F1 2020 season discussion and chat.

[thestaggy]

Official Portimão track map with sectors and DRS zones

Its a great looking track as well with a lot of elevation changes.

 

[Naks]

Its a great looking track as well with a lot of elevation changes.

jah, watch Chris Harris trash a Ferrari there - the camber changes are going to be hell!

 

[thirstycurve]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1316775088524537858

 

[thestaggy]

Translated from Italian.

Russell: from the Mercedes dream to the 2021 nightmare

From the dream of a lifetime to the worst nightmare that a driver can experience: the risk of finding himself on foot. All in less than four months, in which George Russell went from being one step away from joining Mercedes to the real risk of not participating in the next Formula 1 World Championship.

In the first days of summer, towards the end of June, Russell had been promoted from the top Mercedes: to the starting role in the 2021 World Championship alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Valtteri Bottas would be helped by Mercedes itself to find a 'B' plan with priority on the Aston Martin project. Then something jammed, and according to rumors gathered in the paddock, the operation was blocked by Williams, who held an option in her favor to keep Russell.

In full negotiation for the sale of the team, Claire Williams wanted to exercise the option in her favor to keep Russell, in fact a valuable asset for the team, despite George having been a 'junior' Mercedes driver for many years.

Closing in the bud any possibility of transfer of its driver, Williams announced on July 16 the confirmation of George for 2021, six weeks before admitting the change of ownership of the Grove team.

For Russell the short-term future has become very clear, which is his third season in Williams. Everything seemed to go according to plan until the final days of September, when Nikita Mazepin began evaluating the possibilities of entering Formula 1 in 2021.

The strong candidacy of the Russian driver has shaken a negotiation that seemed to have begun to end positively, that is the one between Sergio Perez and Haas, and the Mexican has thus sought a plan 'B', an alternative that somewhat surprisingly found in Williams .

Russell was set to join Mercedes. While negotiating to sell the team, Claire Williams, seeing Russell as an asset in the eyes of potential new investors/buyers, blocked the move.

With Nikita Mazepin looking to enter F1 with his millions, this potentially sees two drivers with money competing for one seat at Haas; Mazepin and Sergio Perez. The new owners of Williams are reportedly interested in signing one of them alongside Latifi.

This would be sad if true. Russell is immensely talented and it would be a blight on the sport if he loses a seat to a pay driver.

 

[Genisys]

Interesting video looking at facts about the Ferrari situation

 

[Naks]

Brazil out, Saudi Arabia in on leaked provisional 2021 F1 calendar

A first look at the potential 2021 Formula 1 calendar has been leaked with several changes included.

insideracing.com

1 Bahrain GP (Bahrain) 14 March
2 Vietnam GP (Hanoï) 28 March
3 China GP (Shanghaï) 11 April
4 Azerbaijan GP (Baku) 25 April
5 Dutch GP (Zandvoort) 2 May
6 Spanish GP (Barcelona) 9 May
7 Monaco GP (Monte-Carlo) 23 May
8 Canadian GP (Montreal) 6 June
9 Austrian GP (Spielberg) 20 June
10 French GP (Paul Ricard) 27 June
11 British GP (Silverstone) 11 July
12 Hungarian GP (Budapest) 25 July
13 Belgium GP (Spa) 29 August
14 Italian GP (Monza) 5 September
15 Russian GP (Sotchi) 19 September
16 Singapore GP (Marina Bay) 26 September
17 Japanese GP (Suzuka) 10 October
18 Australian GP (Melbourne) 24 October
19 US GP (Austin) 7 November
20 Mexican GP (Mexico) 14 November
21 Saudi Arabian GP (Jeddah) 28 November
22 Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina) 5 November

 

[Hamster]

Australia not the opener?

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

You would think that after this year they would have realised that the Tilke circuits are not what fans want.

 

[Hamster]

Monaco, Sochi and Canada are all still on the list :/

 

[cr@zydude]

Monaco, Sochi and Canada are all still on the list :/

The sun rises in the east, Americans prefer Nascar to F1 and Monaco will stay on the F1 schedule.

 

[Hamster]

The sun rises in the east, Americans prefer Nascar to F1 and Monaco will stay on the F1 schedule.

Such a **** circuit if we're honest.

 

[Naks]

this would be an absolute tragedy!

prevented from going to Merc by Claire Williams, who then quits, and leaves him to get axed?

Russell rumoured to be at risk amid Mazepin reports

George Russell's seat at Williams may be at risk after reports that Nikita Mazepin has signed for Haas leaving Sergio Perez potentially at Grove in 2021.

f1i.com

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Monaco, Sochi and Canada are all still on the list :/

Monaco i can understand, but Sochi is horrible lol

 

[Icemanbrfc]

this would be an absolute tragedy!

prevented from going to Merc by Claire Williams, who then quits, and leaves him to get axed?

Russell rumoured to be at risk amid Mazepin reports

George Russell's seat at Williams may be at risk after reports that Nikita Mazepin has signed for Haas leaving Sergio Perez potentially at Grove in 2021.

f1i.com

What a kak move if they drop Russell. I like him, and better than the useless Latifi

 

[bromster]

This could be the best possible news for Russell. If Williams is too stupid to see his talent, one of the big teams will almost certainly scoop him up.

The only conceivable reason I can see for this rumour being true is cost cutting measures at Williams.

 

[caroper]

Goodwood Speed Week - LIVE

50's era F1 - great stuff

 

[thestaggy]

You would think that after this year they would have realised that the Tilke circuits are not what fans want.

I am critical of Tilke's tracks, but to be fair, he designs tracks to the requirements of F1. F1 demands these wide tracks with acres of paved runoff and lately seem to have a fetish for street and pseudo-street circuits (Abu Dhabi, Sochi, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Singapore and now Saudi Arabia).

 

[Naks]

Portimao Tyre Choices

 

[UrBaN963]

So they will now be supplying both Ferrari and Red Bull.

 

[Agent_Smith]

From Formula1.com

Pirelli will bring their prototype 2021 compounds to Portimao, where they expect to use eight to 10 different variations of tyres. The test takes place during the first 30 minutes of FP2, and all teams and drivers are obliged to take part.

Each team is due to get three sets of Pirelli prototypes as well as specific run plans from the tyre supplier, with one driver running two sets and the other driver one during the half-hour period. The test is blind, but their feedback and the results will help shape the final 2020 tyres that Pirelli hope will have more integrity and be able to be run at lower pressures than this season.