandvoort circuit has completed its track set-up as it prepares to host the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985 this weekend (Images courtesy of Geobrugg)