Mr. Torpedo out on the Fiorano track today.
FIA considering pitstop safety changes APRIL 24, 2018 F1 is considering some mandatory changes in a bid to make pitstops safer. So far in 2018, as sub three second tyre stops become the norm, there have been several incidents caused ostensibly by teams pushing the limits with techniques and technology. The highest profile incident saw a Ferrari mechanic's leg badly broken, and F1 race director Charlie Whiting says the sport is looking into some counter-measures. "We can introduce some things to improve," he said, "to decrease the probability of errors." Whiting is quoted by Brazil's Globo as saying F1 has "learned something" from looking into the incidents seen so far this year. "The challenge is to decide which tools need to be automated and which ones need to be operated by a human," he said. "I have a clear idea and I'll discuss this with the teams in the coming weeks." Whiting played down fears that the FIA's response will be to "standardise" key elements of the pitstop process, which remains a highlight of the F1 show. "I don't think there's any reason to standardise the system," he said. "But we need to be sure that there's no way the guy can give the ok when certain conditions have not been met."
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135718/overtaking-changes-pushed-through-for-2019 The F1 Commission has voted through last-minute changes to the 2019 Formula 1 aerodynamic package to aid overtaking, despite opposition from several teams. A proposal to change front wing endplates to help cars follow each other, along with a bigger rear wing flap and therefore a stronger DRS effect, has been passed. An extra package involving bargeboards was not agreed to. The vote took place on April 30, the last day when technical regulation changes for next season can be passed without unanimity being required. Under F1 Commission rules a proposal can be pushed through with support from as few of four of the 10 teams if everyone else - the FIA, F1, and sponsor and promoter representatives - are behind it. Even so, several team bosses suggested in Baku there would not be enough support to vote it through, with only Williams publicly in favour. Although there has been no official confirmation it is believed that up to six teams were still opposed to the plans. Sources suggest that Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, Toro Rosso and Haas voted no, and that Williams was joined by Mercedes, Force India and Sauber in voting yes. The F1 Commission vote still needs to get approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council to be put into the 2019 rules. While this should in theory be a formality, it is unclear if Ferrari could try to use its veto over technical rule changes to block the tweaks. Ferrari would have to prove the changes would have a negative effect on it - for instance because they would be too costly - rather than the team just not being in favour of them. The wing changes proposal was a direct response to the lack of overtaking in the Australian Grand Prix, which prompted the FIA and Liberty to consider possible improvements for 2019.
Nicholas Latifi, Nikita Mazepin and George Russell all of them will be driving the #ForceIndia's VJM11 in #Barcelona's in-season and #Pirelli tyre tests: Image Unavailable, Please Login
They ordered the FIA to check about the smoke - Nothing found They asked them to check the oil consumption - Nothing found They tried to create a mess because of the mirrors - Ferrari reacted brilliantly Now it's the battery Just ban Binotto if you don‘t want them to be good....
Today – Red Bull and Honda in talks over engine deal, AND Hamilton says Vettel broke safety car rules????
Not a fan of street races but I would have to see the layout......it should have at least a long straight IMO otherwise forget it. City of Miami's local authority will vote next week on a multi year deal with F1 that would begin a street race in 2019 -- per Motorsport
MAY 3, 2018 Teams hit out at fuel allowance increase MAY 3, 2018 Some F1 teams have hit out at the FIA's decision to increase the in-race fuel allowance for 2019. To stop drivers from needing to 'lift and coast' and save duel during races next year, the fuel allowance is increasing from 105 to 110kg. "It's a strange decision," Williams technical boss Paddy Lowe said. "The hybrid era is about increasing energy efficiency, and limiting fuel was part of that. If some teams have more problems than others, then that's their fault from a design point of view. "Increasing fuel is a backwards step in this energy efficiency, and I think it damages the sport," Lowe told France's Auto Hebdo. A technical representative for Force India - another Mercedes-powered team - agreed with Lowe. But Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul insisted: "Fuel economy does not comply with the principles of formula one. "Drivers attacking to be the fastest is what our sport is about, not the need to protect the engine, control fuel consumption and look after tyres. That may be other racing series, but it's not formula one," he added. As for the Mercedes-powered teams' objection to the change, Abiteboul answered: "I understand their position, but fuel consumption will still be limited. "Increasing the amount of fuel by 5kg does not require a change in the concept of the power unit. It would surprise me if they lose anything," he said.
http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/23391781/toto-wolff-mercedes-not-considering-rival-drivers-2019 Toto Wolff: Mercedes not considering rival drivers for 2019
Alonso says he would join with Hamilton at Mercedes if Vettel wins this year. So I guess Alonso will not be at Mercedes? https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/954570/F1-news-Fernando-Alonso-Lewis-Hamilton-Mercedes-Ferrari-McLaren-Vettel-Bottas-Ricciardo
Ferrari: Sergio Marchionne 'encouraged' by restructuring talks https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/43998375
Force India driver Sergio Perez is being lined up as a potential replacement for Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next season. (Beyond The Flag)
http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/23393448/renault-no-budging-red-bull-engine-deadline-2019 Renault has warned Red Bull that it will not offer an extension to the FIA's May 15 deadline for a 2019 engine deal, giving the former world champions less than two weeks to make a decision on its power unit supply for next year.
Vettel begins to push for Kimi again it seems lol https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135775/vettel-image-of-raikkonen-form-is-distorted Sebastian Vettel believes the image of Kimi Raikkonen's Formula 1 form in recent years is distorted and that their Ferrari team-mate battle is not as "one-sided as you might think". Vettel has won 10 grands prix since joining Ferrari for the 2015 season but Raikkonen is still search for his first victory since returning to the team the year before. Raikkonen has started this season in brighter fashion, shadowing Vettel in the drivers' championship and keeping Ferrari just ahead of Mercedes in the constructors' battle. Asked by Autosport if he had noticed a new level of performance from Raikkonen this year, Vettel said: "I think one thing is always to look at the result and the other is if you look a little bit deeper. "It's been incredibly close this year so far. To be honest, most of the Fridays I think he had the upper hand so far. "Here and there I was struggling to understand the car and feel the car. Knowing him, knowing his strength, he's incredibly talented and able to drive around problems. "If you look at the previous years the image is a bit distorting. It wasn't as one-sided as you might think if you look at the results." Raikkonen is dominated by Vettel in every major statistical comparison of their time as team-mates.
F1 can thrive without big noise says Dupasquier MAY 4, 2018 F1 can survive without the big engines and sounds of the past. That is the view of Pierre Dupasquier, the former Michelin boss who was in F1 at the height of the V10 and tyre war era over a decade ago. Five years into the controversial 'hybrid' era, F1 owner Liberty Media is now looking into making the category louder for 2021. But Dupasquier said the new generation will adjust to the modern age. "Young people are in another category," he told France's Auto Hebdo. "With the gaming consoles they're getting used to something different and they're seeing hybrid and electric cars on a daily basis as well. "They will end up wondering why an F1 car makes so much noise," Dupasquier added. Indeed, he said rewinding to the past would be the wrong step for formula one. "Nobody would understand this old machine in a time when road cars have all the modern finesse," he said.
Max Verstappen will receive €150,000 in damages from a Dutch online supermarket after it used a lookalike of him in an online video-->Autosport
Spanish GP boss vows to “fight like a devil” to protect race Image Unavailable, Please Login The president of the Circuit de Catalunya vows he will “fight like a devil” to keep its F1 race following reports the Spanish Grand Prix could move to a street track in Madrid. Media reports in Spain have suggested the race could be relocated as a political move in response to last year’s Catalan independence referendum. The Circuit de Catalunya has a contract to appear on the 2019 F1 calendar but its deal expires after next season. https://www.racefans.net/2018/05/13/spanish-gp-boss-vows-to-fight-like-a-devil-to-protect-race/
