In the round-up: Racing Point’s technical director Andrew Green confirms the team will base the rear end of its 2021 car on this year’s Mercedes.
What they say
Rival teams had opposed Racing Point’s plan to use Mercedes’ 2020 rear end on their 2021 car, which they will be able to do without using any development tokens, putting them at an advantage:
It’s happening. The rules allow us to do it. We’re going ahead and doing it. We’ve cleared it with the FIA. They have no problem with us doing it.
The rules, as written, allow the teams to bring their cars up to the 2020 specification, which I think is only fair. Just because we elected, before the Covid started, to run 2019 suspension, shouldn’t be held against us. We should be allowed to bring our car up to the same specification as everyone else has got.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
My job in 60 seconds is back! 👊 Over to you, @ValtteriBottas! 💙
Which job do you want to see explained next… 💭 pic.twitter.com/ss7m4I0AcK
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 20, 2020
We had a tyre blow out on the motorway and had to stop at the station. Took a minute to change the wheel but once done, I was back on the road in my EQC. It’s the best not having to refuel. 🔋 pic.twitter.com/7ncdostlq0
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 20, 2020
Back to testing @FIAFormulaE Season 7! The car is fast ;-) On a reprit les tests de Saison 7, la voiture est très rapide !! @DSTECHEETAH @DS_Performance #DSAutomobiles #DSPerformance #DSTecheetah pic.twitter.com/a0CTY5Y30g
— Jean-Eric Vergne (@JeanEricVergne) October 20, 2020
The last time @F1 visited @AIAPortimao it was a bit wet.
How wet?
Check the bottom of the timing screen…#F1 #PortugueseGP pic.twitter.com/cLpZ3XWcVn
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) October 20, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Haas reserve Deletraz angling for F1 test as F2 rivals get FP1 chance (Formula Scout)
"I’ve been asking for time in the car for a while as I don’t want to just drive the simulator. When I saw Callum had a test with Haas it was not easy as I am the reserve driver and I am desperate for track time."
Extreme E announces scientific partnership with Enel foundation (Extreme E)
"The two partners are pleased to announce their first open call for research for 2021. ‘Racing for the planet’ invites scientists to join the voyage on the St. Helena and conduct research and outreach programmes during the transits between race locations, focussing on understanding climate change and/or consequences of this phenomenon and suggesting adaptation and mitigation pathways."
Busy day of track activity kicks off 2020 Total 24 Hours of Spa (GT World Challenge)
"Rene Rast, Robin Frijns and Nico Müller withdrew from the race in a collective decision between the drivers and Audi Sport. As such, Dries Vanthoor will move across from the number 30 Audi Sport Team WRT car to replace Rast on the number 31 crew alongside Mirko Bortolotti and Kelvin van der Linde, while the number 30 line-up will see Chris Mies joined by Matthieu Vaxivière and debutant Dennis Marschall. Müller's place at Audi Sport Team Sainteloc has been taken by another Spa first-timer, Dorian Boccolacci. The Frenchman slots in alongside Markus Winkelhock and Christopher Haase, reprising the line-up that raced at Imola and the Nürburgring."
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Comment of the day
Ben Needham says the super license penalty points system should implement reduced punishments for minor infringements but increase the potential awarded for major infractions, to ensure it effectively polices driving standards:
I agree that it’s a slightly broken system but only in some regards. I’d like to see minor infringements (blue flags, incorrect practice starts and the like) given one point, while incidents such as Vettel in Baku, Grosjean in Barcelona etc… would be given something like six.
The total of 12 for a ban feels about right. If you manage to get to 12, then your driving has been suitably poor over the course of a year and you deserve to sit one out and think about what you’ve done!
Ben Needham
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Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
21st October 2020, 2:48
Bringing a car up to the current specification isn’t just about adding improved parts, it is also about removing parts that are no longer legal, such as rear brake ducts designed by a competitor.
BasCB (@bascb)
21st October 2020, 6:48
good point.
kuvemar
21st October 2020, 11:08
These always were and still are 100 % legal. The development process was in breach of the rules, not the part itself. And RP were penalized harshly for that breach. It’s really not that hard to understand unless people are intentionally trying to misunderstand it.
Robbie (@robbie)
21st October 2020, 13:30
kuvemar Exactly. Sums it up concisely.
Mayrton
21st October 2020, 8:28
Is Lewis considering a switch to Formula E?
Robbie (@robbie)
21st October 2020, 13:32
Yes. To a pit crew.
Mayrton
21st October 2020, 8:33
Re COTD; Vettels Baku move stewarding still puzzles me. Black flag and 12 penalty points would not have been harsh imho. Being a 4 WDC and driving a Ferrari really blurred the stewarts vision I guess.
Chaitanya
21st October 2020, 10:20
Being a ferrari driver always clouds the vision of stewards.
petebaldwin (@)
21st October 2020, 12:02
Yeah I agree with COTD. Drivers complaining about potentially getting a ban for a minor incident are ignoring the fact that in order to be banned, you also have to have a recent history of other incidents. No-one will ever be banned simply for ignoring a blue flag – they’ll be banned for a bunch of incidents including ignoring blue flags.
It works the same on the road for all of us – you wouldn’t be banned for going 35 in a 30 limit but you’ll get points and if you are already on the limit because you’ve been caught speeding several times previously, you’ll get a ban.