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Tag: F1
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Max Verstappen tops final practice
Max Verstappen set the fastest lap of final practice for tomorrow’s FIA Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris by almost half a second as defending World Champion Lewis Hamilton finished third.
The session got off to the slow start, with just Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Räikkönen and the Haas cars of mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin circling. In a signal of what was to become a regular feature of the session, all three quickly fell foul of track limits monitoring at Turn 9 and had their laps deleted.
After they had recovered and posted times, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc then made his way to P1 on his first flying lap with a time of 1:17.321. He improved again but then was eclipsed by Red Bull’s Sergiuo Pérez who set a new benchmark at 1:16.332.
The session was briefly red-flagged when Nicholas Latifi spun off at the Villeneuve chicane and clipped the wall. The Canadian was able to continue, however, and after he limped back to the pits for repairs the action quickly resumed.
Latifi’s crash had derailed Verstappen’s first run of the morning and when the green light was given the Dutchman was straight back on track. He took P1 with his first flying lap but that was soon deleted for a track limits infringement and he dropped to the foot of the timesheet.
Bottas took top spot with a lap of 1:15.984 but Verstappen, after a messy second attempt, then got it right at the third time of asking with a new fastest lap of 1:15.895.
It wasn’t good enough to remain the standard, however, and Pierre Gasly powered past the time before Leclerc bolted on a set of soft tyres and rose to P1 with a lap of 1:15.738.
He was then demoted by Hamilton on softs, before Norris moved into the lead with the lap of 1:15.414. Verstappen was winding up for another attempt on red rubber, however, and after setting fastest times in the final two sectors he took P1 with a lap of 1:14.958, 0.456 ahead of Norris.
With Hamilton third behind Norris, fourth place went to Sergio Peerez in the second Red Bull, with Leclerc fifth for Ferrari. Gasly took an impressive for AlphaTauri, while Sainz finished seventh in the other Ferrari. Bottas, who made a mistake on one run, finished in eighth ahead of the Alpine pairing of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
2021 FIA Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Free Practice 3
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda 1:14.958 18 235.764
2 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:15.414 0.456 17 234.338
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:15.515 0.557 18 234.025
4 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda 1:15.551 0.593 18 233.913
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:15.738 0.780 21 233.335
6 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri/Honda 1:15.890 0.932 22 232.868
7 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:15.908 0.950 21 232.813
8 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:15.908 0.950 19 232.813
9 Fernando Alonso Alpine/Renault 1:16.186 1.228 20 231.963
10 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:16.228 1.270 20 231.836
11 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri/Honda 1:16.230 1.272 20 231.829
12 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:16.245 1.287 19 231.784
13 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren/Mercedes 1:16.253 1.295 17 231.760
14 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:16.389 1.431 19 231.347
15 George Russell Williams/Mercedes 1:16.427 1.469 20 231.232
16 Mick Schumacher Haas/Ferrari 1:16.448 1.490 22 231.168
17 Nicholas Latifi Williams/Mercedes 1:16.537 1.579 15 230.900
18 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1:16.612 1.654 22 230.674
19 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1:16.803 1.845 23 230.100
20 Nikita Mazepin Haas/Ferrari 1:17.398 2.440 23 228.331 -
Superb last few laps gets Hamilton his 96th victory
Lewis Hamilton took a sensational win at the 2021 season opening Bahrain Grand Prix by just 0.7s from the rapid Red Bull of Max Verstappen, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record of most laps led in the process. Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas completed the podium as he set the fastest lap of the race on lap 56.
London, 29 March 2021: Defending superbly and nurturing the tyres in the last few laps, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton took his 96th career victory ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who fought for the lead till the last lap. Valtteri Bottas finishing P3 with an extra point for the fastest lap for the race. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished P4 in their new Mercedes powered challenger, ahead of his latest teammate Daniel Ricciardo who crossed the line in P7. Sergio Perez finished P5 in his new Red Bull machinery, after starting from the pitlane due to power unit issues on the formation lap. Charles Leclerc finished in P6 in the much-improved Ferrari SF21, two places ahead of new teammate Carlos Sainz. AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda achieved his first points as he finished P9 on debut, ahead of Lance Stroll in the re-branded Aston Martin team.
Alfa Romeo pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi finished P11 and P12 respectively. It was an unsuccessful race for Alpine after Esteban Ocon only managed P13- partly due to being hit by Sebastian Vettel from behind- and veteran returnee Fernando Alonso retiring due to break failure. Williams’ George Russell finished P14, ahead of Sebastian Vettel in P15 as his teammate Nicholas Latifi DNF’d from the race. Other DNF’s included Pierre Gasly and Nikita Mazepin. Mick Schumacher was the last to finish in P16.
Drama ensued before the race started as Perez’s car shut down on formation lap at turn 13 and came to a standstill. Due to this, an extra formation lap took place while Perez’s car could be recovered. As luck would have it, Perez was able to start his car, but had to start from the pitlane as per regulations.
Verstappen covered Hamilton at the start and both maintained positions. Leclerc was aggressive and got ahead of Bottas in P3. Meanwhile, Norris got ahead of his new teammate Ricciardo. The new Aston Martin Vantage safety car was called into action as Mazepin spun and went into the wall at Turn 3, ending his first F1 race.
Red Bull better equipped for Qualifying sessions. A Pirelli image from 2021 Bahrain GP The race got underway on lap 4, with Verstappen leaving the restart as late as possible, to decrease the chances of Hamilton slip streaming and overtaking him. As Hamilton started chasing Verstappen, Bottas passed Leclerc for P3, Norris followed suit and passed Leclerc for P4. Gasly’s front wing unfortunately touched Ricciardo’s rear left tyre and dislodged it, sending the Frenchman to the back of the grid.
Alpine and Alonso pulled the trigger to initiate the first round of pitstops on lap 11, with Alonso electing the medium tyres. Lap 12 saw Norris, Leclerc, Stroll and Giovinazzi pit. Everyone going on the mediums except for the Alfa Romeo who chose hard tyres. At the front, Mercedes pulled the trigger and pitted Hamilton for a set of hard tyres in a bid to undercut Verstappen. It seemed to work as the Dutchman pitted four laps later albeit for medium tyres. Once he came out, Hamilton had a six second advantage on him.
Hamilton’s advantage eroded quickly as Verstappen was within 1.5-2s, this time Hamilton in a danger of being undercut. Bottas was close behind to the top two cars. Behind, Norris maintained P4, ahead of Leclerc, Ricciardo, Stroll and Sainz- who battled with former Ferrari drivers Alonso and Vettel to get up to P8.
Mercedes once more protected against the undercut, pitting Hamilton on lap 28 for another set of hard tyres, Bottas followed suit 2 laps later. Although a slow stop by Mercedes meant Bottas came out in P5, though, Norris and Leclerc were yet to pit, giving him a net P3. With Hamilton in P2 and steadily reducing the gap to Verstappen, Red Bull boxed him on lap 39 for hard tyres. This meant he would have 10 laps fresher tyres compared to Hamilton. He came out 8.6s behind the Mercedes.
Alonso’s F1 return ended abruptly on lap 33 due to brake issues. Meanwhile, Perez behind was making steady gains as he was now behind Ricciardo and Leclerc. Vettel too had a dismal debut for Aston Martin as he ploughed into the back of Ocon, spinning them both and earning the German a 10-second time penalty.
At the front, Verstappen was right on the gearbox of Hamilton as the difference was around about 1s. On lap 53, Verstappen with help of DRS got a run on Hamilton exiting turn 3 and seemed to get past him on the exit of turn 4. Only he had gone too wide and extended the track limits while overtaking the Mercedes car and thus, was instructed to give the place back to Hamilton. After that point Verstappen couldn’t get close enough to mount another challenge ultimately finishing second.
Straight-line speed is not Ferrari’s weakness anymore. Action shot from Bahrain GP by Pirelli. The first blow was dealt by Mercedes, but Red Bull know they can consistently challenge the Silver Arrows in the upcoming races. It is game on for 2021!
Mercedes clearly lacked qualifying pace as they for three-tenths off the pole position. In race trim they were matched with Red Bull as aggressive strategy and brilliant tyre management by Hamilton earned them the victory and double podium. The W12 is not in the sweet spot and clearly has lots of room for improvement. Mercedes will be hopeful to iron out these issues as soon as possible to challenge Red Bull, especially in qualifying. Red Bull’s RB16B looks like the class of the field at the moment. The car looks stable and with immense work put in by Honda over the winter they are the favorites this season. Once again reliability hampered them as Perez had to start from the pitlane. It will be interesting to watch the development race between Mercedes and Red Bull this season.
McLaren have made a step forward, owing to the new Mercedes power unit as they still look like the best midfield car, though, it is early to say that. Ferrari too, have made a step forward, especially in the power unit department as both cars were able to achieve points finishes, similar to their papaya orange rivals. The AlphaTauri car has looked stable and fast, but their true pace cannot be gauged due to Gasly’s incident which resulted in damage and Tsunoda’s starting position compromised due to qualifying.
The same can be said about both the Aston Martin and Alpine cars. Both teams did not have the best qualifying result, with only one of their cars reaching Q3. Race Pace remains a question mark too, as both teams exhibited good pace in the middle stints of the race but were unable to be consistent or reliability hampering their progress. Aston Martin admitted that the low rake (rake is the difference between the front and rear ride height of the car) cars getting disadvantaged the most from the new regulations.
A Pirelli graphic of Pit Stops – Round 1 Bahrain GP Alfa Romeo have made a clear step forward as they just missed out on points. Thanks to the brand-new Ferrari power unit, straight line speed is not their weakness anymore. Williams look like they have made a step forward with the car, as raw pace suggests they are faster than Haas. It remains to be seen if they can challenge for the points in future. Haas have admitted that their car is underdeveloped, and that the final version will make an appearance at Imola in round 2.After that no upgrades will be introduced for the whole of 2021 as they have shifted their focus and resources on 2022.
Saturday Qualifying results were:
P1: Max Verstappen- 33 (Red Bull) P2: Lewis Hamilton- 44 (Mercedes) P3: Valtteri Bottas- 77 (Mercedes) P4: Charles Leclerc- 16 (Ferrari) P5: Pierre Gasly- 10 (AlphaTauri) P6: Daniel Ricciardo- 3 (McLaren) P7: Lando Norris- 4 (McLaren) P8: Carlos Sainz- 55 (Ferrari) P9: Fernando Alonso- 14 (Alpine) P10: Lance Stroll- 18 (Aston Martin) P11: Sergio Perez- 11 (Red Bull) P12: Antonio Giovinazzi- 99 (Alfa Romeo) P13: Yuki Tsunoda- 22 (AlphaTauri) P14: Kimi Raikkonen- 7 (Alfa Romeo) P15: George Russell- 63 (Williams) P16: Esteban Ocon- 31 (Alpine) P17: Nicholas Latifi- 6 (Williams) P18: Sebastian Vettel- 5 (Aston Martin) P19: Mick Schumacher- 47 (Haas) P20: Nikita Mazepin- 9 (Haas) -
Marshals, firefighters who saved Grosjean get Special Awards from FIA
Sakhir, 28 March 2021: FIA President Jean Todt has presented Special Awards to the marshals and firefighters who helped rescue Romain Grosjean from the fiery heavy crash the French driver suffered at the start of last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
The FIA President also presented a Special Award to the Bahrain Motor Federation, the national sporting authority (ASN) responsible for the organisation of the grand prix and the training of race volunteers and officials. The specially commissioned 2020 FIA Prize Giving trophy designed by renowned sculptor Patrick Roger, was presented to His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Motor Federation and Abdulaziz Al Thawadi, General Manager, Bahrain Motor Federation.
The prizes were announced by the FIA President during the virtual FIA Prize Giving in December of last year, but on the occasion of today’s 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, President Todt took the opportunity to present the awards in person to the seven local marshals and doctors and the firefighters who assisted Grosjean escape from the fire that engulfed his car following his crash on the opening lap of last year’s grand prix at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Abdulla Ahmed Qambar, Osama Al Sherooqi, Mehab Medhat Fawzi, Ahmed Abdulla Mohammed, , Ahmed Saeed Mohamed, Atif Turkey Alanbar, Dr Yasir Yar Muhammad and firefighters Joby Matthew and Thaer Ali Taher were honoured with commemorative medals for their bravery and exceptional reaction during the incident.
Medals were also presented to FIA Formula 1 Medical Rescue Co-ordinator Dr Ian Roberts and FIA Formula 1 Medical Car Driver Alan van der Merwe.
The combined heroics of this group of courageous individuals and the collaborative efforts of the local volunteers who come from all sectors of Bahraini society meant that Grosjean emerged with minor burns to his hands.
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Pirelli celebrates its 400th F1 Grand Prix F1 in Bahrain
Pirelli Celebrating 400 F1 Grands Prix. A Pirelli video! Pirelli will celebrate its 400th Formula 1 grand prix in Bahrain: the opening race of the 2021 season.
Pirelli’s first grand prix was the inaugural F1 race at Silverstone in 1950, won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo – who went on to claim the debut title at the end of the year. A replica of the Pirelli Stella Bianca tyre that Farina used to win that British Grand Prix is currently on display in the newly-opened museum at Silverstone in England.
Since then, there have been 240 wins, 243 pole positions, 247 fastest laps, and 727 podium places in Formula 1 for the Italian tyre firm. Bahrain constitutes another important milestone for Pirelli, which has been an integral part of motorsport for more than 110 years after winning the 1907 Peking to Paris race. Over the course of this year, a number of different celebrations are planned on Pirelli’s social media channels to mark the occasion, including a video and the attached infographic that sets out Pirelli’s Formula 1 story up to now in numbers.
Mario Isola, Head of F1 and Car Racing: “At Pirelli, we’re very proud of our history, so it’s fantastic to celebrate 400 grands prix. We commemorate this landmark on the verge of a new era: at the start of the final season of 13-inch tyres, before we adopt 18-inch tyres in F1 along with wide-ranging new technical regulations from next year onwards. So as we look back at the past, we’re excited to be writing the next chapter in our story as well.”
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Max Verstappen top times on Day 1: Bahrain Test
Bahrain, 12 March 2021: Max Verstappen set the quickest time on the opening day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit as Mercedes encountered early troubles.
In hot and hazy conditions due to heavy winds whipping up sand, Verstappen set his quickest time, a lap of 1:30.674 set on Pirelli’s yellow-banded C3 tyre in the afternoon session as he also worked his way to the day’s largest lap count of 139 tours of the 5.412km circuit.
The Dutchman’s table-topping lap left him 0.215 seconds clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris with the British driver also using the C3 tyre for his best time. Third place on the day went to Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, though the French driver set his best lap on the softer C4 compound.
Mercedes’ test phase got off to a difficult start, however. Valtteri Bottas managed to complete a single installation in the morning before being sidelined by a gearbox issue.
Bottas was able to rejoin the session but managed just six laps in total before handing over driving duties to Lewis Hamilton.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton added 42 laps in the afternoon but suffered several off-track moments in the tricky conditions and ended the day in 10th place on the timesheet with a best time of 1:32.912 set on the C2 hard tyre.
Bottas, meanwhile, was left to prop up the timesheet in 17th place, six seconds off the pace.
“The first lap, the install lap, we realised there was an issue with the gearbox. We obviously had to localise the issue and change the gearbox, which takes quite a bit of time,” said the Finn of his troubled morning. “Only at the very end we got a few laps, and then it was red-flagged, and that was it. Six total laps, all with aero rakes on the car, so not much running today. Not an ideal start.”
Fourth place in the session went to Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. The Canadian driver finished 1.1s off Verstappen’s pace, as he ran on unmarked prototype Pirelli tyre. The tyre supplier is offering two prototypes this weekend that are identical to the standard C3 but produced in Turkey rather than Romania.
Stroll’s new team-mate, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel ended the day in P13 on the timesheet with a best time of 1:33.742. In all the Aston Martin pair got through 97 laps on a solid first day.
Vettel’s replacement at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, took fifth spot on his first full test day for the Scuderia. The Spaniard finished with a best time of 1:31.919 set on C3 tyres.
Like Mercedes, Ferrari also encountered mechanical woes, as Charles Leclerc was halted by an issue in the morning.
Kimi Räikkönen posted 63 laps for Alfa Romeo in the morning session and team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi added a further 68 in the afternoon to complete a decent first day for the Swiss team as they placed 12thand sixth respectively.
Seventh place went to new McLaren recruit Daniel Ricciardo with the Australian followed by AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and rookie driver Yuki Tsunoda.
Further back Williams tester Roy Nissany was 14th for Williams as he worked through 83 laps, while Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin completed 70 laps on his way to P15. It was a less auspicious first outing with the American team for 2020 Formula 2 champion Mick Schumacher. The German only completed 15 laps.
Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing, Bahrain – Day One
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda 1:30.674 139
2 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:30.889 0.215 46
3 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:31.146 0.472 129
4 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:31.782 1.108 46
5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:31.919 1.245 57
6 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1:31.945 1.271 68
7 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren/Mercedes 1:32.203 1.529 45
8 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri/Honda 1:32.231 1.557 74
9 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri/Honda 1:32.727 2.053 37
10 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:32.912 2.238 42
11 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:33.242 2.568 59
12 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1:33.320 2.646 63
13 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:33.742 3.068 51
14 Roy Nissany Williams/Mercedes 1:34.789 4.115 83
15 Nikita Mazepin Haas/Ferrari 1:34.798 4.124 70
16 Mick Schumacher Haas/Ferrari 1:36.127 5.453 15
17 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:36.850 6.176 6 -
Pirelli gets one more year till 2023 as F1 tyre supplier
The FIA and Formula 1 have proposed, and Pirelli has agreed, a one-year extension to the existing exclusive tyre supply contract to reflect the original intention of the 2018 tyre tender and remain within the overall technical framework, which is in the best interests of all relevant stakeholders. The most recent tyre tender from the FIA and Formula 1 back in 2018 was for the supply of a 13-inch tyre during the 2020 season, followed by three consecutive seasons of 18-inch tyres from 2021 to 2023 inclusive. The COVID-19 pandemic, which also disrupted the 2020 Formula 1 season, obliged the FIA and Formula 1 to implement emergency measures that included the cancellation of tyre development tests last year and the postponement of planned new technical regulations – which included 18-inch tyres – from 2021 to 2022. As a result, the current rules now state that 13-inch tyres will be used during the 2021 season, with a move to 18-inch tyres in 2022. STEFANO DOMENICALI, FORMULA 1 PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: “The pandemic caused disruption across the world and Formula 1 was not immune from that. We therefore took the necessary measures last year to defer the regulations by one year to 2022. We are very proud of our partnership with Pirelli and grateful to them for their constructive approach to this timing change. Pirelli are very conscious of strategic role that the tyres have in F1 and we know that they are working very hard to make sure that their products will represent the best balance between performance and durability in the new technical context. We look forward to the start of the 2021 season and we are all excited for the new cars and new 18-inch tyres to hit the track under the new regulations in 2022.” JEAN TODT, FIA PRESIDENT: “I want to thank Formula 1 and Pirelli for their collaboration, flexibility and commitment to our sport during this most difficult period. COVID-19 has presented us with significant challenges across all aspects of our businesses, but by working together in a sensible, pragmatic way, we have been able to ensure that the long term stability and strength of Formula 1 remains undiminished. The shift to 18″ wheels and tyres will certainly provide a more exciting image for Formula 1 cars, but it has also presented a significant technical challenge requiring a lot of investment and development on behalf of Pirelli as they continue to deliver tyres that will perform at the highest level. In light of this, and the necessary postponement of the new regulations as a result of the pandemic, it is only logical to extend the supply of tyres accordingly”.
MARCO TRONCHETTI PROVERA, PIRELLI EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: “The world of motorsport has also had to face up to the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the FIA and FOM did an extraordinary job to organise a 17-race championship in 2020. We’re obviously pleased to have reached this agreement that will extend our presence at the pinnacle of world motorsport until 2024. Pirelli has been alongside Formula 1 for more than 70 years, since the very first race in 1950, and the company continues to invest in the highest technological levels of research and development, as shown by the introduction of 18-inch tyres from next year. Motorsport forms part of our DNA and Formula 1 represents an open-air laboratory that allows us to apply the know-how gained on track into our road car tyres, starting off with the Ultra High Performance range that equips the most prestigious cars in the world”. -
Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow presents its 2021 colours
Maranello 27 Feb 2021: Today, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow presented the 2021 team in an on-line event which involved not only team partners and the media but also over 300 fans fans linked up from all over the world to see Charles Leclerc’s and Carlos Sainz’s first official appearance of the year in Scuderia colours.
From Maranello to the world. The event began with a short film presenting this season’s driver pairing, as they chatted away. There was obvious chemistry between them, as had already been seen after the Fiorano test a few weeks back, when they drove a 2018 F1 car. After the film, Charles, Carlos and Team Principal Mattia Binotto were seen in a studio setting in the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
A year for redemption. Binotto was the first to speak, explaining that “2021 will be a particularly challenging year. After a difficult season last year, we know that we have to come good in this championship and it will be important to demonstrate our will to win, even though we know this will be a transition year, partly because the regulations do not allow us to substantially change the car and we will simply bring an evolution to the track. We have identified what were the problems with the SF1000 and we have improved the car in all the areas allowed by the regulations. We have a new engine, revised aerodynamics and a modified rear end. We want to do well and can’t wait to take to the track and go up against our competition, to check how good a job we have done.”
Every detail counts. Mattia Binotto also tackled the topic of the reorganisation of the technical department, which was recently updated. “We are aware that in seasons like the one that lies ahead, the slightest detail can make a difference and so we have worked on every front,” he said. “The changes made in the technical department also have this in mind, because we believe that defining the roles and responsibilities in the best way possible means everyone in the team can give their best. That will be even more important this year when we also have to work on the 2022 car, which required a clean sheet of paper in terms of its design, since there will be radical changes to the regulations.”
Drivers. The Team Principal also spoke about the new driver pairing. “They are young and similar in certain respects and I think they are very strong,” he stated. “I know they can’t wait to go head to head on track, but I know they are both aware that, first and foremost comes Ferrari and its interests and so there is no hierarchy. If we were to be clever enough to become the dominant force in Formula 1, then maybe we can start to make certain assessments. But for the moment, there is no room for this sort of discussion. First we need to catch up with our competitors.”
Tifosi. While the majority of questions from the media were aimed at Binotto, when it was the turn of the fans to link up to the studio discussion, Charles and Carlos were centre stage. Naturally, enough, the Monegasque confirmed he is impatient to go racing, while also saying that despite everything he was proud of how he had performed in 2020. “Having gone through a difficult season like the last one, it has made me more patient and above all, has made me understand how much small details can make a difference,” he affirmed. “I improved my tyre management and worked on the quality of feedback I gave to the engineers and that will also prove useful this season.”
Honour and responsibility. Carlos Sainz was the newcomer today. “I am now counting the hours until I drive the SF21 for the first time,” said the Spaniard. “Being part of the team with the most history and most wins in Formula 1 is a great source of pride for me but it also brings with it a responsibility. I have already spent two months in Maranello, I have got to know the team, their faces and their names. During this time, I realised how important Ferrari is and how being a driver for this team also means being a global ambassador for Italy. I am really looking forward to entertaining our fans.”
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Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team signs SentinelOne as Cybersecurity Partner
SentinelOne, the autonomous cybersecurity platform company, is announced today as the Official Cybersecurity Partner of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, as Aston Martin makes its return to Formula One after an absence of 61 years.
SentinelOne’s new partnership with Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team complements the leading cybersecurity company’s ongoing partnership with Aston Martin Lagonda. In 2018, following an exhaustive competitive tender process, Aston Martin Lagonda selected SentinelOne’s Singularity XDR platform to revolutionise its approach to cybersecurity and protect every Aston Martin endpoint, IoT device, and cloud workload with AI-powered technology that prevents and adapts to cyber attacks at machine speed. Now, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team will be protected in the same way.
In addition to the mission-critical services that SentinelOne will provide, the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team has acquired equity in SentinelOne, in a highly innovative and ground-breaking deal that binds the two companies together in a way that will facilitate an exceptional and game-changing level of technical co-operation.Tomer Weingarten, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, SentinelOne, said: “The parallels between Aston Martin and SentinelOne are strong, and it is an honour to support the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team’s much-anticipated return to the top tier of global motorsport. We both share a relentless passion for innovation and desire to disrupt the status quo and an appreciation of the significance of speed. These core principles are at the soul of this partnership and represent the power of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team and SentinelOne.” SentinelOne’s Singularity XDR platform continuously evolves to proactively secure global enterprises and Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team against advanced threats. Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team handles huge amounts of data across a very complex infrastructure. In order to stay competitive, all of that information must be fully secured. As Official Cybersecurity Partner, SentinelOne empowers Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team with adaptive cybersecurity that blocks threats in real time. In so doing, SentinelOne is protecting the team – both on and off of track – from every attack at every stage of the threat life cycle. Lawrence Stroll, Chairman, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, said: “I am delighted that SentinelOne will be one of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team’s key partners as we take Aston Martin back where it belongs, the top table of international motorsport, namely Formula One. Tomer Weingarten [Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, SentinelOne] and I have enjoyed our discussions, and it is clear that our two companies have much in common. Ours will be a very real partnership, delivering genuine performance enhancements to the safe and smooth running of our team.” Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Executive Officer and Team Principal, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, said: “Since 2018 SentinelOne has demonstrated compelling attributes in securing Aston Martin Lagonda against an ever-evolving threat landscape. Now that the AI-powered cybersecurity leader is also partnered with Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team, those same compelling attributes will make a very real contribution to three vital on-track ‘esses’: safety, security and success. In a nutshell, SentinelOne will provide us with an AI platform that facilitates a situation wherein human beings are freer to make the right decisions; the corollary of that is that it will help prevent human error. That is going to be a game-changer for us. A Formula One team is a highly technical operation, handling literally millions of data points, engaging in split-second decision making, and introducing design and performance improvements on a 24-7 basis. State-of-the-art cybersecurity is crucial to that: it allows a Formula One team and its drivers to push the limits of performance, knowing that they are protected by the most advanced systems.” Jefferson Slack, Managing Director – Commercial and Marketing, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, said: “This year is a pivotal moment in Aston Martin’s glorious history, as we return to the pinnacle of global motorsport, and SentinelOne is the ideal cybersecurity partner to help us achieve our goals. The two companies also share many of the same brand values: driven by technology, motivated by competition, and inspired by the desire to win. SentinelOne joins an already impressive roster of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team partners, with more to come very soon. Watch this space.” About SentinelOne SentinelOne is the only cybersecurity solution encompassing AI-powered prevention, detection, response and hunting across endpoints, containers, cloud workloads, and IoT devices in a single autonomous XDR platform. With SentinelOne, organisations gain full transparency into everything happening across the network at machine speed – to defeat every attack, at every stage of the threat lifecycle. To learn more, visit www.sentinelone.com or follow us at @SentinelOne, on LinkedIn or Facebook. About Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team After more than 60 years away from Formula One, Aston Martin returns to Grand Prix racing in 2021. With one of the most iconic emblems in the world emblazoned above the garages and a team of over 450 passionate men and women at its heart, this is a team with both a rich heritage and a fresh perspective – bringing new energy to the sport with a determination to shake up the order and compete at the sharp end.
A growing family, where like-minded people from all walks of life are encouraged to be a part of our journey and given a platform to thrive, our mission is to use the global platform of motorsport to engage a new wave of fans – showcasing the technology and innovation which live at our core while representing the values that resonate with the changing world in which we live. -
Ferrari Driver Academy 2021 starts with 8 drivers
Maranello, 8 Feb 2021: This morning marked the twelfth year of courses for the Ferrari Driver Academy, the Prancing Horse programme established in 2009 with the aim of preparing talented youngsters to one day drive for Ferrari in Formula 1.
Seven young men and Maya. This year, there are eight young drivers that will be trained and supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy, six of whom were in Maranello this morning. Mick Schumacher was absent with the good reason that he is working with the Haas F1 Team with whom he will make his Formula 1 debut this season. Dino Beganovic will join his fellow students tomorrow as he is returning from Abu Dhabi, where he took part in the second and third rounds of the Formula 3 Asian Series. As at the start of any academic year, the more experienced drivers who, partly because of the pandemic, had not seen one another for a while, spent some time before the bell sounded to recount what they had been up to over the winter. For two of them, this was a more nerve wracking and serious moment: Australian James Wharton is just 14 and was selected at the FDA Scouting World Finals, as the best of the youngsters from around the world and 16 year-old Dutch girl Maya Weug, who very recently won the FIA “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” to become the first girl to join the FDA. They make up the 2021 intake.
Busy week. Welcoming the students was Head of FDA, Marco Matassa, Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto and Sporting Director Laurent Mekies. This week the drivers will take part in the usual start of the year Camp, consisting of five demanding days of lessons on various topics, from technical matters to regulations, marketing and communications, as well as some physical and mental aptitude tests, as well as sports and two days of karting on the Lonato track, run by Tony Kart, a long time partner of Maranello’s young driver programme. Over the course of the year, the FDA will follow each driver personally with support on and off the track, organising specific activities, depending on their level of experience and the type of race category in which they will be competing.
Programmes. Mick Schumacher will continue his development in Formula 1, at the wheel of the Haas F1 Team car. The arrival of the German means there are now four FDA members past or present on the F1 grid: apart from Charles Leclerc, one must not forget Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. Also on the scene and present at several races will be Callum Ilott in his role as the Scuderia test driver. The youngster from Cambridge will still enjoy the thrill of racing as he will also be taking part in a GT programme, at the wheel of a Ferrari for some of the most famous sports car races.
Formula 2. Robert Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong will race in the junior category. The Russian stays with the Prema team and his clear goal is to win the title, given his 2020 performance in the category when he took four wins, the most of any driver, as well as proving to be very consistent. Marcus, who drove a Ferrari Formula 1 car for the first time two weeks ago in a test at Fiorano, has recently switched to the DAMS team and is more determined than ever to be a front runner.
Formula 3. Last year, Arthur Leclerc finished second in the Formula Regional championship, even though he took more poles and wins than anyone else. His performance has earned him a step up to Formula 3 for this year. Arthur can once again count on the support of the Prema team and right from the start he should be a protagonist.
Formula Regional. Last year, Ferrari Driver Academy students did very well in the European Formula Regional championship and this year, the Maranello marque can again count on a very quick driver in the shape of Dino Beganovic. The Swede, born in 2004, made his single-seater debut last year and made a very positive impression in the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA, taking his first win at Imola and demonstrating consistency on his way to third in the championship. Over the past two weeks, as part of his training, Dino competed in the Formula 3 Asian Series, which uses the same car that he will race in Europe in Formula Regional. He has already demonstrated a clear affinity for the car, finishing on the podium four times from nine races.
Maya and James. Lastly, two new arrivals, Maya Weug and James Wharton. The Dutch girl had her first taste of a Formula 4 car during the FIA “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” programme and will continue in this category. As for James Wharton, his age means he has to continue racing in karts in 2021 and so the FDA has prepared a programme to get him ready for single-seaters, including a series of tests in the second part of the season. Have a good year guys!Mattia Binotto Team Principal & Managing Director Scuderia Ferrari Today marks the official start of the new season for the Ferrari Driver Academy. It’s an important moment, not just for the eight participants in the 2021 academic year but also for the whole Scuderia. We have always said that the FDA is not just a school that has to help the best youngsters make it to Formula 1, but that above all it must train those that one day will be the standard bearers for Scuderia Ferrari in the top level category of motor racing.
We achieved that with Charles Leclerc and we are pleased that this year, another driver who grew up with us, Mick Schumacher, will also make his F1 debut. Apart from the well known names of Callum, Robert, Marcus, Arthur and Dino, listed in order of their ages, I am very pleased to welcome the two new students, Maya Weug and James Wharton, who join the Academy this year. Their arrival is important because it also confirms the effort we are putting in when it comes to making motorsport more inclusive.
I wish all of them the very best of luck and hope that they will progress and be successful during this season which they should tackle with humility, determination and with a desire to learn, without ever forgetting that they are following their dream.Marco Matassa Head of Ferrari Driver Academy The start of a new year for us at the Ferrari Driver Academy is always a very special moment. We are pleased to see our drivers again and say welcome to our new intake knowing that we can expect an intense season. In 2020, our drivers got excellent results and that can only spur us on to try and do even better in 2021, because looking for continuous improvement is the basis of Ferrari’s and therefore also the FDA’s philosophy.
I want to extend a special welcome to our newcomers, James Wharton and Maya Weug, whose arrival signals new frontiers for the Academy. James is actually the winner of the first FDA Scouting World Finals. This event featured six finalists battling it out for a place on our programme, chosen from a large group of very young drivers from around the world, thanks to our collaboration with ACI, Tony Kart, Motorsport Australia and Escuderia Telmex.
Maya is the first girl to join the FDA through our partnership with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s global programme to find the best young female drivers, a project we really believe in. We can’t wait to start working with all these youngsters to prepare the groundwork for another year of good results. -
China dropped; Australian GP in Nov, Bahrain to start F1 season on Mar 26: FIA F1 Calendar
Paris, 12 Jan 2021: Formula 1 can on Tuesdy confirmed that the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship will open its season in Bahrain between from March 26 to 28. The ongoing situation regarding COVID-19 has meant it is not feasible to begin the season in Melbourne, but the good news is that the Australian Grand Prix will now take place from the November 18 t o 21, following an agreement between Formula 1 and the Australian authorities that shows the importance of the race in Australia to Formula 1 and our partners in Melbourne.
Due to the ongoing travel restrictions in place, the 2021 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place on its planned date. Discussions with the promoter and authorities in China are ongoing with the potential to reschedule the race later in the season if possible. With the scheduled date not being feasible for China, Imola will return to the Formula 1 calendar on the revised date of April 18. The TBC (to be confirmed) race in the calendar will be announced in due course and will take place on the new date of May 2. All revisions are subject to World Motor Sport Council approval.
As a result of these changes the number of races for 2021 will remain at 23 which is the largest ever Formula 1 calendar and we look forward to delivering this season through close collaboration with all our promoters. The season will start a week later than planned and end a week later with our season finale in Abu Dhabi. As stated previously, we expect fans to return to the grandstands and our exclusive Paddock Club for the 2021 season. We will continue to work closely with our promoters and partners to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation and look forward to the start of the season in March.
The revised 2021
Date Grand Prix Venue 28 March Bahrain Sakhir 18 April Italy Imola* 2 May TBC TBC 9 May Spain Barcelona 23 May Monaco Monaco 6 June Azerbaijan Baku 13 June Canada Montreal 27 June France Le Castellet 4 July Austria Spielberg 18 July United Kingdom Silverstone 1 August Hungary Budapest 29 August Belgium Spa 5 September Netherlands Zandvoort 12 September Italy Monza 26 September Russia Sochi 3 October Singapore Singapore 10 October Japan Suzuka 24 October USA Austin 31 October Mexico Mexico City 7 November Brazil Sao Paulo 21 November Australia Melbourne* 5 December Saudi Arabia Jeddah** 12 December Abu Dhabi Yas Island *Revisions to calendar are subject to World Motor Sport Council approval
**Subject to circuit homologation
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said
“It has been a busy start to the year at Formula 1 and we are pleased to confirm that the number of races planned for the season remains unchanged. The global pandemic has not yet allowed life to return to normal, but we showed in 2020 that we can race safely as the first international sport to return and we have the experience and plans in place to deliver on our season. It is great news that we have already been able to agree a rescheduled date for the Australian Grand Prix in November and are continuing to work with our Chinese colleagues to find a solution to race there in 2021 if something changes. We are very excited to announce that Imola will return for the 2021 season and know our fans will be looking forward to the return of Formula 1 after the winter break and our revised season opener in Bahrain. Obviously, the virus situation remains fluid, but we have the experience from last season with all our partners and promoters to adapt accordingly and safely in 2021.”
Today marks the official start of the new season for the Ferrari Driver Academy. It’s an important moment, not just for the eight participants in the 2021 academic year but also for the whole Scuderia. We have always said that the FDA is not just a school that has to help the best youngsters make it to Formula 1, but that above all it must train those that one day will be the standard bearers for Scuderia Ferrari in the top level category of motor racing.
