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Post by René on May 7, 2019 15:57:35 GMT
The circus is back in Europe and back on the track where winter testing gave us the impression Ferrari was the class of the field. We’re four races into the season with four 1-2 finishes for Mercedes so something needs to happen to shake up this championship. And this can only come from Ferrari (and maybe Red Bull). The red team has moved an engine upgrade forward which is very needed to put pressure on Toto’s team. And what about Renault? I think it is fair to say the season has been very disappointing so far so let’s hope the Régie will bring a serious upgrade to Spain.  |
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Post by charleselan on May 7, 2019 19:31:28 GMT
This is normally a processional borefest of an event that does little justice to the term Grand Prix, the circuit is far too car dependant and one of my least favourite F1 race meetings of the year. I think they would be better off returning to Jerez, but that would no doubt ruin it for the bike guys. Better still lets return to Montjuïc Park that would sort the men from the boys  . |
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Post by chrisb on May 7, 2019 19:37:53 GMT
after an amazing MotoGP in Jerez I doubt if F1 will have the same impact on my senses, but with Regie showing some fighting spirit hopefully they will do very well this weekend, and as a measure of my faith in Regie I am putting my faith in Riciardo winning this weekend
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Post by René on May 7, 2019 22:32:38 GMT
This is normally a processional borefest of an event that does little justice to the term Grand Prix, the circuit is far too car dependant and one of my least favourite F1 race meetings of the year. I think they would be better off returning to Jerez, but that would no doubt ruin it for the bike guys. Better still lets return to Montjuïc Park that would sort the men from the boys . I agree JC, Barcelona may be a good test track but it is not really a good race track. Something needs to happen like a crash or rain to make for an exciting race. Like 2016 when Max won or 1996 when Michael won his first for Ferrari. And Barcelona may not even be on the calender for 2020. Spain could lose the race in favour of Zandvoort... |
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Post by charleselan on May 8, 2019 8:27:48 GMT
This is normally a processional borefest of an event that does little justice to the term Grand Prix, the circuit is far too car dependant and one of my least favourite F1 race meetings of the year. I think they would be better off returning to Jerez, but that would no doubt ruin it for the bike guys. Better still lets return to Montjuïc Park that would sort the men from the boys . I agree JC, Barcelona may be a good test track but it is not really a good race track. Something needs to happen like a crash or rain to make for an exciting race. Like 2016 when Max won or 1996 when Michael won his first for Ferrari. And Barcelona may not even be on the calender for 2020. Spain could lose the race in favour of Zandvoort... I don't think that the Spanish would miss it René as they have at least three MotoGP meetings every year which says an awful lot. |
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Post by René on May 8, 2019 14:24:58 GMT
I agree JC, Barcelona may be a good test track but it is not really a good race track. Something needs to happen like a crash or rain to make for an exciting race. Like 2016 when Max won or 1996 when Michael won his first for Ferrari. And Barcelona may not even be on the calender for 2020. Spain could lose the race in favour of Zandvoort... I don't think that the Spanish would miss it René as they have at least three MotoGP meetings every year which says an awful lot. The bikes have always been more popular in Spain except for maybe when Fernando was at his peak. The place was packed then. But so will Zandvoort and it's a much better track for racing. Can't wait to see the cars storming towards the Tarzan again!  |
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Post by charleselan on May 8, 2019 15:09:02 GMT
A very fitting photo of Zandvoort René, 1979 with Gilles right up with A Jones and the Renault's. Amazing also to see Didier Pironi in the less than good Tyrrell 009 (Lotus 79 clone) and Keke in the Wolf WR7 right up at the front.
I really hope that they keep the old Zandvoort "feel" just like they do with the Suzuka circuit, a proper race circuit.
Barcelona will not be missed for it is a tedious place, great for testing as you say, but a total disaster for racing.
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Post by Carl on May 8, 2019 16:10:10 GMT
Leclerc is overdue and will seize the moment
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Post by mikael on May 10, 2019 5:38:28 GMT
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Post by charleselan on May 10, 2019 14:35:47 GMT
I don't think that the Spanish would miss it René as they have at least three MotoGP meetings every year which says an awful lot. The bikes have always been more popular in Spain except for maybe when Fernando was at his peak. The place was packed then. But so will Zandvoort and it's a much better track for racing. Can't wait to see the cars storming towards the Tarzan again! I expect others have noticed but there is something weird going on in this photo and it isn't immediately noticeable. Parallel to Keke's Wolf a wheel can be seen bouncing along the grass verge, but where does it come from? Looking closer can just see that Clay's Williams is minus its front left wheel, but he appears to be carrying on regardless! Not having looked up the race report at this time it would appear that he has had a coming together with Jody Scheckter whose Ferrari can be seen way back running alongside the pit wall. |
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Post by René on May 10, 2019 15:31:53 GMT
The bikes have always been more popular in Spain except for maybe when Fernando was at his peak. The place was packed then. But so will Zandvoort and it's a much better track for racing. Can't wait to see the cars storming towards the Tarzan again! I expect others have noticed but there is something weird going on in this photo and it isn't immediately noticeable. Parallel to Keke's Wolf a wheel can be seen bouncing along the grass verge, but where does it come from? Looking closer can just see that Clay's Williams is minus its front left wheel, but he appears to be carrying on regardless! Not having looked up the race report at this time it would appear that he has had a coming together with Jody Scheckter whose Ferrari can be seen way back running alongside the pit wall. It was actually Clay who ran into René Arnoux (or the other way around) but they ran out of space! Jody had a very bad start (overheated the clutch according to the Motorsport report) but made a great recovery to second. A spectacular race and another 'Villeneuve classic'! 
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Post by René on May 10, 2019 15:39:07 GMT
Let's hope so Mikael but Mercedes looks strong again after FP1 and FP2. Ferrari not far off but still 'off' which is not good. I hope they can find something extra for qualy. Forza! |
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Post by Carl on May 11, 2019 0:16:08 GMT
The bikes have always been more popular in Spain except for maybe when Fernando was at his peak. The place was packed then. But so will Zandvoort and it's a much better track for racing. Can't wait to see the cars storming towards the Tarzan again! I expect others have noticed but there is something weird going on in this photo and it isn't immediately noticeable. Parallel to Keke's Wolf a wheel can be seen bouncing along the grass verge, but where does it come from? Looking closer can just see that Clay's Williams is minus its front left wheel, but he appears to be carrying on regardless! Not having looked up the race report at this time it would appear that he has had a coming together with Jody Scheckter whose Ferrari can be seen way back running alongside the pit wall. You are the only one to notice. Good eyes! |
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Post by mikael on May 11, 2019 11:45:34 GMT
The 2019 tyres do look peculiar, as if they are made from plastic, rather than of rubber. But perhaps they, technically, really are "plastic tyres" (?)
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2019 12:34:43 GMT
The 2019 tyres do look peculiar, as if they are made from plastic, rather than of rubber. But perhaps they, technically, really are "plastic tyres" (?)
I'll try to find the link, but there was a good you tube video that explained how the current F1 tyres are manufactured. You are right that there is very little (if any) rubber in the tyres. They are a mixture of polymers, and the thing I found odd was that the tyres ar extruded into moulds - apparently to manufacture all the tyres needed at an acceptable cost. So definitely plastic tyres - so much so they can be melted down after use, and recycled. The shiny surface you see on the tyres this year is a special mould release agent, to ensure there are no surface imperfections when the tyre comes out of the mould. Apparently tiny surface defects from sticking to the chromed surface of the moulds were making the tyres more susceptable to the graining and blistering that was a problem last season. |
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