Month: June 2020

The Team Boss for Renault Racing in Formula One has spoken about his relationship with Daniel Riccardo. These discussions follow after the Australian Honey Badger determined that McLaren Racing was better suited for his talents, ditching Renault after guarantying them years of service. Promises made by Team Boss Cyril Abiteboul of Renault wasn’t ever met for Daniel Riccardo, prompting the former Red Bull Driver to switch teams.

Cyril Abiteboul has continuously been questioned about Riccardo since he announced switching to McLaren, with a seat becoming available to the Australian after Carlos Sainz was confirmed to be driving with Ferrari for 2021. This means Sebastian Vettel has lost his position with Scuderia Ferrari & won’t race in F1 Grand Prix’s after the short-lived 2020 season.

The Renault Team Boss provided insight into the role that Daniel Riccardo will play, clarifying that his position for car development will be crucial until the final moment of his contract. Cyril has strategized that he’ll make the absolute most of Daniel’s capabilities & knowledge before his contract expires, which means the Australian will be overworked for the short period that Formula One is available in 2020.

When questioned if Esteban Ocon will receive better strategies & favouritism over Daniel Riccardo, Cyril Abiteboul disregarded these sentiments. He noted that French Auto Manufacturers don’t work with grudges in mind, focusing on the racing at hand. The Honey Badger will still be given every opportunity to obtain championship position for Renault, with Cyril still believing his outfit is capable of competing against Red Bull & McLaren. They are not.

The Token System

Cyril is counting on the “Token System” implemented for 2021, which limited what’s possible with altering Formula One Cars. Renault believes the changes they’re implementing through this specialized token system will allow them to compete against McLaren and Red Bull.

That’s because both competing outfits must focus their tokens on Stability & Suspension, with those having already been mastered by Renault. Their tokens can focus on engine improvements & possibly create faster speeds down the straights. Motorsport analysts reflected on the sentiments from Cyril Abiteboul, mentioning how the Renault Team Boss has often bolstered of his team’s capabilities & then never seen his promises through.

The 2020 Formula One Season resumes on July 5th in Austria, exciting both supporters & drivers alike. Multiple competitors in the F1 2020 Grid have begun providing their thoughts on the upcoming season, including Daniel Ricciardo. The Honey Badger believes that egos will factor into the skillsets shown by drivers, with this often being a factor that supports don’t notice during critical times in multiple Grand Prix’s.

Sentiments from Daniel Ricciardo come after the Renault Driver had his 1st testing sessions since COVID-19 delayed the Formula One 2020 Season. These tests were conducted at the Austrian Red Bull Ring with the 2018 Renault RS18. Daniel looked formidable on the circuit, unlike other competitors that struggled to locate grip under unfavourable weather conditions. Ricciardo had the advantage after working out daily during the coronavirus pandemic. He infamously said weeks ago that competing in Virtual Grand Prix’s doesn’t maintain an F1 Driver, that consistent efforts to improve physical conditioning implicates stronger skillsets. It should be clarified that this mindset is similar to Michael Schumacher’s & Lewis Hamilton’s, the greatest champions in Formula One history.

Smaller outfits in F1 like Williams Racing & Alpha Romeo could find themselves unable to maintain testing sessions before July 5th. That’s because testing time is awarded on last years position in the championship, with Alpha Romeo ranked 9th and Williams Racing listed at 10th. Daniel Ricciardo & other drivers on the grid are concerned that these two outfits will prompt significant crashed during the Austrian Season Opener. Ricciardo expects that lower-rated drivers will regain their skillsets during the first half of this upcoming race, with the Renault Driver planning to position himself high on the grid during qualifying. It will allow Daniel to avoid any crashed from Williams or Alpha Romeo.

The Future of Daniel Ricciardo

The Honey Badger has struggled to find a new home in Formula One, which follows after he left Red Bull Racing in 2018. Jealously towards Max Verstappen saw Ricciardo move to Renault F1, who promised the Australian Driver a championship car. Daniel has decided to proceed with McLaren Racing in 2021 after Renault couldn’t deliver on their promise.

The Formula International Association regrettably confirmed that three Grand Prix’s had been confirmed cancelled for 2020. Initially, these venues had entered postponement status, meaning their circuits would be revised into the 2020 season. The coronavirus pandemic is forcing those locations to enter cancelled status, with the Japanese and Singapore Grand Prix’s confirmed to be terminated. This extends towards the Azerbaijan GP also being shut down for 2020.

F1 Supports showing favouritism towards these circuits expressed their disappointment. However, most understood the conditions for Formula One is facing & are grateful for the eight Grand Prix’s confirmed for 2020. The initial two races for this season will be held in Austria at the Red Bull Ring. Races will be spread out considerably more than in previous years, resembling a historical version of the motorsport instead of its modern counterpart.

That’s because the financial & logistical challenges with maintaining safe conditions at individual tracks would be impossible. Singapore, Japan, and Azerbaijan account for those three locations. Motorsport analysts that cover Formula One are now questioning if additional venues will be cancelled before their rescheduling can be legally permitted by government entities.

The Statement

F1s Chief Executive Officer issued a formal statement regarding these cancelled venues. Chase Carey clarified that continuous challenges from COVID-19 in Singapore, Japan, and Azerbaijan had forced this decision. Details on these logistical challenges were provided by the CEO, noting that street circuits require construction & deconstruction to host Formula One.

Staffing to complete these jobs isn’t available to standards, making it impossible for F1 Organizers to guarantee completion for the slated venue date. Any possible errors in construction are avoiding by placing these circuits into cancellation status. Chase Carey mentioned that locations that’ve been confirmed for 2020 could be postponed or terminated, which is entirely dependent on the travel restrictions in that nation. Drivers & team personnel unable to enter that nation makes it impossible to drive.

Chase Carey didn’t want supporters concerned that progress wasn’t fast-moving, with it being confirmed that new promoters are being inquired to support additional venues under the 2020 schedule. It’s rumoured that the Mugello Italian Grand Prix will be given to Formula One, leaving MotoGP to cancel their respective race at this venue. Details on additional locations for the 2020 season are slated to be announced by July 1st.

Desperate times often call for drastic measures, with that sentiment becoming true for Williams F1. This follows after the Formula One Racing Outfit announced they’d hired a new Managing Technical Director for F1 Operations. This means that Claire Williams has lost her primary position maintaining the internal strategies with her father’s team. Claire remains onwards as the Deputy Team Principal but has minor influence over the technical operations moving forward. It’s speculated that Sir Frank Williams, her father, forced this decision onto his daughter.

Sir Frank Williams would’ve been prompted towards this decision after Claire couldn’t perform as Managing Technical Director. Two back-to-back seasons where Williams F1 couldn’t obtain more than six constructors points influenced this decision. This team’s livelihood is on the line, prompting the Knighted Team Owner to demand changes. It wasn’t known how the internal management for Williams F1 would be altered when it was announced that the team was for sale. However, it’s been clarified that Simon Roberts has been hired at the Managing Technical Director for Williams Formula One.

The team isn’t for sale any longer after Toto Wolff purchased an additional 5% stake into the outfit. Toto now maintains 20% ownership, enough of a stake to enforce his notable talents onto the team. With the combination of Simon Roberts & Toto Wolff, advancements in Williams F1 are possible. However, a large portion of the Mercedes AMG-Petronas team bosses time will be spent engaging with Aston Martin.

Simon Roberts

McLaren F1 previously employed Simon Roberts, where he maintained a lengthy career & earned a substantial reputation to reviving a lost team. That’s what prompted his drafting towards Williams F1, which implemented their Recovery Plan in late May. Claire Williams was questioned on her mindset behind this decision, with the Deputy Team Principal remarked that Simon is a fantastic addition to Williams F1. She noted that his coordinated efforts would create new developments for her outfit, strengthening their position on the grid. Under this new Technical Directive & Leadership, Williams can return as one of the most pivotal teams in Formula One.