It was confirmed yesterday (30/7/20), that Racing Point's Sergio Pérez has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend's British Grand Prix.
Pérez is the first Formula 1 driver to test positive from the virus. Pérez has gone into self-quarantine, along with all his close contacts, as per F1's track-and-trace system.
A statement from governing body the FIA said "procedures… have provided for swift containment".
The statement adds that Perez's positive test "will have no wider impact on this weekend's event".
Racing Point said Perez was "physically well and in good spirits, but he will continue to self-isolate under the guidelines of the relevant public health authorities, with safety the ultimate priority for the team and the sport".
No word yet who will replace Pérez for Silverstone for this weekend, it could be either Mercedes reserve-drivers Stoffel Vandoorne, Esteban Gutierrez or former Renault and Force India (Racing Point in 2020) driver Nico Hulkenberg. My guess it could be anyone, Nico Hulkenberg is well liked with the team but is he available, Stoffel Vandoorne would have been the first choice but for multiple Formula E races for the next two weeks. I could see Esteban Gutierrez getting the drive than the other two. I could even see former Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin getting the drive as-well.
Also, I doubt that Pérez will not race 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Siverstone in a weeks time as-well if not the Spanish Grand Prix in two weeks; the driver who has to replace Pérez might have to race for the next three races altogether.
Anyway, get well soon to Sergio Pérez also stay safe everyone.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone the home of the British Grand Prix, where seven Formula one teams (Mercedes AMG, Red Bull, Williams, McLaren, Force India, Renault, and Haas) and four Formula 1 drivers (Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell and Alexander Albon (despite having a Thai licence, Albon was born in London)) is their home Grand Prix.
So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict Lewis Hamilton for the race win in the Mercedes. Valtteri Bottas second in the other Mercedes, and third place for Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Don't forget Alexander Albon, the Racing Point drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and the McLaren drivers as well for a podium place.
Review of the third round of the 2020 MotoGP season once again at Circuito de Jerez, Jerez in southern Spain.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Petronas Yamaha SRT rider Fabio Quartararo on his Yamaha YZR-M1.
Second was Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Maverick Viñales on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, he was four seconds behind Quartararo at the end. While, third was Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi on his works Yamaha YZR-M1 to complete a Yamaha podium whitewash, he was five and half seconds behind Quartararo at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Italtrans Racing Team rider Enea Bastianini on the Kalex. Second was SKY Racing Team VR46 rider Luca Marini on the Kalex, he was two seconds behind Bastianini at the end. While, third was SKY Racing Team VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi on the Kalex, he was three seconds behind Bastianini at the end.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by SIC58 Squadra Corse rider Tatsuki Suzuki on the Honda. Second was Petronas Sprinta Racing rider John McPhee on the Honda, he he was six hundredths of a second behind Suzuki at the end. While, third was SKY Racing Team VR46 rider Celestino Vietti on the KTM, he he was fourteen hundredths of a second behind Suzuki at the end.
Finally in the MotoE race (a single make class with all the riders riding the Energica Ego MotoE bike), that was won by Dynavolt Intact GP rider Mike Dominique Aegerter. Second was Pons Racing 40 rider Jordi Torres, he was two and half seconds behind Aegerter at the end. While, third was Ongetta Sic58 Squadra Corse rider Mattia Casadei Aegerter, he was four seconds behind Aegerter at the end of the race.
Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi is to return to intensive care after falling into an "unstable" condition.
Zanardi, former Jordan and Williams F1 driver, turned four-time Paralympic gold medallist, was moved to a specialist recovery centre to treat serious head injuries on Tuesday.
It was confirmed on Friday (24/7/20), this seasons Canadian, United States, Mexico City and Brazilian Grand Prix has been all cancelled altogether due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Canadian Grand Prix was set to be the ninth round of the season, on June 14th, United States Grand Prix was set to be the nineteenth round of the season, on October 25th; the Mexico City Grand Prix was set to be the twentieth round of the season, on 1 November 1st; and the Brazilian Grand Prix was set to be the twenty-first round of the season on November 15th.
The race in Canada is off due to country has local restrictions and travel rules that make impossible to hold a race.
While races in United States, Mexico and Brazil cannot be held because the high infection rates rising in the three countries, F1 bosses believe it would be irresponsible to hold races there.
Meaning fourteen of the first twenty-first races originally in Australia, Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Holland, Monaco, Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Singapore, Japan, United States, Mexico and Brazil had already been postponed or called off due to the pandemic.
Coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, that has killed over 630,000 people, with nearly 16,000,000, cases reported.
Meanwhile, this was also confirmed, Formula 1 has added three more races to its 2020 calendar taking the total number of races confirmed so far to 13.
Nurburgring, last time held a Grand Prix since 2013 will host a race as the Eifel Grand Prix (don't know why called it the German, European or Luxenbourg Grand Prix as before) on 11th October
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão on the Algarve, will follow on 25th October as the Portuguese Grand Prix; meant a Grand Prix will be held in Portugal for the first time since 1996.
Then on the 1st November, Imola in Italy will host a Grand Prix for the first time since 2006, as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (why not call it San Marino or Dino Ferrari Grand Prix, its easy!) making it first time since 1982 that three rounds of a Grand Prix season has held in one country.
Meanwhile, the rest of the season is expected to conclude with two races in Bahrain and one in Abu Dhabi in November and December.
And F1 is working on one or two races in Asia in mid-November.
With the Vietnamese Grand Prix in Hanoi, which had been due to make its debut as an F1 venue in April, is expected to hold a race, and there is a strong possibility of a return to Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi has been transferred to a specialist recovery centre a month after suffering serious head injuries in a handbike accident.
Zanardi, former Jordan and Williams F1 driver, turned four-time Paralympic gold medallist, was placed in a medically induced coma and has had three operations at Siena's Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital since the accident during a road race near the Italian city on 19th June 2020.
In a statement, the hospital said Zanardi's sedation had been suspended, allowing him to be transferred.
"The stability of the general clinical conditions and the neurological picture allowed the transfer to a specialised centre for recovery and functional rehabilitation," it said.
Thoughts and Prayers to Alex's family and friends at this moment of time.
Review of the second round of the 2020 MotoGP season at Circuito de Jerez, Jerez in southern Spain.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Petronas Yamaha SRT rider Fabio Quartararo on his Yamaha YZR-M1.
Second was Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Maverick Viñales on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, he was four and half seconds behind Quartararo at the end. While, third was Ducati Team rider Andrea Dovizioso on his works Ducati Desmosedici GP20, he was six seconds behind Quartararo at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by SKY Racing Team VR46 rider Luca Marini on the Kalex. Second was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Tetsuta Nagashima on the Kalex, he was thirteen tenths of a second behind Marini at the end. While, third was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Jorge Martín on the Kalex, he was five seconds behind Marini at the end.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Aspar Team rider Albert Arenas on the KTM. Second was Honda Team Asia rider Ai Ogura on the Honda, he was three tenths of a second behind Arenas at the end of the race. While, third was Rivacold Snipers Team rider Tony Arbolino on the Honda, he was four tenths of a second behind Arenas at the end.
Finally in the MotoE race (a single make class with all the riders riding the Energica Ego MotoE bike), that was won by Avintia Esponsorama Racing rider Eric Granado. Second was Trentino Gresini MotoE and Current MotoE Champion Matteo Ferrari, he was three seconds behind Granado at the end. While, third was Dynavolt Intact GP rider Mike Dominique Aegerter, he was three and half seconds behind Granado at the end of the race.
Review of the third round of the 2020 F1 season at the Hungaroring outside of Budapest, for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The race itself was a good race to watch and an exciting one too. Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton on pole for Sunday's race. At a damp to dry Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton took the lead ahead of both Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll. Just like last week, it was Hamilton's race with no treat from behind to win this seasons Hungarian Grand Prix for Lewis Hamilton's second race win of the season.
While, Max Verstappen finished in second place in the Red Bull despite crashing 30 minutes before the race start, Verstappen was nine seconds behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas finished in third place in the other Mercedes to complete the podium, Bottas was nine and half seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the seventy lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 9
Lewis Hamilton - 10 (pole, race win, fastest lap)
Valtteri Bottas - 8 (finished third)
Ferrari - 6
Sebastian Vettel - 7 (finished sixth, lap down)
Charles Leclerc - 5 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Red Bull Racing - 8
Max Verstappen - 9 (finished second)
Alexander Albon - 8 (finished fifth)
McLaren - 5
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished ninth, lap down)
Lando Norris - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Renault - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 7 (finished eighth, lap down)
Esteban Ocon - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Alpha Tauri: - 6
Daniil Kvyat - 6 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Pierre Gasly - 6 (DNF, Engine)
Racing Point - 8
Sergio Pérez- 7 (finished seventh, lap down)
Lance Stroll - 10 (finished fourth)
Alfa Romeo - 5
Kimi Räikkönen - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Antonio Giovinazzi - 5 (finished seventeenth, lap down)
Haas - 6
Romain Grosjean - 5 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
Kevin Magnussen - 8 (finished tenth, lap down)
Williams - 3
George Russell - 5 (finished eighteenth, lap down)
Nicholas Latifi - 2 (finished nineteenth, five laps down)
Next stop Silverstone, for the British Grand Prix in two weeks time.
Its been five years today that Jules Bianchi has past away from us, from an accident he was competing in the Japanese Grand Prix nine months before his death, were he collided with a recovery vehicle resulting him going into a coma for nine months resulting his death five years ago today.
Today it should be celebrating life and never ever forgetting Jules Bianchi.
Doctors at the hospital treating Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi have begun the process of bringing him out a medically induced coma.
Zanardi, former Jordan and Williams F1 driver, turned four-time Paralympic gold medallist, collided with a lorry during a race in Pienza, Italy, on 19th June 2020.
A statement from the Aou Senese Hospital in Siena where he is being treated said his neurological condition remained “serious” and that it would take “a few days” to complete “further evaluation”.
Zanardi’s prognosis remains confidential and a further update will be issued next week, the statement said.
It was confirmed this afternoon (16/7/20), that Williams F1 team will retain both George Russell and Nicholas Latifi through to the end of the 2021 Formula 1 season, on each an one-year deal.
Overall, a good decision from Williams to keep both George Russell and Nicholas Latifi for next season. With Russell staying at Williams for another season means its more than likely Mercedes will retain both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for another season.
Overall, the right choice for Williams going into 2021.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring outside of Budapest.
So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict Max Verstappen for the race win in the Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton second in the Mercedes and third place for Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes. Don't forget Alexander Albon, the Racing Point drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and the McLaren drivers as well for a podium place.
Review of the second round of the 2020 F1 season at the Red Bull Ring, on the outskirts of Spielberg, Styria, for the Styrian Grand Prix.
Overall the race itself was entertaining race to watch. Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton on pole for Sunday's race after an extremely wet qualifying. At the start of the Styrian Grand Prix, Hamilton took the lead ahead of both Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Just like Bottas from last week, it was Hamilton's race with no treat from behind to win this seasons Styrian Grand Prix for Lewis Hamilton's first race win of the season.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas finished in second place in the Mercedes to complete a Mercedes one-two finish. Bottas was fourteen seconds behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen finished in third place in the Red Bull to complete the podium, Norris was thrity-four seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the seventy-one lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 9
Lewis Hamilton - 10 (pole, race win)
Valtteri Bottas - 8 (finished second)
Ferrari - 4
Sebastian Vettel - 5 (DNF, Collision with Leclerc)
Charles Leclerc - 3 (DNF, Collision damage with Vettel)
Red Bull Racing - 7
Max Verstappen - 8 (finished third)
Alexander Albon - 7 (finished fourth)
McLaren - 8
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 7 (finished ninth, lap down, fastest lap)
Lando Norris - 9 (finished fifth)
Renault - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 7 (finished eighth)
Esteban Ocon - 6 (DNF, Overheating)
Alpha Tauri: - 6
Daniil Kvyat - 7 (finished tenth, lap down)
Pierre Gasly - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Racing Point - 8
Sergio Pérez- 9 (finished sixth)
Lance Stroll - 7 (finished seventh)
Alfa Romeo - 5
Kimi Räikkönen - 6 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Antonio Giovinazzi - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Haas - 5
Romain Grosjean - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Kevin Magnussen - 5 (finished twelfth lap down)
Williams - 4
George Russell - 5 (finished sixteenth, two laps down)
Nicholas Latifi - 4 (finished seventeenth, two laps down)
Next stop the Hungaroring, for the Hungarian Grand Prix in a weeks time.
It was confirmed today (10/7/20), Formula 1 has added two more races to its 2020 calendar taking the total number of races confirmed so far to 10 as it seeks to rebuild the season during the coronavirus crisis.
Mugello, the Ferrari own circuit, more associated stating MotoGP races; will stage its debut Grand Prix on 13th September as the Tuscan Grand Prix, with the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi on 27th September.
F1 bosses are aiming to add further races within the coming days and are said still to be on target for a calendar of 15-18 races this year.
Mugello will be run behind closed doors like the first eight races with participants following guidelines to minimise the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). While Sochi may have fans to attend the race.
Coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, that has killed nearly 560,000 people, with over 12,000,000, cases reported.
It was confirmed yesterday (8/7/20), that former Renault driver Fernando Alonso will race with Renault Sport F1 Team for 2021 season on a two year deal, returning to the sport after two years away, alongside Esteban Ocon, completing the manufacturer's driver line-up for 2021.
Alonso will return to the outfit with whom he won his two World Championships, and for whom he has already driven twice during his career.
He left F1 in 2018 and is due to make a third attempt to win the Indianapolis 500 with McLaren in August.
Alonso move to Renault in 2002 became a test-driver, then promoted as a driver in 2003. In 2003, Alonso became the youngest driver at that time to achieve a Formula One pole position at the Malaysian Grand Prix, while finishing third for his first podium of his career. By the Hungarian Grand Prix that season, Alonso won the race, became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race at that time.
Then in 2005, Alonso won seven Grand Prixs' that season to become F1 World Champion ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, to became the youngest Drivers' Champion at that time at the age of 24 years and 59 days old, breaking Emerson Fittipaldi's record. He also ended the five-year dominance of Michael Schumacher. Then in 2006, Alonso repeated it again winning seven Grand Prixs' and winning 2006 F1 World Title ahead of Michael Schumacher. By the end of 2005, Alonso announced that he would be moving to McLaren for 2007.
Despite winning four Grand Prixs' that season with McLaren, Alonso left the team at the end of the 2007 season despite having two seasons left, after the spy-gate scandal which excluded McLaren from the Constructors' Standings. Alonso opted to return to Renault for 2008, winning two more Grand Prixs' in 2008 includes infamous Singapore Grand Prix where the team won via crash-gate.
With a win-less 2009, Alonso opted to move to Ferrari for 2010. Ending Alonso's six seasons at Renault winning seventeen Grand Prixs' and two Drivers' Titles.
It was Alonso decision to return to Renault at the age of 39, too old for Formula 1? No, Kimi Raikkonen will finish off the season as a 41 years old. Don't forget Michael Schumacher was 41 when he return to Formula 1 in 2010 although wasn't as fast at his first go. `Don't forget that Nigel Mansell won a Grand Prix when he was 41 too back in 1994 he had a second and half off in Indy Car.
Could a Renault Sport Academy driver in Christian Lundgaard or Guanyu Zhou get the drive yes. Renault opted for Alonso for multiple reasons. Is the right choice? time will tell.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Styrian Grand Prix back at the Red Bull Ring on the outskirts of Spielberg, Styria. The home Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing.
So Predictions for the race, for the win I predict Max Verstappen for the race win in the Red Bull, Alexander Albon second in the other Red Bull, and third place for Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes. Don't forget Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari drivers, the McLaren drivers, and the Racing Point drivers as well for a podium place.
Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi has had a third operation as a result of the severe head injuries he suffered in a hand cycle accident.
Zanardi, former Jordan and Williams F1 driver, turned four-time Paralympic gold medallist, collided with a lorry during a race in Pienza, Italy, on 19th June 2020.
A hospital statement said his remained "severe" and he is sedated and ventilated in intensive care.
Zanardi's cardio-respiratory and metabolic condition is "stable", a hospital statement said.
The statement described the cranial and facial fractures Zanardi had suffered as "complex".
The operation "required careful programming that made use of computerised, digital and three-dimensional technologies, made to measure for the patient," according to Professor Paolo Gennaro, director of maxillofacial surgery at Siena University Hospital.
The statement added that the next update on Zanardi would be "issued as soon as there are significant changes in the athlete's clinical picture".
Thoughts and Prayers to Alex's family and friends at this moment of time.
Review of the first round of the 2020 F1 season at the Red Bull Ring, on the outskirts of Spielberg, Styria, for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Overall the race itself was enjoyable and entertaining race to watch possibly the best race of the season despite its the first race of the season. Valtteri Bottas on pole for Sunday's race. At the start of the Austrian Grand Prix, Bottas took the lead ahead of both Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
Despite two Safety car periods in the race and chaos behind him, it was Bottas race with no treat from behind despite gearbox issues for the last part of the race to win this seasons Austrian Grand Prix for Valtteri Bottas's first race win of the season.
Meanwhile, Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton finished in second place in the Mercedes to complete a Mercedes one-two finish. However, Hamilton has been given a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Alexander Albon on lap 61 fighting for second, resulting him to finish in fourth place.
That meant Charles Leclerc finished in second place in the Ferrari, Leclerc was three seconds behind Bottas at the end.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris finished in third place in the McLaren to complete the podium, Norris was five seconds behind Bottas at the end of the seventy-one lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 7 (finished fourth)
Valtteri Bottas - 10 (pole, race win)
Ferrari - 6
Sebastian Vettel - 5 (finished tenth)
Charles Leclerc - 8 (finished second)
Red Bull Racing - 7
Max Verstappen - 7 (DNF, Electronics)
Alexander Albon - 8 (finished thirteenth/DNF, four laps down/Electronics)
McLaren - 9
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 8 (finished fifth)
Lando Norris - 10 (finished third)
Renault - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 6 (DNF, Overheating)
Esteban Ocon - 7 (finished eighth)
Alpha Tauri: - 7
Daniil Kvyat - 7 (finished twelfth/DNF, four laps down/Puncture)
Pierre Gasly - 7 (finished seventh)
Racing Point - 7
Sergio Pérez- 7 (finished sixth)
Lance Stroll - 7 (DNF, Engine)
Alfa Romeo - 6
Kimi Räikkönen - 6 (DNF, Wheel)
Antonio Giovinazzi - 6 (finished ninth)
I thought this might never happen this season, Formula 1 has re-starts again. Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring (formally the A1-Ring) on the outskirts of Spielberg, Styria. The home Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing.
So Predictions for the race, for the win I predict Max Verstappen for the race win in the Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton second in the Mercedes, and third place for Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes. Don't forget Alexander Albon, the Ferrari drivers, the McLaren drivers, and the Racing Point drivers as well for a podium place.
