F1 2017 : All Chat Here

[mrloaf]

Ferrari are 10/1 for the 2017 constructors on Betfair, McLaren 17/1, might put on a wee sneaky bet for the crack

 

[DC.]

Might as well give it to me.

 

[mrloaf]

Might as well give it to me.

More wishful thinking on my part lol

 

[DC.]

And finally the Toro Rosso STR12

 

[FN2DAVE]

What the crack with the " halo" saftey device? Seen cars being tested with it last year during practice runs. Any word if it coming in full time? ?

 

[Deckz]

Hopefully not.

 

[svensktoppen]

Not this year at least. They went back to the drawing board on that. With any luck it will get quietly buried...

 

[FN2DAVE]

Why so? I know its open wheel racing but surely its the best option for head protection . ?? Massa accident with the spring hitting his helmet . And the jules bianci fatal . Yes rare occurrences . But it happens so why not have them?

 

[svensktoppen]

Jules would have been dead no matter what, even in an enclosed cockpit. There are much more effective solutions to that particular incident already introduced, to do with yellow flags rules, virtual safety car, etc.

Massa was a freak accident, nothing like it before or since.

The devices tested create other issues instead. Like getting out of the car quickly in case of an accident or fire, things that actually do happen in pretty much every single race. Visibility, which kind of matters a bit. Etc.

So do you add something to give the impression of "safety" to protect against some movie plot meteor strike, but might make things worse in the real world?

The whole "halo" thing appears to be a bit of a knee jerk reaction, and everyone now trying to extricate themselves, without actually saying it was perhaps not a great idea to start with when you think about it.

 

[weeloaney]

Was about about to say but svensktoppen beat me to it.

There is nothing they could do with regards to covering the drivers head that would have saved Jules. Even a steel cage round his head would have withstood that impact.

Also the the halo design may not have stopped Massa's incident either the bit of spring given it's just a high ring and a centre post. The spring would most likely have went past it o clipped it and still hit him.

Only thing the halo design may protects from is a roll over where that area would be directly hit be a barrier or wall which hasn't happened in modern F1 to my knowledge or another car sliding up the nose which is also very unlikely. Or as they test a wheel coming off which only happens after a wheel but doesn't go on but the wheel never flys off.

 

[DC.]

After Day 1 in Barcelona:

 

[svensktoppen]

Any particular reason why the Merc did so few laps, compared to Ferrari/Williams?

Just different test cycles?

 

[DC.]

Bottas drove in the morning then Hamilton took over. A race distance each using the same car

 

[PaulYDP]

Combined the Mercedes did the most laps. Worth noting though that the fastest time was set on the softs while Vettel set his fastest time on the mediums. Not that times at this stage mean much!

Not great start for McLaren or Red Bull both running in to difficulties and getting reduced running.

 

[DC.]

For comparison Hamilton's time yesterday was 3.2s quicker than the fastest time set on day 1 last year.

 

[DEEJAY.B]

Mercs take on the dreaded fin . . not that bad imo ..

 

[pablo]

it looks ok imo

 

[DC.]

It just looks like a fin but it's also a chimney. Rate of F1 development is crazy.

 

[PaulYDP]

Hamilton set his fastest lap running the press release engine cover and not the shark fin above. Be interesting to see how it all develops over the next week or two as they work out what actually is the fastest/most drivable solution.

 

[DC.]

Here's Ted Kravitz with all that happened yesterday:

WATCH: Ted's Notebook - F1 Testing, Day One!

 

[svensktoppen]

Looks like much the same so far. Mercedes ahead, Ferrari snapping at their heels but not quite there. Honda struggling. And no clear view on RB yet, dark horse as usual.

They are definitely faster though!

 

[PaulYDP]

I really don't understand the mandate to make the cars faster. Harder to drive, fair enough, as that could lead to more mistakes etc but you could make them harder to drive by taking off a lot of the trick aero and at the same time increase the chances of passing another car which is ultimately what we all want to see!

Watching a train of cars lap a track 4 seconds quicker than last year does not interest me at all. You never get a sense of speed on the TV anyway so it will make no odds to the biggest percentage of viewers. I'd rather see them lap a few seconds slower than last year but be able to pass if you are the faster car, not get stuck in the wake of a slower car and have to follow 1 second behind (or use fake DRS to have any chance).

 

[Gibbo]

Cars look more purposeful this year and sound a bit better too from what I've seen so far

 

[DC.]

Day 2 ends very much like Day 1. Ferrari & Mercedes both fast & reliable.

The Mercedes car covering a huge 168 laps. Race simulation for Bottas straight after lunch then just kept going.

McLaren struggle as Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen tops day two of Barcelona test

 

[DC.]

Ross Brawn speaking lots of sense about the future of F1

Ted’s Notebook: Test 1, Day 2