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It is most likely it will be cancelled though – they will struggle to reschedule it now.
Had the same thoughts myself. Chuck a bit of the usual wet weather in there and it can make for a great race.
With regards to Hamilton, none of the other drivers seem to get anywhere near the amount of grief he gets online. As mentioned above, he’s the kind of guy that wears his heart on his sleeve but can often appear petulant when things aren’t going his way which the haters seem to thrive off.
It doesn’t appear to do him any harm, he’s one of the best when it comes to turning a negative into a positive.
If the Chinese round is all but dead what about the new Vietnam round? They're very close and I think a lot of the travel hubs pass through places that serve China regularly.
Listen to the James Allison interview on the podcast where he talks about when he first met Lewis and how he told him he was a *er. The conversation he relays that they subsequently had in the cafeteria shows what an intelligent and caring guy Lewis actually is. It’s genuinely touching.
Here’s a transcript after James apologised for saying it.
—-
He also told me he was sorry about my wife, who had died six or eight months earlier and it caught me by surprise. It is not what you expect from an F1 driver.
He took the conversation on and said that he hoped I found some way of living with it, and in good time I will find happiness again.
That was a lovely thing to say. I said 'I hope so too, but that happy future would involve me talking to a girl and I am absolutely rubbish at that'.
"Lewis looked at me and smiled and said, 'well, probably just don't call them fers!'"
—-
At the British GP in 2018 or 19 (can’t remember which) when it was roasting hot LH bought a shit load of ice creams and personally handed them out to all the marshals.
There guy is an absolute legend imo and probably the fairest fighting of all the true modern multiple world champions.
That podcast is a very good one, the whole series of On The Grid are good really!
Hamilton was always sensational from the driving perspective. I think part of the problem is that he has come across as a bit childish at times out of the car, but he seems to have grown out of that. Having said that, some of the hate from Alonso fans back after their McLaren debacle was blatantly racist and I always thought less of Alonso for not coming out and telling his fans to knock it off.
Why do Red Bull get to do a 100km of 'private testing'? I thought the amount of testing you were allowed to do was strictly regulated by the FIA?
Red Bull: Max Verstappen praises positive test run at Silverstone - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51447108
There guy is an absolute legend imo and probably the fairest fighting of all the true modern multiple world champions.
Agreed!
Why do Red Bull get to do a 100km of ‘private testing’?
I thought all the teams are allowed to do shakedown runs under strictly limited conditions, so it's not a performance test, it's just to check that all the systems work before real testing begins.
So “narrow” seems to be this years popular theme?
As Merc showed last year, you don't know what the car is really going to look like until the end of pre-season testing. They'll keep anything innovative hidden as long as they can.
"gp2 driver, gp2 driver!"
He still has other avenues if he wants to try for the Triple Crown.
I do like McLaren's colour scheme - very careful spell checking is needed when typing the name of their new sponsor though!...
[img] 
[/img]
https://www.racefans.net/2020/02/13/first-pictures-mclaren-reveals-its-new-f1-car-for-2020/
ignore, has forgotten they finally went back to orange, sorry, papaya
If the Chinese round is all but dead what about the new Vietnam round? They’re very close and I think a lot of the travel hubs pass through places that serve China regularly.
The rumours are it is going to be cancelled too although the BBC is reporting that it *will* be going ahead.
That McLaren looks looooong, especially around the airbox. I hope that it'll deliver more podiums this year and not be a complete disaster.
longcar is loooooong
That McLaren looks looooong, especially around the airbox.
Apparently most F1 cars these days are of a similar dimension (length and width, not height of course) as an S Class Merc!
Why do Red Bull get to do a 100km of ‘private testing’? I thought the amount of testing you were allowed to do was strictly regulated by the FIA?
All teams get 2 filming days per season. 100km max, demonstration spec tyres only.
Apparently most F1 cars these days are of a similar dimension (length and width, not height of course) as an S Class Merc!
Packaging the power unit and battery isn't easy, but the cars look comedic. From what I've seen of the 2021 rules, the cars look better proportioned, but the length is only fractionally shorter. Bigger wheels will help balance the proportions out, but the cars will still be huge.
“gp2 driver, gp2 driver!”
Haha!
Yeah they've really shaken up the livery this year... new Merc in 'looking like old Merc' shocker.
Yep - it was going to be a year for little change.
They can spend as much as they like on next years car this year - and then the budget cap comes into force. So the big spenders will be focusing on that.
I think what will be interesting is seeing who blinks first and stops developing this year's car in order to focus on next year. If one of the big three isn't right on the pace from the start, I guess they'll just settle for third place this year and put all their effort into next year.
Merc will throw everything they have at this year's cars (whilst doing the same for next year's car) and Hamilton will push even more
Merc want/need to win this year so they can say they won every championship in the hybrid era
Lewis will want to match Schumacher's record this year as he knows its highly likely he will if things go his way (no major accidents/mechanicals etc...)
Next year with new rules and new cars means there is less chance of Hamilton matching or even beating Schumacher's record and Merc have no idea how other teams car's will compare to their own
Merc want/need to win this year so they can say they won every championship in the hybrid era
The PUs aren't really changing though so the 'hybrid era' will run on past the end of this year - but I guess we look back at things like the DFV era, the turbo era etc so Merc would be able to claim on a clean sweep of the current regs, whatever they're called.
I'd expect the next big change in PU formula will be to reduce the size of the ICU but increase the electric part so they'd still stay hybrid. AIUI Formula E has got the 'fully electric formula' exclusivity from the FIA for quite a while so F1 can't go all electric in the short/mid term. As FE gets quicker that might become an issue for them but they've got a loooong way to go.
The PUs aren’t really changing though so the ‘hybrid era’ will run on past the end of this year – but I guess we look back at things like the DFV era, the turbo era etc so Merc would be able to claim on a clean sweep of the current regs, whatever they’re called.
It's two reasonably significant aero rule changes they have been through already so they've done astonishingly well. But, yes it's probably going to be looked upon as a single 'era'.
Really glad they've kept Niki's red Mercedes star on the livery as well although I guess that will always be there just as Senna's S will always be on the Williams.
New Williams - like the livery but just hope they get a bit more pace this year.
Nice livery, but the aero on the front end looks very basic compared to the top teams. But if they manage to get into Q2 a few times this year it will be an improvement.
Thing with Williams is that it can hardly get worse than last year so I expect a big improvement. Unfortunately, I've been saying that for several years now.
Basic aero is fine if it means they can understand the car and develop it. Not unusual to have a completely different car at testing anyway.
Livery looks great 👍
Nice livery, but the aero on the front end looks very basic compared to the top teams.
That's not unusual in a press launch, quite a few of the cars that we've already seen aren't the finished article in terms of aero packaging. However, I don't believe that Williams are going to be the surprise of the season - the issues that have sent them to the back of the grid aren't going away soon.
the issues that have sent them to the back of the grid aren’t going away soon.
Tbf, she might, when Frank finally realises she's out of her depth
Williams basically said that they have just updated last year's car instead of starting from scratch. The problem last year wasn't just that the car sucked, it was that they didn't understand why. If they've managed to understand the problem, they should be able to improve massively. If not, I dread to think how far off the pace they will be.
If they’ve managed to understand the problem, they should be able to improve massively.
Well so far they've got a car to Barcelona and it's running on track today - last year they were late to the testing party so it's positive so far.
Looking forward to this
Could F1 be heading back to Imola?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/f1i.com/news/367864-imola-circuit-submits-bid-to-replace-chinese-gp.html/amp
McLaren seem to have gone with the same aero strategy as Ferrari WRT to the front wing design- interesting.
1. Valtteri Bottas 1:17.313 (Mercedes) laps - 69
2. Sergio Perez +0.062 (Racing Point) laps - 51
3. Max Verstappen +0.474 (Red Bull) laps - 81
4. Carlos Sainz +0.688 (McLaren) laps - 59
5. Esteban Ocon +0.691 (Renault) laps - 48
6. George Russell +0.855 (Williams) laps - 64
7. Charles Leclerc +0.976 (Ferrari) laps - 54
8. Robert Kubica +1.073 (Alfa Romeo) laps - 47
9. Kevin Magnussen +1.245 (Haas) laps - 49
10. Daniil Kvyat +2.821 (AlphaTauri) laps - 45
williams not the lantern rouge!!!! in this mornings testing 🙂
last years merc in a new pink frock ?
Big relief to see Williams running without problems. Hope it's a sign that they're getting past their problems.
I know it's really early doors but it's
merc
honda
renault
ferrari
in the engine stakes. sure to change 🙂
Wonder whether the second fuel flow sensor is affecting Ferrari, or is going to during the year?
First morning of testing doesn't mean anything, apart from everyone seems to have reliable cars. Last year Ferrari looked like they were miles ahead until suddenly they were miles behind.
Williams turning up and having a car running round the track means they're already in a far better position than last year.
Vesstappen has spun again !
merc have some special device on the steering wheel where it moves backwards and forwards.
Interesting to see Racing Point fielding a clone of last year’s Mercedes. Some of the other teams aren’t happy, if Alpha Tauri and Racing Point have access to off the shelf race winning designs, it makes the job of McLaren and Williams that much harder.
sky are speculating it's changing the rake on the car. I'm going with changing brake bias while braking.
Some trick suspension too...
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/11938036/mercedes-w11-secrets
Klunk
Member
sky are speculating it’s changing the rake on the car.
I cant see the twitter link above, but that would have to come under moveable aero and i'd expect to see the ban hammer out this week.
To me it looks like it’s adjusting the toe in, keep an eye on the top/inside of the tyres at the end of the straight
Faceache link.
Yep, if you watch it at 1:15 on that Facebook vid, as Hamilton enters the main straight he pulls in the wheel and theres quote a large toe-in effect on the front wheels.
Intriguing.
So why spend the $$$s in the first place if they don't think it's legal?
Do wheels class as moveable aero as they move anyway! Up/Down/Left/Right! 🙂
So why spend the $$$s in the first place if they don’t think it’s legal?
Do wheels class as moveable aero as they move anyway! Up/Down/Left/Right! 🙂
If it’s toe rather than rake (which from the FB link it does look like it) I’ll bet the other teams argue active suspension instead or something along those lines. Still think it’ll get the ban hammer. iirc there are rules on allowable movement of the steering column/wheel too?
They develop these things as they’re all absolute chancers
From memory if it’s driver adjusted, not ‘puter aided it’s *legal?
*I may be imagining/making this up.
Because it allows them to test changed toe-in in testing without returning to the pits to physically change it, and it'll get all the other teams into a froth and not looking at whatever it is they actually want to hide?
I can't see them being allowed to run it in races, and they must know that too, unless they've done a "Brawn" and had a really thorough conversation with the FiA, and it'll be legal for a few races until Ferrari get it banned.
From memory if it’s driver adjusted, not ‘puter aided it’s *legal?
Similar to the McLaren F-duct that the driver open/closed with their knee?
That got banned too
https://www.eurosport.com/formula-1/f1-to-ban-f-duct_sto2321079/story.shtml
sobriety
Member
Because it allows them to test changed toe-in in testing without returning to the pits to physically change it
Looks more like a change in position that reverts to normal under braking, hence pulling to deploy then braking forces will help/make it return.
Other manually operated things that have been banned: McLaren's extra brake pedal
Yes, can see the toe in change in the video here:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-insight-have-mercedes-just-changed-the-game-with-new-steering-wheel.78KDOPX7xRy9YtaFZPCKC4.html
IIRC, the McLaren brake thing was banned on the grounds that it was four-wheel-steering.
Merc are calling it "Dual Access Steering" .
If anyone wants a wee read from McLarens POV: https://www.mclaren.com/racing/inside-the-mtc/mclaren-extra-pedal-3153421/
Happy to be proved wrong, but I struggle to believe that they'd develop a complex system to tweak toe-in just for use in testing - it's so relatively simple to change in a pit stop, would it be worth the development time/cost etc?
all not well at red bull & renault
merc say it's not just for testing and it's been given the Nod from the FIA
Autosport make it sound like it's on shakey ground
F1 rules regarding suspension and steering are quite clear with regards to what teams are and are not allowed to do.
Article 10.2.3 is explicit that any adjustment to the suspension system can only be made when the car is stationary.
"No adjustment may be made to any suspension system while the car is in motion," it states.
Article 10.2.2 states: "Any powered device which is capable of altering the configuration or affecting the performance of any part of any suspension system is forbidden."
Without knowing how the Mercedes system works, it is unclear if it breaches any of the above regulations.
F1 rules are also clear that any power steering systems can only be utilised to help minimise the effort a driver needs to put in to steer the car.
Article 10.4.2 states: "Power assisted steering systems may not be electronically controlled or electrically powered.
"No such system may carry out any function other than reduce the physical effort required to steer the car."
There's speculation that the device changes the toe angle on long straights to retain more heat in the tyres, but whatever the purpose it's certainly bending the rules as far as they can go. There's definitely a geometry change taking place that isn't merely the result of applying more lock on the steering as we've seen with Red Bull's design this year.
finger boy is looking a little pale.
F1 rules are also clear that any power steering systems can only be utilised to help minimise the effort a driver needs to put in to steer the car.
I wonder if Merc argue that by changing the toe angle it requires less effort for the driver to steer thru corners?!
all not well at red bull & renault
in what way?
Mercedes' new 'trumbone' steering wheel system created quite the debate in the morning session, and technical director James Allison spoke to the media in the lunch break about that device.
The main headline quotes were that it's called a 'DAS' system - which Sky Sports has learnt is an acronym for Dual Axes Steering - and that there are no concerns about its legality.
"We have a system in the car, it's a novel idea and we've got a name for it, it's called DAS," said Allison. "It just introduces an extra dimension in the steering for the driver which we hope will be useful during the season.
"But precisely how we use it, why we use it... that's something we'll keep to ourselves."
On the legality questions, he added: "This isn't news to the FIA, it's something we've been talking to them about for some time. The rules are pretty clear about what's permitted on steering systems and we feel confident that it matches all of those requirements."
From Sky F1
Marc speculates
in what way?
floors off and shutters up.
back out now, have to say the honda no longer sounds like a bag of nails
Racing Point still fastest, Danny Ric second fastest. Bottas slowest.
Hot take: It's hard to read anything at all into the testing times.
slow smokey merc