Carlos Sainz hopes to Replicate Norris “special relationship” at Ferrari #CarlosSainz

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January 25, 2021

Carlos Sainz Jr hopes that he will be able to replicate his “special relationship” with ex-McLaren Formula 1 team-mate Lando Norris alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Sainz, who spent two years racing alongside Norris at McLaren left the team at the end of last year to join Ferrari for the 2021 season.

Sainz and Norris enjoyed a successful partnership both on and off-track. As well as helping lift McLaren to third in the constructors’ championship last year, marking its best finish in a long time, the pair were close friends outside the track.

Sainz stated that it was sometimes difficult to get on so well with your team-mate due to the fierce competition, he felt that it led to greater openness as well as the formation of a strong relationship that he hoped could be replicated with new Ferrari team-mate Leclerc.

“It makes it difficult in one way, because [Norris] is also very fast, and very easy-going, so you need to handle the two things,” Sainz told Autosport.

“But it’s also really enjoyable to have someone who after qualifying or a race, you are either happy or sad because he has beaten you or you have beaten him, but still coming to the race with a fully open mind, not trying to hide anything from anyone.

“You are being sincere and honest to your opposition, to your team-mate, shaking his hand to congratulate him and recognise the job he has done and vice-versa.

“It’s something that I think is a special relationship and something that I’m willing to keep having in the future. “It makes the working environment and the team a lot less under pressure. “It just makes everyone’s life a lot easier, and the team can move forward a lot quicker and in a better way.”

Talking about his relationship with Leclerc, “I would lie if I said I’ve not talked to Charles,” Sainz said. “Of course I have. Of course, I am paying attention that what happens over there, and asking him questions now and then.

“Until you get inside the team, it’s difficult to really understand and really tricky to know what is going on. “My relationship with Charles actually is very good. I expect to get on well with him in the future.”

Do you feel another Carlando relationship might form? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Grosjean has little interest in returning to F1

Guanyu Zhou hoping to make history this decade, become first Chinese driver in F1 #GuanyuZhou

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January 25, 2021

Guanyu Zhou (CHN) Renault F1 Team Test and Development Driver. Renault F1 Team Test Session, Wednesday 13th March 2019. Silverstone, England.

“I’m the closest ever to get into Formula 1 as a Chinese driver,” says Guanyu Zhou hoping to make history this decade, becoming the first Chinese driver in the world of F1, potentially with Renault.

Guanyu Zhou wishes to become the first-ever Chinese driver in Formula 1. The Renault junior driver is now working towards making that happen as soon as possible. It’s a lot of hard work, including getting the Super License, but he’s up for it.

“The main target for this year is to get my Super License, get me ready for when there’s a seat available in F1 so I can take that chance. That’s my dream, so I wouldn’t say exactly the time when it will happen. But I would say definitely I’m the closest ever to get into Formula 1 as a Chinese driver.

“But the last step is the hardest because as well as the Super License, you need to have the opportunities or seat available to jump in. I remember in 2019 when I went to the Chinese GP, everybody was saying ‘hopefully see you in F1 in two years’.

“It gave me a boost. The country is supporting me to achieve my dream and the Chinese motorsport fans’ dream as well.

“It would get a lot of people knowing about it – not just the people who follow sports but people everywhere. It has happened before in China — when someone first achieves something good, people start following that sport a lot more. Hopefully, I can also be that person.”

Zhou has learnt a lot from Fernando Alonso, who is making his F1 return with Alpine (previously known as Renault). He might have an upper hand with this, especially if Alonso wishes to retire again or Ocon has yet another disappointing season.

He gave me a lot of tips and also gave the team a lot of advice. Not just in driving, it’s more about how you set up the car, how you manage your battery development during the long race, how you have a car better perform in qualifying.”

Do you think Zhou will be able to make history? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Grosjean says he has little interest regarding F1 return

Tata to Unveil 2021 Safari Tomorrow; Here’s What We Know So Far #TataSafari2021

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January 25, 2021

Tata is gearing up to bring the iconic Safari moniker back to the market after the older version of the Safari was discontinued last year owing to the emission norms. The SUV is set to be unveiled on January 26, followed by a launch in the coming weeks. As for the booking situation, unofficial pre-bookings have already begun across select dealerships.

The Safari is a three-row SUV based on the Harrier, with the same engine to power the car and transmission options. In terms of dimensions, it is 63mm longer and 80mm taller to make space for the third-row passengers. It also gets a stepped-up roof which will make the cabin airier. According to rumours, there may be two variants of the car, with 6-seater and 7-seater options.

Cosmetic upgrades to the car will be subtle but adequate, so as to differentiate it from the Harrier. The car will get an exclusive dark blue shade in addition to the light blue shade seen on the Gravitas at the Auto Expo 2020.

The Safari is a rebranded version of the Gravitas. with minor changes to the design

Other enhancements to the Safari include a new chrome-finished tri-arrow grille, chrome detailing to the headlamps, a rugged-looking skid plate, function roof rails, a flatter than usual boot lid, a new tail lamp, a slightly refreshed rear bumper and more.

Moving to the inside, we expect a dual-tone black and cream interior theme as seen on the Gravitas. New features onboard include an electronic parking brake, connected car technology and front parking sensors.

The other existing features will include a panoramic sunroof, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, Xenon headlamps, a semi-digital instrument cluster and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat.

Tata always prioritises safety, which will be covered in this car by six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking camera, rear disc brakes, front and rear parking sensors and ESC.

The engine is capable of producing 170PS and 350Nm and is mated to a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic. An AWD version might follow soon, but for now, there are no developments regarding the same.

The car is rumoured to be priced about 1 lakh more than the Harrier, which is a smaller variant of the Safari. For some context, the Harrier is priced at Rs 13.95 lakh to Rs 20.45 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Safari will be competing with cars such as the MG Hector Plus and the XUV 500 from Mahindra.

What are your thoughts regarding the Safari? Are you excited for the launch? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Revised Moto GP Calendar released

Chip shortage forces Taiwan to tell firms to help ease auto chip shortage

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January 25, 2021

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Sunday that it has received requests through diplomatic channels to ease a shortage of chips for the auto sector and that it has asked local firms to provide “full assistance”.

Automakers around the world are shutting assembly lines because of a global shortage of semiconductors that stems from the former Trump administration’s actions against key Chinese chip factories, according to industry officials.

The shortage has affected big names in the auto world, some of them being Ford Motor Co, Subaru Corp, Toyota Motor Corp, Volkswagen, Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles amongst others.

“Since the end of last year, diplomatic channels have indeed received requests from relevant countries due to the shortage of automotive chips,” the Ministry of Economic Affairs said, after reports that German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier had written to Taiwan’s government about the problem.

The ministry has said it had not yet received the letter from Germany and could not comment on its contents. The ministry said major international automakers were not direct customers of Taiwanese semiconductor chip makers, instead, other automotive chip makers place orders with Taiwan manufacturers and sell them to carmakers.

“The relevant supply and demand situation is also closely related to the plans of automotive chip factories to reduce inventory during the off-season,” the ministry said.

The ministry has also “asked the chip manufacturers to provide full assistance”. TSMC, in a statement, said the issue of chips shortages for auto companies was very important to them.

“It is our top priority, and TSMC is working closely with our automotive customers to resolve the capacity support issues,” it said.

What are your thoughts regarding this particular issue? Do you think this shortage will be handled soon? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: 2021 Mercedes Benz GLC launched in India

Okinawa will invest ₹150 crore to set up new manufacturing plant in Rajasthan #Okinawa

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January 25, 2021

Electric two-wheeler maker Okinawa has plans to invest ₹150 crores for the setting up of a new manufacturing unit in Rajasthan, which will allow the company to roll out fresh products as it sets a target of selling 1 lakh units in the next fiscal year, according to a top company official.

The company, which had recently launched B2B electric two-wheeler Okinawa Dual, priced at ₹58,998, targeting the delivery sector, expects sales from the segment to account for 20 per cent of its total sales.

“We are coming up with a new facility and new products. The total investment in the next fiscal year will be around ₹150 crores,” Okinawa Autotech Managing Director and Founder Jeetender Sharma told PTI. The new facility will have an annual capacity of 5-6 lakh units in the first phase and can go up to 10 lakh units in future,” Sharma added.

“In FY 21-22, whatever we have done so far, we will double the number with the coming in of two-three new models. It is a fair estimate that we will sell around 1 lakh units next fiscal,” he stated.

He also said that, with the transition to BS-VI emission norms, prices for conventional scooters and motorcycles have gone up, thereby reducing the gap with electric counterparts, and Okinawa Autotech has focussed on localisation to reduce costs and provide more competition to the market.

“We have more than 92 per cent localisation to date. In the next quarter, we are going to be 100 per cent,” Sharma said, adding although the battery cells coming from outside the company have a dedicated supplier in India supplying it the battery packs.

When asked regarding prospective new products, he said the company is targeting both the B2B and B2C segment. The company will launch its high-speed motorcycle codenamed OKI100 in the first half of this year, he added.

What are your thoughts on localisation? Do you think Okinawa will get more sales with these changes? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Mercedes recalls 1,400 S-Class (2021) cars over concerns

Grosjean says he has ‘little interest’ regarding F1 return #RomainGrosjean

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January 25, 2021

Romain Grosjean believes his Formula 1 career is over since he has “little interest” in returning to the exciting world of F1. The Frenchman, who appeared in Formula 1 all the way back in 2009, left the series in 2020 after five seasons with the Haas F1 team.

Sadly, however, Grosjean was not able to complete the season due to a horrifying crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which left him with injuries and burns to his hands, which ruled him out of the final two races of the season.

Fortunately, Grosjean does not feel at odds with the circumstances which forced his premature exit from F1.

“No. No regrets at all,” he told ouest-france.fr when the question was put to him. “No regrets because the final decision not to go to Abu Dhabi was mine. Just before I went to see the doctor, to see if I could race, I realised I couldn’t race. I had made my decision, he only confirmed what I felt. Once you make your own decision, you digest it more easily.”

Grosjean is yet to confirm his plans post-Formula 1, although he has been strongly linked with a move to the IndyCar Series with the Dale Coyne Racing team.

When asked as to whether he would like to return, “From a driver’s point of view, I think it’s over,” he replied. “I don’t want to come back just to come back. It doesn’t interest me. And then, when you look at the grid, the good seats are all taken. There’s little interest in coming back.

“I do keep a small role nevertheless in the F1 Drivers’ Association (GPDA). I will continue to take part in the meetings. It’s something that’s really close to my heart.”

Grosjean did say though that his current thoughts are focused around racing, rather than going into another aspect of motorsport such as commentating or driver management.

But only a “fool” does not change their mind, he said. “I haven’t really thought about it. And at the moment I’m not really tempted by it any more than that,” he said.

“Afterwards, only fools don’t change their minds (laughs)! “I’m more interested in finding a new chapter in my career. What I like is racing. I would like to continue doing it.”

What are your thoughts regarding his comments? Would you like to see Grosjean back in the Haas team? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Fernando Alonso feeling Young and Sharp ahead of 2021 return

Fernando Alonso is feeling ‘Young’ and ‘Sharp’ ahead of F1 Return #Alonso2021

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January 24, 2021

Alonso, who became an iconic name in Formula 1 after bursting onto the scene in the early 2000s retired a few seasons back. He had tasted World Championship glory for the first time as part of the Renault team, winning again in 2016 to become a two-time World Champion.

In the latter part of his career, he had a stint at McLaren, Ferrari and a Renault return failing to bring another World Championship. However, for 2021, he will make his comeback with Alpine, effectively his third spell with the team formerly known as Renault.

Asked when appearing on the WTF1 podcast as to why he decided to leave Formula 1 back in 2018, Alonso had said: “I had other things on my mind, and my head was busy on IndyCar and the ‘Triple Crown’ goal.

“I wanted to finish the World Endurance Championship in the best way possible. At that time Australia [Grand Prix] and Sebring 2019 were clashing.

“I wanted to win the World Endurance Championship, I wanted to complete the second Le Mans, I had Daytona, the Rolex 24 with Cadillac on my mind as well. I had the feeling I could try Dakar again also in 2020.

“I had too many things in my head that were not F1. F1 was not appealing at that time for me, it was not offering what other series were offering at that time. “So I thought ‘look, it’s better to stop here, I don’t know if I will come back with the new regulations in 2021 or not, so let’s say this is my final race’.”

In 2021 however, he feels “young” and “sharp”, very much ready to “try again” in Formula 1.

“After I completed some of those challenges, missing only the Indy500, I thought this was the right time to come back, even if the new regulations are for 2022,” he said.

“I feel good, I feel young, I feel sharp, so let’s try again.”

What are your thoughts regarding Alonso’s statements? Are you excited to see him back in the races? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Mercedes Recalls 1,400 S-Class cars

Mercedes recalls 1,400 S-Class 2021 sedans due to steering concerns #2021SClass

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January 24, 2021

Mercedes Benz has issued a recall for its recently launched flagship model, the S-Class, pretty close from entering production. According to Business Insider, the sedan comes with shorter inner tie rods, which could lead to serious steering problems.

These rods are not reliable for proper driving, thus making the car comparatively more accident-prone, which is not something one wishes to have in a luxury car.

All the owners of the 2021 S-Class have been contacted by Mercedes Benz and have been suggested to consult an authorised dealer, where service technicians can take a look into the inner tie rods, inspect them and replace the same, if necessary that is.

These services will be provided without any payment or additional costs.

According to Business Insider, a company spokesperson stated that around 1,400 cars, which have already been delivered to customers, are being recalled for inspection, through a letter informing the owners containing the word “immediately”, which is an indication of the severity of this issue, at least to some extent.

Also Read: Mercedes S-Class Maestro Edition launched

The automaker said, “We apologize for this additional workshop visit and hope for your understanding”, Business Insider quoted.

For those of you unaware, the German carmaker launched the ‘Maestro Edition’ of its flagship S-class, priced at ₹1.51 crore (ex-showroom, all India) some time back. Besides this, the company also rolled out the latest version of Mercedes Me connect technology (MMC) with three new features, as per a press release issued by the same.

What are your thoughts regarding this recall? Do you think Mercedes should have opted for different inner tie rods? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Revised 2021 Moto GP calendar out now.

Revised 2021 Moto GP Calendar issued, with second Qatar race in tow #MotoGP2021

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January 24, 2021

The 2021 Moto GP season is set to begin with back-to-back races in Qatar followed by the Portuguese Grand Prix in April as part of COVID-19-enforced changes to the calendar. For those unaware, MotoGP issued a 20-race calendar for 2021 late last year, though delays and postponements were expected as the COVID-19’s effects started to begin worsening.

Earlier this month the GP announced it had to cancel the Sepang pre-season test set for February after a state of emergency was declared in Malaysia due to the virus.

A meeting between teams and MotoGP was held last week, with changes of the dates being discussed by the teams. One such proposal was to bring the Qatar GP forward to the 21 March date to bring it closer to the end of pre-season testing. However, MotoGP has announced the season will get underway as planned on 28 March with the Qatar GP, followed by the Doha GP.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US and Argentine GPs have been postponed from their April slots to the last quarter of the year, but currently have no new dates. No other date changes have been announced at this time, though the vacant TBD slot in August vacated by the cancelled Czech GP no longer appears on the calendar and Russia’s Igora Drive is not listed as a reserved circuit anymore.

A statement from MotoGP was as follows: “The FIM, IRTA (teams’ association) and Dorna Sports can now reveal an updated calendar for the 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship as the beginning of another exciting season of racing appear on the horizon, with testing action set to get underway in just over a month.

“The season-opening Grand Prix in Qatar remains confirmed for the 26 to 28 March and it will now be followed by a second event, the Grand Prix of Doha, at the same Losail International Circuit the following weekend, from the 2 to 4 April.

“The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal will then host the third round of the Championship from the 16 to 18 April before the paddock heads to the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto as previously planned.

“The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns and complications sadly oblige the postponement of both the Argentina GP and the Americas GP until the last quarter of 2021. “Any further updates or changes will be provided as soon as available.”

2021 Calendar

Date	Venue
28 March	Losail
4 April	Losail
18 April	Algarve
2 May	Jerez
16 May	Le Mans
30 May	Mugello
6 June	Barcelona
20 June	Sachsenring
27 June	Assen
11 July	KymiRing
15 August	Red Bull Ring
29 August	Silverstone
12 September	Aragon
19 September	Misano
3 October	Motegi
10 October	Buriram
24 October	Phillip Island
31 October	Sepang
14 November	Valencia

Are you excited for the 2021 Moto GP season? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Domenicali says F1 in talks with prospective manufacturers

Domenicali says F1 is in talks with new potential manufacturers #F1

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January 24, 2021

Stefano Domenicali who was recently made F1’s new CEO has revealed discussions have already taken place during his tenure with new manufacturers about entering the sport. As of the 2021 season, there are only 10 teams in the F1 paddock, and Honda’s exit will leave just three engine suppliers in Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault.

However, Domenicali believes other manufacturers are still eyeing the series as an attractive way of promoting their products.

“I think one of the biggest challenges that automotive manufacturers have today is to feel younger,” said Domenicali during a video interview with Martin Brundle for Sky and reported by Formula 1.

MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA) 15/03/2014 © FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO X FERRARI Domenicali

“There is this kind of fight between the old school of OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturers] and the new OEMs that are coming in the mobility side. “But I think the OEMs can use the platform [of Formula 1] to get also the fresh image they maybe need for the future.

“What I can say is that we are in discussions with other manufacturers. For the moment, they prefer to stay still quiet, but the good news is that there are other… companies, very important companies, that are really keen to understand what is the value that they can bring home using the F1 platform”

“Not only in terms of technology but in terms of also the value of what Formula 1 can bring to the automotive manufacturer.”

“It’s not possible that the power unit in Formula 1 can cost what it is costing today,” added the Italian, who was team principal of Ferrari from 2008-14.

“I think there is a margin, a big margin on that, and one of the agendas we have is that we would like to involve teams and OEMs to try and anticipate the new engine even earlier than what is expected of the regulation and make sure these kinds of things will be part of the agenda, and I’m sure we can do it.”

What are your thoughts regarding what the F1 Ceo was to say? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Jenson Button returns to F1 as Senior Advisor to Williams