Formula 1 is starting its new season later than ever

Formula 1 starts its 15.10st season with a ghost race in Austria on Sunday (4:71 p.m.) XNUMX months later than planned. In emergency operation with a strict hygiene concept, the racing series wants to save its World Cup year; for the first time in history, Styria is hosting the start. The Mercedes drivers are once again the favorites in the race, but it could be bitter for Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. BLACK POWER: As a signal for more diversity and against discrimination, the Silver Arrow is wrapped in black this year. After the first rounds in Spielberg, the competition was indeed looking bleak. “I'm surprised by the distance to the other teams. The strength of this team is impressive,” said Valtteri Bottas after taking pole position on Saturday. The Finn and world champion Lewis Hamilton was almost half a second faster than third Max Verstappen. On the short lap in Austria, these are worlds apart. “This team shows every year what it is capable of and we continue to set new standards,” said Hamilton. ZERO ORANGE: At other times, the Red Bull Ring was firmly in Dutch hands. The “Orange Army” partyed in the stands, Max Verstappen raced to victory in 2018 and 2019. This time the 22-year-old has to make do without his party-loving fans. Verstappen hopes for the strategy and starts with harder tires than the Mercedes duo in front of him. “It will be warmer, that should be an advantage for us,” said the young Red Bull star. RED IN NEED: These are difficult times for Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari. The relationship comes to an end and the hope of a successful farewell tour for the Hessian diminishes. As eleventh in qualifying, the 33-year-old's chances of a top spot are pretty slim. “Our car wasn’t fast enough, the balance wasn’t ideal,” complained Vettel. Remarkable: All six cars in the field with Ferrari engines were significantly slower than last year. That's not very encouraging, even if Vettel's company car is being overhauled in Hungary in two weeks. After all: The Hessian has a free choice of tires in Spielberg and could use his tactics to make up places. COLORFUL SIGNALS: Before the start, the drivers want to campaign for more diversity and against racism. All 20 pilots will probably wear T-shirts with the message “End Racism”. Everyone has the opportunity to make their own mark. It is still unclear whether all drivers actually kneel like many athletes around the world have done before. “I don't know what we're going to see. “Probably people who show their respect in their own way,” said Lewis Hamilton, who repeatedly made political statements during the Corona break. The Finnish Valtteri Bottas secured the first pole position of the season in the Silver Arrow.

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Formula 1 is starting its new season later than ever

Formula 1 has had to wait a long time for this moment. Because of the global corona pandemic, the new season starts later than ever before.

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