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The Formula 1 2011/2012 Off-Season Thread |OT| The Year of the Red Bull

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A

ANDY_098

Member
Although the decision means that it will suffer a laptime deficit compared to its KERS-running rivals, with the energy recovery systems worth a few tenths of a second per lap, the team believes that not having to expend efforts into getting the complicated technology working will be more beneficial in the long run.

Marussia team principal John Booth said that the call on KERS came about because the outfit is so eager to ensure that it makes a big step this season.

"With the strides we are looking to make from this year, our focus has to be on aerodynamics first and foremost - as this will yield the greater gains," Booth told AUTOSPORT. "We are looking for seconds rather than tenths."

Booth also suggested that as well as the performance reasons behind the decision, there were also cost implications - because the Marussia outfit has always been mindful of keeping its budget in check.

"Our wider view of KERS is that whilst we are supportive of the concept of regenerative braking as an environmental initiative, the current technology is incredibly expensive," he said. "It would represent a significant proportion of our operating cost, which is not in keeping with our original manifesto as a low-cost F1 team in an era of resource restriction.""Our wider view of KERS is that whilst we are supportive of the concept of regenerative braking as an environmental initiative, the current technology is incredibly expensive," he said. "It would represent a significant proportion of our operating cost, which is not in keeping with our original manifesto as a low-cost F1 team in an era of resource restriction."
Click to expand...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97195

Sounds like they could afford it if they want to, but chose to not use it and focus on aero where there is far more gain to be made.
 
A

Ark

Member
Simmonds (spelling?) made a comment earlier on this month that the Virgin car last year actually had very strong potential, but they lacked the aero finesse to take advantage of that.

It may have been posted in this thread actually, but I'm sure I remember reading it on Autosport.
 
G

Gor@n

Neo Member
Anyone gonna fork out the monies for the 2012 premium timing app? Looks awesome but at 30 bucks can't say its that awesome
 
J

John_B

Member
Gor@n said:
Anyone gonna fork out the monies for the 2012 premium timing app? Looks awesome but at 30 bucks can't say its that awesome
Click to expand...
No way. Are they still releasing the free timings version? The old one just pops up with a message saying it's not supported anymore.

Formula1.com 2011
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/3/11838.html

WNJ5c.jpg
 
A

Adamm

Member
Gor@n said:
Anyone gonna fork out the monies for the 2012 premium timing app? Looks awesome but at 30 bucks can't say its that awesome
Click to expand...

£20 for an app that will last less than year? no way

Also my app last year was made by formula1.com but the 2012 one on the android market is made by soft pauer?
Are they both official?
 
A

AndyD

aka andydumi
John_B said:
No way. Are they still releasing the free timings version? The old one just pops up with a message saying it's not supported anymore.

Formula1.com 2011
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/3/11838.html

WNJ5c.jpg
Click to expand...

Well soft pauer is the maker of the 2012 one. And there seems to be no free version on the store. Personally, I would not spend $30 unless I had a tablet, all I want is the timing, and the positioning and all the other stuff is not something I would use on a phone. Before it seems it was all in app purchases to upgrade based on what you wanted to see. now its just all in one.
 
Myoclonic Jerk

Myoclonic Jerk

Member
Kimi interview

1. Kimi, what's on your mind?

- Nothing. Ask something for God's sake since you have come all the way here.

2. What do you expect from the next tests?

- Difficult to say. We'll see then what the new car is like. I don't think that it's terribly different. I don't know about the tyres. They say that they have changed a bit.

3. What kind of season would you yourself be satisfied with?

- I haven't really thought anything concrete. I see in the tests what the car is like and how good it is. That decides. How it feels, that's a thing you notice right from the first test. At least I have noticed it immediately earlier.

4. You are used to really big teams during your F1-career. Does it show in the operation of Lotus that it's slightly smaller than McLaren and Ferrari?

- No, it's just the same. We have all the same equipment here and hence we also have a chance to make a good car. The same gang who earlier won championships is still here. And physically the team is located in the same place. Maybe it's smaller in the sense that Lotus doesn't have a car factory behind them like Mercedes or Ferrari had.

5. During the last months a few motorbikers have passed away due to an accident. Does a professional driver think more about the sport's dangers and risks when hearing these kinds of news?

- Those are never nice news no matter if you know them or not or if they even are from your own genre's circle. Those just happen. Sadly it's part of many other sports too. Of course anything can happen and happens. Sad things but part of life.

6. You have already won your WDC in Ferrari. From where do you get motivation to continue?

- I have never had any problems with motivation, although everybody always colors things. I have always liked to race. Back in the time there were quite many factors why I started to rally. Now I got a reasonably good chance to drive in F1. I get to race against others again. I guess that's the biggest reason.

7. You have always been an excellent track-racer, but your attitude towards the media has been a bit questionable. On the scale from 1 to 10, how much do you hate these kinds of media-days?

- I don't hate them but they always ask the same questions. They won't change to anything else. If I could decide I wouldn't come here. It's definitely not the first thing that comes to my mind when waking up or something that I would be excited over. But I think it's the same for everyone else too. They probably would rather drive than do other things. If someone claims that they like these things, then I guess he is lying. Of course driving is always the number one thing. I don't have anything against these. Maybe they have made the matter a bit too big.

8. Has Jenni already healed from her riding accident?

- She is better now. She is still in pain but that's normal. It wasn't any serious matter.

9. You have probably without any cause been in the publicity because of alcohol. What is your relation to alcohol now?

- It's just the same as it was before. If I want to go out and have fun, I go. I don't have any problem with it. Nobody forbids me and I don't have to ask anyone for permission.

10. Do you think that you have changed during the years?

- I'm sure every person changes, but I don't think anything bigger has happened in me.

11. In public there is also the understanding that this Lotus-deal would only be a step to Red Bull in either 2013 or 2014. Is it correct?

- I don't have any plans. Lets see how this goes. In F1 everything can change reasonably fast. I hope that we can have fun with the team. At least I have had fun so far.

12. Do you have a two-year deal?

- Yeah, in principle.
Click to expand...


Whitmarsh on Kimi's comeback from F1.com

Martin Whitmarsh about Räikkönen's return
Q: Kimi Raikkonen is back in Formula One racing this year with Lotus. From your long experience of him, how do you think he’ll fare?

MW: Kimi is a great guy, with a super talent. He was very successful during his five seasons at McLaren, winning 12 Grands Prix for us and, although he narrowly failed to win a drivers’ world championship during that time, he could easily have become world champion in both 2003 and 2005 if he’d had a bit more luck or a little more reliability. Even as things were, without that extra bit of luck and reliability required to win world championships, he still won 12 Grands Prix for us and some of those wins were truly majestic. During an FIA press conference at a Grand Prix in the latter half of last year - I forget where - I was asked by a journalist whether the team principals of the teams then rumoured to be considering Kimi for a 2012 drive, a couple of whom were sitting alongside me, should hire him or not. My answer was an unequivocal yes. I stand by that answer, and I’m pleased that he’s made a Formula One comeback. He’s a very popular driver, and I think Formula One will be the better for his return. No fewer than six world champions will be competing in Formula One this season - more than ever before - and each of them, including Kimi, is not only a fantastic racing driver but also a colourful character with a robust fans’ following and a unique global allure. If the Lotus car is quick, Kimi will be quick in it; it’s as simple as that in my view.
Click to expand...
 
M

mblitek

Member
Myoclonic Jerk said:
Kimi interview




Whitmarsh on Kimi's comeback from F1.com
Click to expand...

I love Kimi's interviews. Pure gold.

Out of all the team bosses I like Whitmarsh the best. Pretty honest guy, and Domenicali is right up there as well. Actually, now that I think about it a lot of the team bosses are pretty good at being media friendly and being approachable. Horner, Fernandes/Gascoyne and I can't remember her name right now, but the woman from Sauber F1 are all good as well.

I guess I am stuck back in time with Flavio Briatore & Jean Todt. Ugh. I do wish that I had Flavio's yacht though! That thing is a beast!



So I need to ask F1 GAF a question regarding my website project. What do you think would be best:

a simple blog format where each post does not necessarily have to fall in to the same category as the other posts.

Or

a website with different categories for different motorsports, so a bit of segregation.


I think I will start off with a simple blog format at first just to get the articles up and some content fleshed out.

edit: I forgot about Ross Brawn!
 
D

Dibbz

Member
Holy shit lol someone needs to gif any of the parts under braking when she just slams her head against the front. I knew G forces were crazy in F1 but this really puts it into perspective.
 
A

ashk

Member
mblitek said:
VW might enter F1...as an engine manufacturer first!? A VW F1 engine? Strange. However, if Porsche entered F1.... :O mind blown.

http://www.pitpass.com/45519-VW-linked-with-F1-again
Click to expand...

VW has been making F3 engines for a while now and often there were rumours of them stepping up to F1, most recently with Audi being involved in the 2014 engine regulations before they more or less walked away.

But realistically I can't see VW putting resources into F1 as they currently have their hands full with developing the Polo WRC, for which they disbanded their Dakar team even with having arguably the best car there.
 
M

mblitek

Member
Gor@n said:
Would be good to see VW enter under one of the other brands it owns, Lambo or even Bugatti
Click to expand...

Bugatti F1 would be phenomenal but ...


I forgot VW made the F3 engines. I'm glad they cancelled their Dakar/Rally Raid Touraeg program. It was utter domination.

And yes I know all about the Porsche/VW scandal. It would have been somewhat hilarious to see Porsche leverage themselves enough to buy out VW. It was largely family hate that sparked it off. I have an excellent "documentary"/tv show about it. Very interesting.

I've got some really good documentaries up on my server too.

Oh, by the way Top Gear starts tomorrow! Every year I host it all.
 
N

NihonTiger90

Member
Gor@n said:
Would be good to see VW enter under one of the other brands it owns, Lambo or even Bugatti
Click to expand...

That always reminds me of how Chrysler was going to enter F1 with McLaren ... and McLaren fucked them over royally. (And in the process, subsequently shot themselves in the foot for a few years).
 
N

NihonTiger90

Member
Myoclonic Jerk said:
chrysler and McLaren? need more history lessons.. can you elaborate more please? :)
Click to expand...

Well, it was Lamborghini (Chrysler owned them at the time), but according to this site:

Unsure about the potential and speed of the Larrousse car, Chrysler approached McLaren for a test. Lamborghini and McLaren already had a link via TAG Electronics who provided engine management systems for Lamborghini during 1992-'93. The new-for-1993 engine was the smallest and lightest V12 ever and was admired by several other teams. A car was also converted to enable Chrysler to judge whether the Lambo V12 had any potential to be a winner in F1. Several Lamborghini V12 engines were supplied to the Ron Dennis-managed Marlboro McLaren team, that modified a MP4/8 to 'B' spec for the test.

The first test took place on Monday September 20, 1993 with Ayrton Senna behind the wheel of this all-white sponsorless test car at Silverstone. Frenchman François Castaing, was the Chrysler vice-president of vehicle engineering, was backing the test as Chrysler was keen to promote their new Neon range of cars for their European introduction. Of course McLaren would provide a higher profile partner than the little Larrousse team. In Honda fashion Chrysler also wanted to train their engineers in this high-tech area.

The first public test came at Estoril during October 1993. Ayrton Senna called the engine reliable and promising. He also said: "It is very good, but it needs more power and is not very sophisticated. I am sure it could be very good for next season." Fuelling rumours of racing the engine during the running season Senna also said: "It would be very interesting to race the Lamborghini in Japan." Ron Dennis quickly denied this and said that they had no plans to race to race the Chrysler-financed V12. During these McLaren tests the V12 was always called a Chrysler V12. Back at home McLaren test-driver Mika Häkkinen ran at Silverstone 1.4s faster than with the Ford-powered car. Buoyed by the result Chrysler promised an all-new V12 engine to McLaren for 1994.

Meanwhile, Peugeot also wanted to enter Formula 1 with a V10 derived from their Group C engine. In mid-October Gérard Larrousse was rumoured to be close to a deal when McLaren shocked everyone with the announcement that they had signed a deal with Peugeot for 1994. Chrysler PR director Tom Kowaleski commented: "We are disappointed to say the least. We have worked very hard in the last few months, including a very intense period recently putting together a team to interface with McLaren and TAG Electronics. The car was very quick and Ayrton Senna said some encouraging things about it. There was a strong agreement to proceed together for the future. The decision may say something about F1. It's no secret that the marque must look at its costs, and we wanted to introduce our lean and efficient approach to it."

Instead Larrousse got the Lamborghini V12 engine for 1994 and Lamborghini Engineering MD Daniele Audetto said they would receive full support. He also said that it would not be on the same level as it would have been had McLaren signed.

It never happened. In November 1993, having been so bitterly disappointed by McLaren, Chrysler sold Lamborghini to an Indonesian investor group led by Tommy, the playboy son of then president Suharto, and together with Chrysler the Lamborghini name disappeared from Formula 1. It put an end to a brief parenthesis in McLaren history.

The result would not be happy for any of the people and teams involved. Although armed with fresh support from French brewery Kronenbourg and their alcohol-free brand Tourtel, Larrousse had to take a customer Ford HB deal to replace the promised Lamborghini units. The team struggled throughout the 1994 season, resorting to pay drivers to keep their effort afloat, but still Larrousse called it a day at season's end.

At McLaren, the Peugeot deal was not enough to keep Ayrton Senna happy. With Häkkinen and Brundle, McLaren endured one of their worst seasons since Ron Dennis took over before ditching Peugeot in favour of Mercedes-Benz. Senna, meanwhile, signed for Frank Williams in the hope to revive the promise that he had made back in 1983. He was never allowed to.
Click to expand...

as-est93-test.jpg

Senna testing the Lamborghini-powered McLaren at Estoril in 1993
 
B

Burai

shitonmychest57
Word is that Mercedes were looking to tie up with McLaren back in 1993 during their debut season with Sauber and that a deal was agreed in principle before the '94 season even started. I'd imagine that Ron compared both offers on the table, saw that the Mercedes deal was better for the team and took the Pugs as a stopgap.

The fact is that McLaren were never going to keep Senna regardless of what engine they used. He wanted out from the end of 1992.
 
M

mblitek

Member
I finally found that documentary/TV show about how Porsche almost bought and took over VW. It's a really interesting program and I highly recommend all you guys/gals to watch it over this winter break!

It is called:

Money Programme - Fast Bucks, How Porsche Made Billions
Click to expand...

In the meantime I am just starting to upload Top Gear. I'm uploading the high-definition version first
 
Myoclonic Jerk

Myoclonic Jerk

Member
mblitek said:
I finally found that documentary/TV show about how Porsche almost bought and took over VW. It's a really interesting program and I highly recommend all you guys/gals to watch it over this winter break!

It is called:



In the meantime I am just starting to upload Top Gear. I'm uploading the high-definition version first
Click to expand...



Thanks.. are you going to upload it?
 
E

Edmond Dantès

Dantès the White
Must have been because of the Top Gear thread rather than here, as he's mentioned his site numerous times in F1 GAF. I hope it's not a perma.
 
X

Xun

Member
Edmond Dantès;34683334 said:
Must have been because of the Top Gear thread rather than here, as he's mentioned his site numerous times in F1 GAF. I hope it's not a perma.
Click to expand...
If I recall correctly that would get rid of the avatar.
 
S

Shaneus

Member
AcridMeat said:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (at the ban)
Click to expand...
True.

Edmond Dantès;34683334 said:
Must have been because of the Top Gear thread rather than here, as he's mentioned his site numerous times in F1 GAF. I hope it's not a perma.
Click to expand...
Likewise. Top Gear may be tipping the scales of what can be openly discussed or not, but the dude is providing motor heads with a valuable service.

No way of telling what it was, though... not without searching. Still, hope it's lenient. Gotta wonder why mods don't edit posts with warnings first rather than bans, it sucks :( At least we can communicate by uploading text documents with messages to his site!
 
D

Dilly

Banned
Myoclonic Jerk said:
Let's occupy GAF until he gets unbanned :p ..


Rumor: Ferrari assisting Kubica's comeback

The more I read about him, the more convinced I get that he won't comeback to F1 :(
Click to expand...

This is like the most positive article about him in a year. :lol

About that double seater video, I can't image how much force a person has to endure there. I was in the passenger seat for about 3 laps around Zolder in an BMW with about 200hp and slicks and it felt like I was being tossed around the car already.

My abs, they felt painful.
 
F

Foliorum Viridum

Banned
It's not surprising mblitek was banned for advertising he was uploading Top Gear for anyone to download. Not sure why he bothered, to be honest. Compared to rare motorsport stuff, Top Gear can be downloaded from pretty much every torrent site on the internet, including the biggest TG fansite.

And those noses still do look terribly ugly.
 
A

AndyD

aka andydumi
They do look odd. Is it more aerodynamically efficient to have the sudden drop at that spot vs. a gradual curved descent like the old days? Is it in effect a micro "wing" directly above the front wheels?
 
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