Formula 1 2020 (Will Contain Race Day Spoilers)

[st13phil]

Have any other engines manufacturers cracked the split turbo in the way MB have?

Not that I'm aware of - but I could be wrong.

 

[glojo]

I see the broken armco has sensibly been replaced by tyres and then some strong covering. The thought of any driver hitting a 'rock solid' concrete block head-on does not bear thinking about.

What I liked about the driving style of Hamilton is the fact that he sits low in the cockpit, whether this is the seat design or his choice, who knows but keeping that air inlet clear is the idea. Russell is taller than Hamilton and at the moment he is very very slightly obstructing that flow (by millimetres)

 

[whitenemesis]

Drivers’ Radio Reaction to Grosjean's Crash | F1 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix
Quite chilling and also quite different exchanges

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[GeeJayW]

I see the broken armco has sensibly been replaced by tyres and then some strong covering. The thought of any driver hitting a 'rock solid' concrete block head-on does not bear thinking about.

What I liked about the driving style of Hamilton is the fact that he sits low in the cockpit, whether this is the seat design or his choice, who knows but keeping that air inlet clear is the idea. Russell is taller than Hamilton and at the moment he is very very slightly obstructing that flow (by millimetres)

I think might be more due to George being 5” taller than Lewis rather than a style choice to sit higher or lower in the car. George is also having to wear boots that are one size smaller than his normal size 11 so that can get his feet into the pedal box.

 

[glojo]

I think might be more due to George being 4” taller than Lewis rather than a style choice to sit higher or lower in the car. George is also having to wear boots that are one size smaller than his normal size 11 so that can get his feet into the pedal box.

Hi Gee
Apologies for not correctly putting my observations down correctly yup, I agree that Russell is not vertically challenged and in my defence, I did say that Russell was taller but you have kindly documented that significant difference in inches

I guess Bottas can claim that now he knows that Hamilton's car is faster than his (please note the smileys) Usually Bottas is the faster Mercedes driver in first practice, but 'not tonight Josephine'

This circuit is too small for my taste but racing is racing, 54 second laps.... I wonder how many cars will be lapped on race day?

Can they get a better fitting seat for Russell before the start of the race?

 

[AMGeed]

Hi Gee
This circuit is too small for my taste but racing is racing, 54 second laps.... I wonder how many cars will be lapped on race day?

Hamilton lapped every car up to 9th place on a longer track last Sunday.
Every chance there could be even more on this short circuit.

I think Verstappen will fancy his chances with Hamilton being out. He has the beating of Bottas, but Russell remains an unknown in a Mercedes.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

can you expand on that?

What is wrong with using his position to raise aware of an issue many might be blind to?

Do you decry Nelson Mandela for the same?

Sorry for temporarily high jacking this thread, and doing it late too.

I often wonder how much better South Africa is since the end of apartheid and Mandela’s time at the top. I haven’t been to SA since 1985, at the height of apartheid, and then only in Jo’burg and Pretoria (working) so not much of an experience. So I have to rely on the Internet for answers to my question. But typically the answers vary tremendously.

On one hand we get to hear about how the new freedom from apartheid has provided wonderful opportunities for black people that hitherto weren’t possible. Hopes and dreams are alive and well.

Apartheid ended 29 years ago. How has South Africa changed for the born-free generation?

The first generation to grow up without government-sanctioned segregation and economic restrictions reveals a country grappling with change.

www.nationalgeographic.com

But on the other hand the country’s crime statistics don’t provide a picture of success. South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world. The government has been accuse of doing too little to combat the violent crime levels that are now worse than before and during apartheid. It takes a long time to recover from what the country was put through, but has Mandela set them off in the wrong direction?

Crime in South Africa - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Should we be discussing this on a car forum? Should it have its own thread?

 

[GeeJayW]

Hi Gee
Apologies for not correctly putting my observations down correctly yup, I agree that Russell is not vertically challenged and in my defence, I did say that Russell was taller but you have kindly documented that significant difference in inches

I guess Bottas can claim that now he knows that Hamilton's car is faster than his (please note the smileys) Usually Bottas is the faster Mercedes driver in first practice, but 'not tonight Josephine'

This circuit is too small for my taste but racing is racing, 54 second laps.... I wonder how many cars will be lapped on race day?

Can they get a better fitting seat for Russell before the start of the race?

No need to apologise, it’s just that George would be lower in the car if he could be. His seat is apparently three-years old, and as you say, hopefully they can make some adjustments before qually and the race.

Bottas had real problems with brake balance in FP1, maybe he’ll find some pace later on. Pressure on for him this weekend.

I agree that the circuit is too short and for me all a bit Michael Mouse. Traffic in qualifying will be a bit if a nightmare.

 

[glojo]

Sorry for temporarily high jacking this thread, and doing it late too.

I often wonder how much better South Africa is since the end of apartheid and Mandela’s time at the top. I haven’t been to SA since 1985, at the height of apartheid, and then only in Jo’burg and Pretoria (working) so not much of an experience. So I have to rely on the Internet for answers to my question. But typically the answers vary tremendously.

On one hand we get to hear about how the new freedom from apartheid has provided wonderful opportunities for black people that hitherto weren’t possible. Hopes and dreams are alive and well.

Apartheid ended 29 years ago. How has South Africa changed for the born-free generation?

The first generation to grow up without government-sanctioned segregation and economic restrictions reveals a country grappling with change.

www.nationalgeographic.com

But on the other hand the country’s crime statistics don’t provide a picture of success. South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world. The government has been accuse of doing too little to combat the violent crime levels that are now worse than before and during apartheid. It takes a long time to recover from what the country was put through, but has Mandela set them off in the wrong direction?

Crime in South Africa - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Should we be discussing this on a car forum? Should it have its own thread?

I was in South Africa in the late '60's 70's. The South African race track had some brilliant F1 races

 

[Stratman]

.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I was in South Africa in the late '60's 70's. The South African race track had some brilliant F1 races

I was fortunate enough to drive a few laps of Kyalami in a BMW M535i.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Sorry for temporarily high jacking this thread, and doing it late too.

I often wonder how much better South Africa is since the end of apartheid and Mandela’s time at the top. I haven’t been to SA since 1985, at the height of apartheid, and then only in Jo’burg and Pretoria (working) so not much of an experience. So I have to rely on the Internet for answers to my question. But typically the answers vary tremendously.

On one hand we get to hear about how the new freedom from apartheid has provided wonderful opportunities for black people that hitherto weren’t possible. Hopes and dreams are alive and well.

Apartheid ended 29 years ago. How has South Africa changed for the born-free generation?

The first generation to grow up without government-sanctioned segregation and economic restrictions reveals a country grappling with change.

www.nationalgeographic.com

But on the other hand the country’s crime statistics don’t provide a picture of success. South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world. The government has been accuse of doing too little to combat the violent crime levels that are now worse than before and during apartheid. It takes a long time to recover from what the country was put through, but has Mandela set them off in the wrong direction?

Crime in South Africa - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Should we be discussing this on a car forum? Should it have its own thread?

Take it from someone who has very close family and quite a few friends living there. It is a Frucking mess. But should be discussed elsewhere really. I went back there 2 years ago, last time was for work in the 90's.

 

[Rpp999]

George top of the timing page again.

 

[GeeJayW]

George top of the timing page again.

...and Bottas struggling a bit. Interesting.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Botttas needs to up his game, then again been saying that for while.
I'm really losing faith in him, just seems so off the boil almost always.

Great result from Russell, I'd tell Lewis to stay where he is and trade Williams for Russell.
Sure they can just give them the designs for this years car so they can use it next.

 

[bob6600]

Bottas did put a quick lap in but it was deleted for track limits. He has struggled quite a bit though getting the car to do what he wants. Interestingly the Mercedes drivers were slightly slower when it came to race simulations.

Grosean has apparently stated that should he not be able to race in the final race, he will write to the F1 teams and request to be allowed to run an F1 car as a test or similar. The reason is to help put this incident behind him. By running in an F1 car his last experience would not be of that incident and he can move forward with his career

 

[AMGeed]

Grosean has apparently stated that should he not be able to race in the final race, he will write to the F1 teams and request to be allowed to run an F1 car as a test or similar. The reason is to help put this incident behind him. By running in an F1 car his last experience would not be of that incident and he can move forward with his career

That sounds fair. I hope he gets his wish. Leaving in a ball of flames isn't the way to finish your career in F1

 

[glojo]

Are we being a bit harsh on Bottas, could he being doing the donkey work while Mercedes get Russell up and running? IF.... if this is the case it might be frustrating for Bottas

 

[whitenemesis]

I firmly believe each side of the garage work as hard and diligently as they can for their respective drivers.
It's just some drivers are better at communicating their requirements from the car, are better at 'reading' the car and decoding what's needed for them to get the best from it.
Engineers both start with the sane initial set-ups. It's down to the driver configure the car to their style & strengths.
I feel Bottas struggles with this aspect and only occasionally hits the correct configuration, Lewis is a master and it seems Russell dialed the car in quickly. Or was just lucky!

 

[Chrishazle]

I saw a report where Toto said VB broke his car early in FP1, but no explanation of what he broke.