The F1 thread

sinbaadi

Cols said:

On the plus side, there’s talk of more European tracks being drafted in this year to fill the calendar; Imola, Mugello and the Portuguese track at Portimao have all been mentioned.

Now if they could just put Hockenheim back how it used to be...

This is the most exciting thing to come from all of this.  I'd love to see them race at Mugello or Portimao.

Heartfeltdawn

Portimao is absolutely wonderful from a spectator and sim racer POV. Awesome course. 

Cols

Le Grand Rendez Vous is now released.  Unsurprisingly, not a patch on the original.

https://youtu.be/7nFTMtX5n_A 

goldtop

Not a proper Ferrari driver - didn't stall it at Rascasse!

Fretwired

Andy Cowell leaves Mercedes ..

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.four-reasons-why-engine-guru-andy-cowells-departure-from-mercedes-is-so.55q9Xo8pdHZKN3nuQ9JfK0.html

Cols

Rumours of Toto stepping down, Cowell gone, no drivers signed for next year...does anyone else smell something?

markr76

As far as I know Mercedes are not going anywhere. The new budget cuts really suit the manufacturers. A friend at Renault has said they have no plans to leave f1 either. Toto has also told us he isn’t leaving the team. But things can change though! I never thought Honda f1 would pull out when they did.

chillidoggy

With F1,  always reckon if someone pops up and says something is categorically not true, then it's true.

Fretwired

McLaren could fold and file for bankruptcy ....

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-facing-insolvency/

ESBlonde

Fretwired said:

McLaren could fold and file for bankruptcy ....

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-facing-insolvency/

That explains it. Been chasing them for a pi$$y little debt from last year, too small to even bother spending money and effort on. They eventually acknowledged it about a month ago, fat chance now I guess.

Cols

Fretwired said:

McLaren could fold and file for bankruptcy ....

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-facing-insolvency/

The Bahrainis will be bailing them out again.  Ricciardo must be feeling a bit stupid though.

McLaren poised to secure loan from National Bank of Bahrain https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/53169648

Fretwired

Cols said:

McLaren poised to secure loan from National Bank of Bahrain https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/53169648

Not quite. That's only to keep them solvent through the court case. I guess the creditors could decide to dump the business and sell the assets - there could be buyers for the F1 team and car business.

I feel for Ricciardo.

Cols

Slightly worrying that McLaren’s burn rate is so high; £291 million pumped into the group at the start of lockdown is already gone.

Fretwired

New Mercedes BLM livery for 2020 .... prefer the silver .. ho hum

Click on the pic to see a high-res full screen version.

stickyfiddle

That’s badass 

fretmeister

I like that a lot!

fretmeister

Might have to get some NowTV vouchers.

I wouldn't normally but there's not many races and I'd love to see some sport.

Fretwired

fretmeister said:

Might have to get some NowTV vouchers.

I wouldn't normally but there's not many races and I'd love to see some sport.

The Silverstone double-header should be good. I've read that Mercedes have already made some major improvements since testing. I hope this isn't a one-sided ride in the park for Hamilton.

stickyfiddle

All the teams moved the usual summer shutdown early and extended it, but have all been back "in the office" for a month so the top guys will all have been working very hard.

Haas have apparently confirmed no upgrades until they know what the calendar is really going to be. Presumably because they can only afford one targeted upgrade, so want to lock that in based on what tracks they'll be going to. And I'm guessing Williams just don't have any money for major upgrades. I'd really like to see Russell get some points this year if possible - he's so clearly talented and completely wasted in a car that slow.

Austria is usually very good for RB, so I seriously hope Merc and Ferrari can put up a fight and not just let Maz get 2 wins on the bounce at the start of the season - his fans will be insufferable. 

Cols

McLaren say all their financial problems have been solved.  It sounds a bit “everything’s fine” to me.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclarens-financial-problems-solved/