The circuit had the old layout for the penultimate corner back then. It's a chicane now which adds a load more time.
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The Formula 1 Off-Season |OT| Haas to get better, right?
- Thread starter Ark
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The circuit had the old layout for the penultimate corner back then. It's a chicane now which adds a load more time.
That seems like curious timing. Why do it just before the start of the season? I could have understood right at the end of the previous one - getting fresh leadership into the Christmas break but right now it seems like the result can only be negative.
Well, unless it was effectively implemented last year and is only official now (gardening leave?)
frontieruk
Member
were there big rule changes in 07? or did qualifying drop to ~1:20.5 due to the track changes?
New Holland chicane
Two more fast corners were neutered in 2007: Europcar and New Holland. Again, this was because the organisers felt the corners were being taken too quickly for the amount of run-off area available.
Like the other changed parts of the circuit the original corners are still there but are no longer used for Formula 1.
According to Sky the ultrasoft tyres will only be available on "smooth street-track style tracks this year". But yeah, they had the same suggestion that it would be great if Pirelli brought them to several races this year if only to be used basically as qualifying tyres.
massivekettle
Member
Are you Adrian Newey by any chance?
They may have some of the best aero, but they are still lacking compared to Mercedes whose car doesn't really seem to have any shortcomings. For instance, RBR still has a very draggy car, so very inefficient downforce; Toro Rosso is better in that respect but they lack the overall downforce levels of the RBR.
Again, having a skinny car doesn't mean you have more downforce. For instance, in 2012, the MP4-27 had more peak downforce than the RB8 and yet was a much fatter car. The front wing is probably the most important aerodynamic piece on the car and that's where Mercedes probably have a big advantage.
Psychotext
Member
Useless, I completely missed that.
Psychotext
Member
Odd, I like them both from the on track pictures I've seen.
Really not sure how you could call the Ferrari shit looking. No accounting for taste I guess.
Really not sure how you could call the Ferrari shit looking. No accounting for taste I guess.
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
Interested in how they'll clean the matte paint between sessions. It's notoriously difficult to clean on road cars without polishing it out.
On a similar topic, I wonder if anyone has considered textured surfaces for aero benefit before? I know that dimples can improve aerodynamics - like a golf ball.
I remember reading about the manufacturer of suits for downhill skiers testing something similar based on the texture of shark skin.
brotkasten
Member
Lunch break.
Psychotext
Member
Talking of car looks, here's some of them side by side (no RB sadly):
Yeah, RBR has the best livery, as always. I'd like to see Toro Rosso in a matte white.
Lunch break.
How about we call it here and award the championship based on this list?
Science tells us that pre-season test results determine the WDC anyway.
Wax Free Vanilla
Member
Annual reshuffle according to the Honda press release, Arai doesn't go until March 1st.
Honda insider at vtec forums:
This new (F1 Legend) PU will be used in test 2 as he mentioned a few weeks ago.
Hydrargyrus
Member
Change Arai for Hasegawa only one month before the start is not a good sign, but who knows...
Finishing more races than last year would certainly be a positive start!
Lunch break.
If I'm reading this right, Wehrlein in the Manor improved last year's spanish Manor qualifying time by over 5 seconds?
Yup, you're right. I'm happy for the guys at Manor that their perseverance has finally paid off.
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
Yep, 5.3s. That's a hell of a gain!
Norwegian Rudo
Member
I seem to recall qualifying last year was fairly slow for some reason, maybe wind? Also they qualified on medium tyres.
Psychotext
Member
brotkasten
Member
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
Probably overthinking it. Although Mercedes seem to not be rising to the bait and being sensible.
Mercedes knows they have it in the bag. Last year they never used the super soft during the entire 12 days of testing.
I have a feeling that Ferrari is luring them to try a fast run on softer ryre, but they rather just cruise around the track on mediums, doing 12 or 22 lap stints...
Goldrusher
Member
darkinstinct
...lacks reading comprehension.
You don't win titles if you take no risks.
brotkasten
Member
Ron Dennis, McLaren team principal, 2015
Rosberg at 115 laps already with 2 hours and 15 minutes to go. Alonso also in triple digits
Renault done for today.
I just cannot imagine what kind of panic would they create with low fuel run on ultra softs. Autosport forum would be down for whole week.
Renault done for today.
I just cannot imagine what kind of panic would they create with low fuel run on ultra softs. Autosport forum would be down for whole week.
They're going to keep the illusion of a competition until the first race after which we'll get 2-3 months of promised upgrades from the usual suspects which won't close the gap at all. After which Hamilton and Rosberg will be comfortably ahead of the pack and everyone will start talking about next year.
JadedWriter
Member
The sport got rid of Maldonado just in time.
Icefire1424
Member
Stop that.
Some of us want to keep the dream of an actual competition alive!Edit: Actually, I just don't want to think that Mercedes is actually sandbagging. If the Silver Arrow is considerably quicker than the field, I would have thought Hamilton would have "accidentally" put in a fast lap given how many he took yesterday.
Psychotext
Member
Hard to accidentally set a lap that fast when your car is completely full of fuel.
Icefire1424
Member
Ah, touche'. If it wasn't painfully obvious at this point, I've only been able to check in on the results of testing a couple times throughout the day. Missed that they were keeping a full load of fuel.
massivekettle
Member
That's what they have done for the most part in 2014 and 2015. They never went for an all-out glory run at any time except for some qualifying simulation on the last day of the last test (on soft tyres mind you, not super softs).
They seem to be focusing on race sims/setups and tyre degradation under heavy fuel loads.
Norwegian Rudo
Member
Probably better than Red Bull's blatantly self serving "make it all about the aero" proposal.
Norwegian Rudo
Member
I think the field will be more bunched up overall, but I'm not sure if anybody will get closer to the Mercs.
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