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Be interesting to see what that Merc device does. They seem pretty bullish that it’s been cleared by the FIA.
An apparently their car is dripping with innovations. Quite looking forward to seeing how the season shapes up.
According to Kravitz Merc started work on this car in December '18!
softest tyre lap from Bottas 1:15.732 (2/10ths off his pole lap last year)
softest tyre lap from Bottas 1:15.732 (2/10ths off his pole lap last year)
Looking in the F1.com live timing that’s on the medium and 1.3 quicker than the next fastest (Ocon) who was running the soft.
If that’s right then that’s mighty lap time and will have the others a bit worried I think.
I get the feeling, given this is the end of an era Merc have done what Williams did with the FW14 and 15 and thrown everything at making the ultimate car of its era. Pushed every rule to the limit and pushed the tech too. Their rear suspension is particularly interesting and perhaps the real innovation ahead of DAS.
That Bottas lap was on the Ultrasofts.
Crazy to see that in 5 years they have improved the lap time by at least 7 seconds:
barca poles
2019 bottas 1:15.406
2018 lewis 1:16.173
2017 lewis 1:19.149
2016 lewis 1:22.000
2015 Britney 1:24.681
F1 have the Bottas lap on the mediums
f1 tv are saying c5 (softest) for the bottas lap
According to Kravitz Merc started work on this car in December ’18!
I think Williams designed theirs in 2016. Glad they've finally got it running.
I wouldn't be suprised if the Merc steering trickery is there to distract from something else even tricker on their car. The rear suspension has already been noted, they could be running sometthing else, too.
The only people they’d trick would be members of the public
DAS – Dual-Axis Steering – the innovative system that changes the front wheel toe setting of the car invented by Mercedes will be outlawed in 2021.
Annnnd there goes Ferrari with Seb starting at the engine / gearbox.
they seem pretty bullish!
The middle third of that Merc is just bloody beautiful!
Vettel backwards in a cloud of his own smoke again this morning.
It just feels so satisfying to watch.
Vettel backwards in a cloud of his own smoke again this morning.
He's got to make sure he's comfortable with car in all expected conditions 😉
So Kubica isn't as hopeless as he looked last year.
showing us the Bottas bog :/
crashstappen has binned it into the gravel. (trashing all the nice new bits fitted to the car) It does look a bit twitchy to drive.
Klunk
Member
crashstappen has binned it into the gravel. (trashing all the nice new bits fitted to the car) It does look a bit twitchy to drive.
Looks like he got the opposite lock on but the car just had no grip on the rear axle
https://twitter.com/F1/status/1232979403132547073
not good to do it with the big boss in the garage 😀
I created us a new league on GridRival. God knows how you log in now on the web site, I used the app.
Invite link to follow shortly:
eta; their invite links don't work either - i'll email them and then post it when fixed.
finger boy loses it at the same corner, pebbledashing the circuit.
Just started watching series 2 of “Drive to survive”
Think that’s my weekend gone
A mixed bag so far, but here are my entirely throw away predictions for the first race weekend:
* Podium for (T)Racing Point
* Russell in the Williams to make it to Q2
* Renault to finish ahead of McLaren
New series of drive to survive is on Netflix today.
amusingly lots of visibility of rich energy so far
I lie, mr storey has appeared in episode 2
More Ferrari International Assistance?
Here's the link for the site fantasy F1 league
https://gridrival.app/join/7YWSKN
You might need the app to make it work, I certainly can't get the desktop site to work
Purple helmeted honey badger. In f1 commentary 😂😂😂
As per simondbarnes post above "Ferrari International Assistance"?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/formula1/51688538
Teams want answers...
Non Ferrari powered teams formally object
My guess about the Ferrari engine (based on a bunch of postings by F1 journos) is that the FIA couldn't prove that whatever they were doing was technically illegal, but told them they have to stop doing it because it was contrary to the intent of the regulations. Hence Ferrari weren't accused of cheating, but weren't publicly cleared either. The agreement was because the FIA wanted Ferrari to explain exactly what they did (so they could monitor for it in the future), but Ferrari wouldn't do that unless they had a written assurance that they would not be formally charged.
As it stands, it looks very dubious, so Ferrari have been publicly embarrassed. I think the other teams just want to keep it in the news to keep the embarrassment level up for as long as possible. Nothing will come of it because the evidence that Ferrari provided won't be eligible in court because of the agreement they signed, so nobody can actually prove that they were... ummm... not exactly abiding by the spirit of the rules.
Pretty much my thoughts too.
The big question that needs answering though is would any other team/engine supplier been treated differently? The fact that Todt is the FIA President while this has happened will not sit well with a lot of people. I know the standard joke is it stands for Ferrari International Assistance but surely with an ex-Ferrari Team Principle at the helm you'd think they'd do everything they could to prevent any favouritism accusations.
It'll run and run as a backstory for a while yet.
Dunno if this answers any questions
I wonder how many teams are calculating the loss (in millions) that those "technically legal" engines cost them?
I wonder how many teams are calculating the loss (in millions) that those “technically legal” engines cost them?
One - Red Bull. There's no way McLaren would have beaten Ferrari even if Ferrari had to lose whatever trick thing they were doing with their engine. Red Bull don't care about the prize money, they will want this to stay in the news to embarrass Ferrari.
I'm not sure on this "technically legal" thing...
My understanding is that the engines were strongly suspected of violating the fuel flow rule which is worded as follows:
"5.1.4 Fuel mass flow must not exceed 100kg/h" Pretty black and white.
But Ferrari came up with with a way of defeating the sensor (for example by pulsing the fuel at times they know the sensor is not measuring) therefore the accusation could not be proved. Further fire was poured on the flames with LeClercs fuel inconsistency.
It's also clear their performance took a massive positive step change when they got it working and another when they had to stop using it.
I mean look at how messy LeClerc's quali lap was at Singapore. He had a few big oversteer moments yet still set a purple in S1 and took pole.
hols2
Red Bull don’t care about the prize money, they will want this to stay in the news to embarrass Ferrari.
Maybe not their primary motivator but ...
Red Bull Sports Director Helmut Marko specifies: "We'll lose a double-digit million amount if we finish third instead of second. Not only because more is paid out for second place. Our sponsorship contracts are also performance-based. I suppose it's the same with the other teams."
Red Bull. There’s no way McLaren would have beaten Ferrari even if Ferrari had to lose whatever trick thing they were doing with their engine.
And how many other teams lost points due to Alfa and Haas?
Yes, Red Bull will care about the difference between 2nd and 3rd for sponsorship purposes, but there's no way that McLaren would have beaten Ferrari so it's a moot point for the rest of the grid. There may still be people at McLaren (and other teams) who remember the 2007 spying scandal and see this as an opportunity to serve a bit of that back at Ferrari. Can't blame them really, this does look pretty dodgy.
I’m not sure on this “technically legal” thing…
The legality is determined by the fuel flow meter. If that says that it never exceeded the limit, then the case won't stand up in court. It's definitely very fishy, but if the FIA can't prove it was illegal, they can't disqualify the car.
hols2
There may still be people at McLaren (and other teams) who remember the 2007 spying scandal and see this as an opportunity to serve a bit of that back at Ferrari. Can’t blame them really, this does look pretty dodgy.
Yes, and RB who were DQ'd for exceeding fuel flow a few years ago even though the meters were not reading consistently.
RedBull (well, Helmut anyway) have said they want $24m in compensation - what they and Torro Rosso (I assume) would have got for finishing one place higher
It doesn't matter where Ferrari would've finished had they not exploited this particular loophole - the rules governing fuel flow are clear and the precedent has been set with Red Bull being disqualified before for a transgression.
If Ferrari have done a quiet deal with the sport's governing body then this does not bode well.
It's always been one Rule for the Red Team and another set for the others.
Onboard of verstappen going round the refurbed zandvoort. Turn 4 looks pretty tasty, not too sure how many overtaking opportunities without DRS there will be though.
the precedent has been set with Red Bull being disqualified before for a transgression.
In that case, there was clear evidence that Red Bull had transgressed. I this case, it looks like the FIA couldn't prove that there had been a transgression. Corpus delicti.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-not-satisfied-ferrari-engine/4719698/
As many suspected, FIA thought they were cheating, couldn't definitively prove it.
The F1 2019 game is currently 70% off on Steam.
The F1 2019 game is currently 70% off on Steam.
Does the 70% off include the Ferrari cheat mod or do you have to pay extra for that via a private agreement???
escrs
Does the 70% off include the Ferrari cheat mod or do you have to pay extra for that via a private agreement???
The specifics of the agreement will remain between the parties.
Don't forget to join the STW Fantasy league!
The web site is now working as well as the app
https://gridrival.app/join/7YWSKN
8 F1 team members now in quarantine and being tested for Coronavirus...if positive, the Victoria State chief health officer says they may cancel the race
Can't they just hook their simulators up to the net and have an e-race? To even the playing field, everything must be driven off a single extension cord plugged into a socket with a 10 amp fuse.
LOL - I was just about the post the same thing!!
Kick those spotty kids out of their gaming chairs! 🙂
I can see the Australian race going ahead dispite the virus. The Australian governement seem to have quite a different attitude to sport/money than a lot of others. The ticket holders will just turn up anyway.
However, Vietnam has cancelled visa entry to most European countrys, so I reckon thats going to stop that race happening, even if its without spectators, the team cant fly there.
Team member tested positive - McLaren withdraw from Aus GP
Will see what happens with Haas, and whether any other teams withdraw.
If it goes ahead it won't be classed as a championship round - so whats the point of it happening?
I reckon the race will be cancelled now
Was just coming to say that I'd wager it'll be cancelled if the teams get twitchy - that McLaren news will be enough (never mind that it still doesn't seem clear how Ferrari intend to get half the team and kit out of Italy)
Well it looks like I'll be getting a lie-in on Sunday morning!
If it goes ahead it won’t be classed as a championship round
You have a very short memory.
Well if they have a race with just some teams, then it cant be a championship round. Those that dont race will say they were disadvantaged as they will end up with less practice, ontrack development etc.
So the organisers will have to cancel the whole thing. I can imagine a whole load of pissed-off Aussies.
I think Ross Brawn said it wouldn't be a championship round if all teams couldn't get there....they have all got there, so presumably it could be
I can imagine a whole load of pissed-off Aussies.
I'm sure they'll find a way to forget about it.
F1 managing director Ross Brawn previously stated that a World Championship round would not be held if all teams weren’t present.
Indy was different though as all teams took to the grid and started the formation lap.
IIRC, at Indy the teams said it would be dangerous to race but the FIA insisted that they were contractually obliged to, so they did the formation lap and withdrew so they met the legal requirement. I can't see them trying to hold McLaren or any other team to that obligation now. Thing is, Merc, Red Bull, and Ferrari won't withdraw unless they know the other two also will.
Also some of the smaller teams will be desperate to get just one point, so if Hass pull out Williams would love that chance to get the one and only point they are likely to get all year.
Andrew Benson is tweeting that senior F1 sources has said the race is off
Yup, just saw that. Feel a bit sad but it is probably the right thing to do.
postponed rather than cancelled, but when they think they'll fit it in is a mystery
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51849163
Latest but still a very evolving situation. I can't see anything running for the next month at least. Bahrain is supposed to be behind closed doors but if workers within the F1 paddock have tested positive, surely it means the whole thing needs shutting down?
BBC says it's off; Sky say not.
Clear who is still signing people up to watch it live.
Nothing on the official F1 website either.....
Sky news now saying Australian GP is cancelled.
On the F1 site now.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-fia-and-agpc-announce-cancellation-of-the-2020-australian-grand.KKpXZDcd77WbO6T0MGoO7.html
Bahrain and Vietnam also now "postponed". Talk of season running into 2021 and delaying introduction of the new cars by a year!
Times jorunalist reporting that the next two GPs are also postponed.
https://twitter.com/lawton_times/status/1238411062896181249?s=21
Given that it's ~10 weeks until we see some action it would definitely be interesting if they were to set up a mini e-sports championship for the drivers in the meantime. Or even better a karting series 🙂
Would be very disappointing if (assuming they can start in late May) this had a knock-on effect for next season. Even if the four postponed GPs are completely abandoned there'll still be more races than most of the past years of F1.