Formula One 2021 Motor Sport

[Crabtree]

I'm hoping for a strong show from LeClerc and Sainz this year. A few podiums and 3rd in the constructors would be a huge leap. Would like to see Vettel and Mick Schumacher do well also.

As much as I slated Vettel last season, with good reason in my opinion, he was a fantastic driver and I really hope he recovers his previous form. Seems like a genuine lad and you can't deny his talent

 

[Tom]

Romain Grosjean suffered an impact of 67G in his fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the official report into the incident concludes.

Analysis by governing body the FIA has identified more than 20 areas in which safety can be improved.
These include changes to the cars, barriers, circuits, driver safety equipment and medical response.

FIA president Jean Todt said the report provided "important learnings that will drive our mission to improve safety".

Grosjean's crash was one of the most dramatic in many years, as his Haas car split the crash barrier, and was suspended in it on its side. The driver was trapped in the burning car for nearly 30 seconds before managing to wriggle out to safety. The Frenchman suffered burns to his hands, which have now healed sufficiently for him to begin racing in the US-based Indycar series.

It was the first time a car had caught fire so dramatically in a crash in a grand prix since 1989, and the first time a barrier had split in such a way since the 1970s.

While the impact force was higher than the FIA initially suggested in the immediate aftermath of the accident, at 67G compared to 53G, the actual impact speed turned out to be lower, at 119mph rather than 137mph.

The report said that the force of the impact caused the middle rail of the barrier to fail, and "significant deformation" of the upper and lower rails.

The fire was caused by fuel escaping as a result of the dislodging of the fuel hatch on the left-hand side of the chassis and the fact that the engine fuel supply connection was torn from the tank 'safety bladder'.

And it concluded that the driver safety equipment, including helmet, head and neck safety device (Hans), survival cell, headrest and halo cockpit protection system had protected Grosjean and "managed the forces applied to the driver during the impact".

It took just 11 seconds for the medical car to arrive on the scene, enabling FIA doctor Ian Roberts to instruct a marshal to direct a fire extinguisher at the cockpit, where he could see Grosjean trying to escape.

FIA Safety Director Adam Baker said: "Incidents involving fire of this scale are thankfully rare, so it is very important to learn what we can, including the interaction with the [car's] high-voltage system.

"The efforts of those involved were heroic and have quite rightly been the subject of much praise. Following the approval of our findings by the World Motor Sport Council, we will integrate the actions into the ongoing work."

Among the areas where changes will be made are:

• the geometry of the front of the car's survival cell and additional load tests
• head restraints aimed at ensuring they do not impede driver egress
• Engine mounting and fuel cell installations
• Reviews of barrier design and positioning
• Reviews of the process for approving circuits
• Updating medical intervention equipment, including fire extinguishers

And there will be further research into a number of areas including warning systems, and improving existing barriers and fire equipment, as well as new barrier systems.

Romain Grosjean suffered an impact of 67G in his fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the official report into the incident concludes.

Jeez, still amazed he walked away from that one.

 

[Tom]

Ferrari F1 SF21 2021 car reveal...



Not really a fan of this, if I'm honest, the green looks out of place.

 

[Geezer]

The Shell Motorsport Twitter account shared photos of the car totally devoid of Mission Winnow stickers.

 

[Boot Cleaner]

So people, what's your favourite livery? Alpine is my favourite.

 

[David76]

Driver line-ups for testing has been confirmed. (Starts tomorrow)

Mercedes​

Friday AM: Valtteri Bottas Friday PM: Lewis Hamilton
Saturday AM: Lewis Hamilton Saturday PM: Valtteri Bottas
Sunday AM: Valtteri Bottas Sunday PM: Lewis Hamilton

Red Bull​

Friday AM: Max Verstappen Friday PM: Max Verstappen
Saturday AM: Sergio Perez Saturday PM: Sergio Perez
Sunday AM: Sergio Perez Sunday PM: Max Verstappen

Ferrari​

Friday AM: Charles Leclerc Friday PM: Carlos Sainz
Saturday AM: Carlos Sainz Saturday PM: Charles Leclerc
Sunday AM: Charles Leclerc Sunday PM: Carlos Sainz

McLaren​

Friday AM: Daniel Ricciardo Friday PM: Lando Norris
Saturday AM: Lando Norris Saturday PM: Daniel Ricciardo
Sunday AM: Daniel Ricciardo Sunday PM: Lando Norris

Aston Martin​

Friday AM: Sebastian Vettel Friday PM: Lance Stroll
Saturday AM: Sebastian Vettel Saturday PM: Lance Stroll
Sunday AM: Lance Stroll Sunday PM: Sebastian Vettel

Alpine​

Friday AM: Esteban Ocon Friday PM: Esteban Ocon
Saturday AM: Fernando Alonso Saturday PM: Fernando Alonso
Sunday AM: Esteban Ocon Sunday PM: Fernando Alonso

Williams​

Friday AM: Roy Nissany Friday PM: Roy Nissany
Saturday AM: Nicholas Latifi Saturday PM: Nicholas Latifi
Sunday AM: George Russell Sunday PM: George Russell

AlphaTauri​

Friday AM: Pierre Gasly Friday PM: Yuki Tsunoda
Saturday AM: Yuki Tsunoda Saturday PM: Pierre Gasly
Sunday AM: Pierre Gasly Sunday PM: Yuki Tsunoda

Alfa Romeo​

Friday AM: Kimi Raikkonen Friday PM: Antonio Giovinazzi
Saturday AM: Antonio Giovinazzi Saturday PM: Antonio Giovinazzi
Sunday AM: Kimi Raikkonen Sunday PM: Kimi Raikkonen

Haas​

Friday AM: Mick Schumacher Friday PM: Nikita Mazepin
Saturday AM: Nikita Mazepin Saturday PM: Mick Schumacher
Sunday AM: Mick Schumacher Sunday PM: Nikita Mazepin

 

[Fraser]

During testing the lads on Sky were saying McLaren have found a loophole for the rear diffuser?

 

[Franco Pinion]

Every year is the same. Don't know why people even keep track of testing. You are kidding yourself if you think Mercedes won't have the dominant car again this season.

During testing the lads on Sky were saying McLaren have found a loophole for the rear diffuser?

I didn't see any of the testing but here's a bit of detail on the McLaren diffuser.

Revealed: McLaren’s clever F1 diffuser trick on new car

Formula 1’s new aero rules aimed to cut downforce have been a big challenge for teams this winter as they have thrown everything at trying to recover the losses.

www.motorsport.com

I don't pretend to understand it but if it made them competitive with Mercedes then I'd be happy.

 

[Spikey]

F1 have revealed their plans and concept art for the Jeddah Street Circuit, the 'fastest street track' layout for Saudia Arabia's debut in December 2021!



Looks a bit boring and needlessly dangerous to me. Awful lot of easy flat-out kinks with walls nearby.

 

[Franco Pinion]

Just been announced that former Lotus F1 driver Johnny Dumfries has passed away, aged 62.

RIP