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It appears the present front wing designs take their inspiration from one of these:
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OK, here's my theory (aka wishful thinking).
They uploaded a vid to youtube yesterday with JB and FA doing a Back to the Future routine (with added cheese).
So here's McL going back to the late 90s.
Next step will be the the full reveal, going back to the 80s and red/white colour scheme.
It would at least fit in with the rumours which suggested a black car (well almost) today followed by the proper launch later on.
Fingers crossed.
Ahhhh, Red Bull, the little team that could.
Or was that Jaguar?
Or Stewart?
Yes, the upstart team that is entering it's 19th season of F1 ... makes me laugh every time I hear that they went from nothing to winning the title in a few years.
That McLaren doesn't have many sponsors does it. Although supposedly Ron refused to lower the cost of sponsorship, which I suspect is a killer for a mid-table team. If the Honda works out tho I would imagine people will flock to them
Interesting change in design philosophy for McLaren
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117500
The arrival of chief engineer Peter Prodromou from Red Bull last year has served as a force for change on this front, and his views on taking a new approach have been embraced by McLaren.The priority is no longer in pursuing theoretical peak downforce figures - it is about achieving maximum useable downforce.
In simple terms, being able to use 100 per cent of 700kg of downforce is better than only being able to use 80 per cent of 750kg.
That kind of fits in with what we've seen with McL for the last few years - a confidence that the car will be good followed by turning up at the track and it not being as good as they expect followed by headscratching and frustration as to why they're slower than they expect. It'll be really interesting to see how that pans out.
The priority is no longer in pursuing theoretical peak downforce figures - it is about achieving maximum useable downforce.
Blimey I'd have thought that was pretty obvious. Maybe the focus on peak theoretical downforce was a limitation of their modelling tools in some way?
Next step will be the the full reveal, going back to the 80s and red/white colour scheme.
Did you notice the date on that Californian licence plate?
I see it says 'Aug' but not quite sure what to infer from that...
New Mercedes testing at Silverstone...
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2015/01/29/mercedes-w06-revealed-testing-silverstone/
I see it says 'Aug' but not quite sure what to infer from that...
It says 'Aug 86'
Perhaps a clue to the livery style for this year?
Looking sharp! I think the others need to worry...
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The Mercedes looks sorted the McLaren is definitely a work in progress however it is verytightly packaged and a lot of the aero layout appears copied from RB.
In 1986 McLaren were using Porsche engines, so I doubt it.
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What is it with all the silver/black/red or orange highlights (on a few of those cars)?
Please someone make a gold one, or lime green...
New Sauber - looks like they ran out of budget to pay a livery designer though!
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legend, Lewis may have a nerd look this year but it seems to work for him...
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If Lewis and Nicole manage to stay together throughout this season Lewis will be unstoppable.
Ferrari looks nice - Vettel in red will take some getting used to though...
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http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2015/01/30/ferrari-sf-15t-2015-f1-car-first-pictures-launch/
New Alfa Romeo branding on side of engine cover - has that been seen on a Ferrari before?
The nose on that Ferrari looks really long...especially compared to the Merc.
Contrary to widespread expectation, the new Ferrari continues with the pull-rod front suspension of its predecessor - Mercedes and Red Bull use a push-rod system. Although the pull-rod variation offers aerodynamic benefits, its downside is a 'sloppy' front end - a trait that neither Sebastian Vettel nor Kimi Raikkonen like.
http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24187/9683125/ferrari-launch-the-sf15-t
Maybe not quite as straightforward as suggested but that does seem to be the general consensus on pullrod front sus so it's interesting that it wasn't changed. Maybe not enough time to do so after Vettel signed.
New Alfa Romeo branding on side of engine cover - has that been seen on a Ferrari before?
PLEASE let us see a Ferrari powered team with Alfa logos on the cam covers...or better yet, an Alfa branded Ferrari B team.
New Alfa Romeo branding on side of engine cover - has that been seen on a Ferrari before?
Good spot! Big year for Alfa with (*another*) re-launch of the brand. FIAT calling in favours of Ferrari I reckon.
Alfa Romeo has had more relaunches than the space shuttle Discovery.
New Alfa Romeo branding on side of engine cover - has that been seen on a Ferrari before?
Might have been the other way around way back when, didn't Enzo used to run Alfa's GP team before he started his own?
I see it says 'Aug' but not quite sure what to infer from that...
It was the date on the number plate in Back to the Future. I think the whole campaign is just some fun with the idea it's McLaren Honda again rather than some clever teaser
The Sauber looks like it will be rubbish, to say that nose looks sub optimal is an understatement. Ferrari is more of an evolution than I honestly expected and I find it interesting that both McLaren have gone for the very long flat nose designed to work with front wing to influence the Y250 vortex.
So testing starts tomorrow. Does anyone know of a way to watch it without Sky TV?
Wiziwig maybe. I have an android box that somehow manages to pick up free sports channels, which is handy. 😀
[url= http://www.wiziwig.tv/offline.html ]Looks like Wiziwig is no longer operating :-([/url]
Glad to see the Ann Summer toy noses have gone.
Enzo did race for Alfa before making his own race team and cars. He raced with the Scuderia shields on the wings.
Do hope McLaren and Honda do well. Just to stop Jenson from acting (don't give up your day job)
But do think the Merc will be the ones to beat. There 2014 engine was 0.5 second per lap faster then the rest of the field in the last race. Think they will stick with that until everyone else catches up and then drop in the 2015 one
Think they will stick with that until everyone else catches up and then drop in the 2015 one
I don't
I think they'll make the others chase a running target, they've already proved they can develop it better so the others may well find Merc further away at the end of the season than they were at the beginning.
[b]Vettel knocks Rosberg off top spot[/b]Posted at 13:07
Sebastian Vettel goes quickest with a 1:22.999 in the Ferrari. Nico Rosberg is second, 0.1 seconds off the pace, with Valtteri Bottas' Williams eight tenths further back.
That's not like last year...
The Ferrari was quicker than the Merc in the first test last year
It's all irellevent though, we'll have little idea of respective race trim speed until the last test
That was an awfull lot of laps from Merc today - 157
Loving the Red Bull camoflage livery, it may work, sharp thinking again from someone
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Is testing on the telly anywhere? Can't find it on any of the listings.
Sky Sports F1 has a 15 min highlights followed by Ted's Notebook at 9 each night
I think on subsequent nights they will show previous days too, so starting earlier each day to fit it in
Cheers! Repeated at 10.45 tonight
Was expecting/hoping/looking for more than 15 minutes.
Really good summary of how Ferrari and McLaren went wrong last year and what they've done to try to fix that for 2015
Bad day for McLaren still having problems with sensors and electronic integration issues. However I still think the car will be very fast when they get it working.
This is the real downside of the testing restrictions. This sort of thing just needs a few days of being able to run with no pressure to sort out. Instead they're limited to trying to do this while losing time to actually test the mechanics and set up of the car. Just like RB last year come to think of it.
^^^ Good article indeed, very interesting
Button certainly suffers if the car has poor front downforce so he should be well pleased if McL pull it off.
Like all wheeled sports, confidence in the front is the key to the driver exploiting what the rest of the car can offer, which is where many engineers and designers suffer as they can't easily deal with non measurable factors.
So McHonda are having the same troubles that everyone but Merc had last year. Except this time everyone else is running well and gaining data (or losing front wings...) and when JB & Nando are do get out for a lap they're doing times that a rookie in GP3 could beat. Hope they get the niggles sorted soon and get some decent running so they can work out what else needs sorting before the next test.
Jenson Button managed only six laps in the McLaren as problems continued to plague the team.
It's all part of RD's master plan, lul the competition into a flase sense of security. Or maybe not LOL
I like the way Ron is talking up the team being a "technological cutting edge" in F1 this year - in other words, they got bits on the car they are not sure are going to work. reminds me of that car they developed but never actually raced in the 00's - gives good excuse for failure too eh Ron?
With F1 would do "one off" races that were not championship but a little bit different? i dunno say MonteCarlo to Nice road race??? 🙂
things like that.
I'm looking for a fun bet this season. Any suggestions?
Bernie to peg it. Or get his plan of hosing the tracks at random moments for spectator fun accepted.
I'm looking for a fun bet this season. Any suggestions?
Max Verstappen to score points
Bernie to peg it
As much as I hate the thought of anyone karking it, this.
He's ruined the sport with intrigue and money AFAIK. Time to hand over the baton to someone else.
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/31118450 ]to me the honda[/url] sounds a bit like a rally car, half expecting it to start burbling and popping on trailing throttle.
I'm looking for a fun bet this season. Any suggestions?
Lewis Hamilton to tape that new hairstyle to the outside of his helmet
If Lewis and Nicole manage to stay together throughout this season Lewis will be unstoppable.
Looks like they didn't even make the start of the season!
So what do people think of McHondas showing today? Competitive with others running at the same time this morning then sidelined by an apparently simple problem. Clearly not really pushing for pace yet but it'd be interesting to know how their set up compared to the Ferrari.
Redbull still not doing that much running either... Maybe the Honda's easier to fix than the Renault?
A simple problem that's going to take till Saturday to fix
So less than 48 hours to diagnose, design a replacement, make it, ship it to Barcelona then stick it on the power unit. That's pretty simple for a modern f1 power unit.
yep a simple problem like the MGUK digesting the gears under the front cover.
mchonda say a seal has gone on the MGUK and it will take until saturday to get it replaced, oh and we took the engine out…oh and the engines fine we are just going to use another one because er because er errrrrrrrrrr.
From the BBC today (21 Feb 15) covering the 3rd day of testing in Barcelona
"Alonso admitted the team were unlikely to be ready for the first race. 'We will arrive to Australia hoping Australia was in June or July, but it's in March and I don't know if we will arrive completely ready, but we will arrive in the best conditions we can,' the Spaniard said.
Another red flag as Jenson Button brings his McLaren to a halt at the edge of the track at Turn 7...
"That is not what McLaren wanted - the car stopped by the side of the track less than 90 minutes into the day's running.
Thinking of a £10-er on Alonso/Button for 2015 World Champion
I do think Honda/Mac are holding back a great deal. When they turn the wick up on the engine it'll be a revalation.
Another big change this year is the blown front axle. Sky F1 did a fair piece on it last week. Ferrari and Mac have it and it looks an intriging development.
Nicole Sherzwingherneger to turn up to a race with two Rapper boyfriends and lewis spins off as a result?
blown front axle is old hat. 2013 williams FW35 and Redbull RB9 ran it.
doesn't really work that well. plus if a team go down the blown axle front route all the rear is developed around the front being blown, if as usual the FIA then ban it you haver to start from scratch again as the rear won't work without front.
i do like the look of the ferrari though and the RB is looking quite sorted, but its the dark horses you need to watch. Williams are being very low key. they are stalking the competition.
So much for the simple fix McHonda! Tried this?
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The thing I love about testing is the way everyone tries to second guess how much everyone else is trying. So at the moment, Sauber are on glory runs with Lotus, McHonda aren't going to make the grid, Ferrari are the new Merc, RedBull are struggling for performance, Williams and Merc are looking solid on long runs but not setting the timing screens alight.
The only thing that's certain is that it'll look nothing like that after P1 in Oz.
We may see some pace on the last day of testing in a week's time but it'll depend how well they've got through their program and if they're interested in bluffing, so we won't really know either way who's got it 🙂
What it will tell us though is who is poor.
Thinking of a £10-er on Alonso/Button for 2015 World Champion
You've got good looking odds there:
[url= https://mobile.coral.co.uk/sportsbook/eventDetails-json?id=2066937 ]20/1[/url]
Been thinking about doing the same myself!!
Red Bull definitely look on the back foot again.
A set of sorts only lasted 10 laps with a cold surface and cold ambient, no idea if they were trying something but they'll struggle if that sort of deg is representative.
Alonso off to hospital after a big crash.
Eek
Hope he's OK?
All very vague at the minute as to what was the cause.
Latest gossip is he fainted in the car before the crash which is what caused him to go off (pure speculation I should add!). Whatever the cause it looks very odd. All the pics show a very minor crash. Just a lost from wing and scuffed front right wheel.
Guessing he'd eaten the same food as Lewis who either barfed or poo'd his overalls. Dehydration/fever?
Continued silence is odd, along with Vettel's statement that he wasn't going very fast then veered off and bumped along the barriers.
Heard all sorts of theories from chemical fumes (from batteries) causing him to pass out to electric shock to just a straight fainting.
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They've said he's ok but I hope that really is the case.
Well McLaren have released a statement
http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/further-update-regarding-fernando-alonso/
Still seems odd but if it was a fully sideways impact as they detailed I suppose hitting his head on the cockpit padding could be enough to bring on concussion
A gust of wind- why didn't it affect Vettel behind him? Or vettel mention this when he stated what happened from his cockpit?
Kept in- a young and fit man isn't kept in. 🙁
Well, Vettel was close time-wise but could have been some distance behind at 150mph and wind does tend to gust through gaps so it's quite possible that it could affect one car and not another.
The keeping in bit though still seems odd to me given people I know with concussion (though relatively mild maybe) have been let go same day.
Just a crash according to McLaren - nothing wrong with the car...
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2015/02/23/alonsos-crash-not-caused-by-car-fault-mclaren/
maybe the new car was so slow he fell asleep at the wheel...
It's a bit weird to get 'concussion' without hitting anything. If he'd have taken the wheels off maybe he could have impacted the wall, but it doesn't look likely. It made me think of Richard Burns when he passed out driving to the Rally GB, but he's been scanned and cleared. Odd, though.
blown front axle is old hat
But not combined with the extra narrow rear body which is where the real benefit is felt.
Last test starts today, with FA.
Looking forward to Manor F1 making the grid.. I know they will probably not make the 107% rule seeing as the cars at the test are already up on the qualifying times and Manor are running the old 2014 spec engine.
I reckon they could get a decent amount of equipment from Caterham in the sales. In an ideal world I hope they beat Force india 🙂
... and mercedes looking like they have reliability and speed this year which cant be said for the rest bar ferrari
Lewis! Lewis! 😀
McLaren just had a press conference at short notice. From the BBC
"McLaren chairman Ron Dennis has said at a news conference that Fernando Alonso was unconscious for 'just a few seconds' after his crash on Sunday."Dennis says Alonso has got no injury. He should be fine to race in Australia and in normal circumstances he'll be racing. This is recovery time.
"I asked Dennis what Alonso remembers of the accident, and he said they had not had that conversation yet. He says every input by Alonso in car was normal up until the crash. The radio stayed on and they heard breathing but no contact."
errr. make that Williams up there for speed and reliability. Get in there Massa!