F1 2020

Picks so far:

Code:

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DRI        Toto        Mattia        Chris        Zak        Franz        Otmar        Cyril        Fréd        Guntr        Claire        DRI       
HAM        *                                                                                  HAM
BOT        *                                                                                BOT
VET                *                                                                            VET
LEC                *                                                                        LEC
VER                        *                                                                  VER
ALB                        *                                                                ALB
SAI                                *                                                            SAI
NOR                                *                                                        NOR
KVY                                        *                                                  KVY
GAS                                        *                                                GAS
PER                                                  *                                          PER
STR                                                *                                        STR
RIC                                                        *                                  RIC
OCO                                                        *                                OCO
RAI                                                                *                        RAI
GIO                                                                *                        GIO
GRO                                                                          *                GRO
MAG                                                                        *                MAG
RUS        x                                                                        *        RUS
LAT                                                                                *        LAT

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Hulk is currently without a seat, but he could be expected to take Grosjean's or maybe even Pérez's.
Naoki Yamamoto is being eyed for the second Toro Rosso seat.
Apparently Toto has decided that he wants to have George Russell in a Merc, but not right now, he is to spend another year cutting his teeth in Williams, Esteban has been let go. French driver in the French national(ized) team.



Launch dates:

Ferrari - - - - - - 11/2/2020
Renault - - - - - 12/2/2020
Red Bull - - - - - 12/2/2020
McLaren - - - - - 13/2/2020
Alpha Torro - - - 14/2/2020
Mercedes - - - - - 14/2/2020
Racing Point - - - 17/2/2020
Preseason Start - 19/2/2020

Hulk and Mag on the same team isn’t really a good idea :)

It's still too early to tell, as there could still be a way for Honda to bring Vettel back to RB. I mean, he's hugely popular in Japan, right? Plus, there is reportedly a clause in Ricciardo's contract that lets him negotiate with Ferrari should one of their seats open up.

Those all sound like fun changes. Vettel back at RB where he had the most fun. Ric out of the nightmare known as Renault and into a true chance to fight for wins and back in the spotlight. I would welcome all of that. I only hope Ferrari doesn’t destroy the psyche of LeClerc along the way. Those guys are high pressure and low on fun.

Bottas renewed for one year in Mercedes.
Ocon is released from Mercedes as well, and being free from manifacturer ties he is bound to join Ricciardo at Renault.
Russell is now the candidate to replace Bottas in 2021, after a, hopefully better, second year at Williams.

Holy cow! I googled and found no such news. Where do you get your F1 news Blerpa?

I've only seen articles saying Hamilton probably prefers Bottas, the pair are working together pretty well for Mercedes. It'd be kinda foolish to mess with that... even if Ocon were the next Max, probably not a good idea to start such internal rivalry..., but we all know that's not really the case.

Anyway, good for Bottas. Hate to see him lose his seat for a pretty decent performance so far.

On the flip side, it really looks like Mercedes is not caring too much about the future. I think it's very possible for Mercedes to retire from the sports along with Hamilton. I think the only thing missing after all these years is that they couldn't win one with a German champion. Maybe they'll try to sign Vettel someday...

Italian motorsport.com breaking news article.
Let's see if it goes official during the weekend.
Mercedes future is set: Russell is coming and they have few very young drivers in lower series.

Ocon free from Mercedes and officially joining Renault for 2020 and 2021 alongside Daniel Ricciardo.
Hulkenberg is the first candidate for an Haas seat replacing Grosjean.

What does that leave Mercedes with after 2020?
Will Hamilton retire after another championship and Mercedes pull out?

It's not like their HR is short on CVs.

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Originally Posted by Yobbo NZ

What does that leave Mercedes with after 2020?
Will Hamilton retire after another championship and Mercedes pull out?

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Haven't they said they'll be in F1 until 2025 at the earliest?

Off to google.....yes they did.

Williams renews its engine deal with Mercedes till 2025.
The team will keep building their own gearbox to retain constructor status, instead of Racing Point which uses the whole Mercedes package.
The move is a way for the german manufacturer to block Renault's attempt to sign a engine supply deal with Williams, preventing the english team to become a junior team for the french one.
Also this means Russell will be still at Williams next season before stepping up in the main team replacing Bottas the season after.
Nicolas Latifi is going to be the second driver at the expense of Robert Kubica (good riddance).

Meanwhile Pascal Werhlein - right now a simulator driver at Ferrari while racing for Mahindra in Formula E - has offered himself to Haas.
Gunther Steiner has declared Werhlein is out of F1 since 2 years ago and he declined the offer.
We still wait to know if Grosjean will retain his seat at Haas or Hulkenberg will replace him.
So far it seems Nico's salary is a bit too high for Haas' budget, but the parts will probably end up finalizing a decent deal which would satisfy everyone (Grosjan aside, of course).

Steiner should be out at Haas, honestly. What kind of dirt does Grosjean have on him?

Politics, man. F1 was styled after the British house of Commons. I have no evidence of that, but I don't have doubts either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blerpa

The team will keep building their own gearbox to retain constructor status, instead of Racing Point which uses the whole Mercedes package.

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Huh?

What do you mean, how is Racing Point not considered a constructor? As far as I can tell they get points, just the same as the other 9 teams?

They are all teams and equals in terms of point standing, but Williams wants to retain their prestige as a full fledged independent constructor and not a customer team.

Also no idea why you people are getting your pants twisted about Steiner: Grosjean is out of Haas (unless a miracle is involved), the matter is only reaching a deal on Hulkenberg financial part of the contract. Aside from that is a 99% done deal already.

Grosjean, Kubica, Stroll and Giovinazzi are all pretty much irrelevant as far as I’m concerned.

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Originally Posted by JoeW

Grosjean, Kubica, Stroll and Giovinazzi are all pretty much irrelevant as far as I’m concerned.

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Three of those four will likely be out by Australia 2020.

Vasseur seems to be happy with Antonio, FWIW.

Giovinazzi and Stroll will probably be in F1 next season.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blerpa

Giovinazzi and Stroll will probably be in F1 next season.

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Sroll is a certainty and with Gio being a Ferrari academy driver I'd imagine he comes with funding from Ferrari, be that straight cash or cheaper engines if they run him.

I wish Stroll could fuck off, but things are what they are.

Giovinazzi, on the other hand, I have no opinion of, except that he has a cool name. Antonio Giovinazzi. It's cool to say and it's cool to type.

Grosjean has confirmed he stays at Haas next year.
Kubica has confirmed he leaves Williams at the end of the year.

How the fuck can Gro still be in an F1 car?

He's fast, he's knowledgeable, he comes with sponsorship.

He is on par with Perez on a lot of respects.

SHOCKING AS FUCK.
Rumours have it Gene Haas is behind the confirmation of Grosjean's contract while Steiner had to officially backpedal on what he said on Hulkenberg.
Smells to me like team owner incompentence, inexperience (related to F1, mind!) and personal interference.
Also tight budget: Hulkenberg's salary is around 4.5 mil while Grosjean's one is about 1.8 mil.
Criticism of Haas way of managing the team (along with Steiner) is rising.
Also some say that Haas is too conservative for F1, particularly in regard of favouring experience before sheer talent too much for F1 ambient.

Now Giovinazzi is in risk of losing his seat in favour of Hulkenberg.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blerpa

Now Giovinazzi is in risk of losing his seat in favour of Hulkenberg.

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Last I heard, Ferrari still want to grow him into a Twobens/Massa for LeClerc.

I can see Hulk pairing with the German-engined Williams. Williams would have to give him a lot of freedom on image rights to payback for a lighter salary.

Hulk's salary is too high for Williams, while Latifi, which is supposed to be second driver to Russell next season, comes loaded with money (a lot of which already goes to McLaren - unrelated to the son's "sponsor baggage", Nicolas's father has invested 270 million dollars in McLaren Group through Nidala, a British Virgin Islands company he owns).

But aren't they getting Pup-grooming money from Mercedes for Russell?

What do they need besides buidling their chassis and ancillaries to keep receiving heritage money?

Yeah, if a team needs 2 paid drivers to stay afloat, back of the grid they will remain...

I have mix feelings for grojean. Sure, for the same salary, nico would be an easy decision. However, surely Haas doesn’t have a Rich budget anymore...

Wonder why Ferrari doesn’t want to groom its driver in a Haas with Ferrari engine. If Ferrari could finance the team a bit, it’d be much easier to let grojean go...

Sauber/Alfa Romeo have been the Ferrari feeder team for decades.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FaultyMario

But aren't they getting Pup-grooming money from Mercedes for Russell?

What do they need besides buidling their chassis and ancillaries to keep receiving heritage money?

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Yes, and still 4.5mil are a lot to pay for a driver instead of getting one that you do not pay and carries money with him.
They receive heritage money, as per the "manufacturer" prestige title as I wrote earlier, because they build their own whole gearbox.

Haas shot himself in the foot last season when refused to oblige to Ferrari relationship to give a seat to LeClerc; seemingly because Gene Haas wanted the team to remain independent (can you see a pattern?).
Cue to Ferrari saying "fuck these yankee guys", making Sauber their junior team, renaming it Alfa Romeo, putting there money, putting there a world champion like Kimi and having power of choice on at least one of the two drivers of the team, that's why Giovinazzi is still there and could very well be next season.

Saub- pardon me, Alfa Romeo is Ferrari Jr. team as much as Toro Rosso is Red Bull Jr. one.
Yes, Sauber was linked to Ferrari for many years, but now as Alfa Romeo we are at the point that in here talks are about engine parts given by Ferrari to Alfa to try them out... their relationship has gotten up a level, at least.

Haas did lose a great opportunity and this is going to bite them in the arse consequently.
Also I don't blame as much as you guys Steiner since rumours in Italy have it, like I wrote earlier, that many eccentric calls were made by Gene Haas and his entourage and Steiner had to live with these choices and make them work.

Oh yeah... forgot about that episode. Haas turned down the job offer from Ferrari. That’s how Sauber became the jr team.

That was pretty stupid.

To be able to have LeClerc’s service? Or kimi’s...

Wonder if they’re planning future entries using Ford. It’d be cool to have a Ford vs Ferrari movie sequel! But Haas is probably no Shelby. ;)

Some talk on Twitter that Ferrari didn't want Haas signing up Hulk and actively tried to dissuade them. The Rumour is that Ferrari have a performance clause which allows them to ditch Vettel come season end, although what this clause is I do not know. Then Ricciardo is Ferrari's first choice, if he has the rumoured (but denied) 'big team' release clause in his Renault Contract. Big team being only Ferrari and Mercedes I'd guess. If they can't get Danny Ricc then Hulk is their next choice.

If Hulk drives for Ferrari, any time he has a podium or win due his car will spontaneously break down on the last lap to keep his 'no podiums' record complete.

So rumours of Ricciardo going to Ferrari are once again rearing their heads?

OK now I'm listening.

I'm already making plans to go to the AUS GP next year. If this comes off it will be nuts. Melbourne is the Australian home of the wog and the home of the pizza parlour. Bring it on!

Would love to see Ric in a Ferrari but I would hate for that Ferrari environment to suck the smile off his face.

I would think it'd be smarter to, rather than deny Hulk to Haas, just have a clause that says they can have him, unless Ferrari needs him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freude am Fahren

I would think it'd be smarter to, rather than deny Hulk to Haas, just have a clause that says they can have him, unless Ferrari needs him.

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It seems Hulk priced himself out of the seat as well. It's reckoned he wanted $4m a season where as Romain is on about a quarter of that.

Hulk 4.5m, Grosjean 1.8m.
Now Haas wants to offer a simulator job to Kubica.

Because of his Polish oil company sponsorship monies.

Haas is one of three F1 teams without a lubricants partner deal.

This is insane to me. What lubricant company wouldn't want their stickers on the finest automobile in the world?

It's official: Mclaren will be powered by Mercedes engines (again) from 2021 till 2024.
Also Toro Rosso has started procedures to change its official name to Alpha Tauri (MEH).

I was curious about that Alpha Tauri thing, then I found out it's the name of the Red Bull clothing line. Ugh.

Lame

Alpha Tauri is the brightest star in the Taurus constellation. And Taurus is a bull. It fits, and it’s kinda cool. It can’t be worse than Scuderia Toro Rosso, can it?

But it’s easy to confuse with Alfa Romeo, so that sucks.

Damn, two teams involved in confected marketing name mix-up.

Have you seen their fucking logo?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FaultyMario

Have you seen their fucking logo?

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Just have. It's rather plain and dull.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rare White Ape

Alpha Tauri is the brightest star in the Taurus constellation.

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Huh, I had never heard Aldebaran called that, but so it is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FaultyMario

Naoki Yamamoto is being eyed for the second Toro Rosso seat.

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... And he will be driving the Toro Rosso in FP1 during the Japanese GP.

Wasn't he born, like, in the last century?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dodint

Wasn't he born, like, in the last century?

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In the 40th anniversary of Honda's foundation, coincidentally.

The request from Scuderia Toro Rosso to be renamed Scuderia Alpha Tauri from next season has been approved.

I will not start a new thread over these renders.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIN_sqvWoAAAPGA.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIN_sqzXYAEdUnU.jpg

The RB will look better in its matte camouflage testing colors, but come Barcelona, the Mercedes will not only faster and more reliable but also look nicer.

https://d2d0b2rxqzh1q5.cloudfront.ne...acef6e90f9.jpg


Joe's gonna love the wheelcovers:

https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/...1-163040-1.jpg

*sigh*

What's with the fenders?

Let the memes begin!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIOMnXFWkAEoMuv.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dodint

What's with the fenders?

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The fuck if i know!

Details of the proposed floor.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIOPkleWsAAHd46.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIOPk6xWoAEFu02.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epdmatdvSzk

Found this video on youtube with more explanations...

I think the car looks good. We'll see if this really improves racing.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIObdIMX...jpg&name=small

#2021F1
1) low nose, CAD based volume to rid car of thumb tip designs
2) simpler 3-part front wing, full width, rids car of extreme Y250 vortices
3) wing elements roll up into endplate
4) wheel fins cleans airflow over tyre, so the FW diesnt have to
5) spinning wheel fairing

https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/statu...65662573285377

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIOZIG5W...jpg&name=small

Craig Scarborough
@ScarbsTech
Underneath is interesting and important though:
1) Clean FW underside
2) no bargeboards/s-ducts etc
3) no T tray splitter, underfloor flow managed by inlet vanes
4) IMPORTANT bit, the kickline in the underfloor
5) floor sealing helped by rear brake duct hanging vane

https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/statu...63097517236224