Formula One (F1) has returned for a new season, bringing with it the usual mix of high-speed incidents and off-track controversies. The sport is known for its drama, personalities, and politics, which has made the Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive” globally successful.
Season six of “Drive to Survive” will feature the previous year’s soap opera, including Red Bull’s budget cap breach and Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin.
New Rules and Controversies
The new season promises more excitement and drama with controversies over new rules that ban drivers from making political, religious, and personal statements. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen expressed concerns about this rule, but the FIA backtracked and said it only applies during pre- and post-race events and on the track.
However, a human rights group has raised concerns about F1’s role in “sportswashing” by holding races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The FIA and F1 have responded to these concerns, with the FIA stating it cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, and F1 saying it takes its responsibilities seriously.
New Season Schedule
The first race of the season will be held in Bahrain on March 3, with the Grand Prix on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US and on Sky Sports or Channel 4 in the UK.
This season, a total of 23 races will take place, with Las Vegas returning to the F1 calendar and joining Miami and Austin as the third US city to host an F1 race, marking the first time since the 1980s that Las Vegas has been part of the F1 schedule.
Favorites and Underdogs
Red Bull and Max Verstappen are likely to be strong contenders for the championship, with both cars looking strong during preseason testing on Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit. Verstappen is more confident about his team’s prospects this year compared to last year. His goal is to win the championship this season.
Charles Leclerc from Ferrari acknowledged that they have “some work to do,” and Red Bull seems to be very strong. Ferrari’s new team principal, Fred Vasseur, seemed satisfied with the team’s performance during testing but said they are still in the process of getting to know the car. Mercedes, who finished third overall last year, did not show any signs of trouble during testing. Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is not quite where they want to be, but they have a good platform to start from.
Aston Martin and New Team Principals
Aston Martin, with two-time world champion Alonso, could be the best of the rest this season.
Rivals believe Aston Martin has made a significant leap forward during the preseason, despite finishing seventh overall last year. According to F1 television, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said their concept of the car has propelled them forward and that Fernando Alonso, in particular, looks very competitive.
The fact that four of the ten teams have new principals highlights the increasing similarities between managing F1 teams and the results-driven nature of soccer management. Ferrari, for example, has had five team principals in under a decade, with Fred Vasseur being the latest addition. Andreas Seidl has replaced Vasseur at Sauber, while Andrea Stella has taken over as McLaren’s team principal, and James Vowles is now leading Williams.
New Point Reduction Rule and Cost Cap Adjustment
Another change is the rewritten rule, which ensures reduced points are given for shortened races.
The Japanese race from the previous year was heavily affected by rain, leading to a temporary stop after only two laps. It resumed over two hours later, but only 28 of the 53 laps were completed. Despite this, Verstappen was still awarded full points, which ultimately helped him clinch the title. However, there was some initial confusion regarding Verstappen’s title win.
It needed the FIA to clarify at the time that the decision was made in accordance with the rulebook. This year, in such a scenario, only half points will be awarded to the drivers and teams. The FIA believes this will incentivize teams to ensure the race goes ahead whenever possible, as opposed to hoping for a shorter race due to weather conditions. Additionally, a cost cap adjustment has been made to allow teams to spend an extra $1.2 million due to the additional race in the calendar, bringing the cap up to $145 million. This increase is meant to help offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the teams.
