2015 F1 Thread

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Buzzard

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Apparently next year, double points for the final race are no longer.

I also hear that when a safety car comes out, cars will start from the grid.
This could be interesting come the first corner.

There are other issues to consider too such as strain on the clutch, drivers who are not good starters could find themselves back a few places.

What do my fellow F1 AFFers have to say?
 
I think standing restarts are a stupid idea from the point of view of car reliability/overheating/restarting issuses and gearbox glitch history - some cars struggle to do one standing start at the begining of the race so asking them to do 2,3, or even 4 restarts is asking for more reliability issues and retirements.

I assume the standing restart is to avoid the other stupid 'cars being allowed to unlap them selves' when safety car is deployed that eats up precious laps that could be racing? Thats another stupid rule that need to change.

I can see the motivations of FIA to try to 'even up' the field a bit so that one particular car does not dominate the season, I think thats why they tried the double points as they were expecting Vettel and Red Bull to have the entire season in the bag by July 2014, as it happens - of course Mercedes actually had the team championship in the bag in Jan 2014, so all we really saw was a drivers championship year between Hamilton and Rosberg with a some other drivers (like Ricciardo, Massa, Bottas, Alonso, Vettel and Button) driving the wheels off their very ordinary cars to get the 3rd place. It is strange that with the tweaks that the other teams were allowed this season that they still were about 10% slower than the Mercedes works team in at the start of the season and never really gained anything by the end of the season. That to me either says something about the brilliance of the Mercedes chassis and engine, or says to me that not enough tweaking of cars is allowed during the season (presumably to contain costs), or all the team developers simply gave up and started working on their 2015 cars.


I think a funny/silly idea would be all cars are designed with a common engine bay configuration and clutch plate point. Engine manufacturers would dsign to these and then put their names in a hat to be drawn at random by the teams at the start of the year - that would make the teams responsible for aerodynamics/downforce, suspension setup, steering etc but they wouldn't know and would have no control over which engine they get to run until pre-season testing. Would also make drivers changing teams even more of a gamble than it already is!
 
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Re: 2014 F1 thread.

From Official F1 web site:

Formula One racing's governing body the FIA has published a number of rule changes and a revised 21-round calendar for the 2015 world championship, following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Doha on Wednesday.

The expanded calendar now features a provisional slot for Korea, which hosted four Grands Prix between 2010 and 2013. The Asian country is slated to host the fifth round of next year's championship on the first weekend of May.

China meanwhile is now set to host the third round of the championship, immediately before the F1 fraternity travels to Bahrain.

Alongside the calendar changes, the FIA confirmed a number of changes to the 2015 sporting regulations. The double points regulation brought in for 2014 will be dropped, as will the proposal for standing starts after safety car periods. Meanwhile the virtual safety car system trialled in the wake of Jules Bianchi's crash in Japan will be formally introduced in 2015. The FIA also announced the findings of its ten-man accident panel surrounding Bianchi's crash.

The FIA has also tweaked engine-related penalties. A full power unit change will no longer result in an automatic penalty; instead penalties will be applied coughulatively based on the individual components of each power unit. Grid penalties will no longer roll over into subsequent races: should a driver be unable to take the full penalty, the remainder will now be applied in the form of time penalties during the relevant race.

A new ten-second penalty meanwhile has been created in addition to the existing five-second rule.

The procedure for lapped cars under safety cars has also been modified: while lapped cars will be allowed to pass the safety car and unlap themselves, the safety car will no longer have to wait until they have rejoined the back of the grid.

Finally, several changes were made to the 2015 technical regulations, including a rise in minimum weight to 702kg, new limitations on wind tunnel testing, tweaks to the rules concerning suspension layouts and improved survival cell protection.



Good to see Korea back in the calender. Most of the rule changes seem pretty sensible. Killing off the idea of double points and the standing restarts is good news. Will be interesting to see how the "lapped cars unlapping themselves but safety car under no obligation to wait for them to get to the back of the pack" plays out.
 
Re: 2014 F1 thread.

I believe Korea is only there for 'technical reasons', and that the race won't actually happen. In 2015, each driver was to receive only 4 complete power units for the whole season (opposed to 5 in '14), as long as the season remained at 20 races or fewer. With 21 on the calendar, they will be entitled to 5, even if the races don't all occur.

I read that this was a simpler method than amending the regulations - you've probably all read about the engine regulation/unfreeze impasse over the last few weeks.
 
Re: 2014 F1 thread.

The Korea announcement seems very weird
- appears they weren't told
- Korea return takes race organisers by surprise | Formula 1 | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1
- just can't see them getting ready in time.

Double Points - good riddance

Safety Car
- Good idea in theorey, would have been better to have them drop back though and manually add a lap to their counter however.
- Will also only if they let them lap early on in the piece, and ensure they get at least some distance ahead.
-- That said with the VSC I am not sure you need the SC, apart from Bernie wanting to compress the grid again and take away the advantage of any drivers who have created a gap

Engine penalty tweaks
- With more mature powerplants this year wouldn't expect teams to get in the same amount of trouble.
 
Ok just an update to my trip to the F1 in Abu Dhabi Mel Sin why on Qf Sin dbx j on ek dxb to hkg j on ek hkg mel why

The nitty parts Sing ok for visit for a week would not rush to go back
absolutely loved Honk Kong would go back in a heart beat
I arrived in Dubai mid Wed morning transfer to Abu Dhabi 10 min from track in fact over looking track and Ferrari world on entering my brother in-laws unit I noticed a F1 pass with the important words of VIP across the top here we go at least I can get into the track
Thursday morning I head of to the track at 10.am as there is no F1 cars on the track I would like to see where my seat is and what others perks I have! after all I have the ticket
Access into track and onto pit lane general walk around enjoying the lovely entertainment and rather smallish crowd thinking that this will be rather nice week end
head home at approximately 6 pm for tea and a little rest as Friday is the race start Day
Friday Morning Head to track at 10.am with my ticket and upon entering gate was told that we don't have your ticket down in the book OMG my ticket has VIP across the top please check again sorry sir we will get someone to help you now your talking So along comes a lovely lady in her golf buggy and says to me how can I help you well I say I have this ticket but your staff cannot see it in their book Oh that's because your ticket is for Yass Marina and that's were you be placed but of course what was I thinking
So of we go in the buggy to the marina were I am directed to the concierge of the marina so after fighting my way through the crowds of people demanding spare tickets I ask the nice lady which gate I go into to watch the practise sessions Oh sorry Sir this ticket only allows into the Marina it has No track access wtf I have just come half around the world to see the F1 and you tell me that I can see them yes that is right you must be on a yacht I our Marina o that's get I would like to watch the F1 not sit of some boat for the day which boat am I on I ask not sure I will check your ticket for you would you mind stepping to the side and I will attend to you asap Mean while the fellow next to me was in fits of laughter as I was explaining to this lovely lady I would much rather watch cars so he graciously offered me to accompany him to his friends yacht oh well I hope there a big screen around some where I think as we head of on the buggy
Well we pull up in front of this 100 foot so called yacht and I take of my shoes and promptly was given a glass of bubbly There is a god I believe and so I spent the best day of my life relaxing and enjoying the finer things in life
Yes I did manage to see practice and the support gp's from a big screen close by so all in all I made the best of the Day and got home at about 9pm
Sat Qualifying
My Brother in law arrives home and says he left the tickets at work we just pick them up and you can head of to the track great I think could my body survive another day on a yacht so once we arrive at his office he proceeds to present me with lanyards wrist bands a spare mobile phone in case we get lost? I will see you latter have a good time
I arrive at the track again and walk up to gate awaiting to be admitted the security fellow asked if I new were I was sitting I said no idea so once again a lovely lady was called to assist me but this time it was different
Sir You have two grand stand passes for both sides of the track you have Paddock club access and a special ticket so were would like go now you are talking I am feeling a bit hungry so I head to the paddock club for refreshments
well I can say I never left this area a full open bar excellent food and so many freebies it was mind blowing this was all above the pits so managed to get some great shots great racing of the lower cars but the qualifying session is unbelievable crowd is louder than cars almost most yelling for Hamilton and button the whole session was electric especially on dusk around this beautiful track under lights
So after the session Finished my brother in law rings me to say that he is at the Yass Viceroy with my sister in law and he has organised a car to pick me up and a pass with be at the desk for me so of I wonder thinking I have had another truly great day when I discover a black merc with a driver holding up my name well lead on I say would sir like a refreshment for the trip oh if you insist so I we head to the hotel and what a hotel it is there was a queue at least 1 km long at the front but my driver goes to the side and I am escorted inside were once again I am given another collection of lanyards and wrist bands by now I am walking with my neck facing the ground I pass through some security check and hello I am in the Mumm VIP area oh well more bubbles and canopies I finally catch up with my brother and sister in law who I might add are taking all this in their stride mean while my eyes are hanging out of my head at such opulence well I just watch the gp 2 and talk to a few people and before I know it is 12pm well my sister in-law is tired and its time to go so one last Mumm and off home in a limo we go
Sun race day
Sleep in as track does not open until 12 midday so my brother in laws says he will catch up at about 3 for the start of the race you go of and enjoy yourself so armed with my lanyards and wrist band for Sunday I head off hoping for another great day this time I discover that I have no paddock access but the choice of 2 grand stands one with out alcohol the other with an open bar it was going to be along day I could see so after some brunch and more Mumm I did a walk through merchandising and watched a couple of driver signing but the queue was so long so I wandered back in case they ran out of Mumm
The pre race entertainment was great the cars coming out to the grid was good the drivers pre lap was also sensational the whole F1 show was rolling on and them the race started and Hamilton hit the lead the crowd went wild and continued to roar each time he came down pit straight pit stops were so quick that by the time you even got the camera ready they were gone there was drama after drama towards the end the crowds started yelling for Massa who seemed to catching up but once Hamilton had won there was a mad rush up to the podium to view the proceedings
It was then my brother in law said to me he was going back to the Viceroy the have dinner with some work colleges and that he had organised for me to head to the Marina to have dinner on the yacht that I was really meant to be on on Friday he will ring me when he is finished oh yeas I think so at about 9.30pm my phone rings it is my brother in law telling me that we are going to see the WHO what I don't have a ticket don't worry it is all taken care of just get up to Ferrari world asap your tickets are waiting!
so once again I am loaded with more lanyards and wrist bands and are directed to the VIP area at the front of stage were the Who have just started pinball wizard I must be in heaven as I am given another Mumm for the next two hours I was transfixed at watching a band that I will probably never see again It was then my brother in law said we are going to a after race party and the limo is waiting out the front oh if I must so I believe that this time we went to the Radisson top floor for what was the most out and out intro into the lives of the rich and famous
So for 7 days I had what I believe to be a very small insight to exclusive F1 scene and for that I thank my brother in law very much
ps I have put a couple of photos up as well the last photo sums up the WHOLE experience
 

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Sounds like a great experience Bali Belly, and a very well connected Brother in Law.
 
Im gobsmacked, brilliant Bali Belli.

Had a similar experience in the USA a very long time ago.
 
Wow, how have I not noticed this thread before? This is fantastic!

Looking forward to another big year. The new RB11 pics surfaced online overnight. Essentially the same except for the front wing which looks much more streamlined.

Several weeks out and I am looking forward to my first F1 race in Melbourne. Fingers crossed for good weather and a Ricciardo victory.
 
Cars on the whole look a lot similar this year thanks to the new nose regs.

Some teams do more of a dip while others are dead flat, and a mix of curved ends and small protrusions

VET topped Day 1 at Jerez in a Ferrari, Sauber! 2nd and RIC in 3rd. Still early days

Love the new McLaren Honda livery - great mix of Honda from the old days and recent McLaren
 
Agree, love the new Honda influenced livery. Most of the vehicles are very easy on the eye (most, not all!)
 
So who's going to the opening GP?

Think I'll be watching from the lunge room this year but would like to get to an OS round this year.. anyone been to the Chinese GP?
 
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