After four months without Formula 1, motorsport fans will find the roar of the engines this Sunday, July 5, at the time of the Austrian Grand Prix. The challenges of the 2020 season promise to be rich as Formula 1 faces unprecedented upheavals.
Coronavirus disrupts protocol
Pilots, staff, media and officials must comply with strict health regulations. In addition to the empty stands of their public, the mask or visor will be required for mechanics when they cannot respect a physical distance of two meters. A temperature control will be carried out each time you enter the paddock. All team members have been tested four days before the Austrian Grand Prix, and a tracking application will be made available to participants.
The blur after Monza
Eight Grands Prix spread over a month have so far been confirmed. At Silverstone and in Austria, F1 fans will be entitled to two consecutive Grands Prix on the same circuit, in order to catch up. The current calendar concludes in Monza, Italy on September 6. The continuation of the program remains uncertain, as negotiations continue. The Hockenheim circuit in Germany could host a Grand Prix instead of that of Russia if the health situation deteriorates in the country. The circuits of the Netherlands, Canada and Singapore will not host any races.
Hamilton chasing Schumacher
The British world champion could go a little further in history. If he wins this season, Lewis Hamilton will equal the record of seven titles held by Michael Schumacher. The Mercedes driver, who claims not to pay much attention to the records, still admitted that "winning the title this year would make even more sense", in the context of a pandemic and the fight against racism. Big favorite of the 2020 season, Lewis Hamilton will also have the opportunity to exceed the number of wins in the race for the Red Baron, which stands at 91, against 84 for the English driver.
Alonso back in 2021?
If the launch of the season has been delayed, the transfer window is well and truly engaged. The announcement of Sebastian Vettel's departure from Ferrari launched the game of musical chairs as several drivers arrive at the end of the contract. The Spanish Carlos Sainz will replace the German driver in 2021 at the wheel of the red car. Renault could not retain Daniel Ricciardo, at the end of the race with the French team. The Australian will join young Lando Norris at McLaren next year. So who to replace it? Fernando Alonso, 2005 and 2006 world champion, did not hide his desire to return to F 1.
Strong Monegasque accent at Ferrari
With the announced departure of Sebastian Vettel at the end of the season, and a contract signed until 2024, Charles Leclerc asserts himself as the present and the future of the Scuderia Ferrari. The previous season, the young Monegasque prodigy, who was only making his second year in F1, showed his muscles against his teammate quadruple world champion. In 2019, Mattia Binotto, director of the team, insisted that the two drivers were free to fight but that Vettel remained number 1. Since the clash between the two teammates during the last Brazilian Grand Prix, everything leaves to to think that the rivalry could not be more regulated.
Duel Leclerc-Verstappen at the top
F 1 fans remember the muscular duel between the two drivers in the very last laps of the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix. A pass from the gun won by the Dutchman, who won the Red Bull Ring. There is no doubt that for the coming season, Charles Leclerc will be keen to do better than his rival, who finished ahead of him in third place in the drivers' classification, for only fourteen points.
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Only ONE week to go before racing again đ
A post shared by Charles Leclerc (@charles_leclerc) on Jun 26, 2020 at 10:21 am PDT
Three Frenchmen on the grid
After a short stint at Red Bull, Pierre Gasly begins this season with the secondary team, Alpha Tauri (formerly Toro Rosso). The driver can hope to ride a positive end to the season marked by his second place at the Brazilian Grand Prix. For his part, Esteban Ocon finds his way back to the circuits after a season with Mercedes as a test driver. The Norman joined two years with Renault. His teammate Daniel Ricciardo, on the start at the end of the season, Esteban Ocon could assert himself in the brand's diamond strategy. This edition could however be the last for Romain Grosjean, after ten years in Formula 1. If the Haas driver did not comment, he lived a difficult year 2019 with an 18th place in the ranking.
Renault must prove itself
After a disappointing 2019 year, the French brand has no room for error. The parent company suffers from the economic repercussions of the coronavirus. After a 2019 edition concluded in fifth place, the team aims to return to the top 4.
Mercedes surprises the paddock with the DAS
As of the July 3 tests on the Red Bull Ring, the silver arrows used the DAS. This controversial new technology modifies the toe-in of the wheels in order to prevent tire wear and improve top speed. During the winter tests in Barcelona, ââthe legality of this mechanism had been pointed out. In Barcelona, ââthe Racing Points had also been talked about. The team owned by Lawrence Stroll presented a car close to the W10 used by Mercedes in 2019. With this car, the pink team signed a top 4 each time during the winter tests.
A strong commitment against racism
For the first time in F1, the silver arrows will not be tinted with their legendary gray color. Mercedes presented a united black single-seater in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and at the instigation of its committed champion, Lewis Hamilton.
Introducing our new 2020 livery đ€ A pledge to improve the diversity of our team and our sport, and a signal of the Team's commitment to fighting racism and discrimination in all its forms. pic.twitter.com/ZYzCsFl6Mv
- Mercedes-AMG F1 (@ MercedesAMGF1) June 29, 2020Attacked by the six-time world champion on the lack of diversity, F1 also intends to get involved. The cars will have the hashtag #WeRaceAsOne (United in the race), as well as a rainbow to promote the fight against inequality. The authorities of the championship have announced the establishment of funds dedicated to "increasing diversity and opportunities at all levels".
