Formula 1 - Season 2020

[genius83]

Majority of teams wanted to race despite McLaren withdrawal – Horner
A majority of Formula 1 teams wanted to go ahead with the Australian Grand Prix even after a McLaren team member tested positive for Coronavirus, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Steiner: “I’m pretty sure we will race this year”
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says he expects Formula 1 to return to racing later this year despite the Coronavirus pandemic.

Also, Ferrari have shut down their factory in Italy due to supply chain issue.

Brawn “optimistic” F1 will hold at least 17 races in 2020
Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn says he is hopeful Formula 1 will be able to hold at least 17 races this year despite the disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Pulling out of Australian GP was the only option for McLaren, says Brown
The McLaren team member who tested positive for Coronavirus during the Australian Grand Prix is no longer showing any symptoms, the team has confirmed.

@umairjamil6
That Corona Rally in Mexico ended prematurely but with 75% route covered, full points were awarded. The next 2 rally's in Chile and Argentina are cancelled due to different reasons.

Also, Ferrari have shut down their factory in Italy due to supply chain issue.

[umairjamil6]

Italian companies will shut down due to the current situation. Lambo fiat brembo

[pwuser153331236425]

After years of Hamilton domination our new WC is Coronavirus

[pwuser153331236425]

season

Its looks like it has been sponsored by a toothpaste company.

[genius83]

Ferrari closes F1 factory due to Coronavirus, other teams remain open
Ferrari has closed its factor in Maranello, including its Formula 1 operation, in response to the spread of the Coronavirus.

Todt: Not clear when motor sport can resume after Coronavirus
FIA president Jean Todt says it is not yet clear when the motorsport schedule will be able to return to normal due to the Coronavirus.

Pirelli F1 employee is second Australian Grand Prix Coronavirus case
A second person connected with Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix has tested positive for the Coronavirus while in Melbourne.

Mercedes back down but Ferrari’s other rivals continue FIA fight over power unit settlement
Mercedes is no longer part of the ‘gang of seven’ teams which was pressing the FIA over its settlement with Ferrari over last year’s investigation into the legality of its power unit.

Carey apologises to fans over F1 race cancellations
Formula 1 CEO and chairman Chase Carey has issued a public apology to fans following the late cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix four days ago.

[genius83]

Leclerc “will respect Ferrari’s decision” if they choose to replace Vettel
Charles Leclerc says he’s happy to continue driving alongside Sebastian Vettel if Ferrari extend his team mate’s contract, but will respect their decision if they make a change.

Sainz and other McLaren team members cleared after Coronavirus tests
Carlos Sainz Jnr has self-isolated as a precaution after returning to his home in Spain following the Australian Grand Prix weekend, where one of his McLaren colleagues tested positive for the Coronavirus.

F1 could hold races with fewer than 12 cars – Brawn
Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn has admitted the sport could run championship races with significantly smaller grids if needed because of the Coronavirus.

Quarantined McLaren team members cleared of Coronavirus
The McLaren team members who were quarantined after one of their colleagues tested positive for the Coronavirus have been cleared of the virus, the team has confirmed.

Ferrari behind plan to move F1 summer break forward to March and April
A plan to move Formula 1’s summer break forward to March and April due to the Coronavirus is expected to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sports Council.

Alonso was wrongly blamed over ‘Spygate’ scandal – de la Rosa
Fernando Alonso was wrongly blamed within McLaren for revealing information to the FIA which led to the team being fined $100 million in 2007, his former team mate believes.

[genius83]

Early F1 factory shutdown approved by FIA
The FIA World Motor Sports Council has rubber-stamped a plan to bring Formula 1’s summer break forward due to the Coronavirus.

Hamilton and Alonso were ‘F1’s best driver pairing ever’
McLaren’s 2007 driver pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso was the best the sport has ever seen, former driver Pedro de la Rosa has said.

Four F1 teams gearing up to help Coronavirus technology fight
Formula 1 teams are gearing up to help produce technologies to save lives in the Coronavirus pandemic, RaceFans has learned.

F1 to discuss postponing new 2021 cars
Formula 1 is to discuss postponing the introduction of new regulations, originally planned for next season, in light of the disruption caused by the Coronavirus.

@All
So LeMans 24h is also postponed till September.

[umairjamil6]

Everything will eventually be postponed

[pwuser153331236425]

At least they got out of Catalunya before Spain put a total lockdown on the country

[adrafiq.52]

What's the update on rest of the season.

[genius83]

Vietnam GP hope to announce new race date within two months
The promoters of the Vietnam Grand Prix hope to announce a new date for their first F1 race within the next two months.

Formula 1 calls off all three races in May, season to start in Baku
Formula 1’s planned May races at Zandvoort, the Circuit de Catalunya and Monaco have all been called off.

Unanimous agreement to postpone new F1 cars for 2021 – but not budget cap
The FIA, Formula 1 and teams have unanimously agreed to delay part of Formula 1’s radical new rules package which was due for introduction next year.

F1 season will start later than ever after longest break between races since 1966
The disruption to the start of the 2020 F1 season has forced the world championship to take its longest break between races for more than five decades.

Official
No Monaco Grand Prix in 2020
The Monaco Grand Prix will not take place in 2020, after the race promoters confirmed they will not seek a new date for the race.

F1 and FIA given power to change 2020 calendar without teams’ approval
Formula 1 and the FIA have been given the power to make changes to this year’s calendar without the approval of teams as the sport tries to salvage its 2020 championship.

F1 takes first of many tough decisions to salvage its 2020 season
Since returning humbled from their Melbourne fiasco, Formula 1 and its 10 teams have been locked in discussions in attempts to minimise the havoc that the pathogen known as Covid-19 has wreaked.

F1 drivers to compete in ‘Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix’ in new official ESports series
Formula 1 drivers will compete in an official Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix, the first of a new series of ESports events to run in place of cancelled 2020 race dates.

UK-based F1 teams responding to shortage of ventilators
British-based Formula 1 teams are stepping up efforts to tackle the shortage of life-saving ventilators.

The show must go online: F1’s Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix puts entertainment first
One week ago Formula 1 had just scrapped its first race of the season in Melbourne. Today, with the next six race dates also on hold, the sport has confirmed plans for its first ever Virtual Grand Prix.

Every F1 driver invited to Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix – but who will enter?
Formula 1 has invited teams to enter each of their drivers to take part in this weekend’s first Virtual Grand Prix.

@adrafiq.52
June could be starting point of this season while F1 will try to put as many races as possible in from June to December may be into January 2021 to complete this season. We already have 2 cancelled and 5 postponed races, if the situation gets better some of the postponed races will be run this season otherwise the rest of the schedule will be followed with minimum 8 races need to be held for the championship eligibility.

They all have already agreed on delaying the 2021 rules changes to 2022, with 2021 season will be held using these same cars.

[adrafiq.52]

A message from toto. I personally admire this guy.
https://yt3.ggpht.com/G3mQYo6gU-hrRWCm9UkfrGYR1rUV8Rtc3xU10g7fhn_OD-_bwTYyf-gX46AMNNPf4C6yS-9IwvcbNQ=s1600-nd

[genius83]

Hamilton: ‘No Coronavirus symptoms’ following speculation over contact with celebrities
Lewis Hamilton says he has no symptoms of the Coronavirus despite coming into contact with two celebrities who later tested positive for it.

No change to McLaren-Mercedes power unit deal despite 2021 rules delay
The decision to postpone the new 2021 technical regulations by a year will not affect McLaren’s plan to change engine suppliers next season, the team has confirmed.

Sainz: “Impossible” to say when season will be able to start
Carlos Sainz Jnr says it’s impossible to judge when it will be possible to begin the 2020 F1 season.

Norris plans to use a different helmet design at every race
Lando Norris says he’s planning to introduce more “exaggerated” helmet designs since F1 scrapped the rule limiting how often they could change their liveries.

Hamilton: Stop “totally irresponsible and selfish” socialising
Lewis Hamilton has urged people to reduce their social interactions to reduce the impact of the pandemic, describing those who continue to mix with groups of others as “selfish”.

Official
Azerbaijan Grand Prix called off, F1 season won’t start before June 14th
The 2020 F1 season will not begin until June 14th at the earliest as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been pulled from the calendar due to the global crisis.

ESports
Two current F1 drivers on Virtual Bahrain GP entry list*
Two current Formula 1 drivers have been confirmed on the entry list for today’s first-ever Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix.

Renault junior Zhou wins shortened, crash-strewn Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
Renault development driver Guanyu Zhou won the first F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix after the race on the Bahrain International Circuit was cut from 28 laps to 14.

[asharab.butt]

Renault development driver Guanyu Zhou won the first F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix after the race on the Bahrain International Circuit was cut from 28 laps to 14.

That race was so fun. Lando called max before it started and told him he qualified last and asked for advice, max told him to use his mouse to turn the game off and start watching it's live stream instead

[genius83]

F1 ‘expects to start season in summer’ and to hold at least 15 races
Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey says he expects the championship to resume racing in the summer and that they will hold at least 15 races.

F1 will resume racing in summer “if the world allows us” – Brown
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says Formula 1 will be ready to start its new season in the summer if restrictions resulting from the pandemic are lifted.

[genius83]

Lockdown in UK prompts F1 teams to begin shutdowns early
UK-based Formula 1 teams have brought their planned factory shutdowns forward to tomorrow in response to the new restrictions introduced by the government yesterday.

McLaren allowed to alter 2020 chassis to fit Mercedes power unit
McLaren will be allowed to make “necessary changes” to its 2020 F1 car when it changes power unit for next year, despite teams agreeing to freeze their chassis designs for next year.

F1 not proposing to stop teams using their motorhomes – Horner
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Formula 1 has not proposed a ban on teams using their motorhomes at European races, despite managing director Ross Brawn’s suggestion they could.

McLaren team members quarantined in Australia heading home this week
The 16 McLaren team members who were quarantined in Melbourne during the Australian Grand Prix weekend will return home this week.

[genius83]

Pirelli change test plans as 18-inch tyres are delayed to 2022
Formula 1’s decision to delay its new technical regulations to 2022 has had several implications for Pirelli.

F1 drivers turn to WhatsApp to arrange simraces during hiatus
A group of drivers from Formula 1 and other categories are arranging their simracing plans during the hiatus using a new WhatsApp group.

FIA was wrong to go public over Ferrari power unit deal – Ecclestone
Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has criticised the sport’s governing body for revealing its private settlement with Ferrari over its power unit.

F1 hiatus “doesn’t mean we can afford to take it easy” – Racing Point
Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer says they will ensure they are ready to compete when the 2020 F1 season finally begins despite the “unprecedented” disruption to the championship.

Grosjean reveals 3am text from Vettel saying he wouldn’t race in Australia
Romain Grosjean has shed light on how Formula 1 drivers found out the Australian Grand Prix was being cancelled before it was announced.

Fittipaldi and Deletraz get Haas reserve and virtual driver roles
Haas has named two drivers from Formula 1 families as its reserve drivers for the upcoming season.

Grosjean won’t watch Drive to Survive season one: ‘I don’t want those memories back’
Romain Grosjean doesn’t plan to watch the first season of Netflix’s Formula 1 series ‘Drive to Survive’ because he doesn’t want to relive the memories of his troubled campaign two years ago.

AlphaTauri ‘not at the front of the midfield’ – Gasly
Pierre Gasly doubts AlphaTauri have the pace to lead the midfield based on their performance in pre-season testing.

The expertise F1 teams can bring in the race to build ventilators
With the Formula 1 season on hold, teams have taken up the cause of tackling the global crisis by helping to develop and produce badly-needed ventilators.

F1 considering February date for 2020 finale – one month before new season starts
The 2020 F1 season could be extended until February next year, meaning it would finish one month before the new championship begins, RaceFans has learned.

Outside of F1
Indianapolis 500 postponed to August
IndyCar has confirmed this year’s 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 has been postponed to August 23rd.

[genius83]

F1 was “playing with fire” trying to race in Melbourne, says Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo has said Formula 1 was “playing with fire” by trying to go ahead with the Australian Grand Prix in the face of growing concerns over the global pandemic.

F1 teams ready to produce 1,000 breathing aids per day
Formula 1 teams are preparing to start production of a breathing aid designed to save lives of those suffering with the coronavirus.

Red Bull rejected idea to expose its F1 drivers to Coronavirus, says Marko
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has revealed the team considered deliberately exposing its F1 drivers to Coronavirus in the hope it would immunise them against it.

[genius83]

F1 2020 game will feature all 22 tracks despite calendar changes
The official video game of the 2020 F1 season will feature all 22 tracks in what should have been this year’s record-breaking season, despite the disruption to the calendar.

FIA makes extensive F1 rules changes for 2020 and 2021 in response to “crisis”
The FIA has agreed a series of rules changes for 2020 and 2021 in response to the “crisis” instigated by the delayed start to the season.

No delay to Aston Martin’s F1 entry despite pandemic, says Stroll
Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll insists plans to rebrand the team as Aston Martin next year are still on-track despite the disruption caused by the global pandemic.

Silverstone to decide fate of British Grand Prix at end of April
A decision on whether this year’s British Grand Prix will go ahead will be made by the end of the month, the race promoters have announced.

Aston Martin officially confirms return to F1 in 2021
Aston Martin has officially announced it will return to Formula 1 as a full team next year when it takes over Racing Point.

Sainz and Norris take pay cuts as McLaren furlough F1 staff
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jnr have accepted cuts in their pay as the team has decided to furlough a group of staff in the Racing division, which includes its Formula 1 team.

Leclerc, Albon and Russell boost Virtual Grand Prix grid to five current drivers
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is among the five current Formula 1 drivers who will participate in this weekend’s Virtual Vietnam Grand Prix.

Silverstone open to holding second F1 race on reverse track
Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle says the circuit would be willing to host a second round of the world championship this year and run the track in reverse direction if needed.

[genius83]

Norris explains why real-world drivers prefer iRacing to F1 2019
F1 2019 is ‘too much like an arcade game’ which is why real-world drivers prefer rival titles such as iRacing, according to Lando Norris.

F1 drivers join Race for the World Esports series to raise money for WHO
Six Formula 1 drivers are on the entry list for a new Esports series intended to raise money to help fight the Coronavirus.

F1 cancels 2020 deals with camera staff – but that doesn’t mean the season is off
RaceFans has learned Formula 1 has cancelled its contracts with camera operators for the 2020 season.

Hamilton “wouldn’t survive” alongside Leclerc at Ferrari – Ecclestone
Lewis Hamilton would risk being eclipsed by Charles Leclerc the way Sebastian Vettel has if he moved to Ferrari, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

F1 would have bankrupted me, says Prodrive’s Richards
Prodrive chairman David Richards says he doesn’t regret missing on opportunities to take the team into Formula 1 a decade ago.

F1 must extend factory shutdown again – Steiner
Formula 1 must extend its factory shutdown further to protect smaller teams, says Haas team principal Guenther Steiner.

F1 considering six races in seven weeks to hold 19-round season
Formula 1 could hold 19 of the 22 races originally scheduled this year if the championship can begin in July, according to motorsport director Ross Brawn.

F1 season could start behind closed doors, Brawn admits
The 2020 F1 season could begin with an event held in Europe ‘behind closed doors’ without any fans, according to motorsport director Ross Brawn.

Ferrari propose higher budget cap for manufacturer F1 teams than ‘customers’
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has suggested setting a lower budget cap for F1 teams who buy power units than manufacturers such as his team.

Rookies ‘should be terrified’ by first experience of F1
The days of “awe-inspiring” Formula 1 cars are behind us because of the rapid rise in the minimum weight limit, Karun Chandhok believes.

Canada ‘postponed’, France could double up, Austria won’t change date
The Canadian Grand Prix has become the latest round of the 2020 F1 season to cancel its original race date.

F1 extends factory shutdown to five weeks, including engine facilities
Formula 1 has extended its mandatory factory shutdown period due to the restrictions introduced as a result of the pandemic.

F1 and FIA resist bid to delay new cars to 2023
Formula 1 and the FIA are sticking by their plans to introduce new technical regulations in 2022, having resisted a bid by some teams to delay them further.

Mercedes converts entire F1 engine plant to build breathing aids
Mercedes says it has converted its entire F1 engine facility to produce breathing aids for Covid-19 sufferers.

Formula 1 puts half of staff on furlough, Carey takes significant pay cut
Formula 1 has put around half of its staff on furlough as a result of the hiatus in racing caused by the global pandemic.

Williams and Racing Point confirm staff furlough and driver pay cut
Williams has become the second Formula 1 team to announce it is has placed some of its staff on a temporary furlough.

IndyCar
IndyCar cancels Detroit, adds double-headers to extend calendar
IndyCar has announced the cancellation of its double-header round in Detroit which had been set to open the season on May 30th after six earlier events were called off due to the pandemic.