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

Watch that. Its very good and explains the thinking and research behind the new cars.

Yeah, was going to ask how will it work if those very important aero bits get absolutely ripped off the car.

Also, they dragged the hole out of unveiling the new design on Sky.

Red Bull could only hire him if he was out of his Merc contract, in which case he'd be available to McLaren / Alpine / whoever at the same time.

I disagree that he'd be a step up from Perez, we just haven't seen enough evidence to demonstrate that. Perez is a proven race winner and has a history of continually getting great results in midfield teams. Russell still has a lot to prove, I do think he's been flattered recently by Williams making a step forward with their new funding injection, combined with Latifi not really being F1 material. As I said, Giovanizzi has scored a point and Russell hasn't, and Latifi has been outqualifying Alfa Romeos recently so I don't think you could say for certain that the Williams is clearly a worse car.

And yes, teams do have junior driver programs and feeder teams. Which is why it makes sense for Russell to step up to Mercedes, but makes no sense for him to suddenly step up from Williams to Red Bull even though they have their own junior program and their own feeder team - like I said, if they were going to take a driver outside their own stable they'd take someone who's proven himself at the sharp end, like Perez had, like drivers such as Norris and Sainz are currently doing, like Russell has yet to do.

Regarding Latifi, he finished 2nd to a driver who never made it to F1. It took him multiple seasons to get up to second having done much worse previously (most drivers move on from F2 much earlier than that so those years of experience are a big boost), and his whole career is just a litany of losses to people who never got close to F1.

Russell beat Bottas in one race, yes, but at least 90% of the grid could beat Bottas and remember that Russell has extensive experience in the Mercedes simulator, he was used to racing a Mercedes engine with all of its settings and quirks week in week out, it wasn't like Hulkenberg jumping in at almost zero notice without having driven all year, or Ricciardo getting to know a completely unfamiliar team of people and set up (and it's not like Ricciardo's current performance is the bar to be comparing against).

I'm not saying Russell isn't a good driver, he clearly is. But I just find it crazy to suggest that Red Bull would ignore all of their own in house talent and ignore the drivers who are currently doing the business scoring podiums and big results at midfield teams, just to jump at the chance to hire someone who's outperforming a pay driver teammate and not quite scoring points in a car that's had a big development push and is not looking particularly slower than the Alpine or Aston Martin at this point.

You're suggesting Bottas is in the bottom 10% of drivers... that's how far you need to go to make this point. Christ almighty.

Let's assume Latiffi and Mazepine are behind bottas, are you seriously saying that he likes of Schumacher, Giovanazzi, Kimi, and Tsunoda are all better than Bottas? Wild suggestions altogether. Veering that far from reality to make a point, renders the point pretty useless.

Ugh, as if the Bonesawco ads littering the tracks weren't obnoxious enough.

Proof the English football fans are just the worst fan,

Terrible that happened to him. I hope whoever mugged him gets caught.

Cool. Where can it be watched?

Cruise was facetiming the England team last week.... what is the deal with him? Is he promoting something or are we about to hear about him investing in some sports stuff this side of the atlantic?

Maybe its just a case of famous guy doing things.... but it feels like he is a bit more present in brit media at the moment than i would expect.

Maverick is his next film out - but that is November I think. Maybe they are spooling up the PR for it though.

Yep. I just saw that now in this article.

The Aston Martin is my favourite livery on the new car to date. It looks gorgeous.

Although Ferrari have not done a mock-up on the new car yet. Why is that?

With the new car design it means cars can follow closer, therefor they shouldn't need help from DRS to get passed cars quicker on straights, will it be removed at some stage?

At least it'll make circuits like barcalona watchable