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?

All crash tests have been passed by Manor.

Freight loaded ready for departure tomorrow.

Great news.

107%?

 

Merc are 4 second faster in race trim around Barcelona.

 

A few of last years cars wouldnt do 107% of this years poles - let alone one of the slowest cars of 2014 - they could be in trouble.

Cue Bernie bending that rule so he has enough cars on the grid for the sponsors

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. 

 

I read an interesting discussion about concussions in regards to Cyclocross (offroad racing with slightly modified road bikes) where the advice has changed significantly, previously if it was a mild concussion they'd be off the bike for a couple of days then back on it.  Now however the advice is no cycling at all and certainly no racing for at least two to three weeks and possibly longer because newer research shows having another similar impact can cause quite a bit more damage.  I've seen exactly the same comments in relation to Alonso in that although he is ok, another head injury could leave him a lot worse off and given the car doesn't look remotely competitive there's not much he's missing out on so it seems reasonable.

 

John

Cue Bernie bending that rule so he has enough cars on the grid for the sponsors

The 107% rule has always allowed teams to appeal for a "force majure" (sp) exemption on a race by race basis.

I read an interesting discussion about concussions in regards to Cyclocross (offroad racing with slightly modified road bikes) where the advice has changed significantly, previously if it was a mild concussion they'd be off the bike for a couple of days then back on it.  Now however the advice is no cycling at all and certainly no racing for at least two to three weeks and possibly longer because newer research shows having another similar impact can cause quite a bit more damage.  I've seen exactly the same comments in relation to Alonso in that although he is ok, another head injury could leave him a lot worse off and given the car doesn't look remotely competitive there's not much he's missing out on so it seems reasonable.

 

John

 

Alonso's head injury by the Spanish Tabloids:

 

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/driver-thinking-hes-kid-after-crash/957393/?utm_source=aol&utm_medium=tr&utm_campaign=p10k80&utm_content=30615

 

???

The new Mercedes safety and medical cars seem to be shaping up to be suitable replacements for their predecessors:

 

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercedes-amg-reveals-2015-f1-safety-car-lineup-and-its-full-of-sexy-gloriousness/

There were reports in press claiming that when Alonso spoke to the doctors in hospital he thought it was 1995, he was karting race driver hoping to be a F1 driver in the future - a severe memory loss due to accident.

Not sure what is going on with him but it was alluded that his F1 career might be over :( :( :( - I sincerely hope it is lots of horse manure!

 

@JohnMcL7 - Nine Legions salute you

Lovely looking motors, I am incidentally on the market for a new family estate - I wish!

Jabozuma, on 10 Mar 2015 - 15:38, said:

There were reports in press claiming that when Alonso spoke to the doctors in hospital he thought it was 1995, he was karting race driver hoping to be a F1 driver in the future - a severe memory loss due to accident.

 

 

Yes. linked 2 posts up from yours

Looks like Sauber have some legal issues. A pity as they are struggling financially.

 

It would appear they promised their test driver a ride, then signed two other drivers for this season, as they brought some serious cash with them. So, assuming one of them is ousted then they take their cash with them, meaning Sauber could go under. So, i think Guido might have shot himself in the foot. That, and i have no idea if he and/or the car will be ready to race in less than 3 days time.

 

More here.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/31828900 

Guido acted in a stupid way making his position untenable - how on earth is he supposed to be driving for a team which wants him out??? Why not take the money and go? Surely, that is a standard clause in F1 driver contracts these days?

Victoria Supreme Court rules in favour of Giedo VdG.

 

Sauber appeal to be heard Thursday morning.

Craziest start to F1 season for a while

Sauber have lost their appeal against Guido. However, he's let his super licence lapse. So, he now has to apply to the FIA through the governing race body in his home country and hope that it is approved in time. 

However, if there is any hold up for whatever reason then he won't race this weekend anyway. 

Mercedes looking strongest as expected.

McLaren are hoping Manor can run tomorrow so they're not on the back row of the grid (I'm not joking)

All kicking off at Sauber , the team principal has left the circuit after being threatened with jail or substantial fines for contempt and bailiffs apparently waiting until 315 to seize team assets !

All kicking off at Sauber , the team principal has left the circuit after being threatened with jail or substantial fines for contempt and bailiffs apparently waiting until 315 to seize team assets !

 

The situation is very unclear, and actually they are all back in court tomorrow morning. Kaltenborn is a former lawyer so should know what she's doing.

 

Car couldn't take part in FP1 but did get into FP2.

 

The secondary problem is that GvDG doesn't have a superlicence (it's lapsed) so couldn't compete even if he wanted to (although I do understand he has applied for it though).

 

Simplest solution is to pay off GvDG to settle the whole thing; run a intra team session in FP3 with best 2 times running in Qualiy, and finally sack the person in Sauber who screwed up!

yet again the "off-circuit" goings on threaten to overshadow the actual racing

yet again the "off-circuit" goings on threaten to overshadow the actual racing

Only because they're more interesting than the actual racing.

Tune into FormulaE tomorrow evening if you want to see some overtaking!

That is actually not a bad idea at all!

RapidRonnie, on 13 Mar 2015 - 15:44, said:

Only because they're more interesting than the actual racing.

Tune into FormulaE tomorrow evening if you want to see some overtaking!

 

Yeah, I've watched it before - If F1 is boringly quiet these days, what does that make FE. I put my F1 V10 ringtone on loop for a bit of atmosphere

 

There wont be any overtaking in that next year - when powertrains are not identical it will be a horsepower race just like current F1.

Edited 13 March, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

I know FP1 & 2 times are meaningless but:

 

Vettel's pretty quick,

 

Disappointing pace from Williams so far,

 

and as for the rest - 2.3 seconds or more back - thats hardly looking like a competitve season is it.

 

Impressed with Force India making the top 10 with so little testing but - over 3 seconds off!

Bottas developed back injury during qualification and may not race tomorrow. Medics to decide in the morning.

Manor also didn't take part in qualifying.

GvDG dropped case - presumably settled out of court.

CvDG thing is under discussion , could be quite a bit more to come yet  , he could if he wanted had stopped the team racing this weekend which is clearly in nobody's interest

 

So I expect the negotiations will go on quite a while yet , shameful for the team to put themselves and the drivers in this position but F1 is all about business nowadays and thats how businesses operate

Yeah, I've watched it before - If F1 is boringly quiet these days, what does that make FE. I put my F1 V10 ringtone on loop for a bit of atmosphere

 

There wont be any overtaking in that next year - when powertrains are not identical it will be a horsepower race just like current F1.

I don't really think about the sound anymore in F1 or FE, might be different if I was a trackside spectator though..

I like the fact they will be able to develop the powertrains in FE next year. Hopefully the racing will still be ok as they all have to use the same chassis with minimum aero so they can follow closely. Was good again tonight.