Hello everybody and welcome to a brand new blog series in where we look at the previous seven days and recap on the main stories from the world of Formula One. So, without further ado, here are the main stories that dominated the headlines...
Alpines new racing director.
They have a new team name, a world champion as a driver, new winter livery but the biggest change is that Alpine has a new racing director. The team announced that former Suzuki Moto GP team boss, 52-year-old Italian Davide Brivio, has replaced Cyril Abiteboul who has been leading the team since its return to the sport in 2016.
The roles and responsibilities for Brivio will be released in the next few weeks but we do know that he will report directly to chief executive Laurent Rossi. This move continues the massive shake-up for the upcoming 2021 season starting in Bahrain.
A 'temporary winter livery' was revealed last week, with Alpine's full design for their first year of F1 will be unveiled in a ceremony in February.
Renault managed to achieve three podium finishes last season on the way to finishing fifth in the constructors' championship behind Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, and Racing Point.
Australian and Chinese Grand Prix are postponed due to the pandemic.
As I reported last week, the season opener Grand Prix in Melbourne has been delayed till later in the year. This also goes for the Chinese GP as both counties have strict restrictions in response to COVID-19 and international arrivals.
The Formula One "circus" was meant to be at Albert Park and Shanghai for the first and third races on the calendar but now have been rescheduled. The Australian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 19-21 March, will now take place between 19-21 November. A race at Imola in Italy has been added from 16-18 April and becomes the second race of the season. "We are pleased to confirm that the number of races planned for the season remains unchanged," Stefano Domenicali, F1 president, said. "The global pandemic has not yet allowed life to return to normal, but we showed in 2020 that we can race safely as the first international sport to return and we have the experience and plans in place to deliver on our season."
F1 says discussions over a new date for the Chinese Grand Prix, which was meant to be held from 9-11 April, are ongoing. The third race of the season, scheduled for May 2, is yet to be confirmed but it is expected to be filled by Portugal's Portimao circuit following its successful debut last year. The dates of Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi events have been moved to accommodate the postponed Australia race. Brazil moves forward one week to 7 November, while the latter two have been pushed back a week to 5 and 12 December respectively.
Mercedes' Bottas won the last Australian Grand Prix in 2019, after 2020 was called off only hours before the first practice was due to start when a McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus.
Leclerc tests positive for COVID-19.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has tested positive for COVID-19. The Monégasque driver said he had mild symptoms but is feeling Ok. He posted this on his social media channels telling his fans that he will "remain in isolation in my home in Monaco in compliance with the regulations set by the local health authorities. Stay safe and take care." Leclerc is the fifth driver to test positive for the virus after Perez, Stroll, Hamilton, and Norris.
The team from Maranello looking to improve on an extremely disappointing 2020, which saw them finish sixth in the constructors' championship.
And that is your weekly roundup for everything that happened in the world of Formula One. Check back next week for lap two of the Formula One Round-Up.
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