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Unless we see the data the team bosses see we are only really guessing at how good/bad drivers are.
Has there ever been a worse engine than the current Honda? I'm struggling to think of one!
Lamborghini liked to go up in flames a lot, usually got to at least the 3rd corner though
Has there ever been a worse engine than the current Honda?
[url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Racing_Engines ]Life Racing Engines[/url]
Good read that! Yes, it's fair to say that Life Racing was worse lol 🙂
Porsche supplied Footwork with engines in 1990/91? (can't remember) they were really woeful, I think they rarely qualified at all. and never finished a race
Alonso might even be smiling after this! Good to see!
By 'eck! 7th for Alonso! 😯
Bit late to the party, but just saw my first F1 for the season. Pink car! 😯
Love the pink!
Amazing stuff from Alonso, that guy can be so electrifying!
Nicely poised for tomorrow, think HAM will get it but should be interesting at the start.
By 'eck! 7th for Alonso! 😯
He was really hustling that thing wasn't he 😀
Guessing he just turned the engine up full and let it choose whether to blow up or not. A show for his home fans before he goes to conquer America!
Guessing he just turned the engine up full and let it choose whether to blow up or not.
The garage were smiling so maybe not? ...... lets hope.
The odds on the McLaren blowing up on the formation lap have just been slashed
Alonso is outstanding. He will easily get a drive next year.
I don't reckon Alonso will have an engine beyond lap 14.
I'd say lap 14 is optimistic
I've actually got a little theory about the Honda engine's troubles.
When they run it on low power mode (lean fuelling/retarded ignition etc) it sets up vibrations in the engine that rattle it to bits eventually. When they turn it up to full power it settles down and runs reasonably as designed, it's then we see results like P7. Maybe the engineers focused on it's performance at full chat and forgot to ensure it worked in fuel-saving mode, that's now the nub of their issues. When Alonso grabs it by the scruff of the neck and drives flat-out it works but as soon as they turn it down to save the engine or save fuel it rattles away to itself again. This could be exacerbation any other issues in their design too.
Just a theory mind.
Possibly something in that but they've been reasonably open about the issues up to now and that hasn't been mentioned. I suspect that their stress analysis and dyno testing just isn't correlating well to the track so they're never really sure what will happen. That seems like an area that Merc could help them with.
When they run it on low power mode (lean fuelling/retarded ignition etc) it sets up vibrations in the engine that rattle it to bits eventually
No, I think the vibration problem occurs when they try to run it at full power, so I guess it's setting up harmonics at high revs that are damaging other components. Apparently, they did a lot of test bench work last year using single cylinder prototypes to develop the internal combustion engine. They thought that was successful and the complete engine was a major improvement when tested on the dyno. However, once they installed it in the car, things kept breaking whenever they tried to run it at full power. Alonso's P7 suggests that they have sorted out some of the problems and managed to turn up the power a bit, and also that the car itself is reasonably competitive. If they have managed to sort out the vibration issues, then they should be able to focus on power and efficiency. They seem to have the fourth fastest car now, so it's not impossible that they are faster than Red Bull by the end of the year. If that's the case, Alonso might decide he's better to stay put than gamble on Renault or Ferrari. Unlikely, for sure, but not impossible given that P7.
I can remember seasons where a team were bedding something new in that failed all over the place - only for it to be sorted and spectacular a year later. Active suspensions, semi-auto / flappy paddle gear boxes.
I can remember seasons where a team were bedding something new in that failed all over the place - only for it to be sorted and spectacular a year later
Judging by Alonso's past form this will be happening as soon as he's left! 🙂
When you think about how good Alonso is it shows the level of driver that Hamilton is considering he out drove Alonso in his rookie year!
Judging by Alonso's past form this will be happening as soon as he's left!
You may have a point.
Alonso is outstanding. He will easily get a drive next year.
The question is where!?
Brundle is convinced he can't go to Merc or Ferrari and doesn't fit in with Red Bull's young image. He can only see it being Renault.
And as said already - leaving someone else to take his McLaren seat and reap the benefits of his work! 🙂 The intriguing thing for me is who will fill his seat there.
Alonso to Sauber in 2018
Alonso to Sauber in 2018
😆
The intriguing thing for me is who will fill his seat there.
Great question- I love speculating about this kind of stuff!
They already have a rookie so they'll be looking for someone experienced. Will they still have thr budget to pull in one of the big guns? Not sure if any of them would be intetested tbh- they are all safely esconced at the big 3. Unless...Hamilton to McLaren for 2018!! 😉
Cracking race so far!
Lewis is steely eyed racing driver out front at the end of a race, lure them in bang in a fast lap, lure them in bang another fastest lap....
Lucky boy not to get penalised after running off the track and going the wrong side of the bollard
That was a great race.
Red Bull have a huge amount of work to do. If this was 'spec b' they need to move to 'spec k' rapidly.
Highlight - the little lad who was crying in the crowd. A Ferrari fan for life now, really nice touch from them.
I think little touches like that young lad are the kind of thing that Liberty Media will bring to the game.
That will win ferrari 1000s of new fans, you couldn't see the cold calculating germans doing that. I've always liked Kimis cool demeanor too but he showed a great side of his personality there
Certainly good pr for Ferrari and Kimi. Something money cant buy no matter how many twitter, insta, faceache followers you have.
Incredible race! Absolutely amazing 🙂
That has to be the best Spanish GP ever 😀
Proper racing with a great result for the championship, a bit of fan involvement and respect between the drivers. This season is going to be epic 8)
Great race, loved it. Not often I say that about barca!
If anyone thinks that finding that kid and taking him to Ferrari wasn't a bit of marketing then I think they are a bit stoopid. Funny how there was a TV feed from the hospitality tent at just the right moment.
Yes, but there is nothing wrong with that. Its marketing and thats what sells tickets and raises sponsorship which results in the racing.
I agree. But I don't think they were dong it for the kids sake.
If anyone thinks that finding that kid and taking him to Ferrari wasn't a bit of marketing then I think they are a bit stoopid. Funny how there was a TV feed from the hospitality tent at just the right moment.
You are right, they would be stoopid, but I don't think anyone is thinking or saying that. In fact so far everyone has been saying the opposite, eg:
Certainly good pr for Ferrari and Kimi.
and
That will win ferrari 1000s of new fans
and
I think little touches like that young lad are the kind of thing that Liberty Media will bring to the game.
All professional sport is 100% marketing. That's what pays for it.
It's not like you'd get say football having kids as mascots is it?
But I don't think they were dong it for the kids sake.
The kid won't care.
He's had the best day of his life, following on from a huge disappointment seeing his hero binned in the first corner. He's probably set up with Ferrari hats for the rest of his life.
No-one had to do it, and it was a nice gesture. Everyone wins.
No-one had to do it, and it was a nice gesture. Everyone wins
Exactly. It may have been for marketing reasons, but it was still a good thing to do.