F1 2021 thread
 

Hey someone had to start it 😃 . So speculation already out there that the opening race in Australia will be cancelled due to travel restrictions due to Covid 🙁 . So the opening race may be Bahrain . Lewis Hamilton and Daimler not seeing eye to eye on a new contract . I am ready for the new season to start 😁

Just saw this on Sky Sports News. Interesting how they were able to travel these last several months and now Australia is at risk.

Just another opportunity to return to Hockenheim and the 'Ring.

That drive by George Russel had to take millions of dollars off of Hamilton's asking price. It changed the negotiations from Hamilton that is magic in talent, to just another very talented driver but totally replaceable with Russel at 1/10 the cost. Mercedes can tell Hamilton to accept the offer or retire and ask him of he wants another championship to win and have the outright records, Mercedes is his only choice. He needs them more than Mercedes need him.

Alex Albon was announced today as moving to DTM

.

He had a shot with a top tier team and was never even close to his teammate. Max is good, and I think he may be the best driver on in F1 now. Max showed everyone how very average of a driver Albon is.

My friend starts there next week. I'm super excited for him! Lots of potential for that "team at Silverstone".

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1609791791.jpg

My understanding is Albon remains as the test driver for Red Bull F1 team and the DTM is filler work .

Apparently K-MAg has been hired by Peugeot for next year's Le Mans in the hypercar category (2022).

Looks like Ineos is going to cover the portion of Hamilton's contract that Mercedes is not willing to pay . Not sure if that is the major sticking point . My understanding is Lewis didn't want to take a pay cut and wanted 10 percent of the profit of the F1 teams winnings .

Interesting piece from an American, former Mercedes F1 engineer, https://racer.com/2021/01/08/opinion-i-was-an-american-designer-at-mercedes-f1-needs-to-create-a-path-for-others.

Au revoir Cyril.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-renault-announce-shock-departure-of-f1-team-boss-abiteboul-ahead-of.6MDZDarLV1zJTMl8BA7t0w.html

Bon chance.
Les

So young Mazepin is working with a physiotherapist for mental health . Using electronic sensors to get feedback about his stress level at the beginning of the race and also when someone is trying to pass . Never heard of this but an interesting concept . I am assuming this is taking place in a simulator ?

From some videos I have seen of him on the track it is other drivers that should be nervous passing him ! Haas has their hands full with that one I hope the $$$ is worth it .

Waiting to hear what happened there, surely it's not a Fernando coup already ;-)
I liked him, he was doing a good job, he was hanging in there toe to toe with Horner when the engine was bad or when stealing drivers from him, funny guy too and brutally honest. Must be internal politics, Alpine, whatever... Thought he'd done enough turning things around to stay, bummer.

That was my dream. Too bad family and laziness (and apparently lack of a visa) got in the way.

Elias complains about an American getting a Visa to work in the UK. Compare with how difficult is it for a UK citizen to work in the US?
Just another whine from yet another over- entitled American.

I helped my niece with her husband's green card. He is a chef and his visa was sponsored by his employer. When I saw the documentation. it was crazy. I swear there was at least 1500 pages of legalese.

As for 2021, I hope the competition will be increased with Seb at AM, Fernando at Renault and Ricci at McLaren.

Australian and China grand prix races have been postponed due to Covid travel restrictions . Bahrain to be the season opener.

New car, I like it.
 

I'm anxious to see all the new cars, even it's only a new paint scheme. Boring time of year for F1 fans.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610646615.jpg

Perhaps we might hear "La Marseillaise" again this year, mon Dieu, that would be nice!

Wow, that took zero creativity. Yawn. I hope its only a pre-season livery.

I read it’s for pre-season testing only.


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The saga of the Hamilton/Mercedes contract drags on . While none of us really knows what is going on it appears that $$$ and length of contract are the sticking points . Hamilton wants a raise in pay and a multi year contract . Mercedes doesn't want to pay him more and offering a one year contract .

This is all speculation from internet websites . Let's assume the speculation is true does anyone really think they won't come to an agreement ? How late/deep into the off season can they go before it's too late ? What would be the fan reaction be if Hamilton is shown the door and Russell is slid over from Williams ? What if any sponsor repercussions are there ?

If Hamilton is let go what does that say about loyalty from the team ? Seven world championship trophies must mean something . I can see both sides . Ultimately a sound business decision has to be made . Thoughts ?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...OKBI_fvyE4f1UA

The team loyalty point goes both ways. If I were on the Team side waiting for him to sign I would just remind him (and his huge ego) that is he want another championship there is just Mercedes as the clear leader. If he refuses to compromise let him walk, he is just a good driver. Russel will do the same job for a fraction of the cost and Lewis ca go drive for some other team or retire. He does not need the money, I am sure he has enough to live the life of a wealthy man for the rest of his life. Mercedes does not need him any more than Russel.

So give him a contract with performance bonuses, make him prove his worth (again)

Yeah, that's not going to go well. I don't know the man, but I don't see that being well-received by Sir Lewis.

ham is asking for bonus of 1 million a race win plus 10 million for the championship win
plus his base salary of 60 million so ten wins plus WCC win equals 80 million total

btw the top points team gets about 200 million

in the olden days a 50/50 driver team split of prizes was common for top drivers who could win the championship so not totally out of line

Not sure that I understand how Hamilton would be due a pay raise when budgets are being cut.

Rumors floating around that Sauber/Alfa Romeo may pull out of F1 at the end of 2021 . But those same rumors are suggesting Renault is interested in picking that team up and making them a B team . I wonder if Ferraris decision to offload staff to Haas has anything to do with it ? I could see how Alfa might think they are not getting the same support from Ferrari . For now it's just rumors .

Eddie Jorden's article makes sense to me.
https://www.grandprix247.com/2021/01/17/jordan-if-i-were-daimlers-boss-i-would-show-lewis-the-door/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaig n=Feed%3A+Yallaf1com+%28Grand+Prix+247%29
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610985301.jpg

Eddie and Bernie are spot on and we saw a flash of that when George Russell drove the Mercedes this past season. This happens in most sports that I recall over my lifetime. Dude gets really good and older in the process. Team realizes they can do without him for whatever reason or Dude thinks the grass is greener and the move occurs.

Regardless, if Mercedes doesn't resign him you can bet he will spin it as being racially motivated and based upon his SJW actions this past year.

It happens in professional "sports" like the games of football and basketball and other ball games.

Look at Tom Brady. He is the old guy that has a handful of Superbowl rings. He moves on to a new team and suddenly that team is in the playoffs. It shows he still has some real talent. Lets see if Hamilton can win at all in the second tier teams. Everyone admits the Mercedes is the fastest car on the track, and they only loose on rare occasions, and they finish every race. No breakdowns.

Jensen Button to advise Williams

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/55767090

Would like to see Ham go to Williams, see if he can get them going. He doesn't need more trophies or much more money.

He needs to "underdog" for awhile. Dump the tee shirts too!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611776007.jpg

Vettel in his new ride. (photoshop or not, no idea)

Lol

What we're doing here doesn't feel right
 

He may be ill with something, sad really.

Seb needs to ask Hammy where to get hair plugs

Just skip the braids or whatever that crap is on his head.

I’m actually hoping to see George Russell at MB soon.

This Marzipan clown worries me. I hope he can either behave himself or loses his seat in short order.