March 2021

Porsche and parent company the Volkswagen Group are considering entering Formula 1. Any move depends on the direction of the sport’s next engine regulations, which are due to be introduced in 2025. Porsche Motorsport vice-president Fritz Enzinger told BBC Sport: “It would be of great interest if aspects of sustainability – for instance, the implementation of e-fuels – play a role in this. “Should these aspects be confirmed, we will evaluate them in detail within the VW Group and discuss further steps.” E-fuels are carbon-neutral fuels that can power internal combustion engines without the environmental impact of traditional fossil fuels. They come in a number of forms, including bio-fuels, which are made from bio-mass, and synthetic fuels, which are manufactured by an industrial process that captures carbon from the atmosphere. F1 has committed to making e-fuels a central part of the sport from 2025. Senior F1 figures say Porsche has been involved in the discussion around the new engine rules. Enzinger said: “Porsche and Volkswagen AG are observing the constantly changing regulations in all relevant racing series around the world. This is also the case with regard to the emerging new engine and drivetrain regulation for Formula 1 from 2025.” Talks between relevant parties over the new F1 rules have moved on to the detail of regulations, which are part of a wider plan for the sport to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2030. Enzinger said Porsche and VW were “currently not actively represented in these forums”.

Sebastian Vettel is convinced he can win another Formula One title with his new Aston Martin team. The four-times world champion has also delivered a cutting barb to Ferrari, his former team, by praising the work ethic at Aston Martin, who launched their car on Wednesday, marking the British manufacturer’s return to F1 after a 61-year absence. Vettel was told he would be dropped by Ferrari before last season began and went on to endure the worst season of his career. He struggled with the car and finished 13th. The German has signed with Aston Martin, formerly known as Force India and Racing Point, and has embraced the challenge ahead: succeeding with a smaller but decidedly ambitious outfit. “The team is still growing and things are different here,” he said. “It is not about the fancy looks or the expensive, designer chairs in the office but more about the work done behind the scenes and from what I have seen the people are very capable and very talented. Its the first time in the last one or two years that they are getting the oxygen to breathe.” Vettel won his four titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 and came close with Ferrari in 2017 and 2018 but was beaten by Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. There was speculation the 33-year-old might retire but he remains motivated and believes he has moved on from the travails of last season. “It’s not a secret that at stages last year I was not at my happiest, I know it wasn’t to my standards but I am very much at peace with it,” he said. “This year I am very much looking forwards. “I think I have another world championship in me. It has been in me before and it was a big relief winning the first one and knowing you can do it. Since then, I don’t see why it is not there any more. I am not too old and I still have a long time in me.” Vettel struggled with the rear instability of the Ferrari last year but is likely to be far more comfortable with the low-rake design philosophy of his Mercedes-influenced car that offers the stability he prefers. He also has the full-backing of Szafnauer, who is confident Vettel remains a potent force in F1. “I’ve always said, and will continue to say so, at 33 years old you don’t forget how to drive a Formula One car fast,” said the team principal. “We will work hard to make sure the car is to his liking and the setup is like he wants it.”

Aston Martin will kick off their 2021 season on Thursday, with both Sebastian Vettel & Lance Stroll driving the AMR21 at Silverstone. Having launched their 2021 car, the AMR21, on Wednesday, Aston Martin will bring along their new car to Silverstone on Thursday. Both race drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will have the chance to drive the car over the course of 100 kilometres of track time, as the team shake down their new car. Filming days are obstensibly marketing days for teams to get on-track imagery and footage of their current car on track. Equipped with specially designated Pirelli tyres and with the mileage limit, teams aren’t able to use these two permitted days as development tests. But they do serve well as a means for teams to carry out shakedowns ahead of the crucial on track tests, with 2021’s official pre-season testing getting underway in Bahrain on the 12th of March. While largely an evolution of last year’s Racing Point RP20, the new Aston Martin features an all-new chassis, as Technical Director Andrew Green outlined some of the lessons they’ve learned from last year and taken into this season. “2021 is going to be a tough battle and it’s probably going to be a very close fight with small margins making the difference – like it was at the end of 2020, if not closer.” said Green. “We want to show what we’re capable of delivering, weekend in and weekend out: consistency is going to be the key for us.” “Last year, it was a new car with a completely different development philosophy, and it was always going to take time to realise the car’s full potential. In Formula One you never stop learning, and over the years we’ve learnt a lot. The AMR21 is an expression of that never-ending learning curve. With the 2021 car being closely related to 2020, we should start the new campaign with a much better understanding and we can aim even higher again.” “With Vettel getting his first drive of one of the team’s cars on Thursday after his high profile departure from Ferrari after six years, Green says his signing underlines Aston’s growing credibility within the sport: “Having Sebastian in the team is a massive statement and again it shows how far we’ve come in the past few years to attract a driver of his experience and ability. “He’s already driven the car in the simulator and the feedback was promising and insightful. Sebastian’s experience and knowledge is exactly what we as a team need right now. It’s incredibly exciting to have a four-time World Champion working with us as part of the team.” “On the other side of the garage, Lance continues to impress and he’s still only 22. Every time he drives the car, he climbs out of it with a little more experience, and experience is crucial to any driver. And now he has a four-time World Champion as a team-mate, so, like every single one of us, he’s going to be able to benefit from the different perspective that Sebastian will bring. Lance is extremely talented, make no mistake about that. He delivered some truly superb drives last season. Now, as he gains more experience – and as he learns from Seb, as we all will – I’m sure he’ll build on the form he established in 2020 and deliver even more in 2021.”

Aston Martin has launched its 2021 challenger, the AMR21, marking its return to Formula One after over six decades. As part of the team’s rebrand from Racing Point to Aston Martin, their 2021 car has a radically different livery to its predecessor, with them switching out pink for British racing green. However, as BWT will continue to sponsor the team this upcoming season, the car has accents of pink and features a number of BWT logos, in addition to the logo of their new title sponsor, Cognizant. Speaking during the car’s unveiling, team owner and Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll said they are looking to make “real progress” over the coming seasons. “We have the pieces, partners and experience in place to make real progress in Formula One,” Stroll said. “I have dreamed about this day for a very long time. I have always been a car guy, since I was a child. I have always loved racing, too. “My first dream was to own a Formula One team. My second dream was to acquire a significant shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda. “Today is about the merging of those two dreams. So, as I say, today is all about dreams, and it shows that dreams really can come true, in the shape of our new AMR21. “Aston Martin returning to Formula One after an absence of 61 years will have a powerful effect on the sport, the media and the fans, commanding global attention,” he added. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll, who is entering his third season with the team, said he is aiming for them to finish at least third in the 2021 Constructors’ Championship after they missed out on P3 last season despite having the third-fastest car. “I think we can accomplish that this year, if not more,” the 22-year-old said. Sebastian Vettel joined Aston Martin from Ferrari at the end of 2020, and the four-time World Champion is clearly optimistic about the future of his new team. “Even though I have raced for four Formula One teams and for many years, starting a new season with a new team still gives me a sense of excitement,” Vettel said. “As a driver, I have always kept my eye on the competition and this team has consistently impressed me with what they have been able to do without the biggest of budgets. “So, when Lawrence [Stroll] and Otmar [Szafnauer] approached me last year, and explained what their ambitions were, I was immediately very motivated to join the team. “I love the history of motor racing and Aston Martin is one of the great names of the past, so it is fun to be part of their return to Formula One after an absence of 61 years. “Having visited the factory and met the senior people as well as my engineers and mechanics, I can see they are a really good group. “I feel confident that, by the support Lawrence brings together with the Aston Martin name, we will make real progress together,” the German added. Stroll and Vettel will give the AMR21 its initial shakedown during a filming day on Thursday, before putting the car through its paces in pre-season testing in Bahrain later this month.

Alpine took their first Formula 1 challenger to Silverstone for a filming day. In a virtual launch event Alpine revealed the A521, which honours its French heritage with a predominantly blue livery, featuring splashes of red and white. Esteban Ocon, one half of Alpine’s 2021 driver line-up, took part in the virtual launch and then got the chance to drive the A521 for the first time on Wednesday. Fernando Alonso, who returns to Formula 1 to partner Ocon, was unable to take part in the A521 launch event due to his altered schedule that was brought about by a cycling accident. Silverstone set the scene then for Ocon to take the vibrant A521 onto a race track for the first time, and even under the grey, misty Northamptonshire skies it looked sublime! The A521 could be heard in the distance as the Alpine crew headed to the fence, and it wasn’t long before Ocon came into sight and powered down the straight. Ocon completed 100km of running, the amount which teams are restricted to in official filming days for their current challengers. After struggling in the early stages of the 2020 campaign upon returning to Formula 1, Ocon went some way to disproving the critics as the season progressed. The second-half of the season was a far stronger showing for the Frenchman after being off the pace of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the early rounds, and his P2 finish at the Sakhir Grand Prix was the perfect way to crown that progression. That momentum needs to continue into 2021 with Ocon’s Alpine deal up at the end of the year, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that Ocon remains in his thoughts for 2022. Nonetheless, Ocon’s full focus is on Alpine. “I’m an Alpine driver, fully committed to the plan of the team and the challenges that are inside here, Ocon is quoted by RacingNews365.com. “My goal is to make the team improve, and at some point get the result that we want, which is fighting for wins in the future.”

Aston Martin finally announces its car on Wednesday. The AMR21 should ensure more podiums and perhaps even victories with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll behind the wheel. The iconic Aston Martin brand will finally return to Formula 1 in 2021 after a brief stint in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Lawrence Stroll has transformed Racing Point into the legendary name. When we see the team’s new merchandise, we can expect a dark green car, as Aston Martin often uses in racing. The curtain comes off the car at 15:00 GMT.

Former AlphaTauri driver Daniil Kvyat has been nominated by the Alpine Formula 1 Team as their reserve driver. The Russian was replaced by Formula 2 driver Yuki Tsunoda in AlphaTauri for the 2021 F1 season. The 26-year-old has been in Formula 1 for six seasons with AlphaTauri, Toro Rosso and Red Bull having a total of 110 race starts, 202 points, 3 podiums and one fastest lap in his F1 career. As part of the Red Bull Junior Programme, Kvyat demonstrated his talent in junior categories, taking the GP3 title in 2013 and Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS crown in 2012. “Throughout his career, Daniil has forged a reputation as a very quick driver,” said Alpine CEO, Laurent Rossi, “but has also shown great resilience. “We are pleased to have yet another determined and talented driver in our ranks as we make our first F1 campaign as Alpine F1 Team.” “I am very excited to join the Alpine family,” said Kvyat. “The team has achieved some great results in the past year and is very technologically advanced. “Development has been strong, and I am aiming to contribute to this positive trend. I will try to bring my experience on and off track to help develop the A521 and future cars as well. “As a reserve driver you need to keep sharp and I look forward to integrating into the team in several different areas.”

Alpine has revealed the first livery of its post-Renault era, and the car two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will drive on his comeback.

Mercedes Formula E driver Nyck de Vries has been nominated as one of Mercedes F1 reserve drivers for the 2021 season. De Vries will be joining his teammate at Mercedes Formula E team, Stoffel Vandoorne who also has the same reserve role with the F1 champions. The 2019 Formula 2 Champion got a chance with Mercedes following his F2 championship victory and joined the Mercedes Formula E team for the 2019-20 FE Championship. The 26-year-old scored his maiden Formula E victory last weekend in Diriyah after dominating throughout the whole race. Mercedes F1 Team had previously given the reserve driver role to former Mclaren F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez who was a former Haas driver. Mercedes revealed this during the launch of their 2021 F1 car, the W12 and stated that de Vries will be joining them for the reserve driver role in their 2021 campaign. “We also have a strong reserve driver line-up for the 2021 season, with Stoffel Vandoorne continuing in the role alongside his Mercedes teammate in Formula E, Nyck de Vries.” This marks a first official F1 role for de Vries, who previously only served as a development driver with McLaren when he was part of its young driver academy. De Vries enjoyed his first F1 test at the end of last year when he took part in the Abu Dhabi rookie test at Yas Marina for Mercedes, running alongside Vandoorne. Gutierrez has not been listed as part of Mercedes’ line-up for the coming year, but it emerged last summer that his superlicence had expired, making him ineligible to race in F1.

Formula 1 will be having sparkling wine replacing champagne for the podium. This is after F1 made a deal with Italian winemaker Ferrari Trento making it the official F1 drinks partner for the podiums and paddock club. This will be not the first time that Ferrari Trento will feature on the podium as it previously made an appearance on the podium during the 1981 Italian Grand Prix. “We are thrilled to announce Ferrari Trento as an official Partner of Formula 1,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said. “Celebrating success is in both our DNA and having Ferrari Trento at the heart of the sport’s most iconic celebratory moment makes them such a natural partner for us. “For more than a century, Ferrari Trento has been synonymous with Italian excellency, pouring their passion into creating fine sparkling wines capable of elevating any moment, and we look forward to working together to create and enhance our fan experience on and off the podium.” Ferrari Trento CEO Matteo Lunelli added: “We are very excited to announce this partnership with Formula 1 which is both an achievement and a starting point for us. It’s an achievement because it demonstrates the renown and the appeal that Ferrari Trento wines enjoy internationally, thanks to our team that works tirelessly across the board.