Imola make change to boost overtaking hopes
Date published:
April 15 2021
Imola’s sole DRS zone for the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been extended.
The famous Italian circuit returned to the Formula 1 schedule in the autumn of 2020 as one of several races added to the calendar to flesh it out following a spate of cancellations caused by the health pandemic.
Five-and-a-half months on it is back again, this time as the specific replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix which has been postponed indefinitely for 2021 – although not officially cancelled completely as yet.
Since the last time Imola had staged F1 at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari for the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix, the Variante Bassa chicane had been removed, creating a full-throttle run from the exit of the second Rivazza left-hander through to Tamburello, with the only DRS zone placed along this stretch of the circuit.
Aitken staying on as Williams reserve driver
Date published:
March 4 2021
Jack Aitken, who took George Russell’s seat at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, is staying as Williams’ reserve driver for this season.
The British-Korean racer was called up at short notice in Bahrain last December after Russell had been brought in by Mercedes to replace Sir Lewis Hamilton, who had tested positive for COVID-19.
Making his F1 race debut, Aitken finished 16th despite a spin on the final corner of the circuit in which he hit the wall and left part of his front wing on the track.
The 25-year-old joined Williams last season as reserve to Russell and Nicholas Latifi having previously spent four years affiliated to Renault as a junior and then test driver.