Formula 1 The F1 jibber jabber thread.

[JingleBells]

New Season, New Thread!

 

[Gumbo]

Nah, keep this one alive, it's been going since 2009.

 

[ECA]

One of my rl friends is a bit of a hater, and doesn't like lewis hamilton, I posit that it's because he's a colossal racist.

Who's right?

 

[Krazeh]

One of my rl friends is a bit of a hater, and doesn't like lewis hamilton, I posit that it's because he's a colossal racist.

Who's right?

It's probably either that or simple jealousy of his talent.

 

[ECA]

Kobayashiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

 

[ECA]

I thought Ferrari and Mercedes were going to be fast this season?

 

[Krazeh]

Hamilton in second with a KERS failure on his timed lap. Don't know how McLaren managed it but it's an amazing start to the season given their performance in pre-season testing.

 

[JBP|]

I'm waiting to see how Hamiltard manages his tyres as he said pre seasson he was struggling to get 9 laps out of them thats gonna mean at least 4 stops per race compared to 3 for everyone else

 

[Kryten]

Interestingly enough since the last minute fixes to the McLaren it appears to be better on it's tyres than pretty much anyone else on the field. But those Pirelli's do look tastefully shite

 

[JBP|]

Maybe or perhaps it's just due to the low track temp

 

[Deebs]

What new rules came in this year to slow down F1 ?

 

[leviathane]

le mans style starts, with a twist. Drivers start naked and have to get dressed, before running to their cars and starting the race.

 

[Embattle]

Formula 1

 

[caLLous]

Decent enough race to start the 2011 season off. I don't know why Button didn't pit right after he gained that advantage, thus letting the two Ferraris through and avoiding any penalty. It just seemed like the best play at the time, seeing as he was approaching the window for the first pit stop anyway. It was pretty obvious (imo, from the helicopter replays) that he had gained an advantage and would have to give the place back. Whitmarsh said they asked the stewards what they should do and didn't get a reply and then they were told it was under investigation. It was very "Ferrari" (read: devious and slightly underhanded) for the two to close up and try to take advantage of the situation, though (although I expect others would have done the same).

A good performance from Hamilton, assuming he can hold onto the place after his car is inspected. Well done to Petrov too, first podium in only his 2nd year. Also a good showing from the debutants.

DRS didn't seem to make much of a difference, I had no idea its use was so restricted either. It can only be used if you are within a second of the car in front at a certain point. Then you have to wait for the DRS line (for want of a better name) before you can activate it, and the car in front isn't allowed to use theirs. Seems like something extra for the stewards to police that doesn't (on the evidence of today) really make the sport any more exciting although I expect there will be tracks where it will be more influential.

 

[leviathane]

yea, didn't realise myself drs was so restricted til racetime came. I originally thought they'd be able to use drs whenever they wanted.

 

[Wij]

Boring race imo.

 

[ECA]

I thought it was a pretty decent first race, as it was interesting how the teams were doing, the new regulations etc.

Also the F1 forum after the race was really good.

 

[leviathane]

boring race, hehe imagine if bahrain was actually on. Now that would of been a boring race. I thought it was a decent start to the season tbh doesn´t give away too much of how the season will unfold yet either.

 

[megadave]

YouTube - SENNA International Trailer

 

[caLLous]

A summary of the new changes taken from the official media kit for the race in Australia...

LET’S BEGIN BY BIDDING FAREWELL TO WHAT’S GONE.
That starts with Bridgestone, replaced for 2011-12-13 by Pirelli as sole supplier of tyres in F1. Also out: double diffusers, which were there to generate downforce at the rear of the cars… adjustable front wings… the notorious F-duct… and wheel spokes.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT’S IN?
First, Pirelli. The Italian marque was last seen in the World Championship in Australia at the end of the 1991 season. That was the year in which Nelson Piquet, driving a Benetton-Ford, scored the last of Pirelli’s 42 Grand Prix victories to date, in Canda. What adjustments will Pirelli’s arrival entail for the drivers? One adjustment has already been made within the framework of the rules, and that is a mandatory weight distribution system. This stipulates a range of 45.5% -- 46.7% at the front, while the rear must bear 53.3% -- 54.5%.

Still on wheels, the number of tethers used to minimise the risk of wheels and wheel assemblies breaking loose on impact has been doubled: there are now 16 on each car.

In sporting terms, Pirelli’s arrival means no change to the tyre allocation: there must be two dry-weather compounds available at each race, one intermediate and one wet-weather. Each driver has 11 sets of dry-weather tyres at his disposal, four ‘inters’ and three ‘wets’.

Second, KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). Introduced in 2009, outlawed by the teams themselves in 2010, KERS is back, though not mandatory. Tactical deployment will be the key, while the applicable limits – around 80 bhp’s worth of additional energy in a 6.66-second per lap burst – remain the same. It is essential to bear in mind that the packaging of the KERS system within the car will remain the problem, even more so than in `09: back then refuelling was allowed so the size of fuel tanks could vary, but now that mid-race refuelling is out, tanks are bigger and on-board space is at more of a premium than ever.

Third, adjustable rear wings. The driver, using a button on his steering-wheel, can now open the gap between the elements of his rear wing from 10mm to 50mm to reduce ‘drag’. Use of the device is unrestricted in practice and qualifying; in the race it can be used only when the driver is within one second of the car in front at a point on the track determined by the FIA. Experts believe this may be worth as much as 20 km/h on a long straight.

Other notable changes: a gearbox must now last for five consecutive races, otherwise a grid penalty is incurred (one ‘joker’ change is allowed)… minimum weight is increased to 640 kilos with the driver on board… and a driver whose best time in Q1 is not within 107% of the session’s best time will not be allowed to start the race.

 

[Jupitus]

Axis Of Oversteer: Is Red Bull's front wing flexing again?


Here we go again

 

[ECA]

Dirty Dirty drinks company

 

[ST^]

Those red lines are intentionally misleading. The McLaren wing is obviously not "straight" so why draw a straight line? Fucking retards.

 

[Aph3x]

Just watched the quali for Malaysia on BBC I player and wow, can not wait for tomorrows race, so close at the top!

I wasnt sure if I would set my alarm clock to wake up for it tomorrow but after watching that I will be !

 

[Krazeh]

Hoping both McLarens get off the line better than they did last week and we can see how Vettel and Red Bull stand up when they actually have to race for the win.

 

[JingleBells]

I believe I can fly:

 

[Deebs]

I believe I can fly:

That was funny as hell, hopefully no back damage to Petrov.

 

[Kryten]

Not a bad race. Alonso wins spanner of the day award. Cracking drive from Petrov again tbh but glad to see Heidfeld back up there, even if it was by fluke

 

[kirennia]

Good race all round, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done Lotus it's gotta be said, being just behind the Toro Rossos at the end

Silly Hamilton weaving and Alonso hitting him (at different times) ended up with both of them getting penalties, lol.

Roll on China

 

[Gumbo]

Watch the first 10 seconds of this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/94532
82.stm and tell me why Vettel didn't get a penalty if Lewis did.