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Post by René on Apr 20, 2022 15:53:12 GMT
 The F1 circus returns to action at the wonderful Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari next weekend. And for the first time since many years, Ferrari is the clear favorite on home soil. This will create additional pressure for the Italian squad but I must say that the team looks very focussed and grounded. They know they’ve got a good car and good drivers who can deliver the goods. Ferrari is also the only top team that yet has to bring serious updates to the car. Also given the sprint race format for this weekend, Ferrari decided to wait with new aero parts. Red Bull now seems to follow the same strategy and focusses on reliability.  The grandstands will be packed with passionate fans, mainly cheering on the red cars from Maranello. But for Red Bull and Mercedes it will be essential to score good points. Losing more ground to Ferrari and Leclerc will make it more and more difficult to fight for the championship. The season is still very long but Charles’s lead in the points is substantial and given the reliability of the Ferrari it will take many wins to overhaul that. So on Saturday it’s the sprint race that will decide the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The fans are devided over this format but the ones in charge decided to continue with it. It is what it is so let’s hope for good races and of course, a Ferrari victory in the end!  Today, Charles was having fun in Gilles’s 312 T4 at Fiorano! What better way to prepare for the Imola GP! These images emerged today on Youtube and the web, There’s no official Ferrari clip yet but this is sooooo cool!  Forza Charles! |
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Post by chrisb on Apr 20, 2022 16:09:06 GMT
oh my word - that is just brilliant and no wonder he has a legion of fans [me included...dammit] - you forget just how good those cars look and more importantly sound
Imola - a fabulous place, one I would have loved to have visited and still may do at some stage, memories marred with sadness as another tragic anniversary looms, also I can't forget what I saw in 1982 - maybe we all have different interpretations of that race I don't know - I just hope we never ever see a repeat of that
I think the Mercedes engined cars are speeding up and wouldn't mind betting the McLaren's will be in and amongst it so I am plumbing for Lando to get his first win but suspect that the Ferrari's will continue their successes - however, will Carlos get his first victory is perhaps another question
we have yet another wealth of motor sport this weekend, in fact probably too much - but I guess I will manage it...
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Post by René on Apr 21, 2022 17:41:22 GMT
Can’t get enough of this!  This one is better. And a contract extension for Carlos!  |
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Post by mikael on Apr 21, 2022 21:32:13 GMT
Interesting how the helmets have grown in size as well! - due to much more foam padding - it's not just the cars.
Leclerc is not a large man, yet with him sitting in the car with his modern helmet, the 312T4 appears very tiny - almost kart-like. With Villeneuve in the car, with his helmet of that period (late-70's), everything seems better proportioned.
It may be noticed how the size of the rubber/foam headrest has been reduced, to accommodate the large helmet.
(Sorry René - I am borrowing (and posting again) the photo you posted, for comparison.)
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Post by René on Apr 21, 2022 22:38:54 GMT
Don’t be sorry Mikael, you can never have enough pictures of a T4 (my personal all time favorite)!  The T4 was a very compact car but you’re right, it’s even more emphasized by the larger modern helmet. But still, those 70’s cars were small compared to modern machines. It’s good the 2022 cars have reversed the trend and are a bit shorter compared to last year’s cars. And much better looking! Also interesting to see is the fact that the T4’s skirts are lifted on Charles’s run so he could not use the full ground effect that the car was capable of.   |
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Post by robmarsh on Apr 22, 2022 7:37:39 GMT
Even the ugliest Ferrari is beautiful to me...
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Post by René on Apr 22, 2022 18:15:33 GMT
Even the ugliest Ferrari is beautiful to me... Oh yes Rob, a Ferrari is per definition a beautiful car. |
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Post by René on Apr 22, 2022 18:28:26 GMT
A mixed grid after a wet and disrupted qualifying. Pole for Max and second for Charles. Then Norris, Magnussen, Alonso, Ricciardo, Pérez, Bottas, Vettel and Sainz. Carlos tried too hard in Q2 and binned it in the wall so he has his work cut out for tomorrow. Both Mercedes cars out in Q2! How fast things can change! The weather conditions are very uncertain but rain is possible for both the Saturday and Sunday.  |
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Post by mikael on Apr 23, 2022 10:13:07 GMT
Interesting that Mercedes is "nowhere" so far this year ...
I wonder if the fact that the so-called "MGU-H" ("Motor Generator Unit–Heat", the electric motor/generator attached to the turbocharger), is not allowed this year isn't a factor as well, in relation to their apparent jump from "far ahead of the pack" to "nowhere". As I understand it, the precise control of that system was quite tricky, and I imagine that Mercedes were true masters in that.
It seems that banning this unit has been a success, in terms of equalizing the power (or "power units") of the field. It was said initially, that another reason for abandoning this unit was to ... "improve the sound". But as far as a television speaker allows one to judge, there seems to be little or no significant difference - expect that the curious muffling of the engine noise (that "brrrr-sound"), when braking down to a corner, may be gone.
Some illustrations of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit–Heat) system, used 2014-2021. |
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Post by Carl on Apr 23, 2022 23:49:51 GMT
Even the ugliest Ferrari is beautiful to me... Oh yes Rob, a Ferrari is per definition a beautiful car. And Enzo Ferrari the most handsome commendatore  |
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Post by René on Apr 24, 2022 10:50:37 GMT
We're in for an exciting race I feel. I was actually hoping for a more comfortable weekend from a Ferrari (fan) perspective but obviously Red Bull has other plans!
Still not a fan of the sprint race format but it showed again how close it is between Ferrari and Red Bull. Of course disappointed that Charles lost out at the end but it has to be said that Max drove very clever. Strong recoveries also from Checo and Carlos. The fight is certainly on between the Prancing horse and the Red bull! Mercedes is indeed nowhere. No more PU superiority and (for now) a flawed design concept. We've seen it before with Red Bull and Ferrari when a change in regulations ends the dominant position. And it was about time! A bit sad for George though...
Enjoy the race guys! Forza Ferrari!
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Post by Carl on Apr 24, 2022 23:43:37 GMT
Despite all the Ferrari flags, the best banner was large and all white with a simple message: Ciao Mamma Siamo Qui!
Beneath was a large arrow to indicate her children's location The ponderous fool and paulie dee yearned for drs and got their wish around half distance to no avail. The focus of their hope was still unable to pass Pierre Gasly, who had his own artificial drag reduction and defended brilliantly.  Ferrari's bad luck continued, with Carlos Sainz out almost immediately and the team too aware of pressure at Imola. With both cars better positioned at the start and the team more relaxed, the race could have been a Ferrari 1-2. |
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Post by robmarsh on Apr 25, 2022 7:54:40 GMT
Yep Carl, not a good day for Ferrari and they will have to try to deal with that pressure going forward if they want to win the championship. It will be immense come Monza.
I thought the race coverage was rather poor. I really didn't want to see every single one of Hamilton's attempts at passing Gasley for 13th, felt there was more important stuff to deal with further up. Whilst on Hamilton it seems that youth and hunger trump age and experience and maybe having too many easy wins in the past. For Hamilton to finish nine places behind after starting two places behind on the grid is not a great performance.
Chuffed for Lando and Mclaren and yet another team where youth and hunger trumped age and experience.
Valteri had a good race which good have been better had his front wheel gone on properly.
A good race from Yuki Tsunoda, he kept it on the island and didn't give way to pressure.
Alex Albon drove well. The Williams seems to have more bare carbon fibre now than that rather lovely shade of blue.
Red Bull were very professional in how they went about their business and are a lot closer to Ferrari now. Too close for my liking.
Anyway, for me a race which promised much but didn't deliver the result I was hoping for but some encouraging results from the youngsters to lift the gloom.
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Post by charleselan on Apr 25, 2022 12:09:17 GMT
It was a real balancing act this weekend with so many top quality motor sport meetings taking place and timings of each was critical. The "Sprint Farce"on Saturday demeans the whole concept of a supposed Grand Prix event and is merely there to appease the corporate entity and the "suits" that wish to foist this upon the enthusiasts who from what I have seen on the internet pages do not appreciate it either. I viewed it and was immediately struck by the really poor camera angles and positioning, so much so that I hardly recognised this marvellous little circuit.
It was my misfortune to have the S*YF1 coverage for this and the first part of the real race until I got so fed up with Croft and "Paulie Dee" that I eventually got the Swiss SRF broadcast to work on my computer and was saved from the utter drivel that was coming out.
It was a hugely disappointing day for the Tifosi as so much had been expected of Ferrari this weekend but maybe they paid the price for not to bring any updates, whereas The Fizzy Drinks team did, and the conservative approach did not work this time. Charles as ever gave it everything but maybe should have settled for third on this occasion, but one cannot really fault the guy for his never say die approach. It was very unfortunate for Carlos who was mighty in the "Sprint Farce" and i have the feeling that he may have actually been more of a factor in the race than Charles on this occasion.
Lando Norris put in yet another superb performance and was highest Mercedes Benz powered vehicle yet again, not really anywhere near the performance of the Red Bull and Ferrari cars though. George Russell was outstanding all weekend and really looked like the driver we all thought he would be, his team mate was very poor.
Valterri Bottas produced yet another superb performance in the Alfa Romeo but could not quite get to grips with Russell towards the end, but a great drive non the less. Kevin was a resolute as ever in the Haas and gained yet more points for the team.
Another hugely impressive drive from Alexander Albon who is putting that Williams in places where it has no right to be, proving quite categorically that the lad deserved his comeback into F1. Pierre Gasly's defence against Hamilton was a lesson in defensive race craft, a very impressive performance but very surprised that he was behind his team mate, however not a good race for the home team Alpha Tauri who are not where one would expect them to be.
Musing a little but I wonder if Ferrari might have performed better over the weekend if it had been a normal and traditional race format.
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Post by mikael on Apr 25, 2022 14:27:10 GMT
Apparently, the use of a step ladder is necessary when boarding the present monsters! (... and Magnussen is not that short - basically he's an average-sized F1 driver ...) I don't think I have ever seen anything like it ...
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