Formula 1 thread

[MRandall25]

The new Toro Rosso looks even worse than the Ferrari.

What is it with the new F1 regulations and cars with nose pieces that look like they've been given a dose of Viagra?

[CBear3]

Wow, and it kills the Red Bull sun logo too.
The transition from the small radii corners of the front bulkhead to the larger ones in the Goldmember is much more subtle on the TR though.
The Ferrari's transition looks ridiculous.

[tifosi77]

The STR-Renault isn't hose-beast ugly like the others, but it's WAY goofier.

[tifosi77]

Good god.....

[Gaucho]

Hm.

[tifosi77]

As I type this, the 2014 testing season is set to kickoff in Jerez in.... geez minutes? Anyway, I was reading an article on motorsport.com about the FIA being flooded with inquiries as to the legality of the Lotus twin-nose solution (specifically, only having a crash structure in one of the tuning fork prongs), and I read the comment, "Many believe Ferrari's low and wide nose is the prettiest solution seen so far"........ which more or less caused me to nearly pass out from laughter.

[tifosi77]

The Caterham-Renault CT05


And the Red Bull-Renault RB10




I think I'll be rooting for Red Bull this year, simply because Adrian Newey seems to have come up with the least ugly solution to the new nose regulations. I can look at the RB10 and not be overcome by laughter.

[tifosi77]

Mercedes W05


Force India-Mercedes VJM07

[tifosi77]

The cooling solutions offered by Merc and FI are interesting; they are being extremely aggressive with the (small) size of the sidepod radiator ducts.

Also of note that in an era when extreme change has come to the technical regulations, Ferrari and Mercedes have both arrived at a very similar solution.

[CBear3]

Stop linking to AutoSport tif, all their larger pictures need a subscription.

[tifosi77]

Really? I'm sorry about that, I thought the 'x2' size was viewable by the public. I have a subscription, so the images show fine for me. I'll source from somewhere else.

[tifosi77]

Mercedes W05


STR-Renault STR-9

[dodint]

MS is still fighting his way out of the coma. It's been five weeks.

[MRandall25]

I didn't want to look up the thread before, but the new engines sound terrible.

[tifosi77]

Well, at least the cars are ugly.

[dodint]

I really dislike the Infiniti branding on the RBR. I knew it was coming but it still annoys me. It's no different than a bank or soft drink sponsor.

[MRandall25]

Formula 1 2014 schedule:

Code: Select all

01 	2014 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) 	14 - 16 Mar
02 	2014 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) 	28 - 30 Mar
03 	2014 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Sakhir) 	04 - 06 Apr
04 	2014 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) 	18 - 20 Apr
05 	FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA PIRELLI 2014 (Catalunya) 	09 - 11 May
06 	FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2014 (Monte Carlo) 	22 - 25 May
07 	FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2014 (Montréal) 	06 - 08 Jun
08 	FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS VON ÖSTERREICH 2014 (Spielberg) 	20 - 22 Jun
09 	2014 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) 	04 - 06 Jul
10 	FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2014 (Hockenheim) 	18 - 20 Jul
11 	FORMULA 1 PIRELLI MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2014 (Budapest) 	25 - 27 Jul
12 	2014 FORMULA 1 SHELL BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) 	22 - 24 Aug
13 	FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2014 (Monza) 	05 - 07 Sep
14 	2014 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) 	19 - 21 Sep
15 	2014 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Suzuka) 	03 - 05 Oct
16 	2014 FORMULA 1 RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX (Sochi) 	10 - 12 Oct
17 	2014 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX (Austin) 	31 Oct - 02 Nov
18 	FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2014 (São Paulo) 	07 - 09 Nov
19 	2014 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Yas Marina) 	21 - 23 Nov

Replace Korean GP with Sochi Circuit (never thought I'd be hearing Sochi again after the Olympics) and replace Indian GP with Austria's Red Bull Ring (used to be the A1 Ring).

[MRandall25]

New Williams Martini livery. Lovely to look at. Probably won't be any good.

[TheHammer24]

I'm planning a European vacation that will put me in Italy during the Gran Prix. Hmm.

[tifosi77]

Williams have actually looked quite strong in testing, having both speed and reliability. They're so well off that at the first Bahrain test they actually practiced pitstops. Everyone else was just thankful to get a car out for 8 lap stints, Willy was doing practice stops. That's a very big deal. They may not have had the outright testing pace that Merc showed, but the quiet money is on Williams to open their account strong in 2014.

I don't know if they'll be able to sustain that competitiveness once the development war kicks off after the first few flyaway races and the series resumes in Europe. But I think Massa will be in early contention for podium finishes and wins in those first four events.

To be honest, I'm really stoked for them. I grew up a Ferrari fan, but I've always had a deep respect for Patrick Head and Frank Williams (who I think is the world's longest surviving quadriplegic), and Pat Symonds is also a personal favorite; I just love the way they go racing. My two favorite drivers may be Alonso and Raikkonen, and they may both be driving for my favorite team.... but I'll also be rooting for Williams Martini Racing this year.

[tifosi77]

Nervous teams to sit out Saturday practice

A full engine change can now take a whopping six hours, but Force India technical boss Andy Green added: "If we have to piece it together with individual parts, it can be 18 hours."

Good god......!

[dodint]

Stoked that this is this weekend already. I checked my DVR and they're airing two practice sessions, qual, and the race. I don't remember getting two practices in the past. I don't pay super close attention to them but it made for sweet background noise, though probably not this year with the new motors.

[MRandall25]

These new regulations may set Formula 1 back.

There's talk that the cars may not even be able to finish.

[tifosi77]

I think last year for Oz, NBC Sports aired all three Free Practice sessions, quals and the race. They might have done that for Austin, too, but generally they only have FP2, qual and the race.

To your point MRandall, one supplier was commenting that he wouldn't be surprised to see 100% attrition.

[CBear3]

Can't wait. I put my money on it being an epic weekend, either from total failure or just the random partial failures.