2021

Sergio Perez has completed his first full day as a Red Bull driver, touring the Milton Keynes facility and getting acquainted with his new home. Perez replaced Alex Albon at Red Bull for the coming season, with the Thai-British driver relegated into a reserve role. The Mexican joins Red Bull as a race winner after finally securing his breakthrough victory in last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix at the 190th attempt. That allowed Perez, driving for Racing Point at the time, to finish the year fourth in the drivers’ standings behind only Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen. A series of posts on social media teased the Mexican’s arrival at the factory as he met with team principal Christian Horner and underwent a seat fitting. At the end of his visit, the team finally showed the driver’s face, in case any doubts remained surrounding the less than cryptic posts, simply captioned “Hola Checo”. Retweeting the tweet, Perez said: “Hello! Ready to start this great adventure.”

Roy Nissany was appointed official test driver at Williams in early 2020 and via press release, the team announced on Tuesday that they have extended the contract. Nissany continues his role as test driver at Williams in 2021 and with an unchanged composition in the lineup, it remains identical at the team in terms of drivers. Indeed, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi together form the driver duo in 2021, just as they did last year. Nissany appeared in action three times in 2020 and that was during free practice. This was prior to the Spanish, Italian and Bahrain Grands Prix. He also stepped into the car at the post-season test while competing in the Formula 2 championship during the year. In 2021, Nissany will once again get behind the wheel three times in the first free practice sessions, although it is not yet known at which Grands Prix. Nissany will also be in action on one of the days during the winter test and will take on a more extensive simulation program, which he will carry out at Williams’ home base in Grove. Nissany: “I am truly honoured to continue being part of Williams. Since we started, we have made huge progress across many areas – on top of the great FP1’s, we had a lot of productive work behind the scenes.” “While dedicating as much as I can to the team, I enhanced my skills and my capabilities as a driver. I am very keen to continue this form in 2021,” said the test driver

This year’s Monaco Grand Prix will go ahead as planned this May, organisers have declared. Last year, Formula 1’s most iconic race on the streets of Monte Carlo was cancelled for the first time since 1954 due to Covid-19. As a result, the Automobile Club de Monaco vowed a bumper year of racing in 2021, with the e-Prix, Historic and F1 GP all taking place within a month. However, after the Australian GP was recently rescheduled and Imola confirmed as replacing the Chinese GP, reports claimed Monaco would be among three more races set to be cancelled along with Azerbaijan and Canada. “Despite the latest rumours circulating on certain websites and social media, the ACM can confirm that the Monaco GP will take place from May 20th to 23rd, 2021,” a tweet read on Monday.

Scuderia Ferrari ended its long-term sponsorship and strategic partnership with the Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot which will be replaced by another Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille. Hublot and Ferrari announced during the 2011 Ferrari World Finals at Mugello a long-term strategic partnership which officially started at the beginning of 2012, making Hublot Ferrari’s “Official Watch” and “Official Timekeeper”. Asked by F1technical’s Balázs Szabó, a Ferrari’s spokesperson confirmed that the team’s sponsorship with the Geneva-based luxury watchmaker Hublot came to an end on the 31th December 2020 and the two parties decided not to extend the contract. The company which was founded in 1980 will be replaced by Richard Mille. The company was founded by Richard Mille and Dominique Guenat in 1999 and based in Les Breuleux, Switzerland. The Swiss company, which has 148 employees, ’combines the best in technical innovation, in architecture and in fine watchmaking heritage”. The company is not unknown in autosport. One of the founders, Richard Mille is also Chairman of the Endurance Commission of FIA. The brand became the partner of the Le Mans Classic in 2002. Over the last years, the Richard Mille brand has teamed up with a number of drivers from Formula 1 teams, such as Alfa Romeo Racing, Haas F1 Team and McLaren Racing, and from Formula E. In 2017, Richard Mille and McLaren Automotive signed a 10-year partnership agreement. In the same year, the Swiss company became an official partner of the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, and of the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in 2018.

The sudden exit of former Renault/Alpine team principal Cyril Abiteboul has left Formula One fans and pundits with many questions.It seems that, for Alpine F1, presenting a new name and livery was not enough of an overhaul, a restructuring at the top of the organisation was also necessary. Although it is still unclear how and by whom Abiteboul’s duties as team principal will be carried out in 2021, speculation about the reason for his departure is already intense, especially as the decision seemed to have fallen from the sky without warning. The main reason is the failure of Renault’s long-term plans; a podium in 2018 and a role as a serious contender for the constructors’ title in 2020. However, the team could not fulfil these ambitions, Barretto knows: “The team, led by Abiteboul, missed out on both those by quite some way. Their first podiums didn’t come until 2020 – albeit they managed three of them – and they are quite some way from becoming title challengers.” Nevertheless, it is still a shock that the man who had been with the team since 2001 now seems to have been shown the door without mercy. The appointment of Luca de Meo as CEO of Renault Group and the subsequent overhaul of the company’s racing division will most likely be the second reason. Abiteboul is not the only senior figure to announce his departure, Jerome Stoll, who was in charge of Renault Sport Racing, also tendered his resignation late in 2020.

McLaren has already given a small hint on Monday afternoon about what the new livery will be. In the photo the Woking-based team shared on social media, the recognizable Papaya orange color that the team has been driving with for a few years is clearly visible. The MCL35M will also probably feature the colors black and blue again. Last year Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris drove with the same colors. That Daniel Ricciardo will start his 2021 season at McLaren with different colors thus seems out of the question. Although, the blue that can be seen in the photo is just tape and does not necessarily have to become the paint color. How the proportions of the color palette will look is not shown in the photo. It’s just a little hint. Check out the photo below.

You can say what you like about Nikita Mazepin, but not that he is a colourless addition to Formula 1. Because of the controversy surrounding his person, many people have strong opinions about the Russian. On the Russian Match TV, he now speaks out for the first time about the issue that got him in the news. It is now more than a month since a video of Mazepin seemingly grabbing a woman by the breasts uninvited caused a stir among F1 followers. The woman in question was quick to say it was a joke and they are good friends. However, doubts soon arose about the authenticity of that statement. Mazepin feels that he has been treated unusually harshly for this incident, among others, and therefore does not care much about it. “There are certain reasons, which have nothing to do with the racing world, why I am treated differently. I’m used to criticism and I don’t have any problem with that.” Mazepin said in an interview on Match Tv. According to him, there is another reason why people are so critical. His Russian predecessors had the same experience. “They were all top racers, professionals through and through, but some things that were said about them were not deserved. But that’s life. That the Russians are treated differently doesn’t surprise me.” But even within this anti-Russian sentiment, he feels he is being treated extra harshly. “I think there’s hardly a Russian driver who gets so much fuss and hate. Am I prepared for it? It is part of life. If you want to race, you have to face something like that.”

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas claimed sixth place in the overall results during his latest foray into rallying in his native Finland. Bottas uses rally driving to remain sharp away from Formula 1 and has participated in the Arctic Lapland Rally since 2019. Bottas, driving a Citroen DS3 WRC, finished sixth overall in the event, 3:48 down on rally victor and former WRC podium finisher Juho Hanninen. Bottas was again co-driven by the experienced Timo Rautianen, who won 30 rallies and two world titles alongside Marcus Gronholm. He was third in the LK6 class, which featured only four entrants, with the rally taking place across seven icy and snowy stages, reduced from the planned 10 courses. He finished fifth in 2019 and ninth last year.

Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko says he encouraged Sebastian Vettel to sit out the 2021 season in order to return to F1’s drivers’ market “at the right time”. Vettel was unexpectedly given notice by Ferrari back in May of 2020 that he no longer figured in the Scuderia’s future plans. As Vettel pondered his future, and ahead of his decision to join Aston Martin for 2021, the former Red Bull driver sought advice from Marko who urged the German to enjoy a year on the sidelines. Speaking to F1-Insider, the Austrian explained why at the time he encouraged the four-time world champion to take a sabbatical. “It was clear [at the start of 2020] that Sebastian would have another difficult season with Ferrari,” Marko said. “I didn’t want him to act rashly, but to wait. “Because it was clear to me that fundamental things would change in the driver market for 2022. For example, I was sure that there would be a vacancy at Mercedes then. But not only there.” “That also included Red Bull. I just wanted him to still be on the market at the right time so he could take the best possible offer. Above all, I didn’t want a four-time world champion to say goodbye to Formula One like that. Not as a friend, and not as a Red Bull man.” Marko says that initially, he never considered a return to Red Bull for Vettel as all signs at the time were pointing to a status quo at the Milton Keynes-based outfit for 2021. “When Ferrari gave him notice, we had no place left for 2021,” added the 77-year-old. “At the time, we firmly assumed that Alexander Albon would develop positively, so that he would also be able to drive alongside Max Verstappen in 2021. That’s what I told Sebastian. “Unfortunately, we were wrong. When we had to act, Sebastian was no longer on the list because he had made a long-term commitment to Aston Martin. Therefore, Sergio Perez was the logical decision for us.” Vettel is on the eve of opening a new chapter of his career with Aston Martin. Marko says he understands his former driver’s choice, and even hopes he’ll prove to be a worthy opponent this season with Team Silverstone although he admits that’s a tall order. “Aston Martin was very tempting,” he said. “The name is cult, the close cooperation with Mercedes promised a sporting perspective. I can understand him, even if I personally would have waited. “I hope he finds his old form again. He knows that the last two years were not his best. For whatever reason. But I don’t think he can be dangerous to us. “In 2020 his new team was too far away from us for that. And that’s despite the fact that Perez was extremely strong, especially in the second half of the season. “Even if Sebastian is in top form every race, as a driver he can’t make up for the gap the team had on us. But maybe I’m wrong.”

Following weeks of rumours, Alpine have confirmed that former Moto GP boss Davide Brivio has joined their Formula 1 operations. Davide Brivio, the former boss of the Suzuki Ecstar Moto GP team, has joined Formula 1 bu signing a deal to become Alpine’s Racing Director. Brivio oversaw Suzuki’s successful championship win with Joan Mir last season, having been in charge of the team for the past seven seasons. Last week, Suzuki confirmed Brivio had departed the team as rumours swirled that he was set for a shock move to Formula 1. Renault held a major event in Paris on Thursday, outlining the future plans for their marque. This included details of the new Alpine F1 outfit, but Renault CEO Luca de Meo and newly appointed Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi made no mention of Brivio joining the F1 team. However, just a few days later, Alpine have now confirmed that he will be added to the team’s senior management as their Racing Director. There is still no word on who will replace Cyril Abiteboul as Team Principal. Brivio will report directly to Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, but his exact role and responsibilities are yet to be outlined. The launch event in Paris saw Rossi reveal an interim liveried 2021 car, which will be renamed the Alpine A521 for this season. The race livery for the year will be revealed at a launch event in February. Fernando Alonso returns to the Enstone team, replacing the McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo. Esteban Ocon retains his seat in the second Alpine cockpit.