Formula 1 2018

[evilwebby]

It's that time of year again..
The teams will be unveiling their new cars starting this week, and then before the end of the month we will be seeing them running in Barcelona testing..

Testing
******
Barcelona - 26th February - 1st March
Barcelona - 6th March - 9th March

Car Launches
***********
Williams - 15th February
Sauber - 20th February
Renault - 20th February
Ferrari - 22nd February
Mercedes - 22nd February
McLaren - 23rd February
Force India - 25th February
Toro Rosso - 26th February

 

[roydo]

Only 8 teams this year?

 

[Milk]

going to be even MORE BORING without the touch of glamour the grid girls brought.

Meh

 

[The binman chronicles]

The halo has ruined it for me. I will watch when I can but for the first time since about 2002 I will not religiously be in front of the TV when it is on.

 

[Toffee-nerd]

Alonso world champ

 

[evilwebby]

The halo has ruined it for me. I will watch when I can but for the first time since about 2002 I will not religiously be in front of the TV when it is on.

It is definitely a step backwards in terms of asthetics, especially after one of the aims of the 2017 regulations was to improve the look of F1 cars. But we have seen this before eg with the move to stepped noses. People didn't like it, rightly so, but it gradually becomes the norm and we move on. Hopefully they'll get rid of sharkfins and T-wings to balance it out at bit, at least.

The Formula E mockup showed that it didn't look that bad if you can incorporate it into the full chassis from day 1.

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2018/01/analysis-the-car-that-will-change-motorsport-even-f1-forever/

 

[.....!]

I can see a piece of debris ricocheting downwards from those Halo devices causing even more damage than it would have previously. We'll see. I don't know why they don't just have half a windscreen like a roadster would have. Much better looking without enclosing the cockpit.

 

[evilwebby]

I can see a piece of debris ricocheting downwards from those Halo devices causing even more damage than it would have previously. We'll see. I don't know why they don't just have half a windscreen like a roadster would have. Much better looking without enclosing the cockpit.

I'm sure they would have gone with another solution if they could, but apparently the Halo was the only device that was successful in passing all the FIA's tests, one of which included deflecting wheel/tyre fired at 200km/hr or something similar.

I think that when we saw Seb testing the screen on his Ferrari last year (around Silverstone time?) it was really just a PR exercise to show the fans that they had tried all the solutions; I think the decision was 90% made by then. He basically did one installation lap, dissed it - probably on company orders - and we never saw it again after that.

 

[The binman chronicles]

It is definitely a step backwards in terms of asthetics, especially after one of the aims of the 2017 regulations was to improve the look of F1 cars. But we have seen this before eg with the move to stepped noses. People didn't like it, rightly so, but it gradually becomes the norm and we move on. Hopefully they'll get rid of sharkfins and T-wings to balance it out at bit, at least.

The Formula E mockup showed that it didn't look that bad if you can incorporate it into the full chassis from day 1.

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2018/01/analysis-the-car-that-will-change-motorsport-even-f1-forever/

I'm sure with the fairing and paint job the halo will look a lot better this year than it did during the tests. It's just having something that blocks the view of the driver, blocks their view of the lights etc. looks crap from the onboards and all that for something that would have saved exactly no lives in the last 23 years (might have even killed Massa if it deflected the spring downwards to his chest area) seems a bit much.

It is needed for Indy Cars where the speed is higher and you have more chance of contact but I think F1 could have gotten away without until they go for completely closed cockpits.

 

[.....!]

I'm sure they would have gone with another solution if they could, but apparently the Halo was the only device that was successful in passing all the FIA's tests, one of which included deflecting wheel/tyre fired at 200km/hr or something similar.

I think that when we saw Seb testing the screen on his Ferrari last year (around Silverstone time?) it was really just a PR exercise to show the fans that they had tried all the solutions; I think the decision was 90% made by then. He basically did one installation lap, dissed it - probably on company orders - and we never saw it again after that.

Did they test things as small as a spring as in Massa's incident. Something as small as that may be a real problem. A wheel or tyre wouldn't go through the gap. Smaller debris could go either way.

 

[evilwebby]

First look at a 2018 car, the Haas:

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/22435704/haas-reveals-first-shots-f1-halo-era

 

[Baines' left foot]

Last year this is on Channel 4 isn’t it? If so this will be the last season I watch.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Last year this is on Channel 4 isn’t it? If so this will be the last season I watch.

Why mate? If you can't afford Sky, can't you just hook yourself up with a MAG box and get an IPTV subscription to get all the sports channels in the world, in HD and live?

 

[Baines' left foot]

Why mate? If you can't afford Sky, can't you just hook yourself up with a MAG box and get an IPTV subscription to get all the sports channels in the world, in HD and live?

It’s not about affording, it’s just not worth £500+ a year just to watch F1.

And because I’m not an utter crook like you, Big Fat Sam.

 

[The binman chronicles]

First look at a 2018 car, the Haas:

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/22435704/haas-reveals-first-shots-f1-halo-era

If I avoid my pet hate (& they have tried their best by painting it black and then having a black background), it looks great. I like how they have camouflaged the shark fin also (again may not look so good when not against a dark background).