After one of the most epic years of F1 we're ready to enjoy yet another one in 2011.

The 2011 Formula One season will be the 62nd FIA Formula One season. The calendar will expand to twenty rounds – the longest season in the sport's sixty-year history – with the inaugural running of the Indian Grand Prix. Pirelli returns to the sport as tyre supplier for all teams, taking over from Bridgestone. Red Bull Racing enter 2011 as the reigning Constuctor's Champions. Sebastian Vettel will be the defending Driver's Champion.


Pre-season


The pre-season testing season began immediately after the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a three-day 'Young Driver Test' (for drivers with fewer than three Formula One race starts to their name) at the Yas Marina Circuit. Formula Renault 3.5 runner-up Daniel Ricciardo consistently set the fastest times over the three days, driving for new champions Red Bull Racing.

The Young Driver Tests were followed by another testing session – also held at Yas Marina – for the teams to test the tyres developed by new tyre supplier Pirelli. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was the fastest during the tests, with many drivers declaring their satisfaction with the new tyres, particularly given Pirelli's short development window. Sebastian Vettel experienced an explosive puncture on the final day, though an investigation by Pirelli attributed the incident to debris on the circuit.


Teams and drivers


After a dispute between the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) and the FIA in the first half of 2009, a new Concorde Agreement was signed on 1 August 2009 by the then FIA president Max Mosley and all of the existing teams at the time. The new agreement provides for a continuation of the terms of the 1998 agreement, and runs until 31 December 2012.

Ferrari
Racedrivers: Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa
Testdrivers: Jules Bianchi
Launch date: TBA

Mclaren
Racedrivers: Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button
Testdrivers: Gary Paffet
Launch date: TBA

Redbull
Racedrivers: Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Renault
Racedrivers: Robert Kubica, TBA
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Mercedes GP
Racedrivers: Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Williams
Racedrivers: Rubens Barrichello, Pastor Maldonado
Testdrivers: Valtteri Bottas
Launch date:

Force India
Racedrivers: TBA, TBA
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Lotus
Racedrivers: Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Marussia Virgin
Racedrivers: Timo Glock, TBA
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Sauber
Racedrivers: Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Pérez
Testdrivers: Esteban Gutiérrez
Launch date: 31 January

Hispania
Racedrivers: TBA, TBA
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: TBA

Torro Rosso
Racedrivers: Sebastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersuari
Testdrivers: TBA
Launch date: February 1st


New entries process


Following USF1's inability to make the grid in 2010, the FIA opened a new selection process to find more teams to fill the grid for the 2011 season. As well as filling the 13th grid slot they are also looking for one or more possible 'reserve' entrants. They were seeking formal expressions of interest from prospective teams before 15 April 2010 with full applications needing to be submitted by June 21. The Italian media had reported that the FIA has received as many as fifteen entry bids, including World Series by Renault and former Le Mans team Epsilon Euskadi; the Belgrade-based Stefan Grand Prix, who attempted to join the grid after their eleventh-hour submission in February 2010 was rejected; highly-successful French GP2, GP3 and European Formula 3 team ART Grand Prix; Cypher, an American team made up of the remains of USF1; and Durango, an Italian GP2 team that had been forced out of the GP2 Series owing to financial difficulties, but later experienced revitalisation after 1995 Indianapolis 500 and 1997 World Champion winner Jacques Villeneuve joined with the team, which subsequently became known as "Villeneuve F1". However, ART Grand Prix and Cypher would later withdraw their entries, citing a lack of financial security, sponsor interest and insufficient budgets as their reasons for the back-out. As the number of entrants thinned out and with the anticipated announcement of the thirteenth team passing without incident, it was announced ahead of the 2010 Italian Grand Prix that the FIA felt that none of the prospective entrants met the minimum funding or engineering requirements that a team would need in order to succeed in the sport, and executed their right to leave the thirteenth grid slot vacant.

Following the confirmation that there would be no new additions to the grid for 2011, Joan Villadelprat of Epsilon Euskadi and Jacques Villeneuve of the combined Villeneuve-Durango teams both announced that they would still attempt to join the grid for 2011, exploring the possibilities of taking over an existing team. Villeneuve later admitted to exploring possibilities outside of Formula One, including extending his NASCAR Nationwide Cup campaign, or moving to Australia to pursue possibilities in the V8 Supercar Series.


Team changes

• BMW Sauber announced in July 2010 that it will reinstate the name Sauber following a season without the manufacturer. The naming arose due to complex issues involving TV rights money that would not have been paid had the team changed their name during the winter period following the departure of BMW.
  

• Lotus Racing announced at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix that they had terminated their three-year contract with engine supplier Cosworth. It was also revealed that team principal Tony Fernandes had purchased the rights to the Team Lotus name from David Hunt, with the intention of renaming the team to reflect its historical counterpart for the 2011 season. Lotus Cars launched legal action against Lotus Racing, claiming that Tony Fernandes did not have the rights to use the Lotus name because David Hunt was never in a position to sell them. On October 5, 2010, Lotus Racing announced an agreement to use Red Bull Technology gearboxes and hydraulics systems from 2011, this follows the frequent unreliability of the Xtrac systems used by Lotus during their maiden season. At the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix it was announced that Lotus will use Renault engines from 2011. The team have also confirmed that they will use the famous black and gold livery for 2011.
  

• Following weeks of speculation about their existence beyond the 2010 season, Hispania announced several major partnerships in November 2010. Chief among these was an arrangement that will see Williams supply the Murcia-based team with transmission systems for the 2011 season, whilst forming a partnership with Spanish businessman Juan Villalonga, who was previously affiliated with Minardi as CEO of Telefónica.
  

• After sponsoring the team for the 2010 season, Russian sports car manufacturer Marussia acquired what they termed a "significant stake" of Virgin Racing, with the team changing its name to Marussia Virgin Racing. Further reports confirmed that Marussia had purchased a controlling stake in the team, securing their future until 2014. Wirth Research, the design studio that developed the Virgin VR-01 is also set to expand its capacity for computational fluid dynamics with the construction of what Wirth Research claim will be the third-fastest supercomputer in the world.
  

Driver changes

Changed teams

• On the eve of the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Nico Hülkenberg's manager, Willi Weber, confirmed that the rookie would be leaving Williams at the end of the 2010 season. Weber claimed Hülkenberg would remain on the grid for 2011, though he did not comment on which team he would be driving for.
  

Entered Formula One

• Sergio Pérez, who finished runner-up in the 2010 GP2 Series driving for Barwa Addax, was signed by Sauber to partner Kamui Kobayashi. His signing coincided with the announcement of a partnership between Carlos Slim's telecommunications group Telmex and the Sauber team. Pérez will become the first Mexican Formula One driver in thirty years after Héctor Rebaque finished tenth in the 1981 season while driving for Brabham.
  

• 2010 GP2 Series champion Pastor Maldonado was signed by Williams after testing for the team in the young driver tests in Abu Dhabi.[23] Maldonado will become the first Venezuelan Formula One driver since Johnny Cecotto drove for Toleman during the 1984 season. Maldonado is backed by the Venezuelan state-controlled oil company PDVSA.

2011 calendar

On 16 April 2010, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that there would be 20 races in 2011; all the races from the 2010 season and the addition of the Indian Grand Prix. A provisional calendar was announced on 8 September 2010, which was confirmed on 3 November 2010.

01 2011 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Sakhir) 11 - 13 Mar
02 2011 FORMULA 1 QANTAS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) 25 - 27 Mar
03 2011 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) 08 - 10 Apr
04 2011 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) * 15 - 17 Apr
05 2011 FORMULA 1 TURKISH GRAND PRIX (Istanbul) 06 - 08 May
06 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2011 (Catalunya) 20 - 22 May
07 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2011 (Monte Carlo) 27 - 29 May
08 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2011 (Montreal) 10 - 12 Jun
09 2011 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia) 24 - 26 Jun
10 2011 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) 08 - 10 Jul
11 FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2011 (Nürburgring) 22 - 24 Jul
12 FORMULA 1 ENI MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2011 (Budapest) 29 - 31 Jul
13 2011 FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) 26 - 28 Aug
14 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2011 (Monza) 09 - 11 Sep
15 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) 23 - 25 Sep
16 2011 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Suzuka) 07 - 09 Oct
17 2011 FORMULA 1 KOREAN GRAND PRIX (Yeongam) 14 - 16 Oct
18 2011 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF INDIA (New Delhi) * 28 - 30 Oct
19 2011 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Yas Marina Circuit) 11 - 13 Nov
20 FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2011 (Sao Paulo) 25 - 27 Nov


Changes

• The 2011 season will see the addition of the Indian Grand Prix to the F1 schedule.
  

• The Malaysian Grand Prix will change its name to the Malaysia Grand Prix as part of the efforts to promote the country.
  

• The Bahrain International Circuit will revert to its original configuration after experimenting with the six-kilometre "endurance" layout in 2010, which organisers claim was originally done to celebrate Formula One's diamond jubilee, though the layout was received negatively at the time.
  

Rule changes

• 2011 will see the return of the 107% rule in qualifying. Under this arrangement, any driver who fails to set a time within 107% of the fastest lap in Q1 (the rule won't apply in Q2 and Q3) will not be permitted to take part in the race; for instance, if the fastest lap is 1 minute 40 seconds, a driver must set a time faster than 1 minute 47 seconds in order to make it to the grid. * Following the controversial 2010 German Grand Prix, the FIA has moved to increase the maximum allowable penalty ($100,000 to $250,000) that racing stewards can issue to teams after penalising Ferrari one hundred thousand dollars for the use of team orders. Former World Champion Jackie Stewart commented that "$100,000 is no penalty for a team whose budget is many, many multiples higher."
  

Tyre supplier changes

• Tyre supplier Bridgestone announced that it would not renew its contract with Formula One at the end of the 2010 season. After several months of deliberation, Pirelli was chosen as the tyre supplier for 2011 at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva, in June 2010.
  

• At the 2010 British Grand Prix, Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he had been in talks with five manufacturers, but Pirelli was the only company that could be ready in time for the 2011 season. Although the Pirelli deal was more expensive for the teams than some of the other bids, the company would pay for on-track advertising meaning the teams would get some return on their investment. Ecclestone also revealed that he wanted tyres with a significantly shorter lifespan than in 2010 following the reception to the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix, where abnormally high tyre wear created unpredictable racing.
  

• The twelve teams have moved to establish "a close alliance" with Pirelli in order to prevent one team from gaining an unfair advantage through intimate knowledge of the new tyres – similar to the Ferrari-Bridgestone and Renault-Michelin relationships during the Formula One "tyre war" – following repeated suggestions that test drivers Nick Heidfeld, Pedro de la Rosa and Romain Grosjean will be in demand because of their knowledge of the final versions of the tyres.
  

Technical changes

• The maximum height of the diffuser will be cut from 175 millimetres (6.9 in) to 125 millimetres (4.9 in), reducing aerodynamic downforce. Furthermore, measures were agreed to exclude double diffuser designs.
  

• In the week leading up to the 2010 Spanish Grand Prix, a formal proposal was submitted to FOTA by British engineering firm Flybrid to supply the entire grid with a mandatory, standardized KERS unit, following campaigns led by Ferrari and Renault to see the technology re-introduced for the 2011 season. After the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari confirmed they would be running the KERS device on their 2011 car, but the system will not be mandatory.
  

• In order to compensate for the increase in weight brought about by KERS, the minimum weight of the car will increase from 620 kilograms (1,367 lb) to 640 kilograms (1,411 lb).
  

• FOTA have agreed to ban the controversial "F-duct" system developed by McLaren for the MP4-25 and later deployed by other teams through the 2010 season.
  

• At the meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Geneva in June 2010, an adjustable rear wing system was confirmed as an addition to the 2011 rules. It will be introduced to aid overtaking, serving as a substitute for the F-duct system. In a similar system to the KERS regulator used in 2009, the adjustable rear wing would only be available under certain conditions; namely, drivers will only be able to use it when they are within one second of the car in front, but it would not be usable within the first two laps of a race except in the case of an early safety car. The system is expected to offer drivers an additional 15 km/h (9.3 mph) when passing, and will deactivate when the driver first touches the brakes after using the rear wing. The concept, which has been negatively received by drivers and fans alike, could be dropped if it proves impractical or unmanageable.
  

• For the first time, cars will have a mandatory weight distribution, reported to be a ratio of 46:54. This is intended to prevent teams from having to make expensive changes to the internal configuration of their cars in the event of changes to tyre compounds introduced by new tyre supplier Pirelli.
  

• The number of wheel tethers – the load-bearing cables connecting tyres to the bodywork – will be doubled for 2011, in response to an increasing number of accidents where wheels have been torn free of their mountings, including the death of Henry Surtees in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch in 2009.
  

Sponsorship changes

• On October 4, 2010, Sauber announced a partnership with Mexican telecommunications group Telmex that would include significant branding on their car for the 2011 season. The announcement coincided with the signing of GP2 driver Sergio Pérez, who is a part of Telmex's driver development program. * Dutch electronics corporation Philips, announced that they would not renew their contract with Williams at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, ending a five-year relationship with the Grove-based team. The Royal Bank of Scotland will also end their association to the team.
  

Other changes

• The FIA has suggested that any driver who is caught committing road offences – such as Lewis Hamilton's "hooning" incident in Melbourne – could be punished with a loss of their Super Licence, thereby preventing them from racing.
  

• Team members deemed to be in key roles – i.e. team principal, sporting director, race engineers, team manager and technical director – will have to undergo accreditation for a "competitors' staff licence" in order to maintain their positions within their teams. This is seen as a reaction to the actions of disgraced former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and applies to all key staff in all FIA-sanctioned World Championships, including the World Rally Championship, World Touring Car Championship and GT1 World Championship in addition to Formula One.
  

All info taken from Wikipedia

Well, I cant wait :O But we still got 113 DAYS to wait

A bit soon to make up a thread, when most of the information is to be announced or confirmed, is it not?

But he wanted to get in first, before someone who makes better F1 threads gets in there. A lot of LFSForum kudos goes to the person who copies and pastes F1 stuff into a thread first.

Wasn't it Arox that caused the rule about not making threads about Grands Prix until the week of the event, because he kept spamming the forum months in advance of each race? Or maybe all F1 threads should only be started by a mod?

Quote from Nathan_French_14 :

A bit soon to make up a thread, when most of the information is to be announced or confirmed, is it not?

I dont think so, i find seeing the info rolling in is much better than all info at once.
It doesn't really matter when the thread starts, if you think its too early, then ignore this thread for 1- 2 months then join in again

Quote from tristancliffe :

But he wanted to get in first, before someone who makes better F1 threads gets in there. A lot of LFSForum kudos goes to the person who copies and pastes F1 stuff into a thread first.

I only make a F1 thread when i see its time. I see they are talking about 2011 stuff in 2010 thread, its time.
Or they are talking about next grand prix in the previous grand prix thread.

Quote from Nathan_French_14 :

A bit soon to make up a thread, when most of the information is to be announced or confirmed, is it not?

Anything happening now is for the 2011 season, so does not belong in a thread about the 2010 season.

We already have Hulkenberg confirmed as leaving Williams, and testing has already started for the younger drivers I believe.

Quote from Bean0 :

Anything happening now is for the 2011 season, so does not belong in a thread about the 2010 season.

We already have Hulkenberg confirmed as leaving Williams, and testing has already started for the younger drivers I believe.

But any news that comes in is going to be sparse at the moment, due to the fact that the 2010 season has just this minute finished. In other words, this thread will most likely be pretty empty until the couple of weeks running up to the start of the season, next year.

I think Tristan is right. This thread has been started stupidly early just to beat everyone else to it.

Quote from aroX123 :

[*]The FIA has suggested that any driver who is caught committing road offences – such as Lewis Hamilton's "hooning" incident in Melbourne – could be punished with a loss of their Super Licence, thereby preventing them from racing.

I hope that will not only be random suggestion

Nice and informative OP, I like. May I ask, have you done it on your own?

Quote from aroX123 :

2011 will see the return of the 107% rule in qualifying. Under this arrangement, any driver who fails to set a time within 107% of the fastest lap in Q1 (the rule won't apply in Q2 and Q3) will not be permitted to take part in the race; for instance, if the fastest lap is 1 minute 40 seconds, a driver must set a time faster than 1 minute 47 seconds in order to make it to the grid.

Quote :

On October 4, 2010, Sauber announced a partnership with Mexican telecommunications group Telmex that would include significant branding on their car for the 2011 season.

Didn't know about those ones. Sources?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_2011

With all the sources you need...

All info from Wiki yeah, but was one hell of a job placing it.
As more info comes (Autsport.com, Formula1.com) Ill add in the list

Quote from GreyBull [CHA] :

Didn't know about those ones. Sources?

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/media ... 10/Pages/wmsc_230610.aspx

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/201 ... s-back-107-rule-for-2011/

http://www.sauber-motorsport.c ... ith-Telmex-111?newsid=476

Or we could just go to Wiki and look ourselves?

Quote from tristancliffe :

Or we could just go to Wiki and look ourselves?

stop moaning and either give some usefull input on the 2011 season or go to wiki and look at it yourself so as we do not have to listen to you whining here.

I hope Daniel Ricciardo gets opportunity to shine on track. I think same strategy will work as beginning of Vettel's F1 career

Quote from tristancliffe :

A lot of LFSForum kudos goes to the person who copies and pastes F1 stuff into a thread first.

That also seems to apply to people who moan about F1-threads being started prematurely

Quote from TypeRacing :

I hope Daniel Ricciardo gets opportunity to shine on track. I think same strategy will work as beginning of Vettel's F1 career

Chances for him to get a seat in 2011 are very slim. Most observers say he will stick on GP2 next year. Will be an hell of a season with newcomers Ricciardo and Gutierrez alongside more experienced people like Bianchi, Bird, and maybe Vietoris and Clos.

Quote from aroX123 :

Pirelli: Fast times not a priority in first test

what maybe interesting is not the actual times set but the order of the drivers / cars. some teams may find their design philosophies are less suited to the new tyres than other teams.

Quote from GreyBull [CHA] :

Chances for him to get a seat in 2011 are very slim. Most observers say he will stick on GP2 next year. Will be an hell of a season with newcomers Ricciardo and Gutierrez alongside more experienced people like Bianchi, Bird, and maybe Vietoris and Clos.

I got a feeling he will replace one of the STR drivers Mid season.

Thanks for making this thread what about adding the other new rules as well such as F Ducts and double diffusers being banned?

Quote from aroX123 :

• The maximum height of the diffuser will be cut from 175 millimetres (6.9 in) to 125 millimetres (4.9 in), reducing aerodynamic downforce. Furthermore, measures were agreed to exclude double diffuser designs.
  

• FOTA have agreed to ban the controversial "F-duct" system developed by McLaren for the MP4-25 and later deployed by other teams through the 2010 season.
  

Quote from Mustafur :

I got a feeling he will replace one of the STR drivers Mid season.

Would be quite a huge waste of time and money to fire Alguersuari like that. But you never know with Red Bull, indeed.

Quote from GreyBull [CHA] :

Would be quite a huge waste of time and money to fire Alguersuari like that. But you never know with Red Bull, indeed.

They have done it twice before, i wouldn't doubt them.

so hulkenberg gets the boot from williams, and now it looks like bottas might get shafted by some gp2 guy...

http://planetf1.com/news/3213/ ... hing-for-a-Williams-drive

Quote from some commenter :

First of all Maldonado didn't even get a run on option tires. The team is using him to test the car, so the car is not set up for setting fast times (according to the f1 interview). Secondly, Maldonado drove 1.5 seconds faster than the other Williams tester.

i'm confused here... is this guy running his mouth, or did that actually happen? if so, then how come he isn't the tester instead of (insert pre-emptive no-offense here) bottas?

[Offtopic]

Quote from Mustafur :

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you're a few months out of sync