Formula One - 2016

ncjay wrote: This may be the wrong driver to use as an example, but it's amazing how little protection there used to be. In my mind, this will always be F1 at its pinnacle. Nice, clean cars with smooth lines and no clutter. I'll bet Senna never bitched about not being able to overtake.

Only two years prior and the same designer. This scared the hell out of me at the time!

And to think, once they moved the drivers feet behind the center line of the front wheels, these cars were considered super safe and strong right up until Imola 94.

Prior to Roland Ratzenbergers death the last death in an F1 car was Elio DeAngelis in testing in 86 which was a totally preventable as there was no safety crew on hand because you know, testing is so much safer!! Actual race fatality was Riccardo PAletti in Montreal in the horrible, gruesome year of 1982

z31maniac wrote: If they go with closed cockpits, I'll be even less interested than I've already become.

I don't get this logic. What about the open cockpits makes the sport more interesting?

Nothing. They're basically closed already. It's not like you can see the driver.

If F1 becomes as boring as Le Mans with the introduction of closed cockpits, I'm all for it

Tom_Spangler wrote:

z31maniac wrote: If they go with closed cockpits, I'll be even less interested than I've already become.

I don't get this logic. What about the open cockpits makes the sport more interesting?

Purely aesthetics and tradition.

But I'm one of the many millions of viewers that have already tuned out on F1, except for occasionally reading AutoSport or something.

I still love the technology and engineering in them, but I don't make the time to watch the races anymore.

The Halo is yet another shrewd manipulation by ecclestone who's impeccable decades long record of carefully thinking things though before acting or even uttering a peep remains unbroken. Obviously the Halo is ugly on purpose in order to sway stakeholder opinion towards closed cockpits.

Shaun wrote: The Halo is yet another shrewd manipulation by ecclestone who's impeccable decades long record of carefully thinking things though before acting or even uttering a peep remains unbroken. Obviously the Halo is ugly on purpose in order to sway stakeholder opinion towards closed cockpits.

Funny, but this is the FIA not Bernie. Also people like to diss him, but credit where it's due he's done a massive amount for F1. He hates the current engines and complexity etc. he wants to provide a fun show. Now, bash him all you like for the financial issues, but not the cars.

This is flying around the karting forums today:

HAAS signs an American to driver development

This is Santio Ferrucci, some of you may recall his GQ article years ago as a young kid. He's wicked quick and always has been. His dad realized that karting here in the U.S. wasn't going to get him anywhere and started shipping him off to Europe to hone his skills not too long after the GQ article. They've been a marketing machine for him for many years.

Really cool to see that Haas is trying to bring some American's to the F1 circuit. It's just driver development, we'll see how it works out.

And, before the Rossi fanboi's start knocking it..... It IS driver development, NOT a seat.

-Rob

In reply to rob_lewis:

great news, but even ad a 'development' driver he's bringing millions to the table.

Santino Ferruci is from Woodbury, CT of all places. Heck, I'd love to be a development driver if all I ever did was park my butt in the simulator day after day.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: In reply to rob_lewis: great news, but even ad a 'development' driver he's bringing millions to the table.

Oh, absolutely. I just meant that he's not taking a seat from Rossi or anything, per se.

-Rob

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Shaun wrote: The Halo is yet another shrewd manipulation by ecclestone who's impeccable decades long record of carefully thinking things though before acting or even uttering a peep remains unbroken. Obviously the Halo is ugly on purpose in order to sway stakeholder opinion towards closed cockpits.

Funny, but this is the FIA not Bernie. Also people like to diss him, but credit where it's due he's done a massive amount for F1. He hates the current engines and complexity etc. he wants to provide a fun show. Now, bash him all you like for the financial issues, but not the cars.

You certainly have a much more charitable view of what motivates bernie's interest in F1 that I! I'll agree with you that he has done a massive amount for F1, but for the last 10 or so I'd say its been a massive amount of damage. I think it's a shame that he has control of 'the property', and I'm looking forward to his exit.

Here's to hoping Honda and McLaren have a much better season. Otherwise they are wasting the best driver in F1 and a top 5 contender (Button being the top 5) and tbis comes from the overall consensus that Alonso is the best of the current crop. Plus, like Williams, seeing McLaren falter seems just wrong. Although, I don't mind seeing Ron Dennis squirm.

Not sure what to make of this- http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123288/aston-martin-back-in-f1-with-red-bull

Which is to say that Aston Martin is now sponsoring Red Bull.

The news points out that RB will help AML to make a hypercar.

Normally, OEM backing meant that you would get some technical assistance, mostly for engine work. But RB already has that with Renault, and this is supposed to bring RB Mercedes powertrains.

This is kind of reverse of AML taking over Force India, which is already Mercedes powered.

Other than money, I'm not sure what AML is bringing to the team.

Aston is owned by a group of investors now, one notable one- Daimler at 5%. Does this point toward some technical sharing between AML and Mercedes down the line? (AFAIK, the last engine Aston developed just by themselves was back in the 60's, which lasted until the late '90s. The V12 is still mostly Ford and the V8 is still mostly Jaguar)

Anyway, interesting.

In reply to alfadriver:

Actually, their new V12 is 100% in house Aston. You're a wee bit behind the times.

In reply to Javelin:

Looks like the same engine to me. All they did was change the pistons and rods, according to C&D.

The base engine is still the one we did back in the late 90's. Closer to the one that was the Vanquish motor vs. the DB7 motor.

The engine has always NOT been made my Ford. I'm sure Aston puts the engines together.

But, from the ground up, it's not an Aston design. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just pointing out that Aston does not have the capability to assist in engine development like most OEM's bring to racing teams.

Renault lunch new Livery https://www.youtube.com/embed/fg1kj0E93JA

Only a handful of hours away from qualifying and the first race of the season. Will it be Mercedes as usual, or does someone else grab the spotlight for a little while. Maybe a Ferrari on the pole in Australia? Those guys have been quiet this off season.

I don't even care at this point, I'm just excited the season is here!

I know it's asking a lot, but I'd love to see someone, anyone take the fight to Mercedes on a consistent basis. Raikkonen needs to step it up this year and be more of a factor.

ncjay wrote: I know it's asking a lot, but I'd love to see someone, anyone take the fight to Mercedes on a consistent basis. Raikkonen needs to step it up this year and be more of a factor.

Seems like RB will be getting Mercedes power. Given what they have done in the past, it seems as if that combo would be quick- other teams have gotten some resurgence with that powertrain.

But being a Hamilton fan, I hope you are wrong...

In reply to alfadriver:

Huh?,pretty sure RB had to kiss butt and make up with Renault.Horner says they expect to be about 8/10's slower than the toro rosso's with their switch to Ferrari engines for the 1st half of the yr until updates are allowed.

The radio restriction rules this year sound ridiculous to me. No strategy discussions between the driver and the pits? WTF?

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2016/03/f1-team-radio-ban-which-drivers-will-adapt-best-to-being-left-alone/

No discussion of tire type? So who makes the decision about what tires to put on the car when? Does the driver have to tell the crew what to put on without any input on how the wear patterns are looking? Or does the team decide what to do and the driver gets a surprise when he's sitting in the pits and the wheel covers come off?

The corner-by-corner coaching we saw a couple years ago was a problem, yes, but this is a couple steps too far in the opposite direction IMHO.

kevlarcorolla wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Huh?,pretty sure RB had to kiss butt and make up with Renault.Horner says they expect to be about 8/10's slower than the toro rosso's with their switch to Ferrari engines for the 1st half of the yr until updates are allowed.

I didn't know it, either. Until I read the article about Aston Martin and Red Bull. Not sure I totally get it, too. But it does mention Red Bull getting Mercedes power. Don't know when- could be after these rules expire, as far as I can tell.

BTW, a timely note- before first practice at 9:30 pm EST, there's a show about Haas F1 on NBCSN. Starts in just under 10 min. (8:30)

alfadriver wrote:

kevlarcorolla wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Huh?,pretty sure RB had to kiss butt and make up with Renault.Horner says they expect to be about 8/10's slower than the toro rosso's with their switch to Ferrari engines for the 1st half of the yr until updates are allowed.

I didn't know it, either. Until I read the article about Aston Martin and Red Bull. Not sure I totally get it, too. But it does mention Red Bull getting Mercedes power. Don't know when- could be after these rules expire, as far as I can tell.

I think the "Aston Martin" thing is a face-saving marketing rebadge of the Renault engine that Red Bull E36 M3 all over in the press, couldn't get anything else, and is now forced to keep using.