The Official F1 2021 silly season *contains speculation*

[ajprice]

Confirmed seats from the F1 Facebook

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Grosjean talking to Indycar teams https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/153218/grosjean-...

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Muzzer79 said:

We see the same theory in MotoGP at Honda. Marques can ride the Honda and, seemingly, no-one else can. It's more visible in MotoGP though as they have four bikes in the field to F1's two.

: and in the last few races they made changes to the bikes and Alex Marquez is getting a few podiums and looks like him winning a race is doable. At the start of the season with a Marc Marquez spec bike, Alex was at the back end of the grid.

Car changes mid season like that can't happen in F1, but RB setting up the car so that people who aren't Max can go fast in it has to be their way forward. Mercedes wouldn't have 7 constructor championships if they built their cars around Hamilton and told Rosberg/Bottas to jog on and get on with it.

[ajprice]

The decision on which Ferrari Academy junior driver goes up to F1 (Haas) will me made in the next couple of weeks https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari...

[ajprice]

The still slightly provisional 2021 calendar



Round 4 is a blank tbc because Vietnam isn't happening.

Edited by ajprice on Tuesday 10th November 11:35

[ajprice]

It could be Schumacher and Mazepin to Haas https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-mick-schumacher...

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Mark-C said:

So is that it for seat placements for next year?

Mercedes seat
Red Bull seat
Alpha Tauri seat

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Deesee said:

Bmw and Audi both out of formula E... one only hopes that a synthetic fuel F1 could perhaps draw them across for 2026, and we get 22/24 + cars back on the grid.

Audi are going to Dakar rally and LM prototypes https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/audi-quit-fe-l...

[ajprice]

Ferrari designer Simone Resta going 'on loan' to Haas

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55192515

[ajprice]

I think 2021 is shaping up pretty well.

Mercedes, assuming they keep Hamilton and Bottas, should be carrying on as they were. Favourites for the titles.

Red Bull, depending on driver no 2, should be a similar level to this year (with Albon) or closer to Mercedes on points (with Perez/Hulk). Fighting for constructors P2 with Albon, fighting for constructors P1 with Perez/Hulk.

Ferrari, if the improved engine is real, should be closer on points too with Sainz as now instead of unhappy/off form/not bothered Vettel. Sainz at Imola chasing down Gasly was fierce, Leclerc will have the other Ferrari up with him next year. In the mix for P2/P3 constructors.

McLaren should get a boost from the Mercedes engine and DR in place of Sainz being an equal swap IMO. In the fight for constructors P3.

Racing Point/Aston Martin. They've been strong this year, without the penalty, the Covid driver swaps putting Hulk in the car at last minute and a few DNFs, maybe p3 was really theirs. Perez going is a loss, Vettel coming in is an unknown really, depending whether this year was a sulk and next year he'll be happy again and fast again. Fighting for P3 if Vettel turns up.

Renault/Alpine. Alonso is either going to be a kick up the arse and getting the car to higher positions it shouldn't be in, or a nightmare. Either way, I can't see Ocon having a good 2021. Occasional podiums for Alonso. Just on the back of the team's above, ahead of the teams below.

Alpha Tauri, Alfa Romeo, Haas, Williams. If Alfa and Haas get the same engine update as Ferrari, they might get the jump. AT could drop back. I just hope the new people at Williams can get them up the grid and Russell into the points.

[ajprice]

Just the Mercedes and Red Bull seats to be confirmed.



Curve ball... How about Albon and Hamilton switching seats?

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HighwayStar said:

They don’t want 2 drivers fighting it out... this could be interesting because Checo can go all Latin fiery. If, IF, he can master the poison chalice it could add another dimension to the ‘21 season.

Perez and Ocon were on the same bit of track quite often in 2017. Literally . If Perez is close to Verstappen at any point it's not likely that either of them are going to back down. Or maybe they've both moved on and calmed down since they had Riccardo and Ocon as team mates, so they'll be next year's best buds like Sainz and Norris?!?

[ajprice]

Ineos have increased their stake in Mercedes F1. Ineos, Daimler and Toto Wolff are now equal shareholders.

https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/news/2020/12/form...

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Supersam83 said:

Can't remember being another season with 8 drivers starting with a new team.

1950?

I can't remember it personally as I was -26 years old at the time.

[ajprice]

paulguitar said:

Mr Tracy said:

Rumour has it Pietro Fittipaldi will replace Nikita Mazepin

Wow, that would be a pretty amazing story. Mazepin has form, as well as the recent shenanigans, he actually physically attacked Illott back in their F3 days.

https://twitter.com/PiFitti?s=09 Haas F1 Driver

https://twitter.com/nikita_mazepin?s=09 Professional Racing Driver



Happy if it's true.

[ajprice]

vaud said:

Season disruption already... not a great surprise.

2021 F1 Australian GP set to be postponed amid COVID restrictions

It could move to the April 25th TBC slot that was going to be Vietnam.

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TheDeuce said:

HustleRussell said:

jsf said:

HighwayToHull said:

I'm wondering if they'll move the Big Rule Change back another year.

There is no need, the basic finances and infrastructure of the teams is well established now. They can cope with the change.

I heard IIRC on Missed Apex that Pirelli are far from where they need to be with the 18” tyres and that this factor threatens the introduction of the 2022 rules?

If the only reason that a long planned for and already delayed rule change is delayed again is that a single supplier failed to do their job - that would be pretty embarrassing...

Pirelli have an entire year ahead of them to sort the tyres out don't they? Whatever the problems are, that's surely long enough to sort it one way or another. If need be the FIA could even adjust the spec slightly if the current spec literally can't be made workable for some reason.

Pirelli have been testing 18 inch tyres since at least 2014 when the Lotus was shown https://www.racefans.net/2014/07/09/pirelli-lotus-... . If they can't get it right after that long with a year to go, it's embarrassing for Pirelli more than F1.

[ajprice]

Albon will be racing in DTM on non F1 weekends, and it's Red Bull backed https://wtf1.com/post/alexander-albon-will-race-in...

[ajprice]

What might be the Alpine livery (or testing livery) in a Twitter video https://twitter.com/startonpole/status/13470821620...

[ajprice]

TheDeuce said:

Deesee said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Deesee said:

Looks like the new regs will be pushed back another year..(to 2023).

It looks like the 2021 season is going to be more like '20 than '19 with Covid still causing some serious issues.

100%.. mostly european with a few Middle East Stints IMO.

& and poor old Ferrari

I think it's literally a case of wanting to hang around Europe - but anytime covid makes that unrealistic - bugger off to the middle East for a hasty double header.

Shame in a way to have the new regs postponed for another year.. I know it's not official yet, but the same reasons it was delayed last year still exist this year. More so perhaps - so no reason to think they won't push it again.

Would that mean the Pirelli 18" tyres being pushed a year too? There are rule changes to the floor for this year so the cars won't be exactly the same as last year, having next year as 2019 rev C cars with 18" would keep the car development interesting.