F1 2021

[1%er]

The 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar

Race	Date	Event	Country	Location
1	28th Mar.	Bahrain	Bahrain	Bahrain International Circuit
2	18th Apr.	Emilia Romagna	Italy	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola.
3	2nd May	Portuguese	Portugal	Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao
4	9th May	Spanish (TBC)	Spain	Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
5	23rd May	Monaco	Monaco	Monaco
6	6th Jun.	Azerbaijan	Azerbaijan	Baku City Circuit
7	13th Jun.	Canadian	Canada	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal
8	27th Jun.	French	France	Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet
9	4th Jul.	Austrian	Austria	Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
10	18th Jul.	British	Britain	Silverstone
11	1st Aug.	Hungarian	Hungary	Hungaroring, Budapest
12	29th Aug.	Belgian	Belgium	Spa-Francorchamps
13	5th Sep.	Dutch	Netherlands	Zandvoort
14	12th Sep.	Italian	Italy	Monza
15	26th Sep.	Russian	Russia	Sochi Autodrom
16	3rd Oct.	Singapore	Singapore	Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
17	10th Oct.	Japanese	Japan	Suzuka
18	24th Oct.	United States	USA	Circuit of the Americas, Austin
19	31st Oct.	Mexican	Mexico	Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City
20	7th Nov.	Brazilian	Brazil	Interlagos
21	21st Nov.	Australian	Australia	Melbourne Park Circuit, Melbourne.
22	5th Dec.	Saudi Arabian	Saudi Arabia	Jeddah
23	12th Dec.	Abu Dhabi	UAE	Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi

Teams, engine supplier and driver line up for 2021
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas
Red Bull-Honda: Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez
McLaren-Mercedes: Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris
Aston Martin-Mercedes: Lance Stroll, Sebastian Vettel
Alpine-Renault: Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso
Ferrari: Carlos Sainz Jr, Charles Leclerc
AlphaTauri-Honda: Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari: Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Giovinazzi
Haas-Ferrari: Mick Schumacher, Nikita Mazepin
Williams-Mercedes: George Russell, Nicholas Latifi

What's new in sporting and technical regulations in 2021
Formula 1 may be facing an unprecedented situation with teams carrying over their cars for a second season in 2021, but that does not mean everything is staying the same. Indeed, a delve into the final signed off 2021 F1 regulations that have been published by the FIA show that there are a number of detailed revisions to next year's rules that will throw up some fresh challenges. Some of these changes, such as revisions to the floor design to cut back on downforce have been known for some time, but there are some other fascinating tweaks that have emerged in detail just now.

New floor and diffuser rules
This change has come about in response to the ever-increasing amount of downforce teams are delivering that is punishing tyres like never before. With Pirelli supplying largely the same tyre as it has for the past two seasons, it was agreed that the cars needed to be held back. The FIA and teams agreed that car tweaks should reduce downforce by approximately 10% to counteract the gains that have been made in the recent period. The original plan was to have a diagonal cut in the floor ahead of the rear tyre, reducing the teams' ability to manipulate the airflow by introducing slots, holes and shaped aerodynamic furniture in that region of the floor. However, data collected during the opening few races of the 2020 season convinced the rule makers that this would not be enough to meet the 10% reduction target, as teams had already found more performance than anticipated this season. As such, the regulations went further and now prevent the designers from having any fully enclosed holes in the entire rear section of the floor, as it was feared that some may be able to find performance in this area. The load tests conducted on the floor have also been sharpened up too. The point at which they are measured has had to be adjusted, and so too has the amount of flex that will be allowed. Rather than a 10mm tolerance, the floor will now only be allowed to flex up to 8mm vertically when a 500nm load is applied. This reigns in the possibility of finding gains through a flexible surface.

The diffuser has also been amended to lessen its ability to create downforce, with the height of the dividing strakes required to be 50mm shorter next season. Meanwhile, to lessen aerodynamic influence, the designers are unable to utilise winglets mounted in the lower half of the rear brake duct that are any wider than 80mm. The upper half retains the 120mm limit.

Increase in car and power Unit weight
The minimum weight of the car has increased by a further 3kg for 2021. It is now up to 749kg. Meanwhile, the minimum weight of the power unit has been increased too, rising to 150kg which should ease concerns from engine manufacturers of needing to chase exotic and expensive materials in a bid to save weight. Unchanged from the previous regulations that were available, but of importance given the recent ban on qualifying modes, teams will now only be permitted to have a set number of ECU modes at their disposal each season.

A table in the regulations presents a sliding scale that will permit less flexibility as we move through to 2025, with only five team applications, five power unit applications and three ERS & PU-CE applications allowed next season. There have also been changes to the wording in regards to the wastegate, and their tailpipes. Cars are currently required to have at least one wastegate tailpipe, but from now on they won't have to run the additional pipework if the manufacturer can design a system that doesn't require a wastegate. This is a very interesting proposition given the role the MGU-H would play in this.

The use of exotic valve and stem designs have also been reigned in, with the shape of any hollow cavities now required to have a uniform cylindrical shape of constant diameter.

Green materials
An interesting new inclusion comes under the permitted materials section, with natural fibres such as flex, hemp, linen, cotton and bamboo now allowed. Carbon fibre composites have reigned supreme in F1 for decades, with John Barnard's McLaren MP4/1 paving the way for the lighter and stronger material to become ubiquitous in F1. One of the downsides of carbon fibre is that, in the event of damage, there is the chance for sharp shards of debris to be left behind. Natural fibre composites reduce a significant portion of this risk, and could be considered the future material for risk exposed components. Natural fibre company Ycom and Bcomp recently designed, optimised and crash tested a front impact absorbing structure that produced results inline with a traditional carbon fibre structure.

The crash structure tested was approximately 40% heavier than a similar carbon fibre design but, as we know only too well, F1 is all about progress. So while the starting point may not be so attractive, who knows how far the weight could be cut back in the future. Natural fibre composites would also dramatically lessen the environmental impact of F1, which is an interesting aside when we consider how F1 and motorsport in general would like to be perceived in the public eye.

Fuel and oil
In an effort to combat the use of the oil and lubricants as a method of boosting combustion, the FIA has continually clamped down on oil burning tactics in the last few years. Similarly the inclusion of two fuel-flow meters, both with different anti-aliasing properties, prevents nefarious tactics being used to defeat the purpose of what used to be just one meter. In the case of both fuel and lubricants, the number of specifications used throughout the course of a season have been pulled back, with just the previous season's formulations and one new set being allowed for 2021.

Listed parts and copying other teams designs
The furore surrounding the design of the Racing Point RP20 at the start of the season has died down recently, but the latest draft of the regulations look to make certain that there will not be a repeat. A new section at the tail end of the regulations covers the listed parts more extensively than ever before, outlining how a team might naturally follow the design concept of another, without directly copying it. Teams are reminded that they may only obtain information on their competitors' designs at events or tests and it must be information that is potentially available to all competitors. In effect this limits teams to using just regular video or photography.

The use of reverse engineering techniques such as stereophotogrammetry and 3D capture or scanning tools have now been prohibited. In such cases where it is decided that a competitor is deemed to have a listed part that resembles another, the FIA can request that the team demonstrate its entire design process, including any work carried out ahead of the regulation coming into force.

The DAS system is gone
As we have known since the start of the season, Mercedes Dual-Axis Steering system will not be allowed, with changes already made within the regulations early-on to rule out the use of the adjustable system for 2021 onwards.

 

[Badgers]

On board captain

 

[1%er]

Could Bahrain hold the opening race of 2021
The Australian Grand Prix might end up not being the 2021 season opener despite it being listed as the first grand prix in the recently ratified 23-race calendar, according to reports. The 2021 F1 season is set to get underway in Melbourne in March, but Bahrain may instead host the first race of the season amid reports that organisers of the Australian GP want the event to be rescheduled over travel concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At the moment it is very difficult to enter Australia and from what I hear, Melbourne wants another date on the calendar and the season would start in Bahrain,” Auto Motor und Sport (AMuS) has reported, citing sources in the paddock. From what we hear, the start is in jeopardy. The organisation does not want to take the risk of already building the circuit, which costs money, and then having to cancel the race the week before because the government says so,” the German-language publication added.

The 2020 Australian Grand Prix was cancelled at the last minute as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to escalate across the globe. The season did eventually get underway a few months later, with the season opener taking place in Austria and concluding in Abu Dhabi earlier this month after a total of 17 grand prix were held.

Liberty Media in talks with Amazon
Formula 1 is reportedly speaking with Amazon about the possibility of streaming races in the future. The sport’s owners, Liberty Media, are exploring new ways to appeal to a younger audience who prefer to stream sports rather than watch them through pay-to-view TV channels or even free-to-air channels. Speaking with The Financial Times, outgoing Formula 1 chief executive Chase Carey confirmed the sport is talking with Amazon as well as other streaming services. “We are in substantive discussions with Amazon and all the global digital platforms,” Carey said. “They’re an incredibly important potential partner and an opportunity for us to expand and grow our business.”

Amazon already holds the rights to various sports, including the English Premier League and the ATP and WTA tennis tournaments. It has also produced a five-part series on Fernando Alonso, titled ‘Fernando’, that details his two years away from F1. Formula 1 has also partnered with Netflix to produce the ‘Drive to Survive’ docuseries which has so far aired two seasons (in 2018 and 2019) and will soon launch its third season detailing the 2020 championship. While Liberty Media is speaking with various digital services, There are reports that the talks with Amazon are the most advanced.

Incoming Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali acknowledges the need to attract a younger audience to the sport but is cautious of introducing too many changes too quickly at the risk of alienating current fans “who probably are not quite accustomed to watching their major favorite sporting events on a digital platform.”

[This change is unlikely to happen in Europe, the USA and many other regions for awhile, Sky and a number of other pay-to-view companies have paid millions for the rights and I'm sure will not be willing to give them up for free. My understanding from the viewing figures is that pay-to-view are not recouping their investment in F1 so may well be willing, at a price, to allow other companies into the market place, I guess we will have to keep an eye open to see what happens with this]

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

This is amazing, there’s more on his Twitter profile.

 

[1%er]

FIA Formula 1 entry fees for the 2021 season
The FIA have revealed the entry fees which Formula One teams will be required to pay for participating in the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship. Teams need to pay a certain amount of money to be eligible to take part in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The entry fee is not identical as it depends on the results teams achieved in the previous season. For the 2021 season, the basic entry fee is $569,308 that all teams need to pay. This amount is 2.3 per cent higher than in the previous year owing to the inflation rate in the United States.

On top of the basic amount, teams also need to pay for every point they collected in the previous championship campaign. The reigning champion Mercedes outfit will need to pay $6,830 for every point scored, while the other nine teams will pay $5,691 per point. This means that Mercedes will pay a total of $4,482,898 while their closest rival Red Bull will only pay 61 per cent of that amount given that they scored only 55 per cent of the points Mercedes collected in 2020. Williams will only pay the basic fee for the 2021 season as they did not score any points this year. That was the very first time that the Grove-based squad failed to score a single point apart from its foundation in 1977 when it did not start in every race.

Ironically, Ferrari’s 2020 result means that the sport’s most successful team will only pay an entry fee of $1,464,038, only 32 per cent of what Mercedes will pay. Ferrari endured its worst season by finishing down in sixth position in the Constructors’ Championship. The only times Scuderia ended up sixth in the Teams’ Standings were 1962, 1969 and 1973 (the 1980 season was the only time that the Maranello-based squad finished lower than that by ending up down in 10th position. That year, the team’s drivers Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve failed to see the chequered flag on a number of occasions and collected only 8 points in total).

Entry fees for the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship:
Mercedes, 573 points, $4,482,898
Red Bull, 319 points, $2,748,078
McLaren, 202 points, $1,948,968
Racing Point (Aston Marti ), 195 points, $1,901,158
Renault (Alpine), 181 points, $1,805,538 9 (Alpine)
Ferrari, 131 points, $1,464,038
AlphaTauri, 107 points, $1,300,118
Alfa Romeo, 8 points, $623,948
Haas, 3 points, $589,798
Williams, 0 points, $569,308

Will the pink car leave the grid
Racing Point becomes Aston Martin in 2021 after Lawrence Stroll also bought the legendary British brand. As a result, the colours of the F1 car will also change in 2021, which could mean the departure of a major sponsor. The current Racing Point was dressed in pink for the first time in 2017, with new title sponsor BWT. BWT had first had long negotiations with Mercedes and a deal for a pink Mercedes was almost ready. However, Daimler intervened with a new design and less pink was not to BWT's liking.

They then chose to invest in Force India, which was to become Racing Point in 2018. Pink provided a distinctive colour on the Formula 1 grid, but that colour is likely to disappear in 2021. Lance Stroll was already hinting at a unique colour for 2021, British Racing Green. The original colour of British racing. This would mean the pink of BWT would disappear, and according to reports it could also be that the title sponsor of Racing Point disappears from Formula 1. Lawrence Stroll is in talks with American IT Service Cognizant, who may become the new title sponsor of Aston Martin. It is not yet clear whether the arrival of this sponsor will really mean that BWT will disappear.

 

[cybershot]

Hope we see a return of British racing green but I doubt it.

 

[spitfire]

Nice one 1%er

Greetings Racefam.

 

[1%er]

F1 will introduce minor changes to the Sporting Regulations in 2021
Formula One will introduce further minor changes to the Sporting Regulations in 2021, including tweaks to the tyre usage and the maximum length of a grand prix. Just a few weeks after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Formula One and the FIA have announced that some minor changes have been implemented to the Sporting Regulations for the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the sport was forced to introduce key changes, including heavy modifications to the calendar. New venues were added to the schedule and several events were moved backwards. That uncertainty around the heavily-updated schedule meant that Pirelli also asked for a change to the regulations.

For each race weekend, Pirelli selects three compounds of its five-compound range with every driver having an allocation of 13 sets of dry weather tyres. Teams are usually free to define themselves how many sets of the three compounds they want for a race weekend. However, in 2020, the Milan-based tyre manufacturer supplied teams with eight of the soft compound, three of medium and two of hard. This regulation will remain in effect next year considering the uncertainty around the first part of the 2021 calendar. Pirelli will also modify the announcement of their compounds which will be two weeks prior to the event, as opposed to nine and 15 weeks before European and flyaway races respectively.

The FIA has also reacted on Mercedes’ mistake at the Sakhir Grand Prix when the team mounted wrong tyres on George Russell’s car. The Anglo-German outfit got away with a fine at Bahrain, but teams need to be aware of that from 2021 onwards. The updated Sporting Regulations state that ’any driver who uses a set of tyres of differing specifications or tyres not allocated to him during the race may not cross the Line on the track more than twice before returning to the pits and changing them for a set of tyres of the same specification. A penalty under Article 38.3(d) will be imposed on any driver who does not change tyres as specified above within three laps. For the avoidance of doubt, a set of tyres of differing specifications will not be considered when assessing the number of specifications used during the race.

The FIA has also changed the maximum length of a race. Previously, the maximum time was set at four hours that was introduced after the extremely long 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. According to the new rule, if a race is suspended, the maximum time will be three hours. The Paris-based governing body has also changed the fee for an appeal. Should an F1 team intend to lodge an appeal against a decision, it will be required to pay a fee of €6000.

Albon may be temporarily transferred to another team in 2021
Alexander Albon may temporarily look to a new employer. That is what Helmut Marko has said a week after it was announced that Sergio Perez will take his place next year alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. The Austrian race team is open to relocating Albon in 2021. Marko and Albon have drawn up a contract for 2021 stating that he is the reserve and test driver. He will therefore be the permanent replacement when a Red Bull or AlphaTauri driver is unable to compete in a Grand Prix for whatever reason. The agreement also allows Albon to gain a year's experience elsewhere.

Marko said "We are open to lend him out if another team has a situation where they need a driver at short notice. That way he can make some racing kilometres." If other teams are not interested in Albon's services, the Milton Keynes-based team can still make good use of the knowledge and skills of the Thai driver. "We will use him a lot in testing and he will do a lot in the simulator. He will also be present at many races as a reserve driver. After all, that's four cars for us." Marko is still confident that Albon will come out on top and later become a fixed value for Red Bull. "This is not the end.

Frank Williams back at home
After a nine-day stay in the hospital, Frank Williams was released and returned home Christmas Eve. He is recovering at home from from an undisclosed medical condition. “We’re delighted to say that Sir Frank has been discharged from hospital and is now on the mend at home,” the Williams team said in a tweet.

Williams was admitted to the hospital on December 15, but the need for the stay was not mentioned. The team tweeted:
We're delighted to say that Sir Frank has been discharged from hospital and is now on the mend at home.
The Williams family would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time, and to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) December 24, 2020

Williams’ hospital release comes during an emotional season. Earlier this year, the Williams family saw the transition of the team originally named Williams Grand Prix Engineering more than four decades to American investment firm Dorilton Capital in August.

 

[1%er]

Martin Brundle inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame
Martin Brundle is among the motor racing greats inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame this year. A career that began with banger racing led to a legendary duel with Ayrton Senna for the 1983 British Formula 3 title, and then on to ten years in Formula 1, the World Sportscar Championship and victory at Le Mans. Few racers could be disappointed with that record, but as Brundle says in the podcast: “My driving career was a fact-finding mission for my media career”.

Brundle’s talent for TV (“I’m a car dealer, I’m used to engaging people”) first emerged at Spa in 1989 where he retired his Brabham and was pulled into the BBC commentary box to fill in for an absent James Hunt. By 1997, Brundle was alongside Murray Walker full time and he reveals the one piece of advice he was given by the commentating master that has stuck with him ever since. He compares the secret of his success to the game show Catchphrase “You’ve just got to say what you see,” and explains why he’s secretly pleased that Covid put a temporary halt to his famous grid walk, although he’s looking forward to bringing it back when possible.

Brundle says that he fully expects to be replaced “soon” by another commentator who will “blow me out of the water” although not before another Sky deal, and not for lack of knowledge. As Brundle heads into his 25th year of full-time commentating, he still manages to offer remarkable insight from a driver’s perspective, thanks to the 56 (and counting) F1 cars he’s driven.

You can watch the podcast in full at the top of this page, or listen to the audio version at the bottom of the page.

Imola most likely candidate to replace Vietnam
The Vietnam Grand Prix will not take place in 2021, so there is still an open spot on the Formula 1 calendar of 2021. According to reports, Imola is the most likely candidate for the open spot in the coming season. After an eventful Formula 1 season in 2020, F1 wants to return to a normal calendar in 2021. There are 23 races on the programme, although one place still has to be filled in. Vietnam has disappeared, so Liberty Media has to look for a replacement in April.

That replacement is, according to reports Imola. The historic circuit returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2020 to fill in the chaotic season and with Formula 1 that wanted to cover all the costs. In 2021, however, things will be different. F1 will not be able to cover all its costs for another whole year, so it hopes to have a full calendar with races that can once again earn their own money. Imola is an important candidate, but now that Mugello and Turkey have (again) had a taste of it, they too will fight for a place on the calendar.

 

[1%er]

Arise Sir Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is set to be knighted by The Queen in 2021 after becoming the most successful Formula 1 driver in history. The Brit won his seventh F1 world championship this year, equalling the great Michael Schumacher’s record. But he also made history in his own right in the process by taking his tally to 95 race wins, beating Schmacher’s previous record of 91. As a result, the Stevenage-born star is due to be named in the New Year Honour’s List on Thursday. Hamilton, who devoted his season to promoting the Black Lives Matter movement for racial equality and more diversity in the sport, also ended 2020 by being crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the second time.

The 35-year-old is already an MBE, which he was awarded in 2008 after winning his first F1 world title. And while there have been concerns over his eligibility for a knighthood due to his status as a tax exile, it is claimed Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed them and found a way to ensure the F1 icon will become Sir Lewis. Hamilton, who is worth more than £250million, first moved from the UK to Switzerland after completing his debut season in 2007, and has lived in Monaco for a decade.

A host of Formula 1 drivers past and present, as well as other top sports stars, live and have lived in the sovereign state, which is well known for being a tax haven. But over the years his choice of home has seen many critics accuse the driver of ‘turning his back on his country’. However, the Prime Minister has found a way to bypass any such concerns by placing Hamilton on the ‘Diplomatic and Overseas List’, with reports further claiming that ‘no previous British sporting figure has been accommodated in this controversial way’.

It is claimed former Labour Cabinet minister Lord Hain has twice written to Downing Street with evidence that Hamilton is in fact among the top 5,000 UK taxpayers. However, Hamilton’s Monaco residency has meant HMRC have not been able to adequately vet his tax affairs a prerequisite for all domestic awards. It is claimed, though, that the Prime Minister has sidestepped the concerns by using the ‘Overseas’ designation that ‘recognises people who have given exceptional service to the UK abroad and internationally’. It means Hamilton will become the fourth F1 driver to be knighted, following Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart.

 

[spitfire]

Arise Sir Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is set to be knighted by The Queen in 2021 after becoming the most successful Formula 1 driver in history. The Brit won his seventh F1 world championship this year, equalling the great Michael Schumacher’s record. But he also made history in his own right in the process by taking his tally to 95 race wins, beating Schmacher’s previous record of 91. As a result, the Stevenage-born star is due to be named in the New Year Honour’s List on Thursday. Hamilton, who devoted his season to promoting the Black Lives Matter movement for racial equality and more diversity in the sport, also ended 2020 by being crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the second time.

The 35-year-old is already an MBE, which he was awarded in 2008 after winning his first F1 world title. And while there have been concerns over his eligibility for a knighthood due to his status as a tax exile, it is claimed Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed them and found a way to ensure the F1 icon will become Sir Lewis. Hamilton, who is worth more than £250million, first moved from the UK to Switzerland after completing his debut season in 2007, and has lived in Monaco for a decade.

A host of Formula 1 drivers past and present, as well as other top sports stars, live and have lived in the sovereign state, which is well known for being a tax haven. But over the years his choice of home has seen many critics accuse the driver of ‘turning his back on his country’. However, the Prime Minister has found a way to bypass any such concerns by placing Hamilton on the ‘Diplomatic and Overseas List’, with reports further claiming that ‘no previous British sporting figure has been accommodated in this controversial way’.

It is claimed former Labour Cabinet minister Lord Hain has twice written to Downing Street with evidence that Hamilton is in fact among the top 5,000 UK taxpayers. However, Hamilton’s Monaco residency has meant HMRC have not been able to adequately vet his tax affairs a prerequisite for all domestic awards. It is claimed, though, that the Prime Minister has sidestepped the concerns by using the ‘Overseas’ designation that ‘recognises people who have given exceptional service to the UK abroad and internationally’. It means Hamilton will become the fourth F1 driver to be knighted, following Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart.

I mean fuck the honours system and all that but this will send all the flag shaggers on twitter mental.

 

[Ax^]

also it will piss off Jackie

 

[Lord Camomile]

Hamilton has been knighted.

I, of course, pour scorn on the system, but, y'know, if anyone's gonna get one.

 

[Limejuice]

Hamilton has been knighted.

I, of course, pour scorn on the system, but, y'know, if anyone's gonna get one.

I specifically came here to say that Hammy has been made a Dame.

 

[dessiato]

I specifically came here to say that Hammy has been made a Dame.

There is nothing like a dame. There is nothing you can name that is anything like a dame.

 

[1%er]

FP1 & FP2 cut to just one hour next season
F1 practice sessions will be shortened to a single hour of running during Fridays across the 2021 season. In an update to the 2021 FIA sporting regulations, the opening two practice sessions held on Fridays will be trimmed by 30 minutes next season, with FP1 and FP2 lasting one hour each. Previously, both sessions have taken place over 90 minutes, before a 60-minute final practice session is held ahead of qualifying on Saturday morning. FP3 and the rest of the race weekend will remain unchanged, but teams and the drivers will have an hour less to practice for grands prix next year.

Article 32.1 of next year’s sporting rules states: “Two free practice sessions (P1 and P2), each lasting one hour and separated by at least two and a half hours, will take place on the second day of the Event.” Additionally, FP3 must take place no less than 19 hours after FP2, an increase from 18 and a half hours. F1 has been evaluating ways to cutback grand prix weekends as the calendar continues to grow, with the 2021 F1 calendar including a record 23 races and featuring three triple-header events. During the 2020 season, F1 experimented with a shorter weekend format at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with no running on Friday and just a single 90-minute practice session held on Saturday morning at Imola prior to qualifying.

The curfew period on Thursday and Friday night at events in 2021 will also be extended from eight hours to nine hours, beginning 12 hours before the start of FP1 and FP3 respectively. As they did in 2020, Pirelli will continue to supply teams with the same allocation of tyre compounds. The 2021 F1 season is scheduled to begin with the Australian Grand Prix on 21 March.

"Provisional" Spanish GP looking good
Next year's Spanish Grand Prix is back on track after the regional government formally authorised the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to negotiate and sign the necessary contracts to continue hosting the event. The race had already been included in the provisional 2021 Formula 1 schedule, subject to financial terms being agreed between the promoters and Formula 1 commercial owners Liberty Media. “The Government has authorised the company Circuits de Catalunya SL to sign with the company Formula One World Championship Limited (FOWC) the renewal of the contract for the organisation of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix for the year 2021," a statement from the regional government confirmed. The signature guarantees the celebration of the 31st consecutive edition of this event at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya,” it added. “The F1 Grand Prix is an asset that contributes to Catalonia’s position in the world in the fields of tourism and automotive."

The circuit still hopes to make changes to the layout in turns 10 and 11 in time for the next race on May 9. This year's Spanish Grand Prix was a late addition to a heavily revised calendar after disruption due to the coronavirus epidemic prevented flyaway races, leaving F1 racing closer to home in Europe, Russia and the Middle East. But there had been fears that the long-running event would then be dropped future seasons as F1 looks to expand into new territories such as Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

Next season will see two Spanish drivers on the grid, with Fernando Alonso returning to the newly-rebranded Alpine team and Carlos Sainz set to make his debut at Ferrari. Ferrari has won at Barcelona on eight occasions, making them the most successful F1 team at the circuit. Five of those victories were claimed by Michael Schumacher, giving him the record for most race wins at one venue. But Lewis Hamilton has won the last four races here in a row, meaning that he is just one away from matching yet another Schumacher record after tying the German with seven championship in 2020.

There's still a vacant slot on the schedule with an event on April 25 still to be announced, but expected to be a return to Imola. That would mean that the 2021 season will consist of 23 races, the longest in the championship's history.


[A good article on the technical battle for 2021/22 is available here for those interested in this stuff]

 

[spitfire]

 

[1%er]

Has Hamilton rejected Mercedes offer
Lewis Hamilton is officially unemployed at the moment. The seven-time world champion's contract with Mercedes expired on 1st January and a renewal has still not been signed. In the background, a lot seems to be happening at the moment. Toto Wolff has been arguing for months that the extension of Hamilton's contract should not be a problem, but according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport demands over a four year deal seem to be a concern with the team keeping George Russell in mind.

Hamilton could earn 40 million a year, on top of which there would be a 10% bonus for winning the World Championship. Reportedly, the 35-year-old driver has rejected that offer. We do not know what Hamilton's counter-proposal was. Wolff would be prepared to wait for Lewis' decision until the winter tests in Barcelona. However, Ola Kallenius, Chairman of Daimler, is not of the same opinion and is putting pressure on Wolff to close the deal as soon as possible. The Swedish top man also thinks it is fine to promote Russell and would be prepared to do so if it came to it. Taking the young driver away from Williams is no problem, as Russell is still a Mercedes junior.

The problem seems to be that Hamilton's attitude cannot count on the approval of Daimler's board of directors. Mercedes' parent company has given Wolff a full mandate to close the deal as soon as possible, but the Austrian team boss has been given a list of conditions and restrictions. Mercedes, too, are suffering from the coronavirus crisis. The German brand has therefore announced heavy cuts and are reluctant to offer Hamilton such a hefty salary increase.

Can Paddy Lowe find the Holy Grail
Paddy Lowe has founded a company called ‘Zero Petroleum’, focusing on the creation of more sustainable hydrocarbons through recycling. Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds, organic and natural, and form the basis for fuels such as petrol & diesel through crude oil, jet fuels, plastics, natural gas and coal. While these are typically referred to as ‘fossil fuels’, and are largely seen as an energy source that the world is moving away from, Lowe has established Zero Petroleum with the intent of being able to create petroleum-based products like fuels and petrochemicals through sustainable means. The process of creating these synthetic hydrocarbons is the company’s goal to become a ‘ prime constructor of a fully circular and carbon-neutral supply at scale.’

The process, described simply, is to create these products by the recycling of emissions, such as water and carbon dioxide, using renewable energy. Lowe is listed as the company’s founder and director. The British engineer has been absent from the Formula 1 frontlines since his ignominious departure from the Williams team in 2019. Lowe, having been appointed as the team’s Technical Director after leaving Mercedes at the end of 2016, oversaw the designs of the FW41 & FW42 – neither of which were particularly competitive. The team’s disastrous delayed launch of the FW42 resulted in Lowe going on personal leave from the team. He didn’t return to Williams, and he also sold his shares after becoming part of the Board of Directors at the team in 2017.

 

[dessiato]

Lewis Hamilton 'attitude' problem makes Mercedes consider Russell

Mercedes owners Daimler are reportedly willing to give George Russell a shot in 2021.

www.express.co.uk

Sorry for the link.

 

[1%er]

Will Ineos top-up Lewis's wages
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton are yet to ink a new contract which will see them continue to race together in 2021 and beyond, but a breakthrough could be on the horizon according to reports from Italy. Last week, the Rome-based Corriere dello Sport newspaper reported that Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company, had blocked a $50 million per year deal which the Silver Arrows wanted to offer Hamilton during the 2020 season. More recently, the same Italian newspaper has reported that Ineos, which purchased a one-third stake in the Mercedes F1 Team last month, is potentially willing to intervene to help meet Lewis Hamilton’s salary demands and ensure he stays with the Brackley-based team.

The British multi-national chemicals giant owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe started working with the Silver Arrows ahead of the 2020 campaign after agreeing a broad sponsorship and technical partnership with the serial F1 champions. After the end of last season, it was announced that Ineos had purchased 33.33 percent of the Mercedes F1 Team. Daimler, Toto Wolff, and Ineos now each own a third of the Silver Arrows.

Last month, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said they failed to get a contract extension agreed before the end of the season because they had other priorities to deal with, but he remained confident that Lewis Hamilton will still be a Mercedes F1 driver in 2021. “If you refer to why haven’t we got a signed contract? The reason is simple. We always prioritised getting this Championship done, and not being distracted by sometimes difficult discussions, as is the nature of negotiation. But then COVID struck,” Wolff said last month. “So it has delayed us a little bit, but we are not worried in eventually getting it done,” he insisted. Specifically, the Austrian said it could take until just before pre-season testing in March for a contract extension with Hamilton to be agreed.

Lando Norris has COVID
Twenty-one year-old McLaren Formula One driver Lando Norris tested positive for Covid-19 in Dubai and is currently self-isolating, according to a statement published on Wednesday. “McLaren can confirm that Lando Norris tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday in Dubai,” read an official statement by the UK-based team. “He is currently on holiday ahead of a planned training camp and is now self-isolating at his hotel for 14 days. In line with local regulations, he is now self-isolating at his hotel for 14 days. He is currently feeling well and reports no other symptoms.”

After Noris lost his sense of taste and smell, he said he was tested for COVID-19 in Dubai and the results came back positive. The driver, who came in ninth place in the 2020 Formula One drivers’ standing, has disclosed that he is currently feeling well and reports no other symptoms, the BBC reported. His isolation period will be completed towards the end of the month. The pre-season testing in Spain is expected to be carried out in early March ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 21.

Australian Grand Prix likely to be postponed
Further developments indicate the Australian Grand Prix is likely to be postponed, it is revealed. Discussions between the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the government and Formula One management about the Formula 1 calendar for 2021 are ongoing, a government spokesman said. Despite no confirmation as yet from F1 or the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Supercars has affirmed "Sandown" remains on standby should the Albert Park event not go ahead.

They have been negotiating a fly in, fly out approach with isolation from landing to departure over six days. F1 personnel would be limited to controlled corridors between the airport, hotels and the track, where the F1 paddock and pits would be in a ‘bubble’ separated from the rest of the track precinct.

F1 goes back to "on the hour start"
Formula 1 racing has started ten minutes after the hour in recent years in order to provide fans with a preview. However, F1 has now reviewed this and wants to turn it back to the old times. In the past, a Formula 1 race was always held within an hour. Of course, depending on the location and time zone, the time it was on TV differs locally. Liberty Media changed this because they thought they could take advantage of the extra ten minutes.

However, now Formula 1 leadership wants to move away from these ten minutes and go back to starting on the hour. This would still have to be discussed with the F1 teams, but no major obstacle is expected there. In addition to the ten minutes, the time is going to change even more. According to news outlets, F1 also wants to bring the time forward by another hour, which means that the races that usually start at three o'clock in Europe will now start at two o'clock local time. With this, there are some changes to Formula 1, after it became clear that the first and second free practice sessions in 2021 will only last one hour.

 

[1%er]

Liberty Media halves 2021 prize money
With the budget cap introduced in 2021, the FIA has taken the first step towards a fairer championship. During the 2020 season, a season did eventually get underway, but without fans and with little income for Liberty Media. As a result, the teams will also receive less money from F1 next season. The money the teams receive will even be halved. That is what Auto, Motor und Sport says. This means that a team such as Racing Point only gets USD 30 million, whereas it should have been USD 59 million. For the big teams, there is even less money coming in. Mercedes now receives USD 126 million in prize money instead of 177 million, a reduction of USD 51 million.

Teams that receive more in 2021 are mainly those in midfield, because they will have scored many more points in 2020 than in 2019. The entire field was a lot closer together, so midfield also managed to take the podium more often. In the end Racing Point got the most points. They will receive 41 million dollars more in 2021 than in 2019.

Is Cyril Abiteboul out at Renault
There is a lot of chatter that Davide Brivio the MotoGP boss of Team Suzuki could be taking a top job (maybe even the top job) at Alpine (Renault F1 team new name). Everything indicates that Renault will make changes within the management of the new Alpine Racing F1 team. Davide Brivio is on his way to Formula 1, but changes will also follow within the team. Why are these changes suddenly being made within the French racing team?

In 2016 Renault took over the old package from Lotus and so not much could be expected for that year. The team finished ninth, scoring only eight points. In 2017 there was a clear step forward to sixth place and 57 points. Another step followed in 2018, namely fourth place among the manufacturers behind the fixed-top three and 122 points. Renault was doing well. With the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo, the step to the top now had to be made.

For some reason, however, Abiteboul failed to take that next step. In 2019, Renault fell back to fifth place among the constructors and, although it took the podium three times in 2020, the team finished fifth again, despite a drop from Ferrari at the top. So after five years of this management, you may wonder how successful they have been. Renault wants to make that step, but cannot get it done. It is not for nothing that Abiteboul himself already indicated that he is considering continuing in a different role.

That is why now is the ideal time for Abiteboul to take a step back. Davide Brivio is on his way to assume a key role within Renault and Marcin Budkowski has been presented as Renault's deputy director now that Jerome Stoll has left. Budkowski would also take on the role of team boss, according to various sources, after which Abiteboul could disappear in a management position for Alpine / Renault.

 

[1%er]

Aston Martin sign title partner
The newly launched Aston Martin F1 team have signed up a Nasdaq-listed professional services company as their title partner. The team will be known as Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team when they line up on the starting grid for the new season. The deal comes ahead of the team unveiling their car livery in March.

Team chairman Lawrence Stroll said: "The return of Aston Martin to Formula One after more than 60 years away is a landmark moment in the history of the sport. Everyone knows what Aston Martin stands for, but the Formula One team will allow us to take the essence of the brand to new places, building on the strong foundations laid by the previous iterations of the team. I’m hugely proud that we can start this new chapter with the support of Cognizant. In today’s world, as the digital revolution continues, I can’t think of a more suitable or valuable partner to work with us as we strive to make Aston Martin one of the greatest teams in the sport."

Cognizant chief executive Brian Humphries added: "We are absolutely thrilled to be the title partner of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team. Our global brands have much in common. We are both innovative, forward-looking firms that like to move fast, stay focused, and lead from the front. We understand the incredible power of today’s advanced technologies and how to harness them to engineer unique customer experiences. We’re excited by the promise of this deep and mutually beneficial partnership."

Mercedes call bullshit on Hamilton rumours
Mercedes has hit out at what it calls the “pure fiction” of rumours swirling around the future of Lewis Hamilton. The seven time world champion has kicked off 2021 without a contract, amid speculation Mercedes is balking at his demands for a EUR 40 million salary, a $3m AMG-One hypercar, and a 10 percent share in the team’s title bonuses. A Mercedes source calls those reports “pure fiction”, while a spokesman said there are “no reasons to be concerned” about the team’s 2021 lineup.

Indeed, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claims that new team co-owner Ineos, headed by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is prepared to make up the difference between Hamilton’s demands and what Mercedes is willing to pay. In turn, Hamilton would be expected to appear in some of the forthcoming marketing campaigns of Ineos, a British multinational chemicals company which now owns a third of the title-winning team.

Australian Grand Prix will be postponed
The Australian Grand Prix will be postponed to the back end of the Formula One season with Bahrain replacing it as the opening race in March, Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll has revealed. The move, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions, has been widely flagged in the media but is yet to be confirmed by Formula One or local organisers. But Stroll has told Reuters that a decision has been made but not yet publicised.

"Melbourne has been, it's not officially announced but it will be, not cancelled but postponed. We will go there sometime in the fall (autumn) and the first race will be Bahrain," said the Canadian billionaire. Formula One teams agreed the change in a virtual meeting with Formula One's new chief executive Stefano Domenicali on Monday.

Sources said the same meeting also agreed for pre-season testing to move from Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya to Bahrain, without setting a date.

 

[1%er]

China also likely to postpone race
The Chinese Grand Prix looks set to become the second 2021 Formula 1 race to be postponed as a result of COVID-19. China is currently listed as the third event on the provisional calendar, but with a new rise in coronavirus cases in the country, the race promoter has confirmed plans to push the race back to the second half of the season. The season is scheduled to begin in March in Australia, but this will almost certainly not happen with an announcement expected next week that the race will be postponed.

China looks likely to follow suit with the promoter saying an early 2021 event is now “hugely uncertain”. “We have been in contact via conference call almost every week”, the race promoter Yibin Yang told local media. “Despite the calendar being in place as usual, I think it’s hugely uncertain the F1 race would take place in the first half of the year, in April. We aim to swap it to the second half of the year, and we have formally submitted the request that we hope to move it to the second half of the year.” The early races on the schedule are all likely to be impacted with Australia poised to be postponed and shifted to a provisional November date.

Australia’s expected postponement would pave the way for Bahrain to hold the opening round on its current date of March 28. The venue is also set to be confirmed as the host of pre-season testing, with plans to shift the three-day test from Barcelona. However Portugal could once again slot into a revised schedule, taking China’s spot, with Imola likely to assume the ‘TBC’ spot on April 25.

 

[1%er]

Cyril Abiteboul out at Renault
As I speculated above (post 21) Cyril Abiteboul will no longer be team principle of Alpine (Renault F1). Renault have just announced. The Frenchman had been expected to move into a new role within the company following a management shake-up at the rebranded Alpine squad, but instead he is departing completely.

His exit has resulted in Laurent Rossi, director of strategy and business development at Renault, being appointed as the CEO of Alpine. Rossi will take charge of Alpine cars, its F1 team and other motorsport activities. He will report directly to Luca de Meo, Renault's CEO. It is expected that Abiteboul's position as team principal of the F1 squad will be taken by Marcin Budkowski. Speaking about his departure, Abiteboul said that he felt that he was leaving behind a strong base for the French car manufacturer to grow.

"I would like to thank the Groupe Renault for having trusted me for many years, particularly with the relaunch and reconstruction of the team since 2016," he said. "The solid foundations of the racing team and the entities in France and England built over these years, the strategic evolution of the sport towards a more economically sustainable model, and more recently the Alpine project which provides a renewed sense of meaning and dynamism, all point to a very fine trajectory."

De Meo added: "I would like to warmly thank Cyril for his tireless involvement, which notably led the Renault F1 Team from the penultimate place in 2016 to the podiums last season. His remarkable work in F1 since 2007 allows us to look to the future, with a strong team and the new Alpine F1 Team identity to conquer the podiums this year."

Abiteboul is a Renault stalwart who originally joined the company after university. He began working for the F1 team from 2007 before moving up to become its executive director in 2010. He joined Caterham in 2012 and became its team principal, before his departure in 2014. He returned to Renault as managing director and played a key role in the French car manufacturer's return to F1 as a works team in 2016.

"Rich Energy" back in F1 (real story or publicity stunt)
The story of Rich Energy is still not over. Williams Storey, the CEO of the brand that previously sponsored Haas in Formula 1, now announces a return to the royal class of motorsport. In early 2019, Haas presented a new sponsor in the form of Rich Energy. The energy drink was their new title sponsor of the American team and the cars were shrouded in the black and gold of that brand. However, Haas was swindled and never saw a penny of the promised mountain of money that Storey would come up with. In recent months, Williams Storey has been making himself heard on his Twitter account. For example, he has already announced that there will be a large announcement on 11 February, which seems to hint at Formula 1.

He confirms this step in a video on 10 January, in which he says he is looking forward to a return to Formula 1. It is not yet known which team is involved and if this team knows it itself. More will be announced today, but the unique story will have a sequel.

 

[Limejuice]

William Storey - the Rasputin of F1.

 

[cybershot]

We can today confirm that the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship will open its season in Bahrain between 26th – 28th March. The ongoing situation regarding COVID-19 has meant it is not feasible to begin the season in Melbourne, but the good news is that the Australian Grand Prix will now take place from the 18th – 21st November.

The number of races for 2021 will remain at 23 which is the largest ever Formula 1 calendar. The season will start a week later than planned and end a week later with our season finale in Abu Dhabi. As stated previously, we expect fans to return to the grandstands and our exclusive Paddock Club for the 2021 season.



The updated 2021 F1 race calendar now looks as follows:

• 28 March – Bahrain (Sakhir)
• 18 April - Italy (Imola*)
• 2 May - TBC
• 9 May – Spain (Barcelona)
• 23 May – Monaco (Monaco)
• 6 June – Azerbaijan (Baku)
• 13 June – Canada (Montreal)
• 27 June – France (Le Castellet)
• 4 July – Austria (Spielberg)
• 18 July – United Kingdom (Silverstone)
• 1 August – Hungary (Budapest)
• 29 August – Belgium (Spa)
• 5 September – Netherlands (Zandvoort)
• 12 September – Italy (Monza)
• 26 September – Russia (Sochi)
• 3 October – Singapore (Singapore)
• 10 October – Japan (Suzuka)
• 24 October – USA (Austin)
• 31 October – Mexico (Mexico City)
• 7 November – Brazil (Sao Paulo)
• 21 November - Australia (Melbourne*)
• 5 December - Saudi Arabia (Jeddah**)
• 12 December - Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)

*Revisions to calendar are subject to World Motor Sport Council approval **Subject to circuit homologation

1%er can you update the OP with new dates, sorry.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

23 races is bonkers.

 

[1%er]

1%er can you update the OP with new dates, sorry.

The edit function is gone from that post, I could ask a moderator to change it but I have a feeling that we will see many more changes in the coming months, I'll leave it for now and ask for it to be changed nearer the start of the season

 

[1%er]

I'm glad Cyril Abiteboul has gone. Those of you who have read my post will know I never really liked Abiteboul and thought he'd be gone after Renault went backwards after their high point in 2018. Lots of bullshit is being written about his departure, but I think we will have to wait a while before we get the full story.

Renault having been beaten by their only customer, McLaren isn't good, also Racing Point having gone through a massive change and beating a factory team doesn't look good. I never thought Cyril Abiteboul was team manager material and only got his job through company politics, no evidence for that just personal opinion, but there were better people who should have got the top job at Renault back in 2016. As with everything in F1 I'm sure the whole story will come out in a book in the not to distant future.

I always thought there was something not right about Abiteboul, you get a feeling sometimes about people and I got a bad feeling about him every time I watched him on TV, anyway just my personal view, I'm sure there are many people who liked him and if he read this post he'd say "who the fuck are you?". Maybe in real life he is a nice bloke, but I always thought he was a wrong'en

 

[cybershot]

Good to see Grosjean making a good recovery, still amazed it's just his hand (that we know about, maybe I've missed other pictures/reports) with the burns!