You know the drill guys; Include discussions of pre-season testing, and rules changes other than engines (since that's already got a thread).

Sure most fans will have heard already, but Lotus will be missing the first test. Not paying Kimi, missing tests and hiring Igor to raise some funds and quite a few engineering staff heading for other teams. I dont see them being top 4 this year sadly.

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112041

For reference the winter test dates are:

 

Jerez test 28-31 January
Bahrain test 1 19-22 February
Bahrain test 2 27 February-2 March

 

 

And the following 2014 car launches have been announced:

 

McLaren 24 January Online launch
Mercedes 28 January Jerez, Spain
Caterham 28 Janaury Jerez, Spain

Force India are first to reveal 2014 car - albeit with a carefully chosen picture:

 

 

Nice colour scheme

Force India are first to reveal 2014 car - albeit with a carefully chosen picture:

 

 

Nice colour scheme

Dunno what the nose will look like from the front, but that's the best profile view for years. 

Certainly is. Suspect that this is only a teaser/launch image and that the real cars may look a bit different.

Certainly is. Suspect that this is only a teaser/launch image and that the real cars may look a bit different.

 

I'd definitely expect that the cars will look different to varying degrees once they've been through pre season testing and found what does/doesn't work as expected.

Force India are first to reveal 2014 car - albeit with a carefully chosen picture:

 

 

Nice colour scheme

 

Very carefully chosen picture! Agree with you though, nice colour scheme. I guess we'll have to wait until Thursday when McLaren unveil their car, online launch without a title sponsor apparently, should be interesting.

McLaren is Friday and yes they have no title sponsor. Suspect they will revert to the previous chrome finish of past seasons and that would then leave the door open for a full change of identify for the new Honda era in 2015.

 

All their new merchandise is typical Ron Dennis-OCD-grey with the words "McLaren"!

McLaren is Friday and yes they have no title sponsor. Suspect they will revert to the previous chrome finish of past seasons and that would then leave the door open for a full change of identify for the new Honda era in 2015.

 

All their new merchandise is typical Ron Dennis-OCD-grey with the words "McLaren"!

Why not the classic McLaren orange with signwriting in blue script then? I mean, does Ron not realise how difficult it is to get excited about grey?

McLaren is Friday and yes they have no title sponsor. Suspect they will revert to the previous chrome finish of past seasons and that would then leave the door open for a full change of identify for the new Honda era in 2015.

 

All their new merchandise is typical Ron Dennis-OCD-grey with the words "McLaren"!

 

Friday I meant, been a funny week, forgot what day it is today!

"Ant eater" noses to be standard? This is the first I've read about this ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25859150

Some interesting news come out over the past few days:

 

FIA: Will implement the "double" points for the last race of the season!

FIA: Tyre warmers to be prohibited from 2015

FIA: Weight limit to be increased from 2015

 

Lotus: Eric Boullier has left as Team Principal. Gerard Lopez (current chairman I think) will take over in dual role. Rumours that Boullier is set for McLaren?

Im still so ****ed off that money rules the sport, way of the world I guess but who hires maldonardo? I dont even care if I spelt his name wrong! He is a waste of space

He is the most obvious pay driver, and IMO doesn't deserve his seat at Lotus, and will have to perform really well to convince the world of F1. He's had flashes of brilliance but they've been overshadowed by lacklustre performances and angry incidents (running into other's cars). Having said that, I think Lotus is in big trouble, especially with Eric Boullier leaving, don't think it will be a good season for them.

 

Everyone's annoyed at the double points at the last race. I don't think it's that bad an idea although I don't quite see the point of it.

 

 

You really couldn't make it up - 1.1m fans voted for the name of the new Ferrari F1 car and it is:

 

F14 T

 

 

 

 

Obviously nothing to do with the fact that Ferrari is part of Fiat :think:

McLaren MP4-29

 

 

That nose cone looks a little more elegant than the rendering released by Williams IMO. Then again, it doesn't matter if it looks nice if it doesn't help the aerodynamics.

Oh wow, got a little twitch in the trouser department at that. 

 

I'd rather Sam Michael than Eric in charge at Macca. 

Teaser pic of Lotus too:

 

It's got the female socket nosecone to the McLaren/William's male plug nosecones?

Means Lotus will get ****ed by the other 2

IF we presume that all 3 teams (4 if we count Farce India) to have issued something so far have been honest in broad if not in detail, it looks like we might have a bit of variety in designs this year.

Hard to tell whether the Lotus has anything inside the 2 forks but yes agree with that comment Ken.

 

EDIT:

I've noticed that upon closer inspection the Lotus noses are of different lengths: in the pic below the nearest one is clearly longer than the other? Must be a reason.

 

That McLaren MP4-29 rear wing looks so thin.

 

I seriously hope that it isn't a dog like last years car.