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It's been up for a couple of days now, but here is a teaser from Mercedes: From Twitter
Here (source: Reddit) is the teaser lightened:
That's supposedly just a generic showcar: https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1023923&f=12#p1023909
I hope they can play with the design of the rear wings a bit. The ones on the models look very 'Batman' to me. And not sure how DRS is incorporate into such a wiggly shape.
I think the idea with the rear wings is to prevent sharp corners that generate vortexes. Those vortexes are what cause the turbulence that makes it impossible to follow closely. Basically, the front wing was used to generate a vortex on each side of the car that sealed the low pressure area under the car and generated downforce. The bargeboards and everything behind the front wing were just there to control and energize those vortexes. The new aero rules are intended to eliminate those and generate downforce using ground effect venturi under the car.
Mmm, unconfirmed but pretty easy to believe.
https://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1478682949612625921
Edit: now confirmed
https://twitter.com/AstonMartinF1/status/1478682900082143236
Wow, I thought he was in a bit of trouble when he starting saying things about Lance being a generational talent or whatever it was. Wonder who they'll appoint.
Martin Whitmarsh?
I was thinking Whitmarsh too.
Wonder what Flavio's up to these days?
Isn't Flavio banned still?
There's a pretty good roster of ex-Renault bosses available.
https://twitter.com/NotGeneHaas/status/1478695774162669570
Isn’t Flavio banned still?
Bernie wants him back in F1....
That side by side picture, I thought I'd seen it discredited elsewhere.
I believe the scaling is different, the drivers helmet is smaller for a start!
Whitmarsh is already with Aston Martin, right? I guess they haven't announced his role yet.
So, someone help me out- wasn't Otmar Szafnauer at the helm in Force India when they were consistently punching well above there weight? Doesn't that make him quite hot property? Not sure why he's leaving tbh...
So, someone help me out- wasn’t Otmar Szafnauer at the helm in Force India when they were consistently punching well above there weight? Doesn’t that make him quite hot property? Not sure why he’s leaving tbh…
Reading the F1 press today, the journo's seem to imply that making a small team do great things is very different job to building a championship winning team.
Stroll Snr seems to want the latter.
Isn’t Flavio banned still?
Bernie wants him back in F1….
Don't they own a football team together? Probably quite good mates.
But no way Flavio should ever be allowed back
They used to part own QPR but that ended a long time back as far as I remember…
Whitmarsh is supposedly the CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies which is, in theory, a much higher role than Team Principal of Aston Martin F1. But, Whitmarsh wasn't just McLaren F1 Team Principal either, he was running McLaren Group at the time too. Seems to indicate that they might want him to do the same thing for FI/RP/AMF1.
Martin Whitmarsh?
I read an online blog once that described him as "the friendly skeleton" and whenever I hear his name I think of that and have a chuckle!
Might have been Sniff Petrol where that was from...
Think I read somewhere that Szafnauer might be Alpine bound.
Think I read somewhere that Szafnauer might be Alpine bound.
Yep, pretty he denied it a few weeks back- so expect to see him there shortly
Might have been Sniff Petrol where that was from…
Och aye the noo.....
My small claim to fame is that Sniff published something I sent him, lightly tweaked of course.
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/f1-2022/page/3/#post-12179386
The-race.com certainly seen to be theorising that.
I'd actually like to see him go to Ferrari. I think Binotto just has too much on his plate and they should let him focus on the technical side without having to deal with all the admin and politics.
I know it's probably going to suck as bad as Days of Thunder, but I hope it doesn't suck.
https://twitter.com/autosport/status/1478818612865638402
An F1 film would probably be far more realistic and life-like than the end of last season...
An F1 film would probably be far more realistic and life-like than the end of last season…
Oh god could you imagine that being the ending to a film! Worst film ever lol
Thought the concensus was to keep the discussion about the 2021 fiasco on the other thread. This one will doubtless get its own disputes, controversies and disappointments.
Thought the concensus was to keep the discussion about the 2021 fiasco on the other thread.
Not quite. The consensus was that any discussion of 2021 should be on the other thread, some discussion is allowed here provided it ends before the last page.
Not quite. The consensus was that any discussion of 2021 should be on the other thread, some discussion is allowed here provided it ends before the last page.
This is very funny!
Not quite. The consensus was that any discussion of 2021 should be on the other thread, some discussion is allowed here provided it ends before the last page.
Nice 😂
Still and unconfirmed rumour, but would make sense. However, I don't understand why Red Bull would be pouring money into an engine program based on the Honda IP if they're going to use a Porsche engine. Also, what engine will Alpha Tauri use? I think this will be the end of McLaren as an independent team, hope they don't end up like Sauber when BMW got bored with F1.
https://twitter.com/CARmagazine/status/1479430403861913608
Think the idea is that Red Bull put a load of development into the engine. Porsche/Audi/VAG provides cash and technological assistance but doesn't initially have to go all in with manufacturing and personnel etc. Then in 4 years time they have a well funded engine manufacturing facility with 4 years of experience that is bought by or becomes a VAG facility for their full engine supply programme. The Honda IP is diluted or disappears in this time.
Just read Saward's take on what happened in Abu Dhabi. He's more than a little bit full of shit tbh. I get the feeling all the journalists are closing ranks to try and make the steaming turd of a situation look a bit less turd-like than it clearly does
Every time I read any of Joe Saward's F1 jottings, I'm reminded of Trentham Sleaves.
shermer75
Free MemberJust read Saward’s take on what happened in Abu Dhabi. He’s more than a little bit full of shit tbh. I get the feeling all the journalists are closing ranks to try and make the steaming turd of a situation look a bit less turd-like than it clearly does
The problem is, if they are too critical then they might find their paddock pass mysteriously stops working.
The problem is, if they are too critical then they might find their paddock pass mysteriously stops working.
Quite. It's also in their best interest to try and keep the sport, well, looking like a sport. It's all getting a bit emperor's new clothes now though
So Lewis - media silence since last race - and only 40 odd days till testing starts (less till car launches)...
• Will we see him back?
• Or is he producing his own range of tartan slippers ready for retirement?
...I think he'll be back. There would be rumours from other drivers by now, phone calls would need to be made for a replacement and snippets would leak out.
Just as a thought experiment, who would be Hamilton's replacement if he did quit (alongside George I mean)?
I guess in their immediate pool of drivers they have Bottas and could potentially buy Ocon's contract out from Alpine. Rosberg but doubt he'd be fit enough now.
Kimi? 😃
Can't remember if it was this thread or the old one where someone asked the same question - but I still think Vettel would be the perfect candidate. Can't see how anyone would lose if he was dropped in. At best, a German going for the championship in a Mercedes. At worst, Vettel gets his swansong in (assuming situation normal) the leading car (as a German in a Mercedes)
I'm pretty sure he'll be back, I think he probably just wants a break.
Bottas would be the least hassle choice but Vettel would be my pick. Gasly another obvious safe choice. Alonso would jump at it, not sure if Merc would jump at him though.
Norris would have to be on the list if they can buy out his contract, but I can't see MCL letting him go cheaply.
Ricciardo might be easier to buy out than Norris.
Ocon is still managed by Toto, isn't he?
Ocon, if they could buy him out.
Bottas, assuming they could buy him out and he would want yet another one year contract.
DeVryes, would they want a rookie alongside the new boy?
Would like to see Gasly get a shot in it but I can't see that happening
Nyck de Vries from their Formula-e team?
He won the championship last season and was very quick when he drove the F1 car in the young driver session last year.
Button 😀 😀
Its idle speculation anyway, Lewis will definitely be back. I think avoiding the media during the off season was the sensible thing to do