This week, Formula One officially resumed when pre-season testing kicked off in Bahrain. Ferrari also revealed their 2021 car that features both mechanical and livery changes. But it was not all good news this week, as the motorsport world lost an iconic commentator.
The week started with the final car launch of the pre-season. Ferrari revealed their 2021 challenger, the SF21. Aside from just the livery changes, like the two-tone red and green Mission Winnow branding, the car also features a new transmission and new rear suspension design. The team are hopeful that these changes, along with some cooling and aerodynamic improvements, will help pull the team out of their F1 slump.
The first and only pre-season test for the season got underway on Friday in Bahrain. Absent from the paddock was Alfa Romeo’s team boss Frederic Vasseur, who tested positive for COVID-19. Although he was not showing any symptoms and returned a negative test result, the decision was made for him to self-isolate at his home in France.
The first day of testing was impacted by a sandstorm, which decreased both grip and visibility. Red Bull topped the timing sheets at the end of the day, setting a fastest time of 1:30.674 after Max Verstappen completed the most laps of any driver, with an astonishing 139 laps. McLaren and Alpine also showed good performance throughout the day, rounding out the top 3 within 0.5s of Verstappen’s fastest lap. The defending World Championship team Mercedes had a difficult first day of testing. A gearbox issue kept Valtteri Bottas stuck in the garage for most of the morning session. Lewis Hamilton was able to complete 42 laps in his afternoon shift, but only set a time worthy of P10.
The Silver Arrows were back in business on Saturday for the second day of testing, with Valtteri Bottas topping the time sheets at the end of the day after lapping at 1:30.289. Daniel Ricciardo was quickest in the morning session for the second day in a row. It was Aston Martin’s turn to suffer a bit of bad luck, when gearbox issues kept their car locked in the garage for most of the morning session. They rebounded in the afternoon when Lance Stroll set a time that was just 0.171s slower than the Mercedes, although Pierre Gasly’s time in the AlphaTauri was marginally quicker. McLaren, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari also set strong lap times, all within 0.6s of the leading Merecedes. The day was marked with two red flags. One to recover beached Mercedes driven by Lewis Hamilton after a spin in the morning and a second after the engine cover of the Red Bull ripped apart while Sergio Perez was behind the wheel.
Day two of the test marked Fernando Alonso’s first session in the car since making his Formula One return. The Spaniard was involved in a cycling accident last month that resulted in a broken jaw. He has revealed that he will be racing with two titanium plates in his upper jaw, which will be surgically removed at the end of the season. He does not expect it to hamper his F1 efforts.
Sunday marked the final day of pre-season testing, with Max Verstappen setting the quickest time in afternoon (1:28.960) after his teammate Sergio Perez was quickest in the morning. Rookie Yuki Tsunoda was narrowly slower than the Red Bull, with just 0.093s keeping him from the top of the leaderboard. The two Honda powered cars were in a league of their own, with Carlos Sainz setting the third quickest time, but 0.651s back. Sainz was involved in a late incident with Kimi Raikkonen when the two had a minor collision in turn 10. Raikkonen racked up a surprising 165 laps, giving him the most mileage for the day. Lewis Hamilton struggled to complete fast times in his qualifying simulations, spinning near the end of his stint. The Brit appeared to be unhappy with the rear grip levels under the new regulations. Valtteri Bottas did not have much better luck during his stint, finishing second slowest only to the two Aston Martin drivers.
Mercedes claims the data shows that Red Bull is quicker in the race runs during pre-season testing and that the defending champions has its “work cut out”. But many teams are accused of sandbagging in pre-season testing, so it fans will have to wait another two weeks to find out when the lights go out for the first time in 2021 at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
This week’s return of the F1 action was largely overshadowed by the sad news of Murray Walker’s passing on Saturday. The beloved British commentator was largely regarded as the voice of F1 due to his enthusiastic commentary and Muurayisms that are still echoed by fans. He was 97 years old and leaves behind a loving wife of 62 years. He will be deeply missed.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
