Formula 1 2020 (Will Contain Race Day Spoilers)

[GeeJayW]

Well Ferrari are so bad it is crazy,and whats worse they do not seem to have anybody in the team who can put even some of the things wrong,I wondered if that accident had happened a few laps later if Red Bull would have put mediums on MV's car,that could have produced a different result,as it was LH won easily,and VB is doomed to be second in the coming races,the Mercedes car is just too good,but we are getting the Mclarens,Renault,and Racing Point making a race of it.

Ferrari are not functioning as a team that has any clues right now. The car is clearly poor this season, but their decision making also seems to be in disarray. Not good to see them struggling, though given their 'unexplained' extra performance last year and their willingness to jump on the Ductgate bandwagon, maybe there is karma after all.

 

[artyman]

The Tifosi usually leave the circuit early if Ferrari aren't doing well, I guess COVID restrictions will save Ferrari the embarrassment of them not even turning up in Monza

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Watched a bit of the race, went back into room when I heard the crash, watched the restart.
Then lost interest, went for a shower and out to the pub.

Really becoming a bore for me.

 

[whitenemesis]

Try a different pub?

 

[Deleted member 149005]

I thought there was plenty of good mid field racing

 

[martyz]

Ferrari are not functioning as a team that has any clues right now. The car is clearly poor this season, but their decision making also seems to be in disarray. Not good to see them struggling, though given their 'unexplained' extra performance last year and their willingness to jump on the Ductgate bandwagon, maybe there is karma after all.

They have been clearly caught cheating,I feel sorry for Leclerc not so much for Seb as this will affect them badly.

 

[Dryce]

They have been clearly caught cheating,I feel sorry for Leclerc not so much for Seb as this will affect them badly.

Well whatever they were doing probably spurred on the other engine makers to better things.

Which means now they are not doing it then they are lost. Not just because of a diminished engine - but also with a car that was designed to work with plenty of power to drive the aero -and the others moved forward trying to compete with their 2019 peak.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

 

[bob6600]

^^ Ironically, it's the donkey that is missing out of the back of the Ferrari right now

 

[Mondayo]

Well whatever they were doing probably spurred on the other engine makers to better things.

Which means now they are not doing it then they are lost. Not just because of a diminished engine - but also with a car that was designed to work with plenty of power to drive the aero -and the others moved forward trying to compete with their 2019 peak.

They're in a total mess. They even got beaten by Raikkonen and you'd hardly say the Alfa is a good car this season.
Mercedes and Hamilton in particular are just relentless.

 

[GeeJayW]

They're in a total mess. They even got beaten by Raikkonen and you'd hardly say the Alfa is a good car this season.
Mercedes and Hamilton in particular are just relentless.

Needing to fit a Gurney Flap to the rear wing gives a bit of a clue as to just how much they are struggling with aero. Great for creating more downforce, but very inefficient 'draggy' solution. Their aero package has gone down a blind alley (like Williams did a couple of years ago). They need to make some fundamental changes to the car to regain competitive strength. Right now, they are fire fighting, not even sure they have clear strategy going forward.

 

[Mondayo]

Needing to fit a Gurney Flap to the rear wing gives a bit of a clue as to just how much they are struggling with aero. Great for creating more downforce, but very inefficient 'draggy' solution. Their aero package has gone down a blind alley (like Williams did a couple of years ago). They need to make some fundamental changes to the car to regain competitive strength. Right now, they are fire fighting, not even sure they have clear strategy going forward.

It doesn't feel like they have a strategy. I guess part of the problem is, in two years they're going to have a totally new/different car for the new regulations.
So how much time and money do you throw at this one?
Obviously the engine/power unit needs to be improved too and any improvements there will not be wasted (I assume). But seeing how long it took Williams to get their car sorted...or at least dramatically better. And also how long it to McLaren to get back on track, I'm not sure what route Ferrari are best taking?

 

[zipdip]

Well it is a interesting time for Ferrari,the car is a dog,and the next two races are in Italy,I would expect heads to roll at Mugello,it is the 1000th f1 race that Ferrari have entered,finishing down the field there will cause a uproar,Ferrari is one of the few teams that have tested their cars at Mugello,and here we get to the weird bit Ferrari have tested with the 2018 car because of regulations and it seems all the F1 teams have banned practice at the new venues because not all the teams can afford to go there and do it.

 

[GeeJayW]

It doesn't feel like they have a strategy. I guess part of the problem is, in two years they're going to have a totally new/different car for the new regulations.
So how much time and money do you throw at this one?
Obviously the engine/power unit needs to be improved too and any improvements there will not be wasted (I assume). But seeing how long it took Williams to get their car sorted...or at least dramatically better. And also how long it to McLaren to get back on track, I'm not sure what route Ferrari are best taking?

I'm not even sure how much they are allowed to change under the current regulations. If last year's car was built around a 'secret squirrel' option for the power unit that has since been compromised in some way, they are pretty well stuffed for the foreseeable.

They won't have much downforce on this weekend at Monza, but then neither will anyone else. Hard to see a return to glory for Ferrari this season.

 

[Stratman]

Is 'pole position mode' banned this weekend?

 

[AMGeed]

^ Yes, party mode is banned from now on.
I doubt it will matter to Mercedes.

 

[bob6600]

^ Yes, party mode is banned from now on.
I doubt it will matter to Mercedes.

Agreed. Ferrari are too slow regardless of if they have a Qualy mode or not. Honda and Renault can't use theirs either so should be business as usual.

I don't like the idea though. I like to see the cars and drivers running on their limits and track records being broken

 

[st13phil]

I'm not even sure how much they are allowed to change under the current regulations. If last year's car was built around a 'secret squirrel' option for the power unit that has since been compromised in some way, they are pretty well stuffed for the foreseeable.

And therein lies a great example of why the well-intentioned rules regarding limiting what can be changed, what can be developed, and how much time can be expended by the team during the season - all in the name of reducing costs - are stifling progress. They're one of the reasons Honda had such a terrible time when they returned to F1: instead of being able to analyse the situation, realise they were down a cul-de-sac and develop and introduce changes that would make their power unit competitive, they were consigned to stopping immediately after the "realise they were down a cul-de-sac" part. Similarly with Williams and the Paddy Lowe-influenced car last year.

Ferrari are in a bad place - arguably largely of their own making due to the shenanigans they were involved in with their power unit last year - but the rules effectively prevent them from becoming competitive in 2020 or 2021. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[whitenemesis]

Agreed. Ferrari are too slow regardless of if they have a Qualy mode or not. Honda and Renault can't use theirs either so should be business as usual.

I don't like the idea though. I like to see the cars and drivers running on their limits and track records being broken

I remember the time when drivers had a separate qualification car and a spare race car! The good old days... (apart from the deaths, obviously)

 

[bob6600]

I remember the time when drivers had a separate qualification car and a spare race car! The good old days... (apart from the deaths, obviously)

Yes they had a new engine for virtually every session. Crash on lap one? No problem...run back to the pits and get in the spare car!