Yes, is that his first (post F1) win against a competitive field or did I miss something else? Le Mans/WEC can't really count as he was only "racing" his own team.
Liberty wanting out?...
https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/01/28/ecclestone-to-buy-back-formula-1-at-bargain-price/
Would be interested to know who the source of that was. IIRC Christian Sylt writes for the WSJ and he was widely regarded s Bernie's puppet, and was (still is) vocally anti-Liberty.
Good win for Alonso in Daytona.
Good win for Wayne Taylor Racing, for which Alonso makes up only 25% of the car's driver lineup!
Looks like that story I posted is a crock of s...!
Oooh! This looks nice. Wonder how wide the track is.
https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/01/27/philippines-grand-prix-facility-revealed-by-tilke-associates/
Good win for Wayne Taylor Racing, for which Alonso makes up only 25% of the car’s driver lineup!
Alonso was lapping 2-4 seconds quicker than the field in his stints, taking the car waaay up the order each time. Very unlikely the team would have been in the right place to win without him.
Caught Alonso's stint around 4 hrs in where he took the car from 7/8th to first and opened up around a 20 second lead within 30 odd minutes.
On the brakes in to turn 1 no one could hold a candle to him, the move on the Mazda (77...Rene Rast?) for the lead was outstanding, came from miles back, late on the brakes, up the inside and away he went.
Also in the rain I'm sure his team mate Taylor admitted to being out his depth and they popped FA back in the car for him to be up to 5 seconds per lap quicker than the field.
Really enjoyable race, although the cars are not as fast as F1 you could really see the speed the cars were travelling at and the closing speeds between the different classes is unbelievable at times.
FA is a great driver but far too political for his own good, maybe a year in other series will see him re-evaluate and come back a little calmer than before for one last stab at a third WDC.
Alonso was lapping 2-4 seconds quicker than the field in his stints, taking the car waaay up the order each time. Very unlikely the team would have been in the right place to win without him.
Yeah for sure he was the best driver in the car, but that doesn't make up for the shoddy journalism that's been going around surrounding this story (BBC and Autosport, I'm looking at you!).
Yes, he's the most noteworthy driver in the car (and even the whole field) but, that doesn't mean that he won the race single-handedly. Same can be said about the Le Mans coverage last year, this is endurance racing, it's a team sport. You win as a team and lose as a team. To say Alonso wins without even mentioning the fact that he was in a team is downright offensive to the series as a whole! And I'd be gobsmacked if good ol' Rodney Sandstorm actually seriously said he was out of his depth in those conditions. He's one of the greatest DPi drivers in the world and he's won races for his teams in comparable conditions in the past. The bits that I tuned into with Jordan in the car he was absolutely smashing it in the rain, maybe not as fast as Fernando Lemanso, but definitely faster than the rest of the field!
Sauber renamed Alfa Romeo Racing for 2019 - no big surprise there!
And only a few days left till first car launches. 🙂
Just seen the Sauber news. Not unexpected but it's a shame to see another historic privateer outfit (even if now in name only) lost from the grid. Just Mclaren and Williams left now.... I wonder how long before one of those goes under or is bought out?
I enjoyed this video.
I enjoyed this video.
That David Coulthard one is a corker. 😮
Do you think anyone at Haas has realised their new sponsor, Rich Energy, has stolen Whyte Bikes' logo?!
Edit: similarity already previously noted - https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rich-energy-and-whyte-bikes/
Rich energy are due in court v ATB sales ltd on the 12th and 13th of March with a decision due 1st of May.
My personal favourite Schumacher moment was at the British Grand Prix when he forgot to turn right at the end of the hanger straight.
Haas reveals 2019 F1 car in a JPS stylee
love it, there's some mumbling that rich energy are going to have to change their logo as it's too close to Whyte Bikes logo.
THAT is a good looking car.
DaffySubscriber
THAT is a good looking car.
Yes, I just hope Haas got the cash up front!
I wonder how many races it will finish in that condition
monkeysfeet
I wonder how many races it will finish in that condition
With those two driving, they may as well have done the press shots with the front wing missing.
Probably figured as Ferarri get away with it they may as well give it a go too...
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/british-american-tobacco-mclaren-deal/4335598/
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/photos-toro-rosso-str14-car/4335730/
TR vehicle lauch
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/toro-rosso-new-car-str14/4335718/
same old livery, still looks good though.
Bargeboards quite different to last years car. Scarbs reckons they're just placeholders on this render though.
Williams livery due in 10 mins or so.
Be good if that Williams went like a Rokit...IGMC
All of Williams employees are now thinking "shit, have we got to use these now instead of our iPhones!" 🙂
...much the same way as Lewis had to use a Blackberry!
Don't really like the look of the Williams but after the Martini colours anything was going to be a let down.
It'll look a lot better if it finishes further up the field though. Fingers crossed.
So Williams have a phone company sponsor who don't appear to be shipping product.
Haas have a drinks sponsor who don't seem to be shipping product.
F1 is ****ed isn't it?
At this rate F1 Esports will have more real world sponsors! 🙂
BAT back with McLaren now too.
That new Williams livery hides the Rexona logo as well. Not as visible as before.
Have to say it's all a bit 'meh' so far this year. We've got last year's Williams wearing a worse livery, some renders of a TR and a shadowy photo of a dark Haas taken in a dark room to hide any detail. Bring on next Monday when all the talking stops and we see who can actually put in some reliable laps in testing (not that the times in testing ever mean much, it's more about seeing how far the RB/TR goes before the first Honda goes pop).
https://www.motorsport.com/btcc/news/hamilton-motorbase-ford-rokit/4335896/
Interesting Rokit also sponsoring nick Hamilton in btcc
Williams have cancelled their early shakedown run as they're running late
Merc are bringing an 'all new' (according to motorsport.com) engine.
Pics of the new merc are out too, nothing drastic but it looks pretty good imho
Forunately RedBull say this is a one off livery
Shame, i like that livery!
Looking at the car itself, the sidepods are bloody small and there is a serious amount of aero trinkets in the barge board area
https://twitter.com/redbullracing/status/1095668967195246598
Looking at the car itself, the sidepods are bloody small
Now, I'm no F1 engineering god but given Honda's history of tight packaging & heat management in the McLaren, would you be pushing the limits on your first foray with their PU?
When the RB breaks down the uninformed are going to be quick to think "that Aston Martin's a bit shite"
thepurist
Now, I’m no F1 engineering god but given Honda’s history of tight packaging & heat management in the McLaren, would you be pushing the limits on your first foray with their PU?
Ha, well that's a good point, however I wouldn't have been running a Honda PU in the first place, as I'd not have publicly slagged off the only competitive engine supplier I had available.
Fingers crossed they've done their sums right though, a three way battle with RB, Ferrari and Merc would be interesting. The removal of 'party modes' in quali should help them.
Very keen to see what MV can really do in a competitive car. Well Gasly too for that matter.
There seem to be significant additional cooling vents in the rear bodywork of the Red-bull.
They're just gloss graphics on a matt paintjob.
https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/13/first-pictures-new-red-bull-honda-rb15-breaks-cover/
The Honda will break down a lot as it's a Honda.
The Merc will break down a lot as it's a brand new engine.
The Ferrari's will crash into each other a lot as Vettel won't stand Leclerc passing him.
And Danny Ric will come through and take the 2019 F1 Title! 🙂
There's been an explosion at the Dulux factory!...
Looks like JCB have switched their sponsorship from Williams too.
in the timeless words of Ali G, dat is rank
McLaren - to me the nicest livery so far...
https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/14/first-pictures-mclaren-presents-its-mcl34/
Re that LH video.
The first drive in a brand new MB F1 car must be the best thing ever. And he gets paid to do it!
I looked at the pictures of that Racing Point Force India Stroll BWT SportPesa thing.
I realised that they've done exactly the same to the other side too. Sad times.
Check out the front wing on the Alfa!
https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=27915&sid=25f88193eeceb3915c678f213b02eabb
That wing looks a bold move on the Alfa, either that or it's just for shakedown sandbagging and the real thing arrives for the first test.
I hope that McLaren is fast.
Ferrari's answer to Mercedes...
Looks nice with the black instead of the white IMO
Removed...photo appeared above
Tidy, and with echoes of the Alfa front wing, though possibly a more refined/less extreme design.
Looking at all these and seeing compromised cooling again - yay for “closer racing” 🙄
Williams documentary on bbc2 now.... I do love Claire
On the cooling front - the Mercs rad and engine ducts are much bigger than last year .
That bbc doc was a tough watch, but very good. Bit dusty in here...
My word. That Williams documentary was amazing. Some of the best television I’ve seen in a very, very long time
Excellent programme
Some of the best television I’ve seen in a very, very long time
I'd agree with that, I feel I did it a disservice in my post, it really is brilliant.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0002p1x/williams-formula-1-in-the-blood
Indeed it was excellent and brought a tear to my eyes at the end.
Grew up always wanting to meet Frank. Have to admit to being a lit bit enamoured with Claire, she has a strength of character. Shame about the relationship with her brother, looks like he needs a bit of a kick up the arse to make something of himself away from the race team, the opportunity is there.
Loved the bit about Mansell being a pain in the arse out of the car and the way they all rushed to see Frank in France and how close they all were was amazing. I started watching F1 in the late 80's so didnt realise just how good Piquet was.
Williams not ready for 1st day of testing
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-miss-first-day-test/4338991/
Williams not ready for 1st day of testing
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-miss-first-day-test/4338991//blockquote >
Totally embarrassing that for Williams. What a total shambles that team is becoming under the stewardship of Claire. It makes me fear for the future of them, it really does.
... and we're off!
RedBull in 'looking like a Red Bull' shocker.
Alfa livery - 7/10
Predictions for testing:
Merc - most laps but not fastest
RedBull - at least 2 engine changes this week
Ferrari - quick laps on the last day (or whenever Vettel's driving as they won't let LeClerc beat him)
Not sure who's going to be at the back this year - McLaren & Williams have done a lot of work so hopefully it'll just be a bigger midfield.with no real tail enders.
Kimi in the gravel. Good start!
Probably still hungover from Christmas! 🙂
Not sure who’s going to be at the back this year – McLaren & Williams have done a lot of work so hopefully it’ll just be a bigger midfield.with no real tail enders.
Williams by a country mile - they just haven't got the resources anymore. They'd probably be quicker re-badging an F2 car.
Such a shame, but the Williams way of stubbornly being independent just doesn't work in F1 anymore.
Williams now won't be ready until at least mid-day on Wednesday.....
My guess is there are creditors stopping supply of materials.
No way this should happen when you only have 8 days of testing available.
Not a shabby number of laps for the Red Bull Honda
Agreed that this looks bad for Williams. Not convinced they are going bust, but to end up in this mess is ridiculous
Claire Williams: "It is looking more likely than not that we will now not be in a position to run on track until Wednesday at the earliest. This is obviously extremely disappointing, but it is unfortunately the situation we are in. We will be getting the FW42 on track as soon as we are able."
That's not a confident statement.
Fairly shocking quote on BBCF1: “Sources say the car is projected to be as much as two seconds slower than last year’s”.
Crumbs.
All the cars are predicted to be 1.5 seconds slower this year due to the new aero regs.
All the cars are predicted to be 1.5 seconds slower this year due to the new aero regs.
Vettel is already 2 seconds faster than the fastest day one time from last year's first test.
All the cars are predicted to be 1.5 seconds slower this year due to the new aero regs.
I was under the impression that most teams had managed to regain most if not all of the losses from the regs. Even if they haven’t, it would still mean Williams would be falling at least half a second back from what was already the back of the grid.