A taster from Nico today - Merc will steamroll the opposition in 2015

Rosberg 0.7 faster than any other lap at Barcelona this winter (Massa) - with a rubbish set up, in his words "far away from where it needed to be" "lot of oversteer" "poor traction"

 

How quick will it go when they set it up right?

Edited 27 February, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

when they set it up properly and turn the wick up to where it needs to be - I am not a betting man and never placed a bet in my life but having seen what  I saw I am going to place a bet right now! . With the amount of running and laps time Merc is showing it is a no brainer I am afraid !

More of the same. Hamilton quickest on a slower tyre than the others, and he too says the set-up is pants.

Sooo, it looks like it will be exactly the same as last year then. Mercedes 1 and 2. Williams 3 and 4. Everyone else battleing for the rest. However, Ferrari and Red Bull appear to be quite close, so that could be a good battle.

I must admit Renault is a bit of an unknown... they did a lot of development over the winter and we mustn't write Adrian off

Jabozuma, on 02 Mar 2015 - 14:41, said:

I must admit Renault is a bit of an unknown... they did a lot of development over the winter and we mustn't write Adrian off

 

Didn't RB make a big noise about Newey not being the tech boss anymore?

 

BTW, Auosport ranked the teams based on testing performances as follows:

 

Merc

Ferrari

Williams

RBR

STR

Lotus

Sauber

FI

McLaren

 

(Manor/Marussia didn't run yet and Tony Fernandez biilionaire vanity project is finally over)

Edited 3 March, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

Is the Honda engine really that bad?

Is the Honda engine really that bad?

 

Until it will run reliably no-one can tell. At Jerez it was 30kmh slower than Merc on top speed - clearly it wasn't running full power.

 

This time last year RBR were this bad and finished 2nd in Australia.

As we know testing is pretty much a smoke and mirrors exercise for most teams, not wanting to show their true colours, is that the case with McLaren? Partly yes, partly no.

Honda will have had that engine testing for hours and hours on the dyno bench, running GP simulations etc but haven't had it running in the true environment in the car. I don't think they'll be in the mix immediately but will target a mid season improvement, perhaps when the teams start the European races.

Alonso to miss first GP of the season on advice from medical team.

 

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/fernando-alonso-a-medical-update/

 

 

KMag will drive in his place but has said that he would not feel fully prepared to race in Oz if Alonso was not fit! Oh dear!

If the testing is anything to go by then Fandango won't be missing much.

Surprised with Alonso news... it can only mean one thing, scans showed brain swelling due to concussion and it is not going down as fast as expected and they can hardly pump him full of steroids... must have been a hell of a whack!

 

On another subject

 

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-mercedes-chief-rubbishes-claims-lewis-hamilton-135218635--f1.html

 

No that much of a bull$hit I am afraid. When Hamster was right after his first Championship his management (dad) negotiated £250mil 5 year contract with Macca. That plus other sources of income like endorsements. Toto is playing a game here as is his prerogative obviously. 

Still think there is something fishy going on. We've seen loads of worse smashes in P3 to see the driver return later in the day in Quali. Very odd. 

This time last year RBR were this bad and finished 2nd in Australia.

..and were promptly disqualified for running fuel at too faster rate and removing the FIA approved flow sensor.

..and were promptly disqualified for running fuel at too faster rate and removing the FIA approved flow sensor.

 

True, but the point was that performance turnarounds in 2 weeks can happen - the RedBull was that fast season long.

Still think there is something fishy going on. We've seen loads of worse smashes in P3 to see the driver return later in the day in Quali. Very odd. 

 

Last time Ron was this desperate to sign a real top-liner he got Mansell - without realising he was too fat to fit the car.

 

Maybe this time he's picked up Alonso, just as the guys motivation has gone - (see Hakkinen's 2001 season)

Williams test driver programmes announced. Susie Wolff gets 2 Friday practices this year - Alex Lynn none but he will drive at the post Spanish GP test.

Maybe alonso's sunglasses got damaged, and he's having to wait for the replacement parts to be shipped in from Mars.

stever750, on 03 Mar 2015 - 23:37, said:

Maybe alonso's sunglasses got damaged, and he's having to wait for the replacement parts to be shipped in from Mars.

 

He's certainly lost his razor - mind you "scruffy millionaire" is a popular look in the F1 paddock - I thought Ron had a long-standing policy for drivers to look smart in the past?

Edited 4 March, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

Manor/Marussia will be racing in Australia - apparently crash test booked for today with freight loaded tomorrow. Brave move!

 

They will introduce a new car mid 2015 but will they satisfy the 107% rule?

I reckon Alonso has written this season off already and so there's nothing to be gained from driving in Australia. His focus will be on making sure the team progress in 2015 so that he has a proper shot at the title next year.

Manor/Marussia will be racing in Australia - apparently crash test booked for today with freight loaded tomorrow. Brave move!

 

They will introduce a new car mid 2015 but will they satisfy the 107% rule?

Anyone who's a fan of the sport rather than just $team should be cheering for them.

Is it just me that thinks maybe McLaren cannot afford Alonso? They haven't attracted a top tier sponsor, Alonso is one of the more expensive drivers on the grid and the car is going to need some serious work. Bear with me, as this is about to get a bit conspiracy theory like.

 

McLaren now face quite a financial shortfall with no sponsor. The car is obviously going to require some serious investment (maybe more than they were expecting) in order to get it up the front of the grid. When Alonso has his shunt they see an opportunity. They can pay Alonso less by saying he has to sit out a race due to 'medical' reasons. This allows Magnussen, and therefore his sponsors, coverage at one of the biggest races of the season. Thus helping the money problem in two ways.

 

I'm off to see the shrink. Unless you guys think that's plausible? 

Edited 5 March, 201511 yr by J45ON

I think you've looked for something that isn't there.

They'd still have to pay Alonso. I have no doubts though that Alonso will have a clause to break the contract if no big sponsor.

The days of (sponsor) McLaren are long gone as sponsors won't pay the money that commands any more