A is for… ALONSO
More than two years after his departure from the Abu Dhabi block, Fernando Alonso is back where many at the time expected him to finally return – Formula 1 grid. Now 39, the world champion twice in Spain says he feels as strong as ever he has broadened his racing horizons across a number of subjects since his last grand grand prix and is now returning to F1 straight 20 years after his debut in the sport.
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The return of nostalgia of one of the greatest drivers in the sport is exacerbated by his return to the team where he enjoyed the most successes, even though the name over the door of Enstone’s factory is now Alpine rather than the more experienced Renault.
B is for… CAP BUDGET
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Formula 1 delayed the introduction of new sports cars for 12 months but accelerated the need to further reduce spending. Cost limitation – the first for the sport – was always planned on team performance spending this year but negotiations through the first lockdown last spring ended with the initial cap of $ 175m per year has dropped to $ 145m.
Further annual reductions, including the ability to drive driver payroll, are expected to continue in the coming quarters.
C is for … CHANGE OF LIFE
While the 2021 cars may look similar to last year, the colors are definitely not.
Along with completely new animations with Aston Martin green and Alpine blue, redesign has been done all over the grid – with a Ferrari shower of burgundy and green particularly appealing. So get ready for a bright and beautiful grid!
D is for… DOWNFORCE
30:34 The notebook is back! Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz brings you all the latest notebook releases from the Sakhir lineup and paddle on the first day of testing in Bahrain
The fastest ever F1 cars in 2020 have been falling behind at the new season to keep distances, and therefore lap times, under control. Whether or not the rule change on the floor is better reflected by a triangle-shaped block of Comte cheese – see video above – the effect of which is perhaps more important than before. expect first as team designers get involved to make up for the lost weight. .
He wants to… NIGHT
In terms of driver competitions, eight represent an unparalleled finish in Formula 1 but is now inside Lewis Hamilton this year. Ranked by Michael Schumacher on seven world titles, Hamilton could release the biggest record in the sport over the next nine months.
F is for … FERRARI
A catastrophic fall from title contenders to sixth place last season represented Ferrari’s worst season in four decades. With a new signing in Carlos Sainz, a new engine and a new chassis, can the most successful team at F1 start fighting on the way back to the face promising to be one of the many stories in 2021.
G wants to … GEORGE
After making his debut at Mercedes in Bahrain last year, 2021 is a special year for George Russell as he looks at his bid to run for full-time chair with regular Scottish champions. world. Not only does his Williams contract expire at the end of the season, but also both Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton.
H is for… HANDICAP SYSTEM
Its effects will not be obvious or immediate, but one offline rule change for 2021 is the first form of a manual system of success in F1. The aerodynamic development time teams are now based on a sliding success scale calculated on the previous year’s Builders Competition. It means that, for 2021, Mercedes ’world champions will be the smallest wind tunnel and the CFD time allotted and Williams, last year’s 10th-place finisher, the majority. The long-term goal, again, is to help close up the field to the new era of the sport.
I want to … ICONS RETURNING
We have already mentioned the return of Fernando Alonso, but a return to the British racing image is expected for 2021. The Aston Martin name, after 61 years away from the grid, is back.
J is for… JEDDAH
A modern city for the F1 calendar when a Saudi Arabian GP will hold his first race in December. Jeddah’s inaugural race will be held on a new street track and his 3.8-mile form is the second longest on this year’s record after Spa-Francorchamps. Oh, and the fastest street rotation in F1 history too.
K is for… KNIGHT
Eirich, Sir Lewis! The F1 seven-time champion was the fourth driver in the sport’s history to receive a knight’s award but was the first to receive the honor while still racing.
L is for … LONG SEASON
Courtesy of covid, Formula 1 is set to embark on the longest season in the sport’s 71-year history with 23 races recorded across five continents from Bahrain in late March to Abu Dhabi in midfield. December.
M is for… MEGA MIDFIELD
2:11 Take a quick look at some of the special features and interviews we’re coming up on Sky Sports F1 in the new season!
Or, perhaps not, in terms of naming Lando Norris: “We’re not a midfielder pack anymore – a lot of teams are involved.” With the whole field seemingly condensing from front to back. back in the last year of the current rules era, the packing order behind Mercedes and Red Bull is almost certain to change from race to race this year.
N is for … NEW NAMES
Not only are there three rockets on the grid this season but there is one brand new team name on the Formula 1 grid … an Alpine name after a major Renault rebrand.
O is for… ONE-TIME USES
0:20 Check out our promo for the Formula 1 season 2021, when all 23 races will be live on Sky Sports F1. Upgrade to Sky F1 for an extra £ 18 per month
Practice run is a bit easier to explain this year – all three sessions run to 60 minutes. Use One and Two sessions come in line with Practice Three on Saturday and, while we missed 60 minutes of Friday runs, the flip side is expected to be a bit more of an opening day action. busier than before.
P is for … POWER
With engine freezes on the way next year, manufacturers will be desperate to find out every bit of power unit performance this year – and it could have a big say in the battle of the title. . Honda, in particular, would like to find enough power to help Red Bull challenge Mercedes.
Q for … (Sprint) TAKES
They haven’t been officially confirmed yet, but three of this year’s Grand Prix weekends – Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos – are expected to be the test bed for Saturday’s short races that will decide grid for Sunday. Introducing Sprint Qualifying.
R wants to … RED BULL
Is this the season that Red Bull, the last F1 champions before Mercedes, last launched a title claim? It feels more likely this year than any since 2013.
S is for … SCHUMACHER
Nine years after Michael’s father’s last grand prix, 22-year-old Mick is the third different Schumacher to race at the highest level. Symbolically, it also uses the father ‘MSC’ timesheet specification. Long-term expectations are high but last year’s F2 champion, who has been showing his best form in the second year of sex, will face a Haas learning season towards the back of the pitch with co-rookie Nikita Mazepin.
T is for … TEAM-MATE MATCH-UPS
Be it Ricciardo vs Norris, Verstappen vs Perez or Leclerc vs Sainz, there are seven new team-mate pairs on the grid for 2021 and exciting matches no matter how you look.
U is for … UPSETS
There were 13 different podium seats last year – along with a shock win for Pierre Gasly and a panic pole position for Lance Stroll. There should be more surprises this year, with the grid closing.
V is for … VERSTAPPEN
Still just 23 but surprisingly already into his seventh season of F1, is this the season that Max Verstappen ‘s car is finally up for a challenge for the world title? The watch world is breathing.
W wants to … WILLIAMS
After three consecutive seasons at the bottom of the stands, it ‘s crucial that Williams – under new ownership, of course – will start fighting on the way back to midfield in 2021.
X is for … XTRA FEEDS
1:29 Did you know you get all this? How to watch Sky F1 live – as well as experience several additional streams – on the Sky Sports App, Sky Q and Sky HD
Sky F1 Subscriber? Don’t forget to access additional driver boards, live times, driver tracker and pit feeding via the Sky Sports App and your Sky Q / HD box during off-season sessions.
Y is for … YUKI
Japan has brought some popular and talented drivers to the F1 grid over the years but could Yuki Tsunoda be the most successful? A three-time winner in his single season of F2, the 20-year-old is the first 21st-century driver to race at the highest level. In what could be a very fast-paced AlphaTauri car, Tsunoda is fast and sure to be one to watch.
Z is for … ZANDVOORT
If Max Verstappen is in a title controversy into September, then expect the Netherlands to go ahead as the reformed Zandvoort on the North Sea coast finally returns F1 after three years of attendance.