", Team boss Andreas Seidl stressed: "Once again, the competition is looking very tight between the teams. 18th April 2021, 12:27 | Written by Dieter Rencken and Keith Collantine. Are Red Bull finally set to take on Merc. 2020 Race Report. But he added: "Everyone knows they're going to be quick". Bahrain International Circuit. He took ninth overall, half a second off eighth-place team mate Pierre Gasly who ran in the morning. Just two of the things Sky F1's David Croft will be … F1 Testing: David Croft selects five things he's looking out for as 2021 pre-season starts in Bahrain - Flipboard Flipboard Home Described as "metronomic" and "incredible" with his consistency by Sky F1's Karun Chandhok, Alonso gave Alpine, who opted not to join their midfield rivals in true performance runs, just what they wanted from their pre-season - laps and lots and lots of data. Share. They therefore arrived in Bahrain well prepared and it quickly showed out on track and on the stopwatch with both Lando Norris and new star signing Daniel Ricciardo. Tap to unmute. 2021 F1 pre-season testing day three in pictures F1 pictures Posted on . It doesn't seem to be such a disadvantage.". ð¬ "We're not quick enough at the moment but I have every faith in the team. Formula 1 pre-season testing is set to take place at Barcelona next year across March 2-4. Not only did Carlos Sainz clock the third-fastest time late on Sunday; not only are both Sainz and Charles Leclerc happy with the new car's handling; but Ferrari believe they are finally finding speed on the straights again - the crippling weakness during their worst season in four decades last year. In any case, they were still ahead of Mercedes and not far behind McLaren on mileage. As well as impressively intricate floor detail following the sport's change in regulations to reduce rear downforce, the car's innovative diffuser design proved the technical talking points of the test. Lap Record. "Things have gone well," acknowledged Lando Norris. Perez on Super League: We're doing this to save football. McLaren also turned heads with an innovative new diffuser design at testing, where the new MCL35M showed promising pace, particularly on the long runs, compared to F1's expected title-challengers. I want to say we're maybe a little more confident than we were last year. F1 Another driver to certainly look out for - and at the other end of F1's age spectrum - is Yuki Tsunoda, who was frequently lighting the timing boards up purple on Sunday evening in AlphaTauri's handy AT02. Martin Brundle is a former F1 driver himself, no less, having raced in 158 Grand Prix. "They don't imagine they're faster than Red Bull or Mercedes, but they think they're closer - much closer than previous seasons," said Kravitz. There is nothing about this in 2021 … Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free. "It's going to be a great long battle with them through the year.". Two years after he was last a Formula 1 driver and, perhaps even more impressively, less than a month after fracturing his jaw in a cycling accident, Fernando Alonso settled seamlessly back into the sport at testing. 14th March 2021, 8:47 14th March 2021, 21:24 | Written by Keith Collantine A Meme Review of the F1 2021 Pre-Season testing. F1 Info. Formula 1’s shortest pre-season in years is done and dusted, with teams enjoying just three days of running to get their cars in shape for the 2021 campaign. "Overall I'm positive," concluded Vettel, who continues to acclimatise to his new team and car. 5.412 km. :)I'm not the owner of the footage used in this video. Sky previously broadcast pre-season action in 2013 when they first secured live rights, but have not done so since. Don't miss a second. Although Formula 1 themselves have yet to officially confirm the news, both Simon Lazenby and Ted Kravitz announced details to viewers watching Sky's coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. "They're looking strong," said Lewis Hamilton, who uncharacteristically spun his Mercedes twice in three sessions, of Red Bull. Upgraded with the renowned 2020 Mercedes rear suspension, while using their development token spend on chassis changes, Aston Martin nonetheless clearly didn't complete as much mileage with the AMR21 as they would have liked. And Mercedes most certainly haven't done that. 2004. Circuit Length. 12th March 2021, 7:36 13th March 2021, 6:31 | Written by Keith Collantine. Recapping a busy and sand-swept day in Bahrain as F1 cars finally returned to the track for the first time in 2021 Speaking about seven-time world champions Mercedes and their struggle to start F1 2021, Norris admitted that the car looked "nothing special" and said the team didn't look "quite as comfortable". Get up to speed with everything you need to know about F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2021, which takes place at the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, on March 12-14. âAn honest and open debrief with Lewis after a tough three days of testing in Bahrain ð pic.twitter.com/pKwokp0MI6, "Having seen them win the last race [in 2020], you can only assume they're going to be right there, if not at the front, of the first race [of 2021]," continued Hamilton. The build up to the 2021 Formula 1 season starts in earnest next week as teams head to Bahrain for pre-season testing for the first time. Race Distance. Last year there was a March offer of SKY Sports F1 for a rolling monthly £10 for 12 months. Watch later. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton brought out the red flag during the morning session of testing on day 2 in Bahrain, after spinning his car at turn 13, beaching the W12 in the process, The talk and possibly the envy of the paddock this year is McLaren's rear diffuser, an interpretation that's come about due to revised design rules at the rear of the car. Ferrari have provided major storylines in testing for the past two years; in 2019 because of how fast they were, and in 2020 because of how surprisingly slow they were. The 2021 Pre-season test (officially the Formula 1 Aramco Pre-season Testing 2021) was the pre-season test ahead of the 2021 Formula One Season, staged at the Bahrain International Circuit between 12 to 14 March 2021. F1 announced today it will add a new round of the … "In terms of starting off with a good step and on the right foot, I think we've managed to do that and we have some good things to work on when we come back in two weeks.". "I think if we look at our speed, it has certainly improved compared to last year relative to the competitors. Ferrari, as mentioned, will also be aiming to be a more competitive force within this closely-matched pack. "I genuinely think this is the first time since the start of the V6 hybrid era where if Max put it on pole and won the first race, it wouldn't be a shock," commented Sky F1's Karun Chandhok. First Grand Prix. Date published: January 12 2021 With the first F1 race of 2021 now in Bahrain on March 28, pre-season testing has been switched to Sakhir from Barcelona. "The lower fuel work was a more confusing picture, we didn't gain enough and we need to go and look at our approach as far too many cars were ahead of us on pace today. Sebastian Vettel, their blockbuster winter arrival, completed the fewest laps of any race driver (117) although said that "given the hiccups we had" the laps count was "more than we expected". McLaren’s ability to consistently feature in the top half of the time sheets in every session showed the team is ready to take the fight to leaders Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in 2021. The two… "We love challenges and this definitely is a challenge for us!" Upgrade to Sky F1 for £18 extra a month. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free. More images will be added here . Using the links above you can find the full test schedule, plus the latest news headlines, circuit information and testing … The talk and possibly envy of the paddock this year is McLaren's rear diffuser, an interpretation that's come about due to revised design rules at the rear of the car. Pictures from the first day of testing for the 2021 F1 season at the Bahrain International Circuit. We've had issues in recent years with pace in winter testing and managed to make good progress before the first race but we may have our work cut out this time.". "Probably it's impossible to say because we didn't conclude all the running to really compare in terms of performance with others but it looks to be very tight and hopefully we'll be in the mix and have some fun.". "I'm not saying it's expected, but they're going to be in the fight, I think.". The full return of the Aston Martin name to Formula 1 has been one of the big, feel-good stories of the year so far and expectations are that the former Racing Point team will build on the strong foundations of last year, when they won a race and took the fight with McLaren for third in the standings all the way to the final race. For 2021 that is down to just a single three-day test. Another driver to certainly look out for - … This isn't to say Mercedes - whose long runs were much more competitive than their low-fuel laps - and Red Bull's contrasting three days means the pecking order will be flipped once the season commences in two weeks. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, stated that "it's great to see McLaren looking strong" - with the testing form hinting they have not just built on third place last year, but also may have closed in on Mercedes and Red Bull. In this special edition of Ted's Testing Notebook, Ted Kravitz and Martin Brundle reflect on the life of motorsport commentator Murray Walker and round up the final day of testing in Bahrain. Hi, Off the back of 18 months with full SKY Q incl multiroom/Sport/Cinema etc and a big price hike we have reverted to new entertainment bundle UHD and HD only. Max Verstappen tops final test as Lewis Hamilton spins again. Virtual Lap. Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' trackside engineering director, put it like this: "We can see from the data we've collected over the last few days that on race pace, we're not as quick as Red Bull. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton will look to make history in 2021 and break Michael Schumacher’s record number of World Championships, but early signs from pre-season testing suggest Red Bull could run the all-dominant Mercedes team very close. "Red Bull are looking particularly strong, and it's great to see McLaren also looking strong, also Alpine. Upgrade to Sky F1 for £18 extra a month. The two-time world champion insists he's driving better now than he ever has before - and there's no reason to disbelieve him. Mind games? 2022 F1 season Posted on . But what hadn't been shown in any great pictorial detail at either the launch, or the filming day, was the rear of the car - and now it's clear why. Number of Laps . But while they weren't particularly high on the final timesheets, McLaren - who topped two of the three morning sessions - enjoyed a smooth and inconspicuously fast test to suggest they are the midfield team to beat once the season begins on March 28 at the same Bahrain circuit. Live coverage of Formula 1 pre-season testing will return in 2020, broadcaster Sky Sports has confirmed after a successful outing earlier this year. Hamilton was not just talking about the impressive, planted RB16B car or Max Verstappen, who pumped in the fastest time of the test late on Sunday, but also Sergio Perez, the new signing who seems to have settled in well. McLaren, coming off the back of their best F1 campaign since 2012 (Hamilton's last season with the team) in 2020, were wary of being overtaken by their rivals over the winter, having largely concentrated their off-season work on integrating a new Mercedes engine. Watch every race live, only on Sky Sports F1. But Red Bull couldn't have asked for a much better test. Ab der Saison 2021 zeigt Sky das komplette Formel-1-Wochenende live und exklusiv in Deutschland, auch in Ultra HD. Quite where in the midfield Aston Martin will find themselves on the season's first grid remains uncertain, particularly with McLaren looking strong and AlphaTauri, second quickest on the final day, appearing to make a clear step forward with a fast and consistent car. All ten entrants to the 2021 season took part. Perez on Super League: We're doing this to save football. Mar 10, 2021, 8:52 AM Formula 1 teams will be on-track together the first time in 2021 this week with the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain. "They're going to be a different animal this year.". I'm excited as that means more fun.". News. The team's lap count was compromised by technical problems across the weekend with a gearbox issue on Saturday and turbo problems on Sunday. "Mercedes have got very high standards for themselves, and by their standards, it hasn't been a good test," said Sky F1's Martin Brundle of the Brackley team, who - not helped by a gearbox glitch on Day One - finished bottom of the lap count and struggled to optimise the balance of the new W12 car described as "snappy" and "unforgiving" by their drivers. Lando Norris insists McLaren's pre-season test wasn't "perfect" but admits the iconic Formula 1 team are heading into 2021 with even more confidence than last year after an … Lando Norris insists McLaren's pre-season test wasn't "perfect" but admits the iconic Formula 1 team are heading into 2021 with even more confidence than last year after an encouraging three days in Bahrain. It's impossible to say whether Ferrari, whose engine also appeared reliable with Alfa Romeo joint top of the mileage charts, will be higher up the grid come the season-opening Bahrain GP, but this was a step in the right direction. The addition of the Miami Grand Prix to the 2022 Formula 1 calendar will not expand the schedule beyond its current record 23 races, the championship’s CEO Stefano Domenicali has said. AlphaTauri's productive day continued with rookie Yuki Tsunoda making his pre-season testing debut in the Honda-powered AT02. "It's difficult to know what everyone's doing but we can be confident, we have a decent car," said Norris, the 20-year-old British driver. "Without doubt it is quite impressive to see the speed of some of the other teams," said Hamilton. Super League explainer: Impact on PL, CL, Euros, transfers? Formula 1 2021 should be more competitive - with Red Bull in the mix - and there may even be a pecking order "reset", says Martin Brundle on Sky Sports F1's big preview ahead of this weekend's pre-season testing. Possibly. But what we can surmise from testing is that it should be a lot closer between F1's top two. The Spanish circuit has hosted all or part of pre-season testing since 2015, but was at risk of being replaced by Bahrain’s Sakhir track for a reduced three-day schedule for 2021. Pre-season testing for the 2021 F1 season is likely to consist of a single three-day session in Bahrain. Shopping. Vrbo | Win VR This Is Book Early | 15s | Combo. Klopp still opposes Super League | Neville: Klopp has destroyed owners, Neville: 'Scavengers' Glazers need to leave Man Utd, Chelsea, Real & Man City could be thrown out from CL - Danish FA, Brundle: Why Russell should've seen the bigger picture, F1 Testing: What we learned as Red Bull hint at Mercedes 2021 battle, and McLaren continue momentum. Hamilton, the seven-time champion and former McLaren driver, certainly didn't enjoy his usual start to the season with Mercedes suffering reliability issues as well as a lack of balance in their W12 car, highlighted by two uncharacteristic spins for Hamilton over the three days of testing. He then told Sky F1: "I think it's gone well. But what you do expect from an F1 juggernaut that has been relentlessly fast and polished over the last seven seasons is for them to hit the ground running. Daniel Ricciardo set the pace for our first morning session of pre-season testing in Bahrain #F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/OVVGihp6XS — Formula 1 (@F1) March 12, 2021 F1 pictures. 2021 pre-season testing day one in pictures F1 pictures Posted on . N/A km. Alfa Romeo and Williams too both appear upwardly-mobile. As F1's most famous team accept it will take time to fight their way back from the midfield towards the front, 2021 was always going to be a quieter pre-season. Seasons 1 and 2 of the hit Netflix original 'Drive to Survive' are on Sky Sports F1 from Sunday - one of the big stars of the series, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner, explains all about it. Don't miss a second. Sakhir When was the track built? Super League explainer: Impact on PL, CL, Euros, transfers? Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free. Klopp still opposes Super League | Neville: Klopp has destroyed owners, Neville: 'Scavengers' Glazers need to leave Man Utd, Chelsea, Real & Man City could be thrown out from CL - Danish FA, Brundle: Why Russell should've seen the bigger picture, McLaren buoyed by strong start to F1 2021 at pre-season testing, as they catch Lewis Hamilton's eye. Pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain next weekend, and Sky Sports F1 will be broadcasting all the action live from the paddock. Carry-over cars they may be in Formula 1 this year, but McLaren had more reason to be cautious than most over the winter, given they've faced the not-insurmountable task of integrating a brand new Mercedes engine into a chassis originally designed for a Renault powertrain well over a year ago. Top 5 Testing Takeaways | F1 TV Tech Talk | 2021 Pre-Season Testing - YouTube. "I want to say we're a little bit more confident than we were last year. Upgrade to Sky F1 for £18 extra a month. The stability of the regulations makes it likely that we're in for another close season of Formula 1, with plenty of battles ahead.". They were out on track with the new MCL35M for a Silverstone shakedown as early as mid-February - two weeks before Ferrari's car was even launched, for instance - but any worries about reliability were quickly dispelled. Copyright: Sky Sports F1Formula One Management (FOM) About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features © 2021 … Keine Werbepausen während der Rennaction. F1 Testing verdict: Red Bull finally set to take on Mercedes? 13th March 2021, 8:26 13th March 2021, 16:03 | Written by Keith Collantine. Alpine have looked fantastically reliable, if not yet revealing any obvious headline-grabbing pace. Pictures from the second day of testing for the 2021 F1 season at the Bahrain International Circuit. McLaren, as you'd expect, are staying cautious - but there appears to be optimism about what lies ahead in 2021. Bahrain International Circuit. Red Bull, meanwhile, so often playing catch-up to start their title challenges with either reliability or handling issues, have enjoyed what is probably their most successful F1 testing since the Mercedes streak began. READ MORE: Alonso to race with titanium plates in jaw in 2021 – but says performance will be unaffected Watch every race live, only on Sky Sports F1. Sky will air four hours of testing live per day for the first test event. "We have things to work on for sure, not everything's perfect, but I'm happy and excited to get started.". Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, Bahrain, 201. News. Destination Guide. "They don't imagine they're faster than Red Bull or Mercedes, but they think they're close - much closer than previous seasons," said Sky F1's Ted Kravitz, who stated that McLaren were "sitting pretty". Watch our promo for the 2021 Formula 1 season, when all 23 races will be live on Sky Sports F1. Norris has been joined at McLaren by seven-time F1 race-winner Daniel Ricciardo for 2021. In general, Sky F1's Ted Kravitz believes McLaren are "really are sitting pretty" heading towards the first race and a season when their target is further closing the gap to the top two teams. More images will be added here . Watch our promo for the 2021 Formula 1 season, when all 23 races will be live on Sky Sports F1. 1:31.447 Pedro de la Rosa (2005) 360 Video. Report: 2021 pre-season test could move to Bahrain Date published: January 5 2021 If the 2021 season-opening Australian Grand Prix is postponed, then pre-season testing could move to Bahrain. "There's something fiery about him, I like him," said Brundle of the rookie, who will become the first driver to have been born in the 21st century to start a race in two weeks' time. 2021 F1 pre-season testing day two in pictures F1 pictures Posted on . Copy link. Mercedes don't always light up the timesheets at pre-season testing - even before their most dominant of F1 campaigns - so to see the world champions finish in Bahrain as the fifth fastest team isn't a particular surprise, or cause for concern. It looks as though Mercedes' rivals might be closing in, and Hamilton highlighted McLaren's performance when addressing the media on Sunday afternoon. Formula 1 Aramco Pre-season Testing 2021. There's no early sign they have broken out of that middle pack but testing still provided reasons to be positive for the Scuderia. UK-based Formula 1 fans will have the opportunity to watch pre-season testing live ahead of the 2019 season after Sky Sports confirmed the action from Barcelona will be aired. N/A. Watch our promo for the 2021 Formula 1 season, when all 23 races will be live on Sky Sports F1. "We said it was important for us to address the speed on the straight and that's not only engine power, it's the drag of the car," said Mattia Binotto.