The F1 2015 thread…

Looks like the FIA are finally waking up and doing something – lots of the suggestions seem like a good idea, reducing driver coaching, more flexible tyre choice, more driver control of starts. Not sure about changes to the quali/race format though – the current quali format seems the best since the open 1 hour (well, 2 hour) format from years gone by.

Oh and surprised B2B/Hora haven’t posted wild speculation about what Hamilton needed to see the quacks about that was so important. Is it teh bad cat aids? Is he pregnant???

you cannot engage the clutch when the steering wheel is at full lock

That is not what it says. The report says…

She had previously told engineers she could not operate the clutch when the steering wheel was at full-lock

Which isn’t quite the same.

The decision to skip testing may comeback to haunt LH

The decision to skip testing may comeback to haunt LH

Apparently he had a doctors appointment!

On other news – good to see Manor have a new sponsor.

In silly season news…

• Renault will buy lotus which means there’s a Merc engine deal going. Now I think there’s a team which isn’t entirely happy with their Renault engine, perhaps they may be interested!

I don’t think a Merc engine will be on offer to that team.

have we done the new Force India nose?

Well Im at Silverstone for the GP for the first time in 6 years and I’m must admit Im looking forward to hearing how the cars actually sound now. Practice is about to start…

Been wondering: why do the new turbos “need” (do they?) an air inlet (what are they called?) above the drivers’ heads now? Thinking back to 1988 when there were turbos and NAs running together the MP4/4 and FW12 (for example) had very different cowlings with their turbo/NA engines respectively…

Really disappointing progress with the Honda PU, I really hope that the token update after the summer break actually works.

Been wondering: why do the new turbos “need” (do they?) an air inlet (what are they called?) above the drivers’ heads now?

I would guess its more to do with roll hoop regulations now. These have to be much stronger and at a minimum height than they were in the 80’s. So if you’ve got that stuck out the top of the car you may as well use it for something.

Really disappointing progress with the Honda PU, I really hope that the token update after the summer break actually works.

Same here – I though they’d be knocking on the door of the top ten by now. At least they’ve been given another full power unit to play with now.

There’s just been a graphic on the F1 coverage…Fastest lap set in 2006 was a 1:20, now these cars are doing a 1:34 🙄 same track layout

How can a sport can call it’s self the pinnacle of motor sports by going more slowly?

But wasn’t Silverstone reworked in 2010? Therefore different layout from 2006 I think…

start finish and pits were moved, track has been the same though.

nope 2010 is when the new configuration started
lap record was 1:30.8 (in a race I think?)
pole today was 1:32.2

Not quite right there nickc, the layout did change in 2010 as at the time Silverstone had “lost” the F1 contract and the British GP was going to Donnington. The layout change was due to Silverstone bidding for, and getting, MotoGP. Those changes made it a more bike orientated track, the current turns 1-4 or 5 are the new section. I prefer the old layout for F1 but with the extra paddock work I think Silverstone still does well for a F1 car. I still prefer the old track layout though, was proper balls out fast for the whole lap. That’s why the lap time difference is so great.

More here – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_history_of_Silverstone_Circuit

Oh yes, final piece of the story was Donnington going bust getting their track work done for F1, which is why it’s still at Silverstone!

oh yeah, that’s right, they come right don’t they!

that’ll be way they’re slower I guess.

The old Woodcote Corner was a real man’s bend. I saw GT40s and T70s side by side through there. Brilliant stuff. I’m not keen on the current layout.

The old Silverstone in it’s entirety was a man’s circuit, but it could never stay as it was, Woodcote used to be 170mph in an F1 car, next to no runoff with railway sleepers between cars and spectators. The fantastic Nigel Roebuck reckoned “… In all my years of watching F1 drivers, I have never seen anything better than Ronnie {Peterson]’s Lotus 72 through Silverstone’s original Woodcote Corner.” It was heck of a turn. 🙂

F1 trivia time – whilst researching this post I found a video of the 1977 GP – one of my earliest memories was being there on a practice day and seeing James Hunt (well – a McLaren, to be fair, but I like to think of it as James, he must have been circulating at some point), and hearing the start of the race from Cousin Bridget’s house. That race marked the F1 debut of two particular things, one a driver and the other a technology of note even today. A point for each, and if you google them you’re a tit. 🙂

turbo engine (renault ?)

Mansell ? ? ?

Gah – 1 out of 2. Does it make it trickier if I don’t tell you which one you got right?:)

Silverstone 1977 should be best known for David Purley’s enormous accident.

If you are going to Google it, have a look at the pics of his car and marvel at how he survived that. Just. Or go to Donington and have a look at the wreck.

Well I enjoyed yesterday but can’t wait for the race today. I loved being able to hear more than just exhaust noise.

Silverstone 1977 should be best known for David Purley’s enormous accident.

See, I’d argue with that. 🙂

Don’t think it was Mansell.

Does it make it trickier if I don’t tell you which one you got right?:)

No, both were pretty much guesses 😳

Wait ! How about Prost, IN a turbo ?

Still 1 out of 2. 🙂

OK, Prost, ON Mansell ?? 😯

Turbo must be right – so…. how about Nicos dad – Keke Rosberg?

Turbo is correct, Jean-Pierre Jabouille debuting the first Renault turbo. Rosberg is good but it’s not right. 🙂

Edit – Wasn’t sure when Keke got into F1 so thought I’d better look it up – 1978, so a great shout! 🙂

How about Ricardo Patrese?

These F1 events don’t have a lot going on really do they? I’ll be back here in 3 weeks for the Classic and that has pretty much non stop action. Grumble over, off for a beer in the sun before finding a seat.

Fair play Mr Tiggs, you are about as close to being right as you can be without BEING right! ’77 Was Riccardo’s first year, the British GP was his fourth race, so close but no cigar. 🙂

I’ll either go for it being something to do with Adrian Newey or maybe one of the drivers whose offspring have come back. Too late for hill, so maybe villeneuve?

I’ll either go for it being something to do with Adrian Newey or maybe one of the drivers whose offspring have come back. Too late for hill, so maybe villeneuve?

We have a winner! 🙂 Gilles Villeneuve made his debut in a third McLaren, an old M23 and ran as high as fourth before pitting with high water temperature. Turned out the gauge was faulty…

Enjoy the race! 🙂

We have a race! Good stuff.

Well this is a bit dull isn’t it.

I can see a fair few more bumps in this race!

Was anyone else expecting the Mercs to just gallop past the Williamses? Great if they can make a battle of it. 🙂

Williams need to get their strategy sorted – BOTTAS is obviously quicker