Formula 1

[Domh245]

It's a shame really - Alonso is, to be honest, well past his prime. Plenty of talent in the junior series who could (and should) be getting that seat!

 

[LOL The Irony]

So Fernando Alonso is to make his return to F1 and Renault next year according to various souces

Fernando Alonso set for 2021 F1 return at Renault

www.motorsport.com

Alonso to return to F1 in 2021

Spanish two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is set to return to Formula 1 with Renault next year.

www.bbc.co.uk

Might make things interesting depending on how Renault manage to develop this year's car in comparison to their rivals.

Aaaaaand dumbest signing of 2020 goes to Renault & Cyril Abiteboul!

 

[Non Multi]

It's good for the series promoter, Liberty as he's still a household name. Vettel will probably walk away this year, so that would have been another big name gone. The viewing figures have been down a bit in Spain since he left to do Indy, sportscars and rally raid.

Ocon/Alonso is a good pairing of youth and experience provided it doesn't turn sour.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Alonso is, to be honest, well past his prime.

No he's not, it's just he's been in a very poor car for many years. Dragging that McLaren into the points showed talent, but it's easy to dismiss finishing 9th as no big deal.

I imagine he'll be back to dragging a crap car around the bottom part of the midfield. No wonder Ricciardo couldn't wait to leave.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Should've been Hulkenberg to keep the seat warm until Zhou is ready.

 

[Darandio]

Surprising to see many comments here and elsewhere about him being past his prime or that a younger driver should have taken the seat alongside Ocon. This is all about building towards the regulation change in 2022, his experience will be vital to that, it's not an untested way to go about it and has been very successful in the past.

 

[D365]

I've always been a Benson & Hedges man - Niki Lauda used to drive in a Jordan Peugeot emblazoned with the B&H Livery.

Is there a joke here that I'm missing?

 

[RichJF]

Surprising to see many comments here and elsewhere about him being past his prime or that a younger driver should have taken the seat alongside Ocon. This is all about building towards the regulation change in 2022, his experience will be vital to that, it's not an untested way to go about it and has been very successful in the past.

Renault need a stable/reliable/experienced driver to go through the regulation changes in 2022 & Alonso ticks the box & has worked with some of the staff still there at Renault.
In 2023 I would expect Alonso to retire & Zhou to move into his seat.

Also... Mugello to host an F1 race for the first time. Italian double-header! https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/...-f1-race-calendar.2tpfQ80LAax8Q0j0OIxdct.html

 

[KashmireHawker]

Sergio Perez has tested POSITIVE for COVID and is out of this weekend's British Grand Prix and one would presume next weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix - both at Silverstone.

Racing Point will confirm ASAP who will step in.

 

[PG]

Sergio Perez has tested POSITIVE for COVID and is out of this weekend's British Grand Prix and one would presume next weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix - both at Silverstone.

Racing Point will confirm ASAP who will step in.

Wonder if that affects anyone else in his mini-bubble? e.g. engineers, trainer etc

 

[PG]

This page on the BBC Sport website contains the following link, though following the link goes to a story of Perez testing positive with no mention of the 'inconclusive' test.

I wonder what counts as 'inconclusive'?

term, in the next two or three years.”

• Perez returns 'inconclusive' Covid test
• F1 to continue anti-racism protests
• Silverstone set for 'super weird' British Grand Prix
• British Grand Prix: BBC coverage details

Hamilton said the enforced break caused

 

[D365]

Wonder if that affects anyone else in his mini-bubble? e.g. engineers, trainer etc

Team personnel don’t tend to share a bubble with drivers from what I have read.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Hulkenberg has replaced Perez for at least the next 2 rounds. He did pretty well for himself considering it's his first time in an F1 car for over 8 months.

 

[D365]

Hulkenberg has replaced Perez for at least the next 2 rounds. He did pretty well for himself considering it's his first time in an F1 car for over 8 months.

Seconded. Arrived into the Silverstone paddock with ten minutes to spare. And unlike the regular drivers who have also enjoyed time off, he hasn't taken part in any form of testing since leaving Renault.

 

[KashmireHawker]

Hulkenberg has replaced Perez for at least the next 2 rounds. He did pretty well for himself considering it's his first time in an F1 car for over 8 months.

9th in FP1 and 7th in FP2 confirms Nico was the correct choice and with the speed of Lance Stroll yesterday, the Pink Panthers I think are on for a big points haul tomorrow.

Qualy with rain this afternoon, could throw some spanner’s in the works!

 

[D365]

9th in FP1 and 7th in FP2 confirms Nico was the correct choice and with the speed of Lance Stroll yesterday, the Pink Arrows I think are on for a big points haul tomorrow.

Dare I say I fixed that for you?

(Tongue firmly in cheek)

 

[Domh245]

Well, next week will be interesting with Pirelli bringing a step softer tyres all round!

 

[alex17595]

Just as I was falling asleep as well

 

[Ashley Hill]

Ended up having to watch a race this afternoon in my local (they wouldn't put the snooker on). Apart from Penelope Pitstop who else who drives a pink car?

 

[306024]

Apart from Penelope Pitstop else who drives a pink car?

Parker.

(Lady Penelope’s chauffeur in Thunderbirds)

 

[Ashley Hill]

Yes M'lady

 

[D365]

Apart from Penelope Pitstop who else who drives a pink car?

Nico Hülkenberg definitely doesn’t

 

[Howardh]

Interesting that the burst tyres were put on during the safety car, maybe two or three laps sooner than they should have been? Red Bull were a bit daft, Max's late performances suggested the tyres were OK and as soon as Bottas blew, there was always a chance Hamilton would too, a greater chance of that than Verstappen's blowing IMO. Think the temptation of an extra point for the fastest lap had a lot to do with it. Chance to make the championship more interesting, er, blown there!

Next week, same course, different tyres, commentators suggest a three-stopper.

 

[PG]

I wonder what counts as 'inconclusive'?

To sort of answer my own question
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/53621542

Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer has said Perez's first test was on Wednesday, and at that point the requirement for people testing positive in the UK was to isolate only for seven days - which would make him available for the next race if he tests negative this coming week.

The advice changed on Thursday - when Perez had his second and confirmatory positive test - to 10 days' isolation, which would automatically put him out of the next race.

The team's position is that the Wednesday test was described as "inconclusive" mainly because the FIA has the facility to offer a quick re-test, and that by national standards the Wednesday test would have been and is regarded as a positive result.

So apparently a positive test is (in F1) inconclusive until you have two successive positive tests!

Nico Hülkenberg definitely doesn’t

Hopefully the Hulk will at least get to start the race next week! Really he deserves a seat more than that numpty Grosjean for example.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Hopefully the Hulk will at least get to start the race next week! Really he deserves a seat more than that numpty Grosjean for example.

I agree 100%. Renault should've gone with him instead of our favorite team ruiner Alonso. If Haas do boot Grosjean/he leaves, and Hulk doesn't want to bankrupt them this time, he's your man. Another option is Alfa Romeo since it's most likely that Kimi will leave but that rides on a Ferrari junior not getting the seat.

 

[D365]

Another option is Alfa Romeo since it's most likely that Kimi will leave but that rides on a Ferrari junior not getting the seat.

As much as it pains me to say this, Giovinazzi isn’t exactly doing a lot anyway. Schwartzmann is the logical choice but unless he smashes the F2 this year I think they’ll want the publicity from the Schumacher name.

Either way, I doubt AlfaSauber (as Ted calls it) would want to give up a second seat for Ferrari, unless some heavy incentives are involved.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Giovinazzi isn’t exactly doing a lot anyway.

Gio has been a massive let down for the team.

Schwartzmann is the logical choice but unless he smashes the F2 this year I think they’ll want the publicity from the Schumacher name.

Schwartzmann would be my only logical choice. Bringing Mick into F1 now would just turn him into another Bruno Senna.

On the Hulk front, an outsider for him next season is Racing Point (soon to be Aston Martin). If some miracle happens and there's seat there next season, he's the obvious choice. I'm ruling Seb out now, after the last few races, I think he's mentally checked out of the sport.

 

[Howardh]

Breaking news, McLaren have just signed a three-year contract with Robin Reliant to provide the cars.

 

[Westcountryman]

Breaking news, McLaren have just signed a three-year contract with Robin Reliant to provide the cars.

Reliant Robin, please

 

[LOL The Irony]

Breaking news, McLaren have just signed a three-year contract with Robin Reliant to provide the cars.

Eh?