With the first month of 2021 coming swiftly to an end, it is time to look back at last week's F1 news starting with Carlos Sainz Jr. driving a Ferrari Formula One car for the first time...
Sainz Jr. First Ferrari Test Drive
Ferrari's newest driver, Carlos Sainz Jr., had his first taste of driving for his new team this week on Wednesday. The Spaniard completed more than 100 laps at the famous Fiorano test track in northern Italy. Due to strict FIA regulations, he could only drive the 2018 car but the experience was a very valuable one. "A day I will never forget!" he said. "One of the most special moments for me today was when I arrived at the circuit and I saw the Ferrari with my number 55 on it!"
Carlos Sainz Sr., himself a rally world champion, was also there to watch his son put the prancing horse through its paces.
Ferrari is aiming to bounce back this season after they came sixth in the constructors' championship which was their worst ever finish in 30 years.
Button to drive for his own team in Extreme E
It seems like Jenson Button has been a busy boy over the last few weeks. As I reported Lap Two, Button has been appointed as a Senior Advisor for the Williams F1 team. Alongside this role, he will be competing in the new Extreme E racing series for his own team.
The cars, which are electric SUVs, will compete in extreme environments around the world that have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The races will be staged in Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Greenland, Brazil, and Argentina. The series requires female and male drivers for each car with Button announcing his female co-driver late this year.
F1 to revert to a traditional start time
Changes to the Formula One start times were announced this week. Rather than the usual 10 minutes past lights out time, it will now start at the top of the hour. In addition, Friday's practise will be cut by 30 minutes to 60 minutes per session. Races have started 10 minutes past the hour since 2018 but that change has now been reversed for the upcoming 2021 season.
Most European races will start at 3:00 pm local time, which is 2:00 pm for us in the UK. The race start time can be seen on the Sky Sports F1 website.
The sport is planning for a 23-round season but the third event, which was originally meant to be in Beijing, remains to be confirmed. The Portimao circuit in Portugal is considered the front-runner after making its debut on the much-changed calendar last year.
And that is your weekly roundup for everything that happened in the world of Formula One. Check back next week for lap four of the Formula One Round-Up.
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