nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

boardsuser1

Probably time to open a new thread for the 2018 season?

Silly season is still in full swing as we all know with Williams and Sauber not having confirmed their line ups as yet.

What are people's opinions on the Halo and Alfa Romeo for 2018?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

PukkaStukka

Infoanon wrote: »

PukkaStukka wrote: »

They could've been thrown out of the championship lock, stock and barrell like they did with Tyrell in 84. McLaren were punished quite severely as a team but without interfering with their drivers championship.

Tyrells exclusion was questionable and had a lot more to do with political expediency.
McLarens fine also had a lot to do allegedly with settling old scores.

Well, if someone really wanted to settle scores with McLaren, they could've booted them straight out like they did with Tyrell. What the admitted to doing was clearly far worse than what Ken's eponymous outfit did.

As for Balestre, yes he was controversial to put it mildly.

And finally I see Max Moseley gets a mention above and that reminds me of an interview he gave on Channel 4 news last week. IMO he did himself a terrible disservice with his attitude and hair splitting over facts. I'll try find a link to it. It's worth a view

PukkaStukka

Here we go

https://youtu.be/1rKaFuz4K3I

mickdw

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Here we go

https://youtu.be/1rKaFuz4K3I

I don't know what else he could say really.
He was steeped in that culture and the campaign and leaflet referred to was very much of its time.

El_Duderino 09

Joeface wrote: »

Autosport posted yesterdays speed traps

If you believe that's the actual order of top speed then I've a bridge to sell you.

Listening to a fascinating Missed Apex podcast at the moment. The guest is former Lotus team principle. He's discussing the way customer teams operate during winter testing.

For example, his team had a contract for X engines per season. If they wanted an extra testing engine it was an additional £750,000. So the customer teams often sat in the garage while works teams did race simulations. The works teams even allocated measured amounts of fuel to ensure the team's only did the agreed amount of testing.

He also spoke about this year's rule where all customer teams have access to all the engine modes. The engine was controlled by a team of Mercedes people who sat in the customer garage and told the team what to do with the engine. The engines are far too complex for team to argue so they just do as they're told.

The most important thing for the engine supplier is reliability rather than outright speed so they're always inclined to run customer team's engines within safe levels. But they're often inclined to run the works team engine to the limit for outright speed.

Really interesting listen.

El_Duderino 09

He also talked about the slower teams doing glory runs to grab headlines. It really helps when looking to convince sponsors the team had improved. But more importantly it shows that the team knows how to grab the headlines which is ultimately what the sponsors want.

I wouldn't believe that the TR is the fastest in a straight line any more than I'd believe the Mercedes is second slowest.

PukkaStukka

mickdw wrote: »

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Here we go

https://youtu.be/1rKaFuz4K3I

I don't know what else he could say really.
He was steeped in that culture and the campaign and leaflet referred to was very much of its time.

That leaflet could've had a big bearing on his libel trial had it been available. It'll be interesting if the verdict is appealed now that it was found. Irrespective, I found Max's usual calm demeanour conspicuously absent during that interview especially when hit with the hard questions. I felt the best he could do was chide the interviewer for having the temerity to ask him the awkward stuff in the first place.

Frank Bullitt

One rumour that is going around in Spain that I saw on twitter, Honda have used a new engine for each days running.

Edit - And then some saying its not true. The other scary one is that Merc have used the same unit...for every test day.

donspeekinglesh

this is hilarious: https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2018/03/06/new-private-eye-cover-funny-hurts/

muckwarrior

Kubica again making a mockery of Williams' claim that Sirotkin is the faster driver.

Kubica making his mark?
Robert Kubica is in the Williams and although his latest lap of 1:20.837 is only good enough for ninth in the charts it also represents his test-best time so far and a faster one than Sergey Sirotkin has managed at any point over the previous six days.

We typed too soon. Kubica's next lap is another personal best of 1:20.788

Another improvement (one of many, as you may have noticed) for Kubica as he slips up to eighth in the timesheets with a lap of 1:20.202 on the soft tyres.

That's the fastest time of winter testing for Williams and their trio of drivers so far this winter.

Frank Bullitt

This years arms race will be around this area and the blown win that Renault seem to have a good gauge on. This looks mad.

Harika

Gintonious wrote: »

One rumour that is going around in Spain that I saw on twitter, Honda have used a new engine for each days running.

Edit - And then some saying its not true. The other scary one is that Merc have used the same unit...for every test day.

Some say it is the last years spec of Honda with some 2018 parts and not even the 2018 version. :pac:

billybonkers

Vettel produces second-fastest time of winter
Sebastian Vettel goes purple in the first sector on his latest lap...

And goes even faster to a 1:18.079

1:17 incoming

Infoanon

if Mercedes stop sand bagging the 1.16s will start coming in.

Infoanon

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Well, if someone really wanted to settle scores with McLaren, they could've booted them straight out like they did with Tyrell. What the admitted to doing was clearly far worse than what Ken's eponymous outfit did.

Bernie was not a fan of Rons - by fining McLaren 100m the long term effect would be Ron losing his job.
With Tyrell, Ken Tyrell was blocking new rules regarding fuel and engines - to take out Ken meant taking out Tyrell.

Balestre - now he was a controversial character with an interesting background. Trying to give Prost an advantage at Suzuka is only the tip of the iceberg !

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.

Joeface

Ferrari Customers seem to have brought it to day , K-Mag running second 1m18.360 and Erricsson 5th 1m19.244 .......
and Vettels 1m17..

1 Vettel Ferrari 1m17.644s
2 Magnussen Haas 1m18.360s
3 Hulkenberg Renault 1m18.675s
4 Vandoorne McLaren 1m18.855s
5 Ericsson Sauber 1m19.244s
6 Gasly Toro Rosso 1m19.358s
7 Bottas Mercedes 1m19.532s
8 Kubica Williams 1m19.629s
9 Verstappen Red Bull 1m19.842s
10 Perez Force India 1m19.901s

El_Duderino 09

Gintonious wrote: »

This years arms race will be around this area and the blown win that Renault seem to have a good gauge on. This looks mad.

I wonder if that part is about directing air into the cooling system. Lot of time cars appear to have a size zero rear end. That's always a problem for cooling.

Listening to Gary Anderson during the week he explained it really clearly. Teams use about 20% ,of airflow over the car for cooling. If you can make your cooling system more efficient so you only need 19% airflow for cooling, then you can use that extra 1% for downforce.

PukkaStukka

Infoanon wrote: »

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Well, if someone really wanted to settle scores with McLaren, they could've booted them straight out like they did with Tyrell. What the admitted to doing was clearly far worse than what Ken's eponymous outfit did.

Bernie was not a fan of Rons - by fining McLaren 100m the long term effect would be Ron losing his job.
With Tyrell, Ken Tyrell was blocking new rules regarding fuel and engines - to take out Ken meant taking out Tyrell.

Balestre - now he was a controversial character with an interesting background. Trying to give Prost an advantage at Suzuka is only the tip of the iceberg !

Agree with both points, but in relation to the first, the fact that Ron and Ken got walloped in the first place was because they'reteams were found to be up to no good. There may have been ulterior motives that dictated the scale of punishment each got.

Emphatically agree with the sentiments about Balestre. And whilst (justifiable) criticism is made of Suzuka, what is overlooked is the blatant favouritism shown to Senna by Honda when Prost was his team mate. It did not go unnoticed that Senna was 2secs faster in qualifying in Monza 89 when the differential up to then was far closer. Senna blew up in that race and prost's reaction was to state that perhaps senna had too much power. At the same race, Prost handed his winners trophy to the crowd which pi$$ed Dennis off even further. I don't condone what Balestre did but his actions need to be seen in the context of what others were up to too as they were no saints either.

billybonkers

Vettel produces another ultra-quick lap on the hypersofts to deliver a 1:17.182

chicorytip

muckwarrior wrote:

Kubica again making a mockery of Williams' claim that Sirotkin is the faster driver.

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation? Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk.

Harika

chicorytip wrote: »

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation? Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk.

Or better, how would they score if the testing environment was reversed. Same tyres and fuel load?

[Deleted User]

Infoanon wrote: »

if Mercedes stop sand bagging the 1.16s will start coming in.

1.15 maybe. If they have another 30k on the straights it's well do-able. I know in F1 teams love to keep their cards close to their chests but Merc should really just do a few mad laps, all the other teams' heads will go down massively.

Infoanon

chicorytip wrote: »

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation? Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk.

Pose too great a risk - really ! Williams have decided they need the megabucks from Russia.

Now - what if the UK decide to take action against Russia over the events of the last few days- Boris has already referenced the World Cup but what if he decides to take action that affects F1.........

Infoanon

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Agree with both points, but in relation to the first, the fact that Ron and Ken got walloped in the first place was because they'reteams were found to be up to no good. There may have been ulterior motives that dictated the scale of punishment each got.

What 'no good' where Tyrell up to............the case against them fell apart with each alleged breach falling upon closer scrutiny.

Larrouse lost all their points back in the day on a very dodgy decision which just so happened to greatly help Ligier - Guy was good mates with Balestre...

chicorytip

Harika wrote:

Or better, how would they score if the testing environment was reversed. Same tyres and fuel load?

Infoanon wrote:

Pose too great a risk - really ! Williams have decided they need the megabucks from Russia.

Megabucks or not, Williams are likely to remain a mid-ranking team regardless of who drives for them. Kubica is a remarkable character. F1 cars have no power steering so it's astounding that he is still even capable of driving at his current level given the nature of his injury.

muckwarrior

chicorytip wrote: »

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation?.

Just what exactly do you think he would be incapable of doing in a race? He's physically capable of driving the car around the track faster than the 2 other guys in the prime of their health.

Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk

Lol. Yeah, that was definitely the motivation behind the decision alright.

mickdw

If kubica is clearly quicker than others every time he drives the car, something will have to give. It's alright having one pay driver but how can any team seriously go about developing a car when the drivers cant consistently get the lap time out of it.
kubica would have to be signed for next year if he continually proves quick. I don't know how you can have the likes of paddy Lowe there pushing development and then put a slow driver in it. It doesn't add up, cash or no cash.
flavio Briatori said about building winning teams at Bennetton and Renault that putting a driver in the car that you know is getting the best out of it was the key. No excuses then from Engineers or anyone else.
Would Engineers stay late every night to improve the Williams car if the management have a faster driver that they won't use? I doubt it.

Schorpio

mickdw wrote: »

If kubica is clearly quicker than others every time he drives the car, something will have to give. It's alright having one pay driver but how can any team seriously go about developing a car when the drivers cant consistently get the lap time out of it.
kubica would have to be signed for next year if he continually proves quick. I don't know how you can have the likes of paddy Lowe there pushing development and then put a slow driver in it. It doesn't add up, cash or no cash.
flavio Briatori said about building winning teams at Bennetton and Renault that putting a driver in the car that you know is getting the best out of it was the key. No excuses then from Engineers or anyone else.
Would Engineers stay late every night to improve the Williams car if the management have a faster driver that they won't use? I doubt it.

Just to add to this, I can't imagine Williams even particularly wanted the optics of Robert coming out of these tests looking quicker than his teammates. I know testing times are/can be meaningless - but right now it certainly looks (from an outsider's point of view) that Robert is the quickest.

The overall feeling amongst fans was always that Williams' sole reason for not choosing Robert was the money that the other two bring in. Williams have always denied that - so you'd think they would want the other two to back that up now and at least look quicker than Robert. I know I would had I made that decision.

Just to add my own two cents into the mix - do I think Sergy deserves his seat? Yes. Do I think Lance does? Not a hope.

muckwarrior

It makes me wonder if there's dissent amongst the Williams ranks. Someone (Paddy?) who was pissed off that Kubica didn't get the seat so decided to put him in the car side-by-side with the other drivers to show it was a mistake.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.