2014 Formula 1 Season

[ol' boy]

Thought i'd make one thread we can all comment in for the season.

First Race in Melbourne can be found here:

Sepang, Malaysia

Poor Riccardo.... Was doing so well in Malaysia.
Seems to be having all the luck of Mark Webber with RedBull.

3 Team mistakes in 2 Races, thats just disgusting.... Someone needs a sacking at RedBull.

What a cock up!

[ol' boy]

Poor Riccardo, not only did his team let him down again in Malaysia, but now he has been handed a 10 place grid penalty for the next race.
Webber must be laughing that he is not involved in the RedBull inconsistencies anymore.

[Tiny]

Yep, the mind boggles, just finished watching the racing from the weekend, had visitors (work) so recorded.

Agree;Red Bullshit needs a kick in the arse for Riccardo's second disastrous race. Lolly pop man should be sacked as front left wheel man did not have his hand up.

Have no knowledge of the latest 10 grid penalty, what's it for?

I'll take a guess that it's for the unsafe release that was given a drive thru penalty, then they retired so apparently didn't serve it, like that would make a difference.

They may just regulate everyone out of the series?

[ol' boy]

Unsafe release, 100% correct.

[aa23]

There was also another fine or something for one of his pit crew not wearing a helmet. I'd have to go back and watch the footage, but I don't think the wheel changers actually put their hand up when they're finished. I think they just pull arms away from the car so the sides are clear. I'll go youtube hunting and see what I can find.
Here's a clip where I can't see any hands/arms in the air.
I do know they used to, but I think some teams just move clear now.

[Tiny]

There was also another fine or something for one of his pit crew not wearing a helmet. I'd have to go back and watch the footage, but I don't think the wheel changers actually put their hand up when they're finished. I think they just pull arms away from the car so the sides are clear. I'll go youtube hunting and see what I can find.
Here's a clip where I can't see any hands/arms in the air.
I do know they used to, but I think some teams just move clear now.

That's correct, wife & I spotted on one of the pit crew, helmet not done up properly when they were fixing the loose left front after they pushed it back down pit lane to work on it.

[ol' boy]

If they want to start limiting fuel to develop economy.
Just take away the pit stops, let them have as much fuel as they want to complete a race.
That way we will get economic cars as less weight in fuel means speed and we will also get tires that last

Then the Pit Crews cant stuff things up!

[Bigfella237]

With Mr Red Bull billionaire himself threatening to withdraw his sponsorship from F1 altogether last week, you'd think the team would really want to get their shit together for this race, but no... to paraphrase Randy Quaid from Days Of Thunder: "they looked like a monkey f.cking a football out there" yet again!

I'm absolutely disgusted with team RB's antics, none of it was Riccardo's doing yet he's getting penalties compounded on top of penalties, why the hell wouldn't his team manager make sure he served the unsafe release penalty in THAT race and not have it carried over to yet another?

Andrew

[ol' boy]

Agreed Bigfella, it seems unfair he is penalised for the next race.
Unless he had already retired from the race before officials handed down the penalty, either way, its pretty harsh.

As a driver, has he done such wonderful job (much like Webber) but geez, have the team and officials let him down.

I'm starting to wonder if all these energy recovery systems and battery power storage isn't Berni's idea of slowly bringing it closer to a possible electric car in F1?

Woops, spoke too soon, looks like Formula E is a reality, coming this September


Watch the video, RC Cars just got bigger

[Tiny]

Yeah all these technical breaches should amount to monetary penalties for the team, not directed at the driver like it was his fault.

Off topic, however on the weekend in the V8's in Tassie,

"Following a Stewards Hearing, Craig Lowndes Car #888 was excluded from Qualifying for Race 5 for the placing of tape over the handle holes in the front window inserts. Breach of Rules C6.4.4.6 and C6.4.4.7."

Far too harsh, however made for great race as he carved thru from the back to 5th.

[LeroyPatrol]

I miss pit stops with refueling.

Leroy

[aa23]

I miss pit stops with refueling.

Leroy

So do I. I know it was dangerous, but I don't care.

[ol' boy]

Doesn't really represent Riccarrdo's driving thus far

[Tiny]

Yeah it was very dangerous back when they could use anything they liked, including nitro methane & alcohol mixes which burned with a near invisible flame in a spill.

Now they use & I'll quote from their regs.

Formula One cars run on petrol, the specification of which is not that far removed from that used in regular road cars. Indeed, the FIA regulations state that the rules are “intended to ensure the use of fuels which are predominantly composed of compounds normally found in commercial fuels and to prohibit the use of specific power-boosting chemical compounds.”

So it would be no more dangerous than the V8's in OZ doing refueling.

[Tiny]

Doesn't really represent Riccardo's driving thus far

That may change a little.
According to Alan Jones, the appeal hearing will be held on the 14th April just before the GP of China, he believes they have a good case to have Riccardo's second place reinstated; due to the team not actually breaking the fuel regulation which requires disqualification. What they did was breech a directive from an official, they didn't ignore the directive they just didn't follow it exactly as the official had intended it, which doesn't necessarily require disqualification.
The team is also working closely with the FIA officials to sort out the issues of inaccuracy of the fuel flow sensor, as it is still proving to be a problem.

[ol' boy]

I havent done any searching on this, but where do these changes come from?
I appreciate many changes come from a Safety Aspect, but the engine change, kers etc?

Is it Bernie's brainchild? Or the voice of all the teams? Or the FIA?
Although Bernie does a lot of unconventional things, he does seem to always be ahead of his time.
A very interesting man indeed. Personally i think he has hit the mark once again.
Never before has there been so much talk and debate over F1, if stirring up the people interest and media is how you make money for the sport, its worked. Much like a Reality TV show. He seems to share a similar genius of the late Kerry Packer.

Seems general world opinion is against the new flying vacuum cleaners, but like it or not, its got us all watching closely to see whats next, whats teams have found speed, what drivers have come to the top.

[Bigfella237]

Ricciardo out-qualified his (so-called) team mate by miles in Bahrain, Dan 3rd, Vettel 11th but Dan will start out of position 13 thanks to the grid penalty imposed during the previous race.

Poor old Vettel is not getting his way at all, Ricciardo is simply out-classing him in every department, even Vettel himself said he couldn't really blame the car after he failed to make Q3. Looks to me like there's a new number one driver in the Red Bull camp!

All I can say is, Red Bull better have their act together significantly more than their efforts in the last two races, Ricciardo just needs a clean race with NO PENALTIES to wipe the slate and get down to business for the rest of the season.

Andrew

[ol' boy]

Yep, was great to watch, shame he goes back to 13th on the grid after qualifying 3rd.
He speaks very well in press interviews too.

[Seymour Butts]

I forgot to set any recorders for the qualifying.
Does anyone know where I could watch a 'Delayed Telecast??'

[Tiny]

I forgot to set any recorders for the qualifying.
Does anyone know where I could watch a 'Delayed Telecast??'

Yeah just watched it, bloody good session & it's still on the hard drive, so my place.

Now seriously you can catch this on Tenplay sport on the web for free.