F1 Today – 24/03/2021
Mercedes vows to bounce back stronger
Mercedes say they have been working hard to solve their unexpected early 2021 problems ahead of this weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. The seven-times champions have vowed to bounce back “stronger” for a battle against rejuvenated rivals Red Bull.
The German manufacturer heads into the race on the back foot following a difficult pre-season test, where Sir Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas struggled with driveability and were uncompetitive compared to Red Bull. The Austrian team meanwhile have made a flying start, sparking a debate about whether they are the favourites for the weekend.
In the team’s preview for this weekends race CEO and team principal Toto Wolff says since the test the team has been concentrating on how they can return to Sakhir in better form. He said, “It feels like we have spent quite some time in Bahrain recently, and with mixed fortunes.”
“Overall, it was a tricky three days of testing for us. The W12 wasn’t as stable, predictable or planted as some of our rivals. Red Bull looked strong on both the long and the short runs, but as always with testing, it’s difficult to be certain of true performance.”
Wolff says the one thing the team must improve is their ability to react, saying that following the conclusion of testing the team started to figure out how they could return stronger in this weekends race.
He says Mercedes have big 2021 challenges due to “significant rule changes” which have affected the cars, while the team have also “had to change the way we work in response to the cost cap”.
Telling Sky Sports, “But as we have found before, it’s from the difficult moments that we learn the most. This team’s biggest strengths are our people and our values, and after a tough test, I know that we can fight back stronger.”
Alpine very different to Renault – Alonso
Fernando Alonso says Alpine feels like a “very different” team to when he last raced there with Renault, calling it a “good sign”. The two times champion is returning for his third stint with the Enstone team after two years racing in IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship and the Dakar Rally.
Asked by Motorsport.com, how much had changed at Enstone since he last raced for Renault in 2009, Alonso said the differences were extremely noticeable, particularly with the infrastructure at the team’s headquarters. Alonso said, “They are very different, and that’s a good sign. After 10 years, if they were all the same, maybe that would not be good news for us.”
“I think the factory has been updated quite heavily. There are more people working now, in Viry in France, also the factory has been updated and I think the level of technology that we have right now compared to 15 years ago is very different.” Alonso says he was very happy with what he saw, and the team has very talented people.
He says some of the team are still there giving a touch of the old days and the atmosphere of wanting to repeat past success, while also having new, good-spirited and young talented people giving him hope they can deliver.
the Spaniard has no concerns about the challenges he faces getting back up to speed in F1, knowing he is unlikely to add to his tally of race wins or titles in 2021 given Alpine’s position in the pecking order.
Saying, “I don’t fear any particular challenge. How the midfield is right now, it is very competitive. So it’s something that we are aware of, that we need to maximise and we need to be perfect every weekend if we want to score good points.”
He says the long season ahead is going to be a challenge for everyone in the paddock and “We have to be just aware of that number as well, and try to save energy when you can during the year.”
Ricciardo still getting used to McLaren’s brakes
Daniel Ricciardo says he is still getting used to the brakes on McLaren’s MCL35M F1 car while insisting he will not be leaving anything on the table in this weekend Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Australian like many of the drivers has only had a day and a half in the car during testing following after joining the team from what is now Alpine. Ricciardo still
While McLaren enjoyed a positive test with Ricciardo making a strong start to life at the Woking-based team, the Australian conceded he is yet to fully adapt to the new brakes. Despite that Ricciardo is confident that this weekend he will be able to pull off some of his trademark late-braking overtakes if required during this weekend’s opening round in Bahrain.
He told Crash.net, “If I think back to my time at Renault, the car was pretty different to the Red Bull when it came to braking, and braking was a real strength of the Red Bull. I had to get used to that difference, but we also had to minimise it by changing the setup and trying to get closer to the feeling of the Red Bull.”
Ricciardo says that the braking of the car was not in a bad place, with it more of him needing to get used to it. He also said by the end of testing he started to get used to it, and believes that will only improve with the more time he spends in the car. Adding, “if I see a gap at the weekend, we’re all good, I’m going for it.”
McLaren’s switch to Mercedes engines this season as well as finishing third in the constructor’s championship they hope the switch of engine supplier can allow it to close the gap to Red Bull and retain that position in the constructors.
Ricciardo added, “I think it would be great to hold on to third place in the constructors’ championship. It’s going to be just as hard as last year to do that, if not harder, so we’re going to have to be on our A-game, but I feel like I have a lot of experience in the sport that can help the team to continue to move forward.
McLaren sign thirteen-year-old Ugochukwu
McLaren announced on Monday they have signed the thirteen-year-old American karter Ugo Ugochukwu to support him through racing’s junior categories. The British team has signed an agreement giving him an option for the future race seat.
McLaren describes the deal as a multi-year contract with Ugochukwu, within which there is an option they can choose to take up which would tie him to a further multi-year racing deal. This could be in F1 or in other categories. Many of the teams have young driver programmes, one of the teams most successful drivers is seven-time champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton.
CEO of McLaren Racing Zak Brown said, “We’ve been watching Ugo’s progress with interest. So when the opportunity to sign an agreement with him became available, we had no hesitation moving on it.”
Ugochukwu was born in New York to a Nigerian mother, if he makes it into F1 he would be the first black American to race in the sport. last year’s FIA OK Junior European championship and has graduated to the senior class this season.
He said, “I’m honoured to be signed by such an iconic team as McLaren Racing so early in my career. To have the support of McLaren is fantastic and what any young driver dreams of. I’m focused right now on developing as a driver and racer, so having McLaren by my side can only help me on and off the track.”
F1 has not had an American driver since Alexander Rossi took part in five races for the Marussia team in 2015. The last American to win a Grand Prix was 1978 world champion Mario Andretti, at that year’s Dutch Grand Prix.
McLaren F1 team principal Andreas Seidl said: “Ugo is a promising young talent with strong development prospects. While he is still early in his career, it is clear he has the ingredients to be successful in the sport. This signing reflects our refocused approach to identifying and supporting new talent, away from a formal young driver programme to a more tailored basis.”
Schumacher “very similar” to his father
Haas team principal Gunther Steiner says that team personnel have told him that Mick Schumacher is “very similar” to his father, Michael. The son of the seven-time champion will make his F1 debut this weekend in Bahrain, almost thirty years after his father.
Mick starts his career under scrutiny like no other rookie given his father’s legacy and strong junior career, as well as the significant interest and support from Ferrari, the team with which Michael won five of his seven world titles.
Although Steiner never worked with the seven-time world champion, he said that Ferrari staff who did that are now at Haas have already commented on his son’s similarities.
He told Motorsport.com, “They were very emotional when Mick came to us. They explain to me how Michael worked. He works hard, he wants to know everything, he wants to learn, he just wants to get better – every day, every hour, every minute.”
Schumacher moves up to F1 after winning last years F2 title, he is the latest son of a world champion to make the step up to F1. However, the German will have a tough year after Haas decided not to develop this year’s car to focus on next years regulation change.
Steiner said this year the goal was for Schumacher “to learn as much as possible,” to be prepared for a tough season and warning the young driver’s fans not to expect big results this year.
Saying, “This year Mick won’t have any great results, because he doesn’t have the material for it. But the big result for Mick will be that he learns as much as he can and is ready when our car gets better, when his future starts.”
The German is almost certain to have a long career based on his previous results and the marketing power of his name.
Grosjean to help run Haas eSports
Romain Grosjean will maintain his links with Haas this season, after he agreed to manage the teams F1 eSports team through his eSports team R8G. the Frenchman left the team at the end of last year, the deciding to replace him was made before the crash in Bahrain which saw him miss the final two races.
But Grosjean will retain ties with Haas in 2021 after the F1 team announced on Wednesday that its F1 Esports team would be operated by R8G Esports. Grosjean stepped into the Esports sphere last year by forming his own team that now has seventeen professional sim racers on its books, competing across several competitions and platforms.
He told Motorsport.com, “I’m very happy to be managing Haas’s entry this year in the F1 Esports Pro Series through R8G Esports. I’ve been involved in Esports for a year now and I believe our team is doing very well. For me, being able to help Haas F1 in this field, and going racing together – well, it’s a great story.
“Obviously, it’s a cool continuation of what we built together. So, I’m very much looking forward to the first race and to see what we can build together in esports competition.”
Haas team principal Gunther Steiner says the team was delighted to utilise Grosjean’s enthusiasm for eSports and expertise to oversee their participation in F1 eSports. He described it as an important step up with their involvement as they are partnering with a group who understands the demands of the esports environment and can help take our program to the next level.
Adding, “We’ve had some memorable points-earning finishes in past F1 Esports Pro Series and won this season’s Virtual Grand Prix Series. It would be fantastic to maintain that form under the guidance of R8G Esports in the F1 Esports Pro Series this season.”
Haas’s 2020 season was no better in F1 eSports finishing ninth in the constructor’s championship.