Formula 1 2021 - General Discussion Thread (Read 1st post rules)

El_Duderino 09 · 21-02-2021 06:11PM

Cork Trucker wrote: »

Orlen can’t solely be backing Kubica in a test/reserve role. Is he being lined up to replace Raikkonen when the time comes?

I really doubt it. Particularly after his disastrous return with Williams and being totally outpaced up by a rookie. AR is getting loads of money and all they have to do is give RK a few FP1s and move the car launch to Poland. Job’s a good’ne ad far as they’re concerned

mickdw · 21-02-2021 06:41PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I really doubt it. Particularly after his disastrous return with Williams and being totally outpaced up by a rookie. AR is getting loads of money and all they have to do is give RK a few FP1s and move the car launch to Poland. Job’s a good’ne ad far as they’re concerned

I think given Russels ability, probably a quick as anyone on the grid, kubicas result against him is not as shabby as it looked at the time.
I would like to see him getting some races in the car and doing well but its unlikely.

El_Duderino 09 · 21-02-2021 06:51PM

mickdw wrote: »

I think given Russels ability, probably a quick as anyone on the grid, kubicas result against him is not as shabby as it looked at the time.
I would like to see him getting some races in the car and doing well but its unlikely.

What would you want to see him for? He’s a half second slower than a top driver (in Russell’s first season) That’s too much of a gap in f1. A decent team wouldn’t want him and if he’s with a slow team he’ll be hanging off the back of the grid again. No team wants him and Alfa already gets his money without having to give him a race seat.

He’s a pay driver. We don’t need more pay drivers.

muckwarrior · 21-02-2021 08:55PM

I was hoping Kubica would succeed, but he had a fair chance and it was clear he was no longer as fast as he once was.

Yes, Russel wasn't your average rookie, and Kubica may well not even have been the slowest driver on the grid, but he obviously was a long way from the fastest too, so I don't see how he could return on merit.

El_Duderino 09 · 21-02-2021 10:19PM

muckwarrior wrote: »

I was hoping Kubica would succeed, but he had a fair chance and it was clear he was no longer as fast as he once was.

Yes, Russel wasn't your average rookie, and Kubica may well not even have been the slowest driver on the grid, but he obviously was a long way from the fastest too, so I don't see how he could return on merit.

Im not sure he was hired on merit at Williams. They only employ pay drivers for the last while. Even Russell is a pay driver as part of the Mercedes scheme.

Pen Rua · 22-02-2021 11:19AM

The Alfa Romeo / Sauber C41.

https://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1363809963366350849

Looks to be the prior year livery inverted. Looks clean, and the touch of green is nice.

A funny naming quirk has the 2021 car named C41 while 2020 was called C39. The C40 was designated to be the car for the new rules which was pushed back to 2022.

Better res pics, including comparisons with 2020.

https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/1363811768846462976

recyclebin · 22-02-2021 12:20PM

Alfa and Alpha marketing teams: let's just invert the colours from the 2020 livery and we have a new livery for 2021!

Pen Rua · 22-02-2021 12:25PM

recyclebin wrote: »

Alfa and Alpha marketing teams: let's just invert the colours from the 2020 livery and we have a new livery for 2021!

Why fix what isn't broken? Of the three cars revealed, all three had solid 2020 liveries. With the cars being the same, and new cars coming in 2022, why not hold off on a livery refresh till we move to the new formula in 2022?

AMKC · 22-02-2021 01:17PM

Alfa is definitely the best looking livery so far. Nice launch too. Can't wait to see what the final Alpine livery looks like.

eviltimeban · 22-02-2021 02:29PM

AR looks nice. I like the way the rear drops. Those front wings are mad looking.

Jordan 199 · 22-02-2021 03:58PM

Some pics of the new Alfa:

Alfa-Romeo-C41-Praesentation-Formel-1-2021-169Gallery-105ecfa7-1768284.jpg

Alfa-Romeo-C41-Praesentation-Formel-1-2021-169Gallery-87be2fc0-1768286.jpg

Frank Bullitt · 22-02-2021 04:22PM

They have spent a few tokens on the front end it seems.

Nice looking motor.

chicorytip · 22-02-2021 05:07PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I really doubt it. Particularly after his disastrous return with Williams and being totally outpaced up by a rookie. AR is getting loads of money and all they have to do is give RK a few FP1s and move the car launch to Poland. Job’s a good’ne ad far as they’re concerned

Alfa and Haas will prop up the field again this year. Having a Ferrari engine may bring benefits but of the entire field both teams driver line up's look the least impressive. Two rookies, an average joe and a very elderly Finn.

El_Duderino 09 · 22-02-2021 07:24PM

chicorytip wrote: »

Alfa and Haas will prop up the field again this year. Having a Ferrari engine may bring benefits but of the entire field both teams driver line up's look the least impressive. Two rookies, an average joe and a very elderly Finn.

I imagine Williams will probably be last again. It would take a big jump for them to be in regular contention for points.

But I agree with the rest. Their driver lineups are poor. The rookies have potential but two rookies in a team is a weak lineup. Hard to tell how fast they are if you don’t have an established driver as a known quantity in one car.

Charlie-Bravo · 22-02-2021 07:27PM

Alfa Romeo looks faster than last years just by looking at the picture! And that's with reduced downforce.

Pen Rua · 22-02-2021 07:28PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I imagine Williams will probably be last again. It would take a big jump for them to be in regular contention for points

Williams (with a sophomore driver, and a driver in his third year) v Haas (with two rookies, including a driver who's volatile to say the least...)

vectra · 22-02-2021 08:03PM

chicorytip wrote: »

Alfa and Haas will prop up the field again this year. Having a Ferrari engine may bring benefits but of the entire field both teams driver line up's look the least impressive. Two rookies, an average joe and a very elderly Finn.

Don't count your chickens.
Nobody has any idea how good or bad the Ferrari engine may be.

Frank Bullitt · 22-02-2021 10:46PM

vectra wrote: »

Don't count your chickens.
Nobody has any idea how good or bad the Ferrari engine may be.

It can't be as bad as it was last year...can it?

pjohnson · 22-02-2021 10:49PM

That Alfa is beautiful.

El_Duderino 09 · 22-02-2021 10:51PM

Frank Bullitt wrote: »

It can't be as bad as it was last year...can it?

It’s almost bound to be more powerful but might not have the reliability at the start.

They’re developing a new engine this year out of necessity rather than free choice.

chicorytip · 22-02-2021 10:56PM

vectra wrote: »

Don't count your chickens.
Nobody has any idea how good or bad the Ferrari engine may be.

It will probably be a vast improvement but the (Sauber) chassis will probably not be a vast improvement and therein lies the problem. Same story with Haas. Williams were showing signs of significant improvement last year so could be the best of the also-rans this year.

AMKC · 22-02-2021 11:29PM

chicorytip wrote: »

It will probably be a vast improvement but the (Sauber) chassis will probably not be a vast improvement and therein lies the problem. Same story with Haas. Williams were showing signs of significant improvement last year so could be the best of the also-rans this year.

Would love to see William's ahead of Haas, and Alfa for a while again. It would be nice to see but I would also like to see them teams improve too.

Jordan 199 · 23-02-2021 03:33AM

pjohnson wrote: »

That Alfa is beautiful.

Alfa is my favourite so far. Red Bull launch 2day.

vectra · 23-02-2021 10:54AM

Frank Bullitt wrote: »

It can't be as bad as it was last year...can it?

Sorry,
I mean't that it may be a decent step up in power compared to last year.
Not sure about the Haas but the Alfa should get a boost up the order if so.

chicorytip wrote: »

It will probably be a vast improvement but the (Sauber) chassis will probably not be a vast improvement and therein lies the problem. Same story with Haas. Williams were showing signs of significant improvement last year so could be the best of the also-rans this year.

Possibly.
But again, who knows what else is under the skin on top of the new nose/wing and front suspension.

Pen Rua · 23-02-2021 11:01AM

The RB16B.

https://twitter.com/redbullracing/status/1364168199881785345

Pen Rua · 23-02-2021 11:04AM

We talk about the other liveries being the same...

https://twitter.com/Mattzel89/status/1364168907301527552

Removal of Aston Martin, a touch more Honda branding and some of Checo's sponsors seems to be the only changes.

AMKC · 23-02-2021 11:26AM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

Alfa is my favourite so far. Red Bull launch 2day.

Any idea what time and how are they launching it?

Edit: Never mind I see its launched already.

Frank Bullitt · 23-02-2021 04:42PM

Eu6npzLUYAQshBM?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Frank Bullitt · 23-02-2021 05:17PM

Eu7UaEaXcAc-jaD?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

At one point last year, I thought Perez was gone. This is great to see.

Pen Rua · 23-02-2021 05:29PM

Frank Bullitt wrote: »

/image snip/
At one point last year, I thought Perez was gone. This is great to see.

FWIW, that's the 2019 RB15.

Checo & Max will do a shakedown / filming day with the 2021 RB16B tomorrow. Alex will also be on track in the 2019 RB15. I think I read that Checo will also get a run in a 2018 Toro Rosso?

Formula 1 2021 - General Discussion Thread (Read 1st post rules)

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