planetf1.com

Finally race week is here!

It's going to be a bit strange behind closed doors, but I'm petty pleased to have some racing to watch.

Schedule (BST times):

Practice 1: Friday 10:00 - 11:30
Practice 2: Friday 14:00 - 15:30
Practice 3: Saturday - 11:00 - 12:00

There’s a fair bit of rain forecast throughout the weekend!

I love it

Herb wrote:

I love it

That looks amazing.

Herb wrote:

I love it

Fantastic livery, probably my favourite they have ever released. Lauda tribute (I assume) is a nice touch as well.

I can't see how it does anything to help the issue of racism but it look stunning.

mikeyg123 wrote:I can't see how it does anything to help the issue of racism but it look stunning.

Awareness, but its not just racism its part of a drive by Mercedes F1 team to be more inclusive.

Option or Prime wrote:

mikeyg123 wrote:I can't see how it does anything to help the issue of racism but it look stunning.

Awareness, but its not just racism its part of a drive by Mercedes F1 team to be more inclusive.

In my view it would be far better if Hamilton didn't have £40m salary but £35 and Totto and Mercedes followed suit and doubled that (at least) so they could give £10m scholarship to kids aspiring a racing seat or getting into engineering.

A paintjob looks good and raises awareness, but I'd be happier with something more... substantial. The article includes quotes that sound like a PR machine spat them out, makes me cringe.

Schumacher forever#1 wrote:

Herb wrote:

I love it

Fantastic livery, probably my favourite they have ever released. Lauda tribute (I assume) is a nice touch as well.

The Lauda Tribute is where it's been since they announced their cars would don it moving forward starting last year.
It's the single Red Star on either side of the car towards the rear of the engine cover. If you click on thew tweet and enlarge your window you'll see it.
The rest of the red is actually a Plum color which is the color for their sponsor Ineos.

Source - Imgur


Source - Imgur

Ferrari have said that they are changing direction with their car with major updates coming for Hungary. That means bad news for the first two races but might mean they are more competitive from that point onwards. Probably also an admission they got it wrong over the winter. I can't imagine the period since the factory shutdown has exactly been great for making such a major update though given the current conditions/time constraints.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferr ... y/4817309/

Teams have the usual engine components as if it was a full season but at the moment it's unclear how long the season will last, it could be 12 races but could be 18. Will some teams run their engines in higher modes but risk losing some performance if the season is stretched out to 18 or so races?

Oh my a race thread! Hooray!!
Love the Merc livery too. Can't wait.

A race Week! A race Thread! Cheers!

JN23 wrote:Ferrari have said that they are changing direction with their car with major updates coming for Hungary. That means bad news for the first two races but might mean they are more competitive from that point onwards. Probably also an admission they got it wrong over the winter. I can't imagine the period since the factory shutdown has exactly been great for making such a major update though given the current conditions/time constraints.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferr ... y/4817309/

Rather than upgrades it seems t be a complete redesign of the car.. To be behind the game with a shotened season surely means there are now only two conteders effectively doesn't it? RB and the 'black beast'. (Can I say that?)

JN23 wrote:Ferrari have said that they are changing direction with their car with major updates coming for Hungary. That means bad news for the first two races but might mean they are more competitive from that point onwards. Probably also an admission they got it wrong over the winter. I can't imagine the period since the factory shutdown has exactly been great for making such a major update though given the current conditions/time constraints.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferr ... y/4817309/

What a disappointment. In the current environment Ferrari are the only team with the resources to challenge Mercedes for the championship, and yet they keep messing it up in one way or another. They've had plenty of time to learn where they went wrong in 2019 yet it seems they've still not been able to put it right. Will this "new" new car solve all their issues? I've little confidence myself.

Let's hope Honda have made enough progress to put Red Bull into contention, or it seems we're in for another one-sided season. They should be competitive in the first few races regardless, but Silverstone will be the real test of whether they're going to be a force this season.

Judging by the pictures I've seen of the setting up in Austria, this story about F1 teams using tents and awnings and a rather different looking paddock, has not exactly happened!!!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15018 ... gp-paddock

j man wrote:

JN23 wrote:Ferrari have said that they are changing direction with their car with major updates coming for Hungary. That means bad news for the first two races but might mean they are more competitive from that point onwards. Probably also an admission they got it wrong over the winter. I can't imagine the period since the factory shutdown has exactly been great for making such a major update though given the current conditions/time constraints.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferr ... y/4817309/

What a disappointment. In the current environment Ferrari are the only team with the resources to challenge Mercedes for the championship, and yet they keep messing it up in one way or another. They've had plenty of time to learn where they went wrong in 2019 yet it seems they've still not been able to put it right. Will this "new" new car solve all their issues? I've little confidence myself.

Let's hope Honda have made enough progress to put Red Bull into contention, or it seems we're in for another one-sided season. They should be competitive in the first few races regardless, but Silverstone will be the real test of whether they're going to be a force this season.

If RedBull don't get at least one win in Austria then the WDC will be decided in favour of Mercedes after 2 races given that Ferrari won't even start their season until 3 races in.

Should be a fantastic weekend!

Just curious, has anyone related to this weekend F1 race (drivers, technicians, managers, etc) arrive in Austria today?

Would there still be any minor possibility that the race would be cancelled/postponed due to Covid-19 issue?

Asphalt_World wrote:Judging by the pictures I've seen of the setting up in Austria, this story about F1 teams using tents and awnings and a rather different looking paddock, has not exactly happened!!!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15018 ... gp-paddock

A link to the pictures would be handy!

I'm hearing rumours that there's a problem with Mercedes engines and they need to be changed into new ones. I'm guessing since the season hasn't yet officially started, they can change as many components as they want?

Covalent wrote:I'm hearing rumours that there's a problem with Mercedes engines and they need to be changed into new ones. I'm guessing since the season hasn't yet officially started, they can change as many components as they want?

Yeah I assume they can do what they want until FP1 starts.

On engines: Andrew Benson is reporting that Merc have a reliability upgrade to their engine since pre-season and Honda a performance upgrade

Covalent wrote:I'm hearing rumours that there's a problem with Mercedes engines and they need to be changed into new ones. I'm guessing since the season hasn't yet officially started, they can change as many components as they want?

@LukeSmithF1 has said there’s no truth to this story, which seemed to originate in Dutch TV as far as I can see on twitter.

JN23 wrote:

Covalent wrote:I'm hearing rumours that there's a problem with Mercedes engines and they need to be changed into new ones. I'm guessing since the season hasn't yet officially started, they can change as many components as they want?

@LukeSmithF1 has said there’s no truth to this story, which seemed to originate in Dutch TV as far as I can see on twitter.

Ok cheers.

https://www.nowtv.com/choose-passes/sky ... onth-boost

For UK viewers, this deal runs out today. If you have no existing sky channels, this is going to be the cheapest you can watch it. Still a bit pricey given the number of races confirmed, but looks like it is the best option. Channel 4 are doing all of them as highlights as well as the British Grand prix live.

Alienturnedhuman wrote:

Asphalt_World wrote:Judging by the pictures I've seen of the setting up in Austria, this story about F1 teams using tents and awnings and a rather different looking paddock, has not exactly happened!!!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15018 ... gp-paddock

A link to the pictures would be handy!

Maybe, but as we're all online to read this forum and we're all keen on keeping up to date on all things F1, I kind of assumed it would be easy to find, if not already seen by most.

JN23 wrote:

Covalent wrote:I'm hearing rumours that there's a problem with Mercedes engines and they need to be changed into new ones. I'm guessing since the season hasn't yet officially started, they can change as many components as they want?

@LukeSmithF1 has said there’s no truth to this story, which seemed to originate in Dutch TV as far as I can see on twitter.

Asphalt_World wrote:

Alienturnedhuman wrote:

Asphalt_World wrote:Judging by the pictures I've seen of the setting up in Austria, this story about F1 teams using tents and awnings and a rather different looking paddock, has not exactly happened!!!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15018 ... gp-paddock

A link to the pictures would be handy!

Maybe, but as we're all online to read this forum and we're all keen on keeping up to date on all things F1, I kind of assumed it would be easy to find, if not already seen by most.

Would have been easier to just stick the picks up wouldn't it, having said that I've looked and can't actually see what it refers to.

What is it about posting images anyway Dolomite did the same?

Option or Prime wrote:

Asphalt_World wrote:

Alienturnedhuman wrote:

Asphalt_World wrote:Judging by the pictures I've seen of the setting up in Austria, this story about F1 teams using tents and awnings and a rather different looking paddock, has not exactly happened!!!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15018 ... gp-paddock

A link to the pictures would be handy!

Maybe, but as we're all online to read this forum and we're all keen on keeping up to date on all things F1, I kind of assumed it would be easy to find, if not already seen by most.

Would have been easier to just stick the picks up wouldn't it, having said that I've looked and can't actually see what it refers to.

What is it about posting images anyway Dolomite did the same?

Exactly - I can only find evidence that suggests that the teams haven't brought their motorhomes. The only one up is Red Bull's - but I imagine that as the circuit is owned by Red Bull this is where it probably usually lives.

Light showers on track. As per the prediction, the rain will only be present today. Sat & Sun should be dry.


Source - Imgur

Hamilton's new lid:


Source - Imgur

I do wonder why on the official F1 channel, the commentary from Brundle and Crofty sounds so poorly recorded. Almost like they have a pillow between their mouth and the microphone which i know won't be the case!

Even with the masks they are now using (which are clearly necessary), their voices are much more clear. I almost wonder if Sky don't give the official F1 channel the rights to the sound as it was recorded and have to make it sound muddy unless it is their own videos. But I vertually always notice everything sounds fine other than when Brundle or Crofty are talking.

The colour difference in the driver list between Red Bull and Williams is just too similar. If they are trying to make it more friendly to new viewers by dumbing things down, which looks like it will be the case, this is already something they could actually improve. Red Bull could easily be purple rather than blue.

Mercedes are running DAS they have confirmed.

Horner has just been interviewed on Sky. He implied they’d protest if it was used. Horner also didn’t say no when asked if Red Bull has their own version.

Crofty talking about stars named after a team and joking about one named after himself. I was excited about the first practice but as usual, Crofty is talking about such utter unrelated nonsense that I don't know If I will be able to tolerate this. He barely talks about what is on screen and constantly interrupts team radio. He is such a useless commentator and needs to be replaced..

Sorry for appearing so miserable!

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Crofty talking about stars named after a team and joking about one named after himself. I was excited about the first practice but as usual, Crofty is talking about such utter unrelated nonsense that I don't know If I will be able to tolerate this. He barely talks about what is on screen and constantly interrupts team radio. He is such a useless commentator and needs to be replaced..

Sorry for appearing so miserable!

Listen to BBC coverage?

JN23 wrote:

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Crofty talking about stars named after a team and joking about one named after himself. I was excited about the first practice but as usual, Crofty is talking about such utter unrelated nonsense that I don't know If I will be able to tolerate this. He barely talks about what is on screen and constantly interrupts team radio. He is such a useless commentator and needs to be replaced..

Sorry for appearing so miserable!

Listen to BBC coverage?

Thanks for that suggestion. I didn't think it was done for every session on the BBC. There is usually enough happening in qualifying and the race to keep crofty focussed but he is simply awful in practice sessions.

I think I can even accept the audio not being in sync with the picture more than crofty speaking about the things he does.

TheGiantHogweed wrote:

JN23 wrote:

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Crofty talking about stars named after a team and joking about one named after himself. I was excited about the first practice but as usual, Crofty is talking about such utter unrelated nonsense that I don't know If I will be able to tolerate this. He barely talks about what is on screen and constantly interrupts team radio. He is such a useless commentator and needs to be replaced..

Sorry for appearing so miserable!

Listen to BBC coverage?

Thanks for that suggestion. I didn't think it was done for every session on the BBC. There is usually enough happening in qualifying and the race to keep crofty focussed but he is simply awful in practice sessions.

I think I can even accept the audio not being in sync with the picture more than crofty speaking about the things he does.

Pretty sure practice commentators is on the website rather than radio.

JN23 wrote:

TheGiantHogweed wrote:

JN23 wrote:

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Crofty talking about stars named after a team and joking about one named after himself. I was excited about the first practice but as usual, Crofty is talking about such utter unrelated nonsense that I don't know If I will be able to tolerate this. He barely talks about what is on screen and constantly interrupts team radio. He is such a useless commentator and needs to be replaced..

Sorry for appearing so miserable!

Listen to BBC coverage?

Thanks for that suggestion. I didn't think it was done for every session on the BBC. There is usually enough happening in qualifying and the race to keep crofty focussed but he is simply awful in practice sessions.

I think I can even accept the audio not being in sync with the picture more than crofty speaking about the things he does.

Pretty sure practice commentators is on the website rather than radio.

I'm listening to it on freeview on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.