Topic: The 2021 Formula 1 “Gives you whinge…”

[paulrazor]

Think if Hamilton wins number 8 he moves to Ferrari if that's an option at the time.

i am not sure why people think he will

he only will if ferrari is competitive and challenging which for now they arent

i know mercedes werent when he went there but he was much younger, at this stage of his career he wont want to wait long for ferrari to get their act together.

he will either stay at mercedes for good or retire

[west_london_red]

They will presumably want someone who has been involved in the development of the new car under the new regs as well. Changing both drivers at the end of the season could be unwise.

Not sure that matters so much these days with such limited testing allowed.

[west_london_red]

i am not sure why people think he will

he only will if ferrari is competitive and challenging which for now they arent

i know mercedes werent when he went there but he was much younger, at this stage of his career he wont want to wait long for ferrari to get their act together.

he will either stay at mercedes for good or retire

It makes little sense for Ferrari or Hamilton (as you point out). Leclerc is the future of the team, no point rocking that boat to put in a 36 or 37 year old and paying him a shit load of money to do it.

[paulrazor]

It makes little sense for Ferrari or Hamilton (as you point out). Leclerc is the future of the team, no point rocking that boat to put in a 36 or 37 year old and paying him a shit load of money to do it.

yeah thats another reason, i believe leclerc has about 3 years left on his deal and sainz is just gone there

very young dynamic line up

im watching f1 since 1995 and Ferrari dont really change line up all that much.

Since then, Alesi, Berger, Schumacher, Irvine, Barrichello, Massa, Raikkonen, Alonso, Vettel and LeClerc were the only full time drivers (not counting subs)

10 full time drivers in 27 seasons

[El Lobo]

I'm sure it gets asked every month in here, but why is there such an obsession with the idea that Hamilton wants to race for Ferrari 'at some point'? He's never driven anything other than a Mercedes engine competitively, has he? Strikes me as pretty much a Mercedes poster boy.

[Wild Romany Boy]

Comfortable winner next year for me.

The real story is how close Verstappen and Leclerc can get. In the case of the former, I hope not very.

[Skeeve]

I wonder if he would be interested in racing in something other than F1, giving himself a new racing challenge once he has all the big records, but without necessarily having to step down to a lesser F1 side like the current Ferrari e.g. giving Formula E a try would fit with his environmental interests.

[paulrazor]

I'm sure it gets asked every month in here, but why is there such an obsession with the idea that Hamilton wants to race for Ferrari 'at some point'? He's never driven anything other than a Mercedes engine competitively, has he? Strikes me as pretty much a Mercedes poster boy.

I've been saying it above. I don't get it. It makes less and less sense by the year

I'm sure every driver ever would love a Ferrari stint on their cv. But not one where you don't win and certainly not for the sake of it.

[west_london_red]

I've been saying it above. I don't get it. It makes less and less sense by the year

I'm sure every driver ever would love a Ferrari stint on their cv. But not one where you don't win and certainly not for the sake of it.

It’s a terrible cliche, like every footballer dreams of playing for Read Madrid/Barcelona.

[Welshred]

As part of the deal he and Mercedes are going to be setting up a foundation on inclusivity and diversity so I don't think you'll see him driving for Ferrari at all, he's tied in to Mercedes for a long time.

[bradders1011]

A Monaco-based outfit has announced they're going to be alongside USF1 and StefanGP in a listicle on WTF1 in 2035:

https://www.racefans.net/2021/02/08/new-monaco-f1-racing-team-seeking-to-enter-formula-1/

[TepidT2O]

That €200m fee is going to keep costs down isn’t it?  Hahaha

[gazzalfc]

Sprint races replacing Saturday quali back on the agenda

Reverse grids have been dropped

Qualifying for the Saturday race would take place on Friday.

The top eight drivers in the 'sprint' race would earn approximately half the points awarded for the grand prix.

The 'sprint' race would be about 100km - a third the length of a grand prix - and would replace qualifying, which takes place on Saturday afternoon or evening.

Qualifying for the sprint race would replace second practice, which is on Friday afternoon or evening.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55992727

[voodoo ray]

I reckon it'll probably get voted down.

As usual in F1 all the teams complain about something then don't vote to change it when push comes to shove.

[Skeeve]

What would a sprint race be supposed to fix though if they had it?

[Graeme]

What would a sprint race be supposed to fix though if they had it?

Q3 shenanigans I’d imagine

[jackh]

How would the Sunday grid be determined - the final standings of the sprint race?

[jackh]

Breaking possibilities...

Formula 1 intends to fill vacant slot on 2021 F1 calendar with race in Portugal

Up until now, the 23-race 2021 F1 calendar has featured a big ‘TBC’ for the Grand Prix set to run on May 2. But following a meeting of the F1 Commission, it’s been confirmed that a return to the Portimao circuit in Portugal is the preferred option to fill the gap.

...

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-intends-to-fill-vacant-slot-on-2021-f1-calendar-with-race-in.28jk1fAAJnXXFldO7v4DHf.html

'Broad support' from F1 teams for new sprint race format at some races

Formula 1, the FIA and the championship’s 10 teams have offered 'broad support' to proposals to introduce a new qualifying format – in the form of a Saturday sprint race – at selected Grands Prix this season.

...

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.broad-support-from-f1-teams-for-new-sprint-race-format-at-some-races.7o0u5or8wIxY62OgYYjtcY.html

Engine freeze for 2022 agreed, with low-cost, sustainable power units set for 2025

A proposal to freeze power unit development from 2022 has been given unanimous approval at a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission, with the FIA, Formula 1, the teams and the power unit manufacturers also aligning on lower cost, carbon neutral, sustainably fuelled hybrid units from 2025.

...

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.engine-freeze-for-2022-agreed-with-low-cost-sustainable-units-set-for-2025.3sO0b3CQbaiqBIOCoxcZUm.html

[west_london_red]

What would a sprint race be supposed to fix though if they had it?

I can’t see how it adds any more excitement or entertainment. Over a longer distance the faster car will usually come out on top. A driver might be able to pull out an amazing lap in current qualifying and get the car higher up the grid then it would otherwise be, but over 25 laps that’s not going to happen.

But I can see it being very profitable, more racing to watch, more eyeballs, more advertising, more ticket sales.

[gazzalfc]

No one watches free practice sessions. This will at least get eyes on the show

[CraigDS]

No one watches free practice sessions. This will at least get eyes on the show

I do.

And isn't the sprint race designed to replace qualy, not FP sessions?

[Graeme]

Fernando Alonso has been injured cycling in Switzerland...

https://twitter.com/alpinef1team/status/1359954932800061441?s=21

[gazzalfc]

I do.

And isn't the sprint race designed to replace qualy, not FP sessions?

Quali for the sprint race will take over FP3. You basically lose 1 of the FP sessions

[jackh]

Bit of a double whammy if you make a mistake in qualifying...

Edit - on reflection, I suppose that'd be a tough blow for most of the field (who might struggle to make it through the pack in the sprint race and therefore start in lacklustre position in the grand prix) but potentially quite exciting if it's one of the front-runners...

[gazzalfc]

Fernando Alonso has been injured cycling in Switzerland...

https://twitter.com/alpinef1team/status/1359954932800061441?s=21

BBC F1 reporter Andrew Benson

Hearing from sources close to Alonso that he has a broken jaw and will be taken to Bern, where there is a specialist unit for such injuries

[TepidT2O]

Well he’s not going to be ready for the start of the season then... oops.

[jackh]

Well he’s not going to be ready for the start of the season then... oops.

You never know...

Alonso F1 comeback still on despite driver breaking jaw in cycling accident

• Alpine team confident Spaniard will be on grid in March
• Alonso had minor operation and is recovering in hospital

...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/12/fernando-alonso-f1-comeback-still-on-despite-driver-breaking-jaw-in-cycling-accident-motor-sport

Update:

https://twitter.com/AlpineF1Team/status/1360174829115219978

[Darren G]

Good news. Lookimg forward to seeing Fernando back on the grid.

[paulrazor]

Hopefully competitive

[Graeme]

Red Bull and Honda have reached an agreement to continue using the power unit after Honda depart at the end of the season. McLaren car launch 7pm today

[paulrazor]

Red Bull and Honda have reached an agreement to continue using the power unit after Honda depart at the end of the season. McLaren car launch 7pm today

i think honda pledged to go full belt to end of this year, there is a freeze on development coming i think for next year so next years engines will be the same as they will be 2025 i think

[jackh]

Red Bull and Honda have reached an agreement to continue using the power unit after Honda depart at the end of the season. McLaren car launch 7pm today

Red Bull agree deal to run Honda engine technology until 2025

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-red-bull-agree-deal-to-run-honda-engine-technology-until-2025.3wmTSMrtsv6miuwqApz8IT.html

Red Bull and AlphaTauri will continue to race Honda power units from next season through to the end of 2024 after reaching an agreement to run the Japanese technology despite the manufacturer opting to leave the championship at the end of this season.

Honda have secured five race victories to date in their three-year partnership with the Red Bull family, but last October announced they would leave F1 when their current agreement expired at the end of 2021, leaving Red Bull and AlphaTauri without an engine supplier.

Following the news, Red Bull entered talks with Honda to find a way to continue using the technology – rather than return to Renault power, with the French manufacturer obliged to supply them under the current rules – and following confirmation last Friday that engine development would be frozen from 2022 onwards, the two agreed a deal.

The four-time world champions have formed a new company – Red Bull Powertrains Limited – to run the project, with the new division operated from Red Bull’s base 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 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.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner added: “This agreement represents a significant step for Red Bull in its Formula 1 journey. We were understandably disappointed when Honda made the decision to leave the sport as an engine manufacturer, as our relationship yielded immediate success, but we are grateful for their support in facilitating this new agreement.

“Honda has invested significantly in hybrid technology to ensure the supply of competitive power units to both teams. We now begin the work of bringing the power unit division in-house and integrating the new facilities and personnel into our Technology Campus. In the meantime, we are fully focused on achieving the best possible results in what will be Honda’s final season as an official power unit supplier.”

Honda, who first returned to F1 in this era with McLaren in 2015, said coming to such an arrangement was “the right thing to do”.

Honda’s Chief Officer Brand and Communication Operations Koji Watanabe said: “Honda is pleased that, following our decision to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2021, we have been able to reach an agreement for the two Red Bull-owned teams to use our F1 PU technology in F1 after 2021.

“We are fully committed to our goal of Honda being carbon neutral by 2050, which is why we are diverting our F1 resources to this new target. However, as a company that has been involved in Formula 1 for several decades, we felt it was the right thing to do to help our two current teams and indeed the sport as a whole.

“By allowing Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri to use our F1 PU technology it should ensure they can race competitively, which is also good for the sport and the fans.”

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

[CornerFlag]

Going to need to see comparison photos but it looks incredibly 2020esque.

[voodoo ray]

floor's been pulled in towards the rear wheels. some nose changes I think too.

but the regs for this season are very similar to last after fucking covid pissed all over what should have been an exciting time for f1 car reveals.


also when you consider a few years ago they looked like they couldn't find a sponsor if they actually paid them, their race suits are now absolutely plastered in them.

[west_london_red]

The freeze on engine development after this year, is that as straight forward as it sounds? Ie there is zero development of engines, so whatever they finish the season with is what they will use for the next 3 years, or is there a token system that allows some development?

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Going to need to see comparison photos but it looks incredibly 2020esque.

[voodoo ray]

gone quite merc with the nose there.

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

gone quite merc with the nose there.

Talking of Merc, where is the branding/logo? Had Renault on the engine cover last year.

[voodoo ray]

Talking of Merc, where is the branding/logo? Had Renault on the engine cover last year.

that is quite odd, but I did notice there's a gap on the race suits high on the left side of the chest where that usually goes.