F1 Most liked posts in thread: 2015 - F1

Crashton · Dec 24, 2014

:frown2:

minirab · Dec 25, 2014

That's really wrong.

Zapski · Dec 26, 2014

Steve said: ↑

Aaaaand here's another. :crazy: This one's a bit more seasonal.

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"You're sure you remember doing this with James Hunt?"

Zapski · Dec 26, 2014

Steve said: ↑

There's a caption contest already ongoing on Facebook for this pic.

If you're a Facebook user you can see how it's going here, if you like.
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"Of course I have a license. It's a SUPER-License."

daviday · Dec 31, 2014

^Cool vid. Thanks man. I was anticipating the build of a mb motor with the tone on this board re.

Steve · Jan 1, 2015

Six things to look out for in F1 in 2015 (crash.net)

Chris Medlund | 1 January 2015

At the start of a new calendar year, Crash.net brings you six things to look out for in F1 in 2015

Hamilton v Rosberg part two

At the end of the 2014 season, there was clear respect between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg following a turbulent year fighting for the drivers' championship. Rosberg's sporting gesture to congratulate Hamilton before he took to the podium was impressive, with the two also posing for photographs together in the Mercedes garage after the race.

While that may look like a pairing that can deal with its issues at the end of a season fighting each other, the underlying current of tension will remain. Hamilton felt Rosberg crossed a line in Monaco and then again in Spa, and it won't take much for those feelings to resurface. For Rosberg, he felt Hamilton was too robust early on in their battles and will look to stamp his mark on the fight earlier in 2015. Now they've got historyâ€¦

Korea (or not)

The saga surrounding the Korean Grand Prix could be a long and awkward one. Bernie Ecclestone says it was contractual reasons that forced him to reinstate the race on the 2015 calendar, with the race organisers themselves admitting it's not likely that they can find the funding to put a grand prix on.

However, the timing of the race in the calendar is an issue. Ignoring the fact that it's paired as a back-to-back with Barcelona â€“ where the European equipment makes its first appearance â€“ the Korean Grand Prix is scheduled early in the season rather than its previous October slot. The F1 paddock will already have been booking hotels and flights for the new season, yet the longer the wait for confirmation of the race's cancellation means Korea could become a costly late addition to those plans. Having had Japan and Russia back-to-back (7905km apart) last season, is a return for Korea really so ridiculous? Stranger things have happened.

Red Bull

The reasons to get excited about 2015 for Red Bull are twofold. Firstly, the team delivered a very impressive recovery last season which hints at a sustained challenge of Mercedes in the next campaign. After the horror show that was Red Bull's pre-season, that the team got anywhere near Mercedes on occasion â€“ with a Renault power unit â€“ is a display of how good the RB10 was as a chassis. Add in a full programme of winter testing and an improved engine and Red Bull could close the gap significantly.

Secondly, Daniel Ricciardo is no longer the emerging talent as Daniil Kvyat joins him from Toro Rosso. Ricciardo's performances in 2014 were stunning, but the pressure was off and he was riding high on the wave of confidence that came from dispatching four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. After Vettel's dominance, it was unthinkable that he could be so soundly beaten by his new team-mate, and Kvyat will look to turn the tables on Ricciardo this year.

Vettel v Alonso

Speaking of Vettel, there will be someone other than Kimi Raikkonen using him as their reference in the coming year. Fernando Alonso hasn't done many things wrong in F1 â€“ 2007 aside â€“ but his team selection has rarely been a good one. With better career management Alonso should have secured many more than the two world titles he currently has.

Having finally given up on the Ferrari dream, Alonso returns to McLaren saying he is willing to be patient in the team's pursuit of success with Honda. While that may be true, Alonso is likely to be watching Vettel's progress at Ferrari closely. The Spaniard was never shy of using Ricciardo's achievements in 2014 to belittle Vettel, but it will surely grate if he has walked away from a much-improved Ferrari which the quadruple world champion is able to exploit.

Lotus

Rewind 14 months and Red Bull was regularly being challenged by Lotus â€“ and Romain Grosjean in particular â€“ with financial issues failing to prevent the team at Enstone from producing a competitive car. 2014 was a nightmare thanks to a combination of car and the Renault power unit, but the twin-tusk nose has to go which is likely to mean a new aerodynamic approach and a switch to Mercedes power should automatically mean a step forward.

Grosjean may have appeared to become an excellent driver almost overnight in 2013, but he won't have become a bad one due to last year. He remains a good leader and â€“ unlike a number of other struggling teams â€“ Lotus will be able to enjoy relative stability going in to the new season as it looks to recover from a poor year. The ingredients are all there for a big step forward.

Mexico's return

While Korea's return is unlikely to remain on the 2015 calendar, the Mexican Grand Prix will take place for the first time since 1992 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Similar to Austria, which made a successful return in 2014, the circuit is the same one which hosted the last grand prix in Mexico, won by Nigel Mansell.

The Mexican presence in F1 has been steadily increasing in recent years and remains strong despite Esteban Gutierrez losing his race seat at Sauber. Gutierrez â€“ and a number of Mexican sponsors â€“ can now be found at Ferrari while Sergio Perez retained his seat at Force India, with the team set to launch its new car in Mexico City in January. Strong local interest should mean a successful return to the calendar as Bernie Ecclestone continues to look for more opportunities in the Americas.

However, the United States Grand Prix in Austin has previously seen large numbers of Mexican fans heading over the border in to Texas, so it will also remain to be seen what impact â€“ if any â€“ the race in Mexico City just a week later has on attendance figures at Circuit of the Americas.
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daviday · Jan 1, 2015

I like Gutierrez as a driver. There are some rumors floating around in re to $ via Carlos Slim too which could be a good thing.

Esteban GutiÃ©rrez estÃ¡ en plÃ¡ticas con varios equipos de la F1

El regiomontano espera seguir vinculado con la FÃ³rmula 1 en 2015 como tercer piloto, o uno de pruebas, dentro de una de las escuderÃas Ã©lite
POR: Luis RamÃrez el 25 de Noviembre de 2014
6Esteban GutiÃ©rrez terminÃ³ su relaciÃ³n con Sauber; ahora espera vincularse con otra escuderÃa de la mÃ¡xima categorÃa. Foto: AP
Esteban GutiÃ©rrez terminÃ³ su relaciÃ³n con Sauber; ahora espera vincularse con otra escuderÃa de la mÃ¡xima categorÃa. Foto: AP
CIUDAD DE MÃ‰XICO, 25 de noviembre.- La temporada de FÃ³rmula 1 terminÃ³ y para Esteban GutiÃ©rrez inicia otra carrera, la de encontrar un puesto como tercer piloto o probador. Algo tiene en claro el equipo de trabajo del regiomontano al apuntar a formar parte el prÃ³ximo aÃ±o de uno de los equipos Ã©lite de la categorÃa.

Si bien Caterham y Marussia podrÃan regresar a la parrilla en 2015, no estÃ¡n en el radar del mexicano, quien aprendiÃ³ la lecciÃ³n de que es mejor no tratar de competir en un equipo de primera lÃnea a estar con uno con bajos recursos, como le sucediÃ³ con Sauber; asÃ las opciones de GutiÃ©rrez apuntan a Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren o Williams, aunque no sea uno de sus pilotos titulares.

Por ahora el equipo de trabajo del mexicano reconoce que hay plÃ¡ticas, pero nada firmado. Durante el Gran Premio de Brasil, ademÃ¡s de las negociaciones con Lotus, mismas que no prosperaron para obtener el asiento de Romain Grosjean, una nueva casa se acercÃ³ para solicitar los servicios del regiomontano.

Con Mercedes existe una buena relaciÃ³n con Toto Wolff, director del equipo. De momento, la escuderÃa alemana tiene un piloto de desarrollo, el teutÃ³n Pascal Wehrlein, aunque con 19 aÃ±os. Mercedes podrÃa aspirar a un competidor con experiencia para ayudar en el desarrollo de 2016 y ahÃ GutiÃ©rrez podrÃa servirles.

En Ferrari se tiene un camino abierto gracias a los lazos que del empresario Carlos Slim con la tabacalera Philip Morris. Sin embargo, ahÃ ya cuenta con dos reservas con Marc GenÃ© y Pedro de la Rosa. A favor de Esteban estÃ¡ su vÃnculo de dos aÃ±os de FÃ³rmula 1 (2013 y 2014) con la casa de Maranello al ser el proveedor de motores de Sauber. Con el grave accidente de Jules Bianchi la carta de un sucesor para 2016 quedÃ³ abierta.

Williams luce como una de las opciones mÃ¡s viables. Una vez que el brasileÃ±o Felipe Nasr dejÃ³ su puesto de reserva para unirse a Sauber para 2015; los recursos financieros del mexicano podrÃan ayudar a completar el presupuesto que tanto necesita la casa de Grove para ser mÃ¡s competitivos.

Force India tambiÃ©n surge como una posibilidad. Carlos Slim Domit invertirÃ¡ en patrocinar la escuadra en 2015 por el Gran Premio de MÃ©xico. Con esto, una de las condiciones podrÃa involucrar tener a GutiÃ©rrez como provador, labor que realizÃ³ en esa misma escuadra el alemÃ¡n Nico Hulkenberg en la temporada 2011.
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Steve · Jan 2, 2015

Oh my.....

Report: FIA admits rules loophole to allow for 2015 F1 engine development (motorsporttalk.nbcsports.com)

Tony DiZinno | Jan 2, 2015, 11:18 AM EST

One of the bigger political, behind-the-scenes stories of the Formula One offseason has been the ongoing debate between the engine manufacturers over whether the 2015 power units would have to be locked into a single homologation by a certain date, or could see upgrades come in over the course of the year.

It appears that rather than 2014, where the dates were set and power unit homologations locked in, there is room for development in-season. The FIA has, in a note sent by the FIAâ€™s Charlie Whiting to teams, admitted a rules loophole that allows for this to occur.

Autosport saw a copy of a note, which basically said teams can perform in-season power unit developments as long as they stick to the 32 development token limit outlined in the rules and do not exceed the four-engine per car limit for the season. Itâ€™s not explicitly stated within the rules that no engine work can be done.

This should, in theory, come as a blow to Mercedes â€“ which has held firm on the engine freeze aspect for what could be further dominance as was delivered in the entirety of the 2014 season.

Renault and Ferrari could now have a fighting chance, and it was Ferrariâ€™s technical director, James Allison, who brought up the issue during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.

Honda, however, is being treated as a new manufacturer and thus must have its 2015 unit homologated â€“ and locked in â€“ by February 28, per Whitingâ€™s note.

Itâ€™s an intriguing technical â€“ and political â€“ element to the 2015 F1 season before it even really gets going.
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Zapski · Jan 2, 2015

I spy with my little eye... another terrible season for McLaren.

Crashton · Jan 2, 2015

Sucks to be Honda powered.....

Steve · Jan 3, 2015

Hulkenberg says cars now harder to drive (racer.com)

Saturday, 03 January 2015

Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg believes that the latest Formula 1 cars are harder to drive because they offer less margin for error than the pre-2014 machines.

New regulations for 2014 reduced downforce, particularly at the rear of the car thanks to the loss of exhaust blowing, as well as introducing a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine package that produced more power than the old 2.4-liter V8s.

"It's been a bit challenging," Hulkenberg said when asked about the difficulties of adapting his driving style. "It's harder because you can't push as hard anymore.

"With the downforce [in 2013] you could push easily and there was a safety margin when you overdid it that saved you. Now when you overdrive a bit, it's a lot easier to overdo it and lose the whole lap, although maybe that was just because our car was very peaky."

Although there was some criticism of the new power units, Hulkenberg believes that it is only the lack of noise compared to the old engines that lets them down.

"The engines are good and, driveability-wise the Mercedes engine has been awesome," said Hulkenberg. "They have lots of power; the only struggle really is to put the power on the ground with the loss of downforce.

"What I personally miss is the noise and the sound, but otherwise the engines actually have more power than we used to have."
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Steve · Jan 5, 2015

Mercedes and McLaren to change colours in 2015 (grandprix247.com)

5 January, 2015

At least two top teams will enter the 2015 Formula 1 world championship season with fundamentally different colour schemes, it has emerged.

El Mundo Deportivo reports that new reigning champions Mercedes intend to switch from silver to a striking mirror-like chrome paint-job this year.

The report said the special chrome paint for the 2015 livery is called â€˜Kromoâ€™, and will also be supplied to wheel supplier OZ for the title-defending W06 raced by world champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The same Spanish sports newspaper reports that with Mercedes stepping up its iconic silver look, Woking based McLaren is tipped for a complete livery U-turn in 2015.

McLaren turned silver in 1997, at the height of its works collaboration with Mercedes, but now the famous British team is kicking off its new era with Honda.

El Mundo Deportivo reported: â€œHonda does not want [McLaren] to continue with silver because it is a colour immediately associated with Mercedes and the â€˜Silver Arrowsâ€™.

â€œThere are rumours the car could be orange (as shown above), McLarenâ€™s traditional colour, for testing. But it could also be white, in a double-tribute: to Honda and also because McLarenâ€™s first F1 car was that colourâ€ in 1966.

â€œThe final choice could depend largely on whether McLaren has a major sponsor in 2015 or not,â€ the report added.
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goaljnky · Jan 5, 2015

Love the orange. But I could live with the white/red of the years past.

mrntd · Jan 5, 2015

How about red, white and orange

Steve · Jan 5, 2015

I really like the orange...so I expect them to go with something else.

To me the bothersome part is Merc's plan for chrome. I think that's taking the silver arrows theme a bit too far but then I'm a chromophobe so no surprise I'm against it.

Angib · Jan 5, 2015

The orange would look good on TV too. All too often graphic artists seem to design racing car liveries to look good close up under studio lighting - or maybe it's just looking good on a really big monitor. A lot of those designs look like 'random stickers and colours' on TV. Given the sponsors' real audience, TV viewers, I'm amazed they don't notice.

Steve · Jan 5, 2015

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVs7W2LvBuI"]F1 2015 Nose Rules - Craig Scarborough explains - YouTube[/ame]

daviday · Jan 5, 2015

I think the orange is pretty bad ass too. Hopefully whatever they decide on looks good on tv. Steve what car is that a picture of?

Steve · Jan 5, 2015

daviday said: ↑

I think the orange is pretty bad ass too. Hopefully whatever they decide on looks good on tv. Steve what car is that a picture of?
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2006 McLaren, pre-season with an "interim" livery: McLaren debuts 2006 MP4-21

Steve · Jan 6, 2015

I think "annoyed" must be an understatement.....

Honda annoyed about F1 engine freeze snub (grandprix247.com)

6 January, 2015

Honda is reportedly annoyed it has been left out of the relaxation of the Formula 1 engine freeze for 2015, which significantly benefits Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes but not them.

After Ferrari and Renault championed a loophole in the regulations, the governing FIAâ€™s Charlie Whiting clarified that while existing manufacturers can now modify their turbo V6s during the 2015 season, Honda cannot.

That is because the rules explicitly mark out a February 28 homologation deadline for new engine makers.

And â€œAs the existing manufacturers were obliged to homologate their power units by 28 February 2014, it would seem fair and equitable to ask a new manufacturer to homologate their power unit before February 28 2015,â€ Whiting said.

We reported last weekend that, at the most recent Strategy Group meeting, McLaren boss Ron Dennis expressed his â€œconcernâ€ that the clarification discriminates against the British teamâ€™s new works engine supplier.

And a senior source at Honda has now admitted the Japanese marque is â€œannoyedâ€.

The BBC added that McLaren-Honda has been in contact with the FIA about the matter, and will meet with the governing body next week. So far, the pressâ€™ reaction to the â€˜unfreezeâ€™ situation has been mixed.

Reporting for Brazilâ€™s Globo, correspondent Livio Oricchio said he expects Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button to â€œprobably have to watch their opponents fight for the top placesâ€ this year.

â€œHonda have to fight against competitors who not only have a year of experience with their power units, but now have the possibility to make them even better as the season progresses,â€ he added.

But as report in Autosprint noted: â€œIt is also true that Honda had a year of extra time to design its engine, taking advantage of the experience of what its opponents had to go through in 2014.

â€œThis will have impacted certain technical choices (made by Honda) such as the position of the turbine and the compressor.â€

Writing in the Spanish daily AS, Raul Romojaro said: â€œIt remains to be seen whether McLaren-Honda will lodge some sort of appeal or seek consultation on Whitingâ€™s interpretation.

â€œIn any case, their first objective must be to take advantage of their current absolute freedo of development until March,â€ he added.
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