Morning paper
Car pool changed radically, but the master may well remain the same.
The biggest favorite of the F1 season is Max Verstappen. The Dutchman grabbed his first championship last season after sensational twists. The biggest pressure has fallen off the shoulders of the Red Bull driver. Verstappen and Red Bull have the skills and resources to manage the series in the same way as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have done.
Verstappen signed a gigantic extension contract during the season that will keep him with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season and reportedly bring in annual revenues of up to € 50 million.
Verstappen was a driver worthy of the World Championship title, but the way the championship was decided left many bitter. Verstappen needed the help of the jury for the final round of the final race. Had the jury not broken its own rules, Hamilton would now be an eight-time world champion.
Verstappen is certainly still hungry to win more and wants to silence even the last critics.
Verstappen would naturally not be a favorite without the strong Red Bull RB18. The stable is behind trouble-free tests that ended in Verstappen’s tough base time. In the Red Bull stall, it was difficult to keep a smile hidden after the fastest lap time.
Designer difference Adrian Newey followed the test events in his familiar style with a notebook and pen in hand. Judging by everything, he has created a great car for Red Bull.
George Russel and Lewis Hamilton smiled during the winter tests on the Bahrain track.
Perhaps the biggest interest is in Mercedes. The undisputed ruler of the F1 tracks in recent years was in surprisingly great difficulty in the winter tests. The driveability of the W13 was not entirely that of Hamilton and George Russellin to my mind.
Many garages have suffered from the “bouncing” of cars, but it became an almost chronic grief for Mercedes. The bounce is due to rule changes that brought the land effect back to formula one after a decade break.
Cars are absorbed closer to the track surface than before, which produces traction. However, the base plate and diffuser may jam, causing it to bounce. The stables have been in trouble with this. The durability of Alfa Romeo cars in particular has been put to the test.
About Mercedes can’t count out the championship fight. The stable has been anointing its own situation after the tests before. “We’re not the Fastest,” Hamilton announced just a few days ago before winning the season’s opening race.
Mercedes is an experienced team that can solve problems even on a fast schedule. The German stable has been allowed to spend the least time in the wind tunnel because it won the manufacturers ’championship. It may appear from the beginning of the season. Hamilton and Russell won’t necessarily drive to victory in Bahrain over the weekend, but it’s a surprise if they don’t get into a fight back in the spring.
Hamilton unleashed the latent potential of the car by driving a strong race simulation on the final day of the tests.
Tests turn to Mercedes for another reason. George Russell, 24, is an extremely interesting Joker card that can confuse Hamilton’s pasmas and championship battles if the car gives you lunch. It is one of the greatest talents of the 21st century.
Russell tinted his tail on Williams several times over the past three seasons. He got everything out of the car and clearly beat his weak teammates. Russell is an extremely fast and tough competitor. Now the nerves are under a tougher test than ever before.
The 2020 race in Bahrain is well remembered by many. Surprisingly, Russell managed to track down a sick Hamilton. Mercedes’s depot fraying and a flat tire took the young Briton a career opening victory. It’s a wonder if one doesn’t come soon this year. Russell reached out coldly Valtteri Bottas up and running. Preparing properly can elevate him even to Hamilton’s level.
Hamilton, 37, the best before date is approaching. This may well be his last chance at the championship. Mercedes is entering the Russell era.
World champion Max Verstappen signed a long extension agreement with Red Bull.
Formula one there has been no congestion in the top fight in recent years. Now there should be enough challengers for Max Verstappen. Along with Mercedes, expectations are high, especially at the Ferrari camp. Many competitors even elevated the legendary Italian stable to their favorite position.
Ferrari focused the bangs on time this season. Its car was immediately reliable and fast in the tests. Ferrari has disappointed expectations before the season has begun, however Carlos Sainzilta and especially From Charles Lecler is allowed to expect strong results.
Another big bar, McLaren, also wants to get back on top. Its winter tests started great, but the drivers suffered from bad braking problems in the second week of the test. The MCL36 should be enough to pick up speed Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo even for the podium, but reliability is still a question mark.
Last season the drama is almost impossible to get better, but the season as a whole can still become more interesting. For years, the series has longed for a winning battle between several teams.
If Ferrari and McLaren live up to expectations, there will be a very tight battle ahead. That too is suitable for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is a clear No. 1 driver in his stable because From Sergio Perez there is no way to challenge him. Inside the other three top teams, there is a fierce struggle for superiority, which inevitably eats up points for each of them.
The rule changes also raise expectations. The aerodynamics of cars have changed completely. The tires are bigger than before and have fenders and solid rims.
The changes should be reflected in the fact that it would be easier to follow the above, which would mean more overtaking and a fiercer struggle against the tire. This is what fans have been waiting for for years. Tests and driver comments make it easier to follow. “Dirty” air is directed from the rear wing upwards and not directly to the rear to annoy the chaser.
Stables have come up with a vast variety of solutions when designing cars. For example, Mercedes brought a car with almost no side pontoons for other tests. It raised eyebrows at competitors.
Different solutions also predict that different cars will be strong on different tracks.
Finns with regard to the return of the lands of shadows. Valtteri Bottas gets to work hard every day in front of every point on Alfa Romeo. Newcomer buddy Guanyu Zhousta after all, it shouldn’t be a decent challenge.
The situation is reminiscent of 2010-2011, when Kimi Raikkonen took a break from formulas and Heikki Kovalainen shaved his head at Lotus.
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