Month: July 2020

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Scuderia Ferrari Restructures Technical Department

The Technical Department for Scuderia Ferrari has been restructured, which follows after poor performances throughout the 2020 Formula One Season. Ferrari is typically declared into the top three teams, with Mercedes in 1st and Red Bull in 3rd. 2020 would see that change with Scuderia Ferrari slumping into the midfield. Their straight-line speeds have dropped significantly over winter break, which was prolonged & supported little technical development with the COVID-19 pandemic. Scuderia Ferrari’s headquarters is located in Italy, a nation which was severely affected by the coronavirus.

Ferrari is sustaining a 5th position in the Constructor’s Championship, losing out to the likes of McLaren Racing & Racing Point. It’s the lowest standing that Scuderia Ferrari has seen in years, which their pace difference evident after Charles Leclerc placed 11th at the Hungaroring Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel would place 6th.

Employed personnel within the Technical Department are expected to be angered by this announcement. Mattia Binotto, the Team Principal for Scuderia Ferrari, promised on July 17th that there wouldn’t be layoffs following their poor performance. That would all change by the 20th, with Mattia Binotto announcing that their technical team will be restructured & a new performance development department is being created.

Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal indicated that their restructuring efforts would create a practical package that emphasis on straight-line speeds for upcoming seasons. Mattia Binotto wants management to become simplified & focused, giving leaders the tools required to finalize their objectives.

Mattia clarified who will reign over which departments. It’s known that Enrico Cardile will oversee the performance development department. He’ll also lead the Power Unit Team. Sporting Director of Trackside Activities has been awarded to Laurent Mekies, with Simon Resta holding his position for Manager of the Chassis Engineering Department.

The Long Game

Scuderia Ferrari admitted that their 2020 F1 Season is lost. Those midfield positions will continue throughout 2021, with Ferrari being forced into using the SF1000 for an additional season. Cost-Saving Strategies are being employed by Mattia Binotto, ensuring the long-term survival of Scuderia Ferrari. The Team Principal emphasized that they’re creating the foundations needed to return into a winning cycle.

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George Russel Sympathizes with Alex Albon

Alex Albon obtained support from an unlikely commodore, with same being George Russel from Williams F1 Racing. Both residing from Britain & quickly growing into their positions within Formula One, George Russel couldn’t help but notice the pace difference Alex Albon has experienced in 2020. It’s considerably slower than 2019, showing that Honda is struggling to supply Red Bull Aston Martin Racing with a secure power engine unit.

George Russel would emphasize that Alex Albon is being made to look foolish, which comes after the Red Bull 2nd Driver obtained 13th in the Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Session. It’s the worst that Alex Albon has placed since driving for Toro Rosso in the first half on 2019s F1 Season.

Albon remarked over team radio that there was consider understeer throughout the practice sessions, which continued into qualifying. Red Bull didn’t provide Albon with fixes for qualifying following the limited period between Practice Session Three and Qualifying. It should be clarified that Max Verstappen also struggled with pace, sitting 1.4 Seconds behind Lewis Hamilton.

The Austrian & Styrian Grand Prix’s proved troublesome for Alex Albon, maintain low positions similarly to Scuderia Ferrari. Christian Horner has demanded that Albon begin performing at better standards, which George Russel doesn’t feel is justified. The two have raced against each other for fifteen years & have maintained a great working relationship.

Albon fought Charles Leclerc, George Russel, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris throughout his career before Formula One. The Williams Driver clarified that all four of them would agree that Alex is one of the best. Not providing him with an opportunity to showcase those talents made George Russel question what’s going on in the Red Bull Racing garage.

George Russel finished his interview with F1 Online after qualifying by remarking his sympathies for Alex Albon. Russel clarified that Albon is being made to look foolish when the likelihood is home outperforming Max Verstappen with the same vehicle. These sentiments didn’t fare well with the Dutchman, which could reflect on track during the July 19th Hungaroring Grand Prix. Max Verstappen is known for physically pressuring his rivals on the track, which some suspect could happen for Russel at Hungary.

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Formula 2s Newest Star Driver

Popularity is rapidly growing for Robert Shwartzman, the 2019 FIA Formula Three Champion. This young athlete debuted in Formula Two on July 4th, quickly garnering the attention of thousands in this motorsport community. Racing initially at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, his first appearance saw a placement at P5. That positioning would quickly approve the next weekend onwards, with July 11th marking his first podium finish in Formula Two. Notably, this was during a horrendous downpour that saw visuals become incredibly limited over dozens of laps.

Challenges awaited Robert Schwartzman during the Styrian Formula Two Grand Prix. He’d continually be pressured by Yuki Tsunoda from the “Red Bull Honda Junior Racing Team”. Robert attempted multiple times to overtake Yuki, failing for the majority of laps. It wouldn’t be until Tsunoda began experiencing radio malfunctions that Robert acquired the lead. Instructions from Carlin Racing to Yuki Tsunoda prompted the Japanese driver to avoid his pit stop unintentionally.

Carlin Racing immediately acquired a “Pit Board”, swinging it between two fences as Yuki Tsunoda was doing another lap around the Red Bull Ring. This allowed the Japanese driver to finally make his pit stop, two laps after Robert Shwartzman. The pace was still in favour of Yuki Tsunoda until falling behind Guanyu Zhou, Robert Schwartzman & Callum Ilott and overcoming those two drivers in wet conditions to reobtain the lead on provided too challenging.

The Progress

Robert Shwartzman displayed his skillsets from the very beginning, starting in 6th place & inevitably making his first podium finish. This wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of Prema Racing’s Pit Crew, who were able to release Robert Schwartzman in less than 1.5 seconds. This enabled the Prema Driver to quickly catch Guanyu Zhou after the pitstop, obtaining the subsequent lead.

It wouldn’t take long for Yuki Tsunoda to overtake Guanyu Zhou on the final lap. The Carlin Racing Driver would quickly reach Robert Schwartzman towards the chequered flag, with Robert holding onto the lead by a minor buffer. The discontent was evident with Yuki Tsunoda. It’s suspected the two will battle it out next week at Hungary after this weekends events.

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Kneeling at Formula One Explained

The Black Lives Matters Movement prompted Formula One’s exclusive African-European to demand equality throughout the motorsport. Most have agreed with Lewis Hamilton’s stance on Anti-Racism, with some like Bernie Ecclestone indicating otherwise. Most have moved on from the Ecclestone Era & Hamilton revoked his friendship with Bernie, a man who’ll be a father near Ninety Years of Age.

Anti-Racism Protocols have begun being issued throughout the Formula One Paddock. One recommendation the FIA has made to viable drivers is kneeling during the Austrian National Anthem, showing their support for the BLM Movement. This isn’t being forced onto the Formula One Grid & instead optional for drivers, with some competitors significantly disrespecting their nation by kneeling. One such competitor would be Daniil Kvyat from Russia.

The Austrian Grand Prix Weekend began on July 3rd, with Valtteri Bottas obtaining Pole Position for the Sunday race. Before Bottas could get 1st Position on the grid, himself & all other F1 Competitors delegated during a joint briefing, some drivers indicated their uncomfortableness with kneeling during the anthem, indicating that historical events have prompted this action to become disrespectful in their culture.

Romain Grosjean, one of three leaders in the Grand Prix Directors Association, clarified that multiple drivers wouldn’t participate in kneeling. Grosjean iterated that fifteen nationalities are supported in the Formula One community, surging a difference of opinion amongst certain groups. France is another nation that’s historically abolished the action of kneeling, meaning Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly might stand for the anthem. This could extend towards Romain Grosjean, who’s also French.

Hamilton Losing Grid Loyalty

Most anticipated that Lewis Hamilton would understand the predicaments of specific drivers from different nationalities. However, the reactions shown by the British-born Champion indicated a lack of understanding. Considering that Hamilton claims to be respectful of all nationalities, results confirmed by Lewis were that of a hypocrite. The only statement given by Hamilton over the briefing was, “We all spoke a bit during the drivers meeting”.

Lewis Hamilton should reconsider his anger towards Formula One & aggressive claims that they’re not an inclusive sport. Maintaining international motorsport with fifteen different nationalities, including Alex Albon from the Philippines, shows F1 is an inclusive sport. When accounting for the drivers in Formula Two, this point is made tenfold.