Indeed For many years FIA stood for "Ferrari International Assistance" and all its competitors complained.
We've already had this discussion too many times. I think that it's fair to admit that Mercedes had an unfair advantage and enjoys a politic strenght without precedent. But also that the rest haven't managed to put them at least under pressure. I hate those views were the winner is super-smart and the rest are dumb. The same happened in the Red Bull days, I had to read here every day how genius Adrian Newey was, and look at them now, in the hybrid era they've been even worse than Ferrari.
+1 ''Ferrari International Assistance''. A name made up by Ferrari detractors in the early 2000s. Some forget that it took Ferrari 20+ years to win a title before it! Hardly worthy of the International Assistance title... FIA did their very vest to hamper Ferrari and Red Bull during the times they were quick. Not so with Mercedes. THAT's assistance!
Newsflash, I'm not here complaining about Ferrari. Even without Mercedes Ferrari would be nowhere today. "Secret engine deal''. If the FIA had something they'd throw the book at them. They had their suspicions how ferrari was doing it, but never did confirm it. They ran Ferrari with extra sensors (that no one else got btw!) since baku 2018! And they found sweet **** all. Otherwise the book would be thrown at them. FIA simply mandated an extra fuel sensor for everyone since then.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-engine-68-hp-advantage-mercedes/ Last year 68hp advantage Ferrari. This pushed Mercedes to develop and Ferrari were caught doing something potentially. No matter as Mercedes are saying Thanks Ferrari!
Racing Point Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez is currently awaiting a COVID-19 retest following an inconclusive result ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Perez was due to be present for the FIA press conference on Thursday afternoon at Silverstone, but the team was only represented by Lance Stroll. It was confirmed by the press conference MC that Perez was absent as a result of an "inconclusive" test result for COVID-19, and that he was self-isolating while awaiting the result of a second test. A spokesman for Racing Point revealed that a small number of team members are also self-isolating after being in contact with Perez. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/150925/perez-awaiting-covid-retest-after-inconclusive-result
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/150931/red-bull-plans-extensive-trial-of-new-parts The Red Bull Formula 1 team plans to run an extensive trial of new parts in British Grand Prix Friday practice as it attempts to better understand its RB16 machine. Team boss Christian Horner says the squad's 2020 challenger has some "anomalies" that it is trying to get on top of, after failing to produce the form that would allow it to challenge Mercedes for the championship. This meant Mercedes was able to take a dominant victory at the Hungaroring last time out, a circuit where Red Bull put up a strong challenge the previous year. While both Max Verstappen and Alex Albon are bracing themselves for it to take a while for Red Bull to get on top of everything, they both hope new parts brought to Silverstone will at least help deliver some progress. Asked by Autosport about what the team had learned since the last race, Verstappen said: "I think we are still learning, we're bringing a lot of new parts to the car. "They are different parts, to see what works, what doesn't, and where we can still improve. "I mean this is of course not from one week to the other that it is going to be solved. We need a bit more time for that.
Perez tests positive for COVID-19 : https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/sergio-perez-confirmed-covid-19-positive/4846474/?ic_source=home-page-widget&ic_medium=widget&ic_campaign=widget-22
I know this isn't the first time. But Elton is such a big 'Diva'! Oh look at me in my new fancy clothes I've bought from my 50 million dollar salary!
Bubble burst I suppose..............bad news. He needed to race to keep his seat alive. Hopefully he will not have major problems with the covid and race sooon.
I wonder if there were any symptoms, or if this is like the other athletes we're seeing: no symptoms, and only known because of extensive testing?
It's a shame that other driver's style is so boring that the photographers has to resort to Hamilton for anything interesting
Hopeful that Bottas and other drivers who jet off after a race will now stay put. Either race and stay in the bubble or leave the series. No one is immune and you have no idea who around you is carrying the virus. Bottas flew off again between 2nd Austria and Budapest GP.
Come on then; who is going to replace Perez this weekend...and probably next now at least? I’d love to see Russel in ten pink car(nando, leclerc and Russel all in similar capable cars...what a race that would be!), but I’m sure it will be some reserve driver!
From BBC: Racing Point share reserve drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez with Mercedes. Gutierrez, who last raced in F1 in 2016, is the designated reserve for this weekend, as Vandoorne, who raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018, is preparing for the resumption of the Formula E season, in which he is a title contender. However, Racing Point have the option of picking another driver if they choose, and other drivers are under consideration. The team may feel that they want a driver with more recent experience than Gutierrez. In that sense, German Nico Hulkenberg - who left F1 at the end of last season after three seasons at Renault, before which he drove for Racing Point when it was known as Force India - would be a leading contender. Hulkenberg was Perez's team-mate at the outfit from 2014-16.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/150936/hulkenberg-in-frame-to-replace-perez-for-british-gp Nico Hulkenberg is in the frame to make a shock Formula 1 return this weekend at Silverstone with Racing Point following Sergio Perez's positive test for COVID-19. The FIA confirmed on Thursday evening that Perez had tested positive for COVID-19 following multiple tests, ruling him out of the grand prix weekend while he goes into quarantine. Autosport understands that recent Renault F1 driver Hulkenberg is Racing Point's preferred choice to take Perez's place for the British Grand Prix weekend, partnering Lance Stroll. Hulkenberg previously spent five years affiliated with the Silverstone-based team under its Force India guise, racing in 2012 and 2014-2016 (below). His most recent F1 start came at the 2019 season finale in Abu Dhabi when he made his last appearance for Renault. Hulkenberg would need to undergo a COVID-19 test to ensure he is not carrying the virus, as well as finalising an agreement with the team to stand in for Perez.
Gutierrez would be four seconds off so yes: Nico is the best choice since Vandoorne is busy elsewhere. Ps: Get well cabronito;-)!