Formula 1 2020 - General Discussion Thread (See MOD warning on first post)

Frank Bullitt · 20-01-2020 6:05pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

Guess he's not coming back so!

AMKC · 22-01-2020 9:43pm

Racing Point to unveil there car on February the 17th.

Charlie-Bravo · 22-01-2020 10:51pm

SureYWouldntYa · 23-01-2020 12:03am

Drive to Survive season 2 coming on the 28th February

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.coming-february-28-formula-1-drive-to-survive-season-2-on-netflix.4ohZCcOfdZsZrhhFUZf2xu.html

Jordan 199 · 24-01-2020 4:35pm

Alfa Romeo launch 19th of February.

vectra · 25-01-2020 12:47pm

Harika · 29-01-2020 10:52pm

https://www.racefans.net/2020/01/29/mercedes-crunch-meeting-quit-f1-2020/

Was rumoured long enough to be done, Mercedes as team is on the chopping block. Soon we'll find out more. Lauda was one of the main pro F1 people

Frank Bullitt · 30-01-2020 7:13pm

Harika wrote: »

https://www.racefans.net/2020/01/29/mercedes-crunch-meeting-quit-f1-2020/

Was rumoured long enough to be done, Mercedes as team is on the chopping block. Soon we'll find out more. Lauda was one of the main pro F1 people

Along with this piece of news, this could well be the last season for Merc in F1 as a works team...utter madness

Chinese carmaker Geely and Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll are both proposing to invest about £200m for a fresh 20 per cent stake in the business and a place on Aston’s board.

https://www.ft.com/content/18930d7a-432f-11ea-a43a-c4b328d9061c

El_Duderino 09 · 30-01-2020 8:16pm

Gintonious wrote: »

Along with this piece of news, this could well be the last season for Merc in F1 as a works team...utter madness

It might not be madness. They've had massive success which has been uninterrupted and often not even Challenged - boring. The returns for another dominant season must be diminishing.

They are only in f1 to advertise their cars and they might have achieved all they're going to achieve.

I've no idea whether they'll pull out or continue in the sport.

Harika · 30-01-2020 8:38pm

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

It might not be madness. They've had massive success which has been uninterrupted and often not even Challenged - boring. The returns for another dominant season must be diminishing.

They are only in f1 to advertise their cars and they might have achieved all they're going to achieve.

I've no idea whether they'll pull out or continue in the sport.

Mercedes is known to spend and win series to death. See itc DTM lmp1

AMKC · 30-01-2020 8:53pm

Gintonious wrote: »

Along with this piece of news, this could well be the last season for Merc in F1 as a works team...utter madness

https://www.ft.com/content/18930d7a-432f-11ea-a43a-c4b328d9061c

Along with this piece of news, this could well be the last season for Merc in F1 as a works team...utter madness

Mercedes has commited to something like 2billion in cost cuts over the next few years and as another poster said has achieved everything it can in F1 and with very little real competition. Maybe they want to concentrate on Formula E now and do the same there. I did see some saying this news could be fake do or a marketing ply by Mercedes to get there way in F1. So for now all we can do is wait and see.

El_Duderino 09 · 30-01-2020 11:09pm

Harika wrote: »

Mercedes is known to spend and win series to death. See itc DTM lmp1

Fair enough. I take your word for it.

I read a report that profits are down (not to say they’re making a loss, just reduced profits) so they’re considering letting staff go in the roadcar production side. So they might be under pressure to cut the big spending projects like f1.

Only time will tell

Harika · 31-01-2020 9:30am

https://www.racefans.net/2020/01/31/racing-point-aston-martin-f1-team-2021-stroll/

Aston Martin in F1 2021

skipper_G · 31-01-2020 10:43am

Harika wrote: »

https://www.racefans.net/2020/01/31/racing-point-aston-martin-f1-team-2021-stroll/

Aston Martin in F1 2021

I remember when the team was almost dead, and now they're going to be a works Aston Martin team. Have I died and gone to heaven?

El_Duderino 09 · 31-01-2020 10:46am

skipper_G wrote: »

I remember when the team was almost dead, and now they're going to be a works Aston Martin team. Have I died and gone to heaven?

They're in the process if building a new factory too. They're really one to watch in the next 4/5 years. New factory, new investment, new staff and sone top people... That's a winning combination but it will take years to bare fruit.

Cork Trucker · 31-01-2020 11:12am

Red Bull lose a title sponsor then? It will make sod all difference for baby Stroll. Perez has him well and truly mastered.

Infoanon · 31-01-2020 11:14am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

They're in the process if building a new factory too. They're really one to watch in the next 4/5 years. New factory, new investment, new staff and sone top people... That's a winning combination but it will take years to bare fruit.

With customer Mercedes engines......it's very hard to see a customer team ever beating a factory team in the current era.

flazio · 31-01-2020 11:35am

Infoanon wrote: »

With customer Mercedes engines......it's very hard to see a customer team ever beating a factory team in the current era.

That will all depend on what Mercedes-Benz works team are going to do going forward. They are still going to build engines, McLaren and Williams have agreements in place so if they sell up, will the new owners become the "works" team, does it go back to McLaren or what will happen.
We really need more engine makers on the grid. Miss the days where practically every team had their own engine manufacturer, Ford, Peugeot, Mugen, Yamaha, Hart etc.

El_Duderino 09 · 31-01-2020 11:52am

Infoanon wrote: »

With customer Mercedes engines......it's very hard to see a customer team ever beating a factory team in the current era.

True but Mercedes might only be engine suppliers by then. They could have a works engine deal with a team like Honda with red bull.

pjohnson · 31-01-2020 12:50pm

Infoanon wrote: »

With customer Mercedes engines......it's very hard to see a customer team ever beating a factory team in the current era.

McLaren beat Renault last year......

flazio · 31-01-2020 1:18pm

Williams to launch 17th of February.
https://twitter.com/WilliamsRacing/status/1223169052702662656?s=19

Infoanon · 31-01-2020 1:33pm

pjohnson wrote: »

McLaren beat Renault last year......

True - my point was more a customer team winning a race (let alone a championship ) just doesn't happen anymore.

H3llR4iser · 31-01-2020 5:07pm

Infoanon wrote: »

True - my point was more a customer team winning a race (let alone a championship ) just doesn't happen anymore.

There's however an argument for the "customer teams" being underfunded (Williams) or doing a crap job with their chassis (McLaren, HAAS) rather than just being "designed" to be 3rd at best unless both cars from the "senior team" are out (Toro Rosso, Alfa Romeo, Racing Point).

McLaren especially - if they design a good chassis, they could win the odd race regardless of whatever engine they have in the car.

Charlie-Bravo · 31-01-2020 6:50pm

Last day of January, and less than three weeks to testing and it's the Australia GP in just 6 week's time. I love when the six Nations is on as that usually fills the gap nicely - roll on March 13-15th!

Vic_08 · 31-01-2020 7:12pm

Infoanon wrote: »

True - my point was more a customer team winning a race (let alone a championship ) just doesn't happen anymore.

This idea of needing a works engine came from Ron Dennis, completely ignoring the failings of McLaren's chassis when using by far the best engine available, being soundly beaten by Williams in 2014.

If Red Bull had been a customer of a competent hybrid engine manufacturer then it is entirely possible their winning streak would have continued past 2013. They would definitely have stopped Mercedes being in a class of one for most of the last 6 years if they had been a Merc customer team. There is a reason why Merc and Ferrari refused to supply them after their relationship with Renault broke down, they knew they were the only customer team capable of building a competitive car and outperforming them with their own power units.

SureYWouldntYa · 01-02-2020 7:15pm

I'm only doing a bit of investigative research into it at the moment, but has anyone any tips regarding heading to a Grand Prix?

The only one I'd be interested in is Belgium or maybe Austria, is the best way to buy tickets the official channels?

I'm assuming the package deals from the likes of Marathon etc are a good bit more expensive than buying all yourself?

g1983d · 01-02-2020 7:46pm

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

I'm only doing a bit of investigative research into it at the moment, but has anyone any tips regarding heading to a Grand Prix?

The only one I'd be interested in is Belgium or maybe Austria, is the best way to buy tickets the official channels?

I'm assuming the package deals from the likes of Marathon etc are a good bit more expensive than buying all yourself?

Went to Monza a few years ago and bought from touts at the gate on the Friday on the way to practice, good a good deal but you've to watch them like a hawk. There was an official ticket booth there too.

I'd imagine each track has a different setup though

mickdw · 01-02-2020 7:52pm

Anyone been to an f1 test?
Given that the place is likely near empty, is there any better access to paddock for the ordinary fan?

GarIT · 01-02-2020 8:59pm

mickdw wrote: »

Anyone been to an f1 test?
Given that the place is likely near empty, is there any better access to paddock for the ordinary fan?

I did see one year that testing was around €20 for three days. With below €50 flights I was tempted to go when the new regulations came in.

Especially now with EU data roaming to keep you occupied during the time's where no cars on the track I might go when the 2021 regs come in.

mickdw · 01-02-2020 9:00pm

Could be interesting enough.

Formula 1 2020 - General Discussion Thread (See MOD warning on first post)

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