F1 2021 - Covid 2: Viral Boogaloo

[Disco]

Teams & Drivers:

Mercedes
44 - Lewis Hamilton
77 - Valtteri Bottas

Red Bull Honda
33 - Max Verstappen
11 - Sergio Perez

Mclaren Mercedes
4 - Lando Norris
3 - Daniel Ricciardo

Aston Martin Mercedes
18 - Lance Stroll
5 - Sebastian Vettel

Alpine Renault
31 - Esteban Ocon
14 - Fernando Alonso

Ferrari
16 - Charles Leclerc
55 - Carlos Sainz

AlphaTauri Honda
10 - Pierre Gasly
22 - Yuki Tsunoda

Alfa Romeo Ferrari
7 - Kimi Raikkonen
99 - Antonio Giovinazzi

Haas Ferrari
47 - Mick Schumacher
9 - Nikita Mazepin

Williams Mercedes
63 - George Russell
6 - Nicholas Latifi


Calendar (maybe)

12-14 March - Pre-season Testing - Bahrain International
26-28 March - Bahrain - Bahrain International
16-18 April - Emilia Romagna - Imola
30-02 May - Portugal - Portimao
07-09 May - Spain - Catalunya
20-23 May - Monaco - Monte Carlo
04-06 June - Azerbaijan - Baku
11-13 June - Canada - Montreal
25-27 June - France - Paul Ricard
02-04 July - Austria - Red Bull Ring
16-18 July - Britain - Silverstone
30-01 August - Hungary - Hungaroring
27-29 August - Belgium - Spa
03-05 September - Netherlands - Zandvoort
10-12 September - Italy - Monza
24-26 September - Russia - Sochi
01-03 October - Singapore - Marina Bay
08-10 October - Japan - Suzuka
22-24 October - USA - COTA
29-31 October - Mexico - Hermanos Rodriguez
05-07 November - Brazil - Interlagos
19-21 November - Australia - Melbourne
03-05 December - Saudi Arabia - MBS Memorial PetroDollar Autodrome
10-12 December - Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina


Predictions

Toggle Spoiler

Drivers Championship
1: Sir Lewis Hamilton
2: Max Verstappen
3: Sergio Perez
4: Valtteri Bottas
5: Daniel Ricciardo

Constructors Championship
1: Mercedes
2: Red Bull
3: Mclaren
4: Aston Martin
5: Alpine

Teammate Head to Head (WDC points)
(winners in bold)
Hamilton v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez
Norris v Ricciardo
Stroll v Vettel
Ocon v Alonso
Leclerc v Sainz
Gasly v Tsunoda
Raikkonen v Giovinazzi
Schumacher v Mazepin
Russell v Latifi

World Driver's Championship
1) Sir Lewis Hamilton
2) Valtteri Bottas
3) Max Verstappen
4) Sergio Perez
5) Lance Stroll

World Constructors Championship
1) Mercedes
2) Red Bull
3) Aston Martin
4) McLaren
5) Alpen

Teammate Head to Head (WDC points)
(winners in bold)
Lewis v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez
Norris v Ricciardo
Stroll v Vettel
Ocon v Alonso
Leclerc v Sainz
Raikkonen v Giovanazzi
Schumacher v Mazepin
Russell v Latifi

Drivers Championship
1: S.L.H.
2: Verstappen
3: Bottas
4: Ricciardo
5: Perez

Constructors Championship
1: Mercedes
2: R.Bull
3: McLaren
4: Aston Martin
5: the red team

Teammate Head to Head (WDC points)
(winners in bold)
Hamilton v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez
Norris v Ricciardo
Stroll v Vettel
Ocon v Alonso
Leclerc v Sainz
Gasly v Tsunoda
Raikkonen v Giovinazzi
Schumacher v Mazepin
Russell v Latifi

Hamilton to win it again
Richie Rich to beat Vettel
Norris to beat Ricc

[Disco]

I've actually watched some testing this year, it works quite well as an 8 hour podcast plus you can actually see the cars. So far I have concluded that AlphaTauri are the best due to their white wheel hubs, the AM green is too dark, and I don't hate the green bit on the Ferrari.

[Shindig]

Nah, the green logo makes me think too much of Scuderia Italia.

[Disco]

The dark gradation at the back is worse to me, it looks like someone parked it too close to the fire.

[7om]

Why are they so far off the 2020 pace?

[Jimmy Floyd]

God, that Spa-Zandvoort-Monza triple header is dreamy. Late Australia a nice dollop of nostalgia too.

[Shindig]

Yeah, I'd like to see what they've done to Albert Park. Hopefully the re-profiled corners don't shit it.

[Pleb]

They should of put Bahrain as the outside track layout for shits and giggles.

Oh wait that's Bahrain 2, as you were.

[Disco]

Yeah I don't get that decision, you'd think it sensible to have stayed there another week for a second round on the short loop. It's a race in the bag without having to go anywhere.

[Shindig]

There's something about the season ending in December that I've never liked.

[Gray Fox]

Why are they so far off the 2020 pace?

This was supposed to be the new spec era, with slim profile tyres, but COVID.

So they delayed it for a year. But there were concerns that teams would keep getting more and more grip from maximising the 2020 cars, putting a bigger load on the tyres than designed for(Pirelli didn't have a new spec lined up for this season on old spec). So these are essentially 2020 cars with a bit of downforce purposefully removed.

[Disco]

They were aiming for a 10% reduction in downforce, mostly by snipping away a bit of the floor in front of the sidepods, but the prevailing opinion is that most teams have recovered that already if not found even more. The pace could be track conditions, it was basically a sandstorm for most of yesterday.

[Shindig]

That would definitely knack the grip up.

[SincereTheRebel]

Hamilton to win it again
Richie Rich to beat Vettel
Norris to beat Ricc

[Jimmy Floyd]

Toggle Spoiler

That T1 looks cancerous. In fact, the whole circuit does. 27 corners! I suppose the combination of Hermann Tilke and Saudi Arabia was never going to lead to nice things.

[niko_cee]

It's debatable as to whether half of those are actually corners.

Flat out from 10 until you hit 13, probably the same from 16/17 through to 22, doubt 25 or 26 will see many 'braking events', surprised they didn't make that tiny kink on the finish straight No.28.

Although being a street circuit it's probably largely irrelevant whatever you do.

[John Arne]

Looks like a kitchen knife with a wobbly handle.

[Shindig]

I'm going with dead octopus.



It's like a fairly bland slalom.

[SincereTheRebel]

A modern F1 circuit needs mega braking zones with slow corners to encourage overtakes. Why they wouldn't give us that when you build a circuit from start to finish...

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's like an even worse Vietnam. Bland as fuck and there's nothing to look at.

A street circuit needs to have landmarks or points of interest, like Monaco does, or Singapore, otherwise you might as well be in a car park.

[Shindig]

Yeah, stick a lake in the middle of it, at least.

[-james-]

Not like Saudi Arabia is short on empty spaces in which you could build a race track.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ive been told these modernF1 cars for the best part of a decade, can drive upside down. Yet these pussy are still creating tracks without a loop-the-loop

[Disco]

They got the name of the track wrong too. Amateurs.

[Disco]

Toggle Spoiler

That T1 looks cancerous. In fact, the whole circuit does. 27 corners! I suppose the combination of Hermann Tilke and Saudi Arabia was never going to lead to nice things.

Who looks at Monza and thinks the first chicane is the bit to copy. Given the car park they've built in Mecca I was hoping for 7 laps around the Kabaa or a trip along their silly city-in-a-long-line (which admittedly they haven't built yet).

[phonics]

New Drive to Survive is very 6/10. I can imagine filming was a nightmare but everything that isn't the race footage is pretty crap.

[Disco]

The narrative is obviously bobbins, and nothing new to anyone who paid the least attention over the season but I do like all the extra footage from race weekends that we'd not seen before.

[Disco]

I'm going to do some predictions so we can all laugh at how wrong I was as a nice early christmas present. I'll add them to the opening post if anyone else in interested (blank template in the spoiler).


Drivers Championship
1: Sir Lewis Hamilton
2: Max Verstappen
3: Sergio Perez
4: Valtteri Bottas
5: Daniel Ricciardo

Constructors Championship
1: Mercedes
2: Red Bull
3: Mclaren
4: Aston Martin
5: Alpine

Teammate Head to Head (WDC points)
(winners in bold)
Hamilton v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez
Norris v Ricciardo
Stroll v Vettel
Ocon v Alonso
Leclerc v Sainz
Gasly v Tsunoda
Raikkonen v Giovinazzi
Schumacher v Mazepin
Russell v Latifi

Toggle Spoiler

Drivers Championship
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

Constructors Championship
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

Teammate Head to Head (WDC points)
(winners in bold)
Hamilton v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez
Norris v Ricciardo
Stroll v Vettel
Ocon v Alonso
Leclerc v Sainz
Gasly v Tsunoda
Raikkonen v Giovinazzi
Schumacher v Mazepin
Russell v Latifi

[Shindig]

World Driver's Championship of Best Drivers who Drive in This

1) Sir Lewis Hamilton
2) Valtteri Bottas (Fuck You, to his critics)
3) Max Verstappen
4) Sergio Perez
5) Lance Stroll

World Constructors Championship for People Who Build Cars Well
1) Mercedes
2) Red Bull
3) Aston Martin
4) McLaren
5) Alpen

Teammates

Lewis v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez - although Perez will keep it close
Norris v Ricciardo - Lando's settled so might edge it
Stroll v Vettel - I would love Lance to gain some consistency. I have no idea what voodoo happened to stop him dominating in Turkey.
Ocon v Alonso - He'll moan his way to #1 status and leave Ocon scrapping for spare parts or something.
Leclerc v Sainz - He knows the shit he's standing in.
Raikkonen v Giovanazzi - No hypotheticals here. Kimi's just better than him in every respect.
Schumacher v Mazepin - Not seen enough of the latter to comment much but Mick's got wins under his belt.
Russell v Latifi - Like Alfa, Russell's proven he's comfortably the better driver.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'll follow you in, loser has to listen to Jacques Villeneuve's album in full.


Drivers Championship
1: S.L.H.
2: Verstappen
3: Bottas
4: Ricciardo
5: Perez

Constructors Championship
1: Mercedes
2: R.Bull
3: McLaren
4: Aston Martin
5: the red team

Teammate Head to Head (WDC points)
(winners in bold)
Hamilton v Bottas
Verstappen v Perez
Norris v Ricciardo
Stroll v Vettel
Ocon v Alonso
Leclerc v Sainz
Gasly v Tsunoda
Raikkonen v Giovinazzi
Schumacher v Mazepin
Russell v Latifi

Putting a lot of faith in Lance and Nikita (I need you so), really siding with the likeable underdogs.

[Disco]

Loser has to review Villeneuve's album, deal (scoring system will depend on how badly I'm doing).


In other news there's a NASCAR race at Bristol (Motor Speedway) this weekend and their covid restrictions are still in place. That means there's no practice sessions or qualifying, the first time you get to drive the track is in anger on lap one alongside everyone else.

Oh, and this year they've converted it into a dirt track. I'm actually quite excited.

[Shindig]

Johnny Dumfries has gone now. It's been a week, hasn't it? I've been looking at the 50's entry lists again to see how many are still around. I giggled when I saw Bernie's name on the 1958 entry list.

There's five of them still going.

[phonics]

Daniel Ricciardo even more unbearable than ever before in this years drive to survive. What a tosser.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Early days yet but my number one ambition for this season (the Alpeen being a shitbox and Fernando huffing his way into a 3rd/4th retirement) is already looking a step closer.

Strollmobile not looking too hot either just yet.

[Shindig]

Are Hass looking worried? There's something about them taking Mazepin's money and still winding up at the back that looks troublesome.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't think it's ever been in question that they'd be at the back.

[Shindig]

I thought it would've still been Williams but I've always felt Haas were midfield certainties. A quick look at their respective budgets is telling.

[Disco]

They were in the midfield for about 5 minutes, only the abject failure of Williams saved them from being dead last.

[7om]

Haas have come out and said they’ve practically written off this year already to focus on the new regs. I was quite surprised at Alfa Romeo, actually. They look like they’ve got a bit more pace.

[Disco]

Yeah Alfa look like they'll either be head of the back three or back of the shittier midfield teams (whoever that ends up being).

[John Arne]

Every year we hear the same stuff from people taking testing too seriously..."Mercedes aren't gonna be as dominant" (the floor this year), and every year they turn up to the first race, take the suitcase out of the boot and smash everyone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Red Bull look up with them this time, or at least Max does.

[Pleb]

That Aston Martin looks slow as fuck.

[Disco]

It's all up on the air until about this time tomorrow. Red Bull do look more together than previous seasons but that could mean anything.

[Pleb]

I don't believe that the Mercs are shit. Red Bull and Ferrari are clearly trying to git gud. Vettel being a regular midfield fodder is fucking hilarious but expected now.

[Disco]

The cars are largely the same as last year so the grid should remain pretty similar, the joker card is that Mercedes are clearly trying to nail down the high rake approach in preparation for next year hence the shitty rear end throughout testing. IF that brings them closer to the pack and IF Red Bull are starting more strongly than normal then it COULD be closer at the front. Even then I would still back SLH and Mercedes, Verstappen has never been in a title race and there's a decent difference between perennial underdogs (where wins are lauded and failures more easily forgotten) and trying to actually win a title. Nobs to their famed in season development too, I think you'd have seen a different last third of the season had Mercedes actually needed any points.

[Shindig]

The Nurburgring Endurance Series starts today. Delayed start due to a blizzard.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In Bottas's hands, the Merc seems to handle like a pig. Not seen a lap with Hamilton yet.

[Shindig]

I'm surprised how bad Aston look. Are they in full works mode or are they still Mercedes customers?

[Gray Fox]

F1 site says they have a Mercedes power unit in it. More likely this is the revenge of not being able to copy Mercedes again this year.