Formula One: 2019 Season News and Discussion Thread
09-19-2019, 06:00 AM
#921
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Can't believe it . . . .
Well, the Hulk's choices for a team next year just decreased by one with Haas retaining its two drivers. 
I had REALLY hoped we had seen the last of Grosjean. I haven't liked this guy's race craft since the day he started.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Ls2Z2Z6qP.html
I had REALLY hoped we had seen the last of Grosjean. I haven't liked this guy's race craft since the day he started.https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Ls2Z2Z6qP.html
09-19-2019, 08:08 AM
#922
AZ Community Team
^ gotta wonder if Amazon Prime will be the 2020 sponsor for Haas 
That said RJ was 8th in 2012 and 7th in 2013 his first two full seasons in F1, I thought he had potential but it's obviously faded away.
Surprised BOTH Haas drivers were resigned, they shoulda looked at newer and younger talent IMO.
That said RJ was 8th in 2012 and 7th in 2013 his first two full seasons in F1, I thought he had potential but it's obviously faded away.
Surprised BOTH Haas drivers were resigned, they shoulda looked at newer and younger talent IMO.
09-19-2019, 08:12 AM
#923
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Thread Starter
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...xOkZ4BDcQ.html
Kubica and Williams to part company at the end of 2019
09-19-2019, 08:13 AM
#924
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Thread Starter
Hulk back to Williams?
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09-19-2019, 09:54 AM
#926
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Thread Starter
Steiner in 12 months:
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09-19-2019, 10:02 AM
#927
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09-19-2019, 02:32 PM
#929
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I am happy that Kubica got a year in F1. Honestly, wasn't sure it would ever even happen.
I have always been a Grosjean fan but I really wanted Hulk to take his seat as he has been terrible the last 2 years.
I have always been a Grosjean fan but I really wanted Hulk to take his seat as he has been terrible the last 2 years.
09-19-2019, 05:47 PM
#930
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In all fairness, the latest Haas is a pile of shit. To be able to qualify well and then go backwards in races due to pace alone is unbelievable. Spa being the epitome of their miseries. I seriously was hoping RoGro was history, overrated and underperforming.
09-19-2019, 08:23 PM
#931
AZ Community Team
Will Buxton analysis on Haas resigning RJ
There is some logic with Buxton's analysis, James Allison (MB Technical Director) worked with RJ at Lotus in 2012-13 and said he was a really good development driver and was able to keep pace with Kimi while there very early in RJ's career.
RJ's work with the current Haas chassis kinda shows that.
RJ's work with the current Haas chassis kinda shows that.
Last edited by Legend2TL; 09-19-2019 at 08:26 PM.
09-20-2019, 08:09 AM
#932
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Thread Starter
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...re-gp/4543679/
Ferrari's attempts to achieve the former have resulted in the addition of a cape section underneath the nose, which a number of teams have already implemented this season
This comes at the expense of the elongated mounting pylons, which featured a number of slots to control the air flowing underneath the nose.
Adding the cape offers a little more scope to produce front-end downforce, which cannot be achieved with the neutral front wing section mandated by the regulations.
This extends to the inside of the front wing, between the crash structure and the mounting pylon. Creating Racing Point-style 'nostrils', this further expands on the downforce produced.
The leading edge is angled upwards to build a stronger area of low pressure underneath.
To increase the maximum downforce available, the T-wing returns to the rear of the engine cover, as does the full-chord rear wing.
Elsewhere on the grid, Alfa Romeo has made a number of changes to the rear of its car to boost the level of downforce produced.
For Singapore, the team has brought a new T-wing with a bottom double element to eke out a few extra measures of downforce.
The rear wing endplates have also been changed for a design which resembles Mercedes's concept, adding small vortex generators to the rear section.
These fins will help to change the structure of the airflow shed from the rear wing, assisting with the overall downforce output by limiting the vorticity of the top corners which can upset the pressure distribution over the wing.
Alfa Romeo has also made changes to its own nose 'cape', adding a pair of slots to channel airflow under the nose with further control.
Ferrari has unveiled a new nosecone design for the Singapore Grand Prix, as the team chases low-speed performance in its endeavours to continue its streak of Formula 1 victories.
Having won the last two rounds at Spa and Monza, which are both typically high-speed circuits, the low-speed frailties of the SF90 were less exposed
At maximum downforce, Singapore is expected to be a weaker circuit for the Ferrari team, as the plethora of tight, 90-degree corners mean that a lot more aerodynamic balance is needed to achieve a precise turn-in and a speedy exit.
At maximum downforce, Singapore is expected to be a weaker circuit for the Ferrari team, as the plethora of tight, 90-degree corners mean that a lot more aerodynamic balance is needed to achieve a precise turn-in and a speedy exit.
Ferrari's attempts to achieve the former have resulted in the addition of a cape section underneath the nose, which a number of teams have already implemented this season
This comes at the expense of the elongated mounting pylons, which featured a number of slots to control the air flowing underneath the nose.
Adding the cape offers a little more scope to produce front-end downforce, which cannot be achieved with the neutral front wing section mandated by the regulations.
This extends to the inside of the front wing, between the crash structure and the mounting pylon. Creating Racing Point-style 'nostrils', this further expands on the downforce produced.
The leading edge is angled upwards to build a stronger area of low pressure underneath.
To increase the maximum downforce available, the T-wing returns to the rear of the engine cover, as does the full-chord rear wing.
Elsewhere on the grid, Alfa Romeo has made a number of changes to the rear of its car to boost the level of downforce produced.
For Singapore, the team has brought a new T-wing with a bottom double element to eke out a few extra measures of downforce.
The rear wing endplates have also been changed for a design which resembles Mercedes's concept, adding small vortex generators to the rear section.
These fins will help to change the structure of the airflow shed from the rear wing, assisting with the overall downforce output by limiting the vorticity of the top corners which can upset the pressure distribution over the wing.
Alfa Romeo has also made changes to its own nose 'cape', adding a pair of slots to channel airflow under the nose with further control.
09-20-2019, 08:10 AM
#933
Moderator
Thread Starter
Silly season speculation, or Rich trying to stay in the spotlight, or truth?
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/45971...investors.html
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/45971...investors.html
Oh, we thought we'd seen the back of this... Not a chance, Rich Energy may have just revealed that Haas F1 are in negotiations to be sold to Saudi investors in another cryptic tweet from the energy drink's account
Haas parted ways with Rich Energy earlier this month following months of controversy, which included the CEO of Rich Energy being ousted by the company and then reinstated. They parted ways after Rich Energy cited a "corporate restructuring process at Rich Energy will see the need for a revised global strategy".
The latest turn has seen Rich Energy potential reveal the future of the Haas team. A tweet on the official Rich Energy account read: "We wish HaasF1Team the best of luck in negotiations selling the team to Saudi investors. An excellent team and great investment" followed by several hashtags.
Earlier today Haas announced they would stick with the same lineup in 2020.
Haas parted ways with Rich Energy earlier this month following months of controversy, which included the CEO of Rich Energy being ousted by the company and then reinstated. They parted ways after Rich Energy cited a "corporate restructuring process at Rich Energy will see the need for a revised global strategy".
The latest turn has seen Rich Energy potential reveal the future of the Haas team. A tweet on the official Rich Energy account read: "We wish HaasF1Team the best of luck in negotiations selling the team to Saudi investors. An excellent team and great investment" followed by several hashtags.
Earlier today Haas announced they would stick with the same lineup in 2020.
09-20-2019, 11:24 AM
#934
Senior Moderator
For once, I believe Rich Energy.
09-20-2019, 09:38 PM
#936
Senior Moderator
Haas F1 Team On Why It Didn’t Hire Nico Hülkenberg: We Need To Fix Our Car First
Haas F1 Team On Why It Didn’t Hire Nico Hülkenberg: We Need To Fix Our Car First
Renault Formula One driver Nico Hülkenberg is currently out of a ride next year, since with only 20 cars, F1 silly season is basically a prolonged game of musical chairs. Rest assured, though, Haas F1 was considering him—only to realize they needed to fix their race car before screwing around with anything else.
Given the rest of the drama over there lately, that’s probably for the best.
Haas announced on Thursday that it would keep its current lineup of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen through 2020, despite the team’s struggles this year. The main reason Haas did so, team principal Guenther Steiner said, was because the team’s race car isn’t great. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn’t, and nobody really knows how to fix it.
Thus, when it came time to decide whether to replace Grosjean for next season, Haas decided, “Eh, we’re probably better off with the dude who’s been dealing with this all year than putting some new person in the car.”
Steiner said via quotes on the F1 website that he believes Hülkenberg should stay in F1, it just won’t be with Haas. From the story:
Steiner and team owner Gene Haas talked about Grosjean’s seat over the past few weeks, and, according to the F1 website, it was between Hülkenberg and Grosjean—Grosjean’s major plus being that he gives good car feedback, and biggest downfall being his spotty performance over the past couple of years.
Hülkenberg ultimately didn’t get an offer from Haas, with Steiner saying that if the team can’t get the race car to where it can regularly score points, since only the top 10 of 20 finishers each race do, the team won’t lose any based on driver choice. Through 14 of 21 races this season, Magnussen sits 16th of 20 drivers in the standings with 18 points, and Grosjean sits 17th with eight points.
Here’s more on what Steiner said, via the website:
Grosjean, in the end, was potentially saved by the car that’s caused him and the rest of his race team a plethora of problems throughout the season. It’s almost poetic, when you think about it.
Given the rest of the drama over there lately, that’s probably for the best.
Haas announced on Thursday that it would keep its current lineup of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen through 2020, despite the team’s struggles this year. The main reason Haas did so, team principal Guenther Steiner said, was because the team’s race car isn’t great. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn’t, and nobody really knows how to fix it.
Steiner said via quotes on the F1 website that he believes Hülkenberg should stay in F1, it just won’t be with Haas. From the story:
“This year [it’s] not performing as we want it to perform,” says Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner. “It is the car – it has nothing to do with the drivers. If we now changed a driver, I don’t know if it would help us to make the car better. It could. But it also could not because the new guy wouldn’t know where we start off.
“Romain was a big part of getting the understanding of where we are going wrong with the car at the moment. He was a big help. We didn’t want to have any more unknowns. The collaboration and how we work – we know what we have got and we can work with that. That’s why we took the decision to stay with Romain for another year.”
“Romain was a big part of getting the understanding of where we are going wrong with the car at the moment. He was a big help. We didn’t want to have any more unknowns. The collaboration and how we work – we know what we have got and we can work with that. That’s why we took the decision to stay with Romain for another year.”
Hülkenberg ultimately didn’t get an offer from Haas, with Steiner saying that if the team can’t get the race car to where it can regularly score points, since only the top 10 of 20 finishers each race do, the team won’t lose any based on driver choice. Through 14 of 21 races this season, Magnussen sits 16th of 20 drivers in the standings with 18 points, and Grosjean sits 17th with eight points.
Here’s more on what Steiner said, via the website:
“These are the discussions we have been having - all of a sudden the car is good again but can we get the car good without him? Maybe not. Then we go back evaluating what we did to have a good car last year and he was part of that one. Yes, we lost points last year because of him but we need to work on that. At least we know to get the car performance back to where it should be, it can be done.
“Our focus was only how can we get back where we were last year. We know what we did last year to be where we were, so we need to get that one going again and I think we know where we went wrong this year.”
Of the final call, Steiner said, “Only time will tell if it was the right decision.”“Our focus was only how can we get back where we were last year. We know what we did last year to be where we were, so we need to get that one going again and I think we know where we went wrong this year.”
Grosjean, in the end, was potentially saved by the car that’s caused him and the rest of his race team a plethora of problems throughout the season. It’s almost poetic, when you think about it.
09-23-2019, 11:31 AM
#937
Senior Moderator
I guess that makes sense. In the broadcast, they said that Hulkenberg was asking for quite a bit of money, while Grosjean will probably be bringing a sponsor in. Given their limited budget, invest more in the car rather than the driver might make sense.
09-24-2019, 10:10 AM
#938
Senior Moderator
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...1IkAx8bMZ.html
Changes to Ferrari's front aero the key to their win at Singapore?
Changes to Ferrari's front aero the key to their win at Singapore?
09-24-2019, 12:25 PM
#939
AZ Community Team
How Ferrari solved its major 2019 weakness
09-24-2019, 02:07 PM
#940
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Thread Starter
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...wings/4547117/
No new images have been revealed publicly, but teams were shown the new design on Monday.
F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds and FIA head of single seater technical matters Nicolas Tombazis have focused on refining the front wing, which will be given a “futuristic sweeping” design instead of being straight.
Additionally, the two-metre wide front wing endplates will now point upwards “dramatically, much like the wing tip on a passenger plane”. This will be a free area for teams to develop.
According to F1, the rear will will also be made wider and the endplates and struts will curve inwards for aesthetic reasons.
Other changes include lowering the tip of the nose by “around 25mm”, a reprofiled floor, raising the chassis and giving drivers more space with a higher headrest and roll hoop.
Wind tunnel testing of 'Lima' will continue until the 2021 rules are published next month.
This will include evaluating whether the front wing can be made narrower without harming efforts to reduce the turbulent air it creates.
Though giving the cars a distinct new look is part of the target for 2021 and beyond, allowing them to race better has been the chief objective.
Last month, Symonds said the results were “actually beyond what I thought we could achieve when we started the project".
"With the configurations we have got at the moment, the results are exceptional,” he added.
Formula 1 has revised the wing designs that will form a key part of 2021 car concepts, and moved towards a more “dramatic” aesthetic with an aeroplane-like style.
Last month a 50% scale model of F1’s 2021 blueprint underwent its first windtunnel tests, with the rulemakers encouraged by the results as they bid to make cars easier to follow and improve racing
In the design F1 revealed, the nose attached directly to the front wing mainplane and the current five wing elements had been cut to three with simple, wide endplates.
The rear wing transitioned directly into the endplates and struts, which ran straight down.
Now, F1 has revealed on its official website F1.com that the car, which has been given the name Lima, has been redesigned to feature “more elegant and dramatic front and rear wings”In the design F1 revealed, the nose attached directly to the front wing mainplane and the current five wing elements had been cut to three with simple, wide endplates.
The rear wing transitioned directly into the endplates and struts, which ran straight down.
No new images have been revealed publicly, but teams were shown the new design on Monday.
F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds and FIA head of single seater technical matters Nicolas Tombazis have focused on refining the front wing, which will be given a “futuristic sweeping” design instead of being straight.
Additionally, the two-metre wide front wing endplates will now point upwards “dramatically, much like the wing tip on a passenger plane”. This will be a free area for teams to develop.
According to F1, the rear will will also be made wider and the endplates and struts will curve inwards for aesthetic reasons.
Other changes include lowering the tip of the nose by “around 25mm”, a reprofiled floor, raising the chassis and giving drivers more space with a higher headrest and roll hoop.
Wind tunnel testing of 'Lima' will continue until the 2021 rules are published next month.
This will include evaluating whether the front wing can be made narrower without harming efforts to reduce the turbulent air it creates.
Though giving the cars a distinct new look is part of the target for 2021 and beyond, allowing them to race better has been the chief objective.
Last month, Symonds said the results were “actually beyond what I thought we could achieve when we started the project".
"With the configurations we have got at the moment, the results are exceptional,” he added.
09-24-2019, 02:08 PM
#941
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Thread Starter
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...esult/4547184/
It also means world championship leader Lewis Hamilton keeps the two points he scored for ninth in the chaotic race.
The penalties were awarded for clutch setting offences, with Alfa having contravened the rules designed to prevent teams deploying an equivalent of traction control.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur had argued at the time that the problem was outside Alfa's control.
"The situation arose during the laps we spent behind the safety car ahead of the standing start - we suffered a dysfunction of the clutch that was beyond our control and we will further investigate the issue," he explained.
"We respect the FIA's process and the stewards' work, but will appeal this decision as we believe we have the grounds and evidence to have it overturned."
The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team has been unsuccessful in its bid to have its German Grand Prix penalties overturned.
It had appealed the 30-second penalties that dropped Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi from seventh and eighth to 12th and 13th, but post-race time penalties are not among the punishments that can be appealed under F1 rules
Though Alfa sporting director Beat Zehnder said last month that the team would not be risking the appeal approach unless it felt it had "some arguments to win" with, on Tuesday the case was declared inadmissible by the FIA according to Alfa. A full ruling is expected to be published later
The decision means Williams and Robert Kubica's sole point of the 2019 F1 season so far is safe, as he had been elevated to 10th by the Alfa demotions
Though Alfa sporting director Beat Zehnder said last month that the team would not be risking the appeal approach unless it felt it had "some arguments to win" with, on Tuesday the case was declared inadmissible by the FIA according to Alfa. A full ruling is expected to be published later
The decision means Williams and Robert Kubica's sole point of the 2019 F1 season so far is safe, as he had been elevated to 10th by the Alfa demotions
It also means world championship leader Lewis Hamilton keeps the two points he scored for ninth in the chaotic race.
The penalties were awarded for clutch setting offences, with Alfa having contravened the rules designed to prevent teams deploying an equivalent of traction control.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur had argued at the time that the problem was outside Alfa's control.
"The situation arose during the laps we spent behind the safety car ahead of the standing start - we suffered a dysfunction of the clutch that was beyond our control and we will further investigate the issue," he explained.
"We respect the FIA's process and the stewards' work, but will appeal this decision as we believe we have the grounds and evidence to have it overturned."
09-24-2019, 02:27 PM
#942
Senior Moderator
Kubica gets a point.
09-24-2019, 05:13 PM
#943
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and Williams gets a little reward money to help fund its shipping expenses
09-25-2019, 06:30 AM
#944
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I love the fact that Ferrari has managed to win three in a row now but are they not already too far behind to affect either championship at this point unless Mercedes has to retire in multiple races? Even if they finish another 5-6 races like today in fourth and fifth it doesn't allow Ferrari enough points to catch up.
09-25-2019, 07:42 AM
#945
Senior Moderator
I love the fact that Ferrari has managed to win three in a row now but are they not already too far behind to affect either championship at this point unless Mercedes has to retire in multiple races? Even if they finish another 5-6 races like today in fourth and fifth it doesn't allow Ferrari enough points to catch up.
09-25-2019, 09:46 AM
#946
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Problem is everytime they seem to show improvement at the beginning or end of a season it is all for naught when Mercedes comes out and kills it the next season. Here is to hoping they get it enough right to challenge still next year. I honestly don't care if Merc keeps winning in these regs I just want to see it come down to the wire at least for them to win for once.
09-25-2019, 11:39 AM
#947
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Thread Starter
https://f1i.com/news/355813-todt-no-...oining-f1.html
FIA president Jean Todt says he has not seen to date any interest from a "solid" team to join the F1 grid in 2021.
Grand Prix racing's upcoming regulation overhaul was believed to attract fresh interest in the sport from potential new teams, but so far only one tentative project has emerged, while the 2021 rules themselves have yet to be precisely defined.
The Panthera Team Asia, a team led by former SMP Racing boss Benjamin Durand, recently came out of the woodwork to announce that it had initiated its F1 plans.
However, while its representatives were in Singapore last weekend sounding out the paddock, Todt has yet to receive a clear indication of the project's strong viability.
"I will be careful," said Todt. "I don’t consider talks or gossip or things like that. I am concrete.
"At the moment I never heard, apart from some website talking about new teams, I never had any strong contact from a relevant solid team wishing to join F1.
"At the moment the good thing is we have 10 strong teams which in a way gives a good value to each team, which is important.
"They invest but still they have a strong asset in their hands. Then again it is a question of opportunity."
The last new team to join F1 was Haas in 2016. While there has been interest and various requests for information in the past year, no candidate meeting the relevant criteria has made stepped up to the plate.
"At the moment we did not see any application of the level of Haas, for example, which was a new team," added Todt.
"There are also possibilities sometimes like what happened with Force India where you had Racing Point deciding to buy the team. So, it all depends on the opportunities.
"At the moment we are happy in having ten teams. Time will tell if things will change in the future, knowing that the good figure is between 10 and 12 teams."
Grand Prix racing's upcoming regulation overhaul was believed to attract fresh interest in the sport from potential new teams, but so far only one tentative project has emerged, while the 2021 rules themselves have yet to be precisely defined.
The Panthera Team Asia, a team led by former SMP Racing boss Benjamin Durand, recently came out of the woodwork to announce that it had initiated its F1 plans.
However, while its representatives were in Singapore last weekend sounding out the paddock, Todt has yet to receive a clear indication of the project's strong viability.
"I will be careful," said Todt. "I don’t consider talks or gossip or things like that. I am concrete.
"At the moment I never heard, apart from some website talking about new teams, I never had any strong contact from a relevant solid team wishing to join F1.
"At the moment the good thing is we have 10 strong teams which in a way gives a good value to each team, which is important.
"They invest but still they have a strong asset in their hands. Then again it is a question of opportunity."
The last new team to join F1 was Haas in 2016. While there has been interest and various requests for information in the past year, no candidate meeting the relevant criteria has made stepped up to the plate.
"At the moment we did not see any application of the level of Haas, for example, which was a new team," added Todt.
"There are also possibilities sometimes like what happened with Force India where you had Racing Point deciding to buy the team. So, it all depends on the opportunities.
"At the moment we are happy in having ten teams. Time will tell if things will change in the future, knowing that the good figure is between 10 and 12 teams."
09-25-2019, 03:52 PM
#948
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Please more teams
09-25-2019, 03:55 PM
#949
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Thread Starter
Question for you all, re: More Teams.
Would you want an extra team or two & an increase to 22-24 cars, or even more teams & the return of drivers failing to qualify for the race?
Would you want an extra team or two & an increase to 22-24 cars, or even more teams & the return of drivers failing to qualify for the race?
09-25-2019, 04:02 PM
#950
AZ Community Team
With the last three races at Ferrari, it's fair to say Binotto will keep his Team Principal position.
It'll be interesting to see how he manages Vettel and Leclerc for the remainder of the season.
I wonder if the team not reversing the order in Singapore after the undercut pass was sorta payback for Leclerc's driving slowly in Qual3 which messed up Vettel's qualifying?
It'll be interesting to see how he manages Vettel and Leclerc for the remainder of the season.
I wonder if the team not reversing the order in Singapore after the undercut pass was sorta payback for Leclerc's driving slowly in Qual3 which messed up Vettel's qualifying?
09-25-2019, 04:25 PM
#952
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You guys obviously didn't go to races when there was pre-qualifying by the teams as there were too many (underfunded, shitty) teams. I believe the F1 market for team viability is probably at its apex leaving room for someone like VW/Audi/Porsche or Toyota to join and that's it.
09-25-2019, 04:26 PM
#953
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With the last three races at Ferrari, it's fair to say Binotto will keep his Team Principal position.
It'll be interesting to see how he manages Vettel and Leclerc for the remainder of the season.
I wonder if the team not reversing the order in Singapore after the undercut pass was sorta payback for Leclerc's driving slowly in Qual3 which messed up Vettel's qualifying?
It'll be interesting to see how he manages Vettel and Leclerc for the remainder of the season.
I wonder if the team not reversing the order in Singapore after the undercut pass was sorta payback for Leclerc's driving slowly in Qual3 which messed up Vettel's qualifying?
The analysis I read was based on the Scuderia's sole desire to undercut Max, Charles had already passed the pit entrance but Vettel was in position and called in. Game over.
09-25-2019, 05:33 PM
#954
AZ Community Team
Ferrari this week said there was a discussion held during the race to reverse the position later in the race but decided against it since the gap to Max wasn't that great.
09-25-2019, 08:08 PM
#955
Senior Moderator
You guys obviously didn't go to races when there was pre-qualifying by the teams as there were too many (underfunded, shitty) teams. I believe the F1 market for team viability is probably at its apex leaving room for someone like VW/Audi/Porsche or Toyota to join and that's it.
I'd love to see more teams, even bad ones. Why? More teams mean more chaos, which means more unpredictability.
However, like Chief said, ain't gonna happen in today's environment. The 10th placed team (Williams) can hardly survive financially, let alone a 13th team. The only way to expand the field is to change the money distribution system.
09-25-2019, 08:11 PM
#956
Senior Moderator
My thought on how Vettel won is completely due to the circuit. In Spa, Vettel did something similar after his pit stop, where he made a blitz run and got into the lead. However, that destroyed his tires, which made him eventually fall back through the field. This time the gamble paid off, because of 1) Singapore being impossible to pass (just look at how hard it took the lead cars to pass the backfield), and 2) all the safety laps.
09-26-2019, 08:18 AM
#957
AZ Community Team
Couple things I found amusing or interesting for Singapore was
1) the go slow strategy of the starting laps, LeClerc was 13 sec. off his pole position causing the field to back up on the difficult to pass circuit.
2) Albon (6th) and Gasly (8th) are both settling into their swapped cars well, both drivers have commented how different the two cars are,
1) the go slow strategy of the starting laps, LeClerc was 13 sec. off his pole position causing the field to back up on the difficult to pass circuit.
2) Albon (6th) and Gasly (8th) are both settling into their swapped cars well, both drivers have commented how different the two cars are,
09-26-2019, 08:49 AM
#958
AZ Community Team
Ferrari's Undercut, Vettel's 'Risky Move': Jolyon Palmer On The 2019 Singapore Grand
Always enjoy Palmer's race analysis
09-26-2019, 11:09 AM
#959
Moderator
Thread Starter
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/v...lties/4547920/
Max Verstappen and his fellow Honda-powered Formula 1 drivers will take grid penalties at the Russian Grand Prix to strategically introduce another new engine.
Honda's Spec 4 engine made its debut in the Belgian Grand Prix with Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso, although Verstappen, his Red Bull teammate Alex Albon and Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly did not race it until the following grand prix in Italy
Ahead of the Russian GP, with just two race weekends completed with their new Spec 4 engines, Honda has announced that all four of its drivers will get a new internal combustion engine.
This will give them a low-mileage engine for next week's Japanese Grand Prix, Honda's home race, and should provide both teams with the engines they required to get to the end of the season without further changes.
Verstappen, Albon and Gasly will take five-place grid penalties at Sochi because they will only introduce a fresh ICE.
However, Kvyat is out of phase with replacement engine components and Honda has opted to change all the elements in his car, so he will start at the back of the grid.
Honda's reliability has been good this season but its aggressive development programme, with an extra upgrade introduced compared to its rival, has put it on a different schedule to others and its engine-usage has still been quite high.
For example, Verstappen's new Spec 4 will be his fifth ICE of the season, compared to both Mercedes and Ferrari drivers only using three combustion engines this year.
Kvyat and Gasly move onto their sixth and seventh engines respectively, although these numbers are skewed slightly by additional changes earlier in the year.
Ahead of the Russian GP, with just two race weekends completed with their new Spec 4 engines, Honda has announced that all four of its drivers will get a new internal combustion engine.
This will give them a low-mileage engine for next week's Japanese Grand Prix, Honda's home race, and should provide both teams with the engines they required to get to the end of the season without further changes.
Verstappen, Albon and Gasly will take five-place grid penalties at Sochi because they will only introduce a fresh ICE.
However, Kvyat is out of phase with replacement engine components and Honda has opted to change all the elements in his car, so he will start at the back of the grid.
Honda's reliability has been good this season but its aggressive development programme, with an extra upgrade introduced compared to its rival, has put it on a different schedule to others and its engine-usage has still been quite high.
For example, Verstappen's new Spec 4 will be his fifth ICE of the season, compared to both Mercedes and Ferrari drivers only using three combustion engines this year.
Kvyat and Gasly move onto their sixth and seventh engines respectively, although these numbers are skewed slightly by additional changes earlier in the year.
09-26-2019, 12:51 PM
#960
Moderator
Thread Starter
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...-2020/4548092/
George Russell says he feels ready to lead the Williams Formula 1 team next season, but the Englishman would be equally happy to see an experienced driver like Nico Hulkenberg join the line-up.
Current Williams reserve driver Nicholas Latifi remains the favourite to take the seat, which would make Russell the senior driver on the line-up in only his second year
However, Hulkenberg is the obvious choice should the team be in a position to hire a driver who doesn't bring a budget.
Russell says he just wants a quick teammate against whom he can further a reputation.
"My preference is to have the fastest driver possible next to me," he said. "Because I'm doing my best to prove what I can do to everybody, and I want the opportunity again to show that. But ultimately, from my side, I focus on myself, my own job, my engineers
"I feel ready to take control, lead the team if it was to be a rookie to come alongside me, but equally I'd probably be just as happy to have an experienced guy, such as Hulkenberg coming in, with a good reputation and experience.
"I'm sure I can learn some things from him but again, it gives me a very good opportunity to show what I can do."
In Singapore last week deputy team principal Claire Williams insisted that the team didn't necessarily need an experienced driver, as Russell had already demonstrated leadership qualities.
"That's one argument in favour of bringing an experienced driver in, in order to help lead the team and guide the team," she said. "But equally there's no reason to say that a younger driver couldn't do that as well.
"George is a perfect example with the work that he's done for us this year. It's his first year in F1, he's been able to help lead the team in an extraordinary way, to be honest, in what's been a very difficult year for him.
"He comes to the track, puts a smile on his face, and he leads the team. He knows and understands that responsibility outside the cockpit, as he does the responsibility inside the cockpit."
Told about the praise from his boss, Russell said he has always tried to motivate his teams.
"I've done that in my whole career really," he said. I think it's the driver's job to build the team, keep them all motivated especially with your own engineers to try and build that relationship. It's just a bigger scale now in Formula 1.
"I put a lot of work in, probably spend more days in the factory compared to any other driver on the grid, on the simulator trying to develop that and prepare for the weekend, spend time with the engineers, I see that as just being my role as a driver."
However, Hulkenberg is the obvious choice should the team be in a position to hire a driver who doesn't bring a budget.
Russell says he just wants a quick teammate against whom he can further a reputation.
"My preference is to have the fastest driver possible next to me," he said. "Because I'm doing my best to prove what I can do to everybody, and I want the opportunity again to show that. But ultimately, from my side, I focus on myself, my own job, my engineers
"I feel ready to take control, lead the team if it was to be a rookie to come alongside me, but equally I'd probably be just as happy to have an experienced guy, such as Hulkenberg coming in, with a good reputation and experience.
"I'm sure I can learn some things from him but again, it gives me a very good opportunity to show what I can do."
In Singapore last week deputy team principal Claire Williams insisted that the team didn't necessarily need an experienced driver, as Russell had already demonstrated leadership qualities.
"That's one argument in favour of bringing an experienced driver in, in order to help lead the team and guide the team," she said. "But equally there's no reason to say that a younger driver couldn't do that as well.
"George is a perfect example with the work that he's done for us this year. It's his first year in F1, he's been able to help lead the team in an extraordinary way, to be honest, in what's been a very difficult year for him.
"He comes to the track, puts a smile on his face, and he leads the team. He knows and understands that responsibility outside the cockpit, as he does the responsibility inside the cockpit."
Told about the praise from his boss, Russell said he has always tried to motivate his teams.
"I've done that in my whole career really," he said. I think it's the driver's job to build the team, keep them all motivated especially with your own engineers to try and build that relationship. It's just a bigger scale now in Formula 1.
"I put a lot of work in, probably spend more days in the factory compared to any other driver on the grid, on the simulator trying to develop that and prepare for the weekend, spend time with the engineers, I see that as just being my role as a driver."