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The Official Formula 1 2010/2011 Off-Season Thread

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S. L.

Member
DieH@rd said:
Formel-1-Test-Valencia-2011-f830x554-F4F4F2-C-14ea8e6c-448546.jpg


^ which team is that?
secret black ops team
williams temporary testing livery
 
FIndia bulb under the nose reminds me of the early F2005's nose.

Seems like only Ferrari and Sauber(uses Ferrari engine/gearbox) are using pushrod suspension(supposed to be mounted in a radical way) while everyone uses pullrod to open up the rear of the car.

On paper the pullrod setup makes the most sense since Double Deck Diffusers are banned but its never that simple in F1. Last time I remember something like this happening was in 2006. The previous year Mclaren showed everyone that Zero Keel was the way to go since it gave big advantage in aerodynamics. 2006 comes along and only two teams(Renault and Ferrari iirc) didn't have a zero keel car(Single keel-Ferrari, V-Keel-Renault). Zero Keel car only had one win that season(Honda).
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
More information on the upcoming Williams IPO emerged today. Shares will be launched in Frankfurt in Euros at a price range of €24 to €29. Given the number of shares for sale and the fact that they comprise 27.39% of the total, the mid-point of that values the business at €265m.

Although he is not named officially, the bulk of the shares up for grabs come from Patrick Head, who intends to retain a small stake even after the sale.


Today’s release from the financial PR company working with Williams trumpets the business as follows:

IPO positions Williams F1 for the future, providing a more sustainable ownership structure that will support its growth as an independent constructor

Offering follows three years of profits and a net cash position of £24.8m as at year-end 2010

Sponsorship is fully secured for 2011, complemented by stable commercial rights income.

Group has two businesses, Formula One and New Businesses, led by Williams Hybrid Power (WHP)

Growth to come through ability to unlock value of intellectual property and world class technology

No new capital being raised – existing shareholders selling down part of shareholding in order to allow investor participation
IPO increases ability to attract and retain key talent through share ownership

Public company status and standards viewed positively by sponsorship partners

Unique opportunity to invest in global sporting brand and leverage success of F1 business

The release goes on to say: “Williams is financially strong – the Group has been profitable for the last three years, has solid cash reserves, and its 2011 budget is already fully contracted.

“In addition to the overall growth of the sport, Williams’ long-term growth is driven by its ability to unlock the value of its brand, extensive IP and world class technology. The Group has a significant R&D business which is currently developing energy-saving applications and green technology. Already, Williams is working with companies like Porsche and Sainsbury’s to transfer its technology for everyday use.”

Meanwhile Frank Williams is quoted as saying: “This IPO marks a new era in the history of our team. Our future as an independent constructor is sustained by this listing, providing us the base from which to further grow.”

Chairman Adam Parr adds: “We have spent the past few years working to ensure a long-term future for the sport. Having accomplished this, the time is now right to assure Williams’ own future as an independent constructor, in this rapidly evolving industry.”

Even Bernie Ecclestone – who one could speculate may have reservations about details of FOM earnings emerging in the accounts of a listed company – has added his support: “I have known Frank Williams for more than 40 years. He has always run a very efficient organisation. He has never wanted to be taken over by either a car manufacturer or a large company. He has supported Formula One in many ways most of his life, as has Patrick Head. We want more Franks and Patricks. If I could buy shares in the Company I would.”
Adam Cooper
 
navanman said:
Even Bernie Ecclestone – who one could speculate may have reservations about details of FOM earnings emerging in the accounts of a listed company – has added his support:...

Apparently the Frankfurt exchange was chosen as such private details don't have to be disclosed.

http://bit.ly/hdbiek said:
Germany was chosen for the Williams IPO because the level of disclosure is lower so confidential FOTA and FOM information relating to the Concorde Agreement will not be revealed.
 

S. L.

Member
some Q&A with kobayashi
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/2/11728.html
Q: You have tested the new car. How does it feel?
KK: The feeling is okay, but of course the important thing now is do to as much mileage as possible. It was the first time that I did set-up work so it was a very interesting task for me. Last year’s car had much more downforce and that was much easier to drive, but the car itself seems okay.
some interesting tidbits plus the cars seem more difficult to drive
 

Leunam

Member
Renault say they are in no rush to pick a replacement but this tells me that Heidfeld will likely be their choice.
 

S. L.

Member
Leunam said:
Renault say they are in no rush to pick a replacement but this tells me that Heidfeld will likely be their choice.
eh they just haven't finished contractual details. why else would he be driving if they had other viable options. Senna is just some leverage for the contract i guess.
they'd be craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy to pick Senna over Heidfeild
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
S. L. said:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=50021&PO=50021

Heidfeld and Senna will test at Jarez for LotusRenault. I guess Heidfeld is pretty much in the bag then.

Yep, its a done deal. He is the best option for Renault. He has plenty of Pirelli tyre experience (he developed the tyres over the winter,end of last season) and can slot right into a team without being coached.

adamcooperf1 said:
In F1 speak 'evaluating' Heidfeld means they haven't quite worked out the details. He's done 172GPs, they know what they're getting
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
Didn't I predict this would happen 2 weeks ago?

ferrari-f150-oops.jpg


To no one’s great surprise Ford has taken legal action in Detroit against Ferrari for using the F150 name on its new car.

It seems that nobody in Maranello had noticed that one of the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturers had been using the designation for its most popular truck since 1975.

Ford is particular irate over the existence of the www.ferrariF150.com website, and has accused the Italian company of cybersquatting and trademark infringement, according to paperwork filed in US District Court in Detroit.

The court case appears to relate mainly to Ferrari’s use of and potential earnings from the F150 name in the USA, and given that there is no GP in the country, that might be hard to determine. Apparently Ford contacted Ferrari about the matter but did not get a ‘timely’ reply.

A statement from Ford tonight said: “F-150® is an established and important Ford trademark and the name of the best-seller in Ford’s F-Series, America’s best-selling trucks for 34 years and best-selling vehicles for 29 years. Through extensive sales and advertising and exclusive use, Ford has earned invaluable goodwill in the F-150® trademark. That hard-won goodwill is seriously threatened by Ferrari’s adoption of “F150.”

“When Ferrari announced the name of its race car as “F150,” Ford asked Ferrari to change the name. Ferrari did not respond in a timely manner, leaving Ford no choice but to take legal action to protect its important brand and trademark rights.”
Adam Cooper
 
S. L. said:
eh they just haven't finished contractual details. why else would he be driving if they had other viable options. Senna is just some leverage for the contract i guess.
they'd be craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy to pick Senna over Heidfeild

I'm really hoping Senna confidently outperforms Heidfeld at the test, just to complicate matters.
 

Leunam

Member
The court case appears to relate mainly to Ferrari’s use of and potential earnings from the F150 name in the USA, and given that there is no GP in the country, that might be hard to determine.

Indeed.
 
navanman said:
Didn't I predict this would happen 2 weeks ago?

http://adamcooperf1.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/ferrari-f150-oops.jpg[IMG]


[URL="http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/02/09/ford-sues-ferrari-over-use-of-f150-name/"]Adam Cooper[/URL][/QUOTE]
Stop whining. Enter the F1, create a GT40 equivalent in form of a F1 car and beat the crap out of them. Suing is for pussies.
 

Shaneus

Member
brotkasten said:
Stop whining. Enter the F1, create a GT40 equivalent in form of a F1 car and beat the crap out of them. Suing is for pussies.
I like this line of thinking! Just as long as they try to make it all-American (by choosing a US driver that can't handle F1 for shit) and find a driver that's just *good*.
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
I see all the teams in Jerez are running with a special get well soon message to Kubica on their cars this week.
 

Adamm

Member
Cars are running today with messages of support to Kubica

470x264xmcla_jere_2011-470x264.jpg.pagespeed.ic.tYpIKwSBhe.jpg


petr_rena_jere_2011-470x264.jpg


Similar messages on Ferrari, Redbull & Virgin

Nice to see great support for Kubica from all teams
 
S. L. said:
Jerez Live Timing with some sort of commentary
http://www.yallaf1.com/live/
"Hamilton goes into the pits and takes the track. "

That seems a little petulant. My track, I'm taking it with me. :D

"Massa starts a clock tower. "

Probably best to explore his job options after last year's performance.

"Vitaly Petrov resume the track after lunch with his Lotus Renault R31."

It was nice of him to take his car to lunch I thought.

"Lewis Hamilton stands out with its new MP4/26. All eyes are worn on this car."

Oh god!

Sorry! :D
 

Articate

Banned
Brilliant.

PS: I wish Mercedes would just go out on a 10L run and get first place, so I'm not so nervous about their car not being all I was hoping it would :<
 

iSimon

Member
Looks like Red Bull are running a shark fin less RB7 for this round of testing.

webbredbjere2011.jpg


God damn that back end is incredible.
 

Dead Man

Member
iSimon said:
Looks like Red Bull are running a shark fin less RB7 for this round of testing.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6315/webbredbjere2011.jpg[IMG]

God damn that back end is incredible.[/QUOTE]
Bloody hell.
 

Leonsito

Member
iSimon said:
Looks like Red Bull are running a shark fin less RB7 for this round of testing.

webbredbjere2011.jpg


God damn that back end is incredible.

Where did they put everything? amazing, and it's fast too, his 18 laps stint did a few minutes ago:

Code:
47 	1:25.115 	
48 	1:24.336 	-0.779
49 	---- 	
50 	1:23.859 	
51 	1:23.745 	-0.114
52 	1:23.546 	-0.199
53 	1:23.594 	+0.048
54 	1:23.404 	-0.19
55 	1:23.163 	-0.241
56 	1:23.035 	-0.128
57 	1:23.918 	+0.883
58 	1:23.166 	-0.752
59 	1:23.219 	+0.053
60 	1:26.603 	+3.384
61 	1:23.061 	-3.542
62 	1:23.358 	+0.297
63 	1:23.558 	+0.2
64 	1:24.132 	+0.574
65 	1:24.735 	+0.603
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
Looks like Ferrari took the threat of Ford suing them seriously and have today re-named their 2011 car to the F150th Italia..

Ferrari has reacted quickly to the threat of legal action from Ford by renaming its 2011 car as the ‘F150th Italia.’

The name emerged on the Ferrari website today in a story about progress with the car at the Jerez test, while Ferrari also republished its January 25th story – where the F150 name was first announced – exactly as before, but with the new name in place.

Yesterday Ford launched a legal action in Detroit over the use of a name that the American giant has used since 1975.
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
From the twitter posts online today it looks like McLaren are running Renault front exit exhausts but instead of exiting by the sidepod, they exit at the tea-tray.

1zxp537.jpg
 
I know nothing about the parts that make up the cars, but goddamn that Red Bull looks so sexy. If it and the Force India had sex it would make the ultimate car.
 

Leunam

Member
navanman said:
Looks like Ferrari took the threat of Ford suing them seriously and have today re-named their 2011 car to the F150th Italia..

Sounds terrible. Ferrari should have challenged their claim but they probably don't want to bother with the time and money.

All the support being shown for Kubica is awesome.
 

S. L.

Member
Articate said:
Brilliant.

PS: I wish Mercedes would just go out on a 10L run and get first place, so I'm not so nervous about their car not being all I was hoping it would :<
not really surprising that Merc still has problems.

also they now did a 14 (17lap) longer stint test run and it was slow as fuck
 

navanman

Crown Prince of Custom Firmware
Is this the McLaren exhaust:
1297346384.jpg


Bonus prize for whoever can guess where this is? I haven't a clue
 
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