The F1 thread

stickyfiddle

I am massively hoping for a massive Merc resurgence and #8 for Lewis.

I'm well convinced the zeropod is an advantage provided they can stop the flappy floor problems. With the new regs they have to have the floor edges a few mm higher so maybe that will be enough. 

Either way it's great that there are still 3 quite distinct concepts among the top 3 teams

Boromedic

fretmeister said:

It's interesting Merc have stuck with their zero pod design.
They must be happy with it as a concept.

They were getting much faster at the end of last season.

I really want LH to get his 8th.

For many reasons. The FIA cockup with MV's 1st win (I don't blame MV at all for that, he was just driving the car) is a factor, but also because it will be a pleasure to watch certain elements of society have a meltdown. Like Piquet Snr and others who continue to think the 'N' word is acceptable language.

Ditto to the LH 8th, just cos I'm a fan more than anything, but the FIA contriving Max's first title still rankles tbh. Plus the other reasons you said.

stickyfiddle

One notable thing on the Merc is these massive channels along the airbox towards the rear wing. Under previous regs that would block the rear wing too much but presumably it's channeling air to the top of the diffuser better and thus giving more downforce from the floor with less drag than getting it from the rear wing. The leaked shakedown pics of the Alpine showed similar architecture.

stickyfiddle

And to finish the set, Alpine:

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Nice to see they're bucking the trend of minimal paint/bare carbon to reduce weight. Have to say, the top one looks miles better.

fretmeister

I like the full pink paint job.

Far too many muted colours on the grid.
I want someone in the old Dyno-Rod dayglo orange and other similarly mad colours.

stickyfiddle

I miss the bright yellow Jordans. I still have my Damon Hill cap

Cols

The 97 Jordans were the best with the snake motif.  Mangling Benson and Hedges into Bitten and Hisses was a piece of marketing genius.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

fretmeister said:

I like the full pink paint job.

Far too many muted colours on the grid.
I want someone in the old Dyno-Rod dayglo orange and other similarly mad colours.

I'm not averse to a garish colour, but I think that livery is way too close to the last of the Force India cars, and I always hated them due to that shady Mallya character behind it all!

TimmyO

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

fretmeister said:

I like the full pink paint job.

Far too many muted colours on the grid.
I want someone in the old Dyno-Rod dayglo orange and other similarly mad colours.

I'm not averse to a garish colour, but I think that livery is way too close to the last of the Force India cars, and I always hated them due to that shady Mallya character behind it all!

Shady is part of F1 heritage. And current day. 

fretmeister

Oops!

stickyfiddle

Stroll to miss pre-season testing due to the team really wanting Fernando to have every waking moment in the car...?

chillidoggy

Fred's going to wipe the floor with him.

Cols

fretmeister said:

Oops!

Cycling accident.  Stroll, Alonso, Webber… you would think by now F1 drivers would have learned to steer clear of Lycra.

fretmeister

Testing has started!

I hope to god Merc are sandbagging otherwise they are 3 seconds off.

Cols

At this stage they’re all just easing the car along and checking the systems are working properly.  I doubt anyone’s going for a time.

Drugovich‘s Aston Martin made it all the way to turn 4 before expiring.  Hopefully Alonso has a smoother start in the afternoon.

stickyfiddle

Russell starting to wind up now - only 0.9 off the current best. Any margins less than that are meaningless so let's just keep fingers crossed

RiftAmps

The Ferrari looks to be the best on track so far, very planted and pointy. RB and Merc nowhere near as good.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Still seeing a little bit of porpoising from some of the cars. Nothing like last year of course, but thought that might have been gotten rid of completely with the rule changes.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

First session done. Max on top - sign of things to come? Reliability was very good for a first morning out, very few problems at all and a good amount of laps done...