F1 car launches

[yellowperil]

Coming soon, Renault is out but not too much to see. Ferrari tomorrow, Friday, maybe something new there. Little over a month to Australia, so should be lots to see soon.

Hope for something new for McLaren too!

[Deschodt]

Red Bull. Ugly flat paint finish.... flat, like their results...

[TheMentat]

I get the impression that many (most?) of the teams are only doing livery launches this year (revealing the actual car at the Barcelona test).

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by TheMentat

I get the impression that many (most?) of the teams are only doing livery launches this year (revealing the actual car at the Barcelona test).

The ability to re-create the car from photos digitally was the end of debuting actual cars.

[yellowperil]

Originally Posted by TheMentat

I get the impression that many (most?) of the teams are only doing livery launches this year (revealing the actual car at the Barcelona test).

,

That's probably why the Renault looked so blah. Surprised so little is happening
so close (a few weeks) before season opener. Maybe things will heat up a bit from here on.

Still looking forward to tomorrow's Ferrari launch, hope it doesn't disappoint.

[javadog]

I don't think the Renault car livery is in its final form. Here's hoping they take a bigger page out of the past. At least I can tell Red Bull from Toro Rosso now.

JR

[rusnak]

I'm strangey excited about Haas and STR. McLaren has let me down too many times to get excited about them. I have to see reliability from Honda.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by TheMentat

I get the impression that many (most?) of the teams are only doing livery launches this year (revealing the actual car at the Barcelona test).

Originally Posted by Tervuren

The ability to re-create the car from photos digitally was the end of debuting actual cars.

Most F1 car launches are the actual 2016 car despite the massive inconvenience of a few missing hours while the photos are taken

The top teams cars are just not wearing the first iteration of race bodywork as the longer this can be left being developed in the wind tunnel the more performance can be found

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Haas story unfolds, they have a very solid base to build from considering how much help Ferrari have given them (done purely for ulterior motives of course). If they finish 10th place or higher it will be a dream start to hopefully a long campaign by what look to be a serious outfit.

There are rumblings from Italy of Alfa Romeo entering F1, maybe a branded Ferrari engine in the back of Haas would be good way of going about it.

I'm not sure who I will support this year as by choice I'm sitting on the sidelines. I may have to go for red or silver where most of my mates are or for my local team Viva la France or tow the company line and go for who is paying my mortgage

Renault will be the team to watch this year, they won't win anything but I'd put my house on their results steadily improving throughout the year. One thing for sure they won't get left behind during the development race through the season. Bob Bell is Chief Technical Officer, one of the best technical dudes in the business and a thoroughly pleasant and down to earth guy too. He was instrumental in Renault winning their last world championships and also building up the structure within Mercedes. This will be his 3rd time turning a team from being nowhere to world champions. It's not a quick process but if anyone can do it then Bob can.

[nota]

Barcelona test is TODAY and the next two days

link to on track test pictures

http://forums.autosport.com/topic/201230-f1-pre-season-testing-2016-barcelona-i-22-25-february/page-3

[yellowperil]

Thanks nota, great pictures of all the new cars on your video clip.

[rusnak]

The Manor looks great. The Ferrari is ugly.

I'm sort of scratching my head again over McLaren. There is a lot of original thinking on that car, and super detail. Will the car have "usable" downforce? Will it matter, given that the power deficit to Merc and Ferrari will handicap the car more than aero alone can made up?

That Merc looks like a tractor, but it sure does go. I think Merc will run away with it again. The only way to stop that is by making a more powerful engine, but the regs won't allow it.

It's going to be another boring season.

[nota]

Final lap count:
Hamilton - 156
Ericsson - 88 (in the 2015 Sauber)
Ricciardo - 87
Button - 84
Bottas - 80
Vettel - 69
Celis - 58
Sainz - 55
Wehrlein - 54
Palmer - 37
Grosjean - 31

Final times:
1) Vettel 1m24.939s
2) Hamilton 1m25.409s (+0.470s)
3) Ricciardo 1m26.044s (+1.105s)
4) Bottas 1m26.091s (+1.152s)
5) Celis 1m26.298s (+1.359s) (S)
6) Button 1m26.735s (+1.796s) (S)
7) Sainz 1m27.180s (+2.241s)
8) Ericsson 1m27.555s (+2.616s)
9) Wehrlein 1m28.292s (+3.353s) (S)
10) Grosjean 1m28.399s (+3.460s)
11) Palmer 1m29.356s (+4.417s)

just first day so doesn't mean much
Grosjean's front wing failed so limited running as no spares
TR had motor problem
but at least mac-honda got in some laps without blowing up

[Mark Henry]

I'm actually surprised Renault is still in, they stated that F1 was nothing but a loser for them not that long ago.
No recognition on cars using their engines, but given the blame for poor showing, cost a fortune, etc.

Now they're going balls deep?

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

I'm actually surprised Renault is still in

Renault as a company is doing better. Time has passed since the Singapour/Briatore black eye, and being an engine supplier only was not reaping any benefits marketing wise. Contractually they were set to stay as engine builders for a while longer anyway. They bought back a controlling share in the team for a single Euro I think + debts, and made sure to get historical payments from Ecclestone. So all in all it's not gonna be super expensive for Renault vs. just doing engines... (relatively speaking, of course, assuming sponsors, etc)

Might as well position themselves to reap some rewards *if* there are any to be reaped, as opposed to getting crumbs when RB wins and lots of crap when RB loses... They are realistically targeting good results in 3 years...

I'd LOVE to see them beat Red Bull but that's not going to happen for a few years. Still, I'd love to see the look in Helmut Marko's good eye.

[cockerpunk]

haas only 3.5 seconds off the pace is not bad at all.

[javadog]

I have to say, although I am a huge Ferrari supporter, I'll be just as happy to see Renault do well. I respect their history more than that of most teams, as they are one of the few that build engines, too. That gets more of my respect than all the teams like Williams, McLaren that are just chassis constructors. I'd really like to see them kick Red Bulls ass. It doesn't hurt that they are French, also, as I feel France has gotten the short end of the stick in modern F1. France has a great racing history and many modern fans probably have no idea about it.

You should seek out some videos of the old Matra V-12's and turn the sound up.

Renault just needs more yellow and white on their cars. I can't wait to see the final livery.

JR

[rusnak]

What's being French go to do with anything, unless it's hurling insults and flicking a lit cigarette into a cafe sidewalk over baguettes and espresso?

I am at peace with whoever has the best package wins. I don't even care anymore who wins, just that there is good hard racing.

[motion]

[javadog]

Originally Posted by javadog

France has a great racing history and many modern fans probably have no idea about it.

Originally Posted by rusnak

What's being French go to do with anything, unless it's hurling insults and flicking a lit cigarette into a cafe sidewalk over baguettes and espresso?

See what I mean? Clueless...

JR

[rusnak]

^ That kind of circular statement is tantamount to saying "believe me because I am talking".