F1 2020 Thread

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

So a team that will be named Austin Martin will be running a car that is essentially a Mercedes. WTF?

Some of their road cars also are largely Mercedes ;-) (engine)

But WTF indeed. This is why the current row between Renault and Force india is interesting. The FIA will have to rule on how far they car go...
Take the engine, gearbox, and therefore rear end like HAAS with ferrari, be almost a satellite team like Alfa, or a full copy like Pink panther...
and...I forget who said this...but if it goes into appeal, it leaves the FIA and goes to a public tribunal, where the judge might be less F1-aware and rule that this is a BS copy pure and simple...
It might be fun... I personally wish it stopped at the engine, not a step further... it's F1, not Indycar (which is cool also, just not the same idea)

[sammyg2]

I remember back when I used to get excited about watching an f1 race, really looked forward to it. Now notsomuch.

F1 has become less interesting in the past 20 years as one team dominates for seasons at a time. The outcome of the race is so predictable there seems to be little reason to bother running it.
The back markers are not much more than moving chicanes despite the rising costs that threaten the existence of the series.

I'm no fan of spec series racing, but how do they fix F1?
One way is to allow teams to copy the cars of the big boys. that would reduce costs, or at least even them out, and would result in closer, more exiting racing and get more teams involved in the actual racing.

So I say make it OK to sell last year's designs to the lower teams, at least they'd have a shot of getting in the game and it would make it harder for one team to win every stinking race.

[Deschodt]

Bottas confirmed till end of 2021. Big whoop...

Also Kvyat wasn't at fault: mechanical issue overheated the rear rim which in turn damaged the tire and led to deflation.

[Noah930]

Any word on whether Verstappen's Red Bull was having tire wear problems at the end of the race? Not that it matters now, but I wasn't so sure he should have taken that last pit stop (after Bottas' tire failure). I understand why he did it, from a precautionary standpoint. But had Verstappen not taken that last pit stop, he likely would have won due to Hamilton's tire failure on the last lap. Then again, I don't have the telemetry in front of me to tell me if Red Bull was worried about that left front tire in the closing laps.

[Mahler9th]

"Any word on whether Verstappen's Red Bull was having tire wear problems at the end of the race?"

Yes: https://racer.com/2020/08/03/verstappens-tire-had-50-cuts-at-final-stop/

And on that same web site you can learn about what Pirelli has had to say:

https://racer.com/2020/08/04/pirelli-says-british-gp-tire-failures-wear-related/

[Noah930]

Interesting reads. I wonder if Red Bull had any inkling of those cut tires prior to actually seeing them--off Verstappen's car--in the pits.

[rfuerst911sc]

Perez's quarantine for Covid has ended but he tested positive again , Hulkenberg announced as fill in driver for this weekend . I hope he at least gets to start the race . He has stated he is in talks with several F1 teams for a full time position for next year , I can only hope one of those teams is Haas .

[Captain Ahab Jr]

https://www.planetf1.com/news/racing-point-lose-points-fined-for-illegal-brake-ducts/

[rfuerst911sc]

So RP has to pay a fine and lose some points but can continue to use the brake ducts for the rest of the year , F1 rules are interesting

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Brake ducts are incredibly complicated and time consuming things to design/manufacture

I'd have made them redesign them just on principle, would cost them more money and more importantly resource

Maybe even enough resource to make them lose an aero update which would cost them performance

Wouldn't surprise me if Renault appeal for a harsher penalty

[astrochex]

The fine is likely far less than the money tracing point saved on not having to design the brake ducts.

Pretty clever move RP.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

So RP has to pay a fine and lose some points but can continue to use the brake ducts for the rest of the year , F1 rules are interesting

"Yup.. Gotcha, but we kinda need ya to stay in the championship, so...."

Kinda like Ferrari's engine fuel flow sensor bypass slap on the wrist... illegal but we can't lose you, so now your engine will suckk for 2 seasons... Great isn't it ? Still, good to see Renault won on principle for all the true independants out there (just williams, mclaren and them).
I agree with the captain, would be nice to make them redesign them but I suppose all they'd have to do is modify them slightly, the genie is out of the box.

Now can Renault keep that up with another part each week ? for fun !

"Tracing point" - funny !!!

[rfuerst911sc]

I watched the second session of practice this morning Mercedes is in another time zone ! Racing Point were 5th and 6th so they have pace . Vettels car went kablamo puking oil on the track . Alfa is still lost along with Haas . McLaren looked decent fighting with Renault for mid pack .

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I watched the second session of practice this morning Mercedes is in another time zone ! Racing Point were 5th and 6th so they have pace . Vettels car went kablamo puking oil on the track . Alfa is still lost along with Haas . McLaren looked decent fighting with Renault for mid pack .

Looks like Vettel ran over curbs pretty hard before the failure. May have been driver induced.

[Deschodt]

F1's 70th Bday is not at peaceful as they'd want...

Reading that apparently a lot of teams are annoyed with the FIA's clemency towards the pink cars. Renault is considering an appeal, they have 24 hours to think about it and 96 hours to file, instead of the usual 1 hour.. They plan to appeal the punishment level, not the result. SAid that teams spend 20% of their time on aero development of such elements, and the punishment is nothing compared to the time and $ spent to gain such an advantage... Zak Brown was apparently particularly pissed off as well and Maclaren could appeal as well "they've been found guilty but can continue to use the parts. They always said they copied based on pictures, the ruling proves that was BS, the entire car is suspicious at this point". Even Williams who decided to bite their tongue until now is considering appealing. Binotto has the same thoughts re: level of punishment (ironic given their secret agreement) ..

Also Mercedes is nowhere near signing the new Concorde agreements - apparently even Ferrari is OK now (they must have kept some concessions like their vetos or some $$), but Mercedes is supposedly very dissatisfied about how their contribution to F1 is perceived and want more $ too... Toto says they're not ready to sign (they got the best car, the most famous driver) - F1 is saying "we talked to everyone, we're moving forward and won't be delayed in signing"... The mood is frosty ;-)

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Some of their road cars also are largely Mercedes ;-) (engine)

But WTF indeed. This is why the current row between Renault and Force india is interesting. The FIA will have to rule on how far they car go...
Take the engine, gearbox, and therefore rear end like HAAS with ferrari, be almost a satellite team like Alfa, or a full copy like Pink panther...
and...I forget who said this...but if it goes into appeal, it leaves the FIA and goes to a public tribunal, where the judge might be less F1-aware and rule that this is a BS copy pure and simple...
It might be fun... I personally wish it stopped at the engine, not a step further... it's F1, not Indycar (which is cool also, just not the same idea)

Another WTF is Aston Martin on the side of the Red Bull car, with a Honda powered car.

[Deschodt]

OK, brake duct done...
moving on to the front wing... then the mirror, then.... I mean it's a carbon copy ;-)

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Renault, McLaren and Ferrari all intend to appeal against Tracing Point's penalty

https://www.racefans.net/2020/08/07/racing-point-appeal/

[450knotOffice]

Side air intakes look totally different though.

[petrolhead611]

Side air intakes. The tracing paper slipped?