Formula One 2021

[Chris2K]

I assume that's because even a five second penalty would be enough to get Bottas into 2nd. I don't think anything's going to change though.

Amazing how Gio got that Fomula E drive in less than half a day, almost like this had been finalised weeks ago but nobody wanted to say anything.

[METALMAN]

1 hour ago, Lineker said:

 

LOCK HIM UP LOCK HIM UP

[Lineker]

Quote

Formula 1 officials have rejected Mercedes' request for a review of Max Verstappen's driving during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Stewards in Brazil ruled that there was no investigation necessary after Verstappen appeared to force Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes wide.

Governing body the FIA said Mercedes' appeal failed the test of raising significant new evidence into the case.

Hamilton later passed Verstappen to win the race last Sunday.

Mercedes had asked for the review on the basis that on-board camera footage from both cars had not been available when stewards made their decision not to investigate during the race.

The incident in question happened on lap 48 of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos.

Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen around the outside of Turn Four but the Red Bull driver ran wide and both ended up off the track in the run-off area.

The Mercedes driver passed Verstappen 11 laps later and went on to win, cutting his deficit to the Dutchman in the championship to 14 points.

The Brazilian Grand Prix stewards were reconvened to hear Mercedes' request for a "right of review".

They determined that the on-board camera footage did meet the tests required of it being "new", "unavailable at the time of the decision" and "relevant" but they said it was not "significant".

The ruling said: "There is nothing in the footage that fundamentally changes the facts. Nor even does this show anything that wasn't considered by the stewards at the time."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it was the "right decision".

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said the verdict was "completely expected" and that the team had succeeded in their aim of raising the matter as a point of discussion in the context of the intense title fight between the two drivers in the final three races of the season.

"It is more about the principle and the philosophy," Wolff said. "If it stays that way, it means overtaking from the outside is pretty much not possible any more because the inside controls the corner completely. You can see some of the drivers have expressed the same opinion.

"It is really important to understand what's on and what's not on because we don't want this championship to be decided by a controversial situation that ends up in the stewards' room. That's why now is the time to clarify the rules."

On Thursday, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc made the same point, saying: "If this is allowed then overtaking on the outside is going to be very difficult."

The drivers are expected to discuss the issue at their briefing with race director Michael Masi later on Friday.

The F1 rules say: "Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are strictly prohibited."

Horner added in a news conference on Friday alongside Wolff that Red Bull had questions about the legality of Mercedes' rear wing, which they believe is flexing on the straights and giving a speed advantage.

He refused to rule out making a protest against the Mercedes at one of the remaining races.

"We just want to ensure these cars are being scrupulously policed and are in full compliance," Horner said.

"If we believe the car is not in compliance, we will protest. The straight-line speeds we saw in Brazil, anyone can see was not a normal situation.

"When you see marks on wings that have been marking up from flexing, it's very clear what has been going on. You protest if you believe a competitor is not complying with the rules."

Wolff denied that the wing was illegal, said the wing had been inspected by the FIA and that "there is nothing on it that Red Bull expects there to be".

Horner challenged Wolff to explain how he could explain the scuff marks on the rear wing end-plate.

Wolff replied that any movement was within the compliance allowed in the rules.

 

[Chris2K]

A stonking lap from Lewis today, meanwhile Checo has really ballsed things up for Red Bull's constructors chances.

Also, this:

 

[Chris2K]

5 place grid penalty for Max and 3 place grid penalty for Bottas, both for failing to slow for the yellow flags for Gasly's puncture.

Ironically it means Gasly now lines up on the front row with Alonso 3rd.

[Lineker]

Congrats to Lewis on his victory.

[Chris2K]

Max is already second whilst Bottas is getting yelled at on the radio by Toto for falling to 11th and overtaking nobody.

[JasonM]

Get in there, Nando!

[Lineker]

Quote

Aston Martin have confirmed that Mercedes' Chief Aerodynamicist Eric Blandin will join the team in 2022.

Blandin headed up aero teams at Red Bull from 2005-09, Ferrari from 2010-11 and joined Mercedes to become their Principal Aerodynamicist in 2011 before being promoted to Chief Aerodynamicist in 2017. The Silver Arrows won seven consecutive constructors' championships from 2014 and are leading the 2021 standings by five points.

An Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Eric Blandin will begin working for Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team next year. His exact start date is not yet confirmed. The transition from Mercedes AMG F1 Team to ourselves will be an amicable one.”

Earlier this year, Aston Martin hired ex-Red Bull aero chief Dan Fallows and poached Luca Furbatto away from Alfa Romeo as part of a major technical reshuffle.

They have also started work on a new F1 factory and wind tunnel as they aim to become a World Championship-contending team.

 

[MJB]

Sir Frank Williams has passed away, aged 79.

Considering his accident in 1986, it's a remarkable achievement to make it this far but still terribly sad.

[Lineker]

An absolute legend. What a tragic loss. Thoughts to the family.

[Bobfoc]

The sale of his team last year felt like the end of an era, and this is obviously worse news. I don't think you could see a startup team like Williams succeed in the way they did back in the day now, but they were dominant in their prime. I really enjoyed seeing Pastor Maldonado pick up an unexpected win in 2012 for the team. It was a feel-good moment in a sport that became increasingly difficult for Williams to remain competitive in.

[The Lusophone]

Fewer team bosses or owners will ever achieve more than Frank Williams did - and it's such a shame he's died before what looks like a revival could be realised.

[Lineker]

 

[Lineker]

That lap from Max was always going to result in either a stonking pole or sticking into the wall.

[Lineker]

Quote

Formula 1 has proposed the six venues it wants to host sprint races in 2022, Autosport can reveal, as formal discussions begin with teams about next year’s format.

During Saturday’s regular meeting between team principals and F1 chiefs in the Jeddah paddock, it has emerged that an initial proposal about the 2022 sprint events was put forward.

While F1’s ideas remain in a very formative stage, and no vote was taken about whether or not to definitely push on with the concept for next year, several key details were outlined.

In particular, multiple team sources have confirmed that F1 revealed its preference for the six grands prix it wants to hold the sprints.

The locations proposed are:

Bahrain Grand Prix – Sakhir
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Imola
Canadian Grand Prix – Montreal
Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring
Dutch Grand Prix – Zandvoort
Brazilian Grand Prix – Interlagos

While it is believed that teams are generally happy with the sprint race format carrying on in to 2022, the key factor now is for teams and F1 to agree on the finances going forward.

This year teams were given extra income as a crash allowance, in case they sustained expensive damage in accidents during the Saturday sprint.

Sources suggest F1 would prefer for the crash allowance to be replaced by a set fee for next year. However, there is some disagreement between outfits about how this should fit in with the cost cap.

Those outfits on the limit of the cost cap would prefer the extra finance to be added on to what they are allowed to spend for the season, while other squads would prefer the cost cap limit to stay put and instead all teams simply receive the extra cash.

An initial proposal put forward is understood to be around $500,000 per sprint race up to a maximum of five events, with an extra payment for subsequent events added on top.

The issue of the money is viewed by a number of teams as absolutely critical to the sprint format going ahead, which is why agreement will be needed on that front before F1 gets involved in talks about other changes.

One team source said: "We cannot accept losing money to take part in the sprint races."

While discussions will now focus on the money aspect, teams have been told that should the issue be sorted then there are other tweaks that F1 would like to make to the sprint format.

Among the ideas that have been mentioned are for points to be awarded to the top ten finishers in the sprint, rather than just the top three as been the case this season.

Furthermore, F1 is eager to get the FIA to change the rules to stipulate that, on sprint weekends, the official pole position will go to the driver who is fastest in Friday’s qualifying session rather than the sprint winner.

F1 also wants further discussions with the teams about whether or not to make the sprint events standalone, so they do not influence the grid for Sunday’s race.

 

[MJB]

Imola and Zandvoort are stupid ideas.

Bahrain, Baku, Silverstone, Monza, Austin and Interlagos should be the six. Actually, there shouldn't be any at all, but if there has to be six, it should be those. 

[Bobfoc]

There seems to have been a horrible crash in the F2 race.

[Lineker]

1 minute ago, Bobfoc said:

There seems to have been a horrible crash in the F2 race.

Not good.

[Bobfoc]

Verstappen just had a massive slice of fortune.