F1 2018 Season

pauldyson1uk

Full Member
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
56,538
Location
Wythenshawe watching Crappy Fims
2018 PROVISIONAL F1 TESTING DATES
PRE-SEASON TESTING
February 26-March 1 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
March 6-9 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
IN-SEASON TESTING
May 15-May 16 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
July 31-August 1 Hungaroring, Budapest

2018 TEAMS AND ENGINE SUPPLIER
Mercedes Mercedes
Ferrari Ferrari
Red Bull Renault
Force India Mercedes
Williams Mercedes
Toro Rosso Honda
Renault Renault
Haas Ferrari
McLaren Renault
Sauber Ferrari

2018 F1 RACE CALENDAR

March 25 Australian GP Melbourne
April 8 Bahrain GP Sakhir
April 15 Chinese GP Shanghai
April 29 Azerbaijan GP Baku
May 13 Spanish GP Barcelona
May 27 Monaco GP Monaco
June 10 Canadian GP Montreal
June 24 French GP Le Castellet
July 1 Austrian GP Spielberg First Triple header for F1
July 8 British GP Silverstone
July 22 German GP Hockenheim
July 29 Hungarian GP Budapest
August 26 Belgian GP Spa-Francorchamps
September 2 Italian GP Monza
September 16 Singapore GP Marina Bay
September 30 Russian GP Sochi
October 7 Japanese GP Suzuka
October 21 United States GP Austin
October 28 Mexican GP Mexico City
November 11 Brazilian GP Sao Paulo
November 25 Abu Dhabi GP Yas Marina

The 2018 F1 season will begin in Australia on March 25, the same weekend as this year, and end in Abu Dhabi on November 25.


The Azerbaijan GP in Baku will take place two months earlier on April 29, while the Russian GP in Sochi has been moved back to a late September slot after hosting this year's fourth round.

But the major talking point is the three grands prix in three weekends - an F1 first.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Test for 2018 has already started in Abu Dhabi

The hypersoft is the "best tyre Pirelli have produced since returning to F1", according to world champion Lewis Hamilton after sampling 2018's tyres for the first time.

The new-for-2108 compound is two sets softer than the ultrasoft, the quickest tyre in Pirelli's 2017 portfolio.

Kimi Raikkonen used the pink-coloured tyre to set the pace on day one of the post-season Pirelli test at Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with Hamilton, in his last on-track outing of the year, third fastest.


"I'm not really the biggest fan of testing, but it's been a positive first day of running with these new tyres," said Hamilton.

"We've got a good early understanding of these 2018 Pirelli tyres. On early impression, the new HyperSoft is the best tyre that Pirelli have produced since returning to F1. I found that the other compounds are still a bit too hard for my liking but we're moving in the right direction. It's a nice way to wrap up the season, with one last day in the W08."

McLaren's Fernando Alonso also offered a positive first impression of the 2018 tyres.

"It's been very useful for us to have a read on the 2018 tyres," he said. "They felt good, I felt the performance was there and the degradation was under control, so generally I had a good feeling."

Like Hamilton and Raikkonen, the session marked the end of Alonso's on-track activities this year and the Spaniard added: "I'll be back in the factory soon for seat fit preparations and development work for 2018. There's a lot going on and I'm very happy with the direction for next year."
 
Would love Kubica to make a comeback. Even if he's a half second off the pace it would be an incredible story. One of my all-time favourite drivers.
 
I think we could see him in a Willams car in 2018.
Kubica completed exactly 100 laps and recorded a best time of 1:41.296 which placed him only ninth in the timesheet, but set on the soft tyre. Set in similarly hot day-time conditions, it was slightly faster than Williams race driver Lance Stroll's quickest lap in Practice One of the Abu Dhabi GP last Friday, although car and fuel settings are unknown.

"What the future will bring, I do not know, if nothing else happens there will be disappointment because I feel confident and comfortable," said Kubica.

Having not driven an F1 car for over six years before this summer, Kubica believes he has made good progress in the tests he has completed since and insists the arm injuries which had appeared to end his career are not signifcantly impairing him.

"I am starting from scratch because F1 has changed so much over the past seven years, but the experience I gained while racing in F1 has helped me to get on top of the learning process," he added.

"I have some limitations and I have to adapt, but one positive thing is how my body is reacting and how natural I feel every day when I am driving these cars, so that gives me a lot of confidence."
 
Abu Dhabi tyre test timesheet: Day One
Driver Team Time
1. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:37.768
2. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:38.066
3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:38.551
4. Romain Grosjean Haas 1:39.270
5. Lance Stroll Williams 1:39.580
6. Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:39.762
7. Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:39.803
8. Nikita Mazepin Force India 1:39.959
9. Robert Kubica Williams 1:41.296
10. Sean Gelael Toro Rosso 1:41.428
11. Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:41.681
12. Oliver Turvey McLaren 1:41.914
*All times set on hypersoft tyre bar Kubica on softs
 
Alfa Romeo name returning to F1 in 2018 in Sauber tie-up.

The Alfa Romeo name will return to F1 with Sauber in 2018 after the two parties agreed a wide-ranging technical partnership.

The Swiss team will officially be known as Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team with the Italian car brand to be their new title sponsor.

Sauber are powered by Ferrari engines and Sergio Marchionne, the president of the Maranello marque and the Fiat-Chrysler empire, had been keen to see the Alfa Romeo brand return to F1 for the first time since 1985.


The partnership is being billed as 'strategic, commercial and technological cooperation between Alfa Romeo and the Sauber F1 Team'.

Sauber are still to confirm their driver line-up for 2018, but Ferrari-backed Charles Leclerc and Marcus Ericsson are the most likely pairing. Both are running in this week's post-season Abu Dhabi test.

"This agreement with the Sauber F1 Team is a significant step in the reshaping of the Alfa Romeo brand, which will return to Formula 1 after an absence of more than 30 years," said Marchionne in a statement.
 
Abu Dhabi tyre test timesheet: Day Two Lunch
Driver Team Time
1. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:37.551
2. Esteban Ocon Force India 1:39.148
3. Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:39.211
4. Carlos Sainz Renault 1:39.444
5. Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:39.616
6. Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:39.810
7. Sergey Sirotkin Williams 1:39.947
8. Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:40.817
9. Lando Norris McLaren 1:41.714
10. Charles Leclerc Sauber 1:43.300
11. Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1:45.108
 
Maybe if we don't mention the halo til March we can pretend it isn't happening.
 
Abu Dhabi tyre test timesheet: Day Two
Driver Team Time
1. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:37.551
2. Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:38.490
3. Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:38.736
4. Sergio Perez Force India 1:38.818
5. Esteban Ocon Force India 1:39.148
6. Carlos Sainz Renault 1:39.444
7. Robert Kubica Williams 1:39.485
8. Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:39.782
9. Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:39.810
10. Sergey Sirotkin Williams 1:39.947
11. Charles Leclerc Sauber 1:40.666
12. Lando Norris McLaren 1:41.714
13. Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 1:43.345
14. Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1:44.827

Robert Kubica posted Williams' best time of the post-season Abu Dhabi Pirelli tyre test as he rounded off his third test for the team.

The Pole posted a best time of 1:39.485 to place him seventh in the timesheet, and was a tenth quicker than Lance Stroll managed on the same hypersoft tyre on Tuesday.

Kubica drove 28 laps during the final two hours of Wednesday's running to add to the 100 laps he managed on Tuesday, after which he had said he felt "confident and comfortable".


This test is being viewed as Williams' final check on whether the Pole is physically able to make a full-time return to F1 in 2018.
 
Honda have overhauled their F1 management structure in the wake of their divorce from McLaren.

F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa has been replaced with his role to now be split in half as Honda team up with Toro Rosso from 2018 - with a technical director installed to oversee operations at the race track, while an operating officer heads up engine development in Japan.
 
Force India have signed Canadian Nicholas Latifi as reserve and test driver for the 2018 F1 season.

The 22-year-old Latifi will provide back up to race drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon and appear in "a number of" Friday practice sessions during the year, in addition to in-season tests.

Latifi finished fifth in last year's Formula 2 championship, winning at Silverstone, and had been linked with a similar role at Williams.


"I'm really excited about the opportunity," said Latifi.

"Sahara Force India is a team that has shown constant improvement for the last few years and I'm proud to become a part of one of the success stories of Formula 1. I am eager to show the team what I can do and help them as they continue to close the gap to the front of the grid."
 
Sergey Sirotkin has beaten Robert Kubica to the final seat on the 2018 Formula 1 grid at Williams.

The 22-year-old Sirotkin, who is thought to bring considerable sponsorship money to the team, completes the 20-driver field for next season. The Russian will partner 19-year-old Lance Stroll in the youngest line-up in the sport.

Sirotkin has never raced in F1 but drove in four Friday Practice sessions for Renault in 2017.


"To say I'm happy and proud to join such a famous team like Williams is an understatement," said Sirotkin.

"It took a huge amount of work to get where I am, and I'm really happy and thankful to everyone involved. The result of our combined efforts has helped me achieve my dream, and rest assured the team can rely on me to deliver my best."
 
2018 car unveilings
62 days till the start of the new season.


Haas February 14 Online
Williams February 15 Online/London
Red Bull February 19 Online
Renault February 20 Online
Sauber February 20 Online
Mercedes February 22 Silverstone
Ferrari February 22 Online
McLaren February 23 TBC
Toro Rosso February 26 Barcelona
Force India To be confirmed
 
Last edited:
Apparently there wont be any 'walk on' girls any longer from this season onward. :(
 
The race start times for Formula 1 in 2018 have been revealed

Every GP to start ten minutes past the hour

European races underway at 2.10pm UK time

French GP to start at 3.10pm UK time to avoid World Cup clash

F1's 2018 race start times - UK time
Race Date Start time in UK
Australian GP March 25 6.10am
Bahrain GP April 8 4.10pm
Chinese GP April 15 7.10am
Azerbaijan GP April 29 1.10pm
Spanish GP May 13 2.10pm
Monaco GP May 27 2.10pm
Canadian GP June 10 7.10pm
French GP June 24 3.10pm
Austrian GP July 1 2.10pm
British GP July 8 2.10pm
German GP July 22 2.10pm
Hungarian GP July 29 2.10pm
Belgian GP August 26 2.10pm
Italian GP September 2 2.10pm
Singapore GP September 16 1.10pm
Russian GP September 30 12.10pm
Japanese GP October 7 6.10am
United States GP October 21 7.10pm
Mexican GP October 28 7.10pm
Brazilian GP November 11 5.10pm
Abu Dhabi GP November 25 1.10pm

Why have the start times changed?
F1's new owners, Liberty Media, believe moving the start-time of races to 10 minutes past the hour will improve experience of TV viewers.

According to the Formula 1 authorities: 'Some broadcasters usually go on air precisely on the hour, hence missing the tension and emotion that characterize the minutes before the start of each Grand Prix. Thanks to this change, television viewers will be brought closer to the teams and the drivers and fully enjoy the spectacle offered just before the red lights go out.'

Additionally, the hope is that the later starts in Europe and Brazil will increase TV audiences by making the sport more accommodating.

'Research has indicated that a wider TV audience is reachable later in the afternoons, especially in the summer months,' Liberty stated. 'Consequently, it has been decided to move the schedule of every session back by one hour across the whole weekend for each of the above-mentioned Grands Prix.'
 
A new documentary about McLaren’s 2017 season is up on Amazon Prime. Pretty interesting so far.
 
Hallo

skysports-haas-f1-car_4230997.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.