Carlos Sainz has completed his Ferrari F1 test while Mick Schumacher has started his, as Red Bull awaits engine freeze decision and McLaren reveal release date.
After a full day run for Sainz in the 2018 Ferrari SF17H on Wednesday, the Spaniard complete his time in the F1 car at Fiorano on Thursday morning. Post his run, Haas driver Schumacher took over in the afternoon for his first run since the 2020 season.
Schumacher last drove the Ferrari car in September last year and followed it up with his first time in the 2020 Haas in Abu Dhabi. With the limited testing this year, it was a good chance for Schumacher to shake off his cobwebs and learn more about F1 ahead of his debut.
“Finally sitting in a race car again is a feeling I was missing a lot,” said Schumacher after completing more than 50 laps in #47 car. “I think today has definitely been a positive day at the track. We managed to get through the entire programme that we had scheduled without any problems and it was clearly very useful to be able to get through so much mileage at the wheel of a car in view of the coming season that will be starting in about a month and a half with the pre-season testing.
“The SF71H is a car from 2018 but its behaviour on the track and the feelings that it gives to the driver are very similar, both in terms of how it behaves on the track and physical stress. That makes it an excellent base when it comes to preparation for the new season. Driving at Fiorano is always great anyway because the track is technical and demanding.
It’s been a pleasure to meet up once again with the engineers and mechanics I worked with last September and I can’t wait to get back into the car tomorrow,” summed up Schumacher.
The German will be back in the F1 car for the morning session on Friday, after which test driver Callum Ilott will end the five-day run in the afternoon. Here’s host of photos and videos from Schumacher and Sainz’s run:
https://twitter.com/insideFDA/status/1354874145293611016?s=20
https://twitter.com/F1/status/1354832331425673221?s=20
https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/1354730346873556993?s=20
https://twitter.com/insideFDA/status/1354817920631627777?s=20
https://twitter.com/insideFDA/status/1354847926300848131?s=20
Staying on with Ferrari and Red Bull, it looks like the engine freeze decision has been delayed after the scheduled vote on the matter did not take place this week. Dr. Helmut Marko noted about a vote this week to help them make a decision on 2022.
They are to opt for the Honda IP route for 2022 only if there is a freeze on engine development, which will help them financially. The freeze can only happen if the F1 teams agree on it but it seems like there is delay in a compromise with no vote.
Multiple reports, including Racefans.net, quoted Marko talking about no vote and needing more time to discuss, which puts Red Bull in a spot of bother. A no freeze may force them to rethink not only about an engine supplier but also their participation in F1 on the whole.
While they await on the decision, McLaren became the second F1 outfit to reveal its launch date, which will take place on February 15 at 19:00 GMT. For now they are first to reveal the 2021 car with Alfa Romeo Racing to unveil their machine on February 22.
Here’s Wednesday F1 run from Carlos Sainz
Here’s Sergio Perez on working with Adrian Newey, Honda
Here’s last on Red Bull-Honda