Formula One: 2015 Season News and Discussion Thread
04-17-2015, 08:08 AM
#161
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Bahrain FP1:
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT TIME
1. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari 1:37.827
2. Sebastian Vettel Germany Ferrari 1:38.029
3. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes 1:38.390
4. Carlos Sainz Jr. Spain Toro Rosso-Renault 1:38.447
5. Daniel Ricciardo Autralian Red Bull-Renault 1:38.455
6. Max Verstappen Netherlands Toro Rosso-Renault 1:38.504
7. Fernando Alonso Spain McLaren-Honda 1:38.598
8. Felipe Nasr Brazil Sauber-Ferrari 1:38.628
9. Daniil Kvyat Russia Red Bull-Renault 1:38.661
10. Felipe Massa Brazil Williams-Mercedes 1:38.790
11. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1:38.793
12. Pastor Maldonado Venezuela Lotus-Mercedes 1:38.842
13. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Force India-Mercedes 1:39.187
14. Jolyon Palmer Britain Lotus-Mercedes 1:39.283
15. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes GP 1:39.293
16. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes GP 1:39.532
17. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.534
18. Will Stevens Britain Marussia-Ferrari 1:42.973
19. Roberto Merhi Spain Marussia-Ferrari 1:44.265
20. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Honda No Time
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT TIME
1. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari 1:37.827
2. Sebastian Vettel Germany Ferrari 1:38.029
3. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes 1:38.390
4. Carlos Sainz Jr. Spain Toro Rosso-Renault 1:38.447
5. Daniel Ricciardo Autralian Red Bull-Renault 1:38.455
6. Max Verstappen Netherlands Toro Rosso-Renault 1:38.504
7. Fernando Alonso Spain McLaren-Honda 1:38.598
8. Felipe Nasr Brazil Sauber-Ferrari 1:38.628
9. Daniil Kvyat Russia Red Bull-Renault 1:38.661
10. Felipe Massa Brazil Williams-Mercedes 1:38.790
11. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1:38.793
12. Pastor Maldonado Venezuela Lotus-Mercedes 1:38.842
13. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Force India-Mercedes 1:39.187
14. Jolyon Palmer Britain Lotus-Mercedes 1:39.283
15. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes GP 1:39.293
16. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes GP 1:39.532
17. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.534
18. Will Stevens Britain Marussia-Ferrari 1:42.973
19. Roberto Merhi Spain Marussia-Ferrari 1:44.265
20. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Honda No Time
04-18-2015, 08:10 AM
#163
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FP3: Button's 11th and Alonso is 16th.
04-18-2015, 09:38 AM
#164
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04-18-2015, 03:33 PM
#165
2G TLX-S
Just hope that the McLaren-Honda cars will stay reliable throughout the race distance.
04-18-2015, 04:53 PM
#166
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x2
04-18-2015, 06:25 PM
#168
Azine Jabroni
04-22-2015, 10:30 AM
#169
Here's an interesting article about the Honda Powerplant, they've taken a very different approach with the turbo. The compressor side is basically a mini jet turbine in the V of the motor, with the exhaust side being more traditional.
F1 Racing News | Racer.com - TECH INSIGHT: Honda's radical Formula 1 engine
F1 Racing News | Racer.com - TECH INSIGHT: Honda's radical Formula 1 engine
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Legend2TL (04-23-2015)
04-22-2015, 10:44 AM
#170
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Read that. It's very interesting. Let's see if Honda can make it work. McLaren can't complain too much, since it looks like they pushed Honda down that route.
04-22-2015, 10:47 AM
#171
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All in the pursuit of "Plus Zero" for aero.
04-23-2015, 10:05 AM
#172
04-24-2015, 08:25 AM
#173
Senior Moderator
If its true and they are indeed still down 100-150 hp tuning for reliability and testing they will be a force to reckon with once everything is sorted out. I too agree that a good chunk of the blame is on McLaren and their zero aero expectations. We will have to see how this season plays out but i bet by the end of it they will be right up there with the rest
04-25-2015, 02:11 AM
#174
2G TLX-S
It is ok if at this early stage, this brand new Honda powerplant is down 100-150hp, as long as it is reliable and durable.
But unfortunately, it is neither powerful nor reliable.
But unfortunately, it is neither powerful nor reliable.
04-25-2015, 06:12 AM
#175
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Marko is accusing MBZ of helping Ferrari to "catch up." 
04-25-2015, 06:18 PM
#176
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04-26-2015, 10:27 AM
#177
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04-26-2015, 09:56 PM
#178
Well i would blame a lot of that on the fact that there is little to no off season or during season testing, I think the other bit of that is that they are trying to package it into something very very tight (McLarens fault). I think they will get there and will be a threat. Its also from the sound of it a design that is/has the capability to produce more power and different from the rest so there is a learning curve, Much like Ferrari with its pull rod suspension while everyone else stuck with the pushrod style. It took some time to get right but it seems to be working well now
Is the MP4-30 still using pull-rod? Or did they revert back? I remember it didn't make a difference with the winless MP4-28.
04-27-2015, 07:15 AM
#179
AZ Community Team
Thread Starter
Here's an interesting article about the Honda Powerplant, they've taken a very different approach with the turbo. The compressor side is basically a mini jet turbine in the V of the motor, with the exhaust side being more traditional.
F1 Racing News | Racer.com - TECH INSIGHT: Honda's radical Formula 1 engine
F1 Racing News | Racer.com - TECH INSIGHT: Honda's radical Formula 1 engine
very innovative, curious how it works out for Honda/McLaren.
04-27-2015, 08:22 AM
#180
Senior Moderator
Agreed on that point. If this was back a few years ago with unlimited off-season testing, I think the results would be very different right now. They have to basically test a completely new engine during the season now. However, it makes you wonder what Honda has been doing all of last year when they spent the entire year getting ready.
04-27-2015, 08:40 AM
#181
Senior Moderator
Williams has revealed it recorded a more than $50 million loss in 2014.
The Grove team, listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, enjoyed a surge in performance last year following a long slump, but took a financial hit due to "lower revenue and higher costs".
In a statement, Williams explained that it had embarked on a "turnaround strategy" in 2013 "following a number of years of deteriorating performance".
"Consequently, and as anticipated, 2014 was a year of transition," the team admitted, due in part to lower income and sponsorship as a result of finishing a woeful ninth in the 2013 world championship.
Higher costs, Williams added, were due to "the introduction of the new hybrid power unit into formula one".
But the team said that due to its strong results on the track last year, "that success will be reflected in increased commercial rights and sponsorship income this year".
"Therefore, the financial results for 2015 will be materially more favourable than 2014," it added.
Chief executive Mike O'Driscoll said: "In 2014 we made very good progress, investing significantly in people, facilities and technology which we believe will provide a solid foundation for the future."
The Grove team, listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, enjoyed a surge in performance last year following a long slump, but took a financial hit due to "lower revenue and higher costs".
In a statement, Williams explained that it had embarked on a "turnaround strategy" in 2013 "following a number of years of deteriorating performance".
"Consequently, and as anticipated, 2014 was a year of transition," the team admitted, due in part to lower income and sponsorship as a result of finishing a woeful ninth in the 2013 world championship.
Higher costs, Williams added, were due to "the introduction of the new hybrid power unit into formula one".
But the team said that due to its strong results on the track last year, "that success will be reflected in increased commercial rights and sponsorship income this year".
"Therefore, the financial results for 2015 will be materially more favourable than 2014," it added.
Chief executive Mike O'Driscoll said: "In 2014 we made very good progress, investing significantly in people, facilities and technology which we believe will provide a solid foundation for the future."
04-27-2015, 07:34 PM
#182
Agreed on that point. If this was back a few years ago with unlimited off-season testing, I think the results would be very different right now. They have to basically test a completely new engine during the season now. However, it makes you wonder what Honda has been doing all of last year when they spent the entire year getting ready.
I don't understand why McLaren/Honda didn't drop a power unit into a P1 test mule and thrashed it around their test tracks, to at least hammer out the reliability gremlins. I vaguely remember there was a spy video of Ferrari testing their engine in a LaFerrari before the 2014 season.
04-27-2015, 09:41 PM
#183
I don't understand why McLaren/Honda didn't drop a power unit into a P1 test mule and thrashed it around their test tracks, to at least hammer out the reliability gremlins. I vaguely remember there was a spy video of Ferrari testing their engine in a LaFerrari before the 2014 season.
I do agree that they may have missed an opportunity to cram the PU into a P1 under the guise of developing a new car for the road, but perhaps development wasn't far enough along to do so.
04-28-2015, 05:39 AM
#184
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Another interesting article on the Honda power plant
Tech Analysis: Further Honda power unit details uncovered | Richland F1
Tech Analysis: Further Honda power unit details uncovered | Richland F1
04-28-2015, 05:44 AM
#185
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I saw something that said a large part of Williams' losses for last year were due to having previously counting on Venezuelan oil cash sponsorship for Maldonado which of course left when Crash left too. The team is expecting to show a profit next year though (based on this year's earnings) which must be reported because its stock trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
04-28-2015, 07:34 AM
#186
AZ Community Team
Thread Starter
Technical Secrets Of The McLaren Honda MP4-30 Formula One Car
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fsttyms1 (05-06-2015)
04-28-2015, 01:27 PM
#187
2G TLX-S
Why are they giving their technical secrets away, when most other teams are closely guarding them and/or covering them up ?
Probably these don't work well at all.
Probably these don't work well at all.
04-28-2015, 03:58 PM
#188
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I saw something that said a large part of Williams' losses for last year were due to having previously counting on Venezuelan oil cash sponsorship for Maldonado which of course left when Crash left too. The team is expecting to show a profit next year though (based on this year's earnings) which must be reported because its stock trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Here's hoping that Williams and McLaren both get some sponsorship. It's crazy that both of these teams can't find a title sponsor.
04-28-2015, 04:07 PM
#189
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I have no idea how McLaren and Williams both are making it without major sponsorship.
04-28-2015, 09:03 PM
#190
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04-29-2015, 12:13 PM
#191
AZ Community Team
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05-03-2015, 06:22 AM
#193
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Win a race, buy yourself a present
"In March this year, Hamilton celebrated winning the opening race of the season in Australia by treating himself to... a Ferrari.
According to CNN, he splashed out $1.5m on a "LaFerrari" - a limited edition hybrid supercar capable of going from 0-127mph in just seven seconds.
"For us there is no problem," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is reported to have told Italy's Corriere Della Sera about Hamilton's purchase,
There might be no problem at the moment, but they'll probably prefer that he doesn't get too comfortable in a red car." BBC Sport
05-03-2015, 07:04 AM
#194
AZ Community Team
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Ferrari: How they became 2015 F1 title contenders
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Chief F1 Fan (05-03-2015)
05-03-2015, 07:07 AM
#195
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INTERVIEW-Motor racing-F1 must cut costs to bring back the buzz - Brown
05-03-2015, 06:28 PM
#196
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Fernando Alonso signed three-year McLaren deal, reveals Ron Dennis
Fernando Alonso signed three-year McLaren deal, reveals Ron Dennis | Formula 1 News | Sky Sports
Fernando Alonso signed three-year McLaren deal, reveals Ron Dennis | Formula 1 News | Sky Sports
05-05-2015, 10:53 AM
#197
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Lewis Hamilton's helmet designer/painter
Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets - CNN.com
Pretty cool pics of the guy who paints Lewis's custom helmets.
Pretty cool pics of the guy who paints Lewis's custom helmets.
05-05-2015, 11:29 AM
#198
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seems pretty low key for such a nice looking helmet.
05-05-2015, 01:32 PM
#199
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05-05-2015, 06:03 PM
#200
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I don't like Hamilton's helmet, the yellow helmet was good by me. I'm just saying the helmet painter's studio seems pretty primitive.