The 2011 F1 season is almost upon us.
Get ready for the new year with F1 Fanatic’s comprehensive season preview.
Including guides to all the teams and drivers, statistics, interactive maps and lots more across 26 articles.
Teams and drivers
Red Bull
Red Bull start 2011 season as the team to beat – They clinched both championships last year. Can they do it again?
Will Vettel be first driver in five years to keep his title? – Not since 2006 has a driver retained a championship title. Can Vettel buck the trend?
McLaren
McLaren start 2011 with doubts over radical car – Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have dropped hints that all is not well with the new McLaren.
Hamilton and Button: All smiles – for now – The camaraderie between McLaren’s drivers could come under more strain this year.
Ferrari
Ferrari set to resume battle with Red Bull in 2011 – Ferrari should push Red Bull every lap of the way for championship honours in 2011.
Scuderia Ferrari or Team Alonso? – Halfway through 2010 Ferrari threw its weight behind Alonso. Can Massa get back on terms this year?
Mercedes
Changes at Mercedes but concern over W02 – Ross Brawn has admitted Mercedes are looking for a big improvement from their car.
Will the Schumacher comeback project get back on track in 2011? – Schumacher needs progress in the second year of his return.
Renault
Renault turn to Heidfeld after Kubica’s disaster – Nick Heidfeld will lead Renault’s 2011 campaign following Robert Kubica’s crash.
Williams
Williams pin hopes on aggressive car for 2011 – A close look at the FW33 tells you a lot about what’s going on at Williams as they drop Nico Hulkenberg and bring in Pastor Maldonado.
Force India
Force India aim high in fourth season – Improving on last year’s result of seventh looks like a tall order for Force India who’ve lagged among the mid-fielders in testing.
Sauber
Sauber put their faith in young drivers for 2011 – Sauber’s driver line-up recalls their successful pairing of Kimi Raikkonen and Nick Heidfeld who scored the team’s best championship result ten years ago.
Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso drivers under pressure as team seek step forward – Will Toro Rosso make another mid-season driver switch in 2011 with the highly-rated Daniel Ricciardo sitting on the sidelines?
Lotus
Lotus aim to compete in midfield in 2011 – Can Lotus make the transition from new team to midfield contenders and start bringing home points in 2011?
HRT
Hard to see much progress for HRT in 2011 – HRT head into their second F1 season in slightly more promising shape than 12 months ago but once again they haven’t got any testing mileage.
Virgin
Glock doubts Virgin will reach midfield in 2011 – Virgin hope to close the gap to the midfield this year but Timo Glock doubts they’ve done enough.
2011 season preview features
24 drivers, 5 champions and 6,000km of racing – It’s all change in the rules but most teams are sticking with the same drivers for 2011.
Rookies bring three countries back to F1 – Three countries which haven’t had F1 drivers for decades are represented once more in 2011.
Waiting to win: When each F1 driver last won a race – One driver on the 2011 grid has been waiting more than a decade for a win.
Interactive map: The growing F1 calendar, 1950-2011 – See how the F1 calendar has tripled in size since 1950.
How new tyres will change F1 in 2011 – More pit stops and fewer chances to make the cut in qualifying with F1’s new tyres.
DRS: Separating the good from the bad – Don’t be too hasty to write off a change that could add a lot to F1.
Which F1 races are you going to in 2011? – Tell us which races you’re going to and get tips from fans.
The 2011 F1 rules changes at-a-glance – A quick guide to the major rules changes this year.
The 2011 F1 season in 20 questions – Make your predictions on how the 2011 F1 season will unfold.
Pre-season technical review – Guest writer John Beamer reviews the innovations on the 2011 F1 cars revealed so far.
Join in the 2011 F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship
There’s F1 races tickets DVDs and more to be won. Play for free by guessing the top five in each race:
Whatever you’re looking for on the 2011 F1 season throughout the year just hit the menu at the top of the page for more.
Images © Red Bull/Getty images, Pirelli, Ferrari spa, Mercedes GP, Renault/LAT, Williams/LAT, Force India F1 Team, Sauber F1 Team, Red Bull/Getty images, Team Lotus 2011, Motioncompany, Pirelli, F1 Fanatic
Fixy (@)
23rd March 2011, 15:34
Can’t wait! After Australia everything will be clearer.
Sush Meerkat
23rd March 2011, 19:09
Yeah I’m sleeping as much as possible till the race, because sleeping is time travel!
US_Peter (@us_peter)
23rd March 2011, 20:18
Haha! That was always my strategy on Christmas Eve as a kid… go to sleep early so that Christmas arrives sooner!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
23rd March 2011, 21:07
Well in the UK we get a free hour this weekend so it comes even sooner!
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
24th March 2011, 1:44
LOL Sush Meerkat
Mouse_Nightshirt
23rd March 2011, 15:37
I haven’t felt this excited since I last felt very very excited. Tick tick tick!
Icthyes (@icthyes)
23rd March 2011, 20:27
As excited as a very excited thing with a special reason to be excited?
TrueF1Grit (@truef1grit)
23rd March 2011, 20:53
It gets more exciting every year. I don’t think i’ve been more excited than 2 days before the start of the season last year :D
Vishy
23rd March 2011, 15:45
Looking at a few videos and can’t help but feel that Red Bull and Renault seem to have much better down force than all other teams. Renault might surprise a lot of us.
Also call me a conspiracy theorist but McLaren might have got some help from Mercedez to resolve their exhaust issues. (They in-turn might have helped Mercedez deal with KERS!) If i am correct then McLaren might be on pace right from the start.
butterdori (@butterdori)
23rd March 2011, 18:16
As Mercedes is after all the engine supplier, I don’t see why that would be conspiratory
Babis1980
23rd March 2011, 15:46
I can’t wait too. The first season in HD, with KERS and DRS. I hope for more controversy via team radio and 8 way rivalry for the F1 world championship. This will be a super season!
RIISE (@riise)
23rd March 2011, 16:04
God this weekend is going to be so good!!! Of all the seasons I think this is going to be the best. Let’s just hope it’s not going to be a Red Bull front row lockout!!!
dennis (@dennis)
23rd March 2011, 16:17
Yup. Saturday watching the qualy, then off to the Nurburgring… Nice weather. Sunday the race, then sleeping till noon and breakfast. I love it.
Texas Tony
23rd March 2011, 16:30
It’s been a long wait so lets see what the real pecking order is going to be………..hoping Williams new found aggression will put them nearer the front!
butterdori (@butterdori)
23rd March 2011, 18:17
The wait is killing me.
Last year, it was a nice transition from the end of the Top Gear season and on to the F1 season.
This year, with Bahrain gone… it was a looooooong month
howick20
23rd March 2011, 18:27
Top gear cannot be comapred to f1! Are you mad by any chance sir?
PJ Tierney
23rd March 2011, 18:41
Speaking of previews, here’s a sneak peek at the Programme banners for the upcoming season. Keith liked my posters and was interested in using them in some way :)
http://www.pjtierney.net/2011/03/f1-fanatic-race-banners.html
BasCB (@bascb)
24th March 2011, 7:01
WOW, wonderfull work there by the both of you! Not just the bet F1 blog but also a design highlight. nice.
dyslexicbunny (@dyslexicbunny)
23rd March 2011, 19:15
Gah! 2AM local time… what to do…
mateuss (@mateuss)
23rd March 2011, 20:14
I already got my supply of energy drinks for 3am start. I wish to you all another great Formula 1 season!
US_Peter (@us_peter)
23rd March 2011, 20:23
Out here on the West Coast it’s all timed perfectly! 11PM start for both qualifying and race! I’ll be mixing my Red Bull in cocktail form…
BasCB (@bascb)
24th March 2011, 7:13
Great to hear Bernie actually got one of the GPs timed nicely for the US!
chemacal
23rd March 2011, 20:39
Great guide, Keith. Cant’t wait! Still wednesday??
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
23rd March 2011, 21:12
I can’t think of a review i’ve not commented on to be honest.
This site is fantastic.
F1Yankee (@f1yankee)
23rd March 2011, 22:01
oh man, i can’t wait for things to get going! enough talk, i’m ready for thunderdome!
Malcolm (@)
23rd March 2011, 23:17
Let the games begin.
Kirk
24th March 2011, 0:21
As a Kubica fan, I thought 2011 was going to be awesome, Rob finally in a (seemingly) top car. I even got a HDTV for it.
Alas, fate struck a cruel blow and has taken a good deal of fun out of it for me.
Nevermind, am sure will still be good. Go Nando and Renault!
dyslexicbunny
24th March 2011, 1:28
And yet you still have an HDTV. I don’t think you got screwed.
lewymp4 (@lewymp4)
24th March 2011, 1:31
Robert’s accident has been a big loss to the sport this year, but don’t worry Kirk, we will see him behind the wheel next year, maybe even in a Ferrari.
briank
24th March 2011, 0:55
<<>> love it.
briank
24th March 2011, 0:57
The thing about Redbull is… they also have the fastest driver.
somerandomguy
24th March 2011, 7:07
Lets hope Webber wins at home this weekend! It would be a great story