F1 - General discussion and 2017

thestaggy said:
It all sounds good, but this is basically a testing facility, so while the corner variety is welcome, it has zero character or atmosphere.
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But at least the main straight is long enough to accommodate a 157 place grid penalty to go with the new reduced PU allowance ;>)
 
Back in the day, the Mistral straight had no chicane and it was flat out for 1.8 km. For safety and reliability reasons though the straight had been split in half by a chicane some time ago. Cars powered by the monstrously powerful BMW M12 turbo were capable of hitting 340 km/h in qualifying trim by the end of the 1.8 km straight.

caroper said:
But at least the main straight is long enough to accommodate a 157 place grid penalty to go with the new reduced PU allowance ;>)
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Ayyy, that's another thing. . .
 
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https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/133007/f1-2018-threeengine-rule-ucks--hamilton

"I know it sounds negative, but just as a racer who wants a fast, nimble car, that I can attack always, every single lap, unfortunately that's not what we generally have."
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Reading this article just makes me sad to hear most of the time the top drivers are just managing the cars. I get cost containment and all that, but surely not at the same time strangling the life out of the sport.
 
Penalising drivers and robbing fans for hardware failure is what sucks. They learned nothing this year.
 
I've just been reading up Robert Kubica's push to return to F1 and wow, I'd be truly amazed if he has the strength/stamina to last a full race distance. I didn't realise just how extensively damaged it was, significant loss of muscle.

Robert-Kubica-arm-1066331.jpg


Williams will apparently give him one of the Pirelli test days at the end of the season to gauge his physical condition.
 
Wow, that is a hectic picture! Also didn't realise the extent of his injury. He did manage (or so the reports went) to pilot one of the Renaults around for an extended period a month or two ago so if the reports are to be believed, he should be able to cope physically. Of course, I think he might have been driving an old spec Renault, without the power and downforce of the current cars.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Wow, that is a hectic picture! Also didn't realise the extent of his injury. He did manage (or so the reports went) to pilot one of the Renaults around for an extended period a month or two ago so if the reports are to be believed, he should be able to cope physically. Of course, I think he might have been driving an old spec Renault, without the power and downforce of the current cars.
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Really puts it in to perspective when you can see the other arm.

He's passed the mandatory F1 cockpit extraction test, which is a prerequisite for a driver wanting to enter any official F1 session.

Article 13.1.4 of the FIA's F1 regulations requires drivers to be able to extricate themselves from the cockpit within five seconds, while wearing their full race kit and helmet, and starting from a fully belted-in position, and replace the steering wheel within 10s.

There were concerns that the mobility limitations in Kubica's right arm - a legacy of the horrific rally crash that interrupted his career in 2011 - would make it hard for him to pass the extraction test.

But the FIA has confirmed that Kubica passed the test on Monday, with the procedure going smoothly.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/131066/kubica-passes-fia-cockpit-extraction-test
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As for tests, he's had two sessions in a 2012-spec Renault and two brief tests in a 2014-spec Williams (Silverstone & Hungary). The real test will be if Williams do give him one of the test days at the end of the season where he'll drive their 2017-spec car. There will be other drivers his times can be compared to and the 2017 car with its increased cornering loads will really test him.

Regardless, its actually amazing that he has come this far.

On Williams' number 2 driver for 2018, I just read an interesting article; Martini's contract with Williams stipulates that at least one of their drivers must be over 25, which immediately disqualifies Kvyat and Werhlein. However, Williams have said that they do have negotiating room over this.
 
Toro Rosso keeps Pierre Gasly, Brendon Hartley for 2018 F1 season

Toro Rosso has announced that Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly will continue to race for the team in Formula 1 in 2018.

The team has ended the year with Hartley and Gasly as its drivers after starting the season with Carlos Sainz Jr and Daniil Kvyat - with the Spaniard switching to Renault early and the Russian being dropped.

While Gasly was the latest driver to emerge from Red Bull's junior programme, World Endurance champion Hartley has enjoyed a reunion with the energy drinks firm's F1 programme after being dropped from its ladder system in 2010.

"We're really happy to have Pierre and Brendon confirmed so early by Red Bull as our drivers for 2018," said team principal Franz Tost.

"During this last part of the year they've shown that they're ready for Formula 1, getting to grips with the car quickly, showing good performances and always demonstrating to be prepared for the challenge.

"As we know, F1 is something that not all drivers can adapt to this fast.

"Therefore, we're looking forward to having a full year with them; one where we can hopefully provide them with a good package which, combined with driver consistency, can surely put them in the best possible situation to deliver."
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https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/133067/toro-rosso-keeps-gasly-and-hartley-for-2018

While Hartley doesn't fit the bill of a Red Bull junior driver (he is 28), he comes highly rated as a development driver. He was part of Mercedes' program in 2012 and 2013, just before they hit the big-time and he has been credited by Porsche in helping to develop their all-conquering 919 Hybrid. Makes perfect sense when you consider that Toro Rosso have a new (troubled) engine partner coming in.
 
thestaggy said:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/133067/toro-rosso-keeps-gasly-and-hartley-for-2018

While Hartley doesn't fit the bill of a Red Bull junior driver (he is 28), he comes highly rated as a development driver. He was part of Mercedes' program in 2012 and 2013, just before they hit the big-time and he has been credited by Porsche in helping to develop their all-conquering 919 Hybrid. Makes perfect sense when you consider that Toro Rosso have a new (troubled) engine partner coming in.
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Bummer for a talented driver though. Hopefully he has a season in the right car. He can drive.
As for Kubica - the sooner he comes back the better. He doesn't have to win much to get recognition for himself and his team. Everyone is going to be following him when he comes back. Win-win for team and sponsors. The sport needs more cowboys.
 
Sabre Wulf said:
Bummer for a talented driver though. Hopefully he has a season in the right car. He can drive.
As for Kubica - the sooner he comes back the better. He doesn't have to win much to get recognition for himself and his team. Everyone is going to be following him when he comes back. Win-win for team and sponsors. The sport needs more cowboys.
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True. The supporters of Daniil Kvyat have said the same thing. Kubica will be a feel-good story and even the millions behind Kvyat may not be able to compete with publicity he will generate.
 
thestaggy said:
True. The supporters of Daniil Kvyat have said the same thing. Kubica will be a feel-good story and even the millions behind Kvyat may not be able to compete with publicity he will generate.
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I'm a Kvyat fan... for the same reason I'm a Verstappen and Hamilton fan. They are cowboys. Exciting to watch.
 
Final F1 week /bittersweet
*I am in the UAE so the week starts today*
 
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A Must watch, final few min of the end-of-season F3 event in Macau

[video=youtube_share;qH-Ov5DFblI]https://youtu.be/qH-Ov5DFblI[/video]
 
[video=youtube_share;WuN421qNmxE]https://youtu.be/WuN421qNmxE[/video]
 
caroper said:
A Must watch, final few min of the end-of-season F3 event in Macau
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Crazy stuff.

Eerily similar to the famous 1990 Hakkinen-Schumacher duel at Macau.

[video=youtube;PDpcRigGkQM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDpcRigGkQM[/video]
 
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