Itinerary Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login also Portuguese GP with DRS zone 2: on the straight between Turns 4 and 5, detection point between Turns 3 and 4. Last year's DRS zone on the pit straight straight a bit further, the detection point was moved to the entrance to the last turn.
Will be interesting to see how this mind games evolves this weekend?? https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/red-bull-mercedes-trying-to-put-pressure-on-us-with-favourite-tag/6468597/ Red Bull: Mercedes trying to put pressure on us with favourite tag By: Jonathan Noble Apr 26, 2021, 4:21 AM Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Mercedes’ push to label his outfit as Formula 1 title favourite this year has been a way of trying to put pressure on his team. The Milton Keynes-based outfit is locked in a tight fight with Mercedes for the F1 world title, with the squads having taken one victory apiece so far this season. Mercedes has been clear, however, that it feels it is playing catch up in terms of performance, and is now the hunter in F1 rather than the hunted. Speaking earlier this month, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said: "It's theirs to lose, ours to win, because when you have the quickest car, you have got to deliver on that." But Horner has scoffed at such suggestions, and believes that Mercedes boss Wolff is eager to big up Red Bull’s prospects only as part of a psychological game between the two teams. “Of course, it's used to try to put expectation and to try to create pressure,” Horner told Autosport, when asked about the favourite tag that neither team wants. “Of course, Toto will inevitably try to identify Red Bull as the favourite in order to create a perception of having to chase and catch up. “But I just don't believe we are the favourites, to be honest with you. We're up against a seven-time consecutive world champion. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out the odds: they will tell you who the favourite is.”
Off we go to this incredibly challenging circuit and this time Pirelli has no excuses, they will bring much softer tire choices and the race will be a madhouse of action! Can't wait!
We all have to respect Toto’s achievements, getting back to Kansas, looking after Dorothy and all those world titles. But, please spare us from banging on each year about another team being favourites. A broken record...
We have 2 different winners in 2 races. Enjoy the close competition. It is a situation we have wanted as fans. In Toto's position, with such pace by RedBull I would make similar assessment.
Yes, it has been more competitive at the front this year, but my money is still on MB. My heart is a different matter, third in the WCC for SF would be good
But this year is different. Mercedes seems to have lost its advantage. The slight aero rules introduced without a complete car redesign seems to have affected Mercedes more than the other teams. Also, all is not well inside Mercedes, with Hamilton signing up late, Allison departing and rumours about Wolff in conflict with MB management. The title will be decided between Verstappen and Hamilton, IMO, with the one making the less mistakes winning it.
Via SKY F1 - Red Bull's 'acid test' in double header vs Mercedes Red Bull boss Christian Horner says the 2021 title challengers are facing an "acid test" with the Portugal-Spain double header and that those circuits will "play to Mercedes' strengths". Mercedes and Red Bull have won one race apiece to start the season although paddock consensus is that Red Bull currently have the faster car. But in his pre-Portuguese GP race column, Horner said: "We go to Portugal and then Spain and they are both great tracks but circuits we would expect to play to Mercedes' strengths, based on last year's data." Mercedes won both the Portuguese and Spanish GPs comfortably last year - securing a one-two in qualifying and the race. "Portimao was a good addition to the calendar last year, the surface will hopefully have weathered-in a little bit as the newly resurfaced circuit was very slippery," added Horner. "Barcelona is the benchmark we all have so much data from so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. "I am excited for both races and you can be sure that we are full of energy and motivation. If we can put Mercedes under a little bit of pressure at these tracks then that bodes well for the rest of the year. "I always said it would take four races to get a clear picture of form, so now is the acid test."
FIA Stewards: - Tim Mayer - Felix Holter - Vitaly Petrov [Drivers Representative] - Paulo Magalhaes [National Steward] Image Unavailable, Please Login
The real game changer this season in competitiveness is not Mercedes' decline in performance, nor RB's increase in performance. They have been each other's match for quite some time, but Honda's reliability. Don't forget Max had 5 DNFs on 17 races. More races will only amplify RB's strength if their engine proves to be reliable.
Forecast says no rain expected. Max temps around 20C. Strong wind during all 3 days. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Leclerc's car arrival Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Petrov to driver causing a collision: "You are guilty, this is unacceptable niet! You are sentenced to the Gulag with Navalny, da!"
Ignoring Max's driveshaft failure, the Honda hasn't been the most reliable engine so far this year. Perez's engine had total shut down on the opening lap, an error which has been a Honda fault for quite some time now. The 2 Alpha Tauri's have also had to get parts replaced already.
Toto is full of BS, as usual. The Red Bull is, at best, as fast as the Mercedes, and less reliable. They´ll need to get it perfectly right at all races and some luck to get the title. Hopefully they can put some pressure to force them to delay next year´s car. I´d also like to see Bottas melting down and Pérez waking up to make the WCC more interesting.