F1 2021
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Could Bahrain hold 2 races
Formula 1’s 2021 calendar could be set for yet another pre-season shakeup. China and Vietnam have already been cancelled, Imola has been drafted in, and the season opener in Australia postponed until November and now there are new doubts about the currently-scheduled third race. At present, F1 lists the 2 May race as ‘TBC’ – to be confirmed. Sources indicate that Portugal’s Portimao circuit was the favourite to take that spot. However, Portugal’s covid crisis is worsening by the day, with hospitals overwhelmed and German military planes flying into the country on Wednesday with emergency supplies of doctors and ventilators.
“If the epidemic prevents the race in Portugal, the idea of a second race in Bahrain has emerged,” reports Italy’s specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport. According to the latest speculation, F1 could accommodate the plan by delaying Imola for a week – from April 18 to April 25 – so that Bahrain can host both the first and the second races of 2021. “At the moment it is only speculation that Formula 1 has not commented on,” La Gazzetta noted. However, Alfa Romeo team manager Beat Zehnder says Bahrain proved last year that it is a good place to race in amid the global situation. “We have the best feeling about Bahrain,” he told Auto Motor und Sport. “Our experience from last year showed us that Bahrain guarantees us the best security. For me, it was the model student. Nowhere else was the testing so effective, and the results received so quickly. Questions were always answered within minutes,” Zehnder added.
Ralf Schumacher said what
Lewis Hamilton still has no new contract in his pocket and the start of the 2021 Formula One season is just around the corner. Ralf Schumacher finds it embarrassing that Hamilton still has not re-signed. With his seventh world title in his pocket and his eighth in sight, it seemed a matter of time before Hamilton would announce that he would stay with Mercedes. However, in February that contract is still not in place and with all the rumours that this has created, an embarrassing situation has arisen in the meantime. 'It's a shame and almost a bit embarrassing. It is now February and the most important man in Formula 1, the seven-time world champion, has still not been confirmed as a driver. I keep hearing that it would be about money, but I hope that is not true. Hamilton in particular should know that in this day and age you cannot demand 100 per cent,'' Schumacher said.
Schumacher additionally points out that Hamilton is also at risk. ''Hamilton should also know that Formula 1 is bigger than any individual. Maybe Hamilton needs to shake himself up now too. There is still a risk of Mercedes putting George Russell in that car. Hamilton should never forget that'', concludes Ralf.
Formula 1’s 2021 calendar could be set for yet another pre-season shakeup. China and Vietnam have already been cancelled, Imola has been drafted in, and the season opener in Australia postponed until November and now there are new doubts about the currently-scheduled third race. At present, F1 lists the 2 May race as ‘TBC’ – to be confirmed. Sources indicate that Portugal’s Portimao circuit was the favourite to take that spot. However, Portugal’s covid crisis is worsening by the day, with hospitals overwhelmed and German military planes flying into the country on Wednesday with emergency supplies of doctors and ventilators.
“If the epidemic prevents the race in Portugal, the idea of a second race in Bahrain has emerged,” reports Italy’s specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport. According to the latest speculation, F1 could accommodate the plan by delaying Imola for a week – from April 18 to April 25 – so that Bahrain can host both the first and the second races of 2021. “At the moment it is only speculation that Formula 1 has not commented on,” La Gazzetta noted. However, Alfa Romeo team manager Beat Zehnder says Bahrain proved last year that it is a good place to race in amid the global situation. “We have the best feeling about Bahrain,” he told Auto Motor und Sport. “Our experience from last year showed us that Bahrain guarantees us the best security. For me, it was the model student. Nowhere else was the testing so effective, and the results received so quickly. Questions were always answered within minutes,” Zehnder added.
Ralf Schumacher said what
Lewis Hamilton still has no new contract in his pocket and the start of the 2021 Formula One season is just around the corner. Ralf Schumacher finds it embarrassing that Hamilton still has not re-signed. With his seventh world title in his pocket and his eighth in sight, it seemed a matter of time before Hamilton would announce that he would stay with Mercedes. However, in February that contract is still not in place and with all the rumours that this has created, an embarrassing situation has arisen in the meantime. 'It's a shame and almost a bit embarrassing. It is now February and the most important man in Formula 1, the seven-time world champion, has still not been confirmed as a driver. I keep hearing that it would be about money, but I hope that is not true. Hamilton in particular should know that in this day and age you cannot demand 100 per cent,'' Schumacher said.
Schumacher additionally points out that Hamilton is also at risk. ''Hamilton should also know that Formula 1 is bigger than any individual. Maybe Hamilton needs to shake himself up now too. There is still a risk of Mercedes putting George Russell in that car. Hamilton should never forget that'', concludes Ralf.
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Analysis: The prospect of a South African Grand Prix return
New Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has joined the chorus of calls for Formula 1 to return to South Africa, more precisely Kyalami. Speaking in broad terms on his ideas on shaking the sport up in his new role as F1 CEO, the former Ferrari team boss and more recently Lamborghini CEO admitted that an African race is high on the agenda. “There are countries that have shown interest in Formula 1; one of them being South Africa,” Domenicali confirmed. “This is something very important having new places and old places that have a great heritage in Formula 1. We need to decide what is the right balance for the number of races, to see what areas we need for strategic interests, for team interests, for broadcaster interests, for media interests and decide what will be the right way to go.”
Domenicali’s hints are only the most recent in the perennial story of a South African Grand Prix return. Most recently it was Lewis Hamilton on the blower a year ago in response to where he would like to see F1 go next. “Easy” the seven-time world champion told fans in a question and answer session last June. “We need to go to Africa. It’s such an important place to go back. At the moment Formula 1 goes to countries and doesn’t really leave much behind, if anything. F1 has to shift to being a sport that does go to places and leaves behind something that can really help the communities. I think bringing the attention back to Africa and really highlighting the beautiful place that it is, that’s the most important place we have to go to. It needs to be held where it’s not all about money it’s about the people. In business, that’s not always the case that’s something I’m really pushing for.”
The latest South African Grand Prix bid is well established. Fronted by Warren Scheckter, son of multiple South African Drivers Champion and former F1 driver Ian and 1979 Formula 1 World Champion Jody’s nephew, the new South African GP company has the prime intention of returning South Africa to the Formula 1 World Championship with Jody Scheckter himself as founding president. Jody’s presence brings great credence to this latest bid to see a race that was once an integral facet of F1 back into the world championship. The company had planned an F1 Festival at Kyalami and Johannesburg last year, which was cancelled as lockdown commenced, when plans were already well advanced. The South African GP initiative has been active since 2015.
“We planned the Festival as part our efforts to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa,” Warren Scheckter confirmed a year ago. "Our objective is to successfully secure and promote Formula 1 events in this country. South Africa has a rich heritage of Formula 1 racing with a large and enthusiastic fan base, it’s also a destination country, which makes it an ideal location for the Formula 1 brand. F1 also has no events in Africa and South Africa offers huge potential market for the sport". Scheckter, however, remained coy on a timeline for a race at the time: “We are in advanced negotiations with Formula 1, but these initiatives take time. We hope it will be quite soon. Toby Venter has rebuilt Kyalami, which has a significant historic association with Formula 1, to a very high standard and the circuit is now a suitable Grand Prix venue. That also now makes bringing Formula 1 back to South Africa far more viable. Formula 1 also makes significant and positive impact to all the countries where it races and the sport will generate substantial value to the South African economy. It will create thousands of jobs and attract tens of thousands of tourists every year,” Scheckter concluded. “The Grand Prix will put South Africa into the global spotlight in the most positive manner it is the kind of positive stimulus this country needs right now.”
The South African Grand Prix has a glorious history that stretches back to the 1930s at East London and went on until the final race at Kyalami has remained intact and was five years ago acquired on auction by local Porsche distributor Toby Venter, who completely restored, renovated and lengthened the circuit. While it is not yet fully F1 graded, according to Venter Kyalami “will not take very much to achieve Formula 1 specification”. The Johannesburg businessman has never hidden his desire for his circuit to host a Grand Prix again. There have since been several attempts to bring a South African Grand Prix back, including two plans in Cape Town as well as various apparent Kyalami efforts. New F1 boss Stefano Domenicali’s comments this week now suggest that such plans could emerge from their lockdown hiatus perhaps even sooner than what most expect.
Several 2021 F1 venues remain uncertain under lingering lockdown pressure. But Most interestingly, Kyalami last year most successfully hosted probably the only flyaway international race in lockdown, when the ICGT Challenge converged on the circuit for its season-ending 9-hour finale in December. The circuit was also earmarked for a World Endurance Championship 6-hour race around now, but that also succumbed to the effects of lockdown. International motorsport is on the rise following a recent drought in South Africa, World Rallycross is expected to return to Cape Town in December, where a Formula E bid is also in its advanced stages.
Getting back to his briefing this week, new F1 boss Domenicali also hinted as a return to a second US Grand Prix, plausibly in Miami and that “Vietnam is no longer on the calendar but it’s still an open option.” He also mooted a “Saturday sprint race concept without a reverse grid is on the cards to be trialled as early as this year,” and that the sport needs to address the quality of its F1 rookies considering the rise in moneyed drivers placed before talented youngsters. Whatever happens, there is no doubt that Formula 1 mad South Africa will fully embrace a Grand Prix return. Kyalami attracted huge crowds when the circuit briefly hosted F1 pre-season tests in the early 2000s, not to mention that Africa is currently the only continent not featured in F1’s ever-growing calendar. A South African grand Prix certainly would be a welcome and wonderful addition to the Formula 1 calendar.
Daimler to disappear and change name to...?
Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes and thus of the Formula 1 team, is to change its name to Mercedes-Benz, the company announced on Thursday. Not an earth-shattering change, but the company's structure is also going to change. The name Daimler is a relic of a merger between the company of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler in the 1920s. Although the company had long been virtually synonymous with Mercedes, the Daimler name stuck around for almost a century. This is now coming to an end and Bloomberg reports that the Daimler share has immediately risen nine per cent. In the world of passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz is simply a stronger brand, so this is a logical step.
But that is not the only change. The bus and truck divisions of Daimler are to be separated and become a separate company. However, the Daimler name will remain. "Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans and Daimler Trucks & Buses are different companies with specific customer groups, technology paths and capital requirements," says CEO Ola Kallenius.
F1 could waive $200m anti-dilution fee for potential new teams
Formula 1 could be prepared to waive the $200 million “anti-dilution” fee for new entries into the championship, according to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The fee is aimed at compensating the existing teams for any potential future loss of earnings that the arrival of a new constructor could result in. Under the current revenue structure, every team in the championship receives a pay-out, rather than just the top 10 finishers in the standings as was previously the case.
Asked if the fee could be waived in certain circumstances, Domenicali told reporters that it would be considered in “cases that need to go deeper into the discussion without that money.” The quotes suggest that F1 would be open to new entries in the future and Domenicali restated that the sport is currently in discussions with manufacturers that had an interest in joining the series. “We are receiving a lot of interest from OEMs who want to understand the future of Formula 1,” he said. “We are receiving, it seems strange from outside, but I’m very happy for that some new requests for teams or other organisations that want to see if there is a possibility to invest in Formula 1. These are a sign that the foundation and ideas we have on the table are good for the benefit of a positive future for Formula 1.”
Additionally, co-founder of rumoured prospective constructor Panthera, Benjamin Durand, said that they were still considering the options available to them. “We welcome Stefano’s comments but we need to understand under which circumstances the fee could be waived,” he said. “We are currently investigating other options, including investments in existing teams. This could alter that.” Haas was the last new team to enter F1 when they made their debut back in 2016.
New Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has joined the chorus of calls for Formula 1 to return to South Africa, more precisely Kyalami. Speaking in broad terms on his ideas on shaking the sport up in his new role as F1 CEO, the former Ferrari team boss and more recently Lamborghini CEO admitted that an African race is high on the agenda. “There are countries that have shown interest in Formula 1; one of them being South Africa,” Domenicali confirmed. “This is something very important having new places and old places that have a great heritage in Formula 1. We need to decide what is the right balance for the number of races, to see what areas we need for strategic interests, for team interests, for broadcaster interests, for media interests and decide what will be the right way to go.”
Domenicali’s hints are only the most recent in the perennial story of a South African Grand Prix return. Most recently it was Lewis Hamilton on the blower a year ago in response to where he would like to see F1 go next. “Easy” the seven-time world champion told fans in a question and answer session last June. “We need to go to Africa. It’s such an important place to go back. At the moment Formula 1 goes to countries and doesn’t really leave much behind, if anything. F1 has to shift to being a sport that does go to places and leaves behind something that can really help the communities. I think bringing the attention back to Africa and really highlighting the beautiful place that it is, that’s the most important place we have to go to. It needs to be held where it’s not all about money it’s about the people. In business, that’s not always the case that’s something I’m really pushing for.”
The latest South African Grand Prix bid is well established. Fronted by Warren Scheckter, son of multiple South African Drivers Champion and former F1 driver Ian and 1979 Formula 1 World Champion Jody’s nephew, the new South African GP company has the prime intention of returning South Africa to the Formula 1 World Championship with Jody Scheckter himself as founding president. Jody’s presence brings great credence to this latest bid to see a race that was once an integral facet of F1 back into the world championship. The company had planned an F1 Festival at Kyalami and Johannesburg last year, which was cancelled as lockdown commenced, when plans were already well advanced. The South African GP initiative has been active since 2015.
“We planned the Festival as part our efforts to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa,” Warren Scheckter confirmed a year ago. "Our objective is to successfully secure and promote Formula 1 events in this country. South Africa has a rich heritage of Formula 1 racing with a large and enthusiastic fan base, it’s also a destination country, which makes it an ideal location for the Formula 1 brand. F1 also has no events in Africa and South Africa offers huge potential market for the sport". Scheckter, however, remained coy on a timeline for a race at the time: “We are in advanced negotiations with Formula 1, but these initiatives take time. We hope it will be quite soon. Toby Venter has rebuilt Kyalami, which has a significant historic association with Formula 1, to a very high standard and the circuit is now a suitable Grand Prix venue. That also now makes bringing Formula 1 back to South Africa far more viable. Formula 1 also makes significant and positive impact to all the countries where it races and the sport will generate substantial value to the South African economy. It will create thousands of jobs and attract tens of thousands of tourists every year,” Scheckter concluded. “The Grand Prix will put South Africa into the global spotlight in the most positive manner it is the kind of positive stimulus this country needs right now.”
The South African Grand Prix has a glorious history that stretches back to the 1930s at East London and went on until the final race at Kyalami has remained intact and was five years ago acquired on auction by local Porsche distributor Toby Venter, who completely restored, renovated and lengthened the circuit. While it is not yet fully F1 graded, according to Venter Kyalami “will not take very much to achieve Formula 1 specification”. The Johannesburg businessman has never hidden his desire for his circuit to host a Grand Prix again. There have since been several attempts to bring a South African Grand Prix back, including two plans in Cape Town as well as various apparent Kyalami efforts. New F1 boss Stefano Domenicali’s comments this week now suggest that such plans could emerge from their lockdown hiatus perhaps even sooner than what most expect.
Several 2021 F1 venues remain uncertain under lingering lockdown pressure. But Most interestingly, Kyalami last year most successfully hosted probably the only flyaway international race in lockdown, when the ICGT Challenge converged on the circuit for its season-ending 9-hour finale in December. The circuit was also earmarked for a World Endurance Championship 6-hour race around now, but that also succumbed to the effects of lockdown. International motorsport is on the rise following a recent drought in South Africa, World Rallycross is expected to return to Cape Town in December, where a Formula E bid is also in its advanced stages.
Getting back to his briefing this week, new F1 boss Domenicali also hinted as a return to a second US Grand Prix, plausibly in Miami and that “Vietnam is no longer on the calendar but it’s still an open option.” He also mooted a “Saturday sprint race concept without a reverse grid is on the cards to be trialled as early as this year,” and that the sport needs to address the quality of its F1 rookies considering the rise in moneyed drivers placed before talented youngsters. Whatever happens, there is no doubt that Formula 1 mad South Africa will fully embrace a Grand Prix return. Kyalami attracted huge crowds when the circuit briefly hosted F1 pre-season tests in the early 2000s, not to mention that Africa is currently the only continent not featured in F1’s ever-growing calendar. A South African grand Prix certainly would be a welcome and wonderful addition to the Formula 1 calendar.
Daimler to disappear and change name to...?
Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes and thus of the Formula 1 team, is to change its name to Mercedes-Benz, the company announced on Thursday. Not an earth-shattering change, but the company's structure is also going to change. The name Daimler is a relic of a merger between the company of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler in the 1920s. Although the company had long been virtually synonymous with Mercedes, the Daimler name stuck around for almost a century. This is now coming to an end and Bloomberg reports that the Daimler share has immediately risen nine per cent. In the world of passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz is simply a stronger brand, so this is a logical step.
But that is not the only change. The bus and truck divisions of Daimler are to be separated and become a separate company. However, the Daimler name will remain. "Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans and Daimler Trucks & Buses are different companies with specific customer groups, technology paths and capital requirements," says CEO Ola Kallenius.
F1 could waive $200m anti-dilution fee for potential new teams
Formula 1 could be prepared to waive the $200 million “anti-dilution” fee for new entries into the championship, according to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The fee is aimed at compensating the existing teams for any potential future loss of earnings that the arrival of a new constructor could result in. Under the current revenue structure, every team in the championship receives a pay-out, rather than just the top 10 finishers in the standings as was previously the case.
Asked if the fee could be waived in certain circumstances, Domenicali told reporters that it would be considered in “cases that need to go deeper into the discussion without that money.” The quotes suggest that F1 would be open to new entries in the future and Domenicali restated that the sport is currently in discussions with manufacturers that had an interest in joining the series. “We are receiving a lot of interest from OEMs who want to understand the future of Formula 1,” he said. “We are receiving, it seems strange from outside, but I’m very happy for that some new requests for teams or other organisations that want to see if there is a possibility to invest in Formula 1. These are a sign that the foundation and ideas we have on the table are good for the benefit of a positive future for Formula 1.”
Additionally, co-founder of rumoured prospective constructor Panthera, Benjamin Durand, said that they were still considering the options available to them. “We welcome Stefano’s comments but we need to understand under which circumstances the fee could be waived,” he said. “We are currently investigating other options, including investments in existing teams. This could alter that.” Haas was the last new team to enter F1 when they made their debut back in 2016.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Bernie Ecclestone interview with GQ
Clever, colourful, controversial, enigmatic and ruthless, Bernie Ecclestone single-handedly transformed Formula One into the hugely successful global franchise it is today. We asked writer and director Manish Pandey, who wrote the Bafta-winning documentary Senna, to pass on our congratulations virtually, of course and ask the motorsport magnate to reflect on his GQ Car Awards Lifetime Achievement award.
Everyone knows I love Ayrton Senna, but my love for him was predated, by five years, by my love for Formula One and that love has endured for the quarter of a century since Senna’s death. At the heart of that love is the man who created it all, Bernie Ecclestone. So much has been said and written about him that it is impossible to reconcile it all. But, last autumn, I had the joy of spending a month with him, listening to the story of it all. He is a very strong man who fears nothing. He balances intellect and emotion, his left and right brain working in total harmony, unlike many other “high-functioning” executives. He is incredibly sensitive and very emotional. He has the memory of an elephant. And he is very, very funny.
Manish Pandey: How does it feel to receive GQ’s Lifetime Achievement Award?
Bernie Ecclestone: I’m hoping it isn’t the end of my life!
Have you finally reached a point when you’re comfortable looking back?
Obviously, my life has changed a lot in the last four years. It’s much easier now. It’s a different way of acting. When I was running Formula One, I was constantly growing the business and endlessly firefighting. But I’m in Switzerland now. Because of the pandemic, I’ve had a lot of time with my family. Both my girls were out here, as well as Fabiana, and [my son] Ace was born here. I’ve never been uncomfortable looking back, I’ve just been a bit busy.
It seems extraordinary, but you were at the first Grand Prix at Silverstone in May 1950. What do you remember about it?
I remember it very well. In fact, I was racing that weekend in a Cooper 500. There were no hotels. Some people were lucky enough to have a camper or something to stay in, but I slept in my car. I can remember it: it was an American Ford Custom. Alfa Romeo won the race. In fact, they were first, second and third, with no Ferraris entered.
You started as a car salesman, then a driver, a driver-manager, a team owner and then you ran Formula One. Was there always a grand plan?
No. Never. I used to deal pens in Petticoat Lane on Sundays, then motorcycles when I worked at the gas board, then used cars. I’m a dealer. Every situation I’ve faced, I’ve faced as a dealer. You have to know the price of what you’re selling and you’ve got to work out the price someone is willing to pay for it. You’re selling to people who are very smart. They’re wide awake. So you have to be wide awake too, look for an opportunity and take it. But I’m also a handshake guy. Around the world people knew that, dealing with me, a handshake was enough. If you look at contracts, as soon as the ink is dry you’ve got a lawyer trying to find a way out of it.
Do you have a management style? You’re one of the most successful businessmen and dealmakers in history, but I bet you’ve never read a single book on management or economics. What is your secret?
My secret is my handshake. People know they can trust me to do the best for everyone involved. People like to talk a lot. It’s always better to do something than talk about it. If you’re going to say you’re going to do something, do it. I hate it when people say they’re going to do something, then don’t. I don’t bother [with them] again.
Who did you most admire? Was there anyone in your Formula One dealings who felt like a true match?
Mr [Enzo] Ferrari. He was very special and he helped me a lot. He taught me that the sport is on the table and the business is under it. Formula One is Ferrari and Ferrari is Formula One. It’s that simple. Colin [Chapman] was another. He was a genius. A very quick driver too.
Has anyone ever outwitted you in a deal?
Probably. But I’d rather not remember.
Do you think you’re misunderstood?
Sometimes I word things in such a way that they aren’t taken how I meant them to be. I’ve got myself into a bit of trouble, but I can honestly say that a person is a person to me. I take people as I see them. It doesn’t matter what colour they are or whether they’re a man or a woman, their religion or nationality, whether they’re rich or poor, their politics... Look at me: I’m below average height, but I don’t feel bad about it. I’m exactly the same as someone who’s taller. In fact, in an aircraft seat I’m more comfortable than someone who’s taller. There are positives to everything. Nothing’s all bad.
You have a bit of a history of winding people up...
Poor Jean-Marie [Balestre, the ex-head of Fisa, Formula One’s governing body]. Max [Mosley, Balestre’s successor] and I used to have a bit of fun with him. I remember once we told one of the marshals in South Africa that he’d try to get up on the podium after the race but he wasn’t authorised. He said, “Leave it to me.” Then Jean-Marie went up and the marshal just grabbed him and sort of threw him off. He was very upset about that. Or when we used to do the block bookings for the hotels and got him a room overlooking a stairwell with a shared toilet. He didn’t seem to like that at all. It was good fun in those days.
You saw Romain Grosjean’s accident in Bahrain, after which he just walked away. Others haven’t been so lucky and many were close friends. How do you cope with loss?
I don’t go to funerals. If you were close to someone, they knew you were close to them. What’s the point of going to the funeral? They’re dead. They don’t know. When [François] Cevert was killed at Watkins Glen, it was horrible. He was basically cut in half. Carlos [Reutemann] came in and he was shaken up. They were mates. He told me what he’d seen, but then, when it was time to practise, he went back to the car. It sounds callous, but that’s how it was in those days. You just carried on. It’s much safer now, thanks to Sid [Watkins] and Max. But it will never be completely safe. You have to accept that.
What do you think of Formula One now? Do you miss being involved? Do you think it’s being well run?
I miss some of the deals, especially with the promoters at some of the circuits a few might have gone under if we hadn’t been involved and helped a little and the deals with some of the big sponsors, who’ve renewed for decades. I watch the races. And I still get the odd call for advice.
Would you have permitted the “End Racism” message at the beginning of the races?
A few years ago, there was an American football player [Colin Kaepernick] who used to kneel before matches. Well, there was a lot of anger from the authorities about that. One or two of the drivers in Formula One spoke out about it but, in the end, they didn’t do it. They didn’t kneel. They said they were asked not to. They didn’t say who asked them not to it wasn’t me. I was out of Formula One. I can’t see what’s different about this year. Those awful things that have been happening in America have been happening for many decades. I suppose it’s a good thing that people have been made aware of what’s happening. I hope it makes a difference.
What will your legacy be?
If people want to remember me, they will, for whatever reasons.
Who is the real Bernie Ecclestone?
I don’t know whether he exists. He’s a bit flexible!
What is the best thing about your life?
Being a dad again, being around Ace. He’s changing every day. I’m a bit upset with myself that I didn’t spend enough time with the girls when they were babies. I was too busy building my business.
Clever, colourful, controversial, enigmatic and ruthless, Bernie Ecclestone single-handedly transformed Formula One into the hugely successful global franchise it is today. We asked writer and director Manish Pandey, who wrote the Bafta-winning documentary Senna, to pass on our congratulations virtually, of course and ask the motorsport magnate to reflect on his GQ Car Awards Lifetime Achievement award.
Everyone knows I love Ayrton Senna, but my love for him was predated, by five years, by my love for Formula One and that love has endured for the quarter of a century since Senna’s death. At the heart of that love is the man who created it all, Bernie Ecclestone. So much has been said and written about him that it is impossible to reconcile it all. But, last autumn, I had the joy of spending a month with him, listening to the story of it all. He is a very strong man who fears nothing. He balances intellect and emotion, his left and right brain working in total harmony, unlike many other “high-functioning” executives. He is incredibly sensitive and very emotional. He has the memory of an elephant. And he is very, very funny.
Manish Pandey: How does it feel to receive GQ’s Lifetime Achievement Award?
Bernie Ecclestone: I’m hoping it isn’t the end of my life!
Have you finally reached a point when you’re comfortable looking back?
Obviously, my life has changed a lot in the last four years. It’s much easier now. It’s a different way of acting. When I was running Formula One, I was constantly growing the business and endlessly firefighting. But I’m in Switzerland now. Because of the pandemic, I’ve had a lot of time with my family. Both my girls were out here, as well as Fabiana, and [my son] Ace was born here. I’ve never been uncomfortable looking back, I’ve just been a bit busy.
It seems extraordinary, but you were at the first Grand Prix at Silverstone in May 1950. What do you remember about it?
I remember it very well. In fact, I was racing that weekend in a Cooper 500. There were no hotels. Some people were lucky enough to have a camper or something to stay in, but I slept in my car. I can remember it: it was an American Ford Custom. Alfa Romeo won the race. In fact, they were first, second and third, with no Ferraris entered.
You started as a car salesman, then a driver, a driver-manager, a team owner and then you ran Formula One. Was there always a grand plan?
No. Never. I used to deal pens in Petticoat Lane on Sundays, then motorcycles when I worked at the gas board, then used cars. I’m a dealer. Every situation I’ve faced, I’ve faced as a dealer. You have to know the price of what you’re selling and you’ve got to work out the price someone is willing to pay for it. You’re selling to people who are very smart. They’re wide awake. So you have to be wide awake too, look for an opportunity and take it. But I’m also a handshake guy. Around the world people knew that, dealing with me, a handshake was enough. If you look at contracts, as soon as the ink is dry you’ve got a lawyer trying to find a way out of it.
Do you have a management style? You’re one of the most successful businessmen and dealmakers in history, but I bet you’ve never read a single book on management or economics. What is your secret?
My secret is my handshake. People know they can trust me to do the best for everyone involved. People like to talk a lot. It’s always better to do something than talk about it. If you’re going to say you’re going to do something, do it. I hate it when people say they’re going to do something, then don’t. I don’t bother [with them] again.
Who did you most admire? Was there anyone in your Formula One dealings who felt like a true match?
Mr [Enzo] Ferrari. He was very special and he helped me a lot. He taught me that the sport is on the table and the business is under it. Formula One is Ferrari and Ferrari is Formula One. It’s that simple. Colin [Chapman] was another. He was a genius. A very quick driver too.
Has anyone ever outwitted you in a deal?
Probably. But I’d rather not remember.
Do you think you’re misunderstood?
Sometimes I word things in such a way that they aren’t taken how I meant them to be. I’ve got myself into a bit of trouble, but I can honestly say that a person is a person to me. I take people as I see them. It doesn’t matter what colour they are or whether they’re a man or a woman, their religion or nationality, whether they’re rich or poor, their politics... Look at me: I’m below average height, but I don’t feel bad about it. I’m exactly the same as someone who’s taller. In fact, in an aircraft seat I’m more comfortable than someone who’s taller. There are positives to everything. Nothing’s all bad.
You have a bit of a history of winding people up...
Poor Jean-Marie [Balestre, the ex-head of Fisa, Formula One’s governing body]. Max [Mosley, Balestre’s successor] and I used to have a bit of fun with him. I remember once we told one of the marshals in South Africa that he’d try to get up on the podium after the race but he wasn’t authorised. He said, “Leave it to me.” Then Jean-Marie went up and the marshal just grabbed him and sort of threw him off. He was very upset about that. Or when we used to do the block bookings for the hotels and got him a room overlooking a stairwell with a shared toilet. He didn’t seem to like that at all. It was good fun in those days.
You saw Romain Grosjean’s accident in Bahrain, after which he just walked away. Others haven’t been so lucky and many were close friends. How do you cope with loss?
I don’t go to funerals. If you were close to someone, they knew you were close to them. What’s the point of going to the funeral? They’re dead. They don’t know. When [François] Cevert was killed at Watkins Glen, it was horrible. He was basically cut in half. Carlos [Reutemann] came in and he was shaken up. They were mates. He told me what he’d seen, but then, when it was time to practise, he went back to the car. It sounds callous, but that’s how it was in those days. You just carried on. It’s much safer now, thanks to Sid [Watkins] and Max. But it will never be completely safe. You have to accept that.
What do you think of Formula One now? Do you miss being involved? Do you think it’s being well run?
I miss some of the deals, especially with the promoters at some of the circuits a few might have gone under if we hadn’t been involved and helped a little and the deals with some of the big sponsors, who’ve renewed for decades. I watch the races. And I still get the odd call for advice.
Would you have permitted the “End Racism” message at the beginning of the races?
A few years ago, there was an American football player [Colin Kaepernick] who used to kneel before matches. Well, there was a lot of anger from the authorities about that. One or two of the drivers in Formula One spoke out about it but, in the end, they didn’t do it. They didn’t kneel. They said they were asked not to. They didn’t say who asked them not to it wasn’t me. I was out of Formula One. I can’t see what’s different about this year. Those awful things that have been happening in America have been happening for many decades. I suppose it’s a good thing that people have been made aware of what’s happening. I hope it makes a difference.
What will your legacy be?
If people want to remember me, they will, for whatever reasons.
Who is the real Bernie Ecclestone?
I don’t know whether he exists. He’s a bit flexible!
What is the best thing about your life?
Being a dad again, being around Ace. He’s changing every day. I’m a bit upset with myself that I didn’t spend enough time with the girls when they were babies. I was too busy building my business.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes Agree New £35mn Per Year Deal
Sir Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes F1 Team are yet to announce a new deal for 2021 and beyond. The Mercedes F1 Team and Sir Lewis Hamilton have agreed terms of a contract extension, according to reports. It is being reported that a source is saying that Sir Hamilton has agreed a one-year extension with an option for another year. The report added that he will be paid roughly €40 million (circa £35mn) and, as part of the new deal, the seven-time World Champion will be given private advertising space on his helmet and on his race suit.
Last month, amid reports that the Silver Arrows were considering replacing Sir Hamilton with George Russell, a Mercedes source told reporters that his future with the team was never in doubt. “Lewis’ future here was never in doubt. It’s just a question of time,” the source said. “I’m confident it will be wrapped up and announced sometime in Feb.” Earlier, the same source said: “Any suggestion that Lewis won’t be with us this year is simply fake news. Plain and simple. There is no reason he and Valtteri won’t be driving our cars in 2021. You can consider it confirmed,” the source added.
[Is it really all over? What will reporters talk about for the next few weeks
]
Sir Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes F1 Team are yet to announce a new deal for 2021 and beyond. The Mercedes F1 Team and Sir Lewis Hamilton have agreed terms of a contract extension, according to reports. It is being reported that a source is saying that Sir Hamilton has agreed a one-year extension with an option for another year. The report added that he will be paid roughly €40 million (circa £35mn) and, as part of the new deal, the seven-time World Champion will be given private advertising space on his helmet and on his race suit.
Last month, amid reports that the Silver Arrows were considering replacing Sir Hamilton with George Russell, a Mercedes source told reporters that his future with the team was never in doubt. “Lewis’ future here was never in doubt. It’s just a question of time,” the source said. “I’m confident it will be wrapped up and announced sometime in Feb.” Earlier, the same source said: “Any suggestion that Lewis won’t be with us this year is simply fake news. Plain and simple. There is no reason he and Valtteri won’t be driving our cars in 2021. You can consider it confirmed,” the source added.
[Is it really all over? What will reporters talk about for the next few weeks
]
1%er
Well-Known Member
‘Verstappen Clause’ In Lewis Hamilton’s New Contract Is ‘Pure Invention’
The so-called “Verstappen clause” would give Sir Lewis Hamilton more influence over who Mercedes run as his team-mate in 2022. Last week, it was reported that the Mercedes F1 Team and Sir Lewis Hamilton had finally agreed terms for a contract extension. Specifically, it was claimed that they had agreed a one-year deal with an option for another year, and Sir Hamilton would be paid approximately £35 million per annum.
Additionally, the seven-time World Champion’s new contact reportedly included a so-called “Verstappen clause” to give him more influence over who Mercedes run as his team-mate. However, the Italian edition of Motorsport.com has since described this as “pure invention.” The publication insists that Sir Hamilton has “no power at Mercedes to demand a comfortable team-mate”, and the so-called Verstappen clause “does not exist”. It noted that the Brit’s team-mate has already been decided, so this “Verstappen clause” would serve no purpose. “His name is George Russell and not Max Verstappen,” the publication said of Sir Hamilton’s next Mercedes team-mate. Earlier, Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel claimed that Mercedes is “still very interested” in Verstappen and would potentially try to sign the Dutch ace should they fail to reach an agreement with Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The so-called “Verstappen clause” would give Sir Lewis Hamilton more influence over who Mercedes run as his team-mate in 2022. Last week, it was reported that the Mercedes F1 Team and Sir Lewis Hamilton had finally agreed terms for a contract extension. Specifically, it was claimed that they had agreed a one-year deal with an option for another year, and Sir Hamilton would be paid approximately £35 million per annum.
Additionally, the seven-time World Champion’s new contact reportedly included a so-called “Verstappen clause” to give him more influence over who Mercedes run as his team-mate. However, the Italian edition of Motorsport.com has since described this as “pure invention.” The publication insists that Sir Hamilton has “no power at Mercedes to demand a comfortable team-mate”, and the so-called Verstappen clause “does not exist”. It noted that the Brit’s team-mate has already been decided, so this “Verstappen clause” would serve no purpose. “His name is George Russell and not Max Verstappen,” the publication said of Sir Hamilton’s next Mercedes team-mate. Earlier, Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel claimed that Mercedes is “still very interested” in Verstappen and would potentially try to sign the Dutch ace should they fail to reach an agreement with Sir Lewis Hamilton.
1%er
Well-Known Member
F1’s new plan for three Saturday sprint races in 2021 faces Thursday vote
Formula 1’s latest plan to introduce sprint races will be put to a vote at Thursday’s F1 Commission meeting. The sport’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media wants to add the extra races at three rounds on the 2021 F1 calendar as a trial to evaluate whether they should be used more widely next year. Under the proposal for the three chosen weekends, qualifying would take place a day earlier, on Friday. This would decide the grid for Saturday’s sprint race, the result of which would in turn set the starting order for the usual Sunday grand prix.
The sprint race would be considerably shorter than the main event, in order to fit into the one-hour time window typically reserved for qualifying. Further details of the plan, including whether sprint races should award championship points and what rules concerning tyre strategy might be imposed, are yet to be decided and will be discussed on Thursday. Adding sprint races is seen as a way of increasing the entertainment value of race weekends by offering more competitive sessions. If their introduction this year goes ahead and is deemed a success, more may be scheduled for the 2022 F1 season.
The races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada), Monza (Italy) and Interlagos (Brazil) have been earmarked for the potential trials, RaceFans understands. The two events in the Americas are broadcast in the late afternoon and early evening in Europe, meaning the new sessions could attract significant audiences. Formula 1 has previously tried to win support for sprint races including grids decided by the reverse of drivers’ championship positions. However those plans were voted down by teams on three separate occasions over the past two years. New Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed last week “reverse grid is over” in their latest effort to introduce sprint races to grand prix weekends.
Start-up Monaco team project remains interested in F1 entry
A Monaco-based start-up team remains interested in a Formula 1 entry in the near future, calling a possible waiver of the $200m dilution fund fee "a step forward". Monaco Increase Management announced in late 2019 that it was targeting an entry to F1 in conjunction with Campos Racing upon the change in technical regulations in 2021. Founder Salvatore Gandolfo claimed at the time that the group had "the financial solidity required by the FIA to make this project a success", but FIA president Jean Todt had downplayed the chances of a new team joining the grid.
Under the new Concorde Agreement coming into force this year, any team wishing to join the grid alongside the existing 10 squads must pay a $200m dilution fund fee that would be divided between its rivals in a bid to protect their revenues. F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali said recently discussions were taking place with manufacturers about future involvement, and that he would be open to discussing a review of the anti-dilution fee, depending on the circumstances. In a statement issued on Monday, Gandolfo confirmed that Monaco Increase Management remained commitment to the project, and welcomed any possible waiver of the anti-dilution fee. "The current Monaco F1 Racing Team Project was the first to actively discuss the possibility of an entry with the F1 Governance, as early as 2019, and to set up a structure accordingly, realising the potential of the new technical regulations that were initially supposed to come into force in 2021 (and was subsequently delayed because of the pandemic)," the statement from Gandolfo reads. "We believe that the recent statements of the new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, which suggest that the 200m entry fee for new teams could be waived, represent a step forward in the right direction. We appreciate the open attitude of both Stefano and the FIA and are ready to take the necessary steps in order to have our application finalised."
In the 2019 announcement, the project named current Porsche Formula E driver Pascal Wehrlein and IndyCar racer Alex Palou as candidate drivers in 2019, as well as working with ex-Ferrari, Arrows and Super Aguri figure Daniele Audetto as an advisor. But F1 responded to the claims by saying it was holding "no serious discussions" with new teams, and it is understood that this position has not changed. Any candidate F1 team must apply in response to an FIA tender, with the last successful addition to the grid coming in 2016 when Haas joined the field.
Wolff does not believe Hamilton will quit yet: 'But that is his decision'
Lewis Hamilton has finally signed a new contract but with the details surrounding that contract bring all sorts of questions. For example, why has Hamilton only signed on for one year and what are the plans for 2022? Mercedes delayed the decision to extend Lewis' contract this year. In the end, the news only came out in February, a month before the winter test of the new season. Hamilton reportedly wanted a multi-year contract, but a one-year deal is now on the table. What are the plans now?
“Lewis needs to decide what his future holds for him so I wouldn’t want to comment on where he stands (in 2022). On the other side, the team needs to decide long-term what we are going to do about our drivers. Valtteri (Bottas) and Lewis have our 100 per cent commitment and loyalty for 2021. We will support them with everything we have. We will then look beyond this year and say what is the line-up that we imagine in 2022 and onwards," Toto Wolff said. “Our first discussion will be with Valtteri and Lewis in respecting our values of loyalty and integrity, but on the other side, the young drivers are the future and we need to consider how we want to set ourselves up for the years beyond. As long as Lewis enjoys racing he is very capable of going longer. He looks after himself, physically and mentally, so I don’t think in terms of ability that ends in 2021. But in the end, it is his decision," concludes the Mercedes team boss.
What are the salaries of F1 drivers?
Top 10
1) Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes – Annual Salary £40m
2) Max Verstappen: Red Bull – Annual Salary £18.2m
3) Charles Leclerc: Ferrari – Annual Salary £10.19m
4) Daniel Ricciardo: McLaren – Annual Salary £10.19m
5) Carlos Sainz: Ferrari – Annual Salary £7.28m
6) Sebastian Vettel: Aston Martin – Annual Salary £7.28m
7) Fernando Alonso: Alpine – Annual Salary £6.55m
8) Valtteri Bottas: Mercedes – Annual Salary £5.82m
9) Sergio Perez: Red Bull – Annual Salary £4.37m
10) Kimi Raikkonen: Alfa Romeo – Annual Salary £3.64m
Formula 1’s latest plan to introduce sprint races will be put to a vote at Thursday’s F1 Commission meeting. The sport’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media wants to add the extra races at three rounds on the 2021 F1 calendar as a trial to evaluate whether they should be used more widely next year. Under the proposal for the three chosen weekends, qualifying would take place a day earlier, on Friday. This would decide the grid for Saturday’s sprint race, the result of which would in turn set the starting order for the usual Sunday grand prix.
The sprint race would be considerably shorter than the main event, in order to fit into the one-hour time window typically reserved for qualifying. Further details of the plan, including whether sprint races should award championship points and what rules concerning tyre strategy might be imposed, are yet to be decided and will be discussed on Thursday. Adding sprint races is seen as a way of increasing the entertainment value of race weekends by offering more competitive sessions. If their introduction this year goes ahead and is deemed a success, more may be scheduled for the 2022 F1 season.
The races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada), Monza (Italy) and Interlagos (Brazil) have been earmarked for the potential trials, RaceFans understands. The two events in the Americas are broadcast in the late afternoon and early evening in Europe, meaning the new sessions could attract significant audiences. Formula 1 has previously tried to win support for sprint races including grids decided by the reverse of drivers’ championship positions. However those plans were voted down by teams on three separate occasions over the past two years. New Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed last week “reverse grid is over” in their latest effort to introduce sprint races to grand prix weekends.
Start-up Monaco team project remains interested in F1 entry
A Monaco-based start-up team remains interested in a Formula 1 entry in the near future, calling a possible waiver of the $200m dilution fund fee "a step forward". Monaco Increase Management announced in late 2019 that it was targeting an entry to F1 in conjunction with Campos Racing upon the change in technical regulations in 2021. Founder Salvatore Gandolfo claimed at the time that the group had "the financial solidity required by the FIA to make this project a success", but FIA president Jean Todt had downplayed the chances of a new team joining the grid.
Under the new Concorde Agreement coming into force this year, any team wishing to join the grid alongside the existing 10 squads must pay a $200m dilution fund fee that would be divided between its rivals in a bid to protect their revenues. F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali said recently discussions were taking place with manufacturers about future involvement, and that he would be open to discussing a review of the anti-dilution fee, depending on the circumstances. In a statement issued on Monday, Gandolfo confirmed that Monaco Increase Management remained commitment to the project, and welcomed any possible waiver of the anti-dilution fee. "The current Monaco F1 Racing Team Project was the first to actively discuss the possibility of an entry with the F1 Governance, as early as 2019, and to set up a structure accordingly, realising the potential of the new technical regulations that were initially supposed to come into force in 2021 (and was subsequently delayed because of the pandemic)," the statement from Gandolfo reads. "We believe that the recent statements of the new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, which suggest that the 200m entry fee for new teams could be waived, represent a step forward in the right direction. We appreciate the open attitude of both Stefano and the FIA and are ready to take the necessary steps in order to have our application finalised."
In the 2019 announcement, the project named current Porsche Formula E driver Pascal Wehrlein and IndyCar racer Alex Palou as candidate drivers in 2019, as well as working with ex-Ferrari, Arrows and Super Aguri figure Daniele Audetto as an advisor. But F1 responded to the claims by saying it was holding "no serious discussions" with new teams, and it is understood that this position has not changed. Any candidate F1 team must apply in response to an FIA tender, with the last successful addition to the grid coming in 2016 when Haas joined the field.
Wolff does not believe Hamilton will quit yet: 'But that is his decision'
Lewis Hamilton has finally signed a new contract but with the details surrounding that contract bring all sorts of questions. For example, why has Hamilton only signed on for one year and what are the plans for 2022? Mercedes delayed the decision to extend Lewis' contract this year. In the end, the news only came out in February, a month before the winter test of the new season. Hamilton reportedly wanted a multi-year contract, but a one-year deal is now on the table. What are the plans now?
“Lewis needs to decide what his future holds for him so I wouldn’t want to comment on where he stands (in 2022). On the other side, the team needs to decide long-term what we are going to do about our drivers. Valtteri (Bottas) and Lewis have our 100 per cent commitment and loyalty for 2021. We will support them with everything we have. We will then look beyond this year and say what is the line-up that we imagine in 2022 and onwards," Toto Wolff said. “Our first discussion will be with Valtteri and Lewis in respecting our values of loyalty and integrity, but on the other side, the young drivers are the future and we need to consider how we want to set ourselves up for the years beyond. As long as Lewis enjoys racing he is very capable of going longer. He looks after himself, physically and mentally, so I don’t think in terms of ability that ends in 2021. But in the end, it is his decision," concludes the Mercedes team boss.
What are the salaries of F1 drivers?
Top 10
1) Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes – Annual Salary £40m
2) Max Verstappen: Red Bull – Annual Salary £18.2m
3) Charles Leclerc: Ferrari – Annual Salary £10.19m
4) Daniel Ricciardo: McLaren – Annual Salary £10.19m
5) Carlos Sainz: Ferrari – Annual Salary £7.28m
6) Sebastian Vettel: Aston Martin – Annual Salary £7.28m
7) Fernando Alonso: Alpine – Annual Salary £6.55m
8) Valtteri Bottas: Mercedes – Annual Salary £5.82m
9) Sergio Perez: Red Bull – Annual Salary £4.37m
10) Kimi Raikkonen: Alfa Romeo – Annual Salary £3.64m
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Saturday sprint races? Oh just fuck off with that bollocks.
Maybe they can add Mario Kart style power ups while they’re at it.
Maybe they can add Mario Kart style power ups while they’re at it.
Shhhh... Don't give them any bloody ideas!
1%er
Well-Known Member
Formula 1 commission to discuss calendar, engine freeze and sprint races
An engine freeze, the final 2021 calendar and a sprint race experiment will dominate talks between teams and the sport's chiefs in a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission today. The meeting, which will be attended by F1 management, teams, and the FIA, is set to vote on a series of changes that could have huge ramifications for the sport over the next few years. F1 is expected to tell teams that it has given approval for the Portuguese Grand Prix to go ahead on May 2.
The move, while finalising the opening stages of the season, will however require some extra commitment from teams because of quarantine restrictions in the United Kingdom. Portugal is currently on the UK's 'red list' of countries where anyone returning needs to complete a 10-day hotel quarantine on arrival. With elite sports having not been granted an exemption, it means F1 personnel are included on such a requirement, so any staff attending the Portuguese Grand Prix will be unable to return home prior to the following event in Spain.
One of the most interesting decisions that will be taken is whether or not to approve a proposal from F1 to trial Sprint Races at three grands prix this year. F1 wants to run a Saturday 100-km sprint qualifying race at the Canadian, Italian and Brazilian Grands Prix this year to see if the change of format helps improve the weekend experience. While a previous push to trial reverse grid races failed to get unanimous support, because Mercedes was wholly against the idea, there may be more backing for a sprint race format. Furthermore, a new governance structure that has been introduced for 2021 as part of the new Concorde Agreement means that unanimous support is no longer needed. Now a 'super majority' of 28 votes out of the 30 available (F1, the FIA and teams have 10 each) will be enough to get it passed.
The most complicated discussions of the meeting, though, could revolve around the possibility of an engine freeze from 2022. The proposal has been pushed hard by Red Bull, which wants a freeze in place so it can take over the Honda engine project from next year without the need for an expensive development budget. But the move is not just about Red Bull, because F1 is clear that if a freeze is in place from 2022 onwards, then that will mean manufacturers can focus their efforts and budgets solely on a future powerplant that should come into play for 2025.
The situation is quite complicated though, because a push to use ever-greater sustainable fuels means that there could be the need for some engine developments in the short term. Furthermore, there are some concerns that if one engine manufacturer finds itself on the back foot at the start of 2022, the lack of any development could leave them facing several years of struggle. One idea being looked at, but not yet agreed, is for some form of equalisation structure to come into play, which will allow for all the power units to deliver roughly the same amount of performance. This could be achieved through allowing an increased fuel flow for any engine that is down on power at the start of 2022. But such a 'Balance of Performance' strategy for F1 risks opening a can of worms and has not so far had universal approval from all teams.
An engine freeze, the final 2021 calendar and a sprint race experiment will dominate talks between teams and the sport's chiefs in a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission today. The meeting, which will be attended by F1 management, teams, and the FIA, is set to vote on a series of changes that could have huge ramifications for the sport over the next few years. F1 is expected to tell teams that it has given approval for the Portuguese Grand Prix to go ahead on May 2.
The move, while finalising the opening stages of the season, will however require some extra commitment from teams because of quarantine restrictions in the United Kingdom. Portugal is currently on the UK's 'red list' of countries where anyone returning needs to complete a 10-day hotel quarantine on arrival. With elite sports having not been granted an exemption, it means F1 personnel are included on such a requirement, so any staff attending the Portuguese Grand Prix will be unable to return home prior to the following event in Spain.
One of the most interesting decisions that will be taken is whether or not to approve a proposal from F1 to trial Sprint Races at three grands prix this year. F1 wants to run a Saturday 100-km sprint qualifying race at the Canadian, Italian and Brazilian Grands Prix this year to see if the change of format helps improve the weekend experience. While a previous push to trial reverse grid races failed to get unanimous support, because Mercedes was wholly against the idea, there may be more backing for a sprint race format. Furthermore, a new governance structure that has been introduced for 2021 as part of the new Concorde Agreement means that unanimous support is no longer needed. Now a 'super majority' of 28 votes out of the 30 available (F1, the FIA and teams have 10 each) will be enough to get it passed.
The most complicated discussions of the meeting, though, could revolve around the possibility of an engine freeze from 2022. The proposal has been pushed hard by Red Bull, which wants a freeze in place so it can take over the Honda engine project from next year without the need for an expensive development budget. But the move is not just about Red Bull, because F1 is clear that if a freeze is in place from 2022 onwards, then that will mean manufacturers can focus their efforts and budgets solely on a future powerplant that should come into play for 2025.
The situation is quite complicated though, because a push to use ever-greater sustainable fuels means that there could be the need for some engine developments in the short term. Furthermore, there are some concerns that if one engine manufacturer finds itself on the back foot at the start of 2022, the lack of any development could leave them facing several years of struggle. One idea being looked at, but not yet agreed, is for some form of equalisation structure to come into play, which will allow for all the power units to deliver roughly the same amount of performance. This could be achieved through allowing an increased fuel flow for any engine that is down on power at the start of 2022. But such a 'Balance of Performance' strategy for F1 risks opening a can of worms and has not so far had universal approval from all teams.
Indeliblelink
\......👁&👁......./
They voted to trial the crappy sprint race idea.
F1 teams back 'sprint' race proposals at three Grands Prix
Formula 1 teams give their backing to a plan for shorter 'sprint' races at three Grands Prix this season.
www.bbc.co.uk
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Indeliblelink
\......👁&👁......./
Alonso has been involved in some sort of cycling accident in Switzerland.
Says he's conscious & "well in himself" so doesn't sound too serious.
Says he's conscious & "well in himself" so doesn't sound too serious.
Last edited:
cybershot
Well-Known Member
Qualifying on the Friday, so the sprint race should be reverse grid. Imo.
Indeliblelink
\......👁&👁......./
Guardian are saying that Italian media is reporting he has multiple fractures.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
What happens if an engine or gearbox blows? Is there a separate allocation for the sprint races? If yes, that makes a mockery of the cost savings, if no, it’s stupidly unfair.
Why is it so hard for the powers at be to realise all they need to do is make Sunday exciting? And to do that they just need overtaking. Which can be done, just needs the will. Massively restrict the wings, let them use proper ground effect. Done.
Why is it so hard for the powers at be to realise all they need to do is make Sunday exciting? And to do that they just need overtaking. Which can be done, just needs the will. Massively restrict the wings, let them use proper ground effect. Done.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Alonso has surgery on fractured jaw
Fernando Alonso suffered a fractured jaw in his cycling accident yesterday morning, his Alpine team have confirmed. However they expect the 39-year-old will recover in time to begin preparations for his return to Formula 1 this year. “Following his cycling accident yesterday Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland,” said his team in a statement. Medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw and conducted a successful corrective operation. The attending medical team are satisfied with his progress. “Fernando will remain under observation in hospital for a further 48 hours. Looking forward, after a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season. Alpine F1 Team and Fernando thank you for your wishes and will issue further updates when appropriate.”
Fernando Alonso suffered a fractured jaw in his cycling accident yesterday morning, his Alpine team have confirmed. However they expect the 39-year-old will recover in time to begin preparations for his return to Formula 1 this year. “Following his cycling accident yesterday Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland,” said his team in a statement. Medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw and conducted a successful corrective operation. The attending medical team are satisfied with his progress. “Fernando will remain under observation in hospital for a further 48 hours. Looking forward, after a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season. Alpine F1 Team and Fernando thank you for your wishes and will issue further updates when appropriate.”
1%er
Well-Known Member
He's OK according to the reports I've read. It seems he will be racing in IndyCar for Dale Coyne Racing in 2021, for some reason he will sit out the events on ovals (that's 4 races I believe). He thinks oval tracks are too dangerous and doesn't want to race on them.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Why F1 is going to be ‘very aggressive’ on new engine rules
Formula 1 has made no secret of the fact that it did not get its current engine rules right. While the move to turbo hybrids in 2014 was the right thing to do for sustainability reasons and keeping manufacturers interested, mistakes were made in how the power unit rules were framed. When pulling the new regulations together, engineers had run rampant in leading the charge about the exciting technologies that could be incorporated in the 1.4-litre turbos and their energy recovery systems. The result were overtly complex power units that proved hugely expensive to understand and develop. The combination of the MGU-H and MGU-K, plus a lot of design freedom in the overall concept, meant the complexity become an expensive challenge for manufacturers and prompted a number of headaches in the early years.
Honda’s experience of getting it so wrong on its F1 return acted as a deterrent for other manufacturers and the costs the Japanese manufacturer faced in hauling its way to the front ultimately proved a factor in it pulling out of the sport. The engines were not just bad for those designing and running them though. For fans, the biggest downside was that they robbed the sport of much of the emotion of the old screaming V10s and V8s. The lack of noise was a big gripe, and the impact of drivers having to save fuel left many of the sport’s followers unhappy that grands prix had been turned into economy runs.
Mistakes were also made in how F1 failed to market some of the positive messages of the power units. That the sport was unleashing the most powerful engines in grand prix history and ones that were the most efficient racing engines ever created got lost amid the other criticisms. As thoughts have turned to future power unit regulations, it is clear that F1’s chiefs are not going to make the same mistakes again. During discussions at Thursday’s F1 Commission meeting, one of the key decisions made was a framing of the progress of the move towards new engines rules. These had originally been planned to come into force for 2026, but teams agreed to bring that forward one year on the back of a unanimous decision to go for an engine freeze from 2022. A working group has now been set up to sort out what the new hybrid F1 engines should be like, with input from both current and potentially interested manufacturers.
Its stated aims have been agreed. They are: environmental sustainability and social and automotive relevance; fully sustainable fuel; creating a powerful and emotive power unit; significant cost reduction and attractiveness to new power unit manufacturers. Achieving all those targets will not be the work of the moment, but what is different this time around compared to when the 2014 engines were framed is that F1’s chiefs are fully aligned on where things need to go. Back when the original turbo hybrid rules were laid out, they were not helped by FIA president Jean Todt pushing hard for them, and then F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone being resistant and criticising them at every turn. Ecclestone famously lambasted the lack of noise to the media when the hybrids ran for the first time in testing even though he was nearly 1500 miles away back at his London offices as the cars were running in Jerez.
Now though not only is the FIA behind the push, but so too is F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali whose approach to the new rules comes against the backdrop of his understanding of the needs of F1 (through being a former Ferrari team boss) and that of manufacturers (from being a former Lamborghini CEO). He is convinced that power unit rules can be framed that can keep both manufacturers and fans happy as well as attract car makers not currently involved in F1. But getting the rules settled in the right way is not going to be straightforward which is why he has vowed not to sit back and let the mistakes of the past get repeated. Speaking recently about his mindset for the rules discussions, Domenicali made clear where the battle lines were drawn. “Despite the technology that has to be very relevant, we need to start from the cost and investment that are fundamental to make it attractive for any other OEM to either produce an engine or to be part of an engine plus chassis production. So engine and cost will be the big equation on which we need to start the discussion. We need to be very aggressive. But I am positive to say that we are attacking the right points, which will be fundamental to keep the interest on our platform, also from the technological point of view” he said.
While the discussions over the next months will inevitably hit some road blocks, the fact they are starting with some clear and agreed targets in mind that F1 is determined are hit, bodes well for what ends up being unleashed at the start of 2025.
Translation of Swiss Police report into Alonso's accident
Ticino division of the Swiss police has provided exact details on how the accident happened. “Just before 2pm in Viganello, a 42-year-old Swiss motorist domiciled in the Lugano area was driving in via La Santa in the direction of Pregassona. According to an initial reconstruction and for reasons that the police investigation will have to establish, while making a left turn manoeuvre to enter a supermarket parking lot, there was a collision with a 39-year-old Spanish citizen, who was riding his bicycle. He was passing the column of stationary vehicles in the opposite direction on the right. The collision occurred against the right side of the car. On the spot intervened agents of the cantonal police and, in support, of the police of the city of Lugano as well as the rescuers of the Green Cross of Lugano who after having given the first attention to the cyclist transported him by ambulance to the Hospital. The 39-year-old suffered a fractured jaw,” read the report.
A statement released on Friday morning from Alpine said: “Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland. Medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw and conducted a successful corrective operation. The attending medical team are satisfied with his progress. Fernando will remain under observation in hospital for a further 48 hours.” The French team expects the two-time world champion to fully recover from his cycling accident for the pre-season testing, claiming that Alonso “will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season.”
Following the corrective operation, Alonso tweeted on his social media account: "Thanks for all your wishes, I’m ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway."
Hulkenberg to be Aston Martin's reserve and test driver in 2021
Nico Hulkenberg looks set to become Aston Martin's regular test and reserve driver in 2021. Last season, the 33-year-old driver filled in for Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll three times due to corona infections. The partnership went well and now it looks set to continue. The signatures have not yet been signed, but it is expected that it will all be done soon. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer recently confirmed that Hulkenberg is a 'great option'. The current plans are for Hulkenberg to become more involved with the team. The German will also get into the simulator to get to know the new car better. Hulkenberg will not be present at every Grand Prix, but is reportedly on standby to fly in if necessary.
Formula 1 has made no secret of the fact that it did not get its current engine rules right. While the move to turbo hybrids in 2014 was the right thing to do for sustainability reasons and keeping manufacturers interested, mistakes were made in how the power unit rules were framed. When pulling the new regulations together, engineers had run rampant in leading the charge about the exciting technologies that could be incorporated in the 1.4-litre turbos and their energy recovery systems. The result were overtly complex power units that proved hugely expensive to understand and develop. The combination of the MGU-H and MGU-K, plus a lot of design freedom in the overall concept, meant the complexity become an expensive challenge for manufacturers and prompted a number of headaches in the early years.
Honda’s experience of getting it so wrong on its F1 return acted as a deterrent for other manufacturers and the costs the Japanese manufacturer faced in hauling its way to the front ultimately proved a factor in it pulling out of the sport. The engines were not just bad for those designing and running them though. For fans, the biggest downside was that they robbed the sport of much of the emotion of the old screaming V10s and V8s. The lack of noise was a big gripe, and the impact of drivers having to save fuel left many of the sport’s followers unhappy that grands prix had been turned into economy runs.
Mistakes were also made in how F1 failed to market some of the positive messages of the power units. That the sport was unleashing the most powerful engines in grand prix history and ones that were the most efficient racing engines ever created got lost amid the other criticisms. As thoughts have turned to future power unit regulations, it is clear that F1’s chiefs are not going to make the same mistakes again. During discussions at Thursday’s F1 Commission meeting, one of the key decisions made was a framing of the progress of the move towards new engines rules. These had originally been planned to come into force for 2026, but teams agreed to bring that forward one year on the back of a unanimous decision to go for an engine freeze from 2022. A working group has now been set up to sort out what the new hybrid F1 engines should be like, with input from both current and potentially interested manufacturers.
Its stated aims have been agreed. They are: environmental sustainability and social and automotive relevance; fully sustainable fuel; creating a powerful and emotive power unit; significant cost reduction and attractiveness to new power unit manufacturers. Achieving all those targets will not be the work of the moment, but what is different this time around compared to when the 2014 engines were framed is that F1’s chiefs are fully aligned on where things need to go. Back when the original turbo hybrid rules were laid out, they were not helped by FIA president Jean Todt pushing hard for them, and then F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone being resistant and criticising them at every turn. Ecclestone famously lambasted the lack of noise to the media when the hybrids ran for the first time in testing even though he was nearly 1500 miles away back at his London offices as the cars were running in Jerez.
Now though not only is the FIA behind the push, but so too is F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali whose approach to the new rules comes against the backdrop of his understanding of the needs of F1 (through being a former Ferrari team boss) and that of manufacturers (from being a former Lamborghini CEO). He is convinced that power unit rules can be framed that can keep both manufacturers and fans happy as well as attract car makers not currently involved in F1. But getting the rules settled in the right way is not going to be straightforward which is why he has vowed not to sit back and let the mistakes of the past get repeated. Speaking recently about his mindset for the rules discussions, Domenicali made clear where the battle lines were drawn. “Despite the technology that has to be very relevant, we need to start from the cost and investment that are fundamental to make it attractive for any other OEM to either produce an engine or to be part of an engine plus chassis production. So engine and cost will be the big equation on which we need to start the discussion. We need to be very aggressive. But I am positive to say that we are attacking the right points, which will be fundamental to keep the interest on our platform, also from the technological point of view” he said.
While the discussions over the next months will inevitably hit some road blocks, the fact they are starting with some clear and agreed targets in mind that F1 is determined are hit, bodes well for what ends up being unleashed at the start of 2025.
Translation of Swiss Police report into Alonso's accident
Ticino division of the Swiss police has provided exact details on how the accident happened. “Just before 2pm in Viganello, a 42-year-old Swiss motorist domiciled in the Lugano area was driving in via La Santa in the direction of Pregassona. According to an initial reconstruction and for reasons that the police investigation will have to establish, while making a left turn manoeuvre to enter a supermarket parking lot, there was a collision with a 39-year-old Spanish citizen, who was riding his bicycle. He was passing the column of stationary vehicles in the opposite direction on the right. The collision occurred against the right side of the car. On the spot intervened agents of the cantonal police and, in support, of the police of the city of Lugano as well as the rescuers of the Green Cross of Lugano who after having given the first attention to the cyclist transported him by ambulance to the Hospital. The 39-year-old suffered a fractured jaw,” read the report.
A statement released on Friday morning from Alpine said: “Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland. Medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw and conducted a successful corrective operation. The attending medical team are satisfied with his progress. Fernando will remain under observation in hospital for a further 48 hours.” The French team expects the two-time world champion to fully recover from his cycling accident for the pre-season testing, claiming that Alonso “will be able to progressively resume training. We expect him be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season.”
Following the corrective operation, Alonso tweeted on his social media account: "Thanks for all your wishes, I’m ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway."
Hulkenberg to be Aston Martin's reserve and test driver in 2021
Nico Hulkenberg looks set to become Aston Martin's regular test and reserve driver in 2021. Last season, the 33-year-old driver filled in for Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll three times due to corona infections. The partnership went well and now it looks set to continue. The signatures have not yet been signed, but it is expected that it will all be done soon. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer recently confirmed that Hulkenberg is a 'great option'. The current plans are for Hulkenberg to become more involved with the team. The German will also get into the simulator to get to know the new car better. Hulkenberg will not be present at every Grand Prix, but is reportedly on standby to fly in if necessary.
dessiato
🇪🇸 my spirit is crying for leaving
He's right. I used to go to Daytona for race week, and the racing is very fast, and very close to the barrier. After what he went through I'd not go near an oval.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Red Bull announces engine company
Following Honda’s decision to exit Formula One as a power unit manufacturer at the end of the 2021 season, Red Bull has reached an agreement with Honda Motor Co Ltd to use Honda F1 power unit technology from the beginning of the 2022 season. This follows the FIA’s introduction of a Formula 1 power unit development freeze that takes effect from the beginning of the 2022 season. The Red Bull/Honda agreement covers the duration of the development freeze, enabling the use of Honda power unit technology in both Red Bull Racing and, sister team, Scuderia AlphaTauri’s cars until the next generation engines are introduced in 2025.
In order to run the project, a new company named Red Bull Powertrains Limited has been formed. This new division will be housed and operated from Red Bull Racing’s F1 Team base on the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes. “We have been discussing this topic with Honda for some time and following the FIA’s decision to freeze power unit development from 2022, we could at last reach an agreement regarding the continued use of Honda’s hybrid power units,” said Red Bull Motorsport Advisor, Dr Helmut Marko. “We are grateful for Honda’s collaboration in this regard and for helping to ensure that both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri continue to have competitive power units. The establishment of Red Bull Powertrains Limited is a bold move by Red Bull but it is one we have made after careful and detailed consideration. We are aware of the huge commitment required but we believe the creation of this new company is the most competitive option for both teams.”
Why the McLaren MCL35M will be F1 2021's most different car
When McLaren pulls the covers off its new MCL35M at its Woking factory this evening, the expectation is of it being Formula 1's most different car of 2021. With teams forced to carry over their chassis from last season to this one, as part of cost-saving measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the scope for radical overhauls are quite limited. McLaren's switch from Renault to Mercedes engines, however, has forced it to do quite a lot with its upgraded car. With power unit packaging being a core component of current F1 design, and manufacturers each having unique approaches to their overall concept, McLaren has had to make some significant changes.
That much was made clear by the team last month when it talked about where its focus had been over the winter. "Whereas every other team will carry over most of its car from last year into this year, our switch to the Mercedes power unit means that's not the case for us," said McLaren production director Piers Thynne. "It's driven a huge amount of change and, essentially, we've been building a new car. The number of new parts on the MCL35M is about the same as when we built the MCL35."
But while the extensive changes to the chassis, gearbox housing, cooling layout and electrics have all been prompted by the Mercedes move, McLaren will not be immune to other factors forced on other teams. The main challenge thrown at everyone is the new aero rules that have been introduced by the FIA to cut downforce and help limit some of the stresses being put through tyres. The changes to the floor and rear of the car have a much bigger impact on car performance than how they look and could well become a talking point in the early part of the year.
For McLaren, they come against the backdrop of its targeting some key areas of improvement for the MCL35M which it hopes will help it try to repeat its top three finish in the constructors' championship. For while the car was strong in high-speed corners and under braking, there were some inherent weaknesses that it hopes to address. Speaking about these, technical director James Key said: "I think in terms of weaknesses, we still need to improve ourselves a bit in low speed. It's not quite as weak as it was [in 2019], and that was one of the big pushes to try and improve that low speed, balance and consistency that we had in certain types of low speed corners. Then, in some conditions, the car doesn't perform quite as well as we'd like it to - and that's in some weather conditions or some grip conditions, which we can kind of see in the data."
David Croft and Martin Brundle will remain Sky’s commentary pairing for 2021
Sky Sports have appointed veteran producer Billy McGinty as their Director of Formula 1, Motorsport Broadcasting can confirm. A mainstay at Sky for many years, McGinty previously worked as a producer on Sky’s F1 coverage in their earlier seasons. An internal reshuffle in 2017 saw McGinty promoted to Senior Producer, moving over to work on Sky’s Premier League football coverage. Now, McGinty succeeds Scott Young as Sky’s Director of Formula 1, in a process that this site understands concluded late last year. Sky themselves have independently confirmed McGinty’s appointment to Motorsport Broadcasting.
By appointing McGinty, Sky have opted to stick with what they see as a safe internal hire, in a similar vein to how Martin Turner became Sky’s Head of F1 in 2011. In comparison, Young emerged from the outside, making unpopular decisions in the process. David Croft and Martin Brundle will remain Sky’s commentary pairing for 2021, as the broadcaster heads into their 10th year of F1 broadcasting. Speaking about his Sky future Brundle says that he expects to be replaced “soon”, and is surprised that such a move “hasn’t already happened. My job is very simple, I’ve got to put fans on the grid pre-race, in the cockpit during the race and on the pit wall, because that’s my knowledge base. I don’t need notes to do that,” Brundle said “Somebody will come along and blow me out of the water soon in terms of their knowledge and their work rate, and what they’re prepared to do to make Formula 1 television, and when it does, I’ll go and do something else. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already to be honest. I’m just looking at a new deal now [speaking at the end of 2020]. I haven’t started a Grand Prix since 1996, but I get away with that, as long as I’m still really up to date.”
Rumours that Sky, under Young’s leadership at the time, were looking to replace Brundle never came to fruition, Brundle now heading into his 25th F1 season as a full-time commentator. The 2021 season is set to begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday 28th March, with every race airing live on Sky Sports F1.
Following Honda’s decision to exit Formula One as a power unit manufacturer at the end of the 2021 season, Red Bull has reached an agreement with Honda Motor Co Ltd to use Honda F1 power unit technology from the beginning of the 2022 season. This follows the FIA’s introduction of a Formula 1 power unit development freeze that takes effect from the beginning of the 2022 season. The Red Bull/Honda agreement covers the duration of the development freeze, enabling the use of Honda power unit technology in both Red Bull Racing and, sister team, Scuderia AlphaTauri’s cars until the next generation engines are introduced in 2025.
In order to run the project, a new company named Red Bull Powertrains Limited has been formed. This new division will be housed and operated from Red Bull Racing’s F1 Team base on the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes. “We have been discussing this topic with Honda for some time and following the FIA’s decision to freeze power unit development from 2022, we could at last reach an agreement regarding the continued use of Honda’s hybrid power units,” said Red Bull Motorsport Advisor, Dr Helmut Marko. “We are grateful for Honda’s collaboration in this regard and for helping to ensure that both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri continue to have competitive power units. The establishment of Red Bull Powertrains Limited is a bold move by Red Bull but it is one we have made after careful and detailed consideration. We are aware of the huge commitment required but we believe the creation of this new company is the most competitive option for both teams.”
Why the McLaren MCL35M will be F1 2021's most different car
When McLaren pulls the covers off its new MCL35M at its Woking factory this evening, the expectation is of it being Formula 1's most different car of 2021. With teams forced to carry over their chassis from last season to this one, as part of cost-saving measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the scope for radical overhauls are quite limited. McLaren's switch from Renault to Mercedes engines, however, has forced it to do quite a lot with its upgraded car. With power unit packaging being a core component of current F1 design, and manufacturers each having unique approaches to their overall concept, McLaren has had to make some significant changes.
That much was made clear by the team last month when it talked about where its focus had been over the winter. "Whereas every other team will carry over most of its car from last year into this year, our switch to the Mercedes power unit means that's not the case for us," said McLaren production director Piers Thynne. "It's driven a huge amount of change and, essentially, we've been building a new car. The number of new parts on the MCL35M is about the same as when we built the MCL35."
But while the extensive changes to the chassis, gearbox housing, cooling layout and electrics have all been prompted by the Mercedes move, McLaren will not be immune to other factors forced on other teams. The main challenge thrown at everyone is the new aero rules that have been introduced by the FIA to cut downforce and help limit some of the stresses being put through tyres. The changes to the floor and rear of the car have a much bigger impact on car performance than how they look and could well become a talking point in the early part of the year.
For McLaren, they come against the backdrop of its targeting some key areas of improvement for the MCL35M which it hopes will help it try to repeat its top three finish in the constructors' championship. For while the car was strong in high-speed corners and under braking, there were some inherent weaknesses that it hopes to address. Speaking about these, technical director James Key said: "I think in terms of weaknesses, we still need to improve ourselves a bit in low speed. It's not quite as weak as it was [in 2019], and that was one of the big pushes to try and improve that low speed, balance and consistency that we had in certain types of low speed corners. Then, in some conditions, the car doesn't perform quite as well as we'd like it to - and that's in some weather conditions or some grip conditions, which we can kind of see in the data."
David Croft and Martin Brundle will remain Sky’s commentary pairing for 2021
Sky Sports have appointed veteran producer Billy McGinty as their Director of Formula 1, Motorsport Broadcasting can confirm. A mainstay at Sky for many years, McGinty previously worked as a producer on Sky’s F1 coverage in their earlier seasons. An internal reshuffle in 2017 saw McGinty promoted to Senior Producer, moving over to work on Sky’s Premier League football coverage. Now, McGinty succeeds Scott Young as Sky’s Director of Formula 1, in a process that this site understands concluded late last year. Sky themselves have independently confirmed McGinty’s appointment to Motorsport Broadcasting.
By appointing McGinty, Sky have opted to stick with what they see as a safe internal hire, in a similar vein to how Martin Turner became Sky’s Head of F1 in 2011. In comparison, Young emerged from the outside, making unpopular decisions in the process. David Croft and Martin Brundle will remain Sky’s commentary pairing for 2021, as the broadcaster heads into their 10th year of F1 broadcasting. Speaking about his Sky future Brundle says that he expects to be replaced “soon”, and is surprised that such a move “hasn’t already happened. My job is very simple, I’ve got to put fans on the grid pre-race, in the cockpit during the race and on the pit wall, because that’s my knowledge base. I don’t need notes to do that,” Brundle said “Somebody will come along and blow me out of the water soon in terms of their knowledge and their work rate, and what they’re prepared to do to make Formula 1 television, and when it does, I’ll go and do something else. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already to be honest. I’m just looking at a new deal now [speaking at the end of 2020]. I haven’t started a Grand Prix since 1996, but I get away with that, as long as I’m still really up to date.”
Rumours that Sky, under Young’s leadership at the time, were looking to replace Brundle never came to fruition, Brundle now heading into his 25th F1 season as a full-time commentator. The 2021 season is set to begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday 28th March, with every race airing live on Sky Sports F1.
