Howdy sports fans!
The Formula One news cycle is generally quiet this time of the year, the teams are busy preparing their new cars and lots of working is being done at the factories but they won’t want to share much of that of course so they don’t give other teams an advantage, fair enough.
This year though, with the many driver changes, a new team, a newish calendar (covid enforced), there are plenty of stories to sink our teeth into (or eyes even).
One of the ongoing stories is that Lewis Hamilton still hasn’t put pen to paper on a new contract with Mercedes. Negotiations are ongoing between Toto Wolff and the British driver and they say they hope to have pen to paper before the season opener in Bahrain (you’d hope).
So today I’m going to take you through some of the stories of the week.
Carlos Sainz drives the Ferrari for the first time
Carlos Sainz got his first laps in the red of Ferrari this week and said it was a “special moment” as the Spaniard tested the 2018 Ferrari SF71H at Fiorano.
Sainz drove the car on Wednesday and Thursday morning completing more than 100 laps on Tuesday before a seat fit at the factory on Wednesday.
Charles Leclerc also tested the car at alternate hours during the five day test.
Morning run ☀️@Carlossainz55 #essereFerrari🔴 pic.twitter.com/Fch8yns1Qo
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) January 28, 2021
The five-day test saw Mick Schumacher (Haas) take the wheel on Thursday afternoon with Callum Ilott drove on Friday
Earlier in the week Giuliano Alesi (Jean Alesi’s son), Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman began the test.
Look who’s here 🤩 Ciao Mick!@SchumacherMick #FDA @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/z5oAIycuR6
— Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy (@insideFDA) January 28, 2021
Sebastian Vettel arrives at Aston Martin to begin working with them
As Carlos Sainz has joined Ferrari, it meant that world champion Sebastian Vettel was let go by the team and signed up with Aston Martin.
Aston Martin of course raced last year as Racing Point and Sergio Perez vacated the seat in the team and has been snapped up by Red Bull at the expense of Alex Albon.
Sebastian will be joined in the team by Lance Stroll who’s father Laurence Stroll is an owner of the team.
The Aston Martin name returns to Formula 1 in a works capacity for the first time in over 60 years.
And the team weren’t long in teasing fans with some footage of the German arriving at the factory in England.
Ladies and Gentlemen… Seb has entered the building. 🤩 #WelcomeSeb
[No, seriously… that’s literally the video.] #IAMF1 pic.twitter.com/Ajhj1ePI9Z
— Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) January 26, 2021
There’s also some footage of Sebastian getting his seat fit.
Things you love to se[at]. 😍 #WelcomeSeb#IAMF1 pic.twitter.com/vWfBMlYZwW
— Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) January 27, 2021
Jenson Button signs with Williams as an advisor
On Friday last, Williams announced that Jenson Button was rejoining the team as a senior advisor.
The 2009 World Champion will work with the legendary British team to try and bring them forward from the back of the grid.
Speaking about the move to Sky Sports F1, Jenson said: “I’ve really enjoyed getting back into F1 and seeing it change over the last few years. So this felt like the perfect moment to rejoin Williams – a team that gave me so many opportunities when I started my career in F1 – they gave me the drive, they nurtured me through that year, and it really was a very special year for me,” Button told Sky Sports F1.
“So this feels the right time to rejoin the team, and I’m excited about working with them to help this team back to the front. I think there’s a new sense of optimism, there’s a lot of changes, I think a lot of positive changes for the future.”
Jenson made his debut with Williams in 2000 becoming the youngest British F1 driver.
“Jenson Button Portrait” by Chris Bailey Photographer is licensed under CC by-nc-nd-2.0 
2021 F1 Grand Prix start times confirmed
The start times for each of the confirmed races for the 2021 F1 calendar were announced this week with races once again starting on the hour instead of ten minutes past.
The season gets underway in Bahrain on March 26th and this year the free practice sessions have been reduced from 90 minutes to 60.
Race start times – 2021
| GRAND PRIX | DATE | Local Time | UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | March 28 | 1800 | 1500 |
| Italy – Imola | April 18 | 1500 | 1300 |
| TBC | May 2 | TBC | TBC |
| Spain | May 9 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Monaco | May 23 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Azerbaijan | June 6 | 1600 | 1200 |
| Canada | June 13 | 1400 | 1800 |
| France | June 27 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Austria | July 4 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Great Britain | July 18 | 1500 | 1400 |
| Hungary | August 1 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Belgium | August 29 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Netherlands | September 5 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Italy – Monza | September 12 | 1500 | 1300 |
| Russia | September 26 | 1500 | 1200 |
| Singapore | October 3 | 2000 | 1200 |
| Japan | October 10 | 1400 | 0500 |
| United States | October 24 | 1400 | 1900 |
| Mexico | October 31 | 1300 | 1900 |
| Brazil | November 7 | 1400 | 1700 |
| Australia | November 21 | 1700 | 0600 |
| Saudi Arabia | December 5 | 1900 | 1600 |
| Abu Dhabi | December 12 | 1700 | 1300 |
Adrian Campos passes away
Former Formula 1 driver and Formula 2 team owner Adrian Campos passed away at the age of 60
Adrian was a key part of many young drivers’ careers, giving the likes of Fernando Alonso their break into Formula One with his team Minardi.
Campos made his own F1 racing debut with Minardi in 1987 and did part of the 1988 season, but after failing to qualify for three races he left the team.
He then went into team management and gained entry to F1 for the 2010 season.
“One of the saddest days for the motorsport family,” said Fernando Alonso on social media.
Adrián Campos ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/Ghwa74LM2a
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) January 28, 2021
McLaren announce launch date for their 2021 car
McLaren are the second team to set the launch date for their 2021 F1 car.
The Woking based team will unveil their MCL35M on February 15th at 7pm GMT.
It’s a big year for the team, they finished up third in the constructors championship last season and they have switched engine suppliers now too moving from Renault back to their old friends Mercedes.
They’ve a new driver this year too with Daniel Ricciardo joining Lando Norris after Carlos Sainz signed for Ferrari.
They fired up the car on January 27th and shared a teaser on social media.
The #MCL35M roars into life. 🔊🔥
Watch on and listen in as we fire up our 2021 car for the first time… pic.twitter.com/v504FVupEX
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 27, 2021
