Formula 1

[PG]

Robert Kubica is still the team's reserve/test driver, and the Polish Oil company Orlen is their title sponsor

That explains it, mystery solved, thanks

 

[37424]

The teams will vote that down. It becomes too expensive (particularly now there is a cost cap) and adds risk for the Sunday race. It also won't do anything to reduce a certain team dominance as Merc will still more than likely win the sprint race and main race.

Well I hope they don't vote it down because I think it would be interesting to try it, as qualifying for this would replace second practice, that's less time for the team and driver to dial in for maximum performance, it would seem points are stake as well I think that could mix things up quite a bit, worth trying on a limited basis.

 

[Darandio]

Details are to be confirmed but all teams supported the plan to introduce sprint races on three weekends this season.

 

[Domh245]

Details are to be confirmed but all teams supported the plan to introduce sprint races on three weekends this season.

That is a surprise, although I heard it suggested that the 3 weekends they'd be trialled at were Canada, Brazil & US* - all of which are far from likely to happen! An engine freeze from 2022 has also been agreed, which lays the grounds for Red Bull to keep using the Hondas

edit:*It was italy that was the third one, which probably will go ahead but the other two are obviously still big question marks!

 

[158756]

Presumably Italy was chosen to avoid the farcical scenes of recent qualifying sessions there. I don't remember anything similar in Canada or Brazil?

 

[RichT54]

Alpine F1 driver Fernando Alonso is “conscious” and “well in himself” after being involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/95082...nso-conscious-hospital-after-cycling-accident

Alpine Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is “conscious” and “well in himself” after being involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland.

The two-time world champion, who is making his comeback this season with the rebranded Alpine F1 team following a two-year hiatus from the sport, was cycling in Switzerland when the accident occurred.


According to reports in Italy and Spain, Alonso was hit by a car while on Swiss roads near Lugano. Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Alonso was admitted to a hospital in the area, with early examinations showing suspected fractures.

His Alpine team issued a statement confirming Alonso had been involved in the incident on Thursday evening, though it did not confirm the extent of the Spaniard’s injuries. Alonso is now awaiting further medical checks on Friday, when a further update is expected to be issued.

“Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Fernando Alonso has been involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland,” a team statement said.

“Fernando is conscious and well in himself and is awaiting further medical examinations tomorrow morning.

"Alpine F1 Team will not make any further statement at this point in time. Further updates will be given tomorrow.”

The accident comes with pre-season testing in Bahrain only a month away ahead of the start of the 2021 F1 season.

 

[JohnMcL7]

I've seen a few other motorsports series try sprint races and some mix it with reverse grids and similar but I've never thought they added anything to the main race (excluding 'sprint' races for endurance cars). I think it's going to be worse for F1 cars since it's often a procession between pit stops and the cars are much more fragile than GT or touring cars so can't easily be patched up after prangs for another race.

 

[JamesRowden]

I've seen a few other motorsports series try sprint races and some mix it with reverse grids and similar but I've never thought they added anything to the main race (excluding 'sprint' races for endurance cars). I think it's going to be worse for F1 cars since it's often a procession between pit stops and the cars are much more fragile than GT or touring cars so can't easily be patched up after prangs for another race.

Just think of the sprint race as the first quarter of the main race with:

• Bonus points awarded for 25% distance positions
• A red flag
• Someone knocked out in the first 25% of the race gets to take part in the restart from the back of grid

 

[D365]

Alpine F1 driver Fernando Alonso is “conscious” and “well in himself” after being involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/95082...nso-conscious-hospital-after-cycling-accident

Hoping for the best.

 

[RichT54]

Alpine has issued an update on Alonso's condition and say he will be fit for the start of the season.

Double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has undergone a successful corrective operation on a fractured jaw and is expected to be fit in time for the 2021 season.

Alonso was struck by a car near his Lugano home in Switzerland while out on a training ride on his bike and was taken to hospital, where he was kept under observation after medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw. He underwent a successful operation and will remain under observation in the hospital for a further 48 hours.


His Alpine team says they expect Alonso, who is returning to F1 this season after a two-year hiatus, to be able to resume training in a matter of days and anticipate that he will be fit for the start of the upcoming 2021 season, which begins in six weeks time.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/950828/1/twotime-f1-world-champion-alonso-has-surgery-fractured-jaw

 

[PG]

Alpine has issued an update on Alonso's condition and say he will be fit for the start of the season.

Glad to hear that Alonso is likely to recover and compete in F1 this year. The cynic in me might wonder if he could use the fracture as a reason to do fewer media interviews!

 

[greatvoyager]

Glad to hear that Alonso is likely to recover and compete in F1 this year. The cynic in me might wonder if he could use the fracture as a reason to do fewer media interviews!

I’m really fascinated to see how he gets on. I’m glad he is doing well though.

 

[KashmireHawker]

BIG stuff for 2022!

Red Bull, AlphaTauri and Honda, have struck agreement meaning Red Bull Powertrains Limited, will for 2022, 2023 and 2024 create both teams Engines - via the use of Honda's technology!

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.

Today’s announcement follows the FIA’s introduction of a Formula One 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.

Red Bull To Take On Honda F1 Power Unit Technology From 2022

Red Bull form powertrain company following agreement with Honda to use the Japanese manufacturer’s F1 power unit technology.

www.redbull.com

 

[LOL The Irony]

Williams and Haas are in the running for BWT sponsorship

Haas and Williams linked to BWT F1 sponsor move

The iconic pink colour of Austrian water treatment company BWT could remain in Formula 1 this year, with sources indicating it has held talks with Haas and Williams

www.autosport.com

The iconic pink colour of Austrian water treatment company BWT could remain in Formula 1 this year, with sources indicating it has held talks with Haas and Williams.

BWT was the title sponsor of Racing Point last year, having worked with the Silverstone-based outfit since 2017.

Its famous pink livery proved to be a standout in the series, and achieved its most famous moment when Sergio Perez triumphed at the Sakhir Grand Prix last year.

However, Racing Point's rebranding as Aston Martin, and preference to run a British racing green livery, meant that BWT's partnership with the team ended.

While there has been no confirmation that BWT will continue its involvement in F1, sources have indicated to Autosport that the company has been looking at two choices to keep its colours in grand prix racing.

However, rumors are that it's going to be Williams, considering that Williams ran an all blue livery during their recent shakedown, ala 2014 before the Martini livery.

 

[KashmireHawker]

Birmingham and Southam based Codemasters, has today offcially been taken over by Electronic Arts for £945 Million, meaning EA have got back the Formula 1 Gaming Licence, for the 1st time since 2003.

Electronic Arts and Codemasters Establish a New Global Powerhouse for Racing Videogames & Entertainment

Electronic Arts Inc. Completes Acquisition of Codemasters Group Holdings plc Combining the Top-tier Talent and Expertise Across Codemasters Formula 1, DIRT, GRID, DiRT Rally, and Project CARS with EAs Need for Speed Franchise, Real Racing Mobile Game Immediate Growth Opportunities for...

ir.ea.com

The combination of Electronic Arts and Codemasters marks an exciting new era in racing game entertainment. Bringing together two of the most passionate, creative and talented game developer and publishing organizations in the industry will enable further growth and continued success for a stable of the most powerful and popular racing brands in the world, including Formula 1®, Need for Speed, DIRT, DiRT Rally/WRC, GRID, Project CARS, Real Racing and more. With this critically acclaimed portfolio, Electronic Arts and Codemasters will be positioned to bring fans a regular cadence of new and exciting racing content, in addition to reaching across more platforms and more regions of the world.

 

[greatvoyager]

Williams and Haas are in the running for BWT sponsorship

Haas and Williams linked to BWT F1 sponsor move

The iconic pink colour of Austrian water treatment company BWT could remain in Formula 1 this year, with sources indicating it has held talks with Haas and Williams

www.autosport.com

However, rumors are that it's going to be Williams, considering that Williams ran an all blue livery during their recent shakedown, ala 2014 before the Martini livery.

Interesting, so we might see a pink Williams.

 

[Domh245]

It's preferable that it goes to williams just so we can lose one of the 4* blue-y teams from the F1 graphics

*Mercedes, Williams, Alpine, Red Bull

 

[gswindale]

Birmingham and Southam based Codemasters, has today offcially been taken over by Electronic Arts for £945 Million, meaning EA have got back the Formula 1 Gaming Licence, for the 1st time since 2003.

Electronic Arts and Codemasters Establish a New Global Powerhouse for Racing Videogames & Entertainment

Electronic Arts Inc. Completes Acquisition of Codemasters Group Holdings plc Combining the Top-tier Talent and Expertise Across Codemasters Formula 1, DIRT, GRID, DiRT Rally, and Project CARS with EAs Need for Speed Franchise, Real Racing Mobile Game Immediate Growth Opportunities for...

ir.ea.com

I've never been overly impressed with the F1 games since Microprose/Geoff Crammond stopped developing them.

I think GP3 was probably one of the best as there was a huge community around it with a great range of alternative/historic circuits.

The original was great as you could straight-line the chicanes at Monaco, Montreal & Monza without a real penalty if you got it right. Think I finished about 8 laps up once at Monaco with close to 60s lap times!

 

[LOL The Irony]

I think GP3 was probably one of the best as there was a huge community around it with a great range of alternative/historic circuits.

GP4 is also the same, people are still making mods for it to this day.

 

[greatvoyager]

I think that the Alfa Romeo has the best livery so far.

 

[JohnMcL7]

Just think of the sprint race as the first quarter of the main race with:

• Bonus points awarded for 25% distance positions
• A red flag
• Someone knocked out in the first 25% of the race gets to take part in the restart from the back of grid

I don't see how any of that is appealing or beneficial to F1 racing, the same problems are going to be present exactly as they are in the main race since the cars can't dial it up for the shorter race so it just means a pointless addition of more laps of procession driving. Which if anything are going to be even worse than the main race since there will be no pit stops to mix it up. As I've said, I've seen a few series try sprint races but I've never seen one where it was beneficial because the cars are designed for a certain type of racing and can't simply change sufficiently to make a sprint race a worthwhile addition.

 

[najaB]

...the same problems are going to be present exactly as they are in the main race since the cars can't dial it up for the shorter race so it just means a pointless addition of more laps of procession driving.

I've not yet looked into the details of this, but what is the starting order for the sprint race? If I was in charge the sprint race would be in reverse grid order from the finishing places in the previous race which would result in anything other than a procession.

Edit: Actually, maybe a reverse grid based on average finishing position for the previous three races or overall championship position might be more representative.

 

[DelW]

I've not yet looked into the details of this, but what is the starting order for the sprint race? If I was in charge the sprint race would be in reverse grid order from the finishing places in the previous race which would result in anything other than a procession.

Edit: Actually, maybe a reverse grid based on average finishing position for the previous three races or overall championship position might be more representative.

I think it was proposed that there would be a "normal" qualifying session for the sprint race on the Friday afternoon.

I'd like to see reverse grid order for the sprint, based on current drivers' points. Where several drivers have the same points score (which would include everyone for the first race of the season), have a random draw for sprint race grid positions.

Sprint finishing order would be main race grid order, non-finishers in the sprint would get grid places either by random draw again, or by reverse points order.

I'm undecided whether there should be points for the short race as well as the main one, but if so, maybe award 9-6-4-3-2-1 as was traditional many years ago.

 

[Domh245]

I'd like to see reverse grid order for the sprint, based on current drivers' points. Where several drivers have the same points score (which would include everyone for the first race of the season), have a random draw for sprint race grid positions.

A bit like formula e, which set their qualifying groups in reverse championship order with the championship leaders going first and having the notional worst track to contend with. No need to complicate things with random draws for settling draws when countback is used elsewhere (who has the most 1st positions, if drawn again, the most 2nds, and so on) - first race of the year I'd go with last year's championship positions with rookies at the front, themselves ranked reverse championship positions from the previous year, so the last rookie on the grid formation is the F2 champion/highest placed finisher and so on

Sprint finishing order would be main race grid order, non-finishers in the sprint would get grid places either by random draw again, or by reverse points order.

Again no need to complicate things, you can just take the complete final classification from the sprint race to form the main grid - first person to DNF is at the rear of the field and last person to DNF lines up just behind the last person to cross the line in the sprint race

 

[JamesRowden]

I don't see how any of that is appealing or beneficial to F1 racing, the same problems are going to be present exactly as they are in the main race since the cars can't dial it up for the shorter race so it just means a pointless addition of more laps of procession driving. Which if anything are going to be even worse than the main race since there will be no pit stops to mix it up. As I've said, I've seen a few series try sprint races but I've never seen one where it was beneficial because the cars are designed for a certain type of racing and can't simply change sufficiently to make a sprint race a worthwhile addition.

I'm going to enjoy them.

 

[37424]

I don't see how any of that is appealing or beneficial to F1 racing, the same problems are going to be present exactly as they are in the main race since the cars can't dial it up for the shorter race so it just means a pointless addition of more laps of procession driving. Which if anything are going to be even worse than the main race since there will be no pit stops to mix it up. As I've said, I've seen a few series try sprint races but I've never seen one where it was beneficial because the cars are designed for a certain type of racing and can't simply change sufficiently to make a sprint race a worthwhile addition.

I think it will mix it up more than people think, If teams are drivers are not dialed in quickly then they are not going to get a good qualifying position for the sprint race. If they end up at the back through a collision etc, then the top drivers are not going to have that much time to get back through the field like the main race, if they get a DNF then presumably they will at the back of the grid for the main race, then there is always the possibility of a wet sprint race etc.

The were a few procession races last year but most were enjoyable, especially races that were red flagged and restarted, and you can think of the GP with sprint races as one of those.

 

[greatvoyager]

I think it will mix it up more than people think, If teams are drivers are not dialed in quickly then they are not going to get a good qualifying position for the sprint race. If they end up at the back through a collision etc, then the top drivers are not going to have that much time to get back through the field like the main race, if they get a DNF then presumably they will at the back of the grid for the main race, then there is always the possibility of a wet sprint race etc.

The were a few procession races last year but most were enjoyable, especially races that were red flagged and restarted, and you can think of the GP with sprint races as one of those.

I believe this will also mean less time to set up the car, so the drivers will face a bigger challenge, which I think could make it interesting.

 

[Domh245]

I believe this will also mean less time to set up the car, so the drivers will face a bigger challenge, which I think could make it interesting.

I don't think it'll be too much of a factor - the increasingly good simulators that teams use means that they'll have a setup that's pretty well dialled in before they arrive at the circuit. We saw this at Imola where there was a single practice session but no real surprises when it came to qualifying and the race. It'll only really be a factor on new street tracks where teams won't have as much data to work from

 

[greatvoyager]

I don't think it'll be too much of a factor - the increasingly good simulators that teams use means that they'll have a setup that's pretty well dialled in before they arrive at the circuit. We saw this at Imola where there was a single practice session but no real surprises when it came to qualifying and the race. It'll only really be a factor on new street tracks where teams won't have as much data to work from

Would wear be increased? Assuming that the sprint race will be more than 10 laps, potentially driving on the limit may cause more issues on individual components.

 

[Domh245]

Would wear be increased? Assuming that the sprint race will be more than 10 laps, potentially driving on the limit may cause more issues on individual components.

Overall I don't think it'd have an impact. I don't think that the track time over a race weekend would significantly increase, so there's no reason to believe that wear would be increased either. How the FIA treat the sprint races for engine allocation will be interesting to see however