F1 Formula 1 Gossip

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F1 testing round-up: Have Ferrari really got the measure of Mercedes?

Want a headline from two weeks of Formula 1 pre-season testing? Here it is: Ferrari look like genuine challengers to world champions Mercedes. They might even be faster.

Two weeks before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, that is the inescapable conclusion from the best evidence after eight days of testing at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The usual caveats apply - it's very hard to determine an exact competitive order from testing because the teams do not reveal the specifications their cars are running in, and variables such as fuel load and engine mode make a huge difference to performance.

But while there is inevitably a margin for error in every assessment made on the basis of testing, some things are clear - the Ferrari looked good out on track, and its lap times were genuinely impressive. Even Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said so.

 

[t-tony]

And, they did similar last year and didn't win one race ..................................... Hope Raikonnen wins but I can't stand Vettel when he gets all smarmy after winning.

Tony.

 

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On the differences between past and current F1 regimes, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said: "We were running a five-star Michelin restaurant, not a hamburger joint. But maybe now the cuisine will be more accessible. Maybe it will even have a better taste."

New F1 chief executive Chase Carey says the sport has "really not been managed to its full potential", adding that engineers have overtaken the drivers, so there is a need to "push the drivers back to the forefront".

Red Bull racer Max Verstappen has calmed expectation around the team as he believes they are "not good enough yet to win" going into the season opener in Australia on Sunday, 26 March.

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo, 27, does not expect to be challenging for the Formula 1 title this season as he believes Mercedes still hold the edge.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Red Bull have "seen ghosts" if they think the Mercedes engine is breaking the rules over oil burning. Red Bull wrote to the FIA to clarify if the engine was using an illegal method during qualifying.

Nico Rosberg, who retired after becoming world champion last season, wants to stay involved in motor racing but the German says he "won't be coming back as a driver, no way".

Bottas has signed a one-year deal with Mercedes and the German team's non-executive chairman Niki Lauda says it "is not our plan" to try to sign Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel for the 2018 season.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Formula One fans should be excited by the new cars which have been introduced for the 2017 season.

 

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Malaysian Grand Prix: Sepang to drop off F1 calendar after 19 years of racing

The decision, announced by F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches, comes after the country's government questioned the value of the race.

The American said that the F1 calendar would have 21 races in 2018, despite the loss of the south-east Asian event.

The French Grand Prix returns after a 10-year absence and Germany is back on after dropping off in 2017.

 

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New rules could allow Formula 1 race through the streets of London - giving Britain a £100 MILLION post-Brexit boost.

Formula 1 cars could soon be racing through the streets of London in a Monaco-style grand prix after a change in public roads rules.

From Monday motorsports will be allowed on public roads in England for the first time.

The changes pave the way for a wide variety of motoring fixtures to apply for permission to shut public highways in England, from small-scale local events to international races such as a city-based grand prix.

 

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The so-called 'Verstappen rule' outlawed moving under braking while defending a position but has been dropped for 2017.

Max Verstappen does not lack for confidence. Just starting his third season in Formula 1, with one win under his belt, the 19-year-old Red Bull driver has no doubts about his ability.

Could he beat Lewis Hamilton in the same car, he is asked towards the end of a BBC Sport interview before the Bahrain Grand Prix?
"Probably I will sound really arrogant, but for sure," the Dutchman says.

But while he is clearly an exceptional talent, he says he does not see himself in that way.

"No, I don't think about things like that," he says. "You also very quickly get an arrogant thing about you when say things like that and I don't want to."
"Of course I am doing a good job, but you can always improve and I just leave it up to people outside, around me or whatever, to judge on that. I just want to do the best I can every time."

His defensive driving tactics angered several more established stars, especially Vettel.
Verstappen says he was not bothered by the criticism.

"No, everyone can have their own opinion," he says. "But it is very clear they [F1's bosses] wanted the racing back. Overtaking is one thing. That is an art. But defending as well. You should be able to defend your position. That's what I was doing. I am happy that there is a bit more freedom to it."
"They basically said they had never seen it before," Verstappen says. "It was all a bit new to them. But I never got a penalty for it. So I never really thought I was doing anything wrong. It was definitely on the limit and hard but that's how racing should be, I think."

 

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Friday, 28 April

Valtteri Bottas claims he will move over for Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton if circumstances demand in Russia.

Haas has confirmed that it will start the Russian Grand Prix this weekend with Carbon Industrie brakes, before making a decision whether to keep them on both its cars.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says his team's era of dominance in F1 is over.
Lewis Hamilton said he "screwed up" at the Bahrain Grand Prix, as he lost more ground on early leader Sebastian Vettel.

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel says the changes made during a winless season last year have been crucial to the team's strong start to 2017.

Formula 1 bosses will clamp down on oil being illegally burned as fuel in qualifying, after Red Bull raised suspicions of other teams using the tactic in pre-season.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone appears far from happy with how the sport is being run.

 

[Brian H]

Bernie has had his day, he sold out, I'm always surprised at the warmth the teams and drivers have for him, I think he is a sleazy old bloke.......rich but sleazy.

 

[t-tony]

I agree Brian, he's has his day. He sold up, now he should walk away or just shut the hell up, it's not his toy any more.

Tony.

 

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A Bugatti Grand Prix car in a future vision of F1

DESIGN EMOTION

BUGATTI 101P | THE STORY OF A FUTURE F1 CONCEPT​

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....and then Derek turned to Ken and said "Hold on mate...I think I've got an idea".

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Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out following former team-mate Nico Rosberg into retirement at the end of the 2017 season, claiming it would not change his "legacy".

 

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Here's the provisional F1 calendar for 2018, in map format.
Nice triple header with France, Austria and Silverstone one after another.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1493002874090310

View: https://www.facebook.com/badgergp/videos/1493002874090310/
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Would you like to see this in 2018 ??

 

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Force India could soon be known as Force One......

The Force India Formula 1 team has taken the first steps towards a possible re-branding as Force One.

 

[andyglym]

Force India could soon be known as Force One......

View attachment 59508​

The Force India Formula 1 team has taken the first steps towards a possible re-branding as Force One.

Fox Force One, to coin a phrase Ketchup
Lateral but I'm sure some will get it

 

[t-tony]

After the fallout from the Azerbaijan grand prix in Baku, today there are two very contrasting stories in the news.

1. http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/form...er-lewis-hamilton-clash/ar-BBDFQFE?li=BBoPWjQ

and,

2.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/40488056

I wonder which is correct?

Tony.

 

[andyglym]

After the fallout from the Azerbaijan grand prix in Baku, today there are two very contrasting stories in the news.

1. http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/form...er-lewis-hamilton-clash/ar-BBDFQFE?li=BBoPWjQ

and,

2.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/40488056

I wonder which is correct?

Tony.

2, I suspect.

 

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1.
Looks like Vettel had a bit of road rage going on there.....

2.
"I want to apologise to Lewis directly, as well as to all the people who were watching the race,
I realise that I was not setting a good example"...........

 

[t-tony]

IF 2 is correct he's been a very lucky boy.

Tony.