In the round-up: Esteban Ocon says Alpine’s upgrades for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix were a clear improvement from their Bahrain car but not the endpoint of the team’s development.
In brief
Alpine’s place in the order still not settled after Imola updates
After the first race this season in Bahrain seemed to show them at a significant disadvantage, Alpine brought an upgrade package to the Emilia-Romagna grand prix. However Ocon said the team had the potential to perform better than they did.“I think we have our spot in the top 10, that is clear today. Today hasn’t been a straightforward race like it has been the rest of the weekend. I think we had the potential to potentially be P7, P8, that the dry pace was was actually quite solid.
“We were quicker than the Sauber [Alfa Romeo] today. We are not where we want to be exactly, but we’ve made a step this weekend with the upgrades that we got and we felt good in the car driving it for myself and Fernando and, yeah, we want to score more points in the next race.”
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
Alpine junior Victor Martins fastest in first F3 test day
Formula 3 testing resumed at Barcelona yesterday, with two days of running at the venue where they will join F1 as the support series for the Spanish Grand Prix next month.
The morning session started wet, with the track empty for a lot of the first part of the session due to continuing rainfall. However once cars were able to get out on track they moved relatively quickly to slicks and the times tumbled. American Red Bull junior Jak Crawford, new to the category, was quickest.
Victor Martins was able to top the faster, drier afternoon session with another Red Bull Junior, Jack Doohan, who finished 26th in F3 last year, just behind him. Martins is a rookie in F3 this year, having won last year’s Formula Renault Eurocup title.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
A total of 106 laps at @autodromoimola for @ValtteriBottas today at the wheel of the @MercedesAMGF1. Underneath him? Pirelli’s new #fit4f1 18-inch 2022 tyres. The next 18-inch test for Mercedes will be on the wets at @PaulRicardTrack in France at the end of May. pic.twitter.com/PIIJyJ3FHF
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) April 21, 2021
106 laps today for VB on those 18-inchers 👊 Cheers @pirellisport, it's been fun! pic.twitter.com/vZhbNZZfqT
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) April 21, 2021
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
City of Vancouver to consider hosting Formula E car race (Daily Hive)
"Next week, Vancouver City Council will consider a motion by NPA councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung and Green Party councillor Michael Wiebe to support a private group’s plan to host Formula E in East False Creek next year."
Formula 1′s expansion in the U.S. is in motion, now it needs a star American driver (CNBC)
Mario Andretti: "(Colton Herta's) showed in his rookie season in IndyCar, and he won some premium races like (in Austin)... beat two of the very best Indy has to offer. The entire race, he held off Will Power and Scott Dixon. This is one kid I’d love to see him get a break over there because to the U.S. colours again – Formula 1 is like the Olympics in a sense."
"Fans will attend the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500, with up to 40 percent of venue capacity permitted, totalling approximately 135,000 fans."
ADAC F4 best time in testing for Van Amersvoort's Bearman (FIA)
"The fastest driver during testing was Oliver Bearman (15, Great Britain, Van Amersfoort Racing), who finished top in two of the six sessions. Bearman recorded a lap time of 1:23.525 minutes on Monday morning, which was still the best time when proceedings drew to a close."
Why Russell could oust Bottas before the season is over (The Times - subscription required)
"Both teams need both their drivers performing. If Bottas cannot up his game and start supporting Hamilton at the front and taking points off Verstappen and Red Bull, then perhaps Russell could find himself in a Mercedes a lot sooner than next season. Such ruthless steps are not uncommon in the Formula 1 paddock."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
After the extended debate about whether this year’s regulations were unfairly affecting them, Adam says that Aston Martin risk quickly squandering goodwill with their reaction:
I wanted to like Aston Martin but they make it really hard to do so. This constant complaining about being hobbled by the regulations while having won with an illegal copy last year is really souring.
Obviously, they don’t have the money of Mercedes but that team’s managed to win a race with their low rake car so there’s clearly a solution to the problem that Aston Martin would know if they designed it. It just strikes me as sour grapes that their copied homework isn’t giving them instant success anymore.
Still not sure what the point of the team is other than bought prestige and an ego trip for Stroll. I get the feeling Red Bull would be happier to see AlphaTauri win a race than Mercedes would be if Aston Martin did.
@Rocketpanda
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On this day in F1
- 15 years ago today Gianmaria Bruni won the GP2 race at Imola, while Lewis Hamilton was disqualified while leading for a Safety Car infringement.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
22nd April 2021, 0:45
Anyone got an idea of what car Bottas was using to test the 18inch wheels?
It’s obviously not this year’s car (not that his is in a drivable state at the moment), but is it last year’s car with modifications, 2 year old plus mods, or a purpose built test mule?
Thank you
CC
22nd April 2021, 0:50
I read that it was the W10 from the 2019 season.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd April 2021, 0:54
no no, I’m sure that is a 2020 racing point. That is not a 2 year old car, cheaters.
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd April 2021, 7:42
@eurobrun I assume W10 featuring some modifications for the purpose.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd April 2021, 0:52
my emotions are also hard to describe…
lots of bad things out there, like what is happening in Mozambique.
Wrong or right don’t matter, the onus is on mediatism. It is the consumer’s fault, all about the product.
ryanoceros (@ryanoceros)
22nd April 2021, 1:24
what is this in reference to?
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd April 2021, 9:55
@ryanoceros the floyd tweet, as if there was anything more important in the world than tweets and stupid american stuff.
ryanoceros (@ryanoceros)
24th April 2021, 18:17
Oh got it thanks.
Instagram doesn’t load on my browser because of privacy settings.
I thought you were bummed out about the Indy 500 40% attendance cap.
S
22nd April 2021, 3:07
What on Earth is Hamilton’s completely non-F1-related instagram post doing here?
CC
22nd April 2021, 5:21
I guess it relates because the subject of the post “inspired” people in F1 to kneel, wear special t-shirts, put rainbow stickers on their cars, lecture the fans, and make one team paint their cars black.
S
22nd April 2021, 8:01
I guess so. One person’s “inspiration” is another’s “peer pressure” or “public shaming.”
Broccoliface
22nd April 2021, 8:06
Look at the author of today’s roundup
frood19 (@frood19)
22nd April 2021, 9:45
Do you know who lewis hamilton is?
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd April 2021, 8:15
Well, it is related to F1 in so far that 1. it is posted by Hamilton, who is the current world champion, is leading the championship and is its star driver, 2. it relates to the “no against racism” and “We drive as one” things F1 does as well.
S
22nd April 2021, 8:34
Except that it makes no mention of either of those.
ian dearing
22nd April 2021, 10:40
It doesn’t mention he is in F1 either, so well done for making that connection.
ColdFly (@)
22nd April 2021, 9:48
@BasCB,
The problem (I have with this IG post being included) here is that Chauvin was not convicted of racism, and that’s what we all fight against.
The only result of putting these IG posts here is to see both comment camps digging themselves in even deeper.
There are many examples of racism also in the UK (e.g today’s news) which could be raised by our stars in the sport.
They might not be as popular, but I’d rather see those in the round-up.
ian dearing
22nd April 2021, 10:14
But it has been raised today. Its Stephen Lawrence Day and Hamilton is part of the Stephen Lawrence video that has just been released. And he is also a supporter of the linked Foundation that raises funds to helps children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
22nd April 2021, 9:09
The current World Champion – a seven time Champion – has tweeted about something that is genuinely important. An event that will be talked about for generations and which, hopefully, precipitates a much needed change for the better.
As the only black driver on the grid it’s perfectly understandable that Lewis has chosen to comment. He’s at a point in his career, and of an age, where he clearly wants to achieve more in life than just success on track. That point comes to many people: a realisation that professional success doesn’t necessarily make you feel good inside and that you can do more to improve the world and in-turn experience a real sense of fulfilment.
What’s remarkable about Lewis is that this strength of resolve and focus is not detracting from his performance on track. If anything it seems to be making him stronger and more resilient.
Racism is absolutely everywhere. It’s less obvious than it was before but if you scratch the surface it’s still there. Why anybody would want to discourage a person of colour from using their platform to raise awareness of this is beyond me.
In 1968 Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised a gloved fist at the Mexico Olympics. 50 years later scenarios like the George Floyd one show that the world still has a lot of progress to make.
Good on you, Lewis.
ian dearing
22nd April 2021, 9:15
To keep the posts and debate ticking over at a goodly rate, as most know that any mention of Hamilton will bring out a whole host of posters who are willing to offer an opinion no matter what the subject.
For example Hamilton doing a fashion shoot for IWC watches bought forth around 65-85 comments. His restaurant over a 100 I believe. That’s good business.
And obviously proves there’s an audience for non related motorsport issues. As shown by the inclusion of non F1 related issues involving other F1 personalities, and the ever popular Paddock Diary by Rencken and similar diaries by others within F1 which contain a fair amount of non F1 related content.
Balue (@balue)
22nd April 2021, 9:36
Virtue signaling
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd April 2021, 10:02
@balue Run Forrest, run.
Tristan (@skipgamer)
22nd April 2021, 5:21
I think Ocon it’s kidding to say there’s much more in that Renault. I think they’d be silly not to have resources fully devoted to next years challenger at this point. If not for Vettel’s utter lack of pace, and some bad fortune from other drivers, they’d be lucky to score any points at all.
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd April 2021, 7:45
The Times: I can’t read the entire article, but I doubt Mercedes would resort to Red Bull-style measures. If a change happens, it’d more likely occur for next season than during this campaign.
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd April 2021, 8:19
I must say that i find it somewhat baffling to see how media (and many fans) are willing to completely write off Bottas support for Hamilton in the championship after 1 race where things went from lacklustre to disappointing to a wrecked car. Remember, in Bahrain Bottas was on the podium, nicely supporting Hamilton. And him being there also helped keep Verstappen to the strategy choises that led to Hamilton being able to get ahead and keep ahead.
MacLeod (@macleod)
22nd April 2021, 8:31
I am must agree with your comment. It almost looks like they are lobbying to replace him mid season.
Also during the race i was listening while i could hear what they thought (about George crash) they were very carefull on commenting on George.
Bottas and the wet is and was never his strongest point as he had little experience in his carting while Lewis, Max and Vettel had a lot of experience driving in the wet. He is always strong on fast circuits in warmer temperatures.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd April 2021, 10:05
Obviously the media has seen how much Ham loves George Floyd so they have decided Ham’s next teammate is going to be George Russell.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
22nd April 2021, 10:22
Utterly pathetic
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
22nd April 2021, 13:58
@peartree I really can’t understand this comment, even in any satirical sense. There is no connection between these two things.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd April 2021, 17:33
@keithedin it is a satire on modern journalism.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
22nd April 2021, 17:51
@peartree It doesn’t make sense though since none of the media has made any connection between those two things. Only you have, which is weird because you seem upset that Lewis’ tweet was included in the roundup so it’s strange that you’d bring it up again in response to an unrelated comment.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
24th April 2021, 10:18
@keithedin not my fault you didn’t get the joke at first.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
22nd April 2021, 9:11
Based on his current form, he couldn’t overtake a rusty Caterham.
Balue (@balue)
22nd April 2021, 9:31
@bascb Yes completely unwarranted, but that’s British media for you
Mayrton
23rd April 2021, 12:13
Hahah, didnt notice Ocon and Alonso were also racing.. what a farce of a team
Dave
24th April 2021, 12:24
Re Alpine: You’ll be back soon…but I miss Renault Yellow.