Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i AUTOSPORT

@BenAndersonF1 It’s difficult to know whether it takes a certain type of driver to thrive at Ferrari. It goes without saying they must be incredibly fast, but to be a true hero to the tifosi takes something more it seems – a certain je ne sais quoi. You must be successful, of course, but you need style with that substance. Charles Leclerc always looks effortlessly cool – part fashion model, part racing driver – and is someone who drives with a flamboyance that can set pulses racing. This is at the heart of it. Ferrari has produced some great champions of Formula 1, but perhaps its most famous, and loved, son was someone who sacrificed it all without winning a world title. Gilles Villeneuve is synonymous with that Ferrari spirit…

During a GP weekend teams will ask their driver to ‘lay rubber’ in the pit box by spinning their wheels up as they leave, the aim being to deposit a layer of sticky rubber on what would otherwise be a dusty and slippery concrete surface. Having worked with the Aston Martin team for several seasons now I know when they generally do this, so I was able to position myself in the right place at the right time. This is FP3 and Lance Stroll is the one putting down a deposit in the hope of a fast getaway from his pitstops on Sunday. The tyre smoke adds to the spectacle of the shot and, of course, it’s always a bonus to get the red lights on as well. Where Austin,…

PICTURES NO ONE SHOULD QUESTION F1’S NEW LIFE-SAVER The introduction of the halo in 2018 was not met with enthusiasm by fans, teams or drivers. The aesthetics were questionable, and the device contributed to the cars reaching a total weight of 733kg. A significant part of that increase in mass was due to the sizeable chassis structures required to handle the test loads that were necessary if the halo was to function correctly in a severe accident. I dedicated one of these columns in 2017 to the launch of the halo, arguing that we should be seeking to roll it out in the junior formulae rather than questioning its introduction. I made this point as I truly believed it was going to save lives. Fast forward to 2021. Like most things…

It is difficult to fully appreciate exactly what Robert Kubica has been through during the past decade, until you spend time talking to him. And even then, even with the most sympathetic ear, you cannot really know how he did it – how this man dragged himself from the depths of despair back onto the Formula 1 circuit. The only person who really does know is Robert himself – a fact that becomes stark as he reflects, with refreshing candour, on the remarkable journey he’s undertaken since the accident that stalled an enormously promising racing career, and almost ended his life. We’ve ostensibly been brought together to talk about his current stint at Alfa Romeo as reserve driver, and his recent cameos as a race driver, standing in for Kimi…

THIS IS JAMES ALLISON Command of the air was a concept which infused James Allison’s life from the very beginning – his father, Sir John Allison, was a fighter pilot and later commander-inchief of RAF Strike Command, as well as a passionate restorer and driver of vintage cars. Hardly surprising then that an early life surrounded by both aeronautics and the works of automotive pioneers should set James on the road to a career in Formula 1, initially as an aerodynamicist. But you’ll see another thread woven through this story: the sense of duty which abides those who have grown up in and around the armed forces. James’s career has encompassed soaring highs and shattering lows – and, as he embarks on the next phase of it in a new…

PICTURES IN NOVEMBER OF 1978 I GOT A CALL… from his secretary asking me to visit John Surtees in St Thomas Hospital, where he was undergoing surgery on his right leg, this the hangover of an accident 13 years earlier. No explanation was offered: simply, “John would like to talk to you”. He was in good spirits, and we chatted, but still I wondered why I had been asked to visit. Finally, he said, “As long as you’re here, I may as well give you some news.” About what the team is doing next year? “That’s the news,” he said. “We’re stopping…” In today’s world the announcement of a team’s withdrawal would make the 10 O’Clock News, but back then PR was essentially unknown in Formula 1, and Surtees was anyway…

1 Verstappen fends off Hamilton to extend championship advantage The United States GP served up a case study in how small the margins are between Mercedes and Red Bull in the championship run-in. Mercedes seemed to be in the ascendant on Friday at the Circuit of the Americas, only to be forced to row back on set-up choices as its cars suffered on the track’s bumps. Max Verstappen then put his Red Bull on pole and executed a typically aggressive strategy to perfection, regaining the initiative after losing out to Lewis Hamilton at the start. Ahead of the weekend, Red Bull accused Mercedes of running a trick rear suspension system (see Insider). The claim became moot – for this weekend at least – because bumps on the track surface were…

19-21 November 2021 Losail International Circuit THE MAIN EVENT Qatar has joined the roster of grand prix hosting nations – and not just as a short-term solution to other races being cancelled or postponed as a result of the pandemic. While this year’s Qatar GP slots into the space originally earmarked for the postponed (and now cancelled) Australian round, Qatar has signed up for another 10 years, beginning in 2023. That break will enable the country to construct another grand prix venue, one more suited to racing cars, after Qatar hosts the FIFA football World Cup in 2022. Losail was constructed with motorcycle racing in mind and hosted its inaugural MotoGP round in 2004. Although it’s only 20-odd miles north of the ever-encroaching suburbs of the capital, Doha, the circuit…

10-12 December 2021 Yas Marina THE MAIN EVENT Formula 1’s first billion-dollar circuit has never delivered on the scale of its ambitions. Abu Dhabi’s rulers were determined to serve up a spectacular end to the season – but year in, year out, Yas Marina’s day-into-night race has proved to be a drearily processional plod. Even when the championship has been still up for grabs… Over a decade since its construction, the facility has received a much-needed revamp. Three key changes aim to add to the challenge and create opportunities to overtake – although, since this track has two straights around a kilometre in length, that shouldn’t have been a problem. What was the Turns 5-6-7 complex has been consolidated into a single hairpin with more run-off and no chicane preceding…

ANDREW BENSON BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer examines why Charles Leclerc is in pole position to be Ferrari’s next world champion (p30) ALEX KALINAUCKAS Alex Albon’s return to a race seat for 2022, replacing George Russell at Williams, comes under Alex’s gaze this month (p52) OLEG KARPOV Oleg finds out what Haas is doing to try and improve on what has been an awful season for F1’s whipping boys (p68) STUART CODLING Two mighty interviews for Stuart this month: McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo on his return to form (p44) and Merc’s James Allison (p56) Thanks to Tim Bampton, Connor Bean, Harry Bull, Caterina Cappelli, Jacques Heckstall-Smith, Silvia Hoffer-Frangipane, Jack Leslie, Bradley Lord, Adam McDaid, Will Ponissi, Charlotte Sefton, Rosa Herraro Venegas, Richard Wilson…

No matter how many years you spend in motorsport photography, you never stop thanking your lucky stars whenever you get the opportunity to capture the championship protagonists within the same frame with a backdrop which could only belong to one location. The Foro Sol stadium has its knockers – its presence meant the legendary Peraltada corner couldn’t be remodelled with modern levels of run-off – but you really do feel a fantastic atmosphere here. And not just on race day. I’ve never seen the arena so busy on every day of the weekend – none more so than here, right after the start of the race itself. Where Mexico City, Mexico When 1:09pm, Sunday 7 November 2021 Details Canon EOS-1D X MkII 16-35mm lens, 1/8000th @F5…

PICTURES 01 “THE MOST DEMANDING SEASON” Record 23-race calendar for 2022 divides opinion 02 ANDRETTI-SAUBER DEAL HITS THE ROCKS 03 RED BULL KICKS UP RIDE HEIGHT RUCKUS 01 Formula 1’s announcement of a record 23-race schedule for the 2022 season has proved controversial as the stakeholders struggle to reconcile the commercial advantages of expansion with the inevitable human cost. The calendar includes not one but two of the triple-headers which have caused exhaustion and burnout in the past – and they are arranged back-to back, separated by a fortnight, which means six races in seven weeks between Belgium and Japan. F1’s first triple-header, in summer 2018, came as a result of the commercial rights holder not wanting an event to clash with the FIFA world cup final, dictating that the…

@_markgallagher IS ANDRETTI AND ALFA THE NEW F1 LOVE STORY? “What’s in a name?” heralds the start of Juliet’s famous soliloquy in Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy detailing her ill-fated romance with Romeo, doomed by feuding families. Andretti is certainly a name, one which carries with it half a century of racing heritage thanks to the brilliance of the man who heads the dynasty, 1978 world champion Mario. Son Michael has been attempting to secure a marriage with a Romeo, of the Alfa variety, through a purchase of Sauber. On the other side of this attempted love-match is another family of renowned wealth and influence, namely the billionaire Rausings of Tetrapak fame. Finn Rausing is central to Longbow Finance, the investment firm which acquired Sauber in 2016. A letter of intent between…

PICTURES Few images encapsulate the first half of Daniel Ricciardo’s eventful 2021 season quite so graphically as the footage of him climbing out of the cockpit after dragging his wounded McLaren to 12th (on the road) in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Or, rather, pausing halfway through the manoeuvre with his head slumped disconsolately against the car’s halo for what seemed like an age. After two seasons with a Renault team which habitually overpromised and under-delivered, Ricciardo made a high-profile move to McLaren for 2021 which should have provided him with a performance upgrade. And yet, after a relatively bright start in the Bahrain season-opener, disappointment piled upon disappointment as Ricciardo struggled to get to grips with an MCL35M chassis in which understeer is the predominant characteristic. Team-mate Lando Norris adapted…

PICTURES ZERO POINTS, LAST PLACE in the constructors’ championship, only a couple of Q2 appearances all season. Those are numbers worthy of the infamous Marussia, Caterham and HRT trio. But Haas, though one of F1’s newer teams, had us accustomed to something else. In the points in its first-ever race, eighth at the end of its first season, top five in the constructors’ standings in 2018. Team principal Guenther Steiner’s idea to buy whatever the regulations allowed Ferrari to sell, and outsource the creation of the car to Dallara, had been working. But then it started to crumble. A problematic 2019 car led to a fall to ninth in the championship, against the backdrop of an acrimonious split with new title sponsor Rich Energy; the team accrued just three points…

1 Verstappen overturns qualifying upset to extends points lead All the signs pre-weekend pointed to Mexico being a Red Bull stronghold and a chance for Max Verstappen to extend his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton. That’s ultimately what transpired, thanks to Red Bull having a clear advantage over Mercedes in the race, but it also took some gutsy driving from Verstappen after he and team-mate Sergio Pérez both failed to qualify on the front row. That was the biggest surprise of all, given Mercedes was well off the pace after practice, despite tuning its engine to become a match for Honda at altitude. Red Bull repaired cracked rear wings then failed to top any of qualifying’s three segments, with Verstappen ultimately 0.350 seconds behind pole-winner Valtteri Bottas, and two tenths…

3-5 December 2021 Jeddah Corniche Circuit THE MAIN EVENT Probably the highest-profile addition to the Formula 1 calendar for the 2021 season since it is rare to encounter someone who hasn’t formed an opinion about the rights and wrongs of F1 giving Saudi Arabia a sporting event on the global stage. Those in favour, and who plan to attend, can expect a no-expense-spared promotional effort (Jason Derulo and DJ Tiësto headline a concert on site on Saturday evening, followed by David Guetta and Justin Bieber on Sunday) and a venue which epitomises the philosophy of bigger-better-faster-more. Not only is the Jeddah Corniche Circuit among the longest on the calendar, it makes a virtue of having the most corners – 27 – and aims to bump Baku from its status as…

KLIPSCH T5 II TRUE WIRELESS EARPHONES Price €399 mclarenstore.com Dedicated McLaren fans have enthusiastically embraced the team’s recent papaya orange makeover and now they can co-ordinate their tech with their team merchandise. Klipsch is McLaren’s official headphone and portable audio partner, and the company’s flagship T5 II earphones are now available with a McLaren twist, featuring the speedmark logo and papaya ear tips, along with a new carry-case design featuring papaya and carbonfibre-effect accents, and a ridged border styled to resemble the tread of an intermediate tyre. The buds are (Bluetooth) wireless, with state-of-the-art noise-cancelling and Dirac HD sound as well as headgesture controls which, among other functions, enable you to answer calls by nodding. Included in the package is a dual-position Qi wireless charging pad which can accommodate a…

It’s a privilege to be present on occasions such as this. For Max, obviously, a victory which sets him up well for the championship run in. But for Sergio Pérez this has been a long time coming: a podium finish at his home grand prix after years of frustration here. The crowd, as you can imagine, really rose to the occasion. This was a tricky shot to pull off because you’re hand-holding a long lens and have no control of where the drivers decide they’re going to move – plus there’s tickertape everywhere. In this shot there’s a nice bit of symmetry in their poses and the tickertape is obligingly not blocking their faces! Where Mexico City, Mexico When 3:05pm, Sunday 7 November 2021 Details Canon EOS-R5 100-500mm lens, 1/1250th…

@benedwardstv PICTURES NEW HORIZONS IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST A remarkable season of Formula 1 is about to reach its climax in the Middle East, as a trio of races on three very different circuits adds another level of unpredictability. Firstly, there is the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, which features a technical layout on low-grip asphalt, and a risk of chaos with standing water if wet weather descends. In Saudi Arabia, at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, it is our eyes that are likely to water due to the sheer speeds witnessed on a street track. Baku set new levels for pace on regular roads, but the Saudi race is going another step further, with average lap times likely to be faster than at Silverstone, on a track featuring…

IT’S REALLY QUITE HARD TO NOT LIKE ALEX ALBON. The tall, determined Anglo-Thai driver is genteel and friendly, softly spoken but smiling warmly. That’s clear, even with a mask on. Right now, he’s sitting outside Red Bull’s hospitality tent in a sweltering Circuit of the Americas, about to issue a withering putdown of one of Formula 1’s brightest stars: George Russell. “He’s actually the tightest guy I know!” Albon has forgotten that suggestions he owes his good friend Russell a beer or two come from words he himself uttered a month earlier, but the fact he’s willing to offer such a frank and amusing statement is to his credit in F1’s oft-sterile surroundings. And that beer debt is one small part of the reason for his chat with GP Racing…

PICTURES @CoddersF1 facebook.com/gpracingonline OPEN HOUSE FOR F1’S TECH ‘EXPERTS’? We’ve had enough of experts. Michael Gove said it, so it must be true. I’m being flippant, of course. “We’ve had enough of experts”: the enduring charm of quackery was the title of a fascinating 2018 article in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Medicine was the subject, but you could easily swing the lens around to focus on Formula 1’s guff-saturated information economy. “My interest,” said author Nick Ross, “is the boundary between easy thinking – fast, intuitive, barely conscious and which leads to quackery, prejudice, populism – and the stuff you have to work at: slow, calculating, conscious, which leads to science, maths, evidence and, above all, accepting contra-evidence (the stuff that challenges or undermines a truth you’ve long regarded…