Formula 1 - 2015 season

[Davros]

Ferrari decide to retain Kimi Raikkonen as Sebastian Vettel's team-mate for the 2016 Formula 1 season.

 

[Kaotik]

Ferrari confirms: Kimi Räikkönen's contract extended

http://formula1.ferrari.com/en/scuderia-ferrari-raikkonens-contract-extended/

 

[Bludd]

http://hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com/

 

[Phil]

Lol..... I find that site so disturbing but funny at the same time.... I feel kind of guilty.

 

[Bludd]

Lol..... I find that site so disturbing but funny at the same time.... I feel kind of guilty.

I think the guys at Enstone have similar feelings.

 

[Bludd]

Based on FP1 and FP2, Honda hasn't done squat.

If one is disposed to a positive mindset, one could say that maybe they are ramping up and being cautious, but it is hard to remain positive.

 

[Rurouni]

Remember that Honda is powered by dreams, not reality. Based on the result, they probably should go all the way by bringing back the earth dreams.

 

[Bludd]

So the theory is that since they have to start at the end of the grid anyway due to the engine changes, they decided to put the least amount of stress on the engines during qualifying, and that they will turn everything up to 11 for the race.

Also, Hamilton has won the qualifying trophy for this year with his P1. Rosberg P2 and Bottas P3. Vettel P9 was very disappointing, same with Räikkönen having a car problem.

 

[DJ12]

Good qualifying, Looking forward to five minutes of wheel spin tomorrow before any of the cars manage to make it off the start line.

 

[Bludd]

It's not just that Honda failed on ignition and the turbo, they totally failed on energy recovery. The McLarens were harvesting energy on the straights where they should be spending energy.

At least Alonso nailed the start yesterday.

Btw, will Michelin capitalise on the two Pirelli failures this weekend?

 

[entity279]

Vettel's failure was unacceptable. Pirelli must be able to give a tyre life estimate that that can't be off by more than 10%. In retrospect, it's nice at least that they've been honest about the failure beind due to wear only.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Apparently Pirelli already suggested something like that back in November 2013, a maximum number of laps that can be done on a certain compound, to be added to the rules. This was subsequently dismissed by the teams.

 

[Bludd]

Vettel's failure was unacceptable. Pirelli must be able to give a tyre life estimate that that can't be off by more than 10%. In retrospect, it's nice at least that they've been honest about the failure beind due to wear only.

For this race Pirelli said the prime tyres should last 40 laps and they lasted 30 which is 25% less. They now say that tyres should have stint limits (50% of race distance for prime, 30% for option). 50% for Spa is 22 laps which is ~45% less than 40 laps.

 

[DJ12]

Btw, will Michelin capitalise on the two Pirelli failures this weekend?

No because Pirelli pay Bernie a huge backhander to be the sole supplier.

 

[Bludd]

No because Pirelli pay Bernie a huge backhander to be the sole supplier.

So this deal should also be part of any complaint made to the European Commission.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Is there any indication that is the case or is it just DJ12?

To the best of my knowledge Michelin only want to enter F1 if there is at least one other tire provider involved. Not to mention 18" rims etc.

I don't believe F1 is very keen on another tire war nor do the teams want to completely redesign their suspension for bigger rims.

 

[Kaotik]

For this race Pirelli said the prime tyres should last 40 laps and they lasted 30 which is 25% less. They now say that tyres should have stint limits (50% of race distance for prime, 30% for option). 50% for Spa is 22 laps which is ~45% less than 40 laps.

Apparently Pirelli already suggested something like that back in November 2013, a maximum number of laps that can be done on a certain compound, to be added to the rules. This was subsequently dismissed by the teams.

Vettels laptimes were fine, there was nothing indicating the tires were close to death or anything like that. All the teams have Pirelli engineers checking tire data all the time, everything was fine

 

[Dave Baumann]

FYI - Hamilton's pole time beat the prior lap record set on this configuration of the circuit back on 2009, which show the rate of development with this configuration of F1 cars. The increase in speed this year is likely one of the reasons these tire failures occurred.

 

[Davros]

Justin Wilson one time Minardi and Jaguar driver (team mate of Mark Webber)
has died after being struck by flying debris and suffering a serious head injury in Sunday's Pocono IndyCar 500 race
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motorsport/34037413

 

[DuckThor Evil]

FYI - Hamilton's pole time beat the prior lap record set on this configuration of the circuit back on 2009, which show the rate of development with this configuration of F1 cars.

Hamilton's fastest time trial lap was a tiny bit faster than a six year old lap during the race. Amazing rate of development. Vettel's 2009 time isn't a prior record, it's the current record. Lap records are counted from the race only and this year the fastest lap during the race was over five seconds slower than in 2009.