F1 2019

[Stratman]

Might as well get one going as there's a bit of news.

Arrivabene replaced as Ferrari team principal

Maurizio Arrivabene has been replaced as Ferrari team principal by former technical boss Mattia Binotto, sources close to the team say.

The news, first reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, comes after Ferrari failed to win either title in 2018 amid a series of driver and management errors.

Ferrari were not immediately available for comment on the development.

Insiders say the decision was made by Ferrari president John Elkann shortly before the Christmas break.

Arrivabene, 61, had been boss of the t

Lauda back in hospital

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda is in hospital in Vienna with influenza, five months after having a lung transplant.

It is understood doctors are taking every precaution given the serious nature of Lauda's surgery.

Austrian Lauda, 69, was given his transplant in August after doctors found he had "severe lung disease".

Doctors said after the transplant that he would have had between three and seven days to live without the surgery.

 

[GeeJayW]

I'd already seen that Lauda had been admitted to hospital and hope he is able recover well and soon.

Hadn't seen that Maurizio had been replaced, but not really surprised.

 

[grober]

Virtually all lung transplant patients take immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection. This makes them particularly susceptible to opportunist infections such as influenza. Lets hope he makes a rapid recovery.

 

[bob6600]

The 2019 F1 Race Calendar

March 17 Melbourne Australia
March 31 Sakhir Bahrain
April 14 Shanghai China
April 28 Baku Azerbaijan
May 12 Barcelona Spain
May 26 Monaco Monaco
June 9 Montreal Canada
June 23 Le Castellet France
June 30 Spielberg Austria
July 14 Silverstone Great Britain
July 28 Hockenheim Germany
August 4 Budapest Hungary
September 1 Spa-Francorchamps Belgium
September 8 Monza Italy
September 22 Singapore Singapore
September 29 Sochi Russia
October 13 Suzuka Japan
October 27 Mexico City Mexico
November 3 Austin USA
November 17 Sao Paulo Brazil
December 1 Yas Marina Abu Dhabi

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Another year of boring procession, with pole sitters (MB or Ferrari) almost guaranteed to win and dominated by three teams with the odd flash of fun when one of the other teams wins / podiums........what is the point when the top 3 teams are lapping the rest of the field by 2/3 of the race distance.

No fun anymore and I've been watching motor racing since I was a kid in the 50s with my dad but stopped being a F1 supporter a couple of years ago.

Now find Moto GP more interesting.

 

[fabes]

They're trying to push Formula E again this year I see......
Haven't watched an F1 race in full for years now and I WAS a fan. Still feel that allows me to comment on this as I still hold out hope for an interesting season ......
Will the 2020 reg changes help?

 

[bob6600]

Hopefully the 2019 changes will help this year

 

[LTD]

I’d like to see Formula E get run on an existing F1 track rather than the street circuits.

 

[Chrishazle]

I'm with Roryquinn - it's one of the 2 reasons I switched from Sky to BTTV a couple of years ago (the other being European footie) plus I get Superbikes - World and British. Much more interesting than F1 processions!! Only problem I have is that the BTTV Freeview box does not like a strong signal for HD, even on BB channels, so I have to watch most things in SD.

 

[bpsorrel]

Free to view mainstream TV would help. I'll bet even the loss of just 10 races on C4 will hit the viewing figures a lot!

 

[GeeJayW]

I’d like to see Formula E get run on an existing F1 track rather than the street circuits.

I don't think they'll do it because the Formula E cars have much less downforce and lap times will be rubbish compared to F1 cars.

As for the top F1 teams trouncing the lower tier teams, when was it ever any different?

 

[190]

Only problem I have is that the BTTV Freeview box does not like a strong signal for HD, even on BB channels, so I have to watch most things in SD

Surely you could fit an attenuator as they used to do when needed on old fashioned terrestrial TV.

 

[st13phil]

Free to view mainstream TV would help. I'll bet even the loss of just 10 races on C4 will hit the viewing figures a lot!

IMO, F1 moving from free to air TV in the UK will have disastrous long-term consequences for the whole F1 industry in the UK.

 

[Chrishazle]

Surely you could fit an attenuator as they used to do when needed on old fashioned terrestrial TV.

I've tried 3,6 and 9Db, makes a difference for a short while then problem recurrs. Common problem apparently from what I've seen on the BTTV forum. annoying that, after all the reports on that forum, BT have not had the manufacturer sort out their Youview boxes.

 

[Steveml63]

Hi,
To make F1 interesting again - we need refuelling in the race.
Tyre changes alone are just too slick and mistakes are rare.
Refuelling puts a lot more variance into the race mathematics simulations - fuel load vs tyre wear, fuel weight vs lap times etc.
Also more chance for mistakes by the pit crews, equipment failure and the odd flare up!
Bring back refuelling!
Cheers
Steve

 

[brucemillar]

As a lifetime fan of F1 including some involvement in the sport. I now find myself drifting away (if not to sleep).

Simply put. The end product, the bit the vast majority of the watching paying public get to see is boring. The reasons are many and varied but the end result is the same = boredom and dropping viewing figures/numbers.

In the US motorsport is thriving with massive live support and huge tv audiences. This on a much lower tech budget and races decided by overtaking rather than lawyers and pushing the rule book.

I think we have a lot to learn from the US and need to do so quickly or face seeing the sport just fizzle out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stratman]

McLaren appoint new F1 boss

McLaren have appointed German Andreas Seidl as the new boss of their struggling Formula 1 team.

Seidl's recruitment in the new role of managing director is the latest in a series of management changes aimed at making McLaren competitive again.

The 46-year-old, ex-boss of Porsche's World Endurance Championship team, will join "during 2019", reporting to chief executive officer Zak Brown.

Brown said Seidl was "a highly capable leader with a track record of success".

He added: "It is another important step in our F1 performance recovery plan and long-term commitment to F1."

Seidl, who worked in F1 for BMW from 2000-09, does not yet have a specific start date because McLaren have yet to agree a leaving date with Porsche.

 

[st13phil]

Not strictly just about the 2019 season, but I had the opportunity to have a good conflab with a mate who works for Mercedes F1 over Christmas and picked up some interesting snippets.

• In the view of Mercedes F1, the Ferrari was the better car all through the season, and they won the WDC mainly as a result of Hamilton's ability to both drive the car quicker than anyone else and to get the best out of the team
• Ferrari's sudden mid-season performance increase was as a result of their "unique" interpretation of the rules regarding DRS. Their subsequent equally sudden decrease in performance came after another (undisclosed) team asked the FIA whether them doing the same thing was acceptable under the rules
• Mercedes' 2019 car will have better packaging as a result of learnings they've made regarding engine cooling needs, resulting in lower drag
• Valterri is determined to perform well from the start of the season as he knows that unless he does he will be in the same "supporting role" position as last year

 

[Deleted member 126251]

[QUOTE="GeeJayW, post: 2701717, member: 130779"

As for the top F1 teams trouncing the lower tier teams, when was it ever any different?[/QUOTE]

Going back before 2000, there was a nice variation of winning teams / drivers but since about 2000 - with the exception of '05,'06, '08 and '09 all the championships have been won by MB, RB or Ferrari 14/19. I do take your point on lapping but it would be a lot worse without the safety car which closes up the field every time it is deployed.

Info below from "The Telegraph'

F1 world champions: Full list

• 1950 world champion: Giuseppe Farina (Alfa Romeo)
• 1951 world champion: Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo)
• 1952 world champion: Alberto Ascari (Ferrari)
• 1953 world champion: Alberto Ascari (Ferrari)
• 1954 world champion: Juan Manuel Fangio(Maserati/Mercedes)
• 1955 world champion: Juan Manuel Fangio (Mercedes)
• 1956 world champion: Juan Manuel Fangio (Ferrari)
• 1957 world champion: Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati)
• 1958 world champion: Mike Hawthorn (Ferrari)
• 1959 world champion: Jack Brabham (Cooper)
• 1960 world champion: Jack Brabham (Cooper)
• 1961 world champion: Phil Hill (Ferrari)
• 1962 world champion: Graham Hill (BRM)
• 1963 world champion: Jim Clark (Lotus)
• 1964 world champion: John Surtees (Ferrari)
• 1965 world champion: Jim Clark (Lotus)
• 1966 world champion: Jack Brabham (Brabham)
• 1967 world champion: Denny Hulme (Brabham)
• 1968 world champion: Graham Hill (Lotus)
• 1969 world champion: Jackie Stewart (Matra)
• 1970 world champion: Jochen Rindt (Lotus)
• 1971 world champion: Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell)
• 1972 world champion: Emmerson Fittipaldi (Lotus)
• 1973 world champion: Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell)
• 1974 world champion: Emmerson Fittipaldi (McLaren)
• 1975 world champion: Niki Lauda (Ferrari)
• 1976 world champion: James Hunt (McLaren)
• 1977 world champion: Niki Lauda (Ferrari)
• 1978 world champion: Mario Andretti (Lotus)
• 1979 world champion: Jody Scheckter (Ferrari)
• 1980 world champion: Alan Jones (Williams)
• 1981 world champion: Nelson Piquet (Brabham)
• 1982 world champion: Keke Rosberg (Williams)
• 1983 world champion: Nelson Piquet (Brabham)
• 1984 world champion: Niki Lauda (McLaren)
• 1985 world champion: Alain Prost (McLaren)
• 1986 world champion: Alain Prost (McLaren)
• 1987 world champion: Nelson Piquet (Williams)
• 1988 world champion: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
• 1989 world champion: Alain Prost (McLaren)
• 1990 world champion: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
• 1991 world champion: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
• 1992 world champion: Nigel Mansell (Williams)
• 1993 world champion: Alain Prost (Williams)
• 1994 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Benetton)
• 1995 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Benetton)
• 1996 world champion: Damon Hill (Williams)
• 1997 world champion: Jacques Villeneuve (Williams)
• 1998 world champion: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren)
• 1999 world champion: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren)
• 2000 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
• 2001 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
• 2002 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
• 2003 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
• 2004 world champion: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
• 2005 world champion: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
• 2006 world champion: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
• 2007 world champion: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
• 2008 world champion: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
• 2009 world champion: Jenson Button (Brawn)
• 2010 world champion: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
• 2011 world champion: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
• 2012 world champion: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
• 2013 world champion: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
• 2014 world champion: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• 2015 world champion: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• 2016 world champion: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
• 2017 world champion: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• 2018 world champion: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

 

[Stratman]

[QUOTE="st13phil, post: 2702168, member: 15887"..........................

• Ferrari's sudden mid-season performance increase was as a result of their "unique" interpretation of the rules regarding DRS. Their subsequent equally sudden decrease in performance came after another (undisclosed) team asked the FIA whether them doing the same thing was acceptable under the rules
• .....................................

[/QUOTE]

Did he say what were they doing that was unacceptable for other teams?