Racetrackmasters

Portuguese Grand Prix has been confirmed by Formula 1 that it will be held on May 2 at Portimao. This means that it will be the third round of the 2021 Formula 1 Championship. This will be the second time that The Algarve international Circuit will be holding a Formula 1 race after holding its first Formula 1 race last October as the COVID-19 pandemic lead to the reshuffling of the 2020 F1 calendar. he race was open to 27,000 fans and Portimão is working with the Portuguese government to allow spectators to fill its grandstands in May. “We are thrilled to announce that Formula 1 will be racing again in Portimao after the huge success of the race last year,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1. “We want to thank the promoter and the Portuguese Government for their hard work and dedication in getting us to this point. “We are confident and excited about our 2021 season, having shown last year that we could deliver 17 races safely and bring our millions of fans thrilling racing at a difficult time. “We hope to welcome fans to Portimao again this season in a safe way and are working with the promoter on the details of that plan.”

Sebastian Vettel’s career at Aston Martin formally begun on track after the four-time world champion completed his first laps for the team at Silverstone. On a filming day with their AMR21 car after Wednesday’s glitzy launch event, Vettel shared driving duties with Lance Stroll as the newly-rebranded team completed the 100km-limited test amid mixed track conditions. In addition to his first outing for his first new team in six years, it was also a debut experience for the German with a Mercedes F1 engine. The majority of Vettel’s 14-year career, which has included four world championships and 53 race wins, has been spent in cars running Ferrari or Renault power. Mercedes has generally been the sport’s benchmark power unit since the hybrid-turbo engine era started in 2014. Vettel arrives at the former Racing Point team on the back of a disappointing end to his six-year Ferrari career, when he endured the worst full-season of his career in 2020 and finished 13th in the Drivers’ Championship. But his new team boss is confident the 33-year-old will prove a big asset for the team as they build towards challenging for F1’s top honours in future seasons.

Sir Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for the new season have been rocked by the surprise departure of his right-hand man and friend, Marc Hynes. The 43-year-old was the seven-time world champion’s trusted lieutenant, taking care of his business interests and logistics, as chief executive of the ‘Project 44’ management company Hamilton set up after dispensing with Simon Fuller nearly seven years ago. Sportsmail can reveal that Hynes’ continued involvement was discussed over the winter, during which time his boss was knighted and crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a second time. The two parties officially separated last week, with a source close to Hamilton calling the split ‘amicable’. The news comes less than a month after Hamilton signed a one-year deal to remain at Mercedes – a shorter-than-expected contract that leaves the Briton’s participation in Formula One beyond next season in doubt, with obvious implications for Hynes’ old role. Hynes, a former British Formula Three champion, played no significant part in Hamilton’s contract talks, with the driver himself negotiating his own terms. Hamilton will now have to move fast to fill the void in his inner circle ahead of the opening round of the world championship in Bahrain on March 28. The source close to Hamilton said: ‘Marc has left Project 44 to pursue other opportunities within motorsports and Lewis wishes him well knowing that he will be as valuable to his next challenge, as he was to P44. ‘Lewis is very grateful for all his support over the last five years, both personally and in helping him build his company. ‘During that time Lewis won four world championships and broke numerous records, and Marc was part of and shared in that success. ‘Marc and Lewis have known each other since they were young, as friends first and business partners second, so, while they are parting ways in a business sense, they remain close friends.’

Sebastian Vettel is continuing his tradition of naming his cars and is looking to James Bond girls for inspiration for his first Aston Martin. The German has become renowned for giving each of his F1 cars a female name from his first, Julie, to his most recent, Lucilla. With less than a month to go until the start of the 2021 campaign, he has yet to decide on what he’ll name his AMR21, but he has a few ideas connected to his new team… “The problem is I don’t know yet,” Vettel said at Aston Martin’s AMR21 launch. “James would be a bit too obvious, but you know I’m thinking about it and playing around with the Bond theme. “But it’s a fun thing and it’s always been a female name, so check out all the Bond girls to see which one is the best match. “I was going to say we should meet them all, but some of them are the age of my grandmother.”

Haas F1 driver Mick Schumacher has said he is not feeling any additional pressure to live up to his historic surname as he prepares to make his debut at the top tier of motorsport this season. Speaking to journalists including RacingNews365.com after the reveal of the team’s new car design for 2021, Schumacher said the expectations placed on him and comparisons with his father, seven-time world champion Michael, were a source of motivation rather than pressure. “I would never say that (the surname) brings pressure and I’m pretty sure I won’t ever say that because I am very happy to carry that surname and that name back into Formula 1 and I’m very proud of it,” he said. “It’s like a boost to me and it gives me motivation every single day to work as much as I can and as hard as I can.” On his relationship with Ferrari, with whom the driver remains contracted as a junior, Schumacher confirmed that they remained in contact and would be there in the background to support his rookie season in the sport. “Obviously we have different things that we do together such as simulator driving and Ferrari Driver Academy activities and also working with the Ferrari staff. “So definitely the connection is there, I’m still an FDA driver so it’s great to have that backup and help from the background to support me in my first F1 season.” Schumacher also said he was looking forward to competing with his fellow rookie teammate, Russian Nikita Mazepin, and said he was sure his teammate was just as hungry for success as he is. “In this case I see myself and how hungry I am for the season and how I want to do well, and I’m pretty sure that Nikita is the same. “Now we have two very hungry drivers and drivers that are pushing for every little detail and eventually that is what is going to bring the team forward and that is what we really want to do.”

Nikita Mazepin has accepted responsibility for his off-track conduct, stating he made a “huge mistake”, and has learned from the incident. A video was published on social media showing Mazepin touching a woman’s chest, while travelling in a car, a few days after he was signed by Haas on a multi-year deal. Haas responded by labelling the situation “abhorrent”, adding that the matter would be dealt with internally, with Mazepin issuing a written apology on social media, which was later deleted. Mazepin’s arrival at Haas has coincided with Uralkali, the potash fertiliser firm controlled by his father, becoming the Formula 1 team’s new title sponsor, resulting in a refreshed livery for the VF-21. Speaking in an open media session for the first time since the video circulated Mazepin said: “How I reflect on my actions is pretty clear. I’m not happy that it happened. “I’m not proud of it, I didn’t behave as I meant to behave in Formula 1, and the transition phase of realising what I achieved has been very short and I didn’t adapt as quickly as I should have. “I have taken responsibility for it and I am ready to keep doing it [taking responsibility] because I’d like to be very strong in my position and certain. “I have made a huge mistake and taken responsibility for it and I have learned from it. I am looking forward to a clean year ahead.” When pushed to clarify his comments, and whether he realised the incident was unacceptable irrespective of his profession, Mazepin asserted: “Yes, I understand. I have taken the responsibility for it as I said previously both on and off the circuit. “We as human beings have to show a certain behaviour towards each other to live in a calm and humane world, and I’m confident I will be one of those humans from now on.” Mazepin has been the subject of widespread condemnation on social media, with a hashtag circulating, amid calls for him to be dropped by Haas. Mazepin went on to thank Haas for its support and guidance through the winter. “I would like to say a big thank you to the team because they have been really supportive in helping me to learn through this incident,” he said. “They have been very patient in taking the time and helping me learn this matter further and I think that it in my education phase on the whole behaviour incident, I am way further than I have ever been, so that’s very helpful.”

The Haas F1 Team has announced that Uralkali, which is owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, will be their title sponsor this upcoming season and beyond. The American racing outfit made the announcement as it unveiled its 2021 livery, which features the colours of the Russian flag and includes several prominent Uralkali logos. Dmitry’s son, Nikita Mazepin, inked a multi-year deal with Haas in December and it was widely speculated that his father’s company had agreed to provide the team with tens of millions of dollars per season as part of the move. Haas’ 2021 challenger, the VF-21, will have its initial shakedown during pre-season testing on 12 March in Bahrain. Team owner Gene Haas said he is “very pleased” to announce Uralkali, one of the world’s largest potash fertiliser producers, as the title partner of the Haas F1 Team. Continuing, he said: “We look forward to representing their brand throughout the season. It’s an exciting time for the team with Uralkali coming onboard and having Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher driving for us. “It’s definitely a case of all change but I’m hoping that we get back to being in the mix for scoring some points at these races. “It’s been a tough couple of seasons, but we’ve also got our eye on the bigger picture, in particular 2022 and the implementation of the new regulations.” Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, for his part, said their partnership with Uralkali will last beyond the 2021 season (they have most likely agreed a two-year deal, the same length of Mazepin’s contract) and commented on the upcoming season. “We approach a new season with a new title partner and two new drivers, it’s going to be an exciting year ahead – hopefully exciting only in a good way though,” Steiner said. “We face a year of learning with the drivers while technically we look ahead to the future. It’s no secret that the VF-21 will not be developed as we focus our energies now on the 2022 car and, what we hope, will be a more level-playing field. “We all know roughly where we expect to be this season in terms of the competition, but we must ensure we’re there to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves. But first we have to get the guys dialed in at testing. “Time behind the wheel is short – so it’ll be a steep curve, but I’m personally looking forward to seeing their development as drivers and as team members within Uralkali Haas F1 Team,” he concluded.

Aston Martin presented the AMR21 on Wednesday. As expected, the green car is no longer a direct copy of the Mercedes. Even though, of course, there are still similarities with the W12. Not only because the changes are limited for 2021 due to regulations, but also because of the special dimensions of the Mercedes powerplant. The view with which we can best compare the AMR21 to other cars is from the side. Here we see that the bodywork towards the rear of the car is wrapped a little tighter around the Mercedes power unit. Because Racing Point presented a completely different car at their launch last year than eventually appeared on the track, for reasons that are understandable in retrospect, there are no nice studio photos of the RP20 that we can compare the AMR21 to.Moreover, it might be more interesting to compare it with the Mercedes W12 that was presented on Tuesday. Racing Point was found guilty of copying the Mercedes design last season and everyone is now very curious to see if they will follow the rules this time.That’s what it looks like. The AMR21 is of course still a further development of last year’s copy, but with the hood they have clearly taken a slightly different path. There we see, in fact, just like Mercedes, a distinctive-looking hump, only this one is a lot larger. This probably means that Aston Martin has folded the bodywork around the engine a little tighter. It could be that this hump is now visible because the teams are looking at the limits of how they pack their engine and that not much else has changed under the skin. In contrast, the hump is so large especially at Aston Martin that you can’t help but get the impression that the Mercedes engine received a significant update last winter. Indeed, at McLaren, relative to the Renault engine in 2020, we also saw a widening of the hood, although they opt for a more gradual packaging. It will now be interesting to see if Williams appears on Friday with just such a bump on the car. At the front, we see that Aston Martin is presenting their car with a slightly different nose than Mercedes. Teams always have different noses and front wings ready to go, but this really seems to be Aston Martin’s own development work. Especially since the teams will not have the space to make many adjustments this season. The nose presented now will have to last the rest of the season. The entire nose looks even more developed than the nose on the W12. Whereas the tip of the W12’s nose has the same characteristic indentations on either side as last year’s, these have been smoothed out on the AMR21. The extra curvature in the front wing also indicates that further thought has gone into this. The braking ducts did remain the same at Aston Martin, while Mercedes presented a new set there. Diffuser remains a small mystery at Aston Martin as well. Finally, it is notable that once again we do not get to see a picture of the rear of the car. McLaren and AlphaTauri are actually the only teams that have done so so far. The rear of the car is not the most important part of a car presentation, but given the rule changes for this season, where the diffuser has been given a major makeover, it is strange that we get to see so little of it.

Porsche and parent company the Volkswagen Group are considering entering Formula 1. Any move depends on the direction of the sport’s next engine regulations, which are due to be introduced in 2025. Porsche Motorsport vice-president Fritz Enzinger told BBC Sport: “It would be of great interest if aspects of sustainability – for instance, the implementation of e-fuels – play a role in this. “Should these aspects be confirmed, we will evaluate them in detail within the VW Group and discuss further steps.” E-fuels are carbon-neutral fuels that can power internal combustion engines without the environmental impact of traditional fossil fuels. They come in a number of forms, including bio-fuels, which are made from bio-mass, and synthetic fuels, which are manufactured by an industrial process that captures carbon from the atmosphere. F1 has committed to making e-fuels a central part of the sport from 2025. Senior F1 figures say Porsche has been involved in the discussion around the new engine rules. Enzinger said: “Porsche and Volkswagen AG are observing the constantly changing regulations in all relevant racing series around the world. This is also the case with regard to the emerging new engine and drivetrain regulation for Formula 1 from 2025.” Talks between relevant parties over the new F1 rules have moved on to the detail of regulations, which are part of a wider plan for the sport to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2030. Enzinger said Porsche and VW were “currently not actively represented in these forums”.

Sebastian Vettel is convinced he can win another Formula One title with his new Aston Martin team. The four-times world champion has also delivered a cutting barb to Ferrari, his former team, by praising the work ethic at Aston Martin, who launched their car on Wednesday, marking the British manufacturer’s return to F1 after a 61-year absence. Vettel was told he would be dropped by Ferrari before last season began and went on to endure the worst season of his career. He struggled with the car and finished 13th. The German has signed with Aston Martin, formerly known as Force India and Racing Point, and has embraced the challenge ahead: succeeding with a smaller but decidedly ambitious outfit. “The team is still growing and things are different here,” he said. “It is not about the fancy looks or the expensive, designer chairs in the office but more about the work done behind the scenes and from what I have seen the people are very capable and very talented. Its the first time in the last one or two years that they are getting the oxygen to breathe.” Vettel won his four titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 and came close with Ferrari in 2017 and 2018 but was beaten by Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. There was speculation the 33-year-old might retire but he remains motivated and believes he has moved on from the travails of last season. “It’s not a secret that at stages last year I was not at my happiest, I know it wasn’t to my standards but I am very much at peace with it,” he said. “This year I am very much looking forwards. “I think I have another world championship in me. It has been in me before and it was a big relief winning the first one and knowing you can do it. Since then, I don’t see why it is not there any more. I am not too old and I still have a long time in me.” Vettel struggled with the rear instability of the Ferrari last year but is likely to be far more comfortable with the low-rake design philosophy of his Mercedes-influenced car that offers the stability he prefers. He also has the full-backing of Szafnauer, who is confident Vettel remains a potent force in F1. “I’ve always said, and will continue to say so, at 33 years old you don’t forget how to drive a Formula One car fast,” said the team principal. “We will work hard to make sure the car is to his liking and the setup is like he wants it.”

Aston Martin will kick off their 2021 season on Thursday, with both Sebastian Vettel & Lance Stroll driving the AMR21 at Silverstone. Having launched their 2021 car, the AMR21, on Wednesday, Aston Martin will bring along their new car to Silverstone on Thursday. Both race drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will have the chance to drive the car over the course of 100 kilometres of track time, as the team shake down their new car. Filming days are obstensibly marketing days for teams to get on-track imagery and footage of their current car on track. Equipped with specially designated Pirelli tyres and with the mileage limit, teams aren’t able to use these two permitted days as development tests. But they do serve well as a means for teams to carry out shakedowns ahead of the crucial on track tests, with 2021’s official pre-season testing getting underway in Bahrain on the 12th of March. While largely an evolution of last year’s Racing Point RP20, the new Aston Martin features an all-new chassis, as Technical Director Andrew Green outlined some of the lessons they’ve learned from last year and taken into this season. “2021 is going to be a tough battle and it’s probably going to be a very close fight with small margins making the difference – like it was at the end of 2020, if not closer.” said Green. “We want to show what we’re capable of delivering, weekend in and weekend out: consistency is going to be the key for us.” “Last year, it was a new car with a completely different development philosophy, and it was always going to take time to realise the car’s full potential. In Formula One you never stop learning, and over the years we’ve learnt a lot. The AMR21 is an expression of that never-ending learning curve. With the 2021 car being closely related to 2020, we should start the new campaign with a much better understanding and we can aim even higher again.” “With Vettel getting his first drive of one of the team’s cars on Thursday after his high profile departure from Ferrari after six years, Green says his signing underlines Aston’s growing credibility within the sport: “Having Sebastian in the team is a massive statement and again it shows how far we’ve come in the past few years to attract a driver of his experience and ability. “He’s already driven the car in the simulator and the feedback was promising and insightful. Sebastian’s experience and knowledge is exactly what we as a team need right now. It’s incredibly exciting to have a four-time World Champion working with us as part of the team.” “On the other side of the garage, Lance continues to impress and he’s still only 22. Every time he drives the car, he climbs out of it with a little more experience, and experience is crucial to any driver. And now he has a four-time World Champion as a team-mate, so, like every single one of us, he’s going to be able to benefit from the different perspective that Sebastian will bring. Lance is extremely talented, make no mistake about that. He delivered some truly superb drives last season. Now, as he gains more experience – and as he learns from Seb, as we all will – I’m sure he’ll build on the form he established in 2020 and deliver even more in 2021.”

Aston Martin has launched its 2021 challenger, the AMR21, marking its return to Formula One after over six decades. As part of the team’s rebrand from Racing Point to Aston Martin, their 2021 car has a radically different livery to its predecessor, with them switching out pink for British racing green. However, as BWT will continue to sponsor the team this upcoming season, the car has accents of pink and features a number of BWT logos, in addition to the logo of their new title sponsor, Cognizant. Speaking during the car’s unveiling, team owner and Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll said they are looking to make “real progress” over the coming seasons. “We have the pieces, partners and experience in place to make real progress in Formula One,” Stroll said. “I have dreamed about this day for a very long time. I have always been a car guy, since I was a child. I have always loved racing, too. “My first dream was to own a Formula One team. My second dream was to acquire a significant shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda. “Today is about the merging of those two dreams. So, as I say, today is all about dreams, and it shows that dreams really can come true, in the shape of our new AMR21. “Aston Martin returning to Formula One after an absence of 61 years will have a powerful effect on the sport, the media and the fans, commanding global attention,” he added. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll, who is entering his third season with the team, said he is aiming for them to finish at least third in the 2021 Constructors’ Championship after they missed out on P3 last season despite having the third-fastest car. “I think we can accomplish that this year, if not more,” the 22-year-old said. Sebastian Vettel joined Aston Martin from Ferrari at the end of 2020, and the four-time World Champion is clearly optimistic about the future of his new team. “Even though I have raced for four Formula One teams and for many years, starting a new season with a new team still gives me a sense of excitement,” Vettel said. “As a driver, I have always kept my eye on the competition and this team has consistently impressed me with what they have been able to do without the biggest of budgets. “So, when Lawrence [Stroll] and Otmar [Szafnauer] approached me last year, and explained what their ambitions were, I was immediately very motivated to join the team. “I love the history of motor racing and Aston Martin is one of the great names of the past, so it is fun to be part of their return to Formula One after an absence of 61 years. “Having visited the factory and met the senior people as well as my engineers and mechanics, I can see they are a really good group. “I feel confident that, by the support Lawrence brings together with the Aston Martin name, we will make real progress together,” the German added. Stroll and Vettel will give the AMR21 its initial shakedown during a filming day on Thursday, before putting the car through its paces in pre-season testing in Bahrain later this month.

Alpine took their first Formula 1 challenger to Silverstone for a filming day. In a virtual launch event Alpine revealed the A521, which honours its French heritage with a predominantly blue livery, featuring splashes of red and white. Esteban Ocon, one half of Alpine’s 2021 driver line-up, took part in the virtual launch and then got the chance to drive the A521 for the first time on Wednesday. Fernando Alonso, who returns to Formula 1 to partner Ocon, was unable to take part in the A521 launch event due to his altered schedule that was brought about by a cycling accident. Silverstone set the scene then for Ocon to take the vibrant A521 onto a race track for the first time, and even under the grey, misty Northamptonshire skies it looked sublime! The A521 could be heard in the distance as the Alpine crew headed to the fence, and it wasn’t long before Ocon came into sight and powered down the straight. Ocon completed 100km of running, the amount which teams are restricted to in official filming days for their current challengers. After struggling in the early stages of the 2020 campaign upon returning to Formula 1, Ocon went some way to disproving the critics as the season progressed. The second-half of the season was a far stronger showing for the Frenchman after being off the pace of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the early rounds, and his P2 finish at the Sakhir Grand Prix was the perfect way to crown that progression. That momentum needs to continue into 2021 with Ocon’s Alpine deal up at the end of the year, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that Ocon remains in his thoughts for 2022. Nonetheless, Ocon’s full focus is on Alpine. “I’m an Alpine driver, fully committed to the plan of the team and the challenges that are inside here, Ocon is quoted by RacingNews365.com. “My goal is to make the team improve, and at some point get the result that we want, which is fighting for wins in the future.”

Aston Martin finally announces its car on Wednesday. The AMR21 should ensure more podiums and perhaps even victories with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll behind the wheel. The iconic Aston Martin brand will finally return to Formula 1 in 2021 after a brief stint in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Lawrence Stroll has transformed Racing Point into the legendary name. When we see the team’s new merchandise, we can expect a dark green car, as Aston Martin often uses in racing. The curtain comes off the car at 15:00 GMT.