The F1 Thread

[Wombat del combate]

Couldn't be any worse? Brundle and Clarkson/May would be quality though.

 

[Nando]

It really wouldn't. They know jack all about F1 and are getting increasingly annoying.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Considering the paucity of some commentaries a Steveie Wonder/Ray Charles dream team wouldn't be any worse either.

 

[Nando]

So the testing season is underway, Vettel in the Red Bull setting the pace yesterday but that time has been beaten by Alonso this morning.

McLaren using an interim car before their release on Friday, widely expected they've produced some radical designs.

Not long to go now, can't wait.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Robert Kubica looks like he will be there or there or thereabouts in the forthcoming season. His Renault looks good, and may well take some beating. Today, he had the best time in testing. 1.13.144

 

[Jack Regan]

The Lotus saga is still rolling on, looks like the season will start with 2 teams claiming to be Lotus.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/feb/02/lotus-formula-one-valencia

 

[Nando]

Testing times mean very little at the moment, although I expect the Renault/Lotus or whatever you want to call them to be a decent car.

The cars are going to change significantly before we reach Bahrain.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Only half-followed it today. I did read Schumacher banged in some very consistent laps early on though which is pleasing. I'm assuming he didn't chunder afterwards though.

 

[waggy on the wing]

kubica was very slow early on, but suddenly found 12 secs a lap. its only testing, but it seems kubica has speed to spare

 

[Nando]

Everybody is slow early on, it's the first time the cars have been out on track.

Until the Bahrain test, in my opinion nothing can be taken too seriously.

 

[waggy on the wing]

Ye, but you can see which cars are ready, and which are behind on testing. Kubica looked like he could raise the pace whenever he wanted

 

[Nando]

So did Vettel and Alonso in the past few days. Went out, bang and they're top of the time sheets. The track is going to be at peak conditons on the third day too, with all the rubber from the revious two days.

The teams are not going to give away their true pace at the very first test.

 

[waggy on the wing]

So did Vettel and Alonso in the past few days. Went out, bang and they're top of the time sheets. The track is going to be at peak conditons on the third day too, with all the rubber from the revious two days.

The teams are not going to give away their true pace at the very first test.

Having read your comments on F1 Nando, you know a lot more than me, I was just going on todays practice. I bow to your better knowledge

 

[Nando]

New McLaren: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89283

Look at those sidepods!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That is a seriously nice looking car. The sidepods are huge so I expect keeping the engine cool should be easier than on some cars.

Of course it could be a pretty looking lemon. Hard to say without some test times.

 

[Mrs Tisi]

Dont you all get bored watching them go round in formation lap after lap for two hours...:run:

 

[Nando]

I'm not a huge fan of the looks, the cockpit is too long and flat for my liking. It's certainly appears to be extremely different to the rest of the grid so far. It's great to see variety between what we expect the top 5 teams to be.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Dont you all get bored watching them go round in formation lap after lap for two hours...:run:

Obviously I only watch it for the crashes.....

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

wow, i've justv seen the new McLaren, tasty looking motor no doubt about that, if it goes as good as it looks, British world champ this season. I certainly don't think they would have made such radical changes and brought it out late, if it was going to be a lemon.
Hamilton and Button, over the moon, Button even called it my little baby......can't wait for the first test drives and lap times.

 

[The Bear]

Nando is right, the times mean nothing from the first two tests. The last one before the first race in Bahrain will be the one you can properly judge who is where. Though saying that you can learn who has a reasonable baseline speed, how the cars treat the new Pirelli tyres, and who is having technical problems.

Any of you F1 officianados read www.JamesAllenOnF1.com ?

He was a very average commentator for ITV, but he was always a very good pitlane strategy analyst before that and still is. His site is very good and a few people involved F1 read it apparently. He always has good contacts for information on any news and he analyses the action and writes it up very well. Latest one is analysis on the first test at Valencia.