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

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This is the official Formula 1 2021 - General Discussion Thread

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pjohnson

flazio wrote: »

None the less, I reckon there's some scrambling going on behind the scenes to make sure that Mother Haassia livery doesn't make it to Bahrain.

Buxton has said the FIA approved it.

While the Russian flag IS explicitly banned theres nothing against "white - blue - red" so yeah not much to be done.

Pen Rua

pjohnson wrote: »

Buxton has said the FIA approved it.

While the Russian flag IS explicitly banned theres nothing against "white - blue - red" so yeah not much to be done.

I know F1 is about bending rules, finding loopholes etc but this isn't even an F1 rule. This is a punishment from a sport governing body. They can't use Russian flags, but the cars can be blatantly painted like ones. Ridiculous.

pjohnson

Pen Rua wrote: »

I know F1 is about bending rules, finding loopholes etc but this isn't even an F1 rule. This is a punishment from a sport governing body. They can't use Russian flags, but the cars can be blatantly painted like ones. Ridiculous.

It seems to be from the same book of tricks that Eddie Jordan had for Benson & Hedges I mean Bitten & Hisses and Buzzin Hornets and BE ON EDGE (Benson & Hedges) etc.

lolie

I'll be amazed if Mazepin doesn't buy out Haas this year. It shows how little interest there is of F1 in the USA that he cannot get any American sponsors on the car.

Maybe they'll do a split livery ala Bar in 1999

https://twitter.com/CharlieBass18/status/1367435249119068160

quokula

barryribs wrote: »

How many sons does Jos Verstappen have? Schumacher, Lauda, Diniz, and Alonso all have something in common. The money gets you to the table and it's down to talent/luck from there, the best drivers will almost always survive and the rest will drive till the money runs out.

Some people start with more advantages than others in every walk of life. At this point its almost a requirement to get into a seat.

Jos Verstappen coached his son hard from a young age, got him practicing and karting constantly, and got him to a point where a serious outfit like Red Bull wanted to pick him up because of his obvious talent.

Obviously not everyone has the advantage of a parent who knows the sport inside out and can afford to fund their karting growing up and has contacts they can put them in touch with.

But that's worlds apart from throwing money at an F1 team to get them to put your son in the car.

quokula

Pen Rua wrote: »

I know F1 is about bending rules, finding loopholes etc but this isn't even an F1 rule. This is a punishment from a sport governing body. They can't use Russian flags, but the cars can be blatantly painted like ones. Ridiculous.

The previous ruling explicitly stated that they can use Russian colours, just not an actual Russian flag, so there is no issue here.

Russian drivers in all of the FIA's world championships - including Formula E, WRC, WEC and WRX - will also be prohibited from using national emblems, flags or symbols, as well as the word "Russia" or "Russian".

Drivers will be permitted to call themselves a "neutral athlete from Russia" or be listed as "Russia. Neutral athlete", and use the word "Russia" on any clothing so long as it is given equal prominence to "neutral athlete".

They may also use the acronym RAF, which stands for 'Russian Automobile Federation', and they can still use the colours of the Russian flag.

Pen Rua

https://www.racefans.net/2021/03/04/haas-livery-was-designed-before-russian-flag-ban-was-announced-steiner/

Steiner says the livery was designed before the flag ban.

So, my comment suggesting its blatantly flouting the ban is evidently incorrect.

Killinator

Personally I know a lot of people don't like the sons of money getting drives and 100% there are more talented drivers missing out as a result of 'daddy's money', buuuuut on the flip side if it wasn't for 'daddy's money's there could be at least 2 teams less on the grid, 4 drives gone.

Force India and more recently Haas have been one punch away from a knockout blow to their F1 endeavors.
If 'Daddy Stroll' doesn't buy into Force India, sure we don't have to watch Sir Lancelot buuut we most likely don't get to watch anyone else in his stead either as there is no team at all.

vectra

Jordan 199 wrote: »

Haas inc feat. from Russia with love.

Whoever would have thought that the Americans > the Russians & Zee Germans would join forces

Pen Rua

Pen Rua wrote: »

Uralkali's corporate colours aren't even close to the Russian flag - they're red & green.

The livery is blatantly a way to skirt the prohibition on Mazepin running under a Russian flag.

Turns out Uralkali is changing their corporate colours to coincide with the new Haas sponsorship.

https://twitter.com/decalspotters/status/1367523559019577345

Frank Bullitt

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Frank Bullitt

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BWT have RUINED Vettels helmet design.

Sponsors should be banned from helmets.

quokula

Killinator wrote: »

Personally I know a lot of people don't like the sons of money getting drives and 100% there are more talented drivers missing out as a result of 'daddy's money', buuuuut on the flip side if it wasn't for 'daddy's money's there could be at least 2 teams less on the grid, 4 drives gone.

Force India and more recently Haas have been one punch away from a knockout blow to their F1 endeavors.
If 'Daddy Stroll' doesn't buy into Force India, sure we don't have to watch Sir Lancelot buuut we most likely don't get to watch anyone else in his stead either as there is no team at all.

This is true, but it's not something that should just be accepted, it's a blight on the sport that it's supposed to be the biggest motorsport on earth and the only way it can sustain a measly 12 teams is by counting on billionaires with nothing else to do with their money to buy a team so their kid can enjoy his hobby.

The sport needs more Frank Williams or Colin Chapmans or Eddie Jordans or Ken Tyrrells or Peter Saubers, people who came in and ran teams on a shoestring but kept it sustainable and could become competitive because sponsor money covered operating costs.

It's simply impossible for real motorsport people to come in and start a team like that nowadays, and even those who got started in previous times and hung on until today like Williams and Sauber have had to hand over control of their teams to avoid going under.

Hopefully we see things start to change from 2022 when spending caps start to get introduced, but time will tell, it's hard to have faith in them not messing up every change they bring in, since that's been such a consistent pattern for the best part of a decade.

flazio

This showed up on my Instagram feed. Looks like the old RTÉ team are going to start talking about Formula 1 again.
https://instagram.com/straighttothegrid?igshid=69ppuhw5bykj

Adamocovic

That Haas car has just pissed me off to be honest. I want Mick to succeed but can’t see myself cheering on a Haas after this move by them.

Hated Mazepin already and now they are bending to the decisions of his dad.

Maybe Lawrence Stroll will see if it’s too late to turn the Aston Martin into a Canadian flag.

barryribs

quokula wrote: »

This is true, but it's not something that should just be accepted, it's a blight on the sport that it's supposed to be the biggest motorsport on earth and the only way it can sustain a measly 12 teams is by counting on billionaires with nothing else to do with their money to buy a team so their kid can enjoy his hobby.

The sport needs more Frank Williams or Colin Chapmans or Eddie Jordans or Ken Tyrrells or Peter Saubers, people who came in and ran teams on a shoestring but kept it sustainable and could become competitive because sponsor money covered operating costs.

It's simply impossible for real motorsport people to come in and start a team like that nowadays, and even those who got started in previous times and hung on until today like Williams and Sauber have had to hand over control of their teams to avoid going under.

Hopefully we see things start to change from 2022 when spending caps start to get introduced, but time will tell, it's hard to have faith in them not messing up every change they bring in, since that's been such a consistent pattern for the best part of a decade.

Frank Williams ran 8 or 9 pay drivers in the mid 70s to make ends meet. They changed the rules specifically because of him Peter Sauber who had Diniz in the team for two years, and in later years was farming pay drivers. Eddie admitted he was more interested in Mercedes money than he was putting Schumacher in the seat. The less said about Tyrell from 1990 onwards the better.

The day of the privateer teams is gone with 20 years. You could consider Brawn a privateer team, but they essentially just continued the Honda program for a year. What the teams you have mentioned achieved is incredible, but Mercedes only made a 14 million pound profit off their F1 program in 2019, after spending 300+ million - a season they won 15 races in. You'd nearly get the same return leaving in your bank account.

robinwing

Quote:
Originally Posted by quokula View Post
This is true, but it's not something that should just be accepted, it's a blight on the sport that it's supposed to be the biggest motorsport on earth and the only way it can sustain a measly 12 teams is by counting on billionaires with nothing else to do with their money to buy a team so their kid can enjoy his hobby.

The sport needs more Frank Williams or Colin Chapmans or Eddie Jordans or Ken Tyrrells or Peter Saubers, people who came in and ran teams on a shoestring but kept it sustainable and could become competitive because sponsor money covered operating costs.

It's simply impossible for real motorsport people to come in and start a team like that nowadays, and even those who got started in previous times and hung on until today like Williams and Sauber have had to hand over control of their teams to avoid going under.

Hopefully we see things start to change from 2022 when spending caps start to get introduced, but time will tell, it's hard to have faith in them not messing up every change they bring in, since that's been such a consistent pattern for the best part of a decade.

Frank Williams ran 8 or 9 pay drivers in the mid 70s to make ends meet. They changed the rules specifically because of him Peter Sauber who had Diniz in the team for two years, and in later years was farming pay drivers. Eddie admitted he was more interested in Mercedes money than he was putting Schumacher in the seat. The less said about Tyrell from 1990 onwards the better.

The day of the privateer teams is gone with 20 years. You could consider Brawn a privateer team, but they essentially just continued the Honda program for a year. What the teams you have mentioned achieved is incredible, but Mercedes only made a 14 million pound profit off their F1 program in 2019, after spending 300+ million - a season they won 15 races in. You'd nearly get the same return leaving in your bank account.

Frank Williams ran 8 or 9 pay drivers in the mid 70s to make ends meet. They changed the rules specifically because of him Peter Sauber who had Diniz in the team for two years, and in later years was farming pay drivers. Eddie admitted he was more interested in Mercedes money than he was putting Schumacher in the seat. The less said about Tyrell from 1990 onwards the better.

The day of the privateer teams is gone with 20 years. You could consider Brawn a privateer team, but they essentially just continued the Honda program for a year. What the teams you have mentioned achieved is incredible, but Mercedes only made a 14 million pound profit off their F1 program in 2019, after spending 300+ million - a season they won 15 races in. You'd nearly get the same return leaving in your bank account " ( barryribs )

Both of you guys are making interesting points and yeah Quokula , I preferred the old F1 , I am sure you've seen the French GP 1962 on Youtube , a Castrol film half hour long , when Dan Gurney won for Porsche in Rouen in the 1.5 litre formula. Anybody who hasn't will enjoy it a lot. But Barryribs is correct I am sad to admit. When Ford sold the Cosworth 3.0 DFV to the privateers there were many opportunities for privateers with skilled engineers . Its big business now , too much money , too much downforce , too technical . But thats life in 2020. It sucks but its reality. Indycar has more scope and cars are fun, Road America etc are great road courses but it does not have the lure of F1 and mostly journeyman drivers and the same chassis. The racing now is closer in F1 but total dominance for sustained periods lessens interest and boring circuits are the norm. Even Spa , Monza , Silverstone etc have been sanitized a lot. Maybe 2020 will be better. I still find F1 totally fascinating though !

Jordan 199

Just one week to go to pre-season testing.

Jordan 199

Portuguese Grand Prix will be the third race on this year's calendar.

Pen Rua

WADA are looking at Haas' livery.

https://twitter.com/LukeSmithF1/status/1367777213576282112

ELM327

That Aston looks like a "My Team" car in F12020.

eviltimeban

I would be surprise if that's the livery that Haas race with in the first race. I reckon they'll have to change it.

The Aston looks sweeeet.... I have no problem with Vettel's helmet, I like the pink and green contrast.

Testing is going to be interesting, be great if Vettel was topping time sheets. Not that it would mean much, but be great for him to be up there come lights out.

racersedge

Someone on Reddit has apparently managed to extract the Williams livery from their AR app ahead of its launch. If it’s true, it will spare Mercedes the title of worst livery design!

Pen Rua

racersedge wrote: »

Someone on Reddit has apparently managed to extract the Williams livery from their AR app ahead of its launch. If it’s true, it will spare Mercedes the title of worst livery design!

Part of me is hoping the Williams devs were wise to the idea of the code being looked into and uploaded a fake livery for this very reason. The version I've seen is totally out there, very unique which is not necessarily a bad thing.

pjohnson

The reddit speculation.

EvtJTEHXEAMl5g9?format=jpg&name=medium

vectra

OSI wrote: »

Dammmmnnn.... That Aston looks good on the move. Those shapes from the side pods back.....

Was reading an article by Gary Anderson and he seems pretty impressed by it as well.
I sincerely hope it hits the ground running.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-new-aston-martin-f1-car-full-of-clear-ideas/

Harika

pjohnson wrote: »

The reddit speculation.

I would expect the new owners on it somewhere

Pen Rua

Harika wrote: »

I would expect the new owners on it somewhere

Versa, on the rear wing, is part of their portfolio.

https://www.doriltoncapital.com/portfolio/versa-integrity-group/

Pen Rua

Williams have abandoned the planned AR app launch due to the app being hacked... https://www.williamsf1.com/news/2021/team/media-statement

Pen Rua

We have a Drive to Survive S3 trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMrHKc58aIA