F1 2021: Big Winter Stories, including Alpine remake of Lewis Hamilton and Aston Martin

Formula 1 2021 is almost underway with a car launch in February ahead of a pre-season test and the opening race in March – but what are the big talking points of winter, and the big stories you could to be lost?

Aston and Alpine give a taste of what’s to come

Good Racing Point and Renault Racing, hello Aston Martin and Alpine; F1 welcomes new team names to the grid this season after rebranding for two established midfield runners.

And while Aston and Alpine will officially embark on their F1 tours, and show off their livelihoods, at their team and car launches over the next month or so – the duo have been straining to enough by the beginning of 2021.

Aston Martin, the famous British brand that is returning to F1 after a 60-year presence, has taken over the Racing Point team and – along with the confirmation of its new partner Cognizant title – has been -in at green car design, as expected, ahead of its full release in early March.

The team has delivered punchy statements through owner Lawrence Stroll and team principal Otmar Szafnauer – the latter saying they aim to be a “top team”, and swiftly – while signing star Sebastian Vettel has also settled into a life with Aston, finishing his fitting seat. (with a new look…) ahead of Lance Stroll’s involvement this year.

Alpine, meanwhile, will be a lesser-known name for many – but Renault, which will be performing under the name of their performance sub-brand this season, hopes soon.

“Renaulution” has been hailed as an Alpine leap into the sporting scene, with a new logo unveiled and a car color scheme looming – albeit just as a ‘temporary winter logo’ before the modern A521 is launched. moved later in the month.

There have been plenty of changes behind the scenes as well, with long-time Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul unexpectedly leaving the team altogether. Laurent Rossi has been confirmed as Alpine CEO, with Davide Brivio, former vice president of the MotoGP team, arriving as sports director.

They hope to lead Alpine F1 to a successful 2021 – armed with two-time world winner Fernando Alonso, returning with Esteban Ocon after the departure of Daniel Ricciardo.

Hamilton’s contract is pending …

We’re less than two months away from the start of the season and the sport’s seven-time world champion, and brightest driver, is still technically a free agent. That is the unprecedented situation of Lewis and Mercedes when we come into February!

Hamilton’s Mercedes contract expired at the end of last season and while the reasons for the delay in last year’s negotiations were understandable (focusing on racing, etc.), they are not. now and the driver and crew have not yet reached an official agreement. So what’s up?

Well, reports have been mixed throughout January – some claiming that Hamilton wants too much money, some that he wants less, but more bonuses – but Mercedes has been calm about negotiations and still plan to lose a new contract in the coming weeks.

Hamilton’s biggest winter update came via social media, citing “many moving parts” behind the scenes, while a Mercedes public message emerged last week from team leader Toto Wolff. e: “He ‘s in America now and I’m here. At some point we’ll end (the agreement).”

Wolff added that Austrian broadcaster ORF said it had been “sending puppies to the lawyers” – although it is understood it meant new areas for scrutiny arising from the contract negotiations rather than lumps. an unexpected obstacle.

Anyway, it looks like this saga will be over soon. Although we’ve been saying that for a while!

Changes to the F1 2021 calendar – and start times

While the 2021 calendar was tested in December last year it was likely that there would always be changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and we already have a revised 23-race calendar for the seasons.

Gone opens the season in Australia – with the Melbourne race pushed back to November – with Bahrain now set to host the first race on March 28th. That change also means that pre-season tests will be held in Bahrain rather than Barcelona.

The Chinese GP, meanwhile, has completely disappeared from the calendar for now, with Imola – having successfully returned to the roster last season – being sacked. place. The ‘TBC’ event, possibly in Portugal, is said to be the third race of the campaign at the beginning of May.

We also have new start times for the season, with F1 returning to traditional race times on the hour instead of ten, as in the previous three years.

And there’s a big shift in Friday’s practice, with both sessions now just an hour rather than 90 minutes.

Star drivers reconcile with their new teams

Plenty of moves have been made up and down the grid for F1 2021 – with last year’s top seven teams, the Mercedes bar, changing their line – and drivers have already settled into their new environment.

In particular, Sergio Perez has visited the Red Bull factory, the previously mentioned Vettel has been to Aston Martin while Carlos Sainz has even driven a Ferrari, even though it is a 2018 car.

Sainz said his day trial at Fiorano was a “dream come true”.

AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsuonda has also been driving in Italy, testing his team’s 2019 car at Imola.

And what else is new?