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Plus an interim car at the first Bahrain test - 3.5 launches now!
RickDraper
They won no races last season and have not won a championship since 2008 despite having a vast budget. They will be midfield at best once again this season, especially with the design changes.
A 2nd in GB and Monaco, 3rd in Hungary, AD and Socchi and lots of 4ths which is pretty good considering how far RB and Merc were ahead.
They've been going through a tough patch but I don't think you can write them off.
Williams remove the Senna S from their cars - understandable to me. New owners, new approach and how long do you continue with it. Bad form not to consult with Senna family though.
New FW44 on track for shakedown, the sidepods look TINY!!!! Best looking car so far for me. Still confused why they couldn't/wouldn't show a render of the actual car earlier though?
Williams have a car!
It's been out at silverstone
edit ... god damn, beaten by 5 seconds ... hopefully unlike williams
Team boss Jost Capito explained that it elected not to show its new colours on its actual 2022 car because: "We worked on the livery and we wanted to have that perfect and that's why we could only do it on the show car – because it took a while to do.
From Motorsport.com.
Doesn't really explain why they couldn't use a render of the actual car though - surely they had the bodywork designed a while ago so they could actually make the carbon bits etc.
**** the FIA, bunch of idiots.
Release it so we can draw a line under it. It's just going to carry on now.
If this is true then so much for their ‘integrity’!
I was expecting a white-wash, not a complete cover-up.
I’d hate to see him go, but I kind of hope Lewis walks away after this.
To me, its obvious the facts are that the rules were broken and Lewis is champion and the FIA will never admit to that, otherwise they'd come straight out with the mitigation for Verstappen.
Well if it's been shared with the teams (as the Guardian reports) it'll be leaked
Also, not really how Andrew Benson on BBC is reporting it
To me, its obvious the facts are that the rules were broken and Lewis is champion and the FIA will never admit to that,
It's a bit more complex than that. It's clear to me that Masi screwed up under pressure, he made a mistake because he's human. He did not follow the standard safety-car protocol. However, the stewards ruled that he has the right to employ the safety-car as he sees fit. Thus, legally, the rules weren't broken (because the stewards get to decide what the rules are in this case).
Realistically, once MV took the chequered flag, he had the title and there is no way to undo that. Max didn't cheat and he cannot be disqualified so the title is his. Merc understand that and their protest wasn't intended to overturn that. I agree that Masi screwed up and Hamilton should have won the title, but that's not what happened and it's time to drop the idea that the FIA can award the title to Hamilton. They can't. Max is champion and that will not change.
The problem is that the race management was a shambles and it needs to be fixed. Just sacking Masi won't fix it because it's not clear that anyone else would do a better job without fixing the underlying issues that caused him to be put under so much pressure. I think he needs assistants to help with the race management. Maybe have several team liaisons who are intimately familiar with the rules and regulations to handle the communications with the teams and then relay those to Masi. That way Masi doesn't have Merc and Red Bull constantly pestering him, he gets a filtered summary of their viewpoints along with a comment on the applicable rules.
It's also obvious that a complete review of how safety cars and red flags are employed is needed. IMO, if they want to have races finish under green flags, they should automatically red flag the race when there's a safety car within a specified number of laps to the finish. There will need to be clear protocols on the details of all that, but they either need to accept that races will finish behind a safety car or stop the race until the track is clear.
As far as I'm concerned, teams shouldn't be able to call their cars in for any remedial work (not just tyre changes) once the safety car (or VSC) is deployed.
(Sure, if an accident happens they can choose to call cars in immediately, but not once the SC/VSC is deployed so there is still a slim window of opportunity)
For cars directly impacted by a crash ie damaged, they can come into pits for work but have to re-join at tail of the field.
Whilst I agree entirely with @thols2 and that Max didn’t cheat, it could be argued that Red Bull were very close to it with the pressure they put on Masi over the radio, particularly the latest messages to be released!
I’m starting to think Lewis should walk, so far it doesn’t feel like they are doing much to fix things
Lets not forget "no safety cars Michael" from the other garage. They were all trying to influence him, thankfully the comms part does look like it might be improved this year (not saying fixed)
Good summery from @thols2, agree completely. There should be someone between RD and team manager (perhaps even a team of people), so that they have a communication line in case of safety critical issues but aren't able to influence directly, and severe penalty options if the RD thinks that team managers are crossing the line.
Don't understand the decision to keep it all secret though, it doesn't help them at all. just a quick scan through the usual suspects on Twitter and it's universal condemnation.
I agree with above about needing red flags for incidents close to the finish rather than safety cars and also that pitting during safety cars and VSC needs looking at. What did Masi and RB say about it being motor racing, I'd rather see drivers winning on track than in the pits.
I’d hate to see him go, but I kind of hope Lewis walks away after this.
I’m starting to think Lewis should walk, so far it doesn’t feel like they are doing much to fix things
Agreed – I said so much a few pages back just after it happened. He should stick two fingers up at the whole Circus and walk away, head held high. I just feel like they are delaying the decision to try to make Hamilton / Mercedes blink first.
One solution to the problems with safety cars could be to stop teams pitting under saftey cars. There would then be no advantage to be gained.
Season 4 of Drive to Survive, March 11th.
Should we just skip to the last episode?
Love the look of the new Williams. With the nose of the car now firmly reattached to the wing planes it reminds me a bit of the FW14B in shape. Hopefully will be competitive too 🙂
Season 4 of Drive to Survive, March 11th.
Should we just skip to the last episode?
I came to post exactly that question.
One solution to the problems with safety cars could be to stop teams pitting under saftey cars. There would then be no advantage to be gained
Yep, completely agree with this. As soon as SC/VSC is deployed no pitting.
I'm liking the look of the new cars too, hopefully they'll all be a bit closer this year.
Hopefully will be competitive too
Gary Anderson thinks Williams have created a car that doesn't work aerodynamically. Too disjointed front to back, especially the sidepods.
And another massive Crypto laundering sponsorship announced by Red Bull - at this rate William Storey will look like an honest, upstanding citizen soon!... 🙂
Lots of people suggesting changes to safety car procedures, when to do it, when to red flag, whether to allow pitting, et, etc.
You can have whatever rules you like. The problem is the application of the rules. We had rules last year, it was changing them on the hoof which caused problems. New rules wont solve that problem, it's the application which needs addressing, whatever the rules are they have to be rigorously applied.
That would be solved in some cases by the teams not being allowed to talk/badger the race director. I think it's crazy that they could to be honest, at least directly.
Agree on the FW14B thing, the Aston has that vibe as well with the raised front wing centre. Love it!
the-muffin-man
Gary Anderson thinks Williams have created a car that doesn’t work aerodynamically. Too disjointed front to back, especially the sidepods.
Probably all these cars are quite early iterations just to validate the basic design. Hopefully anyway... 😬
Latifi WDC '22 🤞 😁
I agree with holsw too. It's so frustrating that he didn't red flag at the time!!!
Gary Anderson thinks Williams have created a car that doesn’t work aerodynamically. Too disjointed front to back, especially the sidepods.
I have a lot of respect for Gary Anderson, he obviously knows more than most people about designing racecars. However, all the discussion about the cars is just informed guesswork and we won't know for certain until we're a few races into the season. Keep in mind, G.A. predicted that the 2021 changes would benefit low-rake cars. That doesn't mean he's stupid, just that these cars are complex and you can't know for sure just by looking at them. The teams have all seen how the cars work in a wind-tunnel so they know how their own car works better than G.A. does. Problem for them is that they don't know how the other teams cars work.
As I posted about Gary Anderson - Scarbs goes and posts his analysis and says it's the most radical car so far! 🙂
We'll all only really know at the end of qualifying who's done their sums right.
https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/1493898965162631171?cxt=HHwWhoC9zbPMsrspAAAA
multi21
Free Member
Probably all these cars are quite early iterations just to validate the basic design. Hopefully anyway…
Unfortunately it seems they've built the front wing inside out. Hopefully they've already had a good look at that and are updating if required (more explanation in the video)
From the cars launched so far Aston deserve the title for making the best looking F1 car for years. Just looks better every time you look at it.
Vettel for WDC 2022! 🙂
Looks even better in natural light if you haven't seen the shakedown vid yet
If I'm reading Scarbs correctly, then he surmises that the sidepod cooling ducts are horizontally split, with the upper duct blowing air over the rump sidepod.
There seems to be two approaches to the sidepod - Aston and Alfa Romeo feature louvres louvers gills which would appear to direct the cooling exhaust air over the rear wing and the McLaren & Haas approach which would appear to direct this air out of the rear bodywork.
Re: the Williams front wing. Note the following from Autosport:
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The wing itself is likely a placeholder used for the car shakedown, as it’s lacking some of the detail we’ve seen on some of the other cars that have been released so far – with the exception of the diveplane which looks like it might twist more along its length than some of the other examples.
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From Pistonheads. New Ferrari leaked and it's quite a looker. Love the black wings coming back
More gills than a bottle of whisky!
If that's right then it looks the most 'traditional' side-pod arrangement of all those seen so far.
Looks okay. It's no F189, but it almost makes up for the horrid F14T.
Ferrari Aero Dept: How many gills can you fit into it?
Ferrari Production Dept: Yes.
Yep the 640, my favourite F1 car
Looks like teh ferarris has more of a McLaren style sde-pod design, using them as pseudo-bargeboards to shove air over the edges of the floor, to in some way seal the edges in combination with teh floor-edge winglets. Unusual side-pod inlets too.
There's quite a variety coming out of the F1 Factories this year!
Well another completely different take on the rules! Hugely sculpted side-pods on the Ferrari... 😳
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MASI OUT OF RACE DIRECTOR ROLE IN FIA’S NEW F1 ‘REFEREEING’ PLAN
He will be replaced by Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich, who will rotate the position between them during the season and be assisted by a permanent senior adviser in Herbie Blash, who was formerly Whiting’s deputy.
Masi will be offered a different position within F1.
Nose is too pointy, would not bang
Those are some big gaping side pod inlets...
Still the best looking 2022 car so far, I think.
would not bang
Are we still saying bang?
thols2
Free MemberMASI OUT OF RACE DIRECTOR ROLE IN FIA’S NEW F1 ‘REFEREEING’ PLAN
I don't know anything about Niels Wittich but Freitas is highly regarded. Interesting to have Herbie back as an advisor.
Cautiously optimistic about the 'virtual race control'/VAR thing...
nickc
Full Member
Are we still saying bang?
Yes, specifically in reference to things being too pointy
Are we still saying bang?
Not sure I have the girth to fill the latest exhausts! 😬
Anyway still the Aston for me. 🙂
Are we still saying bang?
Thought it was all about swiping left or right these days? But I'm so out of touch that I don't know which way means what. Would love to see that Ferrari starting a wet race - hope they've got a drain hole in those side baskets.
As if been on the front jack wasnt scary enough!
Clever thinking behind that pointy nose:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/-revealed-ferraris-radical-2022-f1-nose-idea/8253981/
Otmar Szafnauer joins Alpine as team principal in restructure - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60414614
Good to see Otmar going to a good home
Ferrari's my favourite so far, looks rad as hell.
Pretty damning for F1 and rubbish for Lewis and Mercedes. It pretty much says the Masi applied the rules incorrectly. Had they been applied correctly, LH would’ve won his 8th world title. If that isn’t the definition of robbed, I don’t know what is?
Cautiously optimistic about the ‘virtual race control’/VAR thing
I don't get it, this is what the race stewards already do. They look at the cars involved in any incidents telemetry and any video available to make a judgment. How is this new "var" setup any better?
Just sounds like smoke and mirrors to me.
Will he turn up at the launch tomorrow I wonder, they are supposed to be having individual driver interviews I can imagine...
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Robbed…
Good article. About time someone called it like it is
Will he turn up at the launch tomorrow I wonder
Only if there is a big enough box of tissues on the desk for him.
LH hasn’t complained at all. Not a word. It’s quite amusing when one person’s silence is soo deafening to those who should the loudest.
Right now, I’d be feeling pretty damn self conscious if I’d plastered “1” to the front of my car under such controversial circumstances.
Only if there is a big enough box of tissues on the desk for him.
I would say Hamilton's behaviour has been remarkable in that it's been the polar opposite to this
scotroutes Full Member
Only if there is a big enough box of tissues on the desk for him.
We know you don't like him, but how could he have handled this shitshow any better, in your opinion?
I think he's done exactly the right thing, Max doesn't have a gram of his class.
Oh lordy - there's a lot going on with the new Merc. The detail around the sidepods and the little uppy bit on the leading edge of it. Not much fat on it either. Very tightly packaged, lots of aero going on with the floor. Nice...
Sleeeeeeeek!.... 🙂
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No gills, or is that just for launch and they'll appear later?
Its not a looker IMO to many bulges like a sack of potatoes, after the other launches I wonder if Mercedes missed a few tricks, or have just been very clever in aero. The floor look like it'll suck the car down though like a massive reverse wing.
Its not a looker IMO to many bulges like a sack of potatoes, after the other launches I wonder if Mercedes missed a few tricks, or have just been very clever in aero.
That's the fascinating thing about this season. None of the cars are quite the same however the Merc does look the most different (radical?). Very very tight package all the way down.
I really like the look of it too however that is purely subjective :). The Ferrari looks odder to me with its portly, flat and square side tops etc. Pre-season testing is going to be very interesting.
Disappointed no teams have come up with a six wheel car this season.
Different take on the front wing too - heavily loaded towards the outside rather than inside. Similar feel to the sidepods as the Williams as well...
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Now - Ferrari - completely different concept to everyone else - either they've hit the sweet-spot or royally cocked-up - again! 🙂
I'm liking that all the cars are looking different this year - be interesting to see who's got it right though.....
Aston is still the best looking one IMO
So only Sauber/Alfa and Alpine to launch now!
So, McLaren went with pullrod front suspension and pushrod rear, everyone else did the opposite. Fingers crossed that McL haven't got that decision very badly wrong.
Those renders are of a different/earlier version of car, the actual car looks very, very different in the details:
Looks very tightly packaged and they've pushed the rules in some places like the mirror mount turning vanes. Entry to the ground effect tunnels are very different too. Only thing that looks a little conservative is the where the wing attaches to the nose, but suspect that will change
the-muffin-man
Full MemberDifferent take on the front wing too – heavily loaded towards the outside rather than inside.
That's the way everyone is going, but the Merc does look extreme. Means the air near the nose can go straight through and be used by the floor.
If the real Red Bull isn't something truly special they're going to look like an even larger group of plums than they usually do. Remember when they used to be "fun"?
The floor “ripples” are bonkers. They look (not just on the Merc) that they’ve accidentally cooked the carbon at too high a temperature. I wonder if we’re into AI designed features now as they look so out there
wrt the ripples, they had something similar in last years car, or at least in testing they did.