Popular Post BOF Posted January 7, 2021 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2021 Link to 2020 thread here I think I saw more VillaTalk interest in Formula One last season than I have in living memory on here, which is great to see. Whether it was positive or negative, either way people cared enough to comment and I see that as a positive. So without further ado, let's kick off this year's iteration with the usual mixture of facts, changes, calendars and a bit of opinion etc etc. It's early this year because I'm motivated, and also I know how much @bickster loves seeing this thread in OT Firstly we'll start with the launch dates1. McLaren - Feb 15th (VT) 2. AlphaTauri - Feb 19th (VT) 3. Alfa Romeo - Feb 22nd (VT) 4. Red Bull - Feb 23rd (VT) 5. Mercedes - Mar 2nd (VT)6. Alpine - Mar 2nd (VT)7. Aston Martin - Mar 3rd (VT)8. Haas - Mar 4th (VT) 9. Williams - Mar 5th (VT) 10. Ferrari - Mar 10th (VT) TEAM CHANGES 1. Renault are re-branding their F1 team from, eh, Renault ... to their recently re-launched legendary racing brand - Alpine (Al-peen). They also seem to have nicked Suzuki's very highly rated title-winning MotoGP team boss Davide Brivio to run the operation, although at time of writing this has not yet been confirmed. 2. Lawrence Stroll's Racing Point team have finalised their re-brand to Aston Martin. 3. McLaren have switched power units and will now have a Mercedes in the back of the car instead of a Renault. 4. ... and finally Williams will also use a Mercedes gearbox along with the existing Mercedes power unit instead of building their own one, in a move which has been seen as pragmatism over idealism. DRIVER CHANGES There have been plenty of changes up and down the grid in terms of bums on seats. Compared to only 2 changes last season, we have 8 changes this season, with 3 of those being incoming rookies, 4 switcheroos, 1 significant prodigal son and the return of a famous surname. To start off the domino action. Fernando Alonso returns to F1 with Alpine taking over the seat vacated by ... Daniel Ricciardo's switch to McLaren, because of ... Carlos Sainz's move to Ferrari, which necessitated/co-incided with ... Sebastian Vettel's moves to Aston Martin, which meant a frantic last minute move for ... Sergio Perez to Red Bull, resulting in ... Alex Albon being placed in the DTM series by Red Bull for 2021. The only non-domino affected moves were the 3 rookie drivers moving up from Formula 2. Haas moves both Kevin Magnussen & Romain Grosjean out of F1 in place of the new Formula 2 Champion and one Mick Schumacher, and his even more headline grabbing team-mate (if that was even possible...) in the young Russian hot shot head, Nikita Mazepin. Last but not least, Daniil Kvyat makes way at AlphaTauri for young Japanese ace Yuki Tsunoda. TEAM ENGINE CHASSIS DRIVERS Mercedes Mercedes W12E Lewis Hamilton Valtteri Bottas Red Bull Honda RB16B Max Verstappen Sergio Pérez McLaren Mercedes MCL35M Daniel Ricciardo Lando Norris Aston Martin Mercedes AMR21 Sebastian Vettel Lance Stroll Alpine Renault A521 Fernando Alonso Esteban Ocon Ferrari Ferrari SF21 Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz Jr. AlphaTauri Honda AT02 Pierre Gasly Yuki Tsunoda Alfa Romeo Ferrari C41 Kimi Räikkönen Antonio Giovinazzi Haas Ferrari VF-21 Mick Schumacher Nikita Mazepin Williams Mercedes FW43B George Russell Nicholas Latifi CALENDAR Obviously this whole thing will exist under one giant asterisk until we live in more certain times, but they've sure picked a hell of a year to try and have the largest Formula One calendar in history. They're aiming for 23 races, and already the original season opener in Australian has moved to November due to very tough COVID-19 sanctions around sporting events in Australia, so Bahrain kicks off the season. There is also a yet-to-be-scheduled race 4 in the calendar with places like Mugello and Portimao in Portugal having been mooted to fill that slot. Imola has replaced China at race 3 and China may yet be re-scheduled but is currently off the calendar. 1. Bahrain Sakhir 28/03/2021 2. Italy Imola 18/04/2021 3. Portugal Algarve 02/05/2021 4. Spain Barcelona 09/05/2021 5. Monaco Monte Carlo 23/05/2021 6. Azerbaijan Baku City 06/06/2021 7. Canada Montreal 13/06/2021 8. France Paul Ricard 27/06/2021 9. Austria Red Bull Ring 04/07/2021 10. G Britain Silverstone 18/07/2021 11. Hungary Budapest 01/08/2021 12. Belgium Spa-Francorchamps 29/08/2021 13. Netherlands Zandvoort 05/09/2021 14. Italy Monza 12/09/2021 15. Russia Sochi 26/09/2021 16. Singapore Marina Bay 03/10/2021 17. Japan Suzuka 10/10/2021 18. USA Austin 24/10/2021 19. Mexico Mexico City 31/10/2021 20. Brazil Interlagos 07/11/2021 21. Australia Melbourne 21/11/2021 22. Saudi Arabia Jeddah 05/12/2021 23. Abu Dhabi Yas Marina 12/12/2021 **. China Shanghai T.B.D. Massive rule changes originally scheduled for 2021 have been put back to 2022 meaning this season is a much more stable playing field than it would have been, but it still has its fair share of modifications below. SPORTING REGULATIONS 1. Teams are required to allow a driver who has competed in fewer than 2 Formula One Grand Prix in his career to replace one of their race drivers on one Friday practice session over the course of a season. This criteria is automatically satisfied if one of your drivers is a rookie. 2. Rules around incorrect tyres have been modified. Teams who fit a mixed compound or the wrong driver's tyres to a car will be allowed to complete 2 laps before the driver must pit to correct the error, or face a penalty. This used to be a likely disqualification and is in response to Mercedes' Sakhir blunder resulting from a technical malfunction outside of their control. 3. Red flagged race time limit has been reduced from 4 hours to 3 hours. TECHNICAL REGULATIONS 1. A limited list of components which can be modified has been drawn up as a cost cutting measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. Adjustments to the outer floor to reduce downforce however have been mandated by the FIA 3. Special dispensation can be applied for in the above list e.g. McLaren needing to accommodate a new power unit. 4. This has led to a 'token' system whereby each team gets tokens (time and money) that can be spent on certain areas of their car. This has proven controversial as some teams think other teams have an advantage by not needing to spend tokens on certain areas of their car that get resolved/provided for by parent teams or customer parts. RACE WEEKEND STRUCTURE 4 day race weekends are now 3, with Thursday's media and promotional work being moved to the Friday morning. This will be accommodated by the time between existing Friday activities being reduced. Cars will be under Parc Fermé rules from practice 3 now instead of after qualifying, reducing the time cars can be modified. The Formula W series will be one of the supporting racing series this season alongside the existing Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Supercup. And that's about the size of it for now peeps. This thread is a living, breathing thing which will grow and change over time. Only 73 days to go (to Australia though ...) 3 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted January 7, 2021 Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2021 25 minutes ago, BOF said: It's early this year because I'm motivated, and also I know how much @bickster loves seeing this thread in OT F*** Me, in lockdown I might even enter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 7, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2021 1 minute ago, bickster said: F*** Me, in lockdown I might even enter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Vettel’s 2021 helmet design 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 8, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2021 Aston do have a very cool default colour with British Racing Green in fairness. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 8, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2021 The Race have ranked the driver line-ups for 2021. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Withnail Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 . McLaren have switched power units and will now have a Mercedes in the back of the car instead of a Renault. Is that going to be a) more speed or b) better reliability? Or a a little of both? Just asking for a Smiley friend of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzavfc Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Everything I see about Mazepin make him look like a prick. Is he actually a good driver or is he just there for the Russian sponsorship money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 9, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 9, 2021 20 minutes ago, Mozzavfc said: Everything I see about Mazepin make him look like a prick. Is he actually a good driver or is he just there for the Russian sponsorship money? He's quick. Arguably a better qualifier than Mick. He did come 5th in F2 and won as many races as Mick too. He's not in F1 solely because of money, although the money has pushed him to the top of the queue, where he might otherwise have had a few others ahead of him. So he's no dodo, but he's a hyper aggressive driver. Ruthless. He has driven people off the road on more than one occasion this season rather than take what's coming. Which is yet another insight into what is a person who will do whatever the **** he wants in life. It's almost as if being a Russian billionaire's son has given him the impression he can do what he wants in life and succeed. Which ... he has. He won't get away with any of that in F1 with the added scrutiny that cones with the territory, but it'll be a blast watching it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Anyone know what the story is with Lewis? 2 months till the season start and he hasn’t signed a contract. He’s filthy rich, is he being super greedy? Are Mercedes trying to reduce their budget? Anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 11, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 11, 2021 Abiteboul has left Renault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 11, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 11, 2021 1 hour ago, Genie said: Anyone know what the story is with Lewis? 2 months till the season start and he hasn’t signed a contract. He’s filthy rich, is he being super greedy? Are Mercedes trying to reduce their budget? Anything else? I'm sure he'll sign in the end, but I've read a few things suggesting his position has been weakened, both by Russell's cameo in Sakhir and by Lewis's huge demands which Daimler are not thrilled about meeting, because of Russell's emergence. I'm sure it's all posturing and playing chicken, although it's also probably not completely beyond the realms of possibility that Daimler just lose patience and promote George. But that would probably be madness on their part. Here's Webber Quote Mark Webber believes George Russell’s call-up to replace Lewis Hamilton for the Sakhir Grand Prix couldn’t have come at a worse time for the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, who is negotiating a new Mercedes deal. And it was a video I watched re- Daimler not liking his demands but I can't find it at the moment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 33 minutes ago, BOF said: I'm sure he'll sign in the end, but I've read a few things suggesting his position has been weakened, both by Russell's cameo in Sakhir and by Lewis's huge demands which Daimler are not thrilled about meeting, because of Russell's emergence. I'm sure it's all posturing and playing chicken, although it's also probably not completely beyond the realms of possibility that Daimler just lose patience and promote George. But that would probably be madness on their part. Here's Webber And it was a video I watched re- Daimler not liking his demands but I can't find it at the moment. I did allude to this a few weeks ago, sticking a new driver in that car showed Mercedes and the world that they don’t necessarily need to chuck £40m+ at Lewis per year to be in the running for trophies. Of course, he’s so good it tilts it in your favour but with businesses looking at ways to offset Covid losses it was awful timing for Lewis. With his other stuff outside of F1 I wonder if he’s tempted to jack it in. He’s made noises about it before. I remember year before last he was asking Jenson about when he knew it was time to quit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 11, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 11, 2021 26 minutes ago, Genie said: I did allude to this a few weeks ago, sticking a new driver in that car showed Mercedes and the world that they don’t necessarily need to chuck £40m+ at Lewis per year to be in the running for trophies. Of course, he’s so good it tilts it in your favour but with businesses looking at ways to offset Covid losses it was awful timing for Lewis. With his other stuff outside of F1 I wonder if he’s tempted to jack it in. He’s made noises about it before. I remember year before last he was asking Jenson about when he knew it was time to quit. Yeah he has said it a few times, so you wouldn't know. As I say, it's probably all bull and he'll sign but he's definitely thinking it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykeyb Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 3 hours ago, BOF said: Abiteboul has left Renault. I am surprised at that........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouUnastanFren Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Australian and Chinese GPs postponed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted January 12, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted January 12, 2021 Schedule updated. China has been replaced with Imola. Australia moves to 25th November. Brazil, Saudi & Abu Dhabi dates move to accommodate it. China could be re-scheduled but is currently not on the calendar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCDAN Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Not a bad season last year but it will hardly live long in the memory, hopefully a few new faces and some possibility of the mid field teams improving mean this could be a better season, were certainly overdue a classic year but it’s hard to see it while Merc are still dominating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lichfield Dean Posted January 23, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted January 23, 2021 He's back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted February 9, 2021 Author Moderator Share Posted February 9, 2021 I suppose we should mention that Lewis Hamilton has signed with Merc Although it is only for 1 year which is interesting. Gives both sides some flexibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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