Support NeoGAF

[brotkasten]

What's up with that '#ImSexyAndIKnowIt' thing that Lotus keeps using on Twitter? Starting to annoy me, unfollowed them for the off-season.

It's the hashtag for the new car. They know it's fricking ugly and that most teams would opt for the vanity panel, so they pretend to be confident about it.

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Both can still run them in testing but will have to be changed before the first GP.

Pretty sure they can still run them in a race, the FIA can only advise as to what they think is legal, it's up to the stewards to declare definitively.

I also saw a quote somewhere yesterday which clarified why the Williams design was thought to be illegal, but it wasn't because of the 'fins' above the outlet. I could have confused the wording there though.

 

[Shaneus]

Yeah thats a lotta botta

I can't believe I laughed at that :/

 

[bobnowhere]

I can't believe I laughed at that :/

I was going to call his Bottarse but I thought that might be too much.

 

[navanman]

Pretty sure they can still run them in a race, the FIA can only advise as to what they think is legal, it's up to the stewards to declare definitively.

I also saw a quote somewhere yesterday which clarified why the Williams design was thought to be illegal, but it wasn't because of the 'fins' above the outlet. I could have confused the wording there though.

Interesting, looks like FIA haven't deemed them illegal so far:

Williams and Caterham's exhaust solutions have not been ruled illegal by the FIA, ESPN understands.

Caterham ran a piece of bodywork over the Coanda exhaust exit on its CT03 at Jerez and was followed by Williams which had two pieces over the exit when it launched the FW35 at the Circuit de Catalunya yesterday. The solutions have been the centre of some interest from the teams, with Williams' Mike Coughlan saying "for me the Caterham one is clearly not allowed, but ours is OK, because if you look at ours it's actually not a single piece it's two pieces".

Williams has revealed that discussions with Charlie Whiting in Barcelona have called in to question whether the bodywork would pass scrutineering and as a result "the team are now seeking further clarification on this and a decision as to whether this design will be carried forward will be made before the first race".

ESPN

 

[brotkasten]

While the #imsexyandiknowit hastag is annoying, little stuff like this is the reason why it's still worth following Lotus on twitter.

"Lotus_F1Team We can officially deny any rumours that we're having an exceptionally long breakfast; we're changing gearbox. Running will be resumed soon "

The other teams are always so boring.

 

[Adamm]

Since Vettel loves fastest laps, do you think he purposely tries to get the fastest lap during testing? Where as other drivers stick to the programme?

Or am I just clutching at straws hoping the RB9 isnt fast

 

[Psychotext]

He hasn't done in the past.

 

[brotkasten]

Is Bottas driving the old car or are they testing a different FW with a stepped nose?

Since Vettel loves fastest laps, do you think he purposely tries to get the fastest lap during testing? Where as other drivers stick to the programme?

Or am I just clutching at straws hoping the RB9 isnt fast

He's doing quick laps on softs. Probably gathering data about tyre degradation. Hamilton is 0.6s slower on hards.

 

[Shaneus]

I was going to call his Bottarse but I thought that might be too much.

Boatarse?

PS. You spelt it "arse". <3

 

[Nicktendo86]

Here is Ted&#8217;s take on Hamilton&#8217;s day so far:

&#8220;It has been a much better day for Lewis Hamilton than when he stepped into the Mercedes for the first day of a Spanish test &#8211; that was in Jerez where he crashed it into the wall after a 160mph brake failure.

&#8220;He has set a lap time that is the second quickest of the day and will actually make the people at Red Bull sit up and take notice &#8211; particularly as it was set on what is supposed to be the slower, harder tyre. So it is an impressive lap from Hamilton, but it has to be said he is a bit of a specialist around here and has won here in the past and would have been on pole last year but for a fuel irregularity.

&#8220;So there is plenty of positivity coming out of Mercedes today.&#8221;

Ummm

Edit - added the full quote

 

[h3ro]

I don't believe anything from Red Bull. The RB9 is quick. They know it. We know it.

It'd be nice to see Hami competitive in the Merc though.

 

[kharma45]

I don't believe anything from Red Bull. The RB9 is quick. They know it. We know it.

It'd be nice to see Hami competitive in the Merc though.

The Merc looked good in practice last year too, I had such high hopes for Schumi ;_;

 

[Psychotext]

Besides that, it's Ted Kravitz. Half the posters here have more insight than him.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Besides that, it's Ted Kravitz. Half the posters here have more insight than him.

True, stil though Hamilton did his time on hard tires at the start of a 10 lap run while Vettel did his on mediums on a one lap run before going back to the pits. McLaren have been quiet, I think they are confident. This could be a really good season.

 

[Psychotext]

True, stil though Hamilton did his time on hard tires at the start of a 10 lap run while Vettel did his on mediums on a one lap run before going back to the pits. McLaren have been quiet, I think they are confident. This could be a really good season.

Ahem.

Also, I wouldn't pay much attention to the fact he did a one lap run. They're all still heavily sandbagging.

The times vs last year alone will tell you that (especially as the tyres are easier to switch on for a single lap this year).

 

[Nicktendo86]

Ahem.

Also, I wouldn't pay much attention to the fact he did a one lap run. They're all still heavily sandbagging.

The times vs last year alone will tell you that (especially as the tyres are easier to switch on for a single lap this year).

Haha sorry I was talking about Hamilton and how I think the Merc looks ok but I then started talking about McLaren, didn't make that very clear.

 

[Psychotext]

I agree that it could be a good year though. Everything I've seen points to this being one of the closest seasons ever.

 

[brotkasten]

NBC is not shy spending money on the F1 coverage.

Their interview setup

 

[f0rk]

Teams try to some extent to stop rivals getting a good look at their new cars in testing but Red Bull, the world champions, are taking that to extremes this winter as their drivers pull into the pits.
Vettel has been pulling in to an alley parallel to the garage door with mechanics on either side holding a string of three barriers on wheels to shield the car.
They then bring the barriers in even closer to the car while other mechanics jack the car up, put it on trolleys, swivel it around and back it into the garage, while the mechanics bring the screens in behind it.

lol hiding that special sauce

 

[Nicktendo86]

lol hiding that special sauce

Man I really don't like that team. I read earlier as well that they are testing new wheel guns that the mechanics are putting into bags as soon as they use them.

 

[Psychotext]

Man I really don't like that team.

How dare they try and keep their innovations secret!

 

[Phanatic8390]

Is there any site other than Autosport with good F1 and other motorsport coverage? Its getting increasingly obnoxious to continue running into their pay wall. I think its a bit expensive but does anyone subscribe and would recommend it?

I like the amount of other series information they have on top of the F1 stuff.

 

[Nicktendo86]

How dare they try and keep their innovations secret!

Keeping innovations secret is one thing but they always seem to go a bit over the top.

 

[acm2000]

Is there any site other than Autosport with good F1 and other motorsport coverage? Its getting increasingly obnoxious to continue running into their pay wall. I think its a bit expensive but does anyone subscribe and would recommend it?

I like the amount of other series information they have on top of the F1 stuff.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/
http://www.planetf1.com/
http://www.f1revs.com/
http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/

 

[brotkasten]

Lotus is doing the same, ever since they brought Kimi back.

If you look at some of the photos that are openly available online and you can bet that the teams have access to even better photos. It seems like a worthless effort.

Keeping innovations secret is one thing but they always seem to go a bit over the top.

They're the leading team. Everyone wants a piece of that car.

 

[Dead Man]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/
http://www.planetf1.com/
http://www.f1revs.com/
http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/

I know you didn't just post Planet F1? That site is hilarious, but terrible.

 

[Psychotext]

Planet F1 is fine as long as you avoid the forum, the opinion pieces and the comments.

 

[brotkasten]

If you want a pure news and repost site, I'd suggest www.gpupdate.net.

 

[Dead Man]

Planet F1 is fine as long as you avoid the forum, the opinion pieces and the comments.

LOL

 

[cmr-94]

Vettel now on a race run. Will be interesting to see how the tyres degrade

 

[Psychotext]

Vettel now on a race run. Will be interesting to see how the tyres degrade

His laptimes are all over the place. What's that all about?

 

[cmr-94]

His laptimes are all over the place. What's that all about?

Maybe traffic...but the tyres do seem to go off quick

 

[cmr-94]

Meanwhile, Hamilton seems to have lost around 4 seconds through 10 laps in this stint

 

[DrM]

Meanwhile, Hamilton seems to have lost around 4 seconds through 10 laps in this stint

Softer tires are degrading like crazy

 

[Phanatic8390]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/
http://www.planetf1.com/
http://www.f1revs.com/
http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/

I've got all those bookmarked already except Planet F1.

I'm looking for something that's not F1 exclusive. Autosport has news from other stuff like DTM, V8 supercars, and INDY. I haven't really found anything like that.

 

[Omiee]

This car is beautiful. Love the livery.

 

[Dead Man]

This car is beautiful. Love the livery.

Shocking revelation

 

[Omiee]

Shocking revelation

I really like it, my favorite colour is blue so. I think it could be perfect if we did not have those total logo's.

BTW, you dont see me quoting everybody who said the ferrari looked beautiful who are huge ferrari fans.

 

[brotkasten]

Now this is a beautiful car.

Look at those lines!

 

[h3ro]

My, that Sauber is pretty.

How dare they try and keep their innovations secret!

Yeah, I have no problem with the secrecy, every team does that.

Just feels like RB find the douchebaggiest way possible of doing so.

 

[Dead Man]

I really like it, my favorite colour is blue so. I think it could be perfect if we did not have those total logo's.

BTW, you dont see me quoting everybody who said the ferrari looked beautiful who are huge ferrari fans.

Goodness, I was just poking fun. And Ferrari has a capital F thank you very much!

Spoiler

Actually don't like Ferrari at all, just couldn't resist the bad joke.

Now this is a beautiful car.



Look at those lines!

That is a nice looking car, means it will probably be slow as hell given recent seasons LOL

 

[cmr-94]

It appears looking at the timings that Marussia and Caterham will be battling it out between the two of themselves again this year...a shame

 

[Omiee]

Now this is a beautiful car.



Look at those lines!

It trully is a beautiful car. Hope they can bring the fight to mercedes and lotus this year.

Goodness, I was just poking fun. And Ferrari has a capital F thank you very much!

Spoiler

Actually don't like Ferrari at all, just couldn't resist the bad joke.

Its all in good fun =P

 

[cmr-94]

Saying that..what a solid stint this is from Charles Pic, 10 laps in the 1.31's

 

[Psychotext]

Vettel stops on track causing a red flag. Wonder what that is about.

Is their bulletproof reliability over?

 

[Orgun]

Vettel stops on track causing a red flag. Wonder what that is about.

Is their bulletproof reliability over?

Probably just a fuel test

 

[brotkasten]

Vettel stops on track causing a red flag. Wonder what that is about.

Is their bulletproof reliability over?

I think every top team caused a red flag this year.

 

[h3ro]

Vettel stops on track causing a red flag. Wonder what that is about.

Is their bulletproof reliability over?

Probably testing Webber's car.

 

[DrM]

Good one!

30 minutes to go