The Formula 1 Thread

[Rocksuperstar]

It's interesting to see how Russell seems to be finding a bit of something in there though. I wonder if this is him bringing his experience of working a bit further down the field into play - he's had to work hard to get the Williams car competitive, while Lewis has spent quite a few seasons in a car that naturally has more to it, backed up by a much more experienced team in the garage. As much as Russell can learn from teaming with Lewis, It wouldn't surprise me if Lewis learns a few tricks from Russell this season as he gets to grips with a shitty car for the first time in a while.

 

[Delboy75]

Shame it clashes with West Ham Vs Chelsea. Really not sure what to watch.

 

[tobi]

Carlos Sainz can't catch a break

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Wow, lets hope that was Alonso damaged earlier in the race - the replay looked like it just went, see ya! and fell off

I'm looking at that thinking; gaffer tape

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Are they going to have to do a stint on slicks? 5 to 9 minutes until more rain, those intermediates will fall to bits the rate this track's drying up, everyone hunting for the wet parts

 

[Kingellesar]

Russell having a good race, Hamilton struggling.

Perez needs to hold up Leclerc for as long as possible and Max should be winning this.

 

[Thewobbler]

Shit race so far. DRS took to long to come in.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Paul Di Resta is as boring as this race. Insufferable prick.

 

[Thewobbler]

Come on lando.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

A few observations:

1. Mercedes got their design horribly wrong this year. I am not sure if that is the result of limited air tunnel testing, or something else. But, I don't think they anticipated the porpoising, and combined with the skinny side pods have left little room to improve (I suspect the easiest way to deal with porpoising is to raise the chassis, but that hurts downforce. The other teams are able to recapture some of that down force with their side pod designs, Mercedes does not have that option).

2. Despite #1, it definitely feels like Mercedes is quickly becoming George Russell's team. He has made the most of the bad design in the races, and looks to be well ahead of Hamilton in terms of being able to compete.

3. I know Hamilton was disappointed in how last season ended, but he does not seem to have the same edge that he has had for years. He looks more comfortable competing with Vettel again than threatening the leaders. While Russell was making moves towards the front, Lewis never seemed to be able to make any moves further back. I hope he does not hang on just to keep a midfield seat warm, maybe Mercedes can give him a better car next season, and he gets rejuvenated for one last chance at a title.

4. Although I am a Mercedes/Hamilton fan, I think its good for the sport for the next generation of drivers to really come to the forefront. Leclerc v. Verstappen looks to be a good battle. Add in Norris and Russell, and I think that is a good front-running group for the present/future.

 

[Thewobbler]

A few observations:

1. Mercedes got their design horribly wrong this year. I am not sure if that is the result of limited air tunnel testing, or something else. But, I don't think they anticipated the porpoising, and combined with the skinny side pods have left little room to improve (I suspect the easiest way to deal with porpoising is to raise the chassis, but that hurts downforce. The other teams are able to recapture some of that down force with their side pod designs, Mercedes does not have that option).

2. Despite #1, it definitely feels like Mercedes is quickly becoming George Russell's team. He has made the most of the bad design in the races, and looks to be well ahead of Hamilton in terms of being able to compete.

3. I know Hamilton was disappointed in how last season ended, but he does not seem to have the same edge that he has had for years. He looks more comfortable competing with Vettel again than threatening the leaders. While Russell was making moves towards the front, Lewis never seemed to be able to make any moves further back. I hope he does not hang on just to keep a midfield seat warm, maybe Mercedes can give him a better car next season, and he gets rejuvenated for one last chance at a title.

4. Although I am a Mercedes/Hamilton fan, I think its good for the sport for the next generation of drivers to really come to the forefront. Leclerc v. Verstappen looks to be a good battle. Add in Norris and Russell, and I think that is a good front-running group for the present/future.

Feel hamilton would have called it a day if he won the last race last year. Him being mugged off probably forced him to come back. At 37 how much more does he want to give? He seems really fed up with F1.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Something that I do think we may have underestimated was how much the spending cap will have affected Mercedes - to go from best part of $500m spend to $140m, a lot of cuts have been made somewhere. It's starting to look like maybe they tried to save a wee bit too much in testing.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Something that I do think we may have underestimated was how much the spending cap will have affected Mercedes - to go from best part of $500m spend to $140m, a lot of cuts have been made somewhere. It's starting to look like maybe they tried to save a wee bit too much in testing.

Maybe. But Red Bull and Ferrari would have had similar cuts.

Don’t forget that Red Bull hired a number of Mercedes engineers last year. And, while they did not move to Red Bull until April of this year, it’s unlikely that Mercedes had them working on any sensitive designed for this season - knowing they were leaving as soon as the season started. Loss of manpower/expertise probably hurt a little.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Maybe. But Red Bull and Ferrari would have had similar cuts.

Don’t forget that Red Bull hired a number of Mercedes engineers last year. And, while they did not move to Red Bull until April of this year, it’s unlikely that Mercedes had them working on any sensitive designed for this season - knowing they were leaving as soon as the season started. Loss of manpower/expertise probably hurt a little.

The thing that stands out for me though is that Ferrari & now Red Bull are using their own engines, giving them open season on building the engine around the car as much as the traditional way of going about it and putting them all on the same footing - that's what used to be Mercedes bread & butter, finding that golden combination and layout, that had the other teams scratching their heads.

Red Bull have had their issues with their brand new "powertrain" (that word still makes me laugh, I don't know why, it's just so... Macho!) but they've come straight in with a car that looks like it's got to grips with the new regs, and it's clear that Ferrari have put an incredible amount of effort into the F1-75, so it leaves me wondering what on earth Mercedes were doing for the whole off-season, with an engine they are already really familiar with.

On paper, they should've had the least amount of work to do - is it weight distribution? Is it aero? Is it those funky new massive rims/tyres? They haven't even said what's causing this porpoising which, combined with them running those lasers on the car as late as the third race of the season, leads me to think they don't know either.

 

[Nice One Cyril]

The thing that stands out for me though is that Ferrari & now Red Bull are using their own engines, giving them open season on building the engine around the car as much as the traditional way of going about it and putting them all on the same footing - that's what used to be Mercedes bread & butter, finding that golden combination and layout, that had the other teams scratching their heads.

Red Bull have had their issues with their brand new "powertrain" (that word still makes me laugh, I don't know why, it's just so... Macho!) but they've come straight in with a car that looks like it's got to grips with the new regs, and it's clear that Ferrari have put an incredible amount of effort into the F1-75, so it leaves me wondering what on earth Mercedes were doing for the whole off-season, with an engine they are already really familiar with.

On paper, they should've had the least amount of work to do - is it weight distribution? Is it aero? Is it those funky new massive rims/tyres? They haven't even said what's causing this porpoising which, combined with them running those lasers on the car as late as the third race of the season, leads me to think they don't know either.

Is the Red Bull Powertrain, still just a Honda engine built under licence?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Is the Red Bull Powertrain, still just a Honda engine built under licence?

They're technically Honda parts but, afaik, this year they're being put together by "Red Bull Powertrains"? Someone else can probably fill in the massive blanks.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Is the Red Bull Powertrain, still just a Honda engine built under licence?

They're technically Honda parts but, afaik, this year they're being put together by "Red Bull Powertrains"? Someone else can probably fill in the massive blanks.

For the moment - I think they are actually still just Honda motors, not fully transferred to Red Bull. There is a bit of a concern over the new engine regs for 2026, and whether Volkswagen get involved as a constructor (Porsche and/or Audi) - and as part of that there would be a Cap-ex exception to the budget for any "new" constructor to allow them to build facilities and get up to speed. I think the rumors are that Red Bull would partner with one, while McLaren would partner with the other. Red Bull want to make sure they get the advantage of a "new" constructor before they commit to fully producing the powertrains.

Volkswagen are waiting on the engine regs to be finalized in June, I think, before they commit to coming into F1.

 

[Delboy75]

Audi and Porsche to enter F1 not sure if it’s as a team or engine supplier.

 

[tobi]

Audi and Porsche to enter F1 not sure if it’s as a team or engine supplier.

Audi wants to buy McLaren, its been rumoured for months.

Porsche wants to link up with Red Bull.

 

[mr ashley]

Audi wants to buy McLaren, its been rumoured for months.

Porsche wants to link up with Red Bull.

Finally catching up with Drive to survive- would it be easy to get in with haas?
Would have thought that after sacking mazepin that they are struggling for money