Formula One 2021.

[Cleoriff]

So the new season will start in March and Australia was planned as usual to be the opening track. Now it looks set to be cancelled. (March 21st)

I have heard via someone who lives in Australia that although Covid related, nothing to do with that per se. More due to the fact, they are not prepared to run it without spectators. It's a street circuit and they make millions from the fans and ticket prices.

I'm inclined to agree with that. The Covid Bubble teams have put in place seemed to work well, 3 drivers out of 20 catching a mild dose and 3 team staff...

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/formula-1-season-opener-in-australia-set-for-postponement/4935595... 

It means that the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for 28 March now looks poised to become the 2021 season opener.

[Cleoriff]

---

@jonsie wrote:

Lewis will have to make do with his knighthood on Wednesday...

---

Well it would have been much better had he been able to go with his 'never been achieved' 8th WDC @jonsie 

Which he would have got had the stewards and race director not made up their own rules 2 laps from the end!!!

[Cleoriff]

Good article here from Motorsport.com. Explains the other rule that Masi broke. If you have a safety car and you allow the backmarkers to unlap, then the safety car comes in at the end of the NEXT lap (which was lap 58 and the race would have been timed out and Lewis would be the winner)  But Masi wanted a race to the finish. So the cars unlapped on lap 57 and then he called the safety car in on the same lap!

To make it fair to both drivers, he should have red flagged the race, given both drivers  the chance to change tyres and then let them race to the finish.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/why-masis-latest-marginal-call-has-left-f1-with-a-sour-taste/6880... 

[Cleoriff]

SIR LEWIS HAMILTON being knighted at Windsor Castle today.

[Cleoriff]

Mercedes have announced they will drop their court appeal. The FIA have promised a shake up of the system.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes-announces-it-has-dropped-appeal-into-f1-2021-finale/ 

[Cleoriff]

The tweet

[gmarkj]

Very classy of Merc to say that. Not sure I would be so poetic if I got denied a win like Lewis did!

[Cleoriff]

I will always feel it's a hollow victory for Max @gmarkj 

Of course, he has told the world that he will run with the number 1 on his car next year.

Make the most of it Max. Next year there will be another WDC. It wont be you.

[jonsie]

Sir Lewis EIGHT times WDC

[pgn]

(You have to say it out loud with a Belfast twang 🤣)

Hanx Verstappen = "Thanks for stopping" as you'd say to taxi driver in a thick Belfast accent.

[Cleoriff]

---

@pgn wrote:

(You have to say it out loud with a Belfast twang 🤣)

Hanx Verstappen = "Thanks for stopping" as you'd say to taxi driver in a thick Belfast accent.

---

Love it @pgn 😂