***The Official 2021 Formula 1 season thread***

[worksux101]

Not necessarily. Engineers have already stated they’ll likely get back the same aero performance. The difference is the manner in which the air is disturbed.

There’s a report that one team has alredy developed the 2019 car with the same aero efficiency. They remain unnamed but my guess is RBR.

[Rory Phoulorie]

So Jimmie Johnson and Fernando Alonso swapped racing cars in Bahrain. Jimmie drove a 2013 spec McLaren and Fernando drove Jimmie's 2018 NASCAR stock car.

Jimmie lapped about 0.2 seconds slower than the benchmark time set by Alonso on that day (he didn't drive for McLaren in 2013).

Not too bad for Jimmie.

[worksux101]

I remember the first swap back in 2005 with JPM and Jeff Gordon ‘tradin paint’, with the latter saying the Stock Cars didn’t pull even close to the number of Gs and that was the limiting factor.
F1 cars have since become a lot more aerodynamically stable while Stock cars are predominantly the same, so hard to believe he’d be able to get anywhere close to FA in a single seater.

[MG Man]

I recall back then, Gordon impressed a few in F1. The reason it was said he wouldn’t get an offer, was his salary, but the skill was there to at least get a seat

[worksux101]

He didn’t cause of his age - he was alredy in his 30s at the time.
Also I recall him saying that his background was in single seaters and sprint cars, so he would’ve been at least a bit better off. Another case of what could’ve been.
Then you have pay drivers now, and just wonder wtf. Kubica getting a drive this year at least restores some faith, but difficult to see how Williams will get much r&d without daddy Stroll or Russia’s money...maybe another sponsor we don’t know about.

[kamakazi]

I have learned that most racers from different series/disciplines are pretty handy... Which is why I enjoy watching Race Of Champions every year

[worksux101]

Definitely...though it’s lost its lustre in recent years, I really enjoyed Vet and Schummi trying diff types of surfaces, and JPM ofc last year or two.
Speaking of which, I think Mick Schumacher (Michael’s son who is going into f2) will race alongside Vettel this year to represent Germany.

[teems1]

Definitely...though it’s lost its lustre in recent years, I really enjoyed Vet and Schummi trying diff types of surfaces, and JPM ofc last year or two.
Speaking of which, I think Mick Schumacher (Michael’s son who is going into f2) will race alongside Vettel this year to represent Germany.

He is already signed up to be in GP2 for the next season with Prema. Hopefully he performs well there before he eventually finds himself in F1.

[worksux101]

I was referring to him racing in ROC...I did say he was going to be in F2 this year.
It’s in Mexico in January.
Anyone else thinking of going?

[kamakazi]

As much as I like F1
These Gen 2 formula E cars look the business. I am officially on board

[teems1]

As much as I like F1
These Gen 2 formula E cars look the business. I am officially on board

The tracks they use are horrible. Way too narrow city circuits and the racing is beyond reckless.

[kamakazi]

As much as I like F1
These Gen 2 formula E cars look the business. I am officially on board

The tracks they use are horrible. Way too narrow city circuits and the racing is beyond reckless.

And that is why it is more entertaining than F1.

[MG Man]

Looks like Maurizio officially getting the boot

[worksux101]

Too many bad decisions last year, esp the drop in performance after the ‘upgrade’

Watched the last formula E race - too mario kartish and artificial for me

[MG Man]

I don't know what mario kart is, so I enjoy F-E
Most comical thing was always swapping the whole damn car half-way through a race becuz battery reasons

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

I don't know what mario kart is

lies

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

This attack mode where the car halo lights up is a bit Mario Kartish in truth

[MG Man]

I don't know what mario kart is

lies

ok fine, I'm aware it's a video game, where characters drive go-kart thingies and hurl stuff at each other....never played it
is it like that angry birds downhill thing?

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

I don't know what mario kart is

lies

ok fine, I'm aware it's a video game, where characters drive go-kart thingies and hurl stuff at each other....never played it
is it like that angry birds downhill thing?

Like this

[MG Man]

yeah, saw that...haven't seen any races recently so dunno how it's working without the fancy CGI exaggeration...guessing like the american 'push to pass' kinda deal where it isn't nearly as dramatic as you'd think
Either way, F-E always has exciting racing

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

Formula E cars still sound annoying. Tried to get into it but switched off after a few seconds. This is going to replace F1 in the future?

[teems1]

Formula E cars still sound annoying. Tried to get into it but switched off after a few seconds. This is going to replace F1 in the future?

Hopefully not.

Cars replaced the horse and buggy as the main form of ground transport, yet horse racing is still around.

Electric vehicles will eventually replace ICE, thereby leaving ICE for the racing.

[kamakazi]

yeah, saw that...haven't seen any races recently so dunno how it's working without the fancy CGI exaggeration...guessing like the american 'push to pass' kinda deal where it isn't nearly as dramatic as you'd think
Either way, F-E always has exciting racing

It is similar to Mario kart. You have to drive through a particular zone to activate it; the zone isn't on the racing line however, so you compromise your lap in one section to get additional energy to use everywhere else.

While it closely resembles a game, how much different is this from the DRS and its associated activation and usage zones on an F1 track or a joker lap in world rally cross.

also in F1 there are high degredation tyres and the forced use of two compounds during a dry race.
To me, these are all attempts to make racing more entertaining. I don't like all of it but it is still enjoyable to watch.

I think WRC, BTCC and WTCC has less or none of these measures put in place for entertainment

About the sound...the sound of formula E cars reminds me of a jet turbine engine spinning up or a loud turbo spooling...I actually like that sound.

[MG Man]

yeah I like F-E...no awesome engine sounds but exciting / close racing...attack mode might seem a bit contrived, but imagine the strategies around how / when to use it...like you said, a-la Joker lap
BTCC etc have a lot of contact which aids in the action and drama...open-wheelers really aren't conducive to contact the way sturdy tin-tops are....not to mention launching into the air when wheels lock

[worksux101]

Thats what gets me...there's a helluva lot of contact and barging through...like a kart race full of inexperienced guys...it feels like a wannabe touring car event with a batmobile looking semi open wheeler

Dont mind the sound at all, but the attack mode is a bit too advantageous, much like DRS and Push to Pass at times.

[MG Man]

only advantageous to those who use it wisely...hence whole new book of strategy opens up

[16 cycles]

Race Day Venue Formula 1® Grand Prix
17 March 2019 Melbourne Australia
31 March 2019 Sakhir Bahrain
14 April 2019 Shanghai China
28 April 2019 Baku Azerbaijan
12 May 2019 Barcelona Spain
26 May 2019 Monaco Monaco
9 June 2019 Montreal Canada
23 June 2019 Le Castellet France
30 June 2019 Spielberg Austria
14 July 2019 Silverstone Great Britain
28 July 2019 Hockenheim Germany
4 August 2019 Budapest Hungary
1 September 2019 Spa-Francorchamps Belgium
8 September 2019 Monza Italy
22 September 2019 Singapore Singapore
29 September 2019 Sochi Russia
13 October 2019 Suzuka Japan
27 October 2019 Mexico City Mexico
3 November 2019 Austin USA
17 November 2019 Sao Paulo Brazil
1 December 2019 Yas Marina Abu Dhabi

https://www.grandprix.com.au/fan-zone/2 ... -calendar#

netflix docu-series on 2018 season was awesome in High Res...

[teems1]

21 races is madness.

17-18 is the sweetspot.

I would axe Bahrain, Barcelona and Singapore as those are easily the most boring. Only reason Monaco would remain is due to it's history.

[src1983]

Team radio gonna suck without Alonso....but at least we have kimi

[worksux101]

21 races is madness.

17-18 is the sweetspot.

I would axe Bahrain, Barcelona and Singapore as those are easily the most boring. Only reason Monaco would remain is due to it's history.

Agreed. Happy with the 21 though personally.
With Singapore being a night race and Catalunya being the chosen test track, it seems unlikely those would go.
Bahrain undoubtedly pays a tonne of money else they would've been gone since the Human Rights issue days.

Quite a few cities have bid apparently - Vietnam coming in next year and Miami seems likely to eventually come on given the new owners.
Would be interesting to see if they keep Silverstone