Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

As expected, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirmed that the F1 and the MotoGP races won't go ahead in the final quarter of this year as planned. The F1 race had already been moved from March to mid-November. The move follows failed talks with health officials at state and federal government level over how to bring personnel, including riders and drivers, through Australia's strict closed border. The idea of a biosphere was floated, at least for the Albert Park F1 race, but failed. Even bringing personnel through hotel quarantine would have been difficult due to a recent cap on new arrivals in response to the highly-transmissible Delta strain of COVID-19. Both short-cutting quarantine and utilising the supervised hotel-based system would have been difficult sells on a PR front too, given so many Australians are still unable to return home. "We understand this is not the news MotoGP and Formula 1 fans wanted to hear", said AGPC CEO Andrew Westacott. "I would like to extend my thanks to the Victorian Government, Formula 1 and Dorna Sports for their unwavering resilience and support during this challenging period, and for their ongoing commitment to these two great events. "There are bound to be ongoing challenges with COVID-19, but I want to reassure fans that while there is sadness and disappointment amongst our wonderful AGPC staff there is a tenacity and determination to make sure the next episodes of MotoGP at the Island and Formula 1 at the new Albert Park layout are sensational showcases of how we do things in Victoria".

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 9 RACES :

1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 180 points
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 150 points
3. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 104 points
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 101 points
5. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 92 points
6. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 62 points
7. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 60 points
8. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 40 points
9. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 39 points
10. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 30 points
11. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 20 points
12. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 14 points
13. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 12 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 9 points
15. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo & Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 9 RACES :

1. Red Bull 286 points
2. Mercedes 242 points
3. McLaren 141 points
4. Ferrari 122 points
5. Alpha Tauri 48 points
6. Aston Martin 44 points
7. Alpine 32 points
8. Alfa Romeo 2 points

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 8 RACES :

1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 156 points
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 138 points
3. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 96 points
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 86 points
5. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 74 points
6. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 58 points
7. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 50 points
8. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 37 points
9. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 34 points
10. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 30 points
11. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 19 points
12. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 14 points
13. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 12 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 9 points
15. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo & Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 8 RACES :

1. Red Bull 252 points
2. Mercedes 212 points
3. McLaren 120 points
4. Ferrari 108 points
5. Alpha Tauri 46 points
6. Aston Martin 44 points
7. Alpine 31 points
8. Alfa Romeo 2 points

Formula 1 have announced that the Turkish Grand Prix will return to the calendar this season, with the race at Istanbul Park set to take place in early October, on the weekend originally scheduled to host the Singapore Grand Prix. Following the news that the Marina Bay race cannot go ahead as planned on October 3rd, F1 will instead be racing around Intercity Istanbul Park, the circuit where Lewis Hamilton clinched his seventh World Championship title last year. Earlier this season the Turkish Grand Prix was removed from the calendar due to international travel restrictions but at the time the promoter had requested the potential to re-join the calendar later in the season if possible. A statement from F1 said: "After discussions with other promoters we are confident that we will be able to travel to the following race under our strict safety protocols. "The Formula 1 community will continue to travel this season with stringent safety measures that has allowed us to travel safely this season. So far this season we have conducted over 44,000 tests with 27, positive cases a rate of 0.06%, with most coming during the earlier part of the season. "Alongside this a significant proportion of the F1 community has been vaccinated already and we are confident that all will have had the opportunity to do so by the end of the summer. We will continue to operate in a way that protects the safety of our personnel and the communities we visit".

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 7 RACES :

1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 131 points
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 119 points
3. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 84 points
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 76 points
5. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 59 points
6. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 52 points
7. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 42 points
8. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 37 points
9. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 34 points
10. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 30 points
11. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 17 points
12. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 12 points
13. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 10 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 8 points
15. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo & Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 7 RACES :

1. Red Bull 215 points
2. Mercedes 178 points
3. McLaren 110 points
4. Ferrari 94 points
5. Alpha Tauri 45 points
6. Aston Martin 40 points
7. Alpine 29 points
8. Alfa Romeo 2 points

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 6 RACES :

1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 106 points
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 101 points
3. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 69 points
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 66 points
5. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 52 points
6. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 47 points
7. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 42 points
8. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 31 points
9. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 28 points
10. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 26 points
11. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 13 points
12. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 12 points
13. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 9 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 8 points
15. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo & Kimi Raikkone FIN Alfa Romeo 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 6 RACES :

1. Red Bull 175 points
2. Mercedes 148 points
3. Ferrari 94 points
4. McLaren 92 points
5. Alpha Tauri 39 points
6. Aston Martin 37 points
7. Alpine 25 points
8. Alfa Romeo 2 points

This year's Singapore Grand Prix has been cancelled because of Coronavirus restrictions, with Formula 1 now looking at alternative options as a replacement. Authorities in Singapore have decided that it is not possible to go ahead with the race while travel limitations remain in place. With the city state having kept tight control in restricting the spread of coronavirus thanks to strict entry rules, it was felt that opening up for thousands of people to attend the night race was not possible. A statement issued by Singapore organisers said the decision to cancel the event for the second year running had not been easy, but ultimately it would not have been right to push on. Colin Syn, deputy chairman of the Singapore GP, said: “We understand that our fans were looking forward to another edition of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. To cancel the event for a second year is an incredibly difficult decision, but a necessary one in light of the prevailing restrictions for live events in Singapore. “We would not be able to deliver a full event experience fans have come to expect over the years, while safeguarding the health and safety of our fans, contractors, volunteers and staff. Ultimately, we have to be responsible, cautious and prudent as safety is our number one concern.”

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 5 RACES :

1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 105 points
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 101 points
3. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 56 points
4. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 47 points
5. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 44 points
6. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 40 points
7. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 38 points
8. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 24 points
9. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 16 points
10. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 12 points
11. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 10 points
12. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 9 points
13. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 5 points
14. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 2 points
15. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 5 RACES :

1. Red Bull 149 points
2. Mercedes 148 points
3. McLaren 80 points
4. Ferrari 78 points
5. Aston Martin 19 points
6. Alpha Tauri 18 points
7. Alpine 17 points
8. Alfa Romeo 1 point

Formula 1's early-summer schedule has been reshuffled with the Turkish GP withdrawn from its planned June slot and a second race in Austria added later in the month as part of the latest change to the 2021 calendar. A Turkish round at Istanbul planned for June 13 was only added to the schedule two weeks ago as a replacement for the Canadian GP, which was itself called off due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. But with Turkey added to the Government's travel "red list" last Friday, plans had to be redrawn again by the UK-based sport and, as a result, the Istanbul event is now unable to take place on that date either. While there will no longer be a race on the weekend of June 11-13, the French GP will move forward from its original slot by one week to June 18-20 for the first leg of a newly-created triple-header. F1 will then head straight to Austria for a consecutive races at the "Red Bull Ring". The Styrian GP on June 25-27 will be followed by the Austrian GP on its original date of July 2-4.

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 4 RACES :

1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 94 points
2. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 80 points
3. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 47 points
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 41 points
5. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 40 points
6. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 32 points
7. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 24 points
8. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 20 points
9. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 10 points
10. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 8 points
11. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin & Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 5 points
13. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 2 points

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 4 RACES :

1. Mercedes 141 points
2. Red Bull 112 points
3. McLaren 65 points
4. Ferrari 60 points
5. Alpine 15 points
6. Alpha Tauri 10 points
7. Aston Martin 5 points

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 3 RACES :

1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 69 points
2. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 61 points
3. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 37 points
4. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 32 points
5. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 28 points
6. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 22 points
7. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 16 points
8. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 14 points
9. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin & Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 7 points
11. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 5 points
12. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 4 points
13. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 2 points

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 3 RACES :

1. Mercedes 101 points
2. Red Bull 83 points
3. McLaren 53 points
4. Ferrari 42 points
5. Alpine 11 points
6. Aston Martin & Alpha Tauri 7 points

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 2 RACES :

1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 44 points
2. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 43 points
3. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 27 points
4. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 20 points
5. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 16 points
6. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren & Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 14 points
7. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 10 points
8. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 7 points
9. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 4 points
10. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri, Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo 2 points
12. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 2 RACES :

1. Mercedes 60 points
2. Red Bull 53 points
3. McLaren 41 points
4. Ferrari 34 points
5. Aston Martin 7 points
6. Alpha Tauri 6 points
7. Alfa Romeo 2 points
8. Alpine 1 point

[hidden image - please register]

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 1 RACE :

1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 25 points
2. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 18 points
3. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes 15 points
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 12 points
5. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 10 points
6. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 8 points
7. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 6 points
8. Carlos Sainz jr. ESP Ferrari 4 points
9. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 2 points
10. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 1 point

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 1 RACE :

1. Mercedes 40 points
2. Red Bull 28 points
3. McLaren 18 points
4. Ferrari 12 points
5. Alpha Tauri 2 points
6. Aston Martin 1 point

Formula 1 has revealed a revised calendar for the 2021 season. The F1 schedule retains a record 23 races, but the 2021 season will now start a week later with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28, with the Australian Grand Prix moving later in the year. Due to the ongoing travel restrictions in place the 2021 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place on its planned date, with Imola returning to the F1 calendar in that slot. Discussions with the promoter and authorities in China are ongoing, with the potential to reschedule the race later in the season if possible. The TBC race in the calendar will be announced in due course and will take place on the new date of 2nd May. The updated 2021 F1 race calendar now looks as follows :

28 March – Bahrain (Sakhir)
18 April - Italy (Imola)
2 May - TBC
9 May – Spain (Barcelona)
23 May – Monaco (Monaco)
6 June – Azerbaijan (Baku)
13 June – Canada (Montreal)
27 June – France (Le Castellet)
4 July – Austria (Spielberg)
18 July – United Kingdom (Silverstone)
1 August – Hungary (Budapest)
29 August – Belgium (Spa)
5 September – Netherlands (Zandvoort)
12 September – Italy (Monza)
26 September – Russia (Sochi)
3 October – Singapore (Singapore)
10 October – Japan (Suzuka)
24 October – USA (Austin)
31 October – Mexico (Mexico City)
7 November – Brazil (Sao Paulo)
21 November - Australia (Melbourne)
5 December - Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
12 December - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

A 23-race Formula 1 season, the longest in the sport's 71-year history, has been confirmed by the FIA for 2021. Ratifying the provisional calendar released by F1 last month, the fourth round of the season, originally meant to be Vietnam before the Hanoi event was dropped, remains unconfirmed. Portugal is among the venues strongly thought to be in the running to fill the slot on April 25. F1 is confident of returning to a more "normal" schedule for next year after the coronavirus pandemic saw the 2020 season reduced to 17 rounds in Europe and the Middle East. The sport's usual events in Australia, the Americas and Asia are all scheduled to return, along with a debut on a new street track in Saudi Arabia. The Melbourne event will be followed a week later by Bahrain, which returns to its usual early slot in the calendar after being moved to later this month as part of 2020's revamped roster, and then a two-week gap to China. The British GP at Silverstone is scheduled for July 18 and avoids clashes with both Wimbledon and Euro 2020. After an extra year's wait, the much-anticipated return of the Dutch GP at Zandvoort will now take place at the end of the summer in early September, a week after Spa-Francorchamps in neighbouring Belgium. Belgium and the Netherlands join with Italy to form the first of two consecutive triple headers. Russia, Singapore and Japan are also placed together on consecutive weekends. With the American events back on the planned schedule, Brazil's popular Interlagos has signed a new five-year deal and will run under the Sao Paulo GP name. As previously announced, a new night race in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah will make its debut on November 28. The night-time event will form a season-ending double header with Abu Dhabi, which will close the year on December 5; here' s the complete calendar :

March 21 - GP Australia (Melbourne)
March 28 - GP Bahrain (Sakhir)
April 11 - GP China (Shanghai)
April 25 - GP Vietnam (Hanoi, to be confirmed)
May 9 - GP Spain (Barcelona, subject to promoter agreement)
May 23 - GP Monaco (Montecarlo)
June 6 - GP Azerbaijan (Baku)
June 13 - GP Canada (Montreal)
June 27 - GP France (Le Castellet)
July 4 - GP Austria (Spielberg)
July 18 - GP United Kingdom (Silverstone)
August 1 - GP Hungary (Budapest)
August 29 - GP Belgium (Spa)
September 5 - GP Netherlands (Zandvoort)
September 12 - GP Italy (Monza)
September 26 - GP Russia (Sochi)
October 3 - GP Singapore (Singapore)
October 10 - GP Japan (Suzuka)
October 24 - GP USA (Austin)
October 31 - GP Mexico (Mexico City)
November 14 - GP Sao Paulo (Sao Paulo, subject to circuit homologation)
November 28 - GP Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
December 5 - GP Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)