F1 2021
- Thread starter 1%er
- Start date
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
I'm guessing that someone at Haas will be doing some homework tonight, poring over contracts to see whether daddy's money was for putting Mazepin in the car, or for keeping him there.
I've never seen such an awful, awful start to a career. 6 spins and out on lap 1 is bad enough, but to throw in the passing on the out lap in qualifying to mess up 6 other drivers' runs as well - oh dear oh dear oh dear. It's all relative in comparison with the average driver on the road, but in F1 terms he's a complete and utter no talent bum wasting a seat. That he's an arrogant son of a billionaire and a sex pest too, I want him humiliated and out of the sport sharpish.
A word in praise of Lando Norris. McLaren vs Ferrari for 3rd place constructor looks well poised and he came out on top, well played.
I've never seen such an awful, awful start to a career. 6 spins and out on lap 1 is bad enough, but to throw in the passing on the out lap in qualifying to mess up 6 other drivers' runs as well - oh dear oh dear oh dear. It's all relative in comparison with the average driver on the road, but in F1 terms he's a complete and utter no talent bum wasting a seat. That he's an arrogant son of a billionaire and a sex pest too, I want him humiliated and out of the sport sharpish.
A word in praise of Lando Norris. McLaren vs Ferrari for 3rd place constructor looks well poised and he came out on top, well played.
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
Interesting the commentators mentioned that Lewis wants his competitors to have shit hot cars, as he wants to win on pure talent rather than the advantage he's had.
Looks like the Red Bull is the better car so far, so if he wins this season he will truly be the GOAT as the kids say
Looks like the Red Bull is the better car so far, so if he wins this season he will truly be the GOAT as the kids say
1%er
Well-Known Member
Did Verstappen fall into Lewis's trap
The Bahrain Grand Prix was an exciting opening to the Formula 1 season with a duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as the highlight. Hamilton came out on top, and Verstappen will look back on that for a while. Verstappen started from pole in Sakhir, but an undercut by Mercedes caused Verstappen to lose his lead. It was down to the last few laps on fresher tyres to catch Lewis again, but after one unsuccessful move that saw Verstappen finish off-track and have to give his place back, the Dutchman failed to get past Hamilton.
''It was really one of those defining moments in history that we will think back on for years to come. It was a bit reminiscent of the rise of Michael Schumacher. You have the emerging talent in Max Verstappen and he's up against the arrived Sir Lewis Hamilton who is going up for his eighth world title,'' said Damon Hill in the F1 Nation Podcast. 'Max will look back on this race and think about what he could have done better. Hamilton tricked him into it. Lewis knew exactly what to do. He made the outside attractive, then used the whole track, pushing Max out. As a result Max had to give that spot back and perhaps did so too early. Lewis will still think 'Gotcha', 'you still have some things to learn'", said the 1996 world champion.
He is joined in this by Tom Clarkson. ''They knew before that attack exactly what the Track Limits were like. Everyone says Verstappen went outside the track, but it was Lewis who pushed him outside. That was Lewis' intention. Here you saw the difference in experience and that was the deciding factor for the win'', concluded the presenter.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was an exciting opening to the Formula 1 season with a duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as the highlight. Hamilton came out on top, and Verstappen will look back on that for a while. Verstappen started from pole in Sakhir, but an undercut by Mercedes caused Verstappen to lose his lead. It was down to the last few laps on fresher tyres to catch Lewis again, but after one unsuccessful move that saw Verstappen finish off-track and have to give his place back, the Dutchman failed to get past Hamilton.
''It was really one of those defining moments in history that we will think back on for years to come. It was a bit reminiscent of the rise of Michael Schumacher. You have the emerging talent in Max Verstappen and he's up against the arrived Sir Lewis Hamilton who is going up for his eighth world title,'' said Damon Hill in the F1 Nation Podcast. 'Max will look back on this race and think about what he could have done better. Hamilton tricked him into it. Lewis knew exactly what to do. He made the outside attractive, then used the whole track, pushing Max out. As a result Max had to give that spot back and perhaps did so too early. Lewis will still think 'Gotcha', 'you still have some things to learn'", said the 1996 world champion.
He is joined in this by Tom Clarkson. ''They knew before that attack exactly what the Track Limits were like. Everyone says Verstappen went outside the track, but it was Lewis who pushed him outside. That was Lewis' intention. Here you saw the difference in experience and that was the deciding factor for the win'', concluded the presenter.
MrCurry
right after this urgent rest
To be fair, Lewis does that anytime anyone tries to overtake around the outside of a corner. Characterising it as some master stroke of strategic genius on the part of Lewis is pushing things a bit, but I suppose these pundits have to come up with something interesting to say.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Hamilton disqualified from Bahrain result
After the outcry on social media about the Formula 1 driver’s off-track actions at the Bahrain Grand Prix and the pressure exerted by Red Bull, the FIA has decided to look into the case with greater diligence. A number of experts have commented on the legality of the seven-time world champion’s actions last Sunday. Hamilton went off the track several times at Sakhir without being reprimanded once by the stewards. The FIA’s impartiality regarding Mercedes and its star driver was called into question.
Following the insistence of the Red Bull clan, the stewards decided to focus their attention on the video of the race as well as on the data of Lewis Hamilton’s car. The result was that the British driver’s actions gave him a certain advantage over his rival, Max Verstappen. The official report mentions a gain of two tenths of a second per lap. As a result, the stewards decided to disqualify him from the race.
FIA Race Director Michael Masi said: “We have made our decision in good conscience. It was initially decided not to take any action against Lewis. But at Red Bull’s insistence, we analysed the data on the number 44 car and found that Lewis had a significant advantage over his rivals through his various manoeuvres at Turn 4. We therefore had no choice but to disqualify him from the race. I know that many fans will be disappointed that this story has come to an abrupt end, but that’s the way it is.”
Zandvoort confirms Verstappen can use altered layout for Dutch GP
Zandvoort has confirmed only Max Verstappen will be able to use an altered circuit layout at this year's Dutch Grand Prix. The historic venue was set to return to the Formula 1 calendar last year, but was one of 13 races that were ultimately cancelled due to Covid-19. And while the Dutch GP was given a later September date for 2021, whether it goes ahead is still conditional on having the stands filled with likely passionate Verstappen fans.
“Nothing has changed compared to last year. At the moment we don’t get any help, it’s still all or nothing,” Robert van Overdijk, general manager of Circuit Zandvoort, told NOS "We heard Hugo de Jonge [outgoing Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport] recently saying anyone can be vaccinated by July 1. So we will just continue organising like there will be 104,000 people a day at the track.” Overdijk also played down the possibility that, given how circuits like Portimao and Imola have capitalised on Covid-19 to join the calendar, another cancellation of the Dutch GP this year might mean it never takes place.
“No, we don’t worry about that at all,” he said. "The viewing figures in the Netherlands are rising, while in the rest of the world they might drop a bit because of corona. So I think if FOM [Formula One Management] should want to be somewhere, it is still in the Netherlands.” Ahead of the planned 2020 race, Zandvoort underwent a considerable renovation to bring the circuit up to Grade 1 FIA standard with new banked corners also installed to improve the racing. However, after the success of the special Mercedes-only layout at Turn 4 in Bahrain last Sunday, a similarly small but potentially significant advantage is set to be given to Verstappen at his home race. "For Max, we will install a less acute version of the Audi chicane in the second half of the lap," Jan Lammers, Dutch GP sporting director, confirmed. "We saw in Bahrain how being able to carry more speed through Turn 4 on 29 different occasions helped Lewis Hamilton keep our superior Lion at bay for longer than he perhaps could have on the normal layout. So, we are confident this faster version of one of the tightest sections on our circuit here at Zandvoort, will give Max the helping hand he needs to win and give our incredible fans exactly what they want to see."
As for why the same privilege hasn't been given to Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, Lammer simply replied: "Who?" Whether the FIA will have something to say on this is another matter, but certainly, the Dutch GP organisers plan to make Mercedes look like absolute fools.
Hamilton to NASCAR in 2022 with Michael Jordan
Lewis Hamilton is set to join Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team and Bubba Wallace, as the seven-times Formula 1 World Champion takes on arguably the biggest challenge of his racing career with an announcement expected today. In what will be one of motorsport’s most sensational ‘defections’ Hamilton will join what will become known as Team Michael Jordan in 2022, with the next Daytona 500 week debut for the team who will run black liveried cars with Monster energy drink as a title sponsor. NBA legend Jordan is said to have personally contacted Hamilton and convinced the Mercedes driver that he has nothing more to prove in Formula 1 and that his next calling is to join Wallace in tackling NASCAR.
Jordan is also said to be underwriting Hamilton’s $25-million salary from 2022 until the end of 2024, reportedly the length of the first phase of the deal, which means that the basketball legend will ramp up his personal involvement in the project. For Hamilton, this provides an incentive beyond Formula 1, a project which he can embrace at the end of his final season with Mercedes. The German team have provided the Briton with immense cars and he delivered six titles for them (maybe seven come to the end of 2021) to add to the one he claimed for McLaren in 2008.
According to a source close to the project, Hamilton did not hesitate to sign on the dotted line once Jordan had outlined his ambitions in NASCAR, which include junior teams for disadvantaged drivers, and those of colour, to contest the various feeder series’ that make up the various rosters. Wallace is expected to welcome Hamilton to the fold, with an intense testing programme on the cards to bring the F1 superstar up to speed, as Jordan insists that it be a team effort to take the outfit forward. For Bubba, it is a partner-in-arms he can do with.As for a timeline, speculation is that after this evening’s announcement (expected 6pm ET) on NBC by Jordan and Wallace with Hamilton on video conference where they will outline their goals and plans.
Apart from Monster Energy as the title sponsor, it is believed that Hamilton has had talks with Toto Wolff and Mercedes AMG, convincing them to be part of the programme, with technical and financial support before a fully-fledged NASCAR programme for the German manufacturer starting 2023, a year after Hamilton’s first full season Stateside. For Hamilton, this is a huge change of direction from a sport he has dominated for almost a decade to one where he will start off as a rookie and will have a ton to learn. He will also be running in packs with very equal machinery, something he has not been accustomed to since Mercedes started dominating the sport so ruthlessly.
Nevertheless, Jordan has convinced Hamilton that his business in F1 is done, all records achieved and that the next chapter of his legacy is NASCAR and racing in the USA for at least the next three years, which will suit the Briton who has always been comfortable in a country he regularly visits and where he rubs shoulders with A-listers. Apart from the abovementioned $25-million per annum deal, Hamilton will be entitled to all the winnings he earns which would add to the reatiner. Word is that Hamilton will donate his race winnings to the worth causes. But it is clear from the outset that money was not the sweetener used by Jordan to convince Hamilton to take up the challenge, but rather he sold him the NASCAR project as a cause célèbre worth fighting alongside Wallace.
What tipped Hamilton, was Jordan who cited the historic case of NBA player Charles “Chuck” Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd, became the first African-American players in the NBA in 1950. They were pioneers who triggered a revolution in sport. Since then players of colour dominate the hoops, as they do in baseball and American football. Tiger Woods changed the golfing landscape forever, while Hamilton himself became the first black driver to race and win in F1. Jordan’s dream is to do the same with NASCAR in the long-term. The last frontier it is being called.
This year the team is in a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing which will morph into Team Michael Jordan starting in 2022 with Hamilton and Wallace in the driving seats; the F1 World Champion set to run #44 on his car. Jordan has said of his NASCAR ambitions when he signed up to back Wallace: “We don’t sign cheques for losers. I feel like he’s going to learn how to win. He’s got the talent. We would not have invested in him and picked him if he didn’t have the talent to win. By the end of the year, I think he’s going to have an opportunity, and he probably will win at least a couple of races. If it’s more, I’d be elated,” added Jordan, who will be inking some hefty cheques with Hamilton’s name on it, but one gets the feeling that money is the least of their worries as there will be a queue of backers for this Dream Team.
After the outcry on social media about the Formula 1 driver’s off-track actions at the Bahrain Grand Prix and the pressure exerted by Red Bull, the FIA has decided to look into the case with greater diligence. A number of experts have commented on the legality of the seven-time world champion’s actions last Sunday. Hamilton went off the track several times at Sakhir without being reprimanded once by the stewards. The FIA’s impartiality regarding Mercedes and its star driver was called into question.
Following the insistence of the Red Bull clan, the stewards decided to focus their attention on the video of the race as well as on the data of Lewis Hamilton’s car. The result was that the British driver’s actions gave him a certain advantage over his rival, Max Verstappen. The official report mentions a gain of two tenths of a second per lap. As a result, the stewards decided to disqualify him from the race.
FIA Race Director Michael Masi said: “We have made our decision in good conscience. It was initially decided not to take any action against Lewis. But at Red Bull’s insistence, we analysed the data on the number 44 car and found that Lewis had a significant advantage over his rivals through his various manoeuvres at Turn 4. We therefore had no choice but to disqualify him from the race. I know that many fans will be disappointed that this story has come to an abrupt end, but that’s the way it is.”
Zandvoort confirms Verstappen can use altered layout for Dutch GP
Zandvoort has confirmed only Max Verstappen will be able to use an altered circuit layout at this year's Dutch Grand Prix. The historic venue was set to return to the Formula 1 calendar last year, but was one of 13 races that were ultimately cancelled due to Covid-19. And while the Dutch GP was given a later September date for 2021, whether it goes ahead is still conditional on having the stands filled with likely passionate Verstappen fans.
“Nothing has changed compared to last year. At the moment we don’t get any help, it’s still all or nothing,” Robert van Overdijk, general manager of Circuit Zandvoort, told NOS "We heard Hugo de Jonge [outgoing Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport] recently saying anyone can be vaccinated by July 1. So we will just continue organising like there will be 104,000 people a day at the track.” Overdijk also played down the possibility that, given how circuits like Portimao and Imola have capitalised on Covid-19 to join the calendar, another cancellation of the Dutch GP this year might mean it never takes place.
“No, we don’t worry about that at all,” he said. "The viewing figures in the Netherlands are rising, while in the rest of the world they might drop a bit because of corona. So I think if FOM [Formula One Management] should want to be somewhere, it is still in the Netherlands.” Ahead of the planned 2020 race, Zandvoort underwent a considerable renovation to bring the circuit up to Grade 1 FIA standard with new banked corners also installed to improve the racing. However, after the success of the special Mercedes-only layout at Turn 4 in Bahrain last Sunday, a similarly small but potentially significant advantage is set to be given to Verstappen at his home race. "For Max, we will install a less acute version of the Audi chicane in the second half of the lap," Jan Lammers, Dutch GP sporting director, confirmed. "We saw in Bahrain how being able to carry more speed through Turn 4 on 29 different occasions helped Lewis Hamilton keep our superior Lion at bay for longer than he perhaps could have on the normal layout. So, we are confident this faster version of one of the tightest sections on our circuit here at Zandvoort, will give Max the helping hand he needs to win and give our incredible fans exactly what they want to see."
As for why the same privilege hasn't been given to Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, Lammer simply replied: "Who?" Whether the FIA will have something to say on this is another matter, but certainly, the Dutch GP organisers plan to make Mercedes look like absolute fools.
Hamilton to NASCAR in 2022 with Michael Jordan
Lewis Hamilton is set to join Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team and Bubba Wallace, as the seven-times Formula 1 World Champion takes on arguably the biggest challenge of his racing career with an announcement expected today. In what will be one of motorsport’s most sensational ‘defections’ Hamilton will join what will become known as Team Michael Jordan in 2022, with the next Daytona 500 week debut for the team who will run black liveried cars with Monster energy drink as a title sponsor. NBA legend Jordan is said to have personally contacted Hamilton and convinced the Mercedes driver that he has nothing more to prove in Formula 1 and that his next calling is to join Wallace in tackling NASCAR.
Jordan is also said to be underwriting Hamilton’s $25-million salary from 2022 until the end of 2024, reportedly the length of the first phase of the deal, which means that the basketball legend will ramp up his personal involvement in the project. For Hamilton, this provides an incentive beyond Formula 1, a project which he can embrace at the end of his final season with Mercedes. The German team have provided the Briton with immense cars and he delivered six titles for them (maybe seven come to the end of 2021) to add to the one he claimed for McLaren in 2008.
According to a source close to the project, Hamilton did not hesitate to sign on the dotted line once Jordan had outlined his ambitions in NASCAR, which include junior teams for disadvantaged drivers, and those of colour, to contest the various feeder series’ that make up the various rosters. Wallace is expected to welcome Hamilton to the fold, with an intense testing programme on the cards to bring the F1 superstar up to speed, as Jordan insists that it be a team effort to take the outfit forward. For Bubba, it is a partner-in-arms he can do with.As for a timeline, speculation is that after this evening’s announcement (expected 6pm ET) on NBC by Jordan and Wallace with Hamilton on video conference where they will outline their goals and plans.
Apart from Monster Energy as the title sponsor, it is believed that Hamilton has had talks with Toto Wolff and Mercedes AMG, convincing them to be part of the programme, with technical and financial support before a fully-fledged NASCAR programme for the German manufacturer starting 2023, a year after Hamilton’s first full season Stateside. For Hamilton, this is a huge change of direction from a sport he has dominated for almost a decade to one where he will start off as a rookie and will have a ton to learn. He will also be running in packs with very equal machinery, something he has not been accustomed to since Mercedes started dominating the sport so ruthlessly.
Nevertheless, Jordan has convinced Hamilton that his business in F1 is done, all records achieved and that the next chapter of his legacy is NASCAR and racing in the USA for at least the next three years, which will suit the Briton who has always been comfortable in a country he regularly visits and where he rubs shoulders with A-listers. Apart from the abovementioned $25-million per annum deal, Hamilton will be entitled to all the winnings he earns which would add to the reatiner. Word is that Hamilton will donate his race winnings to the worth causes. But it is clear from the outset that money was not the sweetener used by Jordan to convince Hamilton to take up the challenge, but rather he sold him the NASCAR project as a cause célèbre worth fighting alongside Wallace.
What tipped Hamilton, was Jordan who cited the historic case of NBA player Charles “Chuck” Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd, became the first African-American players in the NBA in 1950. They were pioneers who triggered a revolution in sport. Since then players of colour dominate the hoops, as they do in baseball and American football. Tiger Woods changed the golfing landscape forever, while Hamilton himself became the first black driver to race and win in F1. Jordan’s dream is to do the same with NASCAR in the long-term. The last frontier it is being called.
This year the team is in a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing which will morph into Team Michael Jordan starting in 2022 with Hamilton and Wallace in the driving seats; the F1 World Champion set to run #44 on his car. Jordan has said of his NASCAR ambitions when he signed up to back Wallace: “We don’t sign cheques for losers. I feel like he’s going to learn how to win. He’s got the talent. We would not have invested in him and picked him if he didn’t have the talent to win. By the end of the year, I think he’s going to have an opportunity, and he probably will win at least a couple of races. If it’s more, I’d be elated,” added Jordan, who will be inking some hefty cheques with Hamilton’s name on it, but one gets the feeling that money is the least of their worries as there will be a queue of backers for this Dream Team.
spitfire
Walty McWaltface
Lewis Hamilton opens up about activism and life beyond F1
The world’s greatest driver opens up about the secrets behind his performance, and how he’s learning to translate those skills into his future away from the track
spitfire
Walty McWaltface
Just finished D2S.
thoughts.
thoughts.
Ferrari PR woman is not to be fucked with
Daddy Stroll is a formidable character. I'd not want to be in a meeting with that man if I did not have my answers ready.
Lance Stroll may be better than we give him credit for.
McLaren have a strong team spirit and it is looking up.
Finally. That crash was as completely shocking as the first time I saw it. Grosjean's radio, "Fuck" as he heads towards the barrier is a proper fuck me moment.
Daddy Stroll is a formidable character. I'd not want to be in a meeting with that man if I did not have my answers ready.
Lance Stroll may be better than we give him credit for.
McLaren have a strong team spirit and it is looking up.
Finally. That crash was as completely shocking as the first time I saw it. Grosjean's radio, "Fuck" as he heads towards the barrier is a proper fuck me moment.
souljacker
innit
Here's a little bit of Yuki going round Imola.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Could Canadian & Brazilian GPs be Facing Cancellation
It was reported that this year’s grand prix in Montreal and Sao Paulo were facing cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Formula One has told journalists that reports this year’s Canadian and Brazilian Grand Prix are likely to be cancelled are false. “Both of these suggestions are wrong,” an F1 spokesperson said in a brief statement when approached for comment on the matter. Earlier, the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com reported that Formula One is considering holding another race in Bahrain this season and could also arrange a grand prix in Istanbul amid uncertainty over the Canadian and Brazilian Grand Prix due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It claimed that there are serious concerns over the viability of these two grand prix due to Canada requiring anyone who enters the country to self-isolate for two weeks and with Brazil currently having the highest COVID-19 death toll of any country in the world.
The publication added that, if Formula One returns to Bahrain for another race this season, it would be on the so-called “outer circuit”, not the same grand prix track F1 raced at last weekend. The provisional 23-race 2021 calendar was already hit with disruption earlier this year, with the season-opener in Melbourne being pushed much later into the season and the Chinese Grand Prix being cancelled.
Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg: Toto Wolff sheds light on the Mercedes rivalry
Toto Wolff has revealed just what it was like at Mercedes with both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as their drivers, going on to say he never wants to go back to that sort of atmosphere again. In 2014, sweeping regulation and technical changes arrived in Formula 1 and it was Mercedes who got their new cars right most out of everyone in the field. Indeed, that laid the foundations for an unprecedented era of dominance in the sport with every Drivers' and Constructors' title won by the Silver Arrows in the years since.
It's not always been plain sailing, however, with drivers Hamilton and Rosberg regularly clashing during their time as teammates as both vied for supremacy on the track. Indeed, speaking to the High Performance Podcast Wolff revealed that the negative atmosphere the relationship the two drivers were causing was beginning to impact the team, and it's something he wants to avoid from now on. "If the debriefing room is full of negativity because the two drivers are hostile with each other, then that would spill over into the energy in the room and that is not something that I will ever allow again." Being easily the best car on the grid back in 2014, it was the chance for both drivers to win the World Championship and, of course, they knew the only man standing in their way was the one across the garage.
When asked if negative energy began to spread into the wider outfit, he said: "Yeah, that happened, but I couldn't change it because the drivers were hired before I came. Nobody actually thought what is the dynamic between the two? What is the past between the two? I mean, there was a lot of historical context that nobody of us knew and will never know. How do the drivers work with each other? What happens in the case of failure of one and the other?" Wolff was also asked what he did to try and improve the relationship, or at least stop it from seeping into other areas of the garage. "It was very difficult because I came into the team as a newcomer in Formula One, and Nico and Lewis had been in the sport for much longer, but still I was able to create an environment where they had to respect the team, sometimes with an iron fist, and they understood that they couldn't let us down. They couldn't let Mercedes down. You're not going to put your teammate into the wall. And I always made clear that if this were to happen regularly then I have no fear in making somebody miss races. So maybe in some ways that period was a really important period for the team because you know, that's a place you don't want to go back to.”
Certainly, it was in 2014 where we saw this rivalry really begin to increase in intensity. Both knew they had a big shot at the championship and, indeed, in the seasons to follow in both 2015 and 2016 we saw incidents between the two as the Mercs' dominance of the sport continued. Ultimately, the relationship ended in 2016 as Rosberg followed up Hamilton's two titles with one of his own and decided to leave the grid, seeing Mercedes replace him with Valtteri Bottas. You'd argue, too, that Mercedes has looked a happier place since and, as Wolff says, it's not something that they want to go back to ever again, for obvious reasons.
It was reported that this year’s grand prix in Montreal and Sao Paulo were facing cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Formula One has told journalists that reports this year’s Canadian and Brazilian Grand Prix are likely to be cancelled are false. “Both of these suggestions are wrong,” an F1 spokesperson said in a brief statement when approached for comment on the matter. Earlier, the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com reported that Formula One is considering holding another race in Bahrain this season and could also arrange a grand prix in Istanbul amid uncertainty over the Canadian and Brazilian Grand Prix due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It claimed that there are serious concerns over the viability of these two grand prix due to Canada requiring anyone who enters the country to self-isolate for two weeks and with Brazil currently having the highest COVID-19 death toll of any country in the world.
The publication added that, if Formula One returns to Bahrain for another race this season, it would be on the so-called “outer circuit”, not the same grand prix track F1 raced at last weekend. The provisional 23-race 2021 calendar was already hit with disruption earlier this year, with the season-opener in Melbourne being pushed much later into the season and the Chinese Grand Prix being cancelled.
Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg: Toto Wolff sheds light on the Mercedes rivalry
Toto Wolff has revealed just what it was like at Mercedes with both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as their drivers, going on to say he never wants to go back to that sort of atmosphere again. In 2014, sweeping regulation and technical changes arrived in Formula 1 and it was Mercedes who got their new cars right most out of everyone in the field. Indeed, that laid the foundations for an unprecedented era of dominance in the sport with every Drivers' and Constructors' title won by the Silver Arrows in the years since.
It's not always been plain sailing, however, with drivers Hamilton and Rosberg regularly clashing during their time as teammates as both vied for supremacy on the track. Indeed, speaking to the High Performance Podcast Wolff revealed that the negative atmosphere the relationship the two drivers were causing was beginning to impact the team, and it's something he wants to avoid from now on. "If the debriefing room is full of negativity because the two drivers are hostile with each other, then that would spill over into the energy in the room and that is not something that I will ever allow again." Being easily the best car on the grid back in 2014, it was the chance for both drivers to win the World Championship and, of course, they knew the only man standing in their way was the one across the garage.
When asked if negative energy began to spread into the wider outfit, he said: "Yeah, that happened, but I couldn't change it because the drivers were hired before I came. Nobody actually thought what is the dynamic between the two? What is the past between the two? I mean, there was a lot of historical context that nobody of us knew and will never know. How do the drivers work with each other? What happens in the case of failure of one and the other?" Wolff was also asked what he did to try and improve the relationship, or at least stop it from seeping into other areas of the garage. "It was very difficult because I came into the team as a newcomer in Formula One, and Nico and Lewis had been in the sport for much longer, but still I was able to create an environment where they had to respect the team, sometimes with an iron fist, and they understood that they couldn't let us down. They couldn't let Mercedes down. You're not going to put your teammate into the wall. And I always made clear that if this were to happen regularly then I have no fear in making somebody miss races. So maybe in some ways that period was a really important period for the team because you know, that's a place you don't want to go back to.”
Certainly, it was in 2014 where we saw this rivalry really begin to increase in intensity. Both knew they had a big shot at the championship and, indeed, in the seasons to follow in both 2015 and 2016 we saw incidents between the two as the Mercs' dominance of the sport continued. Ultimately, the relationship ended in 2016 as Rosberg followed up Hamilton's two titles with one of his own and decided to leave the grid, seeing Mercedes replace him with Valtteri Bottas. You'd argue, too, that Mercedes has looked a happier place since and, as Wolff says, it's not something that they want to go back to ever again, for obvious reasons.
cybershot
Well-Known Member
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
What I find interesting about those drivers eye view cameras is how far ahead they're always looking - watch as he comes into a corner, his eyeline is already on where he'll be exiting. It's not about where he is now, it's all about where he wants to be. It's great to watch.
Also interesting they blur out the steering wheel, can't be giving away it's secrets to anyone and everyone
Also interesting they blur out the steering wheel, can't be giving away it's secrets to anyone and everyone
That is really amazing.
souljacker
innit
It does seem to block vision on the F1 games I've played but you don't get the vibration and the wind buffeting in those games. I suspect it's the least of the drivers worries when everything else is shaking so violently.
1%er
Well-Known Member
CEO explains Abiteboul’s Renault exit
Renault needed change at the very top as the F1 team transitioned to its new identity as Alpine for 2021. That is the explanation of Renault CEO Luca de Meo, as he responded to rumours that Cyril Abiteboul was ousted as team boss due to the team’s poor performance. However, RTL quotes de Meo as insisting that Alpine simply needed the change.
“This question is a little complicated,” he said. “With this new story for us, it would have been difficult,” he added, referring to the former leadership structure under Abiteboul. “If they needed support (from Renault), they got it, but their comfort zone was to stay outside. Now Alpine is absolutely integrated into the mainstream strategy of the Renault Group. So you need people who are part of the small, agile unit, but who also have a connection to the other side at the same time,” said de Meo.
He said Abiteboul did good work for Renault, “starting in 2016 or 2017 and saying goodbye with a few podium places. But we have to look ahead, It was a good start, but now a new chapter is beginning.”
Wolff threatened to drop Hamilton and Rosberg over F1 clashes
Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff says an “iron fist” was needed to manage Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and keep them in check. Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff says an “iron fist” was needed to manage Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and keep them in check. Hamilton and Rosberg endured a fractious rivalry during their four-year stint as teammates at Mercedes between 2013-2016, as the pair engaged in direct title fights for three consecutive seasons before Rosberg retired from F1 after winning his maiden title in 2016. The tension often boiled over and resulted in on-track clashes, with notable collisions occurring at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix and the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix. The most famous incident saw Hamilton and Rosberg wipe each other out on the opening lap of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Speaking about the difficulties he faced in managing the rivalry on Jake Humphrey’s High Performance Podcast, Wolff revealed that he even went as far as threatening to bench his drivers in a bid to maintain order within the team. "It was very difficult, because I came into the team as a newcomer in Formula 1, and Nico and Lewis had been in the sport for much longer," Wolff explained. "But still I was able to create an environment where they had to respect the team, sometimes with an iron fist, and they understood that they couldn't let us down, they couldn't let Mercedes down. In the events of 2014, I felt there was some selfish behaviour. I said the next time you come close to the other car, your teammate, you think about the Mercedes brand. You think about single individuals in the team. You think about Dieter Zetsche, the CEO of Mercedes. That's going to change the way you act. You're not going to put your teammate into the wall. I always made clear that if this was going to happen regularly and I would see a pattern, I have no fear in making somebody miss races.”
Hamilton and Rosberg had previously been teammates in karting before partnering each other for the first time in F1 at Mercedes, and Wolff admitted there was “a lot of historical context that none of us knew”. "I couldn't change it, because the drivers were hired before I came," Wolff said. "Nobody actually thought what is the dynamic between the two? What is the past between the two? There was a lot of historical context that none of us knew, and will never know. That's why it is something that we're looking at, how do the drivers work with each other, what happens in the case of failure of one and the other. We accept the annoyance and pain if it goes against one, but we're trying still to keep the positive dynamic in the team.”
And Wolff dismissed the notion that the fierce competition between the duo helped bring out the best in his drivers, insisting he will never allow a repeat of the situation while he is in charge of Mercedes. "I'm not sure it gets the best out of both, because that is negativity, and you still have to be a team player,” he added. "If the debriefing room is full of negativity, because the two drivers are hostile with each other, then that will spill over into the energy into the room, and that is not something I will ever allow again.”
Renault needed change at the very top as the F1 team transitioned to its new identity as Alpine for 2021. That is the explanation of Renault CEO Luca de Meo, as he responded to rumours that Cyril Abiteboul was ousted as team boss due to the team’s poor performance. However, RTL quotes de Meo as insisting that Alpine simply needed the change.
“This question is a little complicated,” he said. “With this new story for us, it would have been difficult,” he added, referring to the former leadership structure under Abiteboul. “If they needed support (from Renault), they got it, but their comfort zone was to stay outside. Now Alpine is absolutely integrated into the mainstream strategy of the Renault Group. So you need people who are part of the small, agile unit, but who also have a connection to the other side at the same time,” said de Meo.
He said Abiteboul did good work for Renault, “starting in 2016 or 2017 and saying goodbye with a few podium places. But we have to look ahead, It was a good start, but now a new chapter is beginning.”
Wolff threatened to drop Hamilton and Rosberg over F1 clashes
Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff says an “iron fist” was needed to manage Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and keep them in check. Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff says an “iron fist” was needed to manage Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and keep them in check. Hamilton and Rosberg endured a fractious rivalry during their four-year stint as teammates at Mercedes between 2013-2016, as the pair engaged in direct title fights for three consecutive seasons before Rosberg retired from F1 after winning his maiden title in 2016. The tension often boiled over and resulted in on-track clashes, with notable collisions occurring at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix and the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix. The most famous incident saw Hamilton and Rosberg wipe each other out on the opening lap of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Speaking about the difficulties he faced in managing the rivalry on Jake Humphrey’s High Performance Podcast, Wolff revealed that he even went as far as threatening to bench his drivers in a bid to maintain order within the team. "It was very difficult, because I came into the team as a newcomer in Formula 1, and Nico and Lewis had been in the sport for much longer," Wolff explained. "But still I was able to create an environment where they had to respect the team, sometimes with an iron fist, and they understood that they couldn't let us down, they couldn't let Mercedes down. In the events of 2014, I felt there was some selfish behaviour. I said the next time you come close to the other car, your teammate, you think about the Mercedes brand. You think about single individuals in the team. You think about Dieter Zetsche, the CEO of Mercedes. That's going to change the way you act. You're not going to put your teammate into the wall. I always made clear that if this was going to happen regularly and I would see a pattern, I have no fear in making somebody miss races.”
Hamilton and Rosberg had previously been teammates in karting before partnering each other for the first time in F1 at Mercedes, and Wolff admitted there was “a lot of historical context that none of us knew”. "I couldn't change it, because the drivers were hired before I came," Wolff said. "Nobody actually thought what is the dynamic between the two? What is the past between the two? There was a lot of historical context that none of us knew, and will never know. That's why it is something that we're looking at, how do the drivers work with each other, what happens in the case of failure of one and the other. We accept the annoyance and pain if it goes against one, but we're trying still to keep the positive dynamic in the team.”
And Wolff dismissed the notion that the fierce competition between the duo helped bring out the best in his drivers, insisting he will never allow a repeat of the situation while he is in charge of Mercedes. "I'm not sure it gets the best out of both, because that is negativity, and you still have to be a team player,” he added. "If the debriefing room is full of negativity, because the two drivers are hostile with each other, then that will spill over into the energy into the room, and that is not something I will ever allow again.”
1%er
Well-Known Member
FIA disassembled Bottas’ car after Bahrain
F1’s governing body spent three hours disassembling Valtteri Bottas’ new Mercedes car after the Bahrain season opener. Just prior to the opening race of 2021, we reported that the FIA had decided to randomly seize one full car after every race weekend this year for “disassembly” and “deeper checks”.
“The FIA wants to make it even harder for cheats,” said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt. He said the first disassembled car, decided randomly on the last lap of the Bahrain GP, was Bottas’ Mercedes. “The third-placed Silver Arrow was put to the test by the technical experts for three hours,” said Schmidt.
FIA technical boss Nikolas Tombazis explained: “We wanted to do this so that all doubts are removed. This also benefits the teams because it eliminates suspicion.”
F1 Reportedly Crosses Last Hurdle to New Sprint Qualifying Format
Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali appears to have cleared the final hurdle for Formula 1's sprint qualifying trial in 2021. In Bahrain recently, Mercedes and Red Bull team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner led the argument that teams need at least an extra $300,000 to 400,000 each beyond the new $145 million budget cap to cover the extra cost of the additional racing on three Saturdays this season.
F1 plans to substitute three traditional race qualifying sessions this season with 30-minute sprint races to set the grid for Sunday's race. The first trial of the new sprint qualifying format is planned for Silverstone on the July 17-18 race weekend. F1 CEO Domenicali disputed the initial cost figures thrown out by the leaders of the sport's top to teams. "The difference (in cost) is not as big as it is made out to be," Domenicali said. "If we ask for compensation for everything we want to try, we will never get there. We shouldn't lose sight of the big picture."
German broadcaster RTL and other European media outlets are claiming that Domenicali has in fact reached a financial deal with the teams that clears the way for the sprint qualifying trial to begin at Silverstone. RTL said teams have agreed to be compensated to the tune of $500,000 each for the trial of the new race weekend format. A larger pool of money is available in the event of a care receiving crash damage during one of the sprint qualifiers. Domenicali had said he wanted a resolution to the issue by next weekend's race weekend at Imola.
F1’s governing body spent three hours disassembling Valtteri Bottas’ new Mercedes car after the Bahrain season opener. Just prior to the opening race of 2021, we reported that the FIA had decided to randomly seize one full car after every race weekend this year for “disassembly” and “deeper checks”.
“The FIA wants to make it even harder for cheats,” said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt. He said the first disassembled car, decided randomly on the last lap of the Bahrain GP, was Bottas’ Mercedes. “The third-placed Silver Arrow was put to the test by the technical experts for three hours,” said Schmidt.
FIA technical boss Nikolas Tombazis explained: “We wanted to do this so that all doubts are removed. This also benefits the teams because it eliminates suspicion.”
F1 Reportedly Crosses Last Hurdle to New Sprint Qualifying Format
Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali appears to have cleared the final hurdle for Formula 1's sprint qualifying trial in 2021. In Bahrain recently, Mercedes and Red Bull team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner led the argument that teams need at least an extra $300,000 to 400,000 each beyond the new $145 million budget cap to cover the extra cost of the additional racing on three Saturdays this season.
F1 plans to substitute three traditional race qualifying sessions this season with 30-minute sprint races to set the grid for Sunday's race. The first trial of the new sprint qualifying format is planned for Silverstone on the July 17-18 race weekend. F1 CEO Domenicali disputed the initial cost figures thrown out by the leaders of the sport's top to teams. "The difference (in cost) is not as big as it is made out to be," Domenicali said. "If we ask for compensation for everything we want to try, we will never get there. We shouldn't lose sight of the big picture."
German broadcaster RTL and other European media outlets are claiming that Domenicali has in fact reached a financial deal with the teams that clears the way for the sprint qualifying trial to begin at Silverstone. RTL said teams have agreed to be compensated to the tune of $500,000 each for the trial of the new race weekend format. A larger pool of money is available in the event of a care receiving crash damage during one of the sprint qualifiers. Domenicali had said he wanted a resolution to the issue by next weekend's race weekend at Imola.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Canadian GP in doubt, F1 ‘ask for extra $6m’
F1 could be set to lose another race from its packed 2021 schedule with the Canadian Grand Prix in doubt, unless their government stumps up $6m to pay to Formula 1. The event, scheduled to take place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on the weekend of June 11-13, could be cancelled for the second year in a row if spectators are not able to attend due to restrictions caused by the health pandemic. That is according to information in a report from La Presse, which states Formula 1 leaders are requesting around six million dollars in compensation if the grand prix is unable to welcome fans, and they are expecting to hear back from the government in the coming days.
If the race cannot go ahead as expected, it has been reported the Turkish Grand Prix has already been identified as its replacement the race where Lewis Hamilton sealed his seventh World Championship victory last season. However, the Mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, is hopeful they can come to an agreement and still welcome Formula 1 as planned. “For us, Formula 1 is important, and the message we want to send to all partners is that we have a great interest in this event,” said Plante. “We hope it will be held on the same date as usual. There are still a lot of details to tie up, but I really hope our government partners will be on board, as we are, to ensure the event is held this summer.”
Getting the race on as usual will not just cost the six million dollars F1 has requested, but will amount to a fee of around $25m in total, given the normal royalty payment of around $18.7 million on top. Montreal will no doubt be doing all they can to ensure they can host the race this year but there are plenty of details still to be resolved, many of which rely on the country’s position in terms of the pandemic. Currently, 14 days of compulsory quarantine is required when entering Canada, but Formula 1 is in Baku, Azerbaijan the weekend before the Montreal race so that would not be possible. It would, of course, be disappointing for those involved if they were unable to put the race on, but the future of its place on the Formula 1 calendar is not in jeopardy, with a reported deal in place for the Canadian GP to run until at least 2029.
If Canada cannot go ahead, it would join Vietnam and China the latter indefinitely postponed rather than officially cancelled in falling off this year’s schedule. Imola and Portimao have been added, while Australia has been put back from March to November.
James Allison Steps Down As Mercedes Technical Director, Becomes CTO
James Allison will step down from his position as technical director of the Mercedes F1 Team in July, with technology director Mike Elliott replacing him. Allison will remain a key senior figure of the Silver Arrows, as he will take on the newly created role of chief technical officer (CTO) at the Brackley-based team. “As the CTO, James will continue to work closely with the technical leadership at both Brackley and Brixworth to help ensure that the team always has the right capability to meet its needs,” Mercedes said in a statement this week. It added that this “transition to the new organisation will take place across the coming months as we continue the 2021 championship battle on track and prepare for the significant challenge of the 2022 technical and sporting regulations in our development programmes back at base.”
Commenting on the changes, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described Allison, who joined the team in 2017, as an “exceptional technical leader” and said “he has made an enormous contribution to our performance.” Continuing, he said: “We have known for a while that his time as technical director would be coming to an end this year and I am delighted that we have been able to shape this new role to keep him within our motorsport family; he will be an important sparring partner for me in the next years and I know that we still have much to achieve together. We often say that the organisation is a dynamic organism, and that we need to adapt continuously if we want to truly thrive. Effective succession planning has been a strength of our team, so I am delighted to announce Mike in his new role as technical director. Together with an exceptional group of senior technical leaders, this puts us in the best possible position for the sport’s next era,” Wolff added.
Meanwhile, Allison said he is wary that people have a “shelf life in senior roles in this sport, and I have chosen to step away from my role as technical director in order to pass on the baton at the right time for the organisation and myself. I have enjoyed four and a half wonderful years as technical director, and it has been a special privilege to lead the technical effort of the team in that time. It is a great pleasure to be succeeded by Mike, an exceptional engineer in a tremendously strong group of senior leaders in the team. We will benefit from the freshness that he will bring to the role and I hope I can continue to make a useful contribution across a new sphere of activity in my role as CTO, with a focus on increasing our capability across the board and supporting Toto with the major strategic challenges we face in the near future.”
F1 could be set to lose another race from its packed 2021 schedule with the Canadian Grand Prix in doubt, unless their government stumps up $6m to pay to Formula 1. The event, scheduled to take place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on the weekend of June 11-13, could be cancelled for the second year in a row if spectators are not able to attend due to restrictions caused by the health pandemic. That is according to information in a report from La Presse, which states Formula 1 leaders are requesting around six million dollars in compensation if the grand prix is unable to welcome fans, and they are expecting to hear back from the government in the coming days.
If the race cannot go ahead as expected, it has been reported the Turkish Grand Prix has already been identified as its replacement the race where Lewis Hamilton sealed his seventh World Championship victory last season. However, the Mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, is hopeful they can come to an agreement and still welcome Formula 1 as planned. “For us, Formula 1 is important, and the message we want to send to all partners is that we have a great interest in this event,” said Plante. “We hope it will be held on the same date as usual. There are still a lot of details to tie up, but I really hope our government partners will be on board, as we are, to ensure the event is held this summer.”
Getting the race on as usual will not just cost the six million dollars F1 has requested, but will amount to a fee of around $25m in total, given the normal royalty payment of around $18.7 million on top. Montreal will no doubt be doing all they can to ensure they can host the race this year but there are plenty of details still to be resolved, many of which rely on the country’s position in terms of the pandemic. Currently, 14 days of compulsory quarantine is required when entering Canada, but Formula 1 is in Baku, Azerbaijan the weekend before the Montreal race so that would not be possible. It would, of course, be disappointing for those involved if they were unable to put the race on, but the future of its place on the Formula 1 calendar is not in jeopardy, with a reported deal in place for the Canadian GP to run until at least 2029.
If Canada cannot go ahead, it would join Vietnam and China the latter indefinitely postponed rather than officially cancelled in falling off this year’s schedule. Imola and Portimao have been added, while Australia has been put back from March to November.
James Allison Steps Down As Mercedes Technical Director, Becomes CTO
James Allison will step down from his position as technical director of the Mercedes F1 Team in July, with technology director Mike Elliott replacing him. Allison will remain a key senior figure of the Silver Arrows, as he will take on the newly created role of chief technical officer (CTO) at the Brackley-based team. “As the CTO, James will continue to work closely with the technical leadership at both Brackley and Brixworth to help ensure that the team always has the right capability to meet its needs,” Mercedes said in a statement this week. It added that this “transition to the new organisation will take place across the coming months as we continue the 2021 championship battle on track and prepare for the significant challenge of the 2022 technical and sporting regulations in our development programmes back at base.”
Commenting on the changes, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described Allison, who joined the team in 2017, as an “exceptional technical leader” and said “he has made an enormous contribution to our performance.” Continuing, he said: “We have known for a while that his time as technical director would be coming to an end this year and I am delighted that we have been able to shape this new role to keep him within our motorsport family; he will be an important sparring partner for me in the next years and I know that we still have much to achieve together. We often say that the organisation is a dynamic organism, and that we need to adapt continuously if we want to truly thrive. Effective succession planning has been a strength of our team, so I am delighted to announce Mike in his new role as technical director. Together with an exceptional group of senior technical leaders, this puts us in the best possible position for the sport’s next era,” Wolff added.
Meanwhile, Allison said he is wary that people have a “shelf life in senior roles in this sport, and I have chosen to step away from my role as technical director in order to pass on the baton at the right time for the organisation and myself. I have enjoyed four and a half wonderful years as technical director, and it has been a special privilege to lead the technical effort of the team in that time. It is a great pleasure to be succeeded by Mike, an exceptional engineer in a tremendously strong group of senior leaders in the team. We will benefit from the freshness that he will bring to the role and I hope I can continue to make a useful contribution across a new sphere of activity in my role as CTO, with a focus on increasing our capability across the board and supporting Toto with the major strategic challenges we face in the near future.”
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
Well, huzzah for Formula 1!!
The second race weekend of the season beckons us to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola.
The UK times will be:
HRH PRINCE PHILIP HAS MADE A MOCKERY OF THIS POST. Not consciously, but the effect is the same.
BETTER INFORMATION A BIT FURTHER DOWN
The second race weekend of the season beckons us to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola.
The UK times will be:
HRH PRINCE PHILIP HAS MADE A MOCKERY OF THIS POST. Not consciously, but the effect is the same.
BETTER INFORMATION A BIT FURTHER DOWN
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1%er
Well-Known Member
There are some changes to the times because of the Royal funeral. As far as I can tell it is just FP1 and GP2 but I don't know if UK time is the same as CET?Well, huzzah for Formula 1!!
The second race weekend of the season beckons us to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola.
The UK times will be:
Fri 16 April
FP1 - 10:30
FP2 - 14:00
Sat 17 April
FP3 - 11:00
Qual - 14:00
Sun 18 April
Race - 14:00
I expect the home team hopes to do well.
Here is the announcement from F1 and the FIA
Formula 1 and the FIA have made changes to the schedule for the Emila Romagna Grand Prix in Imola out of respect for the funeral service of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh that will take place on Saturday 17th April 2021.
As a mark of respect for the Royal funeral, Qualifying will be moved to avoid a clash with the service.
This means Qualifying will take place between 1400–1500 CET. As a result FP3 will move to 1100–1200 CET in order to comply with the regulations that state Qualifying must be 120 minutes after FP3.
On Friday, FP2 will move to 1430-1530 CET and FP1 will move to 1100-1200 CET due to the rules requiring those sessions to be separated by at least two and a half hours and FP3 needing to start no less than nineteen hours after the end of FP2.
Limejuice if this changed the qualifying time or race time can you post new times as I don't have a clue if UK time is the same as CET thanks
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1%er
Well-Known Member
I think Imola could favor Red Bull, so I'm looking forward to see what Mercedes do.
Another interesting thing in the news, even before the second race, is all the talk about who will be driving the Mercedes cars next season. This all seems a little early to me, but lots of story's about Verstappen and Russell getting the seats, This is clearly premature as I can't see Verstappen moving if Red Bull win the championship, maybe there just isn't much news about
dessiato
🇪🇸 my spirit is crying for leaving
U.K. time is one hour behind CET
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
So HRH's obsequies nudge the F! weekend timings a bit. Is nothing sacred?
The new UK timings are:
Fri 16 April
FP1 - 10:00
FP2 - 13:30
Sat 17 April
FP3 - 10:00
Qual - 13:00
Sun 18 April
Race - 14:00
We're on BST now, which is UTC plus 1. That means the UTC timings for the above sessions are 09:00, 12:30, 09:00, 12:00 and 13:00 respectively.
The new UK timings are:
Fri 16 April
FP1 - 10:00
FP2 - 13:30
Sat 17 April
FP3 - 10:00
Qual - 13:00
Sun 18 April
Race - 14:00
We're on BST now, which is UTC plus 1. That means the UTC timings for the above sessions are 09:00, 12:30, 09:00, 12:00 and 13:00 respectively.
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
Not sure I understand how this works? The UK surely can't dictate when F1 actually starts practice/qualifying/the race, or can they??
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
I think the F1 folks decided to make some tweaks lest UK audiences be offended by the sound of fun and enjoyment while the old sailor is being dispatched to his gods.
