In the round-up: Christian Horner says to expect ‘anything’ at the Nurburgring this weekend, as F1 heads there the latest in the year since 1984.
What they say
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the Nurburgring can throw up unpredictable weather at any time of year – but that this weekend’s Grand Prix looks fairly certain to be cold:
It’s going to be a challenge. I’ve been there in May and you know, opened my curtains and seen snow and had a race cancelled there in in the past. So anything can happen.
It could be a beautiful autumnal weekend and the sun could shine every day. But we go there prepared for everything and take your winter jacket because I think you’re going to need it.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Jackie Stewart says that @LewisHamilton is not in the top 3 best drivers of all time – I have to disagree.
Things are much more competitive & equal now than they ever were. I think Lewis is definitely in the top 3 of all time! #F1
— Jody Scheckter (@JScheckter) October 7, 2020
Sad not to be heading to Germany this weekend but as I’m not yet at 100% I’m very grateful to have been given some more time at home to get back to full fitness.
Can’t wait to see how a wet and cold weekend at the Nurburgring plays out. See you all (hopefully) in Portugal.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) October 7, 2020
Not a sign I had thought I’d being seeing anytime soon – then came #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/hcBjF2jaoe
— Fritz-Dieter Rencken (@RacingLines) October 7, 2020
#F1 returns to the @Nuerburgring this weekend where Michael @Schumacher made his final appearance in a Formula 1 car in 2013 – on the mighty Nordschleife.#KeepFightingMichael pic.twitter.com/2KeS3Gw7CY
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) October 7, 2020
Why 'The Honey Badger'?
Which football team does Max support?
Is Lando related to Chuck Norris?!?
What road car does K-Mag drive?
All those questions you've searched for – here are the answers! 🤔 🙌#F1 pic.twitter.com/9KMSul8ieP
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 7, 2020
We've missed you too! 👋😀#EifelGP 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/9xbNslVaac
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 7, 2020
After a few months of preparations, we are more than happy to inform you that our exciting talent detection programme – FIA #GirlsonTrack – #RisingStars will have its’ on track activities form Sunday, 11th of October onward.🌟🚗💨@pirellisport @WinfieldRS @PaulRicardTrack @fia pic.twitter.com/wj9YSaKbGV
— fiawim (@fiawim) October 7, 2020
This is what we have to remember and share from last weekends FIA World KZ Championship. A true champion, celebrating with his rivals. Pure motorsport and fairplay. GRANDE @jeremyiglesias 👏!
🎥 @TKARTweb pic.twitter.com/n0K1pwSoUR— Lucas Ordonez (@Lucas_Ordonez) October 7, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Setup: Nurburgring (Honda Racing F1)
"Last Friday, Honda announced that we would be ending our Formula 1 programme at the end of the 2021 season. Everyone involved in Honda’s F1 project is very sad that our time in the sport is coming to an end. We have enjoyed excellent partnerships with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri and I am proud of what we have achieved with both teams so far in terms of wins and podium finishes. For the moment, our work continues exactly as before and we will be doing our utmost to secure more wins and good results with both teams. We have also assured the FIA and Formula 1 of our intention to fully meet our responsibilities, not just towards our two teams but also to the sport in general, all the way through to the end of the 2021 season."
Bathurst International postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions (Touring Car Times)
"This event was not based around a singular product but a wide and varied motorsport entertainment package which involved over 2000 people attending before the inclusion of fans, families, friends, sponsors, service providers, event staff and broadcast personnel. To deliver an event of this magnitude required it to be delivered in the right way and in the current environment that is just not possible."
Romain Grosjean and R8G esports to compete in World eX (World eX)
"'I like the concept and the forward-thinking approach of World eX co-founder Mike Rockenfeller and his team,' says Romain Grosjean. 'As a father of a family, I know that we need to act to preserve our planet. World eX will be more than just sim racing. It will be entertaining and make esports and motorsport fans think about what they can do personally to fight climate change. I’m really looking forward to this new adventure. Together, I believe we can build something very exciting.'"
Novalak ends Barcelona post-season testing on top ahead of Doohan in Trident 1-2 (Formula 3)
"Arthur Leclerc made his maiden appearance in the top five in the final session, finishing just behind the continually impressive Fraga. French racer Martins has been the standout rookie of the test and capped off his debut with another top ten finish, taking the sixth fastest time of the afternoon."
25 cars for Bahrain season finale (Daily Sportscar)
"The provisional entry for next month’s 8 Hours of Bahrain entry, the final round of the 2019/ 2020 FIA World Endurance Championship sees 25 cars listed. As expected the LMP1 entry shows just the two Toyota TS050s listed in what is set to be the final race for LMP1 as the top category in the World Championship."
Mäkinen rules out Toyota team orders (WRC)
"Separated by 18 points, team drivers Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier are first and second in the standings ahead of this week’s Rally Italia Sardegna (8 - 11 October), with team-mate Kalle Rovanperä 27 points down in joint third with Hyundai Motorsport’s Ott Tänak. The difficulty for Mäkinen is that Toyota’s advantage against defending world champion manufacturer Hyundai is just nine points, and a repeat of the 2018 makes’ race win he achieved is priority number one for the Japanese automotive company."
Bad boy billionaires (Netflix via YouTube)
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Comment of the day
Rafael asks if Vettel needed more “like minded partners” during his time at Ferrari to achieve what Schumacher did in leading the team – or if he was over-reaching the driver role there?
Looking back to Maurizio Arrivabene’s comments in 2016, when he publicly told Vettel to “focus on the driving” (as opposed to giving too much interest on other aspects of the team); I get the impression that Seb’s approach was ultimately closer to that of Heinz-Herald Frentzen’s, than Michael Schumacher’s.
I remember back in 2002/2003, I read an article where one engineer who worked with him commented that, Frentzen does give good feedback; but sometimes, he gets too involved that he ends up acting like he’s the designer.
I agree with you that Schumacher had with him like minded partners during his time at Ferrari — something that is often overlooked by people, when judging the stints of his successors in Maranello. Jean Todt and Ross Brawn were as equally focused and professional as Michael, which gave them synergy and allowed them to be the best in their given expertise.
Rafael
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Rob Tsintas!
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On this day in F1
- 20 years ago today Michael Schumacher won his third world championship title at Suzuka, and his first as a Ferrari driver
Jamie B
8th October 2020, 5:28
I still don’t understand why this race isn’t called the German Grand Prix. Were there some legal issues over naming rights or something?
abananasplitz
8th October 2020, 6:51
for no reason at all ie some dumb marketing ploy that makes no sense because we know what the tracks are called and where they are, the dumbass “communicator” that came up with this should be shot.
nickthegreek (@nickthegreek)
8th October 2020, 7:01
uhh ok…? take it easy?
Jan (@netm)
8th October 2020, 7:19
From what I understand it’s a relic from when Hockenheim and Nurburgring were alternating hosting F1 in Germany. FIA didn’t want to have both Hockenheim and Nurburgring under the German GP name even when they were alternating, so Hockenhaim “got” the German GP name, and I guess it stuck?
Red Andy (@red-andy)
8th October 2020, 7:29
@netm Could be, although the version I heard is that the owners of Hockenheim currently own the rights to the “German GP” name, so the Nurburgring owners had to come up with a different name.
BasCB (@bascb)
8th October 2020, 7:30
Yes, it is a legal issue Jamie B, @netm. The rights to the name “German GP” lie with the operators of the Hockenheim track. When they alternated Hockenheim “shared” that name with the Nurburgring on the basis of their agreement (since it started because Hockenheim wasn’t able to pay for a race every year, they shared running on a bi-annual basis).
Now, Hockenheim doesn’t want to allow that name to be used (and why should they, since Nurburgring probably undercut them to get the race in the first place)
frood19 (@frood19)
8th October 2020, 7:56
I rather like these unusual names, it reminds me of the non championship races (which I thought these hastily rearranged events should have been). It will certainly mark them out as special races in the history books. (though the 70th anniversary race was a dreadful name.)
The only problem I see is the image that it portrays to the casual fan or general public. Seeing the headline ‘Hamilton wins tuscan grand prix’ evokes a rather less important race than ‘italian grand prix’, for example. It makes it sound like the sport has lowered its standards and is now somewhat parochial.
BasCB (@bascb)
8th October 2020, 12:28
I am fine with those names too, much like you mention @frood19, they point to being something a bit different. And I think Hamilton wins at Mugello sounds fine :-)
Jere (@jerejj)
8th October 2020, 7:59
I agree with Dieter, although I couldn’t have foreseen a sign like this even after COVID came until when the first reports about Nurburgring potentially joining the altered race schedule appeared.
I wish more drivers did the thing about F1 internet search.
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
8th October 2020, 19:24
With Aston Martin now going to be a fully fledged team and Honda in their way out, you’ve got to think Red Bull will be pondering their F1 future. They definitely have the passion and must be credited with what they have done for the sport, including giving us a competitive team for the past 11+ years but the fact is they aren’t a car manufacturer and for all their management and technical prowess (and Newey’s genius), they need solid dedicated partnerships in key areas which aren’t forthcoming in the near future. At least, one that I can see. It would be sad if they bow out because of that reason but I cannot help but feel they have a trick up their sleeve which will only become clearer in days to come.