Dhe Formula 1 has done more than just a few remarkable laps since 1950, but probably no balancing act was more special than the 71st World Championship tour, the 2020 season until the end of the season after 17 races on the 3rd Advent in Abu Dhabi: The season, which was not only fueled by millions and millions of dollars, horsepower and fuel, but was also brought about by more than 80,000 corona tests, should remain a solitaire. The wheels had to turn, otherwise some racing teams would have shut down. Large parts of the world were avoided for this, driving only in Europe, on the Asian side of Istanbul and on the Persian Gulf.
The racing calendar will appear in the coming year business as usual to show: 23 races around the world, more than ever, and the trend will continue to rise in the future. But the pressure to justify it does not decrease, also, but not only, because of the unresolved pandemic. BMW has just announced its withdrawal from formula racing and justified it on the basis of the knowledge that even in the purely electrically powered Formula E there was no longer any technology transfer to series production. Honda is leaving Formula 1 at the end of the coming season, once again. The future of motorsport in general, and Formula 1 in particular, also depends on the exits the societies take from the pandemic.
The Formula 1 route is now in place. Next year we will go to Saudi Arabia for the first time. It is not only there that the new Formula 1 boss, Ferrari’s former race director Stefano Domenicali, will have to explain the course of the series, which this year placed itself under the rainbow of diversity and drove for “Black Lives Matter”. An exciting question that has been raised this season: How hard does Lewis Hamilton, the only racing superstar, press the accelerator on when it comes to social engagement? Here, too, the Englishman left as good as everyone else.
At the same time, Hamilton and Mercedes continue to dominate the sporting scene. A fundamental change in direction is not expected in the coming year. Hamilton is on course for the eighth world title, assuming the contract extension is outstanding. Who should stop him? Team mate Valtteri Bottas does not succeed. The young George Russell, Hamilton’s illness representative in the second race in Bahrain a week ago, has shown what great talent he is. It is parked at Williams for another year.
Basically an absurd situation. Chief pilots are looking for quick advancement. Possibly an opportunity for Mick Schumacher to show what he is made of in the equally inferior Haas compared to Russell. Schumacher’s debut is making headlines in Germany, for the time being. From a sporting point of view, it will be about driving away from the end of the field, beating his team-mates and using the opportunity for promotion if it comes. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel starts into the unknown at Team Racing Point, which has been renamed Aston Martin. Late career restart or epilogue? The German Formula 1 grower will only be able to watch it on pay TV. After more than 30 years, RTL dropped out in Abu Dhabi. With a ride into the sunset.
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