F1 2020
- Thread starter 1%er
- Start date
Ax^
Silly Rabbit
said he does not understand that it is not a one time gesture
more of a movement
having a go a grosjean as the lead of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association is a bit harsh
whilst 6 other driver still decide not to take the knee
and f1 not giving the airtime for it to mean something
ffs last week they switch to sky divers
more of a movement
having a go a grosjean as the lead of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association is a bit harsh
whilst 6 other driver still decide not to take the knee
and f1 not giving the airtime for it to mean something
ffs last week they switch to sky divers
MrCurry
right after this urgent rest
Did they let Kvyat come in for slicks before the start? If so, I don’t know why he wasn’t higher up a few laps later when the rest of the field pitted. Both Haas cars pulled the same trick Kvyat was after trying and found themselves 3rd and 4th, so either Alpha Tauri denied Kvyat‘s request, or perhaps he slithered off and lost time?
Poor Gasly
Surprised that only one retirement considering the mild perilLet's see what the rain brings if it arrives as expected.
What was it that took Gasly out of the race? I noticed him in the retirements list, but must’ve not been paying attention if the reason for this was shown in the live feed.
Yes, due credit to Lance. Even with the advantages he may have had by way of financial backing, we can’t deny he has talent. I speculated that Perez might make the podium this weekend, but didn’t mention Stroll in the same breath, which was anti-paydriver prejudice on my part!
I thought it was a decent enough race. Lots of bleating in one of the F1 Facebook groups that it was soporific, but I didn’t find it so.
Yeah, lot of smoke in the pits!
MrCurry
right after this urgent rest
I see both Haas cars have been given 10 sec penalties. Not for pitting on the formation lap, but for instructing their drivers to do so, which was construed as disallowed “driver aid”. Seems like they both benefitted by more than 10 secs from their well timed stops, so still the right thing for the team to have done.
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
"Driver aid", my hairy arse. Methinks the stewards need to wind their necks in a bit.
On the one hand, they do the logical thing and overlook Botty's jump-start because no technical infringement happened according to the letter of the rule-book.
On the other, they take a vague, conceptual rule, prolapse it, coat it in concrete, sprinkle it with tinsel, and call it a decoration.
Hopelessly inconsistent. Is there no 'driver-steward' any more?
I trust Haas will appeal this travesty.
And now, to work!
1%er
Well-Known Member
Ferrari builds new 2020 car
It could just be that Ferrari suddenly comes up with a completely different car during 2020. If we are to believe Formula Uno Analisi Tecnica, the Italian race team is currently busy developing a completely new car. The second version of the SF1000 should make its appearance during the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, according to the expectations of the Italian medium.
It is said that the front of the Ferrari will be completely replaced and the concept used by Mercedes this year will be adopted. Furthermore they don't want to chase the Racing Points by copying the entire Mercedes car. Rumour has it that the Maranello based race team will continue to develop its own parts. It is not the first time that there are rumours from Italy that Ferrari is working on a 2.0 version of the current car in the background.
Nick Chester has joined Mercedes' Formula E program
Former Renault Formula 1 technical chief Nick Chester has joined Mercedes' Formula E program ahead of next month's season finale in Berlin. Chester, 51, spent close to 30 years working in F1 across a number of roles, 19 of which were spent at Enstone across its Benetton, Renault and Lotus guises. He also worked with Simtek, Ligier and Arrows before making the move to Enstone in 2000.
Chester replaced James Allison as the team's technical director in 2013, but left Renault last December as part of a restructuring of the technical department, and said he was "looking forward to a new challenge". Despite being linked with a senior role at Williams, Chester has now made his return to motorsport after Mercedes announced he had joined its Formula E project. Chester becomes the technical director of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team, and commenced his work on the programme at the beginning of July.
It means Chester will be in place for the upcoming run of six races in nine days to complete the 2019-20 season in Berlin at the start of August. Chester is the latest senior F1 figure to join Mercedes' project, joining Valtteri Bottas' former race engineer Tony Ross, who serves as the chief race engineer for the Formula E team.
It could just be that Ferrari suddenly comes up with a completely different car during 2020. If we are to believe Formula Uno Analisi Tecnica, the Italian race team is currently busy developing a completely new car. The second version of the SF1000 should make its appearance during the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, according to the expectations of the Italian medium.
It is said that the front of the Ferrari will be completely replaced and the concept used by Mercedes this year will be adopted. Furthermore they don't want to chase the Racing Points by copying the entire Mercedes car. Rumour has it that the Maranello based race team will continue to develop its own parts. It is not the first time that there are rumours from Italy that Ferrari is working on a 2.0 version of the current car in the background.
Nick Chester has joined Mercedes' Formula E program
Former Renault Formula 1 technical chief Nick Chester has joined Mercedes' Formula E program ahead of next month's season finale in Berlin. Chester, 51, spent close to 30 years working in F1 across a number of roles, 19 of which were spent at Enstone across its Benetton, Renault and Lotus guises. He also worked with Simtek, Ligier and Arrows before making the move to Enstone in 2000.
Chester replaced James Allison as the team's technical director in 2013, but left Renault last December as part of a restructuring of the technical department, and said he was "looking forward to a new challenge". Despite being linked with a senior role at Williams, Chester has now made his return to motorsport after Mercedes announced he had joined its Formula E project. Chester becomes the technical director of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team, and commenced his work on the programme at the beginning of July.
It means Chester will be in place for the upcoming run of six races in nine days to complete the 2019-20 season in Berlin at the start of August. Chester is the latest senior F1 figure to join Mercedes' project, joining Valtteri Bottas' former race engineer Tony Ross, who serves as the chief race engineer for the Formula E team.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Spy-Gate part 2?
A new ‘spy saga’ could be about to break out in Formula 1. After a horror start to 2020, Ferrari has announced that it has “restructured its technical department”, with Enrico Cardile appointed to head a new Performance Development department at Maranello. But the statement also notably made reference to Rory Byrne, the Ferrari designer of the Schumacher era who more recently has been a consultant.
“The department run by Enrico Cardile will be able to count on the experience of Rory Byrne and established engineers such as David Sanchez,” said team boss Mattia Binotto. “It will be the cornerstone of the car’s development.” Corriere della Sera correspondent Daniele Sparisci declared: “As Ferrari changes, Byrne returns to the front line.” That very same Italian newspaper is also reporting that a new ‘spy saga’ could be about to explode, with journalist Giorgio Terruzzi claiming that a leak of “stolen” information triggered the engine legality saga of 2019. “Ferrari is the only team that has not improved since last year,” claims former F1 team owner and boss Gian Carlo Minardi.
Do Ferrari have a spy in the camp who leaked details about Ferrari's power-unit?
Vettel to Aston Martin, Perez to Alfa Romeo and Kimi Raikkonen out of F1
Aston Martin has offered Sebastian Vettel a deal for 2021 with Alfa Romeo interested in bringing Sergio Perez to replace Kimi Raikkonen. Earlier this year Vettel kicked Formula 1’s 2021 driver market into high gear when he and Ferrari announced the end of their relationship. That was followed by news that Carlos Sainz would take the German’s race seat with Daniel Ricciardo then replacing him at McLaren. Renault later confirmed its 2021 line up, bringing Fernando Alonso back into Formula 1 to replace Ricciardo.
The driver left without a seat after all that was Vettel, the one who kicked it all off. Weeks later, though, Bild reported that he could be on his way to Aston Martin, now racing as Racing Point, taking Perez’s seat with team owner Lawrence Stroll triggering the Mexican driver’s exit clause. Although some would rather see Lance Stroll dropped, even Perez concedes that if someone has to leave the team to make space for Vettel, it would be him, not the son.
Its being reported that is exactly what will happen. “The party line is that both Perez and Lance Stroll both have contracts for 2021, Vettel has been offered a deal that would bring him onboard next season, with the German left to take his time to mull that over. Three, naturally, doesn’t go into two. With Stroll’s father Lawrence owning the team, Perez was the one many felt would be out on his ear, despite his impressive loyalty to the team and the fact he’s the more experienced and as the stats show more successful of the two. “Even though it’s unclear who would go should Vettel join, Perez has unsurpringly already received a plethora of interest from teams in other motorsport series, as well as from one F1 outfit, showing just how highly-rated he is.”
The Mexican racer was asked about interest from other teams ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend and revealed that he had been approached by many outside of Formula 1, and one Formula 1 team. He, however, would not name names. Manty believe that team is Alfa Romeo with the 30-year-old taking Kimi Raikkonen’s seat and the Finn, who will be 41 in October, retiring. Raikkonen has previously stated that 2020 could be his final season in Formula 1 with the 2007 Champion saying earlier this season that if he continues “to enjoy racing this year, I will continue. If not, I will retire”.
“My sources suggest Alfa Romeo are the ones interested in recruiting the Mexican, in what would be a return to the squad then known as Sauber, who gave him his F1 debut and put his star on the map, principally with his mega drive to second in the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. With one of the two seats at Alfa Romeo reserved for a Ferrari academy driver, currently Antonio Giovinazzi, as per the terms of their contract with engine supplier Ferrari, that would suggest Perez would replace Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn’s deal expires at the end of the season, when he will be 41 years old. Alfa Romeo are struggling badly right now, while Haas and Williams are showing progress. There’s a good chance they could end this season bottom of the pile if they don’t get to the root of where their car is weak soon. Recruiting someone like Perez would be a real coup. Not only will he know much of the team well already, but his feedback is among the best in the business and they need that now more than ever.”
For now, though, Perez is still pushing to remain at Racing Point, the most improved team at the start of the 2020 championship "Why would Perez want to go there, though, if they are struggling so much? Well it’s a good question. He won’t want to leave Racing Point for sure, especially given they have the second or third best car on the grid right now and are in the ascendancy. But if he is forced out, he isn’t done with racing yet and Alfa Romeo would at least offer a haven while he reassesses his options. That said, while I understand the Swiss team have made their interest clear, Perez has yet to pursue it because he remains committed to Racing Point.”
A new ‘spy saga’ could be about to break out in Formula 1. After a horror start to 2020, Ferrari has announced that it has “restructured its technical department”, with Enrico Cardile appointed to head a new Performance Development department at Maranello. But the statement also notably made reference to Rory Byrne, the Ferrari designer of the Schumacher era who more recently has been a consultant.
“The department run by Enrico Cardile will be able to count on the experience of Rory Byrne and established engineers such as David Sanchez,” said team boss Mattia Binotto. “It will be the cornerstone of the car’s development.” Corriere della Sera correspondent Daniele Sparisci declared: “As Ferrari changes, Byrne returns to the front line.” That very same Italian newspaper is also reporting that a new ‘spy saga’ could be about to explode, with journalist Giorgio Terruzzi claiming that a leak of “stolen” information triggered the engine legality saga of 2019. “Ferrari is the only team that has not improved since last year,” claims former F1 team owner and boss Gian Carlo Minardi.
Do Ferrari have a spy in the camp who leaked details about Ferrari's power-unit?
Vettel to Aston Martin, Perez to Alfa Romeo and Kimi Raikkonen out of F1
Aston Martin has offered Sebastian Vettel a deal for 2021 with Alfa Romeo interested in bringing Sergio Perez to replace Kimi Raikkonen. Earlier this year Vettel kicked Formula 1’s 2021 driver market into high gear when he and Ferrari announced the end of their relationship. That was followed by news that Carlos Sainz would take the German’s race seat with Daniel Ricciardo then replacing him at McLaren. Renault later confirmed its 2021 line up, bringing Fernando Alonso back into Formula 1 to replace Ricciardo.
The driver left without a seat after all that was Vettel, the one who kicked it all off. Weeks later, though, Bild reported that he could be on his way to Aston Martin, now racing as Racing Point, taking Perez’s seat with team owner Lawrence Stroll triggering the Mexican driver’s exit clause. Although some would rather see Lance Stroll dropped, even Perez concedes that if someone has to leave the team to make space for Vettel, it would be him, not the son.
Its being reported that is exactly what will happen. “The party line is that both Perez and Lance Stroll both have contracts for 2021, Vettel has been offered a deal that would bring him onboard next season, with the German left to take his time to mull that over. Three, naturally, doesn’t go into two. With Stroll’s father Lawrence owning the team, Perez was the one many felt would be out on his ear, despite his impressive loyalty to the team and the fact he’s the more experienced and as the stats show more successful of the two. “Even though it’s unclear who would go should Vettel join, Perez has unsurpringly already received a plethora of interest from teams in other motorsport series, as well as from one F1 outfit, showing just how highly-rated he is.”
The Mexican racer was asked about interest from other teams ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend and revealed that he had been approached by many outside of Formula 1, and one Formula 1 team. He, however, would not name names. Manty believe that team is Alfa Romeo with the 30-year-old taking Kimi Raikkonen’s seat and the Finn, who will be 41 in October, retiring. Raikkonen has previously stated that 2020 could be his final season in Formula 1 with the 2007 Champion saying earlier this season that if he continues “to enjoy racing this year, I will continue. If not, I will retire”.
“My sources suggest Alfa Romeo are the ones interested in recruiting the Mexican, in what would be a return to the squad then known as Sauber, who gave him his F1 debut and put his star on the map, principally with his mega drive to second in the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. With one of the two seats at Alfa Romeo reserved for a Ferrari academy driver, currently Antonio Giovinazzi, as per the terms of their contract with engine supplier Ferrari, that would suggest Perez would replace Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn’s deal expires at the end of the season, when he will be 41 years old. Alfa Romeo are struggling badly right now, while Haas and Williams are showing progress. There’s a good chance they could end this season bottom of the pile if they don’t get to the root of where their car is weak soon. Recruiting someone like Perez would be a real coup. Not only will he know much of the team well already, but his feedback is among the best in the business and they need that now more than ever.”
For now, though, Perez is still pushing to remain at Racing Point, the most improved team at the start of the 2020 championship "Why would Perez want to go there, though, if they are struggling so much? Well it’s a good question. He won’t want to leave Racing Point for sure, especially given they have the second or third best car on the grid right now and are in the ascendancy. But if he is forced out, he isn’t done with racing yet and Alfa Romeo would at least offer a haven while he reassesses his options. That said, while I understand the Swiss team have made their interest clear, Perez has yet to pursue it because he remains committed to Racing Point.”
dessiato
4 years and I still cry sometimes
I’ll be sorry to see Kimi go. He never seems to be enjoying the racing now. Although he never seems happy about much anyway.
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
BBC is reporting that the USA, Mexico and Brazil GPs are scrubbed due to you-know-what.
Formula 1: US, Mexican & Brazilian races will not go ahead in 2020
Formula 1 calls off the US, Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix this year as a result of the coronavirus crisis in the Americas.
www.bbc.co.uk
MrCurry
right after this urgent rest
I’d be happy enough if they wanna go back to Austria for another couple of races, plus an additional pair at Silverstone. Mexico, US and Brazil are all great tracks, but the first couple of races have been good and very different from each other, so the theory of holding multiple races at one track when needs must has been proven IMHO. 
MrCurry
right after this urgent rest
So the Imola Grand Prix as a two-day event will be interesting. If it goes well, you’ve got to wonder if there will be a move at some point to migrate all the Grands Prix from 3 days on track to just 2, as with everything that’s happening, F1 knows they need to bring costs down.
I haven’t read the details, but I guess it will be just one practice session sat AM, then straight into quali in the afternoon?
I haven’t read the details, but I guess it will be just one practice session sat AM, then straight into quali in the afternoon?
1%er
Well-Known Member
Russian team back in F1
A Russian team could again compete in Formula 1 championship in the coming years, F1 Managing Director of Motorsports Ross Brawn told TASS on Tuesday. Earlier, Formula 1 had two teams competing under a Russian license: Midland (2006) and Marussia (2012-2014). Currently, one Russian auto racing driver Daniil Kvyat is driving in Formula One for Scuderia AlphaTauri. "We need a period of stability after this global pandemic and we also want to ensure the new rules settle down from 2022. We have a great grid with ten exciting teams and it is not essential to increase this number. However, the new economic climate within Formula 1, budget caps and a more fairly distributed prize fund, makes an investment in a Formula 1 Team far more attractive. If there was interest from a Russian team, or any other, that we thought was sustainable then we would be fully open to exploring the opportunity," Brawn said.
Russian Formula 1 promoters displayed immense skill during preparation of the World Championship, F1 Motor Sports Managing Director Ross Brawn told TASS. On July 10, Formula 1 announced that Russian Grand Prix will take place on September 25-27 this year. "Sochi is a fantastic place to visit and it is always great to go racing there. In Formula 1 everything is about improvement and one of the most impressive things about the promoter in Russia is the constant desire to adapt and to improve year on year in order to give our fans both at the circuit or back home the best racing. I think the recent global crisis has shown what makes our promoters special and that is very much the case in Russia. Our partners in Sochi are raring to go and have shown immense skill and flexibility to get ready for a race later this year," Brawn said.
McLaren bringing back Gulf oil Brand
The famous Gulf Oil colours are returning to Formula 1 this week after the company signed a new partnership deal with McLaren. The two companies worked together in F1 and Can-Am racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s, before linking up again in the 1990s when the McLaren F1 GTR ran in Gulf's iconic blue and orange colour scheme at Le Mans. The new partnership will see Gulf become the preferred lubricant supplier to McLaren Automotive's road car range from next year, while Gulf branding will appear on the McLaren F1 car's engine cover and wing mirrors, and on the race suits of drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz from this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and throughout the 2020 season.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said: “We’re delighted to welcome Gulf back to McLaren and reunite two iconic brands back together in a new and exciting partnership. "Gulf is part of McLaren’s history and are well-known for their innovation and technical excellence in the industry, with which aligns with McLaren perfectly. We are looking forward to starting our partnership together this season.” Mike Jones, CEO, Gulf Oil added: “This is a very exciting partnership that brings the Gulf brand back into elite motor racing. "The history books are full of remarkable tales that tell of what Gulf and McLaren have achieved in the past. Now we are together once more to write the next chapter of this unique partnership."
Red Bull and Honda hold talks
Honda officials are meeting with their Red Bull counterparts this week to discuss the disappointing start to their 2020 championship campaign. Red Bull went into the year confident Max Verstappen may become the youngest ever Formula 1 title winner. But in Austria and Hungary, Mercedes clearly dominated, and that dominance is expected to be even stronger through the fast corners at Silverstone. Red Bull admits it has an aerodynamic problem, but team figures have also said the Honda engine is lacking power.
“As Red Bull-Honda, it is necessary for both Red Bull and Honda to share the feelings about not being in a situation to challenge Mercedes at the moment,” Honda’s F1 boss Masashi Yamamoto told reporters. “Therefore, we decided to hold a meeting with the leaders before Silverstone,” he added. “It is not an emergency meeting,” the Japanese insisted. “We have already talked a few times over the three races, but now we will do it properly. “I would like to discuss about the RB16, the evolution of Honda’s power unit, and how we can keep fighting in the future,” said Yamamoto.
He said all the well known top Honda and Red Bull officials will attend the meeting, and also “various other people depending on the content of the discussion. For example, if it’s technical, Adrian Newey will definitely be present, and perhaps (technical director Pierre) Wache as well. We will do it at the Red Bull factory in Milton-Keynes around July 29 or 30,” Yamamoto added.
Ferrari will not win again until 2022 says Chairman
Ferrari chairman John Elkann says the team cannot expect to be competitive in Formula 1 before 2022. Elkaan has also expressed his "total trust" in team principal Mattia Binotto after Ferrari's difficult start to the new season. "Today we are laying the foundations for being competitive and returning to winning when the rules change in 2022. I am convinced of it," Elkann said. "Binotto has the characteristics and skills to start a new winning cycle." Elkann, speaking to Italy's Gazzetta Dello Sport in a rare interview, pointed out that Binotto was part of Ferrari when the team dominated F1 in the early 2000s with Michael Schumacher, team boss Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn.
Elkann said: "A long path awaits us. When Todt started that historic cycle (of five consecutive titles) in 2000, we came from a fast that lasted for more than 20 years, from 1979. "It took time, from when he arrived in 1993 to when he brought Ferrari back to victory. The important thing, then, is to work on and off the track, bringing cohesion and stability, building the Ferrari we want step by step." Ferrari have started 2020 with a car that is more than a second a lap slower than the pace-setting Mercedes, which has won all three grands prix so far.
Ferrari lie fifth in the constructors' championship after three races, with a best result of second place by Charles Leclerc in the opening race of the season. Leclerc and team-mate Sebastian Vettel crashed together at the start of the second race, while Vettel could finish only sixth in the third race in Hungary, with Leclerc 11th and out of the points. "This year we are not competitive because of car design errors," Elkann said. "We have had a series of structural weaknesses that have existed for some time in the aerodynamics and dynamics of the vehicle. We have also lost in engine power. "The reality is that our car is not competitive. You saw it on the track and you will see it again."
Elkann said that Ferrari supported the decision taken at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to delay new rules aimed at closing up the field until 2022. But he admitted that this decision, and the fact that teams have to use the same cars again in 2021 as this year, would penalise Ferrari "greatly, given that we start off poorly - and we must be realistic and aware of the structural weaknesses of the machine, with which we have been living for a decade". He also addressed the team's decision not to renew Vettel's contract and replace him for 2021 with Spaniard Carlos Sainz. "In the past 10 years we have had champions such as (Fernando) Alonso and Vettel, who have been world champions," Elkann said. "But it is undoubtedly more difficult to rebuild a cycle and ask patience to those who have already won compared to those who have the future ahead of them. We are laying the foundations for building something important and lasting, and the contract we signed with Charles proves it: five years, never so long in Ferrari's history. "Leclerc and Sainz will make Maranello their home, will be close to our engineers. The new machine will be born with them."
A Russian team could again compete in Formula 1 championship in the coming years, F1 Managing Director of Motorsports Ross Brawn told TASS on Tuesday. Earlier, Formula 1 had two teams competing under a Russian license: Midland (2006) and Marussia (2012-2014). Currently, one Russian auto racing driver Daniil Kvyat is driving in Formula One for Scuderia AlphaTauri. "We need a period of stability after this global pandemic and we also want to ensure the new rules settle down from 2022. We have a great grid with ten exciting teams and it is not essential to increase this number. However, the new economic climate within Formula 1, budget caps and a more fairly distributed prize fund, makes an investment in a Formula 1 Team far more attractive. If there was interest from a Russian team, or any other, that we thought was sustainable then we would be fully open to exploring the opportunity," Brawn said.
Russian Formula 1 promoters displayed immense skill during preparation of the World Championship, F1 Motor Sports Managing Director Ross Brawn told TASS. On July 10, Formula 1 announced that Russian Grand Prix will take place on September 25-27 this year. "Sochi is a fantastic place to visit and it is always great to go racing there. In Formula 1 everything is about improvement and one of the most impressive things about the promoter in Russia is the constant desire to adapt and to improve year on year in order to give our fans both at the circuit or back home the best racing. I think the recent global crisis has shown what makes our promoters special and that is very much the case in Russia. Our partners in Sochi are raring to go and have shown immense skill and flexibility to get ready for a race later this year," Brawn said.
McLaren bringing back Gulf oil Brand
The famous Gulf Oil colours are returning to Formula 1 this week after the company signed a new partnership deal with McLaren. The two companies worked together in F1 and Can-Am racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s, before linking up again in the 1990s when the McLaren F1 GTR ran in Gulf's iconic blue and orange colour scheme at Le Mans. The new partnership will see Gulf become the preferred lubricant supplier to McLaren Automotive's road car range from next year, while Gulf branding will appear on the McLaren F1 car's engine cover and wing mirrors, and on the race suits of drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz from this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and throughout the 2020 season.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said: “We’re delighted to welcome Gulf back to McLaren and reunite two iconic brands back together in a new and exciting partnership. "Gulf is part of McLaren’s history and are well-known for their innovation and technical excellence in the industry, with which aligns with McLaren perfectly. We are looking forward to starting our partnership together this season.” Mike Jones, CEO, Gulf Oil added: “This is a very exciting partnership that brings the Gulf brand back into elite motor racing. "The history books are full of remarkable tales that tell of what Gulf and McLaren have achieved in the past. Now we are together once more to write the next chapter of this unique partnership."
Red Bull and Honda hold talks
Honda officials are meeting with their Red Bull counterparts this week to discuss the disappointing start to their 2020 championship campaign. Red Bull went into the year confident Max Verstappen may become the youngest ever Formula 1 title winner. But in Austria and Hungary, Mercedes clearly dominated, and that dominance is expected to be even stronger through the fast corners at Silverstone. Red Bull admits it has an aerodynamic problem, but team figures have also said the Honda engine is lacking power.
“As Red Bull-Honda, it is necessary for both Red Bull and Honda to share the feelings about not being in a situation to challenge Mercedes at the moment,” Honda’s F1 boss Masashi Yamamoto told reporters. “Therefore, we decided to hold a meeting with the leaders before Silverstone,” he added. “It is not an emergency meeting,” the Japanese insisted. “We have already talked a few times over the three races, but now we will do it properly. “I would like to discuss about the RB16, the evolution of Honda’s power unit, and how we can keep fighting in the future,” said Yamamoto.
He said all the well known top Honda and Red Bull officials will attend the meeting, and also “various other people depending on the content of the discussion. For example, if it’s technical, Adrian Newey will definitely be present, and perhaps (technical director Pierre) Wache as well. We will do it at the Red Bull factory in Milton-Keynes around July 29 or 30,” Yamamoto added.
Ferrari will not win again until 2022 says Chairman
Ferrari chairman John Elkann says the team cannot expect to be competitive in Formula 1 before 2022. Elkaan has also expressed his "total trust" in team principal Mattia Binotto after Ferrari's difficult start to the new season. "Today we are laying the foundations for being competitive and returning to winning when the rules change in 2022. I am convinced of it," Elkann said. "Binotto has the characteristics and skills to start a new winning cycle." Elkann, speaking to Italy's Gazzetta Dello Sport in a rare interview, pointed out that Binotto was part of Ferrari when the team dominated F1 in the early 2000s with Michael Schumacher, team boss Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn.
Elkann said: "A long path awaits us. When Todt started that historic cycle (of five consecutive titles) in 2000, we came from a fast that lasted for more than 20 years, from 1979. "It took time, from when he arrived in 1993 to when he brought Ferrari back to victory. The important thing, then, is to work on and off the track, bringing cohesion and stability, building the Ferrari we want step by step." Ferrari have started 2020 with a car that is more than a second a lap slower than the pace-setting Mercedes, which has won all three grands prix so far.
Ferrari lie fifth in the constructors' championship after three races, with a best result of second place by Charles Leclerc in the opening race of the season. Leclerc and team-mate Sebastian Vettel crashed together at the start of the second race, while Vettel could finish only sixth in the third race in Hungary, with Leclerc 11th and out of the points. "This year we are not competitive because of car design errors," Elkann said. "We have had a series of structural weaknesses that have existed for some time in the aerodynamics and dynamics of the vehicle. We have also lost in engine power. "The reality is that our car is not competitive. You saw it on the track and you will see it again."
Elkann said that Ferrari supported the decision taken at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to delay new rules aimed at closing up the field until 2022. But he admitted that this decision, and the fact that teams have to use the same cars again in 2021 as this year, would penalise Ferrari "greatly, given that we start off poorly - and we must be realistic and aware of the structural weaknesses of the machine, with which we have been living for a decade". He also addressed the team's decision not to renew Vettel's contract and replace him for 2021 with Spaniard Carlos Sainz. "In the past 10 years we have had champions such as (Fernando) Alonso and Vettel, who have been world champions," Elkann said. "But it is undoubtedly more difficult to rebuild a cycle and ask patience to those who have already won compared to those who have the future ahead of them. We are laying the foundations for building something important and lasting, and the contract we signed with Charles proves it: five years, never so long in Ferrari's history. "Leclerc and Sainz will make Maranello their home, will be close to our engineers. The new machine will be born with them."
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
Ferrari coughs to "car design errors".
My (inexpert) reading of Elkann's statement says the car is disappointing because of actual screw-ups - sins of commission - rather than just not doing things well enough.
That's a pretty forthright admission.
Still, as Ferrari struggles, McLaren finds its feet again. I was rather hoping Williams might find some form this year. It's an unforgiving malarkey, this F1 stuff.
My (inexpert) reading of Elkann's statement says the car is disappointing because of actual screw-ups - sins of commission - rather than just not doing things well enough.
That's a pretty forthright admission.
Still, as Ferrari struggles, McLaren finds its feet again. I was rather hoping Williams might find some form this year. It's an unforgiving malarkey, this F1 stuff.
