Change is the name of the game in Formula One and this season will be no different either. Ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia, the threat of coronavirus and the tumultuous in-fighting in Ferrari has already made the headlines. Both the Scuderia and Alpha Tauri are already questioning how they will function in the first few months, given they are both based out of Italy where the threat of a major COVID-19 outbreak looms large. The Chinese Grand Prix has already been postponed and could as well be canceled this season.
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Apart from these sudden changes, here are 5 more that you can expect to see this season:
1. New season, new racers and new team names:
Nicholas Latifi, the Formula 2 champion is set to make his F1 debut with Williams this season while Esteban Ocon returns to Renault to replace Nico Hulkenberg. The mercurial Robert Kubica has taken up a developmental role at Renault this season.
In terms of teams, Toro Rosso has renamed itself to Alpha Tauri while Alfa Romeo will now be called Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen following investment from the Polish giants.
2. This will be F1’s longest-ever season
Despite Hockenheim being dropped from the calendar, F1 will spread its wings in Vietnam for the first time in 2020 when the streets in Hanoi go abuzz on April 5th. A restructured Zandvoort will host the Dutch Grand Prix for the first time in 35 years as well, making this season 22-race long and the longest one in history.
3. Shark fins set to make a return
Despite being banned at the end of the 2017 season, shark fins have made a return, for cosmetic purposes rather than aerodynamic purposes. They will also make the drivers easier to identify than before.
4. Testing days have been reduced
Testing days had been bought down from 8 to 6 this year and teams were also not allowed to use protective screening in the Catalunya circuit in February. Unlike last season, in-season testing has also been removed this year.
Let's see how will these changes affect the fortunes of the team?
And also, bring on Albert Park, we say!
