The Ferrari is doing much better this year and it sounds better too. The Honda sounds rough. You would think the a company with their experience with F1 engines and time to see what everyone else has done they would be doing better.
Final Jerez results. Column 1 1 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari SF15-T 1’20.841 105 2 Marcus Ericsson Sauber-Ferrari C34 1’22.019 111 1.178 3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes W06 1’22.172 116 1.331 4 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso-Renault STR10 1’22.553 97 1.712 5 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes FW37 1’23.116 73 2.275 6 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Mercedes E23 1’23.802 53 2.961 7 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull-Renault RB11 1’23.975 63 3.134 8 Jenson Button McLaren-Honda MP4-30 1’27.980 35 7.139
I've got mixed feelings about it. Jerez shows that all the cars have gained about 1 second per lap, but Marussia would be running last year's car, so in addition to being a backmarker, they'd be last years' backmarker. But I really want a full grid, and I really want the small teams to at least give it a go. It's just sad all around.
The systematic destruction of low-budget teams makes F1 an even less intriguing series. This, along with the disastrous engine change has has many high-tech race fans looking elsewhere for their racing jones. Surprisingly, it's not solely that ridiculously-quaffed numpty Ecclestone's fault. Moseley and others own the lion's share of blame for the system that makes running a smaller team nigh-on impossible. I used to make a semi-regular pilgrimage to Montreal in June to see Reubens and Schumi battle it out with Hakkinen. Looks like now my June dollars are going to IMSA at the Glen.
Is that what they're using this year? No more Kia Cee'd? (and what a stupid name for a car that is - Cee'd)
No, it's that the Liana was what they used to use for the Reasonably Priced Car, and as such they want all the F1 drivers to keep driving it for comparison's sake. Basically it's only kept around for F1.
In addition to the constraining overall structure in F1, they've also limited the development of differences among the cars. Found this today, couldn't agree more. The guy was writing about how the Le Mans prototype rules allow things like Nissan's strange new entry but it fits.
Why do I have this feeling that eventually (if Bernie has his way) F1 will become a Middle East exclusive event. After all, they have the money he wants, and since that's his primary motivation.....
As far as Manor racing the 2014 car. So far the best anyone can see is that Force India took their 2014 car and stuck on a new nose and new paint. I guess they would have to stick something in the side pods to meet that reg. So why can't Manor do the same thing?
It's Television that really makes the money for him, not the race fees. He's already losing the TV audience, if it went all ME he'd lose most of the European audience completely. However, unless the TV mics don't pick it up well, from what I can hear in the clips from the tests the engines sound much better this season - a lot more edge to them.....that should help.