In the round-up: Sauber, which runs the Alfa Romeo team, marked their 500th grand prix at the last race.
This includes 373 races which they started as Sauber, 89 as BMW Sauber and 35 as Alfa Romeo. For those pointing out that only adds up to 497, note their cars did not start three other races: Monaco 1994 (withdrew after Karl Wendlinger was seriously injured in a crash in practice), Brazil 2000 (withdrew due to wing failures) and USA 2005 (withdrew due to tyre failures).Arguably now the fifth longest-running team behind Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Lotus, Sauber’s longevity is partly due to their ability to overcome tough periods despite financial limitations, says Kimi Raikkonen.
What they say
Raikkonen, who made his debut with Sauber in 2001, described how they have grown as a team since his first stint with them:
[The team] is quite a bit bigger than it was when I started in F1 with them, the factory has grown up in size and also the wind tunnel after I left.
Obviously money is always an issue with the smaller teams, but that’s how it is. This is a great number [of races] for them they get to because I think there’s only three teams that have done more grands prix.
So for a private team they’ve been there for a long time there and survived the really difficult times. Hopefully we can make them go higher up.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Mika Salo confirmed as one of the stewards for this weekend's #BahrainGP, along with Garry Connelly, Lois Bacquelaine and Mazen Al-Hilli. #F1
— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) November 25, 2020
Working with #TeamBahrain on our special airport facility to welcome our @F1 guests#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 pic.twitter.com/x2XTD61pNW
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) November 24, 2020
📰 @DSTECHEETAH will retain the S6 E-TENSE FE20 for the first part of the 2020-21 @FIAFormulaE season. The car will receive software upgrades & a new livery.
The team's new car, the E-TENSE FE21, will be unveiled for the Rome E-Prix in April.
⚡️#ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/HAMu1DEfZO
— Inside Electric⚡️ (@InsideElectric) November 25, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
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Links
More motor racing links of interest:
"Thirty UK cross-party politicians, including Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey and former Green party leader Caroline Lucas, delivered a letter to F1 chief executive Chase Carey on Tuesday calling for him to implement the sport's human rights policy, following a long history of concerns regarding the Bahrain Grand Prix."
"We believe that it's more useful to be here and to talk about what's going on than to criticise from afar."
FIA World RX Germany cancelled, Kristoffersson crowned 2020 world champion (FIA)
"Although the Nurburgring has successfully proved over the months that events with spectators also work in the context of infection protection, the situation is now a different one due to the sharp rise in the number of infections. We are now looking forward to the World RX at the Nurburgring 2021."
The run in: Assessing Mick Schumacher's chances (Formula 2)
"The German has earned himself a tag as the strongest starter on the grid. His trademark launch off the line has regularly put him in a position to score strongly, no matter where he’s lined up. It’s for that reason that he’s scored five of his podiums on Sunday, when starting slightly further down the order on the reverse grid. Rule him out of a race at your peril."
Lynn joins Sims at Mahindra (Formula E)
"The 27-year-old is a proven winner, with highlights including the 2014 GP3 Series crown, and victories in prestigious events including the Macau Grand Prix, Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours. He is a multiple race winner in the GP2 series and has Formula E experience, having competed in a total of 27 races, with his best result of fifth coming at the Tempelhof Airport circuit earlier this year."
Jazmine Smith: I am excited to see what the future holds for Hitech (Fast and Fearless)
"Teams involved in championships such as FIA Formula 2 and 3 have small budgets and also are limited to the number of staff they can have at the track; this means that those who are there have a number of responsibilities and areas to cover. Jasmine’s role is no different with her being responsible for many of the team’s media, PR and communications commitments."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
Lewis Hamilton’s lack of a contract for the 2021 F1 season is being downplayed by both him and Mercedes, with plenty of speculation about what the delay is. John notes that both Daimler and Hamilton could be looking to align their values for the future:
In my opinion Hamilton is looking to expand his freedom to take on social issues, while Daimler Benz is looking to the future as the first and oldest vehicle manufacturer in the world. The motoring world is about to make fundamental changes to how vehicles are powered into the next century.
I think Hamilton will be given and supported in his drive for equality while continuing his ambition to be the most successful F1 driver of all time. While Daimler Benz will use his success to promote their new tech into the 22nd century.
John H
Happy birthday!
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Macca (@macca)
26th November 2020, 0:47
We are still 80 years away from that. How do these dumb comments keep getting COTD!?
@HoHum (@hohum)
26th November 2020, 2:27
You might want to re-think your understanding of the COTD and then your comment, but yes it is 80 years into the future.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
26th November 2020, 4:48
Just like how Caracciola’s and Nuvolari’s success from 80 years ago promoted Merc and Audi’s tech in the 21st century?
Patrick (@paeschli)
26th November 2020, 7:53
LOL exactly. At this point it is more likely that Tesla will exist in 80 years than that Mercedes will.
Retired (@jeff1s)
26th November 2020, 10:02
Been visiting this very website every day since 2009, rapidly understood « cotd » is like a troll, making you comment over a comment over an article.
cduk_mugello (@cduk_mugello)
26th November 2020, 10:07
@jeff1s haha too true.. looks like you were sucked in by it again… oh no looks like I was too!
#ashtag
26th November 2020, 10:14
How dumb of me to comment on a comment from somebody who comments on a dumb comment.
Qeki (@qeki)
26th November 2020, 6:47
I have seen some news that Binotto is not going to Bahrain
Jere (@jerejj)
26th November 2020, 7:47
@qeki At least not for the first weekend.
Qeki (@qeki)
26th November 2020, 19:56
@jerejj If they somehow get a podium in Bahrain I start to believe that they should leave him in Italy for every race :)
Rodber
26th November 2020, 9:19
I admire Alfa tremendously, but we part company on the touchy topic of pitstops.
No other team does slower pitstops. A driver will box then watch the clock tick away: 3secs, 4secs, 6secs. Invariably this brings them back out behind Haas and Williams, when a decent service would put them on the tail of the Tauris.
But at least their lunches include cheese and potato rosti. Or is that the trouble…..
#ashtag
26th November 2020, 10:06
How considerate of the Bahrain Int. Circuit to share that video.
This allows many families of migrant workers to have a glimpse of their loved ones this festive season.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
26th November 2020, 20:21
They get to work? Jealous me.