F1 2014 thread

[Willie Trombone]

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Schumi-blinking-and-responding-20140131

GRENOBLE, France - Michael Schumacher has "blinked" and is "responding to simple instructions" as doctors attempt to bring him of his induced coma.

Those are the latest unofficial developments to emerge from the Grenoble hospital since the F1 legend's manager confirmed reports that doctors are attempting to ease Schumacher out of his month-long deep sleep.

France's L'Equipe, having broken the news about the awakening process, later reported that the German "blinked" his eyes as a doctor, Emmanuel Gay, went through neurological reflex tests.

 

[Polish]

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Schumi-blinking-and-responding-20140131

GRENOBLE, France - Michael Schumacher has "blinked" and is "responding to simple instructions" as doctors attempt to bring him of his induced coma.

Those are the latest unofficial developments to emerge from the Grenoble hospital since the F1 legend's manager confirmed reports that doctors are attempting to ease Schumacher out of his month-long deep sleep.

France's L'Equipe, having broken the news about the awakening process, later reported that the German "blinked" his eyes as a doctor, Emmanuel Gay, went through neurological reflex tests.
Nice one, glimmers of hope on the horizon.

 

[Polish]

Not really F1 news but relevant to a similar rule introduced

NASCAR reveals radical winner-takes-all Sprint Cup title decider

This year's NASCAR Sprint Cup will be decided by a winner-takes-all finale as part of a revamped Chase for the Championship, series bosses confirmed on Thursday.

Previously, the top 12 drivers in the points after 26 races (top 13 drivers in 2013) had their points reset for the final 10 races, with the championship being determined by who scored the most points during those final events.

Under the new system, which will be introduced this season, 16 drivers will progress to the Chase based on how many races they have won during the first 26 rounds, rather than their points total.

The 16th place will be reserved for the points leader if that driver has not earned a win.

From there, four drivers will be eliminated from the Chase after every three races until just four remain in contention when the series arrives at Homestead for its final round.

Source http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112366

 

[Polish]

Red Bull ends Jerez F1 test early after troubled week

Red Bull called an early end to its troubled week of Formula 1 testing at Jerez in Spain on Friday.

The reigning world champion outfit has had a nightmare four days with its RB10, after suffering a spate of overheating and power unit problems.

Race drivers Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo managed just 21 laps over the four days of testing at Jerez.

On Friday, in a bid to cure the overheating, it opened up extra vents in its sidepods to try to help matters (pictured below).

But despite making a little progress, it was then stopped by an unspecified mechanical failure on the car that meant it called time on its running at lunchtime.

Source http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112375

Shame, battling a bit, am sure they will find form but still

 

[Polish]

Alonso giving it stick today, some time sheets.

P Driver Team Time
1 Alonso Ferrari 1m30.861s
2 Juncadella Force India-Mercedes 1m31.399s +0.538
3 Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1m31.804s +0.943
4 Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m33.206s +2.345
5 Hamilton Mercedes 1m35.651s +4.790
6 Rosberg Mercedes 1m36.951s +6.090
7 Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1m40.966s +10.105
8 Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1m43.193s +12.332
9 Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1m44.016s +13.155
10 Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m45.374s +14.513
11 Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m49.941s +19.080

Source http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/694

 

[Willie Trombone]

Some serious mileage by the top teams:

Driver               Laps     Km
Nico Rosberg         188      832
Fernando Alonso      173      766
Kevin Magnussen      162      717
Felipe Massa         133      588
Lewis Hamilton       121      535
Adrian Sutil         103      456
Jenson Button        83       367
Daniel Juncadella    81       358
Kimi Raikkonen       78       345
Esteban Gutierrez    60       265
Kamui Kobayashi      54       239
Sergio Perez         48       212
Jean-Eric Vergne     45       199
Valtteri Bottas      42       185
Jules Bianchi        25       110
Nico Hulkenberg      17       75
Marcus Ericsson      12       53
Sebastian Vettel     11       48
Robin Frijns         10       44
Daniel Ricciardo     10       44
Daniil Kvyat         9        39
Max Chilton          5        22

Team                 Laps     Km                    
Mercedes             309      1368
Ferrari              251      1111
McLaren              245      1084
Williams             175      774
Sauber               163      721
Force India          146      646
Caterham             76       336
Toro Rosso           54       239
Marussia             30       132
Red Bull             21       92

Engine               Laps     Km 
Mercedes             875      3874
Ferrari              444      1966
Renault              151      668

 

[Polish]

Nice summary.

The Mercedes has entered well. Almost like they knew they had the most amount of work to do and they got well off the ground.

I have no doubt Renault will fix whatever is currently broken by March.

Next test 19 Feb in Bahrain. Cannot wait.

 

[Polish]

The calendar once again:

30-Mar Malaysia Sepang
06-Apr Bahrain Sakhir
20-Apr China Shanghai
11-May Spain Circuit de Catalunya
25-May Monaco Monte Carlo
08-Jun Canada Montreal
22-Jun Austria Red Bull Ring
06-Jul Great Britain Silverstone Circuit
20-Jul Germany Hockenheim
27-Jul Hungary Hungaroring
24-Aug Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
07-Sep Italy Monza
21-Sep Singapore Singapore
05-Oct Japan Suzuka
12-Oct Russia Sochi
02-Nov United States Circuit of the Americas
09-Nov Brazil Interlagos
23-Nov Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi

All good, but pity Interlagos has been pushed up, its my fav race and always full of excitement and it had a special place being the last one.
The Yas Marina circuit is beautiful but does not often generate exciting GP's.

Four B2B weekends, and two breaks (a month between Hungary and Belgium :wtf.

 

[Polish]

Ross Brawn announces he is 'definitely retiring'

Ross Brawn has ended speculation about his future by announcing his retirement from Formula One, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.

Brawn left Mercedes at the end of last season for a sabbatical but has been heavily linked with a job at McLaren since the return of Ron Dennis to the team. The 59-year-old has 16 F1 titles to his name, the most recent coming in 2009 with Jenson Button and his own Brawn GP team.

Brawn has eight drivers and constructors' championships to his name, seven of which came in partnership with Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari. His career spans back to the 1970s, when he joined Williams as a mechanic.

Source http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/144247.html#MjtqMRXUGmlfCTWO.99

Best of luck Ross, I salute your input and contribution to F1.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

The Hungary/Belgium break is the traditional European summer break, but 3 races and then a 3 week break before Spain always throws me a bit... Just getting back into F1 and suddenly you have to wait...

 

[Polish]

The Hungary/Belgium break is the traditional European summer break, but 3 races and then a 3 week break before Spain always throws me a bit... Just getting back into F1 and suddenly you have to wait...

Yeah its not fair I also always battle YoY

 

[Polish]

Red Bull gives you wings........ (well almost)

 

[Willie Trombone]

Redbull needs your wings!

 

[Polish]

F1 viewing figures dropped by 50 million in 2013

Formula One's viewing figures dropped by roughly 10% last year after a predictable end to the 2013 season.

Sebastian Vettel won nine races in a row at the end of the year, securing his fourth consecutive title with three races remaining. TV figures released in Formula One's Global Media Report showed overall viewers had dropped by over 50 million last year to a total of 450 million.

"The less-than-competitive nature of the final few rounds, culminating in the championship being decided ahead of the races in the USA and Brazil, events which often bring substantial audiences, had a predictable impact on reach," Bernie Ecclestone said. "The overall effect was exaggerated further still when you consider the calendar was one race shorter in 2013."

Source http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/144365.html#hCJwMiPM5c6lZOD4.99

Its a very sad phenomenon in F1, that when you become very good so much so that hold top spot year after year for a few years, you cause the whole sport to implode.

Sad somewhat and odd, but it is what it is. We saw it with Michael, and now with Vettel (these Germans again ), although I definitely think this year will not be conventional.

Maybe that is exactly the purpose for the ever changing and sometimes puzzling rule changes.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I wouldn't blame Vettel for Redbull's success. That's down to the rules and restrictions and finding a way around them. Same happened with Brawn. Good designers can really lock out the opposition if they come up with something special.

 

[Polish]

I wouldn't blame Vettel for Redbull's success. That's down to the rules and restrictions and finding a way around them. Same happened with Brawn. Good designers can really lock out the opposition if they come up with something special.

Agreed 100%, but then its either quickly outlawed or copied.

 

[Fox1]

Vettel is being blamed for a drop in TV viewership for last season.

Look at how quick the not so wealthy European countries along with China dropped interest in F1 after it was moved to Pay TV.

link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-f1-audience-drop-blamed-vettel-154417741--f1.html

 

[Polish]

Interesting read.

Definitely a major contributor, no doubt about it, though imo dominance also does contribute in some way.

If the current structure in rules does achieve the intended I am sure it will pick up again.

 

[Polish]

GP2 cars will be close to F1 pace at some circuits

Jenson Button has warned that GP2 cars might rival Formula One lap times at some circuits until development of the new-generation F1 cars steps up a gear.

At the opening test in Jerez last week, only three Formula One drivers went quicker than the fastest time set at last year's pre-season GP2 test at the same circuit. Although conditions will not have been identical and most F1 teams were focusing on reliability over performance, the fastest time of the week set by Kevin Magnussen was only 0.724s quicker than the quickest GP2 car in 2013 and 4.397s slower than the fastest time at last year's F1 Jerez test.

"They [GP2 cars] will be a lot closer on certain circuits," Button said. "At high-speed circuits we will be quicker but not that much quicker, but then again this is the first test with a very new package."

New regulations have cut downforce this year and teams are still working hard to get the most from the new V6 turbo engines. What's more, the cars are heavier and Button said Pirelli's latest tyres are also slower.

"The medium tyre we think is half a second slower than last year's medium," he added. "The cars are also heavier, which is about 1.2s slower through weight. So that's 1.6s-1.8s already through those two changes. It was always going to be slower."

Source http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/144425.html#XPdp4JSVFWMC0VxU.99

An interesting read. I do hope that this changes within the first few races, I do believe it will though.

 

[Polish]

Was at Sandton City on Monday and guess what they have on display.



Not a Scuderia fan but was nice to look at in any case. Not exactly sure which year model though.