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Post by René on Mar 11, 2022 20:23:02 GMT
It would appear that those Mercedes Benz "Wing Mirrors" are not going down too well. Also clever old Ross is a bit taken aback by the same teams interpretation of the new rules, didn't see that one coming. The rules say: “The mirror designs should be purely structural and not be designed in such a way to boost aero. The aerodynamic influence of any component of the car not considered to be bodywork must be incidental to its main function. Any design which aims to maximise such an aerodynamic influence is prohibited.” Mattia Binotto suggested that the Mercedes approach was questionable, because the mirror design was not supposed to exploit any aerodynamic advantage. Can’t really argue with this to be honest.  |
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Post by mikael on Mar 12, 2022 16:20:09 GMT
Yes, the cars are more different than they have been for years; and more different than we could ever have hoped for. It will be interesting to see them all go head to head in earnest!
Good news for Denmark that Kevin Magnussen is back behind the steering wheel.
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Post by Carl on Mar 12, 2022 18:00:15 GMT
Quite an interesting first day in Bahrain testing. Pierre Gasly outpaced the Ferraris to go fastest but he used the softest compound to the medium tires of the Ferraris. But still, the Alpha Tauri looked good in the end.
Ferrari is looking very good but again, I do not want to get carried away (too often disappointed in the past). But whatever way you look at it, the Ferrari looks the most planted car and the lap times appear to come easy. Mercedes indeed brought their new big update. The car seems to have no sidepods left in this new layout! How they make the cooling work proporly is quite a trick. But the car looked a bit unstable, difficult to turn in and the top speed was also not impressive. But hey, it's Mercedes and they have done this before. They will be there when it matters. Porpoising was still very much present by the way! The Mercedes, the Alpha Tauri, the Aston, to a lesser extend the Ferrari and Red Bull. McLaren had a very low profile day with some technical issues and not too many laps. Was the weather cool the day the photograph was taken? Mercedes has taped over the lower array of cooling vents. According to Pat Symonds, the next stop for Mercedes could be the moon... 
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Post by mikael on Mar 13, 2022 10:46:40 GMT
Just caught up on some "old news" regarding the state of affairs of the F1 engine + electric motor system. (Yes, I also much dislike the term "power unit".) Found that, while the electric motor mounted to the turbo charger (called MGU-H) now has been banned, the max power the hybrid car-type of electric motor (called MGU-K) may develop has been increased from 120 kW (163 HP) to 350 kW (475 HP!) for this year. Last year, it was said that the combustion engine alone developed around 850 HP. If one reuses this number, the total max power output this year will be 850 + 475 = 1325 HP. This is getting close to the 1500 HP the previous (1980s) generation of turbo-charged engines were said to develop in qualification trim.
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Post by charleselan on Mar 13, 2022 20:27:09 GMT
In some of those pictures that Mercedes Benz looks like a tube of toothpaste that has been squeezed  . I read that both MB drivers are playing down their chances which strangely isn't gaining much traction from other drivers and teams, always good to play the victim of course. Can't wait to see Tonto start next, what will it be........ "it's not fair we had to work so hard last year to beat the much superior Red Bull" and all that! |
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Post by Carl on Mar 14, 2022 2:09:05 GMT
In some of those pictures that Mercedes Benz looks like a tube of toothpaste that has been squeezed  . I read that both MB drivers are playing down their chances which strangely isn't gaining much traction from other drivers and teams, always good to play the victim of course. Can't wait to see Tonto start next, what will it be........ "it's not fair we had to work so hard last year to beat the much superior Red Bull" and all that! With a green minty stripe for fresher breath  |
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Post by robmarsh on Mar 14, 2022 9:29:39 GMT
True Carl, it's needed to clean up the smell of the bulls**t that regularly flows out of Mercedes
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Post by René on Mar 14, 2022 10:31:23 GMT
Just caught up on some "old news" regarding the state of affairs of the F1 engine + electric motor system. (Yes, I also much dislike the term "power unit".) Found that, while the electric motor mounted to the turbo charger (called MGU-H) now has been banned, the max power the hybrid car-type of electric motor (called MGU-K) may develop has been increased from 120 kW (163 HP) to 350 kW (475 HP!) for this year. Last year, it was said that the combustion engine alone developed around 850 HP. If one reuses this number, the total max power output this year will be 850 + 475 = 1325 HP. This is getting close to the 1500 HP the previous (1980s) generation of turbo-charged engines were said to develop in qualification trim. That is quite impressive! Unfortunately the cars are also almost 200kg heavier! But it must be said, they are also a lot faster due to technological progress in aerodynamics and also tires, suspension and more. |
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Post by René on Mar 14, 2022 10:42:08 GMT
In some of those pictures that Mercedes Benz looks like a tube of toothpaste that has been squeezed . I read that both MB drivers are playing down their chances which strangely isn't gaining much traction from other drivers and teams, always good to play the victim of course. Can't wait to see Tonto start next, what will it be........ "it's not fair we had to work so hard last year to beat the much superior Red Bull" and all that! It does look like a squeezed tube of toothpaste! Strange to see all those bumps and dents as if it was clayed. Also the edge of the floor looks weird.
As for Merc sandbagging, I'm actually not sure this time. Of course this could be idle hope from my side but I've watched quite a lot of the testing live and the Mercedes just didn't look that good. That was also the case last year but they still got their act together on the final day. Now the car and drivers still looked lost, certainly compaired to Red Bull and Ferrari. I wouldn't be surprised if the first races are going to be a Red Bull vs Ferrari battle.
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Post by charleselan on Mar 14, 2022 14:12:54 GMT
In some of those pictures that Mercedes Benz looks like a tube of toothpaste that has been squeezed . I read that both MB drivers are playing down their chances which strangely isn't gaining much traction from other drivers and teams, always good to play the victim of course. Can't wait to see Tonto start next, what will it be........ "it's not fair we had to work so hard last year to beat the much superior Red Bull" and all that! With a green minty stripe for fresher breath  Excellent for the following cars as well, these new vehicles can get much closer to the car in front so should get the full benefit of the minty aroma. Mind you if we are to believe what is being said at the moment then Ferrari and RB will not be troubled and have a mint free race . |
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Post by Carl on Mar 31, 2022 17:49:13 GMT
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Post by René on Mar 31, 2022 17:52:26 GMT
Yep, that's quite the news today! I think it's cool. 
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Post by René on Apr 4, 2022 11:00:07 GMT
Interesting article on Autosport about the speed difference between the different categories. Of course Formula 1 is fastest but interesting to see Japanese Super Formula in second place, faster than IndyCar. | Formula 1 | 100 | 1m30s | - | | Super Formula | 109.612 | 1m38.650s | 8.65 | | IndyCar | 113.315
| 1m41.983s
| 11.983 | | FIA Formula 2 | 115.563 | 1m44.006s | 14.006 | | Super GT | 118.372 | 1m46.534s | 16.534 | IMSA Daytona Prototype
| 119.139 | 1m47.225s | 17.225 | | WEC Le Mans Hypercar | 119.386 | 1m47.447s | 17.447 |
Here is the article with full explanation how this calculation was done and many more categories: |
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Post by Carl on Apr 4, 2022 17:13:55 GMT
Interesting and also significant, but ultimate speed is less important than the ability to come close and pass, negated for years by the idiot/savant of Formula One, Adrian Newey, but apparently made right this year. This is a great advance although accompanied by somewhat less speed. During the peak years of Can-Am, the Group 7 sports racers would better Formula One lap times at the North American tracks where both raced, Mosport and Watkins Glen. Bragging rights for discussions, but secondary to the great racing in both series. René and I have our own contest of speed to be determined at a fast and challenging go-kart track to be named. Negotiations are at an impasse, René having suggested a track on the dark side of the moon that may not even exist.  |
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Post by mikael on Apr 4, 2022 17:33:38 GMT
The importance of speed is indeed a topic for discussion. I agree that on TV, the "racing" is most important; and the speed is secondary. But if you watch a GP live, then I do think, actually, that the speed is important. If you stand at the end of a lengthy straight you might be lucky to see one or more overtakes. But there are many sections on a racing track where overtaking is virtually impossible, yet it may be spectacular to watch the cars go by that section one by one. Referring to my own experience with/trips to Suzuka, my "racing friend" and I became very happy for a section near the end of "the Esses". To watch the cars go through the Esses at the speed they do is simply amazing - especially if you have some other category to compare with. At Suzuka, one can compare - in a way - with the Porsche 911's (in full racing spec) that typically compete Sunday morning, before the GP. The speed difference is "like night and day" - F1 is a really "another world".
So in this light, I must say that I do think it's important to keep up the cornering speeds in F1. (And finally I must admit, also, that my opinion on this subject has changed many times ...)
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