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If F1 is the pinnacle if motorsport tech why didn't they remember porpoising from the last period of ground effect in F1?
If F1 is the pinnacle if motorsport tech why didn’t they remember porpoising from the last period of ground effect in F1?
I think the suggestion above has it. Merc are looking for FIA to allow active airflow, so they're doing it on porpoise.
Because this is the re-renaissance period of civilisation. 😉
They just look a bit meh on track, and lack the snappiness of previous years cars.
That’s the weight issues rather than the aero changes (that have definitely improved racing). F1 could really do with a diet but it’s a bloody hard task, especially where any safety device/structure is involved
The lack of posts in this thread compared to previous years makes me think we’re not overly impressed with the new cars.
Or maybe it because Hamilton isn't doing very well
Had some right lemons of tracks so far that don't encourage many overtakes. The excitement has come from moments of bad judgements and Latifi binning it and putting the safety car out to shake up the positioning and give us another start.
I haven't paid to watch F1 since last season due to the piss poor decisions.
I watch the C4 coverage if it's not too late, been some good races, nice to see Max has seemingly calmed down a bit.
Stroll Snr got to think about binning Jnr before they have to go to red bull for spare parts
Stroll Snr got to think about binning Jnr before they have to go to red bull for spare parts
Vettel just crashed too.
probably not as expensive as Strolls crash. Good pace for Vettel and Perez today. Mighty lap from Leclerc.
Checo!!!!
Sainz out.
The other Ferrari has just blown up as well.
Leclerc out.
Did I hear right on the R5 commentary earlier that Toto/Merc is now pushing for a minimum ride height rule change, saying it's a safety issue?
Merc want the rules changed because they cannot fix the porpoising? Ridiculous.
https://www.walser-shop.com/en/car-seat-covers/car-seat-cover-wood-beads-natur/
There you go Lewis. Job jobbed
Did I hear right on the R5 commentary earlier that Toto/Merc is now pushing for a minimum ride height rule change, saying it’s a safety issue?
Arguably coming into a corner and the car bottoms out because of the road surface double be seen as a safety issue.
Bring back active suspension!
LOL at the gaffer tape fix on Tsunoda's car.
Bring back active suspension!
Yep. I think they should just use spec active suspension hardware and sort the porpoising and bouncing problems for once and for all.
Apparently some teams realized last year that it was going to be a problem and asked for a minimum ride height but some teams refused. It's not a new issue that Merc just raised this week.
Driver of the day
Duct tape will get the "honorary honour mention" on the chequered flag podcast later.
LeClerc must be wondering what the hell he's got to do to catch a break at the minute.
Sad to see Leclerc retire, he may have had a chance with that strategy
I am loving the irony of Horner saying teams are using porposing to get an advantage only a few weeks after he was moaning about running out of budget.
I mean Reb bull have never released multiple soundbites and quote to who ever will listen to push there agenda.....
Poor race on sunday, even son turned it off which is unheard of.
South African GP: F1 closes in on deal for return of race - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/61786715
Looks like the South African Grand Prix might be making a return, possibly at the expense of Spa in Belgium.
This track is before my time, does anyone know it? Is it a good track? It will def be good to have some representation in Africa. I'll be sad to see Spa go though!!
I can think of about 10 races to lose before Spa - seems like a strange choice of a race to cut from the calendar but maybe they're scared of another rain-soaked farce.
This track is before my time, does anyone know it? Is it a good track?
It's supposed to be very good. Last race was early 90's the cars were very different though.
seems like a strange choice
Have you been there? The infrastructure creaks at the best of times, when the GP comes to town it really struggles, and it's cold and wet, and I think they've been trying to get it off the calendar for decades now
I can think of about 10 races to lose before Spa
Yeah I wouldn't miss any of the desert snooze-fests, of even Hungary if we needed to lose a European GP
Have you been there?
All true - but it's consistently produced some of the best races in F1 for years, so that will drive up TV viewing far more than any hyped up new track like Miami. Liberty are trying to sell a spectacle, and Spa will usually give them plenty for the highlights reel.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyalami
Looks like the track has been heavily revised since the 80s anyway
Kyalami is very narrow, IMHO its not suited to modern F1 cars.
Another crazy decision if Spa has to make way for it. Get rid of Paul Ricard, Barcelona, Monaco or Miami first.
I am rapidly running out of interest in F1, they are trashing it at the minute.
All true – but it’s consistently produced some of the best races in F1 for years
Has it? I can't think of any. I'd rate Germany 2019, Hungary in 2014, Brazil 2012? Canadian 2011 as maybe my top races. All Spa does is either rain so hard it can't hold a race, or there are loads of crashes that look super dangerous. Hubert - French F2 driver supposedly better than both Leclerc and Gasley was killed there a few years back and Norris last year? had that horrendous crash at the top of Eau Rouge.
I like Spa but I wouldn't be that sad to see it go, Plus Zandvoort is on the programme and that has a corner called Tarzan! What's not to like?
Kyalami is very narrow
Hasn't the new circuit been built especially for F1 though?
Hasn’t the new circuit been built especially for F1 though?
A quick google shows Silverstone has an average width of 15 meters, Kyalami has an average width of 12 meters. The track was reprofiled is 2015 I believe, a lot has changed in F1 since then.
and yet these so called top drivers can't stop going over the kerbs.......
Aren't the current cars 2m wide? A 12 metre wide track on the face of it, seems plenty,
and yet these so called top drivers can’t stop going over the kerbs……
Haha exactly. They can't even stay on the left! Idiots!!
Aren’t the current cars 2m wide? A 12 metre wide track on the face of it, seems plenty,
You would think so wouldn't you? I remember watching Ford Galaxies (the big old Mercan things not people carriers) racing and overtaking at Brands Hatch in the late 60s.
bigdean
Poor race on sunday, even son turned it off which is unheard of.
It was, I enjoyed vettels drive, it was like the vettel of old. Also magnussen and zhou until they retired. Boring up front though.
I think the repair to Yukis wing was the most entertaining bit of the race.
FIA are going to implement a porpoising/bouncing limit, no specifics yet
Similar to the gymnasts thread, the drivers shouldn't be made to suffer physical damage just because the team managers aren't willing to compromise on ride height.
multi21
.
, it was like the vettel of old.
.
🤣🤣🤣
FIA are going to implement a porpoising/bouncing limit, no specifics yet
hmmm, given that the Constructors, the F1 organisers and the FIA are closer to open warfare as they've been, I don't think the FIA simple stating "we're going to rule on porpoising based on driver safety" is going to go down well. Even Russell, who's currently the head of the drivers organisation has said that "It's not something that Mercedes are keen on" and the two Mercedes drivers (along with the Sainz) have been complaining the loudest about the pain they're suffering.
andrewh
multi21
, it was like the vettel of old.
🤣
The new regulation is going to make it harder for the likes of Merc who haven’t got the problem under control.
multi21 wins the internet with that response.
A wet FP3 has certainly made things a bit more interesting. Alonso and Vettel at the top of the time sheets and Verstappen no time set with only 10 mins left. Really hope it continues raining until qually and we get a mixed up grid for the GP.
Really hope it continues raining until qually and we get a mixed up grid for the GP.
That would be amazing! Only a couple of hours to go...
I can think of nothing worse than rain at a GP, I'm off to Silverstone here's hoping it stays well away even BTCC is ruined with rain. I want to see them flat out
Looks a tad damp out there...
Alonso on the front row!!
Can't help feeling that could have been Russell. Definitely showing his youth there!
The rain certainly sorts them out, doesn’t it?
Verstappen and Sainz have always been good in the wet and have good cars, but to see Alonso and Hamilton up there show’s their skill.
Verstappen really did hammer everyone.
What happened to Vettel between FP3 and Q1? Does the car only work on inters (or does Vettel only work on inters of course)?
Fernando 0.6 off verstappen was awesome.. the rest still 1.5s off is still the same as before. Expect business as usual during the race
Expect business as usual during the race
At the front maybe, elsewhere lots of people starting out of position
Yep, I expect Verstappen to go firing off into the distance. The rest of them though...
Depends on the start. Alonso's wink at the camera while saying he's going after MV at the start could make it fun. He's one driver who is unlikely to be intimidated by MAx if he tries it on at the first corner - I'm kind of hoping there is a bit of a first corner shoot out 🙂
Boring race ahead where Alonso spends the whole race trying to stop Hamilton getting past and the arrogant one speeds off into the distance.
Sainz is still at the stage where he will be fairly chuffed with a second place.
Alonso has had enough podiums not to care about second and is, hopefully, more likely to have an all or nothing attempt at a win
OTOH he’s also old enough to consider that he doesn’t have any skin in the championship game. If an opportunity arises he’ll go for it, but can’t see him having a lunge or whatever
Alonso should definitely pull over to let anyone with more sense of entitlement than ability to pass him.
I struggle to think of anyone with more sense of entitlement than Alonso
I struggle to think of anyone with more sense of entitlement than Alonso
Head down to Broadway Market in London on a Saturday and throw a stone
If Alonso doesn't attempt to bang tyres in the first few corners I'll be very disappointed
Looking forward to FA nailing MV off the start, MV trying an aggressive move into T1 and getting whatever he puts in back with interest.
Hopefully there's an "all the time, you have to leave Da space" lesson headed Verstappen's way;-)
Gah!
How many laps within 1.5s was that then? I really hope they don’t mess with these regs too much
Phew that was exciting! Really thought Sainz had a chance there. Great to see Hamilton on the podium, hopefully this helps him get his mojo back
Really thought Sainz had a chance there.
Naaah - Sainz is like Bottas - you could give him x200 laps to get by and there'd always be some excuse as to why it wasn't possible.
It's quite remarkable he is where he is having never won a race.
I always remember Hamo lobbing it down the inside of Raikkonen at monza in '07 from about 30metres back. I just don't feel like sainz has that killer instinct
"He never bothers to wait for the next corner does he?"
I just don’t feel like sainz has that killer instinct
2 things, Thing 1 : Look at those cars? aren't they skinny? and those skinny wheels! Thing 2. The McLaren was leagues better than the Ferrari in 2007 and Sainz' really doesn't have that advantage.
Current Indycars are nearly 2m wide also and they have no trouble overtaking.
F1 cars have also been 2m and wider in the past. The cars of the late 80s were 2.1m wide.
I always remember Hamo lobbing it down the inside of Raikkonen at monza in ’07 from about 30metres back. I just don’t feel like sainz has that killer instinct
I don't think Sainz had a clear path like that to accelerate into in all the laps he was within a second of Verstappen, plus i believe Raikonnen fell off in that race, this years RB has the ability to fight off the ferrari pretty well from what we've seen so far, they do seem pretty evenly matched on some tracks, which is good to see.