The F1 Thread 2010 Season

R_Nick said:
Is in season testing still banned this year? I've lost touch with the rule changes somewhat.
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Yeah, rules are the same as 2009 for testing. Max of 15k miles in February & then nothing in season.
 
I think they are allowed one test at a circuit not on the calender and a driver not in F1, think they are still allowed so many days straight line testing too. No inseason testing sucks, it wasnt that costly and it opened F1 up to fans who otherwise would not get to see them.
 
Wonder if The Toad will make any changes in that area any time soon.

Man I wish I could get to a GP in Europe this year.
 
It's a shame that there isn't more support for the new teams, was quite looking forward to some new faces on the grid (aside from Lotus/Virgin).
 
I think USF1 is out, and has been for some time. Reading up on it, it looks alot like 2 guys that couldn't get funding, decent drivers or organise.

Testing today, Vettel in the Red Bull looked strong.
 
Also there is a big chance Campos won't make it 2 teams out but Stefan GP who bought the Toyota cars will get a grid slot.
 
Leg-End said:
I think USF1 is out, and has been for some time. Reading up on it, it looks alot like 2 guys that couldn't get funding, decent drivers or organise.
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It baffles me really as Peter Windsor is probably one of the most connected men in F1 and was realistically the only person who could bridge the F1 gap for the North American market due to his media commitments.

I guess if they planned for a good season before hand (as opposed to a few months before the end of a season) they would get somewhere. Like i said, support from Ecclestone to these teams, maybe a cheap deal on chasis/engine supplier to just give a stepping stone to help out the teams within the first/second season.
 
F-Red said:
It baffles me really as Peter Windsor is probably one of the most connected men in F1 and was realistically the only person who could bridge the F1 gap for the North American market due to his media commitments.

I guess if they planned for a good season before hand (as opposed to a few months before the end of a season) they would get somewhere. Like i said, support from Ecclestone to these teams, maybe a cheap deal on chasis/engine supplier to just give a stepping stone to help out the teams within the first/second season.
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I think its more to do with the other chap Anderson who seems to be good at leading projects into failure.
 
Rooney1987 said:
There is good news Campos might make it now

autosport.com - F1 News: Campos set for takeover

The USF1 site http://www.usf1.com/ is down there almost gone. But at least Stefan GP might get the slot so we have are 4 new teams only problem is I read they might sign Nakajima who should not be in F1
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Good news about Campos. As for Nakajima, he'd be perfect for a new team. Whilst he isn't an amazing or consistent driver, he has a couple of years under his belt & can offer a good experience for someone like Stefan.
 
I can't agree on Nakajima there are plenty of decent experience drivers like Heidfeld, Davidson and other who can do a job. I just don't think he's good enough last year he didnt get a single point in decent Williams as Rosberg got 34. I know new teams don't have to have great drivers but at least half decent ones.
 
Alonso: Ferrari best car I've ever had

Fernando Alonso has declared the Ferrari F10 the best car he has ever driven - and says the team is yet to show what it can really do.

Ferrari was quickest throughout the first test of the winter at Valencia a fortnight ago, but has kept a lower profile during the past fortnight at Jerez.

However Alonso has set some eye-catching times on long runs, and he ended this week's test full of confidence.

"There are no reasons to be pessimistic," the double champion told Spanish media. "As of today, this is the best car I've ever had."

Having taken over from team-mate Felipe Massa on Friday, Alonso enjoyed the best of the weather at Jerez this week, and was able to accumulate plenty of mileage - logging 269 laps over the past two days.

"The two days that I tested it was sunny and the track was dry and I could work more than I thought so I'm very happy," he said. "We have done a good job in terms of reliability and long runs."

Alonso said he was not underestimating Ferrari's rivals - but warned them that the Italian squad had not displayed its real potential yet.

"Red Bull, McLaren and Renault have been very quick and they have shown their cards, while we are still hiding ours," he said. "We are going to analyse the data, but we are very optimistic. As of today, if I were in a different team I would be looking at Ferrari because everything is going very well.

"Maybe where Ferrari needs to improve is in the short runs with little fuel onboard. That's where the Red Bull and the McLaren have been quicker, and they will be the reference to try and improve the F10 in the next test in Barcelona."

The Spaniard's declaration comes after McLaren's Jenson Button said that he also reckoned Ferrari could be the team to beat.

"I think the Ferrari is a very strong car," Button said yesterday. "If you look at their runs today, they're very consistent. I think they have better consistency than anyone at the moment."
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autosport.com - F1 News: Alonso: Ferrari best car I've ever had

I'm somewhat surprised at myself for my recent thoughts on this, but I actually wouldn't mind seeing Alonso win it with Ferrari next year. Having followed Ferrari the last few years as a by-product of being a Raikkonen fan I feel a kind of connection to the team (althought they did screw him somewhat in the end) and I've warmed to the Dolmio Man since he went back to Renault as well.

Ideally I'd like to see Vettel and Red Bull win both championships, but I wouldn't mind the red cars winning either.

Any pre-season predictions from anyone?
 
Still too early to tell, especially with the times coming out of pre-season testing. I think its close and we shall see 3-4 different teams in the hunt for race wins, or atleast I hope so.

Mercedes - Fairly average testing but might be hiding some performance
Red Bull - Looks good but fragile, should be early favorites
McLaren - Big improvement on last season but from times not the best over long runs
Ferrari - Great long run pace
Sauber - Good long run pace but questionable drivers
Renault - Good long run pace but questionable team
Force India - My tip for a surge up the natural order
Williams - Hard to tell, looks like the same old Williams
Toro Rosso - In theory should be the sister car of Red Bull, in reality it wont be
Lotus - For a new team a solid looking base with good drivers
Virgin - Fragile team but great looking car, havent seen it do a long run yet
USF1 - Probably still sitting in 100 bits in Charlotte
Campos - Needs money but look to have a car built atleast

I think the Barca test will show us more, few of the bigger teams are bringing big updates to it, right now I fancy Red Bull will be the car to beat in Bahrain with the Ferrari and McLaren ready for a season long upgrade battle.
 
I hope its great but I think after in my opinion 4 fantastic seasons from 2006-09 it will be abit less interesting, I hope I am wrong. By taking away the re-fuelling but not doing anything about the overtaking aero issues we will see more than a few boring races, there is going to be a bigger field spread which makes it a little less interesting.

I hope I am wrong ofcourse, we really wont know how it will play out until the European leg of the season.
 
Leg-End said:
I hope its great but I think after in my opinion 4 fantastic seasons from 2006-09 it will be abit less interesting, I hope I am wrong. By taking away the re-fuelling but not doing anything about the overtaking aero issues we will see more than a few boring races, there is going to be a bigger field spread which makes it a little less interesting.

I hope I am wrong ofcourse, we really wont know how it will play out until the European leg of the season.
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i have been saying for seasons that if they want to make it exciting they should have loop the loops...

commentators keep on saying these cars generate enough downforce to drive upside down.... they should prove it... now upside down overtaking... that would be exciting
 
Leg-End said:
I hope its great but I think after in my opinion 4 fantastic seasons from 2006-09 it will be abit less interesting, I hope I am wrong. By taking away the re-fuelling but not doing anything about the overtaking aero issues we will see more than a few boring races, there is going to be a bigger field spread which makes it a little less interesting.

I hope I am wrong ofcourse, we really wont know how it will play out until the European leg of the season.
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Yea I mentioned my worries about that early on in this thread; I just hope that it turns out different. The pissing around with the rules on tyre use might add something but we'll have to wait and see I guess.

I wish they'd just make a tight set of rules that brings back the kind of aero that allows cars to follow one another.
 
R_Nick said:
Any pre-season predictions from anyone?
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a 4 team season to start with, then it'll leave it down to McLaren & Red Bull i reckon.

I can't believe the season is only 2 weeks away! its come back very quickly
 
only 2 weeks? wow that was might quick!

Ferrari will be in there as well along with McLaren, Red Bull and maybe even Mercedes team could spring a surprise.
 
Hmm who to root for? Ferrari or Schumacher? Feels like I will cheer on both and hope that Hamilton fecks up every race as usual:D
 
If the rumours are to be believed, it could all kick off again come Bahrain, as Mercedes (Brawn) are rumoured to have some kind of super-diffuser which they've not shown yet
 
Not that I'm complaining, but why haven't Stefan GP been allowed to take USF1's place? They seemed to have the finance in place, unlike USF1, and anything which gets Villeneuve back in F1 can only be a good thing. Overall I'm not complaining though, these cheap teams struggling to reach the grid is a bit embarrassing tbh, F1 should be the elite in my opinion and I get the feeling its gonna be like watching a lot of Minardi's.
 
If it was an elite competition i would find it very boring, very quickly. It's the smaller teams which bring through the great drivers we have on the grid today, they place an integral role - even if they're not winning every race. Take Force India for example, they've made huge steps with their team in the last 1-2 years.

As for Stefan GP, there was nothing wrong with them. F1 just didn't want to include any more teams at this stage, they'll more than likely be in 2011 if they develop a car.
 
Campos are now Hispania Racing F1 team.

Its a shame about USF1 but were still getting a few new teams.
 
This weekend guys!

I'm thinking of getting an online fantasy league going, would anyone be up for it?
 
You up for a F1 fantasy league? I'll get the wheels in motion (har har) this eve...
 
I'd be up for it but only played an football fantasy leagues a few years ago how would a F1 one work.
 
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