https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-what-cyril-abitebouls-shock-departure-means-for-alpine-and-why-hes.3C0RjWmcxxXLGgSwXITfQg.html
Formula 1, the FIA and the teams have formally agreed to run the single pre-season test in Bahrain on March 12-14. In the interest of cost saving, testing has been restricted to just three days in 2021, which means one and a half days of running for each driver. The test was originally expected to be held in Barcelona on March 2-4. However, as soon as it became clear some weeks ago that Australia would be postponed and Bahrain would become the opening race, teams agreed that it would be logical to hold the test at Sakhir, rather than go to Spain. Avoiding Barcelona guarantees good weather for the test as well as avoiding any COVID restrictions that might be in place in Spain. With the Australian GP now officially moved from March 21 to November 21, the season will start with the Bahrain GP on March 28. The test will take place on a Friday to Sunday, two weekends before the opening event, with 11 free days before the cars take to the track for FP1 in Sakhir. There was a debate about holding the test on the weekend before the opening race, on the date originally reserved for Melbourne. That would have required a change to the FIA sporting regulation that specifies that the test has to take place at least 10 days before the first event. Most of the teams were happy with that, because it would give them an extra week before cars and equipment had to be shipped out, and it would reduce accommodation costs. However McLaren, the only team to change its engine supplier over the winter, was opposed to the idea, as the team wanted to keep the normal interval in order to have time to properly assess its new package. It's understood that F1 was also keen to maintain a two-weekend gap. The change has an impact on car build schedules for the teams. With the original Barcelona test schedule they would have had to have take their new cars to Spain on around February 28. The cars now have to be ready to fly to Bahrain with the rest of the equipment on March 4-5. However both race cars – and a spare chassis – now have to make that date, whereas previously the second car would only have to be ready to fly to Melbourne a week later. This is the first time in the modern era of restricted testing that there has been no official running in Europe before the first race, although teams will still be able to conduct 100km filming days at tracks of their choice before their cars are flown out, if they have time. They can also potentially hold filming days in Bahrain in the days after the test. Bahrain last hosted a full pre-season test in 2014, which was the first season of the hybrid rules. However, it followed an initial session at Jerez. The choice of Bahrain creates obvious logistical challenges for the teams, as the venue is much further away from base than the usual winter venues in Spain, and it will be harder to fly parts back and forth. However teams will benefit from the fact that all their freight and garage equipment can stay in Bahrain, and mechanics will potentially be able to work in the garages during the break before the first race.
Guess who's not winning. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk7W71zuQkAbYC19ZpuIEsOO12feE0N-T9B2VIGXuG-9unDA/viewform
WTF? Does he have Rosberg and Hamilton confused? How many times did Hamilton screw over Rosberg? Valtteri Bottas says he will continue to "drive fairly" rather than emulate Nico Rosberg's tactics in trying to beat Lewis Hamilton. 1996 world champion Damon Hill is quoted as saying: "The only way to beat Lewis is to do what Nico did and make him feel uncomfortable." But Finn Bottas, who has now lost four consecutive titles alongside Hamilton at Mercedes since replacing Rosberg in 2017, responded: "There are many people who have suggested I should become a Nico Rosberg. "But I am not a Nico Rosberg," he told motorsport-total.com. "I prefer to let actions speak for themselves and drive fairly." Some believe Mercedes should have installed George Russell as Hamilton's teammate for 2021, and are now predicting that lineup for 2022. But Bottas said the current combination works well for Mercedes. "Our strength is that we can definitely work as a team," said the Finn. "We can drive hard, but we leave it at that. "We know that in the end the team will benefit from us working together, so we don't hide any setups, any data or anything else like that." However, Bottas also knows that he needs to finally challenge Hamilton in 2021. "You don't get a million opportunities in this sport," he said. "I know I don't have 15 seasons with Lewis to beat him. I know I have to try this year."
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/30780701/de-niro-boyega-star-formula-one-movie Hollywood legend Robert De Niro and Star Wars' John Boyega will feature in a fictional crime movie set in the world of Formula One.
Please stop enjoying it https://www.grandprix247.com/2021/01/27/hamilton-i-will-leave-f1-when-i-dont-get-that-smile/