Formula One 2021

[Lineker]

Gutted for Max.

[Chris2K]

Oh. Bye Lewis.

[Bobfoc]

I think I'd have settled for second place there.

[Twist]

Oh dear Lewis.

[Chris2K]

Ah, the Perez/Vettel/Gasly podium everyone predicted before the race.

Come on Crofty, this isn't "Aston Martin"'s first podium. This exact same team won six races ago, they just have a different name.

In all this excitement and happiness, let us not forget how utterly dreadful Valterri Bottas was this weekend. He's becoming a waste of the second Merc seat.

Great that Perez can go to all three teams to celebrate, his sister team, the former team (that he saved from bankruptcy) and his current team.

[Lineker]

What a fucking mental restart!!

[Twist]

I know Merc have made some snide comments about not changing drivers mid season but if they don’t they can kiss the constructors goodbye.

[Chris2K]

Pirelli's initial investigation into two instances of a tyre in the exact same position on the car exploding without warning on almost the exact same number of laps old on the exact same part of the circuit is that they were "caused by debris".

Sure.

[METALMAN]

I loved that race. It was so good to see Vettel on the podium again. I don't like Perez so was hoping Hamilton would get him after the restart but Vettel on podium makes it a net positive.

[Lineker]

Quote

Williams has announced the departure of its Formula 1 team principal Simon Roberts after 12 months with the British squad.

Roberts joined Williams last June as its managing director of F1 operations before taking over as interim team principal in September following the departure of the Williams family.

Roberts was appointed in the role on a permanent basis in December after the arrival of former Volkswagen motorsport chief Jost Capito as CEO.

But as part of the ongoing restructuring of the management team at Williams since its acquisition by Dorilton Capital last summer, the team has now announced that Roberts will leave his position.

“It has been a pleasure to take on the role of team principal following the departure of the Williams family from the sport,” Roberts said.

“However, with the transition well underway I am looking forward to a new challenge and wish everyone in the team well for the future.”

“Simon has played an integral role in managing the transition over the last 12 months and I would like to thank him for his great contribution during that time,” said Capito.

Roberts will not be replaced in the role, with the statement from Williams saying the restructuring would “further streamlines operations as part of the long-term objectives to return Williams to the front of the grid”.

Capito is set to take on the responsibilities of team principal in his role as CEO, while technical director FX Demaison will take accountability for both trackside and engineering. Ex-VW WRC project leader Demaison joined Williams back in March.

Roberts previously spent more than 15 years working for McLaren in F1, as well as spending a brief stint with Force India as chief operating officer.

Williams has undergone a number of significant changes since being bought by Dorilton last August, the most notable being the departure of team owner Sir Frank Williams and deputy team principal Claire Williams.

The takeover put an end to Williams’ financial concerns, allowing the team to focus more on improving the performance of its car after slumping to the bottom of the constructors’ standings in each of the past three seasons.

 

[Chris2K]

Kevin Magnussen will be returning to drive for McLaren...

 

 

In their IndyCar team, replacing the injured Felix Rosenqvist.

 

 

Also, Pirelli's final findings into the tyre blowouts was: "Debris not found to be the cause of the tyre failures in Baku; Pirelli say their tyres had "no production or quality defect", with blowouts caused by "circumferential break on the inner sidewall, which can be related to the running conditions of the tyre"; Teams adhered to the guidelines." Jenson Button has already called them out for their bullshit on Twitter.

[Lineker]

 

[Lineker]

Great race. Red Bull played a blinder on their strategies!

[Chris2K]

Seems like both Merc drivers told the team they wanted to 2 stop either before or during the race, and the team ignored them and went with the data they had. Don't blame them for being angry if that's the case.

[Lineker]

Lewis was angry, Bottas was fuming!

[Lineker]

Quote

Major changes are being made to two sections of the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Formula 1 season finale in December.

The circuit owners are understood to have approved plans to aid overtaking at the track by removing two series of slow corners.
The image above, produced by RaceFans, reflects the changes which are being made to the track. Turns four, five and six will be replaced with a single left-handed hairpin, leading drivers onto the first back straight.

Later in the lap the current turns 11, 12, 13 and 14 will be replaced with a single, sweeping left-hand curve. This will also be slightly banked.

The circuit, situated on the purpose-built island of Yas, has been the venue of the final race of the season every year since 2014. However drivers have regularly described it as one of the most difficult circuits to overtake on.

The first changes to the track, which F1 has raced at since it opened in 2009, are likely to significantly reduce lap times. Lewis Hamilton established the course record during qualifying for the 2019 race with a best lap of 1’34.779.

It is the latest in a series of circuits to undergo revisions this year. Last month F1 at the Circuit de Catalunya, which featured a remodelled turn 10. The Albert Park circuit in Australia, which is due to host the 21st round on the calendar, is also being extensively reworked.

With the addition of the new Jeddah Street Circuit as the venue for the penultimate round of the world championship, the final three races of the 2021 F1 season will all take place on new or significantly altered layouts.

 

[Lineker]

 

[Lineker]

Turkey back in for Singapore. 

[The Lusophone]

Why does Russia not have a flag?

[JasonM]

4 minutes ago, MadJack said:

Why does Russia not have a flag?

World Sports ban. Russia isn't allowed to be represented in world championship level sports due to them taking the piss with doping regulations for too long.

So Russian drivers aren't allowed to drive under the Russian flag, nor is the race in Russia allowed to be under the Russian flag. Now don't ask me why they still call it 'The Russian Grand Prix', because the whole ban is a bit of a mess.

At the same time Russia can partake under their own name in the Euros, but not in the World Cup. Because... reasons.