From June 11 to 13, the Turkish Grand Prix was scheduled to take place. However, due to health restrictions caused by the coronavirus, Formula 1 decided on May 14 to cancel the race, which is why the pilots are resting this weekend.
The appointment in Istanbul has been replaced by the Austrian Grand Prix. Since two races will be held in this country, the calendar has been modified to be consecutive. On the one hand, the French Grand Prix will take place on June 20 , a week ahead of schedule; while the Styrian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix will be held on June 27 and July 4 respectively. That is, there will be no Formula 1 this weekend but the next three.
Your updated F1 calendar, now with two races in Austria and a slightly earlier race in France 🗓️#F1 pic.twitter.com/KmFYDnCL4b
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 14, 2021
“ We were all looking forward to racing in Turkey, but travel restrictions make it difficult for us to be there in June . Formula 1 has shown once again that it is capable of reacting quickly to developments and finding solutions, and we are delighted to have a double date in Austria, which means that our season continues at 23 races ”, said Stefano Domenicali after this modification. of the calendar.
“ We are equally grateful to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and the promoter of the French Grand Prix for their flexibility , and to the Austrian promoter for his enthusiasm for hosting a second race on short notice after the great success of the two races at Austria in 2020 ”, added the president of Formula 1 in the statement issued in this regard.
Ricciardo considers it positive to have three races in a row
The Asturian rider is, of all those who have changed teams in 2021, the one who has adapted the worst. Questioned by this, Daniel Ricciardo pointed out: “When you try to learn or adapt to something in any sport, the best way to do it is by practicing, but the problem with our sport is that we cannot do it every day .”
“We just can’t take the car and go out for a few laps tomorrow with the car. So I think having three weekends in a row and training so often will accelerate my progress and adaptation, ”continued the McLaren driver. “We have the simulator and those things obviously help, but in the simulator the walls or accidents don’t hurt, so it’s never the same as real driving ,” concluded Ricciardo .
The French Grand Prix, a turning point for Alonso
Another driver who has suffered at the beginning of the season, in his case because he has been away from Formula 1 for two years is Fernando Alonso. Although the two-time champion shone in Baku, a race in which he finished in sixth place, he had previously stated that he expected a new world championship to start for him in France. “ The start of the season is not the best possible schedule for a driver who is new . I had Imola and Portugal, two circuits in which I did not drive for years or never, like in Portimao, and the others drove four months ago and then two urban circuits, so the first six races are very challenging to adapt, “he said.
Days ago, on his return to the Great Circus, he had commented: “In relation to the piloting and the results, perhaps I found it a little more difficult than I had anticipated . Not that he assumed the results were going to come automatically. I knew that preparation was needed, hours in the simulator and the tests in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, I expected that, but I am still struggling to make the most of the car’s potential . ” I thought that in three or four races I would be one hundred percent and now I think it will take me eight or nine, ” concluded Fernando Alonso.
