#imola 2021 friday

[ummick]

"@.SchumacherMick and @.antdavidson had a little trouble with the planes 😂✈️" - april 16, 2021 📷 @.skysportsf1 / twitter

[grogumaximus]

As a performance engineer, he is the man who keeps an eye on all the data in a complex world like Formula 1 and leaves no stone unturned to see how to get even more speed out of the RB20. “For example, I can see how the tires behave individually, how high the temperature of the brakes is and how the hybrid systems of the engine behave,” says Hart in the Red Bull hospitality area.

Together with Lambiase, Michael Manning and David Mart, he is part of the regular group of engineers around world champion Verstappen.

“And GP is the one who talks to Max during sessions, so he has to filter all our information and assess what he finds relevant to pass on to Max. And then as a driver he now has an enormous library of experience. Max is ultimately the best sensor. He senses what he is up against and can make it very clear whether he wants to try something different and what exactly. He is very direct and knows what he wants. There is no room for politics or bullshit.”

In order to be able to empathize with Lambiase's work, Hart occasionally takes his position as race engineer, as was the case on Friday during both training sessions in Imola. Hart explains how a weekend is broadly divided.

“First we have to make sure that the car behaves as we expected. Then we look at how we can get more out of the speed over one lap. Where do we lose time in the bends, does Max feel limited somewhere at the beginning or at the end of such a bend? We then look at the longer runs and how we can protect ourselves against possible dangers.”

With the help of his engineer, a driver can adjust the necessary things on his steering wheel, for example when it comes to the brake balance or the differential. As far as Verstappen and Red Bull are concerned, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last year is a good example of this. For Verstappen, that race in Baku was the turning point in the season.

“In those first four races, Checo (teammate Sergio Pérez, ed.) and Max were close together. But in terms of setup and the tools he uses, Max has gone in a completely different direction since that race in Baku. He has twelve so-called switch positions that he can use. He tested many of them in Baku, while normally you use two or three in a weekend. Max learned a lot then, and so did we."

Since that race in Baku, more than a year ago, Verstappen has not won only three races. While the Dutchman himself is almost never completely satisfied with how a race weekend is going, this also appears to apply to his engineers.

“Coincidentally, we were still talking about it together on Thursday evening. We as engineers are a bit like the goalkeepers in football. It's only when we make a big mistake that it becomes noticeable. We have to keep pushing to see if we can improve anything in areas where we are not yet performing optimally. And even if we are faster than the rest in every corner, we are still not satisfied and we look at where we have left something behind. Everything worked great in China, and then in Miami with the same car we didn't have the speed. And then afterwards you can understand so well why that is, here in Imola there is a completely different asphalt, the conditions are different and the tire compounds are also different.”

Given the immense pressure and expectations, Hart considers Verstappen's victory in 2021 in front of his own audience in Zandvoort as his personal highlight. The Englishman started working as Alex Albon's performance engineer in 2020 before being transferred to Verstappen the following year.

“With Alex we mainly looked at how we could close the gap with Max with the same material. With Max you look less at the other side of the garage. His experience, not only in Formula 1 but also with other cars, helps us. Actually, after a racing weekend I am also a kind of translator. In the debrief Max tells us what his limitations were. Drivers speak their own language. We then look at his words with the people in the factory in combination with the collected data.”

And yes, Verstappen may be the most important sensor, but he also sometimes has to rely on the information from his engineers on the pit wall and in the garage. They now have the complete overview.

“Especially in races where we play the longer game ,” says Hart. “We can see what the lap times of the other drivers are and how the different tires are worn. For example, if we say that Max needs to change something on his handlebars, he may well think: the balance is now just right. But then we have to prepare for later in the race. If you wait until the front tires are on, you will be too late. We always have to think one step ahead, otherwise you go too slowly.”

[formulamelia]

i know it's too late but, it's only now that i could type this in.. i will try and catch up before Imola GP starts so... i hope you enjoy the read ✌️☺️🙏

Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Race Report

Hello again, everyone. We are together again in the aftermath of an Azerbaijan Grand Prix, through which we have been shocked & complained about the unnecessary changes to the formats and the regulations. As you already know, the FIA introduced the ''Sprint'' format in 2021 and spread it across the calendar in 2022. In addition, they made more changes to the structure for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which was to host one of the Sprint weekends of the 2023 calendar. For the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which they ran on the Baku Street Circuit, they held a regular 3-step Qualifying session on Friday, and the drivers started the race on Sunday according to the results of this session. However, on Saturday, they held another 3-step Qualifying, called the ''Sprint Shootout,'' and a 17-lap Sprint Race to which the drivers started according to the results of the ''Shootout''. The top 8 claimed championship points, but the results of the Sprint Race did not affect the main event. Anyways, let's leave this here. After all, this is not a complaint report. Now, let's look at what happened during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which was promising for some but an absolute frustration & nightmare for others.

A Weekend From Hell For The Rookies!

Unfortunately, the weekend in Azerbaijan became an absolute nightmare for our rookies. Misfortunes did not leave the kids, not for the qualifying, the sprint shootout, the sprint, or the race. Additionally, they had recently renewed the tarmac, which meant it was extra slippery, so they gathered the young drivers from the walls of Baku all weekend long. First, Logan Sargeant, who delivered a result that we consider significant, lost his chances of reaching Q3 by just a couple of tenths of a second. Then, however, a crash saw him out of the ''Sprint Shootout''. Because he could not have a timed lap, he also had to sit the Sprint race out. Starting the primary race from 15th place, Sargeant chased Zhou Guanyu lap after lap after lap but could not get through. Finally, after having to defend his spot for a long while after Zhou's DNF due to mechanical issues, he surrendered to Pierre Gasly, who had been chasing him very closely.

On the other hand, our other rookie, Nyck De Vries, truly experienced hell on Earth. Unfortunately, we gathered the Dutch rookie, who stopped the session by causing a red flag during qualifying, from the walls all weekend round. I want to emphasize that seeing him like this is heartbreaking because I love him dearly. But of course, I will not stop supporting him because this does not represent his true potential. The only driver among our rookies who did not live an absolute nightmare in Baku was McLaren's young star, Oscar Piastri. Piastri showed himself with his qualifying and sprint performances and the primary race. But he missed out on the last point and the 10th place by just a couple of tenths of a second. Nevertheless, we still congratulate him and hope for the continuation of his success.

Perez Is Flying, Again!

Of course, when we say Perez, everyone thinks of Baku. His weekend performance was not surprising because his performances on street circuits are always impressive, and he even received the nickname ''King Of The Streets'' among the fans. No one can dare deny that he showed an outstanding and superior performance throughout every session, including free practice and qualifying sessions. With this performance, not only did he claim the race win, but also he brought his team the 4th victory in 4 races. He also took the challenge to his teammate Max Verstappen, who is equally impressive on street circuits (even though he could not win this round). I am sure you will get mad at me, maybe even attack me, for saying this. But, contrary to the ''general census'', I do not think that Perez is ''better than'' Max Verstappen on street circuits. Yes, Perez is a great driver, and I do not deny that he performs incredibly well on street circuits. I can never deny that. But I also do not deny Max's exceptional drives on street circuits, constantly pushing the limits as if he is on a standard race track. Now that I stated that, I congratulate Perez for his fantastic drive and the win. I will continue supporting him.

A Lesson On Team Work From Aston Martin!

I want to mention the Aston Martin drivers again this week, especially. This week, they did something that brought tears to my eyes. First, let’s talk about the team's youngster, Lance Stroll. He usually receives criticism from everyone, even insults (and I'm afraid that's not right). But that kid, not only did he surprise me, he almost made me cry (happy tears). It was as if he was trying to re-prove himself with his impressive and nearly flawless drive in Baku. On top of his performance, he also went on the radio to say, "Fernando, I will not attack you; we are playing the same game,” to let him know that he would play fair. I can never forget the moment I heard that. I had tears in my eyes. Of course, the veteran Spaniard did not wait long to return the favor and make the absolute “big brother” move for young Lance. Nando also went on the radio and said, “Give Lance my brake settings; it seems to work well for now.” I can never forget this one, either. Honestly, both of them made me quite emotional. Aston Martin drivers taught the entire grid how to be a team with their moves. I extend my sincere hugs to both drivers and hope that they never lose this team spirit.

Is Ferrari Charging For Real?

On the Ferrari side, both the team and the supporters have experienced frustration after frustration. But it was as if the team came alive in Baku, despite making a miserable start to the season. Charles Leclerc was flying throughout the weekend. He had the pole position in the Qualifying session, and he went up to the podium for both the Sprint and the primary race. The young Monegasque made everyone think, “Updates must have worked well for Ferrari." Still, it's better to be realistic, even though it's sad. Sure, the car was much better compared to the previous races, and it was a perfect fit for the track. But the results came from Charles' hands. It would be unfair to deny his talent & skills. It still seems like there is a glimmer of hope for Ferrari. Sainz's results were not bad at all, either. We congratulate both drivers and extend our support.

FIA's Safety Flaws Are Never Ending!

We got sick and tired of trying to explain but trust us, the FIA did not get tired of ignoring safety measures. Without further redo, let me quickly explain what happened. As you also know, according to sporting regulations, every driver MUST have at least one pit stop during a race. However, when they come in for a pit stop is entirely up to the teams and their strategy crews. Alpine, taking full advantage of this situation, kept their young star, Esteban Ocon, on the track until the very last lap of the race. And to avoid possible penalties, they called him in for his mandatory pit stop right before the final lap had started. But the young Frenchman, and also us spectators, were shocked and even dumbfounded by what we saw the moment he entered the pit lane. The scene was HORRIFYING: press personnel, journalists, and photographers running around with cameras and a car that had just entered the pit lane! Later we found out that according to the regulations, the moment the race leader starts the final lap, photographers and press personnel are allowed into the pit lane to take pictures of the finish line. Rightfully so, the French driver was shocked by what he saw and went full force on the brakes. I just told you what happened, and I leave the judgment to the CONSCIENCE of all the racing fans. Because it seems the top people of the FIA do not have even a tiny glimpse of conscience.

Now, we will discuss the results: the flying Mexican, Sergio Perez, drove to victory in Baku. His teammate, Max Verstappen, saw the chequered flag in 2nd place, right behind him. With the Dutch champion’s 2nd place, Red Bull received their 4th 1-2 finish of the 2023 season, to which they have already made an impressive start. And on the 3rd step of the podium was Ferrari’s young star, Charles Leclerc, who was outstanding all weekend round.

That’s all for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. See you in Miami, everyone. Until then, much love :)))

[umgeorge]

george russell arrives to the circuit, imola, italy - april 16, 2021 📷 glenn dunbar / motorsport images

[off-t0-the-races]

It’s not the weekend yet, but today we get to see our boys back on the racetrack. It’s finally starting...

[ilovejevsjeans]

How Olympian race engineer Tom Stallard helped coach Daniel Ricciardo to Monza victory

Daniel Ricciardo and the ever-improving McLaren team were seen as a match made in Heaven ahead of the start of the 2021 season. But while it all came good at the Italian Grand Prix, Ricciardo’s win at Monza was a product of hours and hours of unseen work, and some confidence-shaking moments along the way. F1 Staff Writer Greg Stuart sat down with Tom Stallard, the man who’s race engineered Ricciardo throughout 2021, to trace the arc of that breakthrough Monza win.

You could make a strong case that Lap 52 of the Monaco Grand Prix marked the nadir in Daniel Ricciardo’s first season with McLaren. As the Australian exited Sainte Devote and accelerated up the hill, he dutifully jinked left to allow team mate Lando Norris to lap him, Norris acknowledging the gesture with a wave from his cockpit. Norris would go on to finish third. Ricciardo, who’d brilliantly won in Monaco just three years earlier for Red Bull, finished out of the points in 12th.

That was May – and yet just four months later, Ricciardo had taken McLaren back to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2012, capping off a superb Italian Grand Prix weekend with an emotional victory at Monza, and leading Norris home in a McLaren one-two.

How did that happen? Ricciardo’s race engineer Tom Stallard has been the man F1 fans have heard soothing and chivvying Ricciardo over team radio this year, a year in which success has been harder to come by than many had anticipated – and he was naturally delighted when Ricciardo combined all his learnings to take the assured win in Monza, his first victory since that 2018 Monaco triumph.

“I was super proud,” Stallard tells me as we chat in the paddock in Sochi, “because we've worked really hard this year to be honest, and it was nice to see him executing everything that we'd talked about and worked on.

“Obviously he did a fantastic job, but he actually did the job that we'd been talking about and working on together. He's a top driver, obviously, joined our team as a top driver, but we’ve actually had to work at it quite hard and in Monza, he really executed that.”

Why didn’t Ricciardo and McLaren gel immediately? Ricciardo’s stellar second half of 2020 with Renault – during which he took two podiums and finished every race in the points – combined with McLaren’s sharp upward trajectory and the arrival of Mercedes power units at the team for 2021, meant that many earmarked the Ricciardo/McLaren combination as a potential surprise package this season.

But despite claiming points in his first four races for the team – including convincingly leading Norris home in Barcelona – right from the off, Stallard says, there were issues.

“I think the Bahrain race [where Ricciardo finished P7 to Norris’ P4 on his McLaren debut] he did quite well, but that was with a lot of time in the car in the [Bahrain] test – I mean, not a lot of time but a bit of time at the test, and a circuit that suits him well,” says Stallard.

“And then at Imola [where Ricciardo finished P6 as Norris claimed a podium in P3] we kind of exposed the problems, if you like, that he was having with the car, and we understood the struggle that we would have.”

As you might expect from an engineer of Stallard’s experience (he joined McLaren back in 2008) his first reaction to the situation wasn’t to panic, but to put in place processes to help bring Ricciardo on.

“We put in place a plan of what we needed to do differently and how we needed to react. And since then actually, we've been on an upward trajectory from that point, but you don't always necessarily see that from the outside.

“There have been a number of races where after the race, he's been frustrated and I've been reassuring him that actually we are seeing progress, and we don't have the good results yet but they're coming.”

So what was it about the MCL35M that wasn’t suiting Ricciardo and his driving style?

“Ultimately,” says Stallard, “all the drivers would choose the same thing, which is very good rear stability, and front end that increases as you add steer. That is totally universal, but the truth is that having a car that does that is the Holy Grail of Formula 1 design; every team up and down this paddock is trying to do that, and succeeding to a greater or lesser extent.

“We have a car that understeers and that's been something that he's had to adapt to and modify his natural approach to get the best out of.”

One thing Stallard is at pains to point out is that, for all of Ricciardo’s famously insouciant manner, beneath the gigawatt smile there lurks one of the world’s top racing drivers, with a work ethic to match.

“Obviously Daniel seems like the most laidback guy in the world,” says Stallard, “but behind the scenes, under the water, the duck feet are going quite quickly.

“Because we were in lockdown and he was in Los Angeles [over the winter break], we did most of his initial integration virtually, and during that phase, he learnt all the switches, what all the toys do, how to use the steering wheel.

"We spent a lot of time talking through the strategy with Daren [Stanley], our strategist. And actually all the communication side, all of the switches, all the controls, he had completely down by the time he went to winter testing.

“He's been in the factory loads, doing the simulator, partly working on his driving with that, but also giving feedback to the team about what he wants from the car,” adds Stallard.

“And at no point during the phase where he was getting up to speed with our package did he question that there was any kind of, the team backing the other driver, or the engineers didn't know what they were doing, or the car was set-up wrong. He just knuckled down, got on with the work, and I think that the whole team has a lot of respect for him for that.”

Ricciardo endured an up-and-down run of form leading up to the summer break, the lows including a tough Styrian Grand Prix where he finished 13th to Norris’ fifth and a Hungarian Grand Prix where first lap contact with Charles Leclerc hobbled his McLaren, leaving him 11th at the flag.

But Ricciardo appeared rejuvenated after the summer break, nailing his best qualifying of the year at that point with P4 on the grid in Belgium – while after a race to forget for the whole McLaren team in Zandvoort, Ricciardo then put together what would ultimately be his winning weekend in Monza, qualifying P5 on Friday, racing to P3 in Saturday’s F1 Sprint before claiming that sensational victory in the race.

Indeed, it was Ricciardo’s anger at qualifying P5 on Friday at Monza (and just 0.006s off his team mate) that seemed to indicate that a change had come in the Australian’s expectations of the level he should be performing at – with Stallard noting the key difference in Ricciardo since the summer…

“I think the ‘frustration at being P5’ thing was there all along,” says Stallard. “For me, the difference with the break is that it helped him not overthink it, so he's adapted better to the way you have to drive our car without it being completely conscious every corner, what you need to do.

Daniel's easy to work with, because if you give him a problem to solve, he goes away and works at it, so the work ethic's always been good, which makes life easy,” adds Stallard. “He doesn't defer responsibility away from himself; he takes a lot on the chin, which means some of what I've had to do is keeping him, let's say, up, because he's taken a lot of responsibility for things himself.

“But from my side, that means he's great to work with, and that collaboration is very strong. And when we got to Monza, we both had a lot of confidence in each other, so that made the result in Monza feel very natural.”

Going forward

Ricciardo leading McLaren to their first victory since Jenson Button’s 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix triumph, and their first one-two since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix, was a fantastic moment for all at McLaren, and one that was warmly welcomed by most in the F1 paddock.

But Stallard was under no illusions during our chat in Sochi that Ricciardo is still on a journey to being fully comfortable in McLaren’s MCL35M car this season – a point Ricciardo would then back up himself a few days later when, despite finishing P4 in the Russian Grand Prix, he admitted that “there is still some stuff missing”.

“In Monza, the circuit and our technical package aligned well,” says Stallard, “and actually last year we came second there, so it's a circuit that suits our car and obviously Daniel did a very good job putting it all together, and the strategy was correct.

“He now understands how to drive the car; I think he's felt that himself rather than it just being explained to him, which means we have made another step. But it's a much more linear process than it appears from the outside.”

What Ricciardo does have in his corner, meanwhile – apart from the work ethic and talent that have made him an eight-time Grand Prix winner – is a race engineer in Stallard who has been an elite athlete himself, forming part of Great Britain’s silver medal-winning men’s eight rowing crew at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

And Stallard believes that his own experience as an athlete can help get the best out of Ricciardo, who signed to McLaren on a three-year deal that will take him into Formula 1’s bold new era of regulations with the team.

“In this sport, 20 years ago, the race engineers were very much engineers,” says Stallard. “But now we are coaches, and so we're using the data to guide the drivers in how to get the best out of the car.

“So I see myself now as a coach and I have a lot of experience of being coached, whereas a lot of the other race engineers… don't necessarily have the same experience of being coached. And I think that does give me an insight in terms of the struggles that people have when being coached, especially in a sport where on the way up, drivers often aren't coached that much and it gives me a good ability to manage the pressure and stay calm in what would be a pressured situation as well.

“And I also think that on any journey, although I describe it as a linear process, there's still ups and downs, and there'll be events in the future that are more difficult and that we'll have to respond to and react to. It would be naive to think it's plain sailing from here – but I think that it's a good next step.”(X)

[dailyf1]

LEWIS HAMILTON

↳ Imola Grand Prix 2021, Friday Free Practice

[f1]

Formula 1 announces venues for six F1 Sprint events across 2023 season

Formula 1 has revealed the venues that will play host to the six F1 Sprint weekends during the 2023 campaign, with the number of events doubling from the three staged in 2021 and 2022. F1 Sprint sees the standard one-hour qualifying session shifted to Friday, setting the grid for a 100-kilometre dash on Saturday, which in turn sorts the starting order for Sunday’s main event. Next year, the Sprints will be held in Azerbaijan (Baku Street Circuit), Austria (Red Bull Ring), Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), Qatar (Losail Circuit), the United States (Circuit of The Americas) and Sao Paulo (Interlagos). READ MORE: Formula 1 calendar to feature six Sprint events from 2023 onwards Interlagos continues as a Sprint venue after playing host in 2021 and 2022, while the Red Bull Ring also featured the revised format last season. Silverstone, Monza and Imola are the other venues to have hosted Sprints in the past. F1 Sprint venues and dates for 2023 Grand Prix Circuit Date Azerbaijan Baku Street Circuit April 28-30 Austria Red Bull Ring June 30 - July 2 Belgium Spa-Francorchamps July 28-30 Qatar Losail Circuit October 06-08 United States Circuit of The Americas October 20-22 Sao Paulo Interlagos November 3-5 The 2023 selection came following research into the most suitable tracks for the format, including overtaking opportunities, close racing and high-speed sections – and is designed to ensure competitive on-track action across all three days of the selected Grand Prix weekends. Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed the increase from three to six events for next year. “We have seen a hugely positive reaction to the F1 Sprint events during the first two years of its running, and we can’t wait to bring even more action to fans with six events next year, including our first US F1 Sprint in Austin,” he said. READ MORE: Formula 1 committed to ‘delivering positive lasting change’ on sustainability and diversity and inclusion, says Domenicali “The introduction of the F1 Sprint has created a race weekend that includes three days of competitive racing action and brings more entertainment to fans of the sport as well as additional value for key stakeholders including teams, broadcasters, partners, and host venues.” Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA added: “Following strong collaboration between the FIA and FOM, and the approval of the World Motor Sport Council, we are pleased to reveal the six events for Sprints for the 2023 season. We look forward to this exciting addition to the calendar.” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

[sebxvettel]

Seb arriving into the F1 paddock at Imola | Friday April 16, 2021

[meaningofmotorsport]

Spanish Grand Prix Preview

For the first time since 2014, Barcelona did not host pre-season testing, even still this track should present a true representation of the running order in 2021, given the wide ranging corners and straights it has! So, can Red Bull show they are a threat this year, or will Mercedes continue to dominate at this venue?

It is unlikely Mercedes will dominate, but they could well be the fastest car this weekend, they had a really productive day of practice, with their car looking fast, although slightly edgy. The gap to the midfield should not be read too much into I think, as it can probably be explained with engine modes. Once again, the race pace of that car should be where it excels, so if Max can get pole, it could be a tight battle for the win, with pit stops being all important, on a track where overtaking is rare! Bottas is on form in practice, after a tough race last weekend, although it wouldn’t be the first time he looked good on Friday, to then fall off later on!

Where Red Bull stand is not clear, you would have to expect them to be ahead of McLaren and Ferrari, however I don’t get the feeling they have what it takes to challenge Mercedes, on a track they go so well on. The car does look stable, apart from the new Turn 10, where Verstappen really throws the car into it, but we have seen before the unstable Mercedes be faster! Over one lap they may have a chance, if they can nail it, however, the race is where I am worried, that they may fall back. Despite saying that this track would show the running order for the year, if Red Bull can be close, then they are still in with a chance, however Max’s mistake in Bahrain, and Portugal for that matter, may look more panful than before! Perez is settling in well to a car we know is tough to tame, I think that for them to win here, they need to have two cars in the fight this race, which could be possible!

As per usual, McLaren do their fair share of sandbagging on Friday, even more than the top teams, so you have to expect another fairly strong weekend from them, hopefully I’m not jinxing it! The other good news, is that Daniel was near to Lando today, which may suggest that he is starting to unlock the pace of the car, and drive it naturally. This would be a worrying prospect for the other teams, as Norris on his own has destroyed the midfield, so with two of them, who knows what will happen. That being said, the threat from Ferrari and Alpine cannot be underestimated, as they understand their cars more!

Being within two tenths of the top time in FP2, must be very satisfying for Maranello, despite the knowledge that they will pull away come tomorrow. I really feel that there is momentum in the team, which given their focus on 2022 already, plus the extra wind tunnel time, is very ominous for the new regulations. Focusing back on the present, if McLaren are on form again here, it may be hard for Ferrari to catch them, so they need to focus on the start and pit strategy, as well as those medium tyres which hurt them in Portugal! Sainz is already up to speed, so if Daniel is not quite yet, they could try a pincer movement on the lone McLaren, to try and top the midfield here!

The fact that we are disappointed that Ferrari is fourth fastest, but pleased when Alpine is fifth, given they are both big manufacturers, just shows what our expectations are from the French outfit. At least they have a good result in Portugal to build on, which seems to be continuing here, their aim should be points, although with Alpha Tauri on their heels, it won’t be easy! We spent last year, wondering if a year out had cost Ocon his pace, yet it has come back to him now, it just took longer than we expected, and will be keeping Alonso on his toes!

I do feel for Alpha Tauri, we spent all of pre-season testing hyping them up, saying that the rule changes would shoot them to the front of the midfield. But whilst we have seen pace from them, especially on a Saturday from Gasly, it has never materialised into points, and with Alpine resurging, anything more than fringe points may be tough! It is a similar story for Tsunoda, who flew in testing, making us think he would do incredible things in that car; however, he does seem to be overdriving it now, possibly due to them not scoring points! Meanwhile, Gasly is just doing all he can to rack up points, being a solid driver, deserving of more, but lowly points may be all he can aim for again in Barcelona!

Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo are pretty equal in the pecking order, although in much different situations, Aston Martin is dropping due to the rule changes, aimed at the team they were copying, which they have no reason to complain about! Whereas Alfa Romeo are on the up, aided by an improved Ferrari engine, hoping to score some points. However, on a two by two track like this, where drama is rare, I can’t see points being a possibility for them, unless we get some first lap crashes!

Williams have fallen back from the pace we saw in Imola, and Saturday in Portimao, which hints that for most of the year, this is where they will be. At least they aren’t last though, and I hope they are focusing on 2022, to get right back in the fight! Haas actually showed some real promise last time out, with Mick driving brilliantly, saying he could have actually done better, and passed both Williams! He isn’t that far off them here in practice, so who knows if he can get in a tussle with them this weekend!

Spain is not a thriller of a racetrack, at least on Sunday, so qualifying will be crucial, as well as pit stops, however with a long run off the start into Turn 1, the grid order isn’t guaranteed to stay put in the race! Red Bull are 2-1 down so far, and the signs aren’t looking good so far here, but don’t assume anything this year, as we have already had our fair share of drama!

-M

[formula365]

Everyone loves an underdog - Portuguese GP preview

The midfield battle in 2020 was one of the most fascinating stories of the season. From the pink Mercedes controversy to the podium opportunities and unlikely wins, the fight behind Mercedes and Red Bull was far more enticing than the title battle (such as it was). The three teams that ended the season still with a shot of supremacy all had moments throughout the year in which they had the fastest car, so the difference was in who could take the best advantage of their package overall.

Of those three, McLaren was definitely not the one with the best pace for most of the year. The Woking team, limited in their development for 2021 due to the change to Mercedes power, was hard at work in improving their front wing to have it homologated for this season, and that cost them in terms of the car development compared to Renault and Racing Point. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, as they managed to consistently maximise their results at almost every race, while their rivals squandered opportunities on occasion.

It was consistency - shown by how close their two drivers finished on the standings compared to the distances between Ricciardo and Perez and their teammates - not pace that delivered McLaren the third place in the constructors championship. In such close battles, to have pace is important, of course, but you need to know how to take advantage of it, and that wasn’t always the case with their rivals.

This is a lesson that AlphaTauri is learning the hard way. The AT02 has shown some remarkable pace, to the point that after practice in Bahrain there seemed to be a consensus that the Faenza squad was on par with McLaren and Ferrari at the front of the midfield. Their qualifying results seem to confirm this, and their race pace, when not hampered by other factors, does as well. So it ends up being a disappointment that they have only collected eight points so far.

This still puts them fifth in the championship, ahead of Aston Martin and Alpine, who were significantly ahead of them last year, but given the promise and potential of the car, it feels like underachieving. Driver errors in both races, and bad strategy at Imola have cost them much better results, and although this is enough for a place in the top half of the table - Franz Tost’s goal for the team - it was a lost opportunity at a time when they have a significant pace advantage over the teams immediately behind them.

Their rivals will be working hard to close the gap, and with the resources at their disposal it wouldn’t be surprising to see that happen. Not taking the most out of the opening two weekends might hurt AlphaTauri in the long term, and when teams are beginning to bring some more significant updates to their cars as the European season progresses, they might be left ruing these missed opportunities. That pace advantage might not always be there.

This is a team that is easy to love. Everyone loves an underdog, of course, but the origins of this team hark back to the humble Minardi, that struggled as back marker for most of its existence but was endearing to fans as they always seemed to do their best in tough circumstances and hung around for decades as other squads, with far more money and ambition, tumbled out of the sport. That, and also they had some really beautiful liveries.

Add to that an exciting driver line-up, with Gasly continuing to write his redemption story and Tsunoda coming to the sport like a comet, and it’s easy to see why so many fans want to see them do well. The car has pace, the drivers have promise and, as an outfit, they continue to deliver more than is expected of them, just like in the Minardi days. As the races will start coming thick and fast now (three GPs in the next four weekends), they need to deliver on this promise in Portugal to create momentum. 2021 can be another fairytale underdog year for them, but they need to learn that at the sharp end, if you don’t take your opportunities, others will.

Talking points

* It’s all everyone seems to be talking about. Who will come out on top this weekend? The Hamilton-Verstappen battle has already captured everyone’s imagination and the battle promises to be one for the ages. The last few seasons had plenty of great stories and moments of awe, but they lacked a fight at the front. Even the Vettel challenge in 2017 and 2018 petered long before the end, so the last time we had a real fight was Rosberg’s title year. It’s high time we had a battle taken to the bitter end.

* Sprint qualifying was announced this week, and the reaction among fans has been mixed, at best. Under the context of increasing the interest for the casual fan watching on TV or those who might want to go watch it live but will only care about the Sunday ticket, this format becomes understandable. On a sporting context, though, it seems to add little, and might even detract from the overall product quality, as drivers will not be particularly keen to take chances in overtaking on a qualifying race knowing it might ruin their entire weekend. One upside is that drivers will go into Friday qualifying with only one hour of practice session. Benefit of the doubt for now, but it doesn’t look promising.

* Speaking of not very promising things, the Miami GP track layout seems very… meh. Maybe it’s a bias against car park tracks, but I am not looking forward to see a race there. Then again, Baku didn’t feel too inviting either and we have had some crazy races, so… Again, benefit of the doubt, for now.

* At the time of writing, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have announced that they will be joining a social media boycott over the weekend, protesting the lack of action from platforms against racism and hate by users. It’s an important message to send, but I am not sure that absence for a short period of time is the right way to send it.

* Speaking of Russell, the controversy around his crash with Bottas and, in particular, the way he reacted to it keeps rumbling on. Scolded by Toto Wolff in the immediate aftermath, and very much aware of the long-term implications, the Brit did issue an apology on the Monday after the race - but he only apologised for his reaction, not for the crash. Also, he did say he would call Bottas, but the Finn said Russell tried to call him early on Monday morning, while Bottas was sleeping, and did not try again. It’s clear there will be a continued animosity between these two, given how intertwined their futures are. Let’s hope that the next time they meet on track, the ending won’t be filled with car parts like in Imola.

[ummick]

"🚨 SkyPad Extra! 🚨 @.SchumacherMick joins @.antdavidson at the SkyPad to take a closer and in-depth look at his fastest lap around this awesome #ImolaGP circuit." - april 16, 2021 📷 @.skysportsf1 / twitter

[tkmedia]

Ten things we learned from F1's 2021 British Grand Prix

Formula 1, the British Grand Prix and a sold out Silverstone – it had the feeling of familiarity after the unknown and empty grandstands since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. But the 2021 British GP was anything but recognisable, starting on the Thursday with the first showing of a full-scale 2022 F1 car model and then a new weekend format which pivoted around the inaugural sprint qualifying race. It all resulted in a dramatic and controversial victory for Lewis Hamilton after his lap one collision with Max Verstappen which sent the F1 world championship leader into a 51G impact with the tyre barriers. Hamilton recovered from a 10-second time penalty for the incident to reel in shock leader Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and overtake him with just two laps to go – maximising his advantage with Verstappen out and cutting the deficit in the standings to eight points. While penalties and sportsmanship became the major post-race talking points, it created a race weekend jammed with action and memorable moments. Here are 10 things we learned from the 2021 British GP. 1. The first major clash of Hamilton vs Verstappen reveals true rivalry (By Alex Kalinauckas)

Lewis Hamilton congratulates Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver's sprint race victory Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images It's easy to see why the Lewis Hamilton/Max Verstappen collision at Copse, which put the Red Bull driver out in a scary, high-speed accident, is being described as 'inevitable' – because, really, it was. They have already clashed once in 2021 – at Imola. Then there was Verstappen's divebomb in Spain, plus the ultra-on-the-line close racing between them between Abbey and the approach to Copse in both Silverstone races. But the reason why the grand prix clash ended as it did is precisely because of the championship situation Hamilton faces, as well as the fierce nature of both driver's on-track attitude. Hamilton came into the British GP 33 points down on Verstappen. This isn't 2017-2021, when the Mercedes driver could afford to take a 'big picture' championship-points-tally-consideration view in 50-50 moves. He has more to lose now if something goes wrong, vital ground in a title battle where he has a slower package, so simply cannot afford to give an inch. And that's Verstappen's attitude overall – just look at his reaction to Hamilton getting alongside at Abbey and Brooklands on Sunday. In the crash, Hamilton deserved a penalty for causing the incident, but it was still a fine call. Don't expect this to be the last flashpoint of the 2021 title fight. 2. F1's penalty system needs to be explained better (By Jonathan Noble)

Lewis Hamilton had to sit stationary in his pitbox for 10s before his mechanics could service him Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images Red Bull's calls for Lewis Hamilton to be given a race ban for his part in the opening-lap crash with Max Verstappen were always going to fall on deaf ears. But you could fully understand its frustration that the 10-second penalty given to Lewis Hamilton for the clash ultimately cost the world champion nothing. Although it meant he had to fight a bit harder for the victory, he was still able to come home with the full 25 points. While that may seem unfair for Verstappen, who saw his title advantage slashed massively, F1 is quite right not to dish out penalties based on the consequences of offences. For doing it that way could open an even worse scenario where drivers get heavy sanctions for relatively minor rule breaches, but the book thrown at them when a tiny issue has big consequences. What perhaps is most lacking in F1 is actually a definition of driving rules and etiquette – so fans are better able to judge incidents based on the same criteria the stewards use. That would be hugely helpful in preventing the kind of polarised opinions that have engulfed social media in the last 24 hours. 3. A spirited sprint success, but the overall verdict remains to be decided (By James Newbold)

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, and the rest of the field at the start Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images Until the ill-fated clash of the titans at Copse, the weekend's biggest talking point had been F1's inaugural sprint race (let's call it what it was, shall we?) which generated mixed reviews. From "weird" according to Sebastian Vettel) to "I loved it" from Charles Leclerc, just about everybody had their opinion. Many welcomed the added excitement it brought to Fridays and the engineering challenge of getting the set-up nailed in FP1, while others questioned the relevance of FP2 when the cars were in parc ferme conditions which meant evaluating tyres was the only feasible action. The 17-lap distance allowed for variation in tyre strategies which was seized upon by Fernando Alonso, whose star turn on the soft tyres undoubtedly enlivened the proceedings as the race for the top four proved pretty static after the opening lap. F1 now faces a decision over whether to continue its experiment beyond the two further (as yet unconfirmed) sprint events planned for this season and, if so, whether to make further tweaks. Series bosses are encouraged by initial feedback, and have an unspecified "job list" to work through, but can at least be pleased that the format shake-up achieved what it set out to in building anticipation throughout the weekend. 4. Two-day race weekends look realistic option to ease pressure on growing F1 calendar (JNob)

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, waves to fans after securing pole Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images F1's first sprint race trial at the British Grand Prix can be viewed as an overall success. The boost in audience figures on Friday, plus increased interest for the Saturday 17-lap dash that provided a few spills and thrills, were exactly what F1 chiefs wanted. Sure there are some things that need improving – like the issue of Saturday's final free-practice being pretty much of no interest to fans on TV – but this is just a case of tidying up rather than starting from a clean sheet of paper. And, of course, the sooner the FIA goes back to awarding pole position in the history books to the fastest driver in Friday qualifying, rather than the winner of the sprint, the better things will be. But the success of the compressed format has also reopened the debate on whether F1 actually needs to stick at three-day weekends. Hamilton suggested a two-day schedule in the future would be the right way to go. It's something that F1 has baulked at in the past, and circuits would certainly not be happy at losing an extra day's ticket sales. But could it be something that proves preferable for some venues in exchange for holding one of F1's Grand Slam sprint weekends? 5. F1 at its best with packed crowds as Silverstone roars again (AK)

Fans cheer from the grandstands Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images Questions over the merits of letting a capacity crowd – that totalled 365,000 at Silverstone over the entire British GP weekend – gather during an ongoing pandemic should directed to the UK government, with the track itself understandably just trying to stay afloat in these awful times. But the fans in attendance were treated to an exceptional sporting event. Friday night qualifying produced two exceptional displays from British drivers in front their home fans, with the reaction to George Russell's Q3 lap the highlight for this writer given how the Williams racer was cheered from corner-to-corner. Then the sprint race delivered nicely in terms of an interesting race, even if it wasn't the all-out thriller some claimed. But it did set up a grand prix that fizzled spectacularly throughout – capped by the title rivals colliding and Leclerc nearly holding on for a famous against-the-odds victory. But there's an interesting footnote to Hamilton's victory. Motorsport.com was told there were plenty of new, younger fans seen at Silverstone – with an apparent increase in female spectators too. It will be interesting to see if this can be backed up in official data, but even anecdotally it suggests the 'Netflix effect', as well as Hamilton's laudable efforts to help diversify motorsport are having an impact. And what a race they were treated to, hopefully cementing lifelong motorsport fan status. 6. Leclerc demonstrates Ferrari's resurgence (By Jake Boxall-Legge)

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images Leclerc was unbelievably close to a surprise victory at the British GP, but there wasn't quite enough in the tank to repel Hamilton's late assault for the lead. But Leclerc had been stellar, and his opportunistic move to clear Hamilton moments after the Verstappen incident rewarded him with the upper hand for the restart. His getaway from the pole spot and subsequent managing of the gap to Hamilton were incredibly well-judged and, despite facing engine cut-out issues while in the lead, Leclerc was able to weather the storm and find enough in reserve to keep Hamilton at bay. The seven-time champion's recovery post-penalty, however, was too much for Leclerc to resist and his slight wide moment at Copse was the only blot on the Monegasque's copybook. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr's recovery in the sprint and continued progress in the race also showed the pace of the Ferrari in the pack, although his ascent was halted by a slow pitstop. That dropped him behind Daniel Ricciardo, whose McLaren proved to be a tough cookie to overtake. Nonetheless, Ferrari has showed greatly improved form after a disastrous Paul Ricard race, and the upcoming Hungarian GP could be a race in which the Scuderia truly shines. 7. Perez suffers like those before him in Red Bull's second seat (By Haydn Cobb)

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, on the grid, ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 car unveiling Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images Sergio Perez appeared to have the Red Bull support role nailed after picking up the pieces to win in Baku and then claim a deserved podium at the next race at Paul Ricard. But after being in the wars in Austria against McLaren's Lando Norris and Leclerc, Perez's performance in the British GP had shades of the struggles Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon endured before the Mexican came to Red Bull's rescue. It must be said it is down to fine margins, but qualifying behind Leclerc on Friday night set the wheels in motion for Perez's downward spiral. Trapped in the midfield battle at the start of the feisty sprint race, he was caught out by dirty air and spun off, to be condemned to the back of the grid for the main event. Despite Red Bull F1 car tweaks made in a bid to aid his retaliation in the grand prix, but also meaning a pitlane start, Perez was making progress until he got stuck in DRS trains and then got impatient and collided with Kimi Raikkonen. A P10 finish was as good as it was going to get until Red Bull sacrificed that solitary point to pit Perez for softs to take the fastest lap point away from Hamilton – even though finishing outside of the top 10 meant he wouldn't earn the point himself. Perez has slipped back to fifth place in the standings and is set to play 'who can be the best support driver' against Valtteri Bottas for the rest of the year. 8. Old dog Alonso makes the most of new tricks (HC) Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, and Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images Alonso demonstrated he's lost none of his racecraft with his stunning start to the sprint. The Alpine driver's charge from 11th to fifth was aided by his soft tyre gamble, but the TV onboard footage was reminiscent of the old Alonso - carving through the pack and finding gaps few others can. As his softs faded and left him seventh for the start of the main event, the double world champion held his nerve against an early attack from Vettel, before his old rival spun off on his inside at Woodcote, and went on to take seventh to extend his points-scoring run to a fifth race. The British GP marks Alonso's last race before his turns 40 and after a steady start to his F1 comeback, slowed by his pre-season training accident and adapting to his Alpine surroundings, he feels fresher and ready – a warning that the old dog has learned new tricks. "After the accident at the beginning of the year, in the first couple of races, there was still a part of the stress of coming back to the sport. I was concerned about the jaw, about the shoulder as well that I had the small injury with," Alonso said after the British GP. "But now, I'm super fit and I am 200%. "Next week is another number. So we'll eat some cake. But apart from that, it's going to be a very normal weekend. I feel 25. So whatever number it says in the passport it's not what I feel." 9. Williams progress clear but Russell is making the difference (JNew)

George Russell, Williams, waves to fans from Parc Ferme after Qualifying Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Hamilton's qualifying triumph on Friday stole the headlines, but one of the biggest cheers from the crowd was reserved for Russell's lap of honour in his one and only Q3 run. The Williams driver made the final segment of qualifying for the third race in a row with the eighth quickest time, raising questions over whether the FW43B should be considered a Q3 car henceforth. The team's head of vehicle performance Dave Robson reckoned it was "a little too early to say whether that's going to be something that's a regular occurrence", admitting he expected Williams would find it harder than in Austria but the "very calm conditions" on Friday evening played to the car's strengths. Despite the Hungaroring requiring a totally different set-up, Robson predicts "there's a good chance we'll be there or there abouts". But even if it's not, Russell can be counted on to make the difference. While his weekend went downhill after qualifying - a first-lap tangle in the sprint with Sainz resulted in a "harsh" three-place grid penalty for the grand prix that he couldn't recover from against cars that remain quicker in race-trim - Russell is in the form of his life right now. "I think there's an element for him of getting on that upward spiral," explained Robson. The question now is, how high can it go? 10. What the 2022 F1 show car hints at (JBL)

The 2022 Formula 1 car launch event on the Silverstone grid Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images Although F1's vision for 2022 has been long defined after the unveiling of the all-new regulations (initially planned for 2021) back in 2019, the championship's promoters unveiled a full-size model of its interpretation of next year's chargers. Of course, it came with all the bells and whistles expected for next year: the low-slung nose directly attached to the front wing, the simplified bodywork and focus on ground-effect aerodynamics all featured on the car wrapped in a distinctive holographic livery. That being said, there were a few small differences between the physical model and the render, particularly around the front end; the nose tip sat in the middle of the leading front wing element, rather than protruding beyond them, hinting at the variation the teams can employ. Although F1 elected to pick a representation of next year's rules largely based on aesthetics, it can only be expected that the teams will take a more pragmatic view of the rules and might not necessarily stick to the spirit of them. There's a greater focus on prescribed designs and single-spec components to cut costs and develop the aero effect that F1 has studied and earmarked as the way forward for closer on-track racing, but those effects will surely be a little diluted when it comes to the actual range of cars next year. Regardless, it's an exciting new direction for F1; although some have questioned the necessity of the new rules as 2021 continues to intrigue us all, the British GP still showed the difficulties of racing within the current level of dirty air. The new rules should reduce that problem, should everything go to plan. By Alex Kalinauckas, Jonathan Noble, James Newbold, Jake Boxall-Legge and Haydn Cobb Read the full article

[lawrencedienerthings]

Why it is not unreasonable for Rossi to continue with VR46 in MotoGP in 2022

A series of events over the past few weeks revolving around a title previously considered a solid title sponsorship deal by his VR46 graduate team could mean Rossi will still race in 2022 and a VR46 Ducati with his brother Luca Marini as a team will use -mate.

The 42-year-old Italian will ride in Petronas SRT colors in 2021 after the Yamaha factory team decided to replace him this year with Fabio Quartararo – the current championship leader and leading contender for the premier class crown.

Rossi, seven-time MotoGP world champion, is going through the most difficult moment of his 26-year championship career in 2021. After nine Grand Prix races so far, he is in 19th place in the overall standings with only 17 points, the top 10 only once in Mugello.

The Friday of the final lap at Assen marked four years since his last win in 2017, while his final podium was at Jerez in round two last year.

PLUS: The signs that point to Rossi’s retirement in MotoGP

Since the start of this SRT project, Rossi has always insisted that he would only consider extending his MotoGP career if the results were what he wanted, which clearly did not happen. At Assen, Rossi claimed that after returning from summer break, he would share a decision about his future.

“I’ve always said that my decision depends on the results, it will be difficult for me to race next year,” he said.

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

That Thursday morning, VR46 confirmed the deal that made the team’s move from Moto2 to MotoGP as a Ducati customer official. Of particular note in the statement was a quote from Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud, the Saudi prince who was theoretically the driving force behind the deal with Aramco, the team’s main sponsor.

“It would be fantastic for me if Valentino Rossi could compete in the coming years as a driver for our Aramco Racing Team VR46 alongside his brother Luca Marini, who is already competing under the sponsorship of our brands this year,” he said in a statement who surprised Rossi himself.

However, in the past few weeks a number of events have emerged that are forcing him to extend his career, which doesn’t seem to be laughable due to his communication – both verbal and non-verbal.

At the Dutch Grand Prix, Aramco CEO Amin Hassan Nasser was one of Pramac’s guests at the race in Assen. Throughout the weekend, the senior executive held several meetings in which he made it clear that the company he heads has neither signed nor intended to sign with VR46

The root of the confusion comes from the theoretical contract, which stipulates that Saudi oil giant Aramco will become the main sponsor of VR46’s MotoGP project when it joins MotoGP in 2022. Since the news broke last week of April, the company has made no statement confirming the deal, merely Rossi’s statement that he has the approval of the prince who owns Aramco. In fact, all press releases on this new alliance are signed by Tanal Entertainment, a conglomerate of companies owned by the Saudi prince.

Since then, Aramco has repeatedly tried to distance himself from the alleged connection through various statements.

“Aramco, one of the largest energy and chemical companies in the world, confirms that it has not reached a strategic agreement with the VR46 MotoGP team or any other MotoGP subsidiary,” the petrochemical company said in a statement sent to Autosport.

This notice relates to Tanal Entertainment’s press release that was released on Wednesday April 28th without the knowledge of Aramco. Aramco has never entered into a commercial agreement with Tanal Entertainment, the MotoGP championship or any of the participating teams. “

Aramco signage in Imola for the F1 Emilia-Romagna GP 2021

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

In addition, Aramco CEO Amin Hassan Nasser was one of Pramac’s guests at the race in Assen during the Dutch Grand Prix. Over the weekend, the senior executive held several meetings in which he made it clear that the company he heads has neither signed nor intended to sign with VR46.

Following the arrival of Liberty Media as a promoter of Formula 1 rights in 2017, Aramco has expanded its presence at Grand Prix events and becomes one of the main sponsors of F1. As a newcomer to MotoGP, who are initially using Luca Marini and want to bring Marco Bezzecchi out of Moto2 as a driver pair, it is difficult to see that VR46 fits into Aramco’s sponsorship strategy without Rossi himself in the saddle.

At this point, one wonders what could have happened to get the maze to this point. It’s a mess that seems difficult to resolve, especially since Rossi has always been defensive when asked about the Aramco / VR46 deal.

“We walk in good faith, I speak to the prince often and everything is fine,” he remarked at Assen. It seems clear that there is a huge gap between the two sides’ perspective.

“I’d love to be wrong, but I have a feeling the deal didn’t go through,” a source privy to the mess told Autosport.

At this point, it would make sense for Rossi to consider joining his brother at VR46 to get the attention of sponsors who would make the project viable.

With everything that Moto2 race winner Bezzecchi would deserve a MotoGP place, the attraction of the # 46 is still infinitely greater than that of Rossi’s 22-year-old protégé.

Marco Bezzecchi, Sky Racing Team VR46

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

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[news-magazine]

Imola F1 Gran Prix in imola the times change to respect the funeral of Prince Philip

Imola F1 Gran Prix in imola the times change to respect the funeral of Prince Philip

Important news regarding the program of the Emilia Romagna GP, the second round of the 2021 World Cup: in fact, some times have changed as a sign of respect for the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The sessions on Saturday will be brought forward by one hour, while those on Friday will be held half an hour earlier.The Formula 1 World Championship. Over the weekend the appointment is…

[dailyf1]

CHARLES LECLERC

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