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[Shaneus]

So Toro Rosso do this dumb challenge thing series where they have Max and Carlos face off in random wacky challenges. The latest one is actually kind of cool, they have them visualize a lap around Barcelona and the winner is the person who gets the closest time to their actual fastest time during winter testing:

https://www.facebook.com/tororosso/videos/987110861313873/?fref=nf

Sainz actually should've been more accurate, because even though he was 2.5s slower, he was accounting for his engine blowing up on the main straight.

 

[Risgroo]

Hmm, this could look pretty nice on track...

 

[DrM]

Another one bites the dust at Ferrari?

No matter how good you work at Ferrari, you will be sacked one day

 

[Mastah]

Apparently also logistics manager and chief cook were suspended, lol:

http://www.repubblica.it/sport/form..._allontanato_il_direttore_sportivo-113750297/

 

[JadedWriter]

Apparently also logistics manager and chief cook were suspended, lol:

http://www.repubblica.it/sport/form..._allontanato_il_direttore_sportivo-113750297/

I guess he over cooked the pasta too many times?

 

[nature boy]

WTF, Alonso is wearing sunglasses in the press conference?

 

[DrM]

Apparently also logistics manager and chief cook were suspended, lol:

http://www.repubblica.it/sport/form..._allontanato_il_direttore_sportivo-113750297/

First one probably booked economic tickets instead of business class ones and poor cook used too much balsamic vinegar for the first leg of the season.

WTF, Alonso is wearing sunglasses in the press conference?

He likes this song

 

[Hasney]

WTF, Alonso is wearing sunglasses in the press conference?

The future of McLaren is too bright. He needs shades.

 

[Goldrusher]

ART also in the new Mclaren colors:

https://twitter.com/svandoorne/status/596235311996411905

 

[Zeknurn]

@adamcooperF1: The Lotus E23 sidepods feature large logos for the upcoming movie 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' A pity they didn't do a deal with STR...

.

 

[Mastah]

WTF, Alonso is wearing sunglasses in the press conference?

He has stye and some inflammation:

 

[DrM]

.

Or with Lotus. Imagine Maldonado going haywire with Mad Max stickers on his car

 

[Jibbed]

#MadMaldonado

 

[Risgroo]

Haahaha, Warner's marketing team know exactly what they're doing.

Spoiler

Maybe it's even better if they don't...

 

[DrM]

Damn, I was right.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Sir Philip Green, very successful businessman, very wellknown for lavish spending on parties with stars, and charities. Got some criticism for tax avoidance.

But like half the grid lives in Monaco to avoid taxes too.

 

[JadedWriter]

#MadMaldonado

How many cars will he slam into this week?

 

[Aiii]

He has stye and some inflammation:

Why do people feel the need to tweet this?

Why?

 

[Hammer24]

But like half the grid lives in Monaco to avoid taxes too.

I wouldn´t blame him for that either. Like my tax lawyer always says: "There is not a single line in any tax code that makes it necessary for you to optimize your income in a way to pay the most taxes possible!"

 

[h3ro]

Why do people feel the need to tweet this?

Why?

because:

WTF, Alonso is wearing sunglasses in the press conference?

 

[DieH@rd]

#MadMaldonado

Absolute perfect sponsorship for Maldonado.

 

[massivekettle]

Aggressive package for Ferrari... Will they finally close the gap to Mercedes?

Craig Scarborough @ScarbsF1
Big changes at ferrari. Tweaks to Sidepods, turning vanes, floor, diffuser, rear end plates

Tobias Grüner AMuS @tgruener
@ScarbsF1 Bargeboards are also new.

Meanwhile at Mercedes...

 

[Leonsito]

No new nose from Ferrari yet?

 

[KillerMan91]

No new nose from Ferrari yet?

Read somewhere that Vettel and Kimi love the current nose so much that Ferrari doesn't want to take risks with different nose.

 

[Motoko]

Apparently also logistics manager and chief cook were suspended, lol:

http://www.repubblica.it/sport/form..._allontanato_il_direttore_sportivo-113750297/

Something happened, but Repubblica is a shit biteclicking newspaper. So take it with caution.

 

[Mastah]

Button:

"It depends on what other people do," he said. "If every other car on the grid has a good weekend then it's going to be very difficult to score points.

"If we get our weekend together and they don't, yeah, there is a good chance of scoring points.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118832

Very difficult to score points in Spain? WTF? :/

 

[Hasney]

Meanwhile at Mercedes...

 

[JadedWriter]

I wonder what that picture will look like this year? Happy Lewis, drunk as fuck Toto...Lauda being Lauda and probably a stone faced non cheering Nico.

 

[Lemonte]

‏@Sky_SandraB
Q to Kimi: what kind of updates you have here in Barcelona? A: updates to improve The car! #arealkimi #SSNHD #f1sky

 

[massivekettle]

Stop living in the past, mate.

 

[TCRS]

that sexy ferrari.. I love the new car.

 

[Mastah]

No wonder Lewis wants to squeeze as much money as possible from his new Mercedes contract, he can't even afford new jeans now

 

[ElTorro]

that sexy ferrari.. I love the new car.

In that moments, the guy must feel like he has the best job in the world.

 

[DrM]

Aggressive package for Ferrari... Will they finally close the gap to Mercedes?
.

Probably, because Mercedes is unable to develop the car anymore

there are pics of new parts on Mercedes car on twitter - mostly marginal small parts like additional winglets, different under nose splitter. But this is quite normal practice from Mercedes, they rarely parade their car around the paddock with new parts on before FP1 starts.

Plus there is another thing with so many new parts - will all work with desired effect? It is quite easy to turn your car into tyre eating monster in these days.

 

[massivekettle]

Probably, because Mercedes is unable to develop the car anymore

there are pics of new parts on Mercedes car on twitter - mostly marginal small parts like additional winglets, different under nose splitter. But this is quite normal practice from Mercedes, they rarely parade their car around the paddock with new parts on before FP1 starts.

I guess we will see tomorrow morning. I guess I understand why the team has been downplaying the Barcelona upgrades...

EDIT:
Aaaannnd Lewis confirms that there are very few upgrades (Reuters)
Mercedes now saying that Ferrari runs with more horsepower in the race than them (on AMuS, I think). On F1 Technical, one poster is saying that it is due to Ferrari's more efficient cooling and battery materials. Mercedes is hoping to get a boost in Canada.

 

[Tubie]

Now we will know if Ferrari has really changed their ways.

In recent years they started the season strong, but always fell behind others in development of the car as the season went on.

 

[nature boy]

It's becoming more and obvious that Bottas is going to Ferrari next year.

No one is really trying to deny it.

 

[cmr-94]

It's becoming more and obvious that Bottas is going to Ferrari next year.

No one is really trying to deny it.

No one is denying it because nobody knows if raikonnen will want/get a seat

 

[massivekettle]

It's becoming more and obvious that Bottas is going to Ferrari next year.

No one is really trying to deny it.

I wouldn't say that per se... what's clear is that Ferrari is definitely evaluating its options.

 

[Pimpwerx]

I'm hoping for another pole and win for Lewis this weekend. Looking forward to seeing the new Mac livery in motion too. This race is almost certain to be a procession. I expect teams to finish paired up for the most part. We're going to get a good idea of the gap between teams on this track. PEACE.

 

[Jibbed]

Raikkonen will hang on for another season, and Bottas will take his place in 2017. Lewis is getting a bit more bold with his Ferrari comments, too. I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish his career there.

Prediction for this weekend...

Qualifying:
HAM
RAI
VET
ROS
BOT

Race:
HAM
RAI
ROS
VET
BOT

Spoiler

Who am I kidding? Something will go wrong and Kimi will have to fight from the back again.

 

[DrM]

Lewis said that they went with quality over quantity with their upgrades. They still have a lot downforce from their package and Barcelona is quite demanding about that.

And tyre compounds: Hard and medium.

 

[Wax Free Vanilla]

Button has got an ERS problem already? lol

 

[Mastah]

Andrew Benson ‏@andrewbensonf1 7m7 minutes ago

#BBCF1's @TomClarksonF1 reports that @JensonButton's car is up on jacks with a hybrid system problem

Yeah, fucking hell, Honda :/

F1 Fanatic Live ‏@f1fanaticlive 3m3 minutes ago

"I have no front end in the car," reports Raikkonen. He's told to pit for a practice start.

What a surprise

 

[Aiii]

Toro Rosso seem to be on pace today, maybe all this "Renault fixed their shit" news wasn't bullshit after all.

 

[Mastah]

McLaren 2 seconds slower than Toro Rosso, Alonso spinning and running wide, Button complaining about awful balance. Great start :/

 

[Dilly]

McLaren is fucking shit, and they're going to be shit for the rest of this season and the next.

But I'm sure they're going to give it another positive spin.

 

[Hammer24]

McLaren is fucking shit, and they're going to be shit for the rest of this season and the next.

But I'm sure they're going to give it another positive spin.

Its still the beginning of their first year together. If they are still in this state at the end of next season, thens the time to throw them under the bus.
People simply need to keep their expectations in check ;-)

 

[massivekettle]

Were HAM and ROS running different setups? HAM with low DF (335kph) and ROS with high DF (319kph) in FP1.

 

[Hammer24]

Were HAM and ROS running different setups? HAM with low DF (335kph) and ROS with high DF (319kph) in FP1.

As usual. They always have to do different programs in FP1.