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F1 2021 SEASON: NEWS - RUMOURS

Discussion in 'Formula 1' started by ched999uk, Oct 28, 2020.

  1. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    DEAL SIGNED

    1 year deal

    More to follow


    Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton Agree New Contract for 2021

    The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is pleased to announce that the reigning Formula One World Constructors’ Champion and the reigning F1 World Drivers’ Champion will continue together in 2021. The Mercedes works team and Lewis agreed a new contract which will see one of the sport’s most successful ever collaborations continue for a ninth consecutive season.

    A significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year by Lewis and Mercedes. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.

    Lewis made his F1 debut with Mercedes F1 engine customer team McLaren in 2007 and has been powered in all his 266 Grands Prix by Mercedes-Benz engines. He joined the Mercedes works team in 2013 and has since won 74 F1 races as well as six Drivers’ Championships with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. In 2020, he broke Michael Schumacher’s win record and is now all-time race win record holder in Formula One.

    Lewis Hamilton
    “I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates. Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.

    “I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue. I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”

    Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal
    “We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process. Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport. Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners. The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”

    Markus Schäfer, Non-Executive Chairman
    “We’re very happy to keep the most successful F1 driver of the current era in the most successful F1 team of the current era. Lewis is not only an incredibly talented driver; he also works very hard for his achievements and is extremely hungry. He shares his passion for performance with the entire team which is why this collaboration has become so successful. But Lewis is also a warm-hearted personality who cares deeply about the world around him and wants to make an impact. As a company, Mercedes-Benz shares this sense of responsibility and is proud to commit to a new, joint foundation to improve diversity in motorsport. Opening the sport to under-represented groups will be important for its development in the future and we’re determined to make a positive impact.”

     
    #261
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  2. Number 1 Jasper

    Number 1 Jasper Well-Known Member

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    Just saw that , now to find out if he or merc have an option for a further year .
     
    #262
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  3. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    As predicted - diversity the big “curveball” he threw them.
     
    #263
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  4. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    1 year - that surprised me a bit. So much for Lewis wanting a longer deal to lock in salary. I wonder if Georges performance made Lewis think that the young ones are catching him? Interesting that he might not be there for 2022 regs! All very interesting - I wonder what Lewis and Mercs starting points where for the negotiations? Who got closer to what they wanted??? I guess as time goes on we might find out more.
     
    #264
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  5. DHCanary

    DHCanary Very Well-Known Member
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    1 year deal, so with Bottas already having signed, there can't be a team mate veto in the deal.
     
    #265
  6. BrightLampShade

    BrightLampShade Well-Known Member
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    Got to mean this will be Hamilton's last season, or at least last season at Mercedes.
     
    #266
  7. eddie_squidd

    eddie_squidd Well-Known Member

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    I think George weakened his bargaining position, particularly with Daimler.
     
    #267
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  8. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    Think he might be done after this season. He's hinted at being able to do whatever he wants with his life, so it might be secure number 8, then leave on top.

    He struggled with the isolation last season, this season probably won't be much better.
     
    #268
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  9. El_Bando

    El_Bando Can't remember, where was I?
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    Well here we go for Sir Hamiltons farewell season
     
    #269
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  10. DHCanary

    DHCanary Very Well-Known Member
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    He spoke about only wanting to race whilst he finds it fun, and the seat will probably be his as long as he wants it. No need to get tied down.
     
    #270

  11. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    He also mentioned not wanting to go backwards and that he was finding it harder to improve himself as a driver... So who knows where his head is at.

    I'll feel sad if it is his last. It's a pity we haven't really been able to see what he really excels at during the hybrid era. So much winning from the front.
     
    #271
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2021
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  12. Justjazz

    Justjazz Well-Known Member

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    If it is his last we will have been robbed of duals with the young ones, George, Charles and Max. But, leaving at the top will see him remembered well in the long term.
     
    #272
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  13. Number 1 Jasper

    Number 1 Jasper Well-Known Member

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    I'm not in Favour , I like qualifying .




    F1 bosses to discuss shorter 'sprint' races in place of qualifying to increase entertainment - BBC Sport

    Formula 1 bosses are to discuss a new proposal to introduce shorter 'sprint' races in an attempt to increase entertainment levels this season.

    Teams and bosses will vote on Thursday on a plan for a shorter race on Saturday, which would define the grid for Sunday's grand prix.

    Qualifying for the Saturday race would take place on Friday.

    The top eight drivers in the 'sprint' race would earn approximately half the points awarded for the grand prix.

    The 'sprint' race would be about 100km - a third the length of a grand prix - and would replace qualifying, which takes place on Saturday afternoon or evening.

    Qualifying for the sprint race would replace second practice, which is on Friday afternoon or evening.

    The plan - the latest in a series of attempts to introduce sprint races in some form on Saturdays - is to be discussed at a meeting of the F1 Commission of senior figures.

    To be passed, it needs a total of 28 out of 30 votes. Governing body the FIA and commercial rights holder F1 have 10 each, and the 10 teams one apiece.

    Previous plans have not received the necessary support but this one has dropped the proposal for a reverse grid for the sprint race. Mercedes, who blocked the plan for a reverse-grid sprint race, are said to be open-minded on the new proposal.

    F1 president Stefano Domenicali said in a news conference last week: "Reverse grid is over. It's important to think of new ideas of being more attractive or interesting but we don't have to lose the traditional approach of racing.

    "When we changed qualifying every couple of days [at the start of 2016], it burned our fingers. Now, the formula is quite stable. We are looking at what could be the approach of the so-called sprint race on Saturday. We are thinking that could be tested maybe this year."

    Three races have been chosen as potential venues for a trial this year on the basis that they should provide fast and exciting racing - Canada, Italy and Brazil.

    If they were a success, the idea would be used more widely in 2022.

    F1 hopes the idea would raise interest for the audience, as Friday practice sessions tend only to be watched by avid fans.

    The plan should be seen as part of a wider attempt by F1 to increase the value of the business significantly over the next five years.

    However, it remains to be seen whether teams will accept the idea.

    One potential sticking point is that, according to sources, F1 is proposing only an extra $75,000 (£55,000) per team per race to cover the new approach.

    This is nowhere near enough to cover the costs of any damage to cars in the shorter race - a front wing alone can cost as much as $200,000.

    There is also scepticism in some quarters as to whether a sprint race would provide the excitement some expect.

    Some insiders have raised questions as to whether teams and drivers would be risk-averse during the sprint race, as the penalty for having a problem or not finishing is so high when far more points are given out in the main Grand Prix.
     
    #273
  14. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Interestingly the eSports race the other day started with a sprint race for quali. So they are testing it in the virtual world.
    The main problem I see is that it reduces and testing time which they have very little of these days. Plus what happens if Friday rained off? How do they do quali sprint race? I can almost see a sprint race quali turn into the actual race. i.e. the viewing figures might go up as it's more fast paced than a 2 hr race so don't need as much time to watch.
    Of all the quali systems I can remember I like this one the best.
     
    #274
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  15. DHCanary

    DHCanary Very Well-Known Member
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    I think Will Buxton summarised it succinctly. It's basically extending the race by 20 laps, with a 24hr red flag at 25% distance - and then giving more points to those who finish in the top spots.

    The only way it shakes the main race up is if the sprint race results in more retirements and drivers out of position than quali currently does. And given you start the feature race where you finish the sprint race, there's no real incentive to race any harder than a "normal" race. Even if you end up stuck behind someone the whole sprint race, you know you've got a standing start after 20 laps which will be a golden opportunity to pass. So I don't think the retirement/incident rate will be any higher in the sprint race than we're used to, and the variance resulting from having to nail a quali lap is less significant.

    All I can see it doing is making the feature races more processional, and mean the championships are decided even quicker.
     
    #275
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  16. El_Bando

    El_Bando Can't remember, where was I?
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    3 Sprint races at Montreal monza and interlagos.. I like it being only at a few tracks but.. why at the 3 tracks where qualifying is interesting?
     
    #276
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  17. Mr.B

    Mr.B Well-Known Member

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  18. DHCanary

    DHCanary Very Well-Known Member
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    Early reports suggest he has fractured something, so perhaps a doubt for the first race of the season. We'll learn more tomorrow.
     
    #278
  19. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    The BBC are saying he has a jaw fracture!
     
    #279
  20. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Probably should start a 2022 season thread but seemed too early:
    Anyway seems like the teams have agreed to a Power Unit freeze as of 2022! So Red Bull will be handing some money over to Honda to buy the IP! If I were Honda I would be inclined to not sell the IP and just keep supplying the PUs as they will have minimal costs as no dev work so just production. Could be a good marketing spend for them. I bet Red Bull already have a contract with Honda stopping that though?
     
    #280
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