Brendan Lines   July 3, 2020

Formula 1’s 2020 season finally begins this weekend in Austria after the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix in March. The sport’s ‘new normal’ looks very different to the world we knew just before the COVID-19 pandemic, so just how are the teams adapting to the return of racing at the Red Bull Ring this weekend?

If we flashback to March, the Friday morning of the Australian Grand Prix the paddock remained as ‘normal’ as possible despite the confusion outside the gates of Albert Park from madding crowds, Formula 1’s bubble had burst.

Since then, there has been a seismic shift in just about every corner of the sport’s regulations, finances and calendar just to be in Austria this weekend.

Notably, teams united to manufacture respirators under the Project Pitlane initiative, the ‘we race as one’ campaign, and now Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton call for more diversity and inclusion in the sport. 

While team personnel and drivers would be quite used to a world of lockdown measures by now, a Grand Prix weekend usually awash with colour and celebration is now a vacuum, the Formula 1 paddock is a very different place today — here’s how each team returns to the paddock in 2020.

 

Mercedes leading the push for diversity

As political discussions around Black Lives Matter (BLM) has entered the paddock, it’s in a way inevitable as Formula 1 is now not the ‘bubble’ it once was and in a way politics have always been part of the sport, we’re just having a larger more relevant discussion now.

Lewis Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas’ all black overalls in support of BLM movement – Image: Mercedes AMG F1

World Champion Lewis Hamilton returned to the grid with a renewed purpose for greater diversity and inclusion in the sport, raising the discussion with f1.com the minute he arrived at Spielberg.

“The callout [on Instagram] was really for everyone in this industry,” Hamilton said.

“There are so many great jobs [in Formula 1], there are so many opportunities, but none so far, or very, very few opportunities, have been [given] to minorities, so I think we do really have to push, and more needs to be done for sure.”

“I won’t stop pushing till we really see change,” he added. “Seeing one person of colour added to the paddock is not diversity, and so we’ve really got to dig deep, and really try to pull together and do what we can to shift this, and I think it starts with education,” He said.

 

Still testing times for Ferrari

Since coming out of hibernation Ferrari are still unsure of their outright pace after a disappointing testing period way back before the Australian GP, driver Charles Leclerc said to autosport.com:

“I think after the testing, we more or less knew that we were not where we wanted to be, especially on the qualifying pace,” he said.

“Then there’s been this whole situation with coronavirus, everything was closed.

“Once they reopened, we re-analysed the data with the small amount of time we had, and I think we decided to make a step back to try and analyse from where the issue is coming from first, to then work on the issues.

“That’s where we’re at the moment. We have tried a different route for Budapest,” he said.

Sebastian Vettel with Ferrari team members look over the Red Bull Ring circuit – Image AP

While team mate Sebastian Vettel who was the centre of ‘silly season’ during lockdown, Vettel revealed just before coming to Austria there was never a contract put to him for 2020.

“We never got into any discussions, there was never an offer on the table and therefore, there was no sticking point,” he said.

 

Red Bull: Business as usual

Red Bull come into Austria as hot favourites as driver Max Verstappen took victory and put engine partner Honda back on the podium in 2019. Verstappen and team mate Alex Albon are taking a very business as usual approach, despite the new season, towards Red Bulls home race at the ‘Ring.”

Max Verstappen speaks to the media in Austria – Image: Redbullcontentpool.com

“It’s again, especially now, a bit of a different season, so we just need to get started, we need to work on the car and I need to get comfortable again in the car. Hopefully that won’t take too long, and then we’ll see. We’ll of course try to win every single race but at the moment, it’s a bit difficult to say,” Verstappen said to f1.com.

McLaren flush with positives

Earlier in the week a loan from the National Bank of Bahrain (NNB) eased the financial pain of the pandemic for the moment, the air of positivity has been reflected on the teams MCL35 livery carrying a ‘We Race As One’ design.

MCL35’s We Race As One’ livery – Image: McLaren Media

Before arriving in Austria CEO Zak Brown penned an open letter to fans on McLaren.com, the letter read:

“As racers we are relieved and excited by the prospect of F1 roaring into life, but we should not shield ourselves from reality.”

“F1’s #WeRaceAsOne initiative is something we have been working on together with F1 for some time, to honour and thank those who have led the frontline response to Covid-19, and to support those who are being particularly badly affected by this terrible disease.”

 

Renault and Ricciardo begin ‘last dance’

For Australian Daniel Ricciardo it is the beginning of his final dance with Renault as he moves to McLaren in 2020.

But the Aussie’s focus is getting back to business placing Renault higher up the grid.

Daniel Ricciardo speaks to the media outside the Renault garage – Image: Renaultsport.com

“It’s about getting back to business. We’re all so excited to go racing again. We’ll get on with it and give it our all as we know the season is going to be shorter than usual and very fast-paced,” he said.

Where is Renault looking to replace Ricciardo? Teammate Esteban Ocon says he would be “very happy” if that new team mate was two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

 

Racing ‘Point’ of difference

The change to Aston Martini 2020 was the big noise out of Racing Point. Racing Point are also an active voice in brining change to the world in providing safe drinking water for communities across Gambia, as sponsor BWT will build a well in the villages of Gambia for every time drivers Lance Stroll or Perez achieve a top 10 race finish.

Racing Point’s RP20  will also carry the #weraceasone on it’s livery.

#weraceasone features on the RP20 – Image: Racingpointf1.com

 

A shot in the arm for Williams

The climb back to being competitive hasn’t got any easier for Williams over the lockdown as part of the team was sold resulting in it’s title sponsors gone, but returning to the grid  in Austria is just the ‘shot in the arm’ the team needs says Race Engineer Dave Robson.

“Since returning from shutdown however, we have worked hard to ensure that the whole operation is equipped and ready for the start of the new season. There will be nerves and concerns every time the car runs, but it is that shot of adrenalin, and feeling of excitement and jeopardy, that reminds us that we have missed the action so much,” he said.

Nicholas Latifi will finally make is long awaited debut for a rookie season like no other  joining teammate George Russell.

Williams debutant Nicholas Latifi – Image Williams Racing

New look Alpha Tauri finally rolls out  

The former Toro Rosso outfit still had not debuted under it’s new guise, it’s AT01 is proving a fan favourite already with it’s striking livery.

Alpha Tauri mechanics roll out the AT01 at the Red Bull Ring – Image Redbullcontentpool.com

Driver Daniel Kyvat says with limited testing the team is yet to gauge it’s outright pace. 

“As to how we will get on, it’s hard to say. In terms of track data to look at, we only have what we acquired in Barcelona in the winter. We will turn up in Austria with a good plan to tackle the Red Bull Ring and then we will see. It’s a track I like, with an old-skool layout featuring plenty of fast corners and I’ve always enjoyed racing there. We will be there for quite a while with the two races back to back and it’s a nice place to be, in the countryside so it means we can put in some training time in the fresh air,” he said.

 

Alfa Romeo taking every chance

Stealing points from the mid-field contenders has been Alfa’s ‘MO’ and it probably won’t change coming into Austria, but it seems for driver Kimi Raikkonen it’s his son who has been getting the better of his dad racing karts during the lockdown.

 

Alfa Romeo on track at 2019 Austrian GP – Image 

“He’s been getting a bit faster and with rental karts I cannot keep up anymore, so I need a bit more horsepower!” joked Kimi speaking to The Race.

But with a truncated calendar and the possibility of more races announced soon Raikkonen says Alfa will have to take every chance.

“With so many races in so little time, we need to make the most of every event and score points every time we get the chance. It’s hard to tell where everyone stands, but we will find out soon enough,” he said.

 

Haas rebuild from disappointing 2019

Since it’s dismal 2019 and fallout with it’s title sponsor adding insult to injury, Haas have gone back to the drawing board, but just how well it’s re-build goes could be helped by driver and now builder Kevin Magnussen.

Kevin Magnussen speaks to the media in at Thursday’s lock-out press conference – Image Hassf1team.com

“So it’s been interesting to see what you actually find interesting when you’re forced into not doing anything.”

“I built a playhouse for my niece in the summerhouse that my wife’s family has in Denmark,” he said.

But returning to racing with no fans Magnussen says will be an adjustment.

“The atmosphere will obviously be different, not as good, but I’m personally very excited to get back in the car and get back to racing. I hope the fans will be able to have fun watching us on the telly,” he said.

Practice 1 for the Austrian Grand Prix begins 6.30pm local time tonight.