One of the phrases that generated the most jokes within the paddock During winter rehearsals he released it. The Asturian was not referring to the hypothetical driving skill that the Aston Martin chef may have, nor to the undoubted laziness of the AMR26. Alonso summarized the general feeling of the grid regarding the cars that will line up this Sunday on the grid of the Albert Park circuit (05:00 hours, Dazn), where another World Championship gets underway, this one, marked by the change in the most aggressive technical regulations in recent decades. In short, cars lose volume and aerodynamic efficiency; The electrical part of the engine and the combustion part will be balanced (50%), and a completely sustainable fuel will be released. The first two elements will have a momentous impact on the nature of careers; the third, more cosmetic. And ultimately we will have to see what effect all this has on the fans and on the membership curve for a contest that is sweet to the delight of Liberty Media, which does not stop signing contracts and achieving impossible goals. The latest is that Apple TV and Netflix, two streaming platforms that are direct competitors, reach an agreement so that both can offer concrete tests, starting with the Canadian Grand Prix in May.
That the promoter of big circus has hit the target in the business decisions it has made since the covid broke out is evidence. However, it is not so clear that the direction is the same in sports, at least if one is guided by the comments of the drivers, especially those with more weight. Max Verstappen has expressed himself almost as ironic as the Asturian. “I would say that single-seaters have become Formula E cars, but on steroids,” the Dutchman said ironically, in his intervention on the ‘Up to Speed’ podcast, in which he had no filter in acknowledging that this new nature of racing cars invites him to think that his career in the championship, after 11 complete years and four titles in a row, will not last much longer.
“These cars are not so fun to drive, because, in short, everything is based on management,” adds the four-time champion, a victim of the whims of these new engines: Red Bull’s flagship ended up against the barriers in the first qualifying round (Q1), after locking the rear wheels at the entrance to the first corner, probably because the technicians had calibrated a more accentuated distribution of braking towards the rear axle, as a strategy for the batteries to recharge more. Mercedes took over the first line, a circumstance that confirms the superiority of the Silver Arrows that was already predicted in the preseason. Isack Hadjar, Verstappen’s teammate, placed third, ahead of Charles Leclerc (fourth). Lando Norris, the current champion, could not get past sixth position, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso was one step away from moving on to the second place (17th), and Carlos Sainz (21st) could not even start due to a breakdown in his Williams.
Historically, the time table was ordered based on talent, mixed with the unconsciousness of the runners when it came time to step on the accelerator pedal. Until now, this management has become the determining factor in approaching success. In recent years, this management was focused on tire degradation, in order to have a wider range of strategic options. Now everything depends on the administration of the electrical energy that the propeller is capable of storing, while running, and then using it when it best suits the pilot. And in that, the contrast between some manufacturers and others is tremendous at the moment, with the new regulatory framework freshly baked. As evidenced in Melbourne, the top of the pyramid is occupied by Mercedes, and , which supplies the Aston Martin power unit.
