F1 FIRES BACK UP
F1 fires back up – Photo: LAT
Formula 1 has already begun firing back into life with a number of teams and drivers getting back behind the wheel of real race machines.
By DAN McCARTHY
The FIA are permitting F1 testing as long as teams use a car from 2018 or older, the car has to be run to its original specification with no new parts allowed to be trialled. Each team is also given testing tyres by Pirelli, but not the rubber set to be used throughout the season.
Mercedes, the reigning constructors’ champions were the first team to get back on track completing a two day test at Silverstone, which started on Tuesday and concluded yesterday.
Valtteri Bottas took to the wheel of the 2018 Mercedes W09 on Tuesday and was followed by six-time champion Lewis Hamilton the next day. As well as giving its drivers much needed F1 seat time it gave the team time to get accustomed to the COVID-19 protocols.
Social media images showed all personal wearing facemasks, COVID-19 testing will be enforced along with strict hand hygiene, seven-time Grand Prix winner Bottas felt it was a productive two-day test.
“I think it was a very helpful day for the team. Obviously everyone being out of racing and the garage environment for a long time, and there are many new regulations, and we need to be cautious with different things for health. It was good to practice that,” Bottas said.
“I think we learned a lot during the day, how to do things more efficiently and make sure everyone is going to be safe once we eventually start racing. I loved to be back in a car, and now I can’t wait for Austria.”
Hamilton agreed saying that he felt comfortable in the car straight away.
“In general, we just got through a solid programme today. Valtteri’s day was dry, my day started off wet, so quite a greasy Silverstone track. But obviously I grew up in this kind of weather here, so I’m used to it. But I was still able to get a good feel of the car,” Hamilton said.
“I didn’t feel like I’d ever [been away] so that’s a positive every time you take a big break you’re always wondering whether you can still drive. So obviously a good feeling to know firstly that I can, I’m ready, I feel fit and I’m excited.”
Ferrari are expected to follow suit with its own private test of 2018 machinery, when both Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel get back behind the wheel. However, at this stage it has not been announced when or where this test will take place.
Racing Point will take a different approach than the two top teams, it will use one of its two allocated promotional days which allows the team to run 100km in a current spec car on demonstration-spec tyres for media use.
Racing Point have booked the national circuit Silverstone layout on Wednesday June 17 and it is expected that Canadian Lance Stroll will get behind the wheel of the RP20. This will mark the first time that a current spec F1 car has hit the race track since February pre-season testing in Spain back.
McLaren has confirmed that it will not test an older model car due to its switch from Renault to Mercedes engines next year.
One McLaren driver Lando Norris has been keeping very fresh in the sim, and in recent days has got back behind the wheel of an open-wheel race car. The Englishman got behind the wheel of a Formula 3 car driving with Carlin, the team with which he won the FIA European Formula 3 Championship in 2017.
The start of the 2020 Formula 1 season takes place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on July 5, with eight races taking place within 10 weeks.
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