F1 - General discussion and 2016 Season

[Willie Trombone]

I just read now that Audi might be entering F1 in 2015: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/89171/audi-to-join-f1-in-2016

If this is true, then it could be where Alonso is heading. With Caterham on the chopping block and Marussia not far behind, F1 needs new teams. Going to be very interesting.

Audi could be a good team to support, though as history has proven, F1 can be incredibly difficult to do well in, no matter what money you have. They should rather call it VW - if they do well, they'll be heroes, if not, nobody would think too much of it lol. They just need to hire the right designers and the job is 70% done.

 

[vinodh]

Audi could be a good team to support, though as history has proven, F1 can be incredibly difficult to do well in, no matter what money you have.

True. Honda, BMW, Toyota etc learn't the hard way. Audi do have extensive endurance experience which will come in handy with the current F1 rules. I would love it if they actually enter and are immediately competitive.

 

[Polish]

They just need to hire the right designers and the job is 70% done.

i think this, easier said than done

 

[Polish]

However i do agree with both above posts by Arietans and vinodh.

Having said however, is suspect there is a strong and very valid reason by some very affluent and top manufacturers are not entering teams and have no such intention.

Likes of GM, as mentioned Audi & VW and even Hyudai who are now the worlds 4th biggest car manufacturer.

And/ or some performance houses like Lamborghini, Porsche, Bugatti, etc.

And along comes an energy drink manufacturer and steals the show.

 

[Polish]

And with more on teams, it looks like we losing both Marussia and Caterham for the rest of this year, maybe forever.

Sad.

Bernie wont help them squat, in fact i think he is happy that they are folding.

I think it sucks. With Haas only joining in 2016 seems we'll only have 18 cars next year, as its also way too late to introduce the 3 car option.

 

[thestaggy]

However i do agree with both above posts by Arietans and vinodh.

Having said however, is suspect there is a strong and very valid reason by some very affluent and top manufacturers are not entering teams and have no such intention.

Likes of GM, as mentioned Audi & VW and even Hyudai who are now the worlds 4th biggest car manufacturer.

And/ or some performance houses like Lamborghini, Porsche, Bugatti, etc.

And along comes an energy drink manufacturer and steals the show.

Lamborghini tried and failed in the late 80s and early 90s. Porsche had a good run with turbo engines in the 80s with McLaren, but a return with atmo engines in 1991 was an unmitigated disaster.

While on the subject of ''obscure'' engine suppliers, how many of you are aware of the fact that Isuzu - yes, Isuzu - developed a V12 engine that was not only considered by McLaren for their supercar project, but ended up doing 250km at Silverstone in the back of a Lotus 102C F1 chassis driven by Johnny Herbert? Nothing official was ever released, it was all very covert, but it did happen and an eyewitness at the Silverstone test said the Lotus-Isuzu was running very close to a McLaren-Honda that was also carrying out tests.

It was a 3.5 Lt V12.

Basic technical stats, and confirmation that it ran in the back of an F1 car, as highlighted by the chassis ''102C'' at the bottom of the placard.

 

[thestaggy]

Yoh! I was not aware of this happening. It reminds me of the last few days of Onyx, when the cars were being kept going thanks to its owner scavenging his collection of sportscars for parts.

ANALYSIS: WAS CATERHAM’S MAKESHIFT REPAIR ON KOBAYASHI’S CAR SAFE?

[Updated] Caterham F1 team has been forced to explain the circumstances which led to Kamui Kobayashi racing in Sochi with a car which had a problem suspension part, which had been repaired by carbon wrapping at the circuit. Kobayashi alleges this was because the team did not have enough spare parts to replace it.

The Japanese driver wrote on his private Facebook page that he was scared to drive the car and this photo and post has got into the public domain and triggered a news splash because F1 safety is in the spot light after the Jules Bianchi accident in Suzuka.

So what is behind this, what does carbon wrapping mean and was Kobayashi’s car safe or not?

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2014/...hams-makeshift-repair-on-kobayashis-car-safe/

There is a pic of the repaired part in the link as well as more technical detail.

 

[Polish]

While on the subject of ''obscure'' engine suppliers, how many of you are aware of the fact that Isuzu - yes, Isuzu - developed a V12 engine that was not only considered by McLaren for their supercar project, but ended up doing 250km at Silverstone in the back of a Lotus 102C F1 chassis driven by Johnny Herbert? Nothing official was ever released, it was all very covert, but it did happen and an eyewitness at the Silverstone test said the Lotus-Isuzu was running very close to a McLaren-Honda that was also carrying out tests.

It was a 3.5 Lt V12.

Basic technical stats, and confirmation that it ran in the back of an F1 car, as highlighted by the chassis ''102C'' at the bottom of the placard.

Wohooooooa!

That is too awesome, i never knew that. That engine looks stunning.

Are we saying that this could be a possible new engine supplier into F1 ?

 

[Polish]

Mmmmm, ok, on the 3rd car rule, now i'm stomped, again.

Just read an update pitpass.com and I see that the 3rd car rule is not for each team to run a third car of theirs but for them to sponsor a car to the ailing team that is folding.

Or maybe another twist interpretation from Bernie for PR purpose ???

confused

 

[thestaggy]

Wohooooooa!

That is too awesome, i never knew that. That engine looks stunning.

Are we saying that this could be a possible new engine supplier into F1 ?

I don't think so. They had an appetite for it 25-odd years ago, but I doubt they'd try again. The Lotus boss said the engine was very good considering its roots, but like McLaren, the lack of motor racing pedigree was a bit of a concern.

Mmmmm, ok, on the 3rd car rule, now i'm stomped, again.

Just read an update pitpass.com and I see that the 3rd car rule is not for each team to run a third car of theirs but for them to sponsor a car to the ailing team that is folding.

Or maybe another twist interpretation from Bernie for PR purpose ???

confused

Honestly, the only way F1 can survive is if it embraces a customer rule. It is just too expensive. I can understand why a team like Williams would be irked by it, but it is the only way the sport can sustain itself long term.

 

[Polish]

In any event, it F1 week

 

[thestaggy]

Talk about being ahead of their time. Two chaps by the names of Tony Rudd and Peter Wright had begun playing around with the idea of ground-effects well before Colin Chapman did. In fact, they had a mock-up in a wind tunnel 7-years before Chapman started putting his ideas on paper.

Ground-breaking ground-effect car designed by Peter Wright got canned when John Surtees' arrival at BRM caused internal upheaval. Wright left along with Tony Rudd, and BRM decided to follow Surtees on his route to further develop the existing P138. When Wright later joined Rudd at Lotus in the mid-seventies, at a time BRM was in its death throes, his ideas found a way into the Lotus 78. The rest is history, as they say. The windtunnel pictures show a P142 mock-up during a test at Imperial College in London in 1969.

For a design from 1969, this was advanced stuff.

 

[Polish]

Yes indeed.

At least they managed to get their ideas in, which must have been the ultimate prize for them.

 

[Polish]

Ok, for some tough entertainment try this test, without cheating.

http://www.carwow.co.uk/world-hardest-f1-quiz

I only managed 9/20. And some of the things we talked about here :erm:

 

[Agent_Smith]

Ok, for some tough entertainment try this test, without cheating.

http://www.carwow.co.uk/world-hardest-f1-quiz

I only managed 9/20. And some of the things we talked about here :erm:

Fun! I got 11 out of 20 but most of them were guesses!! Tough quiz, yoh.

Oh..... F1 WEEK!!!

 

[thestaggy]

Ok, for some tough entertainment try this test, without cheating.

http://www.carwow.co.uk/world-hardest-f1-quiz

I only managed 9/20. And some of the things we talked about here :erm:

I got 13/20.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I'll just say that im not sharing the result lol.

 

[Polish]

Oh..... F1 WEEK!!!

Yes, note the times not to miss it.

USA F1 GP
Supersport 6

Friday, October 31, 2014

16:50 Motorsport F1: USA GP Practice 1
20:50 Motorsport F1: USA GP Practice 2

Saturday, November 01, 2014

16:50 Motorsport F1: USA GP Practice 3
19:50 Motorsport F1: USA GP Qualifying

Sunday, November 02, 2014

20:45 Motorsport F1: USA GP Main Race

 

[Polish]

Vital Statistics - the United States Grand Prix

Did you know that 10 different circuits in the United States have staged an F1 world championship round - but only six of those have hosted a US Grand Prix? Or that seven drivers in the current field have led at least one lap on American soil, but only two - Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel - have actually won? Ahead of this weekend's 2014 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, we present the key facts, stats and trivia...

Circuit: Circuit of The Americas

Circuit length: 5.513 km

Number of corners: 20 (9 right, 11 left)

DRS zones: 2

Race laps: 56

Race distance: 308.405 km

2014 tyre compounds: soft, medium

Circuit lap record: 1m 39.347s - Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2012

First world championship US Grand Prix: 1959, Sebring (won by Bruce McLaren, Cooper-Climax)

Number of US Grands Prix: 35 (Watkins Glen - 20; Indianapolis - 8; Phoenix - 3; Austin - 2;
Sebring, Riverside - 1)

Additional Formula One Grands Prix in the US:* 18 (Long Beach - 8; Detroit - 7; Las Vegas - 2; Dallas - 1)
*Not including the Indianapolis 500, which was officially a world championship round between 1950 and 1960.

Safety car record in Austin: 1 in 2 races

Longest US Grand Prix: 1960 Riverside (2h 28m 52.2s)

Shortest US Grand Prix: 2005 Indianapolis (1h 29m 43.181s)

Last year's pole position in Austin: 1m 36.338s, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull

Last year's podium: 1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus), 3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull)

Most US Grand Prix appearances (current field): 10 - Jenson Button; 8 - Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen; 6 - Felipe Massa; 4 - Nico Rosberg; 3 - Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel

Most US Grand Prix wins (driver): 5 - Michael Schumacher; 3 - Jim Clark, Graham Hill; 2 - Jackie Stewart, Carlos Reutemann, James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton; 1 - Bruce McLaren, Stirling Moss, Innes Ireland, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Francois Cevert, Ronnie Peterson, Niki Lauda, Gilles Villeneuve, Alan Jones, Alain Prost, Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel

Most US Grand Prix wins (constructor): 9 - Ferrari; 8 - Lotus, McLaren; 3 - BRM; 2 - Tyrrell; 1 - Cooper, Matra, Brabham, Williams, Red Bull

Most US Grand Prix wins (engine manufacturer): 11 - Ford; 9 - Ferrari; 4 - Climax, BRM; 3 - Honda, Mercedes; 1 - Renault

Most US Grand Prix pole positions (driver): 4 - Michael Schumacher; 3 - Graham Hill; 2 - Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Mario Andretti, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Jochen Rindt, Jacky Ickx, Ronnie Peterson, Carlos Reutemann, Niki Lauda, Alan Jones, Bruno Giacomelli, Gerhard Berger, Kimi Raikkonen, Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli, Lewis Hamilton

Most US Grand Prix pole positions (constructor): 8 - Lotus; 7 - Ferrari, McLaren; 2 - Cooper, BRM, Brabham, Tyrrell, Red Bull; 1 - Williams, Alfa Romeo, Toyota

Most US Grand Prix pole positions (engine manufacturer): 11 - Ford; 7 - Ferrari; 5 - Climax; 3 - Honda; 2 - BRM, Mercedes, Renault; 1 - Repco, Alfa Romeo, Toyota

Number of US GP wins from pole: 16 from 35 (46 percent); one from two in Austin

Lowest US GP winning grid position: 10th (Bruce McLaren, Cooper/Climax, at Sebring in 1959)

Laps led in US Grands Prix (current field): 95 - Sebastian Vettel; 81 - Lewis Hamilton; 30 - Felipe Massa; 18 - Kimi Raikkonen; 15 - Jenson Button; 2 - Fernando Alonso, Romain Grosjean

Laps led in Austin (current field): 95 - Sebastian Vettel; 15 - Lewis Hamilton; 2 - Romain Grosjean

Most US GP podium places (current field): 2 - Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean

Number of American drivers to have started at least one Grand Prix: 38

Best F1 finish by an American driver: 1st (by five different drivers - Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Peter Revson, Richie Ginther)

Best finish by an American driver on US soil: 1st (Mario Andretti, in the USA West Grand Prix at Long Beach, 1977)

Percentage of 2014 season complete: 84 percent

Maximum number of world championship points still available to a single driver: 100

Significant running sequences going into this weekend: Mercedes - 8 consecutive front-row starts; Renault - 116 consecutive races in the points as an engine manufacturer; Daniel Ricciardo - 14 consecutive points finishes; Mercedes - 8 consecutive pole positions; Lewis Hamilton - 4 straight Grand Prix victories

Fascinating fact: Bruce McLaren, Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi are among a number of well-known drivers to have claimed their breakthrough F1 wins in United States Grands Prix. Of the current grid, though eight different drivers have led at least one lap, only Lewis Hamilton (2007 and 2012) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) have triumphed on US soil.

Potential record breakers: After dominating in Russia, Mercedes have now scored nine one-two finishes this year. They need just one more over the remaining three races to tie McLaren's record from 1988, and two more to eclipse it.

Turbo history: If a Ferrari-powered car wins the race it will be the first Ferrari turbo win since the 1988 Italian Grand Prix

.

www.formula1.com

 

[oldhat]

While on the subject of ''obscure'' engine suppliers, how many of you are aware of the fact that Isuzu - yes, Isuzu - developed a V12 engine that was not only considered by McLaren for their supercar project, but ended up doing 250km at Silverstone in the back of a Lotus 102C F1 chassis driven by Johnny Herbert?

Anyone remember the HKS 300E V12 F1 engine? Was tested in the early 1990's but never raced.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3s8NSY06SA