F1 Midweek Report – April 1 Edition. @F1 #F1

We are back for the first F1 Midweek Report of the month – April 1 Edition. Let’s take a look at the latest news from the world of Formula 1.

 

 

F1 Midweek Report – FIA approve raft of changes for F1 in 2020-21

 

Due to the rapid evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Motorsport Council approved, via e-vote, a number of rules changes to the 2020 and 21 Formula 1 regulations.

 

Last month, F1, sporting governing body, the FIA and the teams unanimously agreed to delay the new rules regulations for 2021 by a year to 2022. The World Motorsport Council has now green lit the move, allowing relevant regulations to be tweaked.

 

Further measures were introduced, including the homologation of the 2020 survival cell – with no changes allowed and other “certain components” to keep costs down. Mercedes’ innovative Dual Axis Steering (DAS) system has also been banned from 2021.

 

The World Motorsport Council also approved a raft of changes, in addition to Article 1.3 of the sporting regulations, to be able to change articles with 60% support amongst the teams, to increase flexibility during these challenging times. In any case, approval from the WMSC will be required.

 

Meanwhile, the World Motorsport Council also gave the green light for Formula 1 and FIA, to change the calendar without a vote among the teams, which will allow a quicker process to reshuffle the schedule when the situations becomes better to go racing again.

 

An additional shutdown of three weeks for power unit manufacturers has also been ticked, during March and/or April, – along with confirmation that the number of power-train components each driver is allowed would be changed should be amount of Grands Prix be reduced.

 

The banning of aerodynamic development for the 2022 regulations during 2020 started on Saturday March 28 until the end of the year.

 

Teams will also be allowed to hold a one-day test within 48 hours of the last race to give young drivers a run with two cars available to be used for the test but that remains optional.

---

F1 Midweek Report – Mercedes help develop ventilators to attack COVID-19 pandemic

 

 

World Champions Mercedes through it’s High Performance Power-trains (MHPP) department, part of “Project Pitlane” with the other six British-based F1 teams, are working in a UK industry-wide effort to manufacture and develop breathing aids to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

 

The breathing aid developed by engineers from Mercedes High Performance Power-trains, University College of London and clinicians at UCL Hospital have now been approved for use by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service in the fight against COVID-19.

 

A respiratory device called “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” is a breathing aid that helps patients suffering with serious lung infections to breathe more easily when oxygen is insufficient and avoids the use of “invasive mechanical ventilation” – breathing devices that involves tubes through the skin or mouth.

 

Since Wednesday March 18, the engineers at MHPP, UCL and clinicians at UCLH have been working non-stop at UCL’s engineering hub MechSpace to reverse engineer a device that can be produced very fast by the thousands. This has been recommended for use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

 

The breathing aid was made within a quick time-frame – which took less than 100 hours from the initial meeting to the production of the first device with one hundred to be delivered to UCLH for first trials, and a rapid roll-out to hospitals around the United Kingdom ahead of a surge in coronavirus cases.

 

Managing Director of Mercedes High Performance Power-trains Andy Cowell said:

 

“The Formula One community has shown an impressive response to the call for support, coming together in the ‘Project Pitlane’ collective to support the national need at this time across a number of different projects. We have been proud to put our resources at the service of UCL to deliver the CPAP project to the highest standards and in the fastest possible timeframe.” Credit to Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport for the quote. https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/news/2020/2020-03/ucl-uclh-f1-develop-life-saving-breathing-aids/

 

Professor Tim Baker from the University College of London’s Mechanical Engineering department praised the partnership adding:

 

“Given the urgent need, we are thankful that we were able to reduce a process that could take years down to a matter of days.”

 

“From being given the brief, we worked all hours of the day, disassembling and analysing an off-patent device. Using computer simulations, we improved the device further to create a state-of-the-art version suited to mass production.

 

“We were privileged to be able to call on the capability of Formula One – a collaboration made possible by the close links between UCL Mechanical Engineering and HPP.” Credit to Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport for the quote.

 

The other six British-based F1 teams part of “Project Pitlane” include: Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Haas F1 Team, McLaren Racing, Renault F1 Team and ROKiT Williams Racing.

---

Norris to shave hair after raising $12,000 for COVID-19 charity

 

 

McLaren Racing’s Lando Norris agreed to shave his hair after raising $12,000 for charity as part of Twitch’s “Stream Aid” event last Saturday.

 

The Briton, who had more than 136,000 viewers on Saturday’s live stream, played Codemasters F1 2019, Rocket League and iRacing in his aim to gather donations during the event that raised $2.7 million in total for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which was established by the United Nations Foundation to assist the World Health Organisation detect, prevent and respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Thanks to all my viewers for raising over $12,000 by the end of the night for #TwitchStreamAid and the fight against Covid-19! I do have to cut all my hair off now though… pic.twitter.com/fvCBvDArS2

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) March 29, 2020

 

Norris also ran #ChallengeLando on Sunday, which saw him race on the F1 2019 game against the likes of professional golfer Ian Poulter and racer Philipp Eng.

---

Marko wanted Red Bull drivers to catch COVID-19

 

 

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Adviser and Head of Driver Development Dr. Helmut Marko controversially suggested the team’s drivers catch coronavirus as it is the “ideal time” with the Formula 1 season currently on hiatus.

 

The 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship season has been thwarted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the first eight Grands Prix either cancelled or postponed due to lockdowns and strict social distancing worldwide.

 

Meanwhile, Marko with his eccentric views told Austrian Radio Station ORF that he came up with an idea where driver pairing Max Verstappen and Alex Albon along with Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat – contract coronavirus in a bid to have them fully fit and healthy for when the season resumes.

 

“These are all strong young men in really good health,” explained Marko to ORF. “That way they would be prepared whenever the action starts. And you can be ready for what will probably be a very tough championship once it starts.”

 

His vision however was met with negative reaction from Red Bull officials, which Marko added:

 

“Let’s put it this way, it has not been well received.”

 

Marko, aged 76, believed he already had COVID-19 – although the Austrian was not tested – and praised the efforts of the Milton Keynes based-outfit and other F1 teams in helping to build ventilators to support the National Health System.

 

“I had what I thought was a severe cold and the symptoms would match corona,” Marko continued. “It was also something that I had never had in this intensity.”

 

“I don’t know if it was because the test options are currently very limited but as soon as there is a chance, I would like to be tested afterwards.”

 

“We are producing ventilators. This is the big plus of Formula One, that you can react to the greatest technological challenges in the shortest possible time and also have the necessary speed in production.” Marko concluded. Credit to Austrian Radio Station ORF for the translated quote.

---

Haas confirm Fittipaldi and Deletraz as test and reserve drivers

 

 

Haas F1 Team confirmed Pietro Fittipaldi and Louis Deletraz as it’s official test and reserve drivers, with both conducting extensive simulator work for the Kannapolis/Banbury outfit throughout the 2019 campaign whilst the pairing made their official Formula 1 debuts driving the VF-18 at the post-season Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Pirelli tyre test in 2018.

 

Fittipaldi and Deletraz will support the team in the simulator and at race weekends when the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season resumes having been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Meanwhile, it is expected that both drivers will be representing Haas F1 Team in the next Formula One e-Sport Virtual Grand Prix Series – held on April 5.

 

Fittipaldi, aged 23, spent the 2019 season in DTM – with the Miami-born Brazilian holding a Formula V8 3.5 title and several NTT Data IndyCar Series Appearances while Deletraz, aged 22, will again race in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Charouz Racing System – as the Swiss racer aims to build on his three-podium finishes and eighth-place in the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Driver’s Championship standing.

 

“I can’t wait to build on the role I developed with Haas F1 Team last season,” explained Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Formula 1 World Champion and double Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi. “My thanks go to Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for the continued opportunity and belief in my work behind the wheel.”

 

“You never stop learning in Formula One whether you’re spending hours in the simulator or physically behind the wheel of the actual car – something I’ve done a lot of with Haas recording over 2000 kilometers in testing. It’s a thrill to be able to do both and have the association with this team and all it’s accomplished in such a short span of time in our sport.” Fittipaldi concluded. Credit to Haas F1 Team for the quote.

 

Deletraz added:

 

“To be an official test and reserve driver in Formula One is another step along the way to reaching my ultimate goal of competing in Formula One.”

 

“I made my debut in a Formula One car with Haas F1 Team and I’m naturally thrilled that we have developed that opportunity, as well as my simulator work last season, into an official role as a test and reserve driver. I would like to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for adding me to the program in this capacity.”

 

“The bonus for me is that with Formula 2 on the support bill at a variety of Grand Prix events, I know they will get to see me race and I can spend more time embedding myself with the team when the timetable allows.” Deletraz concluded. Credit to Haas F1 Team for the quote.

---

#F1 Midweek Report – The Latest.

#F1 2020 News Round Up – Latest from the week. @F1

Morning chaos as #F1 @ROLEX @ausgrandprix 2020 called off. #AusGP