It was confirmed on Wednesday (28/4/21), this seasons Canadian Grand Prix has been officially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Canadian Grand Prix was set to be the seventh round of the season, on June 13th. The race is off due to country has local restrictions and travel rules that make impossible to hold a race, similar reason to last seasons race to be called off.
Making it the first race to be cancelled this season due to the pandemic.
Coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, that has killed over 3,100,000 people, with nearly 150,000,000, cases reported.
Meanwhile, the race has been already replace by the Turkish Grand Prix on June 13th. Turkish Grand Prix returned to the calendar after a 9-year absence in 2020 with Sir Lewis Hamilton winning the race and winning the Drivers' Title as-well.
This Friday coming up (30/4/21) and Saturday (1/5/21) it will be 27 years that Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna has past away from us, from the accidents at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 were Ratzenberger crashed his Simtek at Villenunve in Qualifying and Senna crashed his Williams at Tumbrello in the race itself. Both would have been 61 this year if there still around today. So for this post remembering both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.
The sport has change since their deaths, with the safety of both cars and tracks to improve safety year after year. So never forget Ayrton and Roland, both are still missed throughout the world of motor-racing in general.
Predictions for this weekends Portuguese Grand Prix at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, on the outskirts of Portimão.
So Predictions for the race, for the win I predict Sir Lewis Hamilton for the race win in the Mercedes, Max Verstappen second in the Red Bull, and third place for Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes. Don't forget Sergio Pérez, the McLaren drivers, the Aston Martin drivers, the Alpine drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and Pierre Gasly as-well for a podium place.
It was announced yesterday (16/4/2021) that Formula 1's will try out shorter 'sprint' races for this seasons British and Italian Grand Prix and yet to announced race (Brazil is the likely race).
The planned F1 sprint race weekend will look like:
Qualifying will move to Friday, set the grid for the sprint race.
Sprint race will be shorter race around 100km/62 miles (around 17 laps for Silverstone and Monza).
Points will be awarded to the top three finishers (three for first, two for second and one for third).
Sprint race race results will set the grid for Sundays Grand Prix.
Overall, could this format work, who knows only why to know is to find out. The reason for the 'Sprint' races to introduce is to expand the weekend for 2022, usually Friday is really a test-day, if it gives Friday meaning. Could the sprint races work, if its going to work those races needs overtaking to make it work. My only change would like to see the top five get points rather than the top three.
My final thought this is, qualifying moved to Friday (no changes there, so no ranting there), no change for Sundays Grand Prix, think of Saturdays sprint race as a get a Grand Prix and get a third of a Grand Prix for free for more drama to the races hopefully.
Review of Round Three of the 2020-21 Formula E season held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, for two races that weekend.
On Saturday's race, that was won by Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team driver Nyck de Vries in his Spark-Mercedes. Second was Dragon-Penske Autosport driver Nico Müller in his Spark-Penske, he was thirteen seconds behind de Vries in the end. Meanwhile, third was Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team driver Stoffel Vandoorne in his Spark-Mercedes, he was thirty-five seconds behind de Vries in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
On Sunday's race, that was won by BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-BMW. Second was TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver André Lotterer in his Spark-Porsche, he was fifteen tenths of a second behind Dennis in the end. Meanwhile, third was Mahindra Racing driver Alex Lynn in his Spark-Mahindra, he was two and half seconds behind Dennis in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Four of the 2020-21 Formula E World Championship season at Circuit de Monaco, Monaco for the Monaco ePrix in two weeks time.
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round 3 of Croatia Rally.
Last weekend was round three of the 2021 World Rally Championship at the Croatia Rally (22nd–25th April), that was won by Current WRC Champion Sébastien Ogier in his works Toyota Yaris WRC.
While, Elfyn Evans finished second in his works Toyota Yaris WRC. Evans was only six tenths of a second behind Ogier at the end of the rally. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville finished third in the works Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, Neuville was eight seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Group R5 specifications), that was won by TRT World Rally Team driver and Current WRC-2 Champion Mads Østberg in his Citroën C3 Rally2. Mads Østberg finished in ninth place overall, he was ten minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Open to privately-entered cars; Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Kajetan Kajetanowicz in his own backed Škoda Fabia R5 Evo. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished in eleventh place overall, he was twelve minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in Junior-WRC class (Competing in identical one-litre Ford Fiesta R2s built and maintained by M-Sport) that was won by Jon Armstrong. Jon Armstrong finished in eighteenth place overall, he was twenty-four minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Next stop, Round Four of the 2021 WRC season for Rally de Portugal in four weeks time.
Review of the third round of the 2021 MotoGP season at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, on the outskirts of Portimão for the for the Portugal GP.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that race was won by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo on his works Yamaha YZR-M1.
Second was Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia on his works Ducati Desmosedici GP21, he was four and half seconds behind Quartararo at the end. While, third was Team Suzuki Ecstar rider and Current MotoGP Champion Joan Mir on his works Suzuki GSX-RR, he was five seconds behind Quartararo at the end of the race.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-three four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Raúl Fernández on the Kalex. Second was Inde Aspar Team rider Arón Canet on the Boscoscuro, he was sixteen tenths of a second behind Fernández at the end of the race. While, third was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Remy Gardner on the Kalex, he was two seconds behind Fernández at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Pedro Acosta on the KTM. Second was Leopard Racing rider Dennis Foggia on the Honda, he was five hundredths of a second behind Acosta at the end of the race. While, third was Rivacold Snipers Team rider Andrea Migno on the Honda, he was a half a second behind Acosta at the end of the race.
It will be the second Formula 1 event in the USA in a season, following on from the United States Grand Prix in Austin, which joined the calendar in 2012.
Review of the second round of the 2021 F1 season held at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, for the Dino Ferrari, Italian, San Marino, Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Overall, the race itself was an enjoyable race to watch from start to finish. Current Formula 1 World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton on pole for Sunday's race. In a wet to dry Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, it was Max Verstappen who took the lead at the start and stayed there to the end.
The main drama in the race was the heavy crash between George Russell and Valtteri Bottas on lap thirty-one on the main straight going to Tamburello, forcing a red flag to the race.
At the restart, Verstappen kept the lead to the end to win this seasons Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for Max Verstappen's first Grand Prix win of the season.
Meanwhile, Sir Lewis Hamilton finished in second place in the Mercedes despite being lapped after went off at Tosa while fighting for the lead, Hamilton was twenty-two seconds behind Verstappen at the end.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris finished in third place in the Mercedes to complete the podium, Norris was twenty-four seconds behind Verstappen at the end of the sixty-three lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 7
Sir Lewis Hamilton - 9 (pole, finished second, fastest lap)
Valtteri Bottas - 5 (DNF, Collision with Russell)
Red Bull Racing - 7
Max Verstappen - 10 (race win)
Sergio Pérez - 5 (finished eleventh)
McLaren - 8
Daniel Ricciardo - 6 (finished sixth)
Lando Norris - 10 (finished third)
Aston Martin - 6
Sebastian Vettel - 5 (finished fifteenth, two laps down)
Lance Stroll - 7 (finished eighth)
Alpine - 6
Fernando Alonso - 6 (finished tenth)
Esteban Ocon - 7 (finished ninth)
Ferrari - 8
Charles Leclerc - 9 (finished fourth)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 8 (finished fifth)
Predictions for this weekends Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (the previous name Dino Ferrari/Italian/San Marino Grand Prix would have worked better) at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy, the home Grand Prix for both Ferrari and AlphaTauri teams and home Grand Prix for Antonio Giovinazzi.
So Predictions for the race, for the win I predict Max Verstappen for the race win in the Red Bull, Sir Lewis Hamilton second in the Mercedes, and third place for Daniel Ricciardo in the McLaren. Don't forget Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris, Sergio Pérez, the Aston Martin drivers, the Alpine drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and the AlphaTauri drivers as-well for a podium place.
Review of Round Two of the 2020-21 Formula E season held at the Circuto Cittadino dell'EUR in Rome, Italy, for two races that weekend.
On Saturday's race, that was won by DS Techeetah driver Jean-Éric Vergne in his Spark-DS. Second was Jaguar Racing driver Sam Bird in his Spark-Jaguar, he was four tenths of a second behind Vergne in the end. Meanwhile, third was Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans in his Spark-Jaguar, he was seven tenths of a second behind Vergne in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
On Sunday's race, that was won by Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team driver Stoffel Vandoorne in his Spark-Mercedes. Second was Mahindra Racing driver Alexander Sims in his Spark-Mahindra, he was seven tenths of a second behind Vandoorne in the end. Meanwhile, third was TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver Pascal Wehrlein in his Spark-Porsche, he was two seconds behind Vandoorne in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Three of the 2020-21 Formula E World Championship season at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain for the Valencia ePrix in two weeks time.
It was announced on Friday (9/4/21), restructuring of its senior management positions at Mercedes, as Mike Elliott becomes its new Technical Director, and James Allison taking on a newly-defined role within the team.
Allison has been Mercedes’ Formula 1 Technical Director since 2017 but will take on the position of Chief Technical Officer later in the year
Allison’s role will be taken by Elliott, who joined Mercedes in 2012, following prior roles at McLaren and Renault.
Elliott has spent time as Mercedes’ Head of Aerodynamics and since 2017 has been its Technology Director.
It was announce yesterday (8/4/21) that former Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg will be Aston Martin's reserve driver during the 2021 season.
Hulkenberg made three outings with Racing Point (now Aston Martin) in 2020 as a stand-in for Sergio Perez at both Silverstone rounds and for Lance Stroll at the Nurburgring.
Hulkenberg will be the reserve driver as back up to Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll at Aston Martin this season.
Hulkenberg finished fifteenth in the Formula 1 drivers' standings last season, best result of seventh place at Silverstone II.
(New for 2021) Review of Round One of the 2021 Extreme E Championship season was the Desert X-Prix, at Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia.
In Qualifying, Team X44 lead qualifying with the team of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez.
In the Semi-Final race that was won by Rosberg X Racing with the team of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor. Second was Team X44 with the team of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez, they were twenty-nine seconds behind the leaders in the end. While, third was Acciona/Sainz XE Team with the team of Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz, they were sixty-six seconds behind the leaders in the end.
In the Crazy Race that was won by Andretti United Extreme E with the team of Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings. Second was Hispano-Suiza Xite Energy Team with the team of Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca, they were thirty seconds behind the leaders in the end. While, third was JBXE with the team of Jenson Button
and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, they were sixty-six seconds behind the leaders in the end.
In the Final race, Rosberg X Racing took the race win with the team of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor. Second was Andretti United Extreme E with the team of Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings, they were twenty-four seconds behind the leaders in the end. While, third was Team X44 with the team of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez, they were ninty-eight seconds behind the leaders in the end.
Next stop Ocean X-Prix at Lac Rose, Senegal for Round Two of the 2021 Extreme E Championship season in eight weeks time.
Review of the second round of the 2021 MotoGP season at Losail, Doha in Qatar for MotoGP's second night race of the season.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that race was won by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo on his works Yamaha YZR-M1.
Second was Pramac Racing rider Johann Zarco on his Ducati Desmosedici GP21, he was fourteen tenths of a second behind Quartararo at the end. While, third was Pramac Racing rider Jorge Martín on his Ducati Desmosedici GP21, he was fifteen tenths of a second behind Quartararo at the end of the race.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-three four-stroke class), that race was won by Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Sam Lowes on the Kalex. Second was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Remy Gardner on the Kalex, he was two tenths of a second behind Lowes at the end of the race. While, third was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Raúl Fernández on the Kalex, he was three seconds behind Lowes at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Pedro Acosta on the KTM. Second was Petronas Sprinta Racing rider Darryn Binder on the Honda, he was four hundredths of a second behind Acosta at the end of the race. While, third was Avintia Esponsorama Moto3 rider Niccolò Antonelli on the KTM, he was a half a second behind Acosta at the end of the race.
