Besides making the cars easier to identify by driver and helping teams with sponsorship, it will visually make the field seem larger to the spectators and the race probably more interesting. I'm sure there's a scientific/psychological term for the effects of viewing pairs vs individual objects but I don't know what it is.
I don't think putting numbers on the cars is enough, and I don't think I should have to remember drivers' helmet designs and try to spot that to figure out whether I'm watching Rosberg or Hamilton, Vettel or Raikkonen, etc. Exactly!
The drivers are so far down in the bodywork and can't really see the design anyway. I thought is was a good thing that a driver could have a helmet one-off for a race and then auction it off for charity afterwards. Not only the drivers names on the side but maybe some little icons showing race wins or cars passed.
This will be my first and last 'political' post of the 2016 U.S. election season. (though I shouldn't need to say it...this is just for fun, let's keep any actual political comments out of this thread)
Looks like Magussen is signing for Haas 2017-18, presumably replacing Gutierrez. Also, I think I saw Palmer is going to sign with Renault and Ocon is moving to Force India. Silly season appears to be nearing its end.
Yeah, Haas was Gutierrez's his second chance already and, if I remember correctly, it was part of Haas' deal with Ferrari (he was their reserve driver for 2015 after he lost his drive with Sauber). I'll be surprised if his options in post-2016 F1 extend beyond Manor. Speaking of, Manor haven't signed anyone so the seats aren't all filled yet. Grosjean is likely to stay with Haas but they haven't signed a contract yet. Not sure about the rest.
I recorded some of the races in '04 and forgot about them until I found the DVDs again today. I'm watching the '04 USGP and I'd forgotten that was the race Ralf Schumacher had his big crash. Full speed up on the big speedway turn and missed the SAFER barrier when he hit the wall. Ouch!
Esteban Ocon has joined Force India on a three year deal, although he is likely to have an option to leave the team if a drive becomes available with the Mercedes AMG Petronas factory team.
I wonder whether the fact that Jan Magnussen is a well known driver in the U.S. (recently driving Corvettes) factored at all in Haas' decision to sign his son Kevin. He isn't American, obviously, but Jan is almost a fixture in IMSA (and ALMS going back to 1999) and the team have said that though they would like to have at least one American driver there aren't any worth hiring right now (especially true given their insistence on drivers with current F1 experience). With Kevin Magnussen they get a skillful driver with current F1 exp but maybe the fact he has a name already well known in America might have had an effect? Just thinking out loud, so to speak.
F1 driver Sergio Perez dumps sponsor over tweet following Donald Trump win. Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/f1-driver-sergio-perez-dumps-sponsor-over-tweet-following-donald-trump-win#ixzz4PiKn5cND