The Official F1 Thread
The Mercs were cooling compromised last year. It would be wise to assume they've fixed that problem
Hamilton usually has a slow start to the season, so it will be interesting to see how he comes out the blocks
Did anyone watch the F1 documentary on Netflix?
I haven't watched F1 since the days of Schumacher, Coulthard, Villeneuve etc but that documentary has got me back and interested again.
I haven't watched F1 since the days of Schumacher, Coulthard, Villeneuve etc but that documentary has got me back and interested again.
And on the 7th day, the Lord said "Let there be Finn Russell".
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ScarfaceClaw
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There was an article on the BBC suggesting that Ferrari had to go back to the drawing board with their car design. It wasn’t giving them the performance gains they were expecting and it’s a dead end. They’re not going to have anything competitive for the first couple of races from the sounds of it. It’ll be a merc and red bull season from the sounds of it with Hamilton #blessed winning again.
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Insane_Homer
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The Ferrari engine is going to be compromised since the rule 'clarification' and FIA 'deal'
It will be interesting to see where Honda have got to now too.
It will be interesting to see where Honda have got to now too.
“Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.”
Yes, I am in the exact same boat although my interest in F1 had waned a little earlier, I was a fanatic until Mansell's exodus from Williams in 1992 and only a casual for the rest of the 90s. I think this will be the first GP I have watched in over 20 years.
Interesting from Vettel today - apparently Ferrari never even offered him a contract. He claims he just got a call from Maranello saying his services would not be required for 2021
I suspect that team orders will be largely ignored in the Ferrari garage this season
I suspect that team orders will be largely ignored in the Ferrari garage this season
Saint wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:58 pm Interesting from Vettel today - apparently Ferrari never even offered him a contract. He claims he just got a call from Maranello saying his services would not be required for 2021
I suspect that team orders will be largely ignored in the Ferrari garage this season
Is it customary for driving changes to be made this early into the year given the way that it changes team dynamics/loyalties?
Around this time of year is usually whensilky season gets into full swing. But it seems that with little else to do for the last 4-5 months everyone decided to get it out of the way.Hugo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:13 pmSaint wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:58 pm Interesting from Vettel today - apparently Ferrari never even offered him a contract. He claims he just got a call from Maranello saying his services would not be required for 2021
I suspect that team orders will be largely ignored in the Ferrari garage this season
Is it customary for driving changes to be made this early into the year given the way that it changes team dynamics/loyalties?
This has created an unusual situation - normally you know, even if you're leaving the team, what they might still be fighting for as a team. Add to that Vettel's known penchant for disregarding team orders if he doesn't like them (multi22 etc) then this could all end very badly
I think this year the team/driver dynamics are going to be different. Contracts were signed anticipating major rule / technology changes next season but they have been deferred for a year. Then we have the team specific stuff. Vettel at Ferrari and whatever will happen at Williams etc etc.Hugo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:13 pmSaint wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:58 pm Interesting from Vettel today - apparently Ferrari never even offered him a contract. He claims he just got a call from Maranello saying his services would not be required for 2021
I suspect that team orders will be largely ignored in the Ferrari garage this season
Is it customary for driving changes to be made this early into the year given the way that it changes team dynamics/loyalties?
You are probably thinking Stroll and the Racing Point Team, where his son Lance is a driver. Used to be Force India.
Which will soon be Aston Martin F1 thanks to Stroll's joint ownership of that brand now
Williams have lost 2 major sponsors (including their title sponsor) this season due at least in part to Coronavirus, and are effectively up for sale. On the plus side, the livery looks much better now
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Longshanks
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Which means it will.
I think it will be track specific. The real benefit, if there is one, will likely be at tracks with long straights - which will also help the drivers in terms of "things to do".
Regardless, it's an interesting short term experiment seeing as it's banned for next season
They lookEd the closest in pre-season to challenging Mercedes. Ferrari think they've walked into a dead end and it's going to take them till Hungary to reverse out, but if Mercedes keep their reliability then they're still the team to beat
Quite. This weekend could be hugely important for Williams, a chance to show they have progressed and have the potential to justify acquisition.Saint wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:52 pmWhich will soon be Aston Martin F1 thanks to Stroll's joint ownership of that brand now
Williams have lost 2 major sponsors (including their title sponsor) this season due at least in part to Coronavirus, and are effectively up for sale. On the plus side, the livery looks much better now
I think less this weekend, but more the first half of the season. They need to show not only that they have improved, but are capable of improving further.
I suspect the likely answer will be a new title sponsor rather than a full sale of the team, although I wouldn't rule out an equity sale of part of the team
I suspect the likely answer will be a new title sponsor rather than a full sale of the team, although I wouldn't rule out an equity sale of part of the team
So, after FP1....
Hamilton ahead of Bottas by 0.3s, who in turn was ahead of Max by 0.3s
Ferraris down in 10th and 12th, although neither ran the soft tyre. Racing Point and McLaren look like they could be in for an interesting season......
Off track, Red Bull have an "interesting" take on DAS - apparently they;re seeking a rules clarification on it, while at the same time claiming to have it available to them to install.
Watching F2 Practise now, where they;re running 18" rims (in anticipation of the switch in F1 now delayed to 2022). But they;re doing it on last year's suspension, and at the moment it;s showing why the suspension model will have to change in F1 to allow for this change - the curbs look like a dangerous place to be right now for them
Hamilton ahead of Bottas by 0.3s, who in turn was ahead of Max by 0.3s
Ferraris down in 10th and 12th, although neither ran the soft tyre. Racing Point and McLaren look like they could be in for an interesting season......
Off track, Red Bull have an "interesting" take on DAS - apparently they;re seeking a rules clarification on it, while at the same time claiming to have it available to them to install.
Watching F2 Practise now, where they;re running 18" rims (in anticipation of the switch in F1 now delayed to 2022). But they;re doing it on last year's suspension, and at the moment it;s showing why the suspension model will have to change in F1 to allow for this change - the curbs look like a dangerous place to be right now for them
End of FP2, Hamilton and Mercedes dominant. Racing Point (aka Mercedes 2019) very competitive also. RBR believed to be holding something back (and Max had a few issues)..
At the back of the grid, Latifi is currenty way off the pace, but there are signs that Russel might be able to drag the Williams off the back row. Certainly that car is not the complete and utter donkey that it was last season
Lots of discussion about DAS. Mercedes have released a statement saying that they say it;s doing for them, but no-one appears to believe it - the consensus is that Merc's claim couldn't generate enough additional performance to offset the additional weight (particularly as it's "high" weight, so it;s moving the CoG significantly higher)
At the back of the grid, Latifi is currenty way off the pace, but there are signs that Russel might be able to drag the Williams off the back row. Certainly that car is not the complete and utter donkey that it was last season
Lots of discussion about DAS. Mercedes have released a statement saying that they say it;s doing for them, but no-one appears to believe it - the consensus is that Merc's claim couldn't generate enough additional performance to offset the additional weight (particularly as it's "high" weight, so it;s moving the CoG significantly higher)
Yes, the Pink Mercedes is looking quick. Racing Point reckoned they copied the Merc all by themselves don’t they - quite an achievement if they moved from high to low rake technologies in that time period and have it working straight out of the crate. I’m not sure what to believe.