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Post by René on Feb 26, 2019 18:27:51 GMT
Some top-F1 persons (e.g. Christian Horner and Helmut Marko) were very negative about the new 2019 rules during the winter, stating that they were a complete waste of time and money. But it seems that the introduction of the new rules was the right thing to do and that we can only be grateful for it. To cite Jenks' "A Story of Formula 1" (1960), p. 11, "It is an F.I.A. rule that the Formula, or list of regulations, for Grand Prix racing shall be changed every so often ..." [understood: in order to shake up the field]. Yes! This is how it should be! (And it's important to keep the history of the sport in mind, always.) There's an interesting article by Mark Hughes (!) on the official F1 homepage about the quite different interpretations of the new front wing design rules: www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.front-wings-the-differing-designs-of-mercedes-ferrari-and-the-rest-of-the.nZRjhVIjUYEjoHf2qiCuT.htmlI have borrowed the photo below from that page. (I hope this is OK ...) While we all here agree (I believe) on how interesting it was in the 70's when the F1-cars looked completely different (completely different approaches to the overall design), it's interesting to think about that they were, actually, all so far away from being optimal that the huge differences often only made a small difference on the track. Now, after 40 years of constant refinement and optimization, it's completely the opposite: the cars look almost the same -- simply because they are now all (nearly) optimal. And anything that is optimally designed is typically very sensitive to small design-changes. So now, a small change often makes a large difference on the track. I find it fascinating! P.S. Looking at the sponsor-names on the front wings, it's interesting to note that Ferrari use German Mahle pistons for their engines, while Mercedes make their own (at least according to the source listed below). (Source: www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8095&start=45 ) (Borrowed from Mikael I agree, it's fascinating indeed. The smallest detail can now make a huge difference. And Jenks was right too, regulation changes often make for an interesting season. It looks like this could happen now again with Mercedes on the backfoot. The 70s will for always be the most interesting era in terms of different designs and concepts. It will never be like that again but luckely we can still enjoy the pictures and footage of that time! PS. The photos you add to your posts are fine. Adding the source if available is always good. |
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Post by René on Feb 26, 2019 18:32:26 GMT
Officially confirmed now: Mick Schumacher joins Ferrari's young driver Academy. I think it's wonderful! Michael's son is a very likeable and talented young man and I believe he will do very well. Surely not another Lance, Bill!  Go Mick, go! :quality(50)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/39557c6a-1c01-11e9-afab-bb8a4d3ac2a9.jpg) I declare his name to be Lance Schumacher. Bill, good to see you're awake! Lance, Mick, what's in a name? And since you're a Stroll fan I assume you mean this as a compliment! Mick will win in F1. Lance never will. But then, who's Mick and who's Lance...?  |
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Post by Carl on Feb 27, 2019 1:44:30 GMT
Officially confirmed now: Mick Schumacher joins Ferrari's young driver Academy. I think it's wonderful! Michael's son is a very likeable and talented young man and I believe he will do very well. Surely not another Lance, Bill! Go Mick, go! I declare his name to be Lance Schumacher. Bill,
As Rene writes, it's good you are awake, although apparently from a disturbing dream about illustrious fathers and their sons. Mick is a curious name for a German, but I predict he'll do well unless he has his father's arrogance. Lance Stroll will not do well unless daddy buys the commercial rights and creates a reformulated series called Formula Lance.
What is your opinion of the new circuit in Australia, The Bend Motorsports Park?
Cheers, Carl
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2019 8:40:24 GMT
I declare his name to be Lance Schumacher. Bill,
As Rene writes, it's good you are awake, although apparently from a disturbing dream about illustrious fathers and their sons. Mick is a curious name for a German, but I predict he'll do well unless he has his father's arrogance. Lance Stroll will not do well unless daddy buys the commercial rights and creates a reformulated series called Formula Lance.
What is your opinion of the new circuit in Australia, The Bend Motorsports Park?
Cheers, Carl
Don't be a Stroll Troll Carl, give the guy a chance in a decent car. Its early days, but in testing today, he was third fastest, behind Norris and Gasley. |
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Post by René on Feb 27, 2019 10:47:17 GMT
Bill,
As Rene writes, it's good you are awake, although apparently from a disturbing dream about illustrious fathers and their sons. Mick is a curious name for a German, but I predict he'll do well unless he has his father's arrogance. Lance Stroll will not do well unless daddy buys the commercial rights and creates a reformulated series called Formula Lance. What is your opinion of the new circuit in Australia, The Bend Motorsports Park? Cheers, Carl
Don't be a Stroll Troll Carl, give the guy a chance in a decent car. Its early days, but in testing today, he was third fastest, behind Norris and Gasley. In all fairness to Lance, he has done quite a good job so far. His second place finish in Baku is more then most can say, including some very highly rated drivers. He is living the dream because his daddy can afford it and is willing to burn his money in F1. Not Lance's fault. But he'll never be a Verstappen or Leclerc. But I agree, let's see how he stacks up against Checo, should be interesting. If he does well against the Mexican, then hats off. |
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Post by Carl on Feb 27, 2019 17:04:43 GMT
I stand corrected. Lance may be the quintessential poor little rich boy who suffers harassment from ogres and trolls while innocently attempting to cross a fairy tale bridge. I doff not only my hat, but have also yanked out my forelock in respect and now my barber has joined my critics.  Time will tell |
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Post by robmarsh on Feb 27, 2019 18:04:05 GMT
Lance seems to go well in tricky conditions which is a sign of some talent. I don't think he will be a great but give him some time. He may be better than people give him credit for.
I think Mick Scumacher will be a star, maybe not as good as his dad but surely better than his uncle. He is a really nice, well mannered youngster from what I have seen.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2019 18:57:13 GMT
I stand corrected. Lance may be the quintessential poor little rich boy who suffers harassment from ogres and trolls while innocently attempting to cross a fairy tale bridge. I doff not only my hat, but have also yanked out my forelock in respect and now my barber has joined my critics. Time will tell Good come back Carl, sorry about the forelock, hope that grows back in time for your next act of contrition. As Rob and Rene have pointed out, Lance has shown some signs of promise. Last years Williams was a real dog, so not really a measure of him or Sirotkin. He is in a better car this year, and as you say, Time will tell. But my main issue is that if we're going to deride drivers because they are 'poor little rich kids', then that is more than 90% of the grid in every top line motorsport. In many motorsport classes we're watching the very wealthy and their kids at play, and its been that way since Benz first strapped an ICE to a tricycle. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2019 19:04:09 GMT
I think Mick Scumacher will be a star, maybe not as good as his dad but surely better than his uncle. He is a really nice, well mannered youngster from what I have seen. Hi Rob, I recall at the time when Mick Schumacher burst to peoples attentions with his end of season run in F3, there were motorsports sites saying that Ralf also has a son, David, and he's better than Mick. However, I've heard nothing more about David since then, but we should keep an eye on the horizon for another pair of Schumachers rising to F1. P.S - They are of course, another pair of rich kids playing ;-) |
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Post by Carl on Feb 27, 2019 22:54:43 GMT
"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"
I agree that top level racing is usually the province of drivers having some connection to serious wealth and thus not always fair to talented drivers without such access. C'est la vie...
What makes no sense is the exorbitant price of admission for ordinary spectators for access limited to a hard wooden grandstand seat having splinters but no backrest. This is the legacy of ecclestone and there seems to be no particular concern that only celebrities enjoy the access once afforded to anyone willing to walk about.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2019 7:53:49 GMT
Its interesting to compare the team times for today and yesterday. McLaren - Sainz over 0.6sec faster than Norris on the same tyre. Racing . - Perez 0.04 SLOWER than Stroll, same tyre. Ferrari - Vettel over 0.5sec faster than Le Clerc, same tyre Alfa R - Raikonnen 0.35sec faster than Giovanazzi, same tyre Haas - Grosjean 0.4sec faster than Magnussen, same tyre Red Bull - Verstappen 0.6sec SLOWER than Gasley, same tyre. Toro Rosso - Kyvat 0.03sec slower than Abon, same tyre. Mercedes - Bottas faster than Hamilton, both days on the same tyres (0,02 & 0.15sec respectively) Renault - Ricciardo 2.5sec SLOWER than Hulkenberg today on harder tyre Renault - Ricciardo 0.2 faster than Hulkenberg yesterday on same tyre Williams - Kubica 0.3sec faster than Russell on same tyre. Generally it looks like the times today were 0.3sec or better faster than yesterday. So the guys today who were the same or slower than their team mate weren't having a good day - and the standouts in that are Perez (slower than Stroll?  ), and Verstappen (Slower than Gasley). Bottas has been having consistently faster times than Hamilton most of testing. Is this showing us who the quicker drivers are in each team, or just the teams that are failing to improve their cars? ? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2019 7:57:52 GMT
"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?" I agree that top level racing is usually the province of drivers having some connection to serious wealth and thus not always fair to talented drivers without such access. C'est la vie... What makes no sense is the exorbitant price of admission for ordinary spectators for access limited to a hard wooden grandstand seat having splinters but no backrest. This is the legacy of ecclestone and there seems to be no particular concern that only celebrities enjoy the access once afforded to anyone willing to walk about. Is that because Bernie was all about power and privilage, and if you couldn't afford to buy your way into the paddock, you should be grateful to pay over the odds to look in on the world of the rich and richer? So far there are not too many signs that Liberty Media are changing things. |
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Post by Carl on Feb 28, 2019 16:42:36 GMT
"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?" I agree that top level racing is usually the province of drivers having some connection to serious wealth and thus not always fair to talented drivers without such access. C'est la vie... What makes no sense is the exorbitant price of admission for ordinary spectators for access limited to a hard wooden grandstand seat having splinters but no backrest. This is the legacy of ecclestone and there seems to be no particular concern that only celebrities enjoy the access once afforded to anyone willing to walk about. Is that because Bernie was all about power and privilage, and if you couldn't afford to buy your way into the paddock, you should be grateful to pay over the odds to look in on the world of the rich and richer? So far there are not too many signs that Liberty Media are changing things. ecclestone leveraged power and privilege as means to an end, playing all sides against the middle and everyone for a fool.
It's unclear what the new bosses intend, but it's unrealistic to expect they would kill the golden goose
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Post by René on Feb 28, 2019 16:51:28 GMT
Its interesting to compare the team times for today and yesterday. McLaren - Sainz over 0.6sec faster than Norris on the same tyre. Racing . - Perez 0.04 SLOWER than Stroll, same tyre. Ferrari - Vettel over 0.5sec faster than Le Clerc, same tyre Alfa R - Raikonnen 0.35sec faster than Giovanazzi, same tyre Haas - Grosjean 0.4sec faster than Magnussen, same tyre Red Bull - Verstappen 0.6sec SLOWER than Gasley, same tyre. Toro Rosso - Kyvat 0.03sec slower than Abon, same tyre. Mercedes - Bottas faster than Hamilton, both days on the same tyres (0,02 & 0.15sec respectively) Renault - Ricciardo 2.5sec SLOWER than Hulkenberg today on harder tyre Renault - Ricciardo 0.2 faster than Hulkenberg yesterday on same tyre Williams - Kubica 0.3sec faster than Russell on same tyre. Generally it looks like the times today were 0.3sec or better faster than yesterday. So the guys today who were the same or slower than their team mate weren't having a good day - and the standouts in that are Perez (slower than Stroll? ), and Verstappen (Slower than Gasley). Bottas has been having consistently faster times than Hamilton most of testing. Is this showing us who the quicker drivers are in each team, or just the teams that are failing to improve their cars? ? It's a fun list but I'm not sure about how much you can read into it. We know the tyres but we don't know the fuel loads, what program they were on, ambient temperatures, etc. Bottas is for sure not faster than Hamilton.
Looking at testing today shows the Merc is still not where it wants to be. It looked like Hamilton was having a good run in the morning on the C2 but then his time was shattered by Leclerc on the same tyre. And running on the softs (which Mercedes didn't run), the Ferrari is superior. Looks like a good season ahead! Forza!  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2019 18:45:43 GMT
ecclestone leveraged power and privilege as means to an end, playing all sides against the middle and everyone for a fool.
It's unclear what the new bosses intend, but it's unrealistic to expect they would kill the golden goose
At least they could use some of its feathers to make those splintered wooden stands more comfortable |
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), and Verstappen (Slower than Gasley).