2014 Formula 1

[Senninha]

Following four years of domination by Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull team, the FIA is bringing in some sweeping changes to Formula 1 for 2014. Will lady luck remain with him? Will the brilliance that is Adrian Newey produce another championship winning car? Or will the other 500 or so collective brains find the loopholes and introduce the ‘inspirational design’ that is both legal and performance enhancing … at least until the other copy it!

If you have the slightest interest in F1 you will know that last year was the last of the V8 era. For one last blast click here … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhXHdKm775s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhXHdKm775s)
This year the cars will have bigger electric motors, more electric power and more time to deploy this power, all attached to smaller 1.6l V6 Turbo engines with limited amounts of fuel.
A video capturing the changes can be seen here … http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2014/0/1133.html (http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2014/0/1133.html)

So expect cars to run out of fuel, destroy engines and the new 8 speed gearboxes due to overheating, run out of braking as they have a lot less engine braking to assist them, and to spin up the rears as drivers battle to control a rise in torque with no traction control other than the throttle pedal … just the way it should be!

Another full calendar this year with 19 races to be enjoyed … there was potential for 22! The 2014 calendar in full:

16/03 Australia
30/03 Malaysia
06/04 Bahrain
20/04 China
11/05 Spain
25/05 Monaco
08/06 Canada
22/06 Austria
06/07 Great Britain
20/07 Germany
27/07 Hungary
24/08 Belgium
07/09 Italy
21/09 Singapore
05/10 Japan
12/10 Russia
02/11 United States
09/11 Brazil
23/11 Abu Dhabi

The driver changes for 2014 offer some stability, some new blood and I’m sure in the case of Ferrari, some fireworks. Teams, drivers and engine suppliers listed …

RED BULL - Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo : Renault

MERCEDES - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg : Mercedes

FERRARI - Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen : Ferrari

LOTUS - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado : Renault

McLAREN - Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen : Mercedes

FORCE INDIA - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez : Mercedes

SAUBER - Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez : Ferrari

TORO ROSSO - Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat : Renault

WILLIAMS - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas : Mercedes

MARUSSIA - Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton : Ferrari

CATERHAM - Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson : Renault

And for those of us with lasting memories of the Great McLaren Honda years, Honda returns with new engines using V6 petrol and hybrid power for the 2015 McLaren ... and some new sports car :)

Lights out at 1.30am on Friday 14th March

[Senninha]

And the real high tech change for 2014 is .....

.... to keep the championship ‘alive’ right to the end of the season, they have signed off on the allocation of Double Team and Driver points for the last race in Abu Dhabi … next they’ll have Dermot O’Leary presenting to add further suspense!!

Further tech reviews ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkVGl9bD9T0&feature=player_embedded

[Senninha]

Some of the more interesting design elements ….

http://cdn.gallery.autosport.com/picture_free.php/dir/f12014sofar/image/XPB_abd6a98728c856a573901161c4c73a84-2

http://cdn.gallery.autosport.com/picture_free.php/dir/f12014sofar/image/9eb32710d1704e25eb7fb945ae5bb7ad-2
http://cdn.gallery.autosport.com/picture_free.php/dir/f12014sofar/image/0b074c0e0adce88ac5130cc800f2a156-2
http://cdn.gallery.autosport.com/picture_free.php/dir/f12014sofar/image/XPB_1663ff3c62a0e9f63aaa310ea124597c-2

[NSXGB]

Hey! Kamui is back! Excellent.

[Senninha]

Hey! Kamui is back! Excellent.

apparently paying £2m for his seat and not taking a salary .... I hope he can get that thing to score some points ... He'll certainly add some spider to that end of the grid

[nobby]

Here is hoping for a non dominant red bull team this year, and hoping McClaren can make some improvements before the big mate up for 2015.

just want to see a bit of mix and for someone to challenge other than Vettel

changes should be interesting based on your thoughts Paul, but can't see me sitting up for the 1st race :)

[havoc]

Any word yet on which team Ann Summers are going to sponsor?

[britlude]

Renault engines did sooo well at the first test session... not!

Total laps run - by power unit:
1. Mercedes, 875 (4 teams)
2. Ferrari, 444 (3 teams)
3. Renault, 151 (3 teams)

red bull managed a total of 21 laps in 4 days of testing....

This week’s official aggregate test times from Jerez:
1. Kevin Magnussen, McLaren, 1m 23.276s, 162 laps
2. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1m 23.700s, 133 laps
3. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m 23.952s, 121 laps
4. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1m 24.165s, 83 laps
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1m 24.812s, 78 laps
6. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1m 25.344s, 42 laps
7. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1m 25.495s, 173 laps
8. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1m 25.588s, 188 laps
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1m 26.096s, 17 laps
10. Sergio Perez, Force India, 1m 28.376s, 48 laps
11. Daniel Juncadella, Force India, 1m 29.457s, 81 laps
12. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1m 29.915s, 45 laps
13. Adrian Sutil, Sauber, 1m 30.161s, 103 laps
14. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1m 32.222s, 25 laps
15. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1m 33.270s, 60 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Caterham, 1m 37.975s, 12 laps
17. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1m 38.320s, 11 laps
18. Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham, 1m 43.193s, 54 laps
19. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1m 44.016s, 9 laps
20. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1m 45.374s, 10 laps
21. Robin Frijns, Caterham, No time, 10 laps
22. Max Chilton, Marussia, No time, 5 laps

[britlude]

lotus have managed to do some laps after missing the first test session, with a 'promotional' session at Jerez..... where they used up all the 62miles they are allowed to do, due to the mileage restrictions imposed on a promotional event.

pretty much the same as red bull managed then!

[Senninha]

is Magnussen the new McLaren wonder child?

[duncan]

For those who haven't come across this site for technical analysis I would recommend it
http://scarbsf1.com/
the detail that is reported is very enlightening.
Duncan

[AR]

Excellent post Paul, my money is with Mercedes same as when it was Honda. They were plagued by a few issues last year and some growing pains, it is time to deliver TBH.

[TheSebringOne]

Now that big Ron is back at the helm of Mclaren & Whitmarsh gone, lets hope they get some podiums.

Last year was shocker with the first non podium season in 30 odd years!

My money on Mercedes too & I can't wait for the unpredictability of the new regulations after the domination of Seb & co.

Oh, happy retirement to Ross Brawn.

[Senninha]

For the McLaren fans out there it looks as though starting early on the 2014 car may pay off as thier unique rear suspension set up has created a lot of interest with other teams looking to try and re-engineer their set ups ... clever boys!

And for Williams fans, lok out for the new title sponsor ... Martini

[marco]

TOO many rules and Cars are ugly as sin. First time since I was a kid I won't bother watching F1. Political correct bull**** has ruined it. When we had 1.5 litre twin turbo v6's in F1 back in the 80s it was fascinating and exciting and they sounded mega. Now they look like **** and probably emit less odour. I bet they won't be sliding around like you expect them too either. Bah Humbug!!

[AR]

Oh, happy retirement to Ross Brawn.

Will he make an unexpected comeback somewhere???

[NSXGB]

Thought he was going to McLaren?

[Senninha]

Will he make an unexpected comeback somewhere???


Thought he was going to McLaren?

I think you may both be right ... although right now he is definately fishing!

I suspect that if McLaren are looking half decent this year then Ross may well pop-up next year in some role or other, subject to what contract Eric has in place, as he knows how to motivate Jenson to win, knows how to win titles for a team, and is well respected by Honda for whom he as good as won the World Title albeit with the Brawn badge and MB power ... the chassis was all Ross and Honda.

And dont forget, its a super frugal formula this year with limited fuel for the race so tactics will be of even more importance ... and tacticians dont come much better than Ross!

[TheSebringOne]

Didn't RB announced during a fishing competition that he has retired but just have found this.

May be he will get bored of fishing & can't resist the smell of petrol fumes!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2547955/Eric-Boullier-joins-McLaren-Racing-director.html#ixzz2tLJBGKw1

[AR]

Also I have read that his wife is not well, and that is probably a big factor too.

[britlude]

UK TV terrestrial coverage is going to Channel 4 after the BBC pulled out of its deal to broadcast F1.... http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...nel-4-bbc-deal (http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/21/formula-one-channel-4-bbc-deal)





....i know it's the 2014 thread, couldn't find the 2015 one with the search, and this is/was a sticky!!

[NSXGB]

As long a Suzi Perry gets ported across I'll be happy.

[britlude]

Suzi can go back to motoGP, Lee Mackenzie should get her chance as main presenter...

as long as Eddie is pensioned off we'll be happy! :)

[Senninha]

The BBC intermittent coverage meant I haven't followed their coverage as I prefer to listen to Martin Brundles insightful commentary ...




Plus Sky offer Natalie Pinkham ....

[havoc]

I've tended to put the Sky broadcast on record and f-fwd through the boring stuff...so much so that I've just cancelled Sky F1! Endurance and GT racing is so much more interesting, and even the BTCC seems to be improving...

(Agree on Brundle though - the one bit I am going to miss)

[AR]

In any even, it is very sad to see Honda struggling so much.

[britlude]

wasn't all bad, there has been progress... when they let Alonso turn everything up to 11 for the last 5 laps of the last race, he set the 3rd fastest time of the race on lap 52, only bettered by Vettel and Hamilton!

[AR]

Lets hope they turn it up to twelve next season, Alonso deserves better.