2019 Pre Season thread: Developments, News etc

So...why can’t the teams decide what tyres to run? Why is Pirelli dictating what combinations need to be run each race? (Other than maybe logistics/manufacturing numbers)

Can’t they just get back to racing?

 

"Arrivabene just confirmed that the 2019 F1 car will be unveiled on February 15."

Arrivabene today: "Yes, I saw it (2019 car) only two weeks ago. The engineers were very busy before moving on to production and I was more committed to budget and concord agreement than anything else in the last month. Binotto and the team are doing a great job."

also

Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the 2019 Ferrari car would have already outperformed the SF71H in terms of performance (it’s virtually faster) despite the new rule changes for 2019. The 2019 car will contain innovative solutions directed by Mattia Binotto. It is said that power, reliability and driveability would have been further increased, guaranteeing a car package and power unit that offers a better performance overall. The article also says that people in the paddock don‘t expect any overtaking gain through the new rules

 

I think the process goes like this::
a) venue announces that they would like to host a F1 race
b) venue finds a source of funds to pay for the F1 race
c) if the track can pas safety inspection it goes on calendar.

They (Liberty) does not pick F1 venues,
When an F1 venues coughs up enough money, they get a race.

 

I love it when computer generated designs are bragged about...when in fact the car hasn't turned a wheel. At least let the teams have unlimited testing before the season begins.

 

So engine manufacturers are to share their idea's with new entrants should they join in the fray and going forward with the 2021 engine rules; which will remain the same.

This would've helped Honda back in 2015 but oh well.

 

We are stuck with some version of this engine formula until the end of the ICE in F1--and the manufacturers will make that call. Wonderful.

 

Quoting myself
Instead of ". . . the manufacturers will make that call" I should have said "until the manufacturers pull(or insert) the plug"

 

I believe that for one second!

 

Somehow, I have the gut feeling that Gasly won't last at Red Bull.

 

My concern for next year is that LeClerc will just win enough races to steal enough points from Vettel. Merc have put Bottas in his place and I’m sure they’ll continue to force him solely into a support role. Merc are merciless when it comes to winning... they stop at nothing and I just don’t get the feeling that Ferrari will rise to that level of blind ambition.

 

At this point in the conjoncture, I don't see any need to "build castles in the sky" and start speculating about what Leclerc will do against Vettel.

I mean, we don't even know if he will be able to win a GP next year !!

 

Perhaps. But I think that kid is the real deal and will be competitive. If it weren't for the keystone cops on the pit wall ruining qually and races for Kimi far too many times, I think he had a good chance to win more races. How many? I don't know. I see no reason, however, that given good strategy that Chuck can't pull out a couple or so wins under the right conditions. If Vettel is the dominant driver, than every win hurts this WDC, which is why Merc relegated Bottas to blocker any time he managed to get out of his own way and actually have a decent race.

All this of course depends on if Merc don't just come back with another ultra dominant car. It seems that whenever Toto says they're having issues, it somehow ultimately translates into "we actually found another 2 tenths".

 

Hamiltons seat fitting in the 2019 car.

Love the guys sweater-->John Mclane, Nakatomi Plaza, Hans Gruber.......yippie ki yay [explicative]

 

Technically when the lights go out on the first race, both Max and Gasly will have the same number of points.
It is likely Max will be 5-8 grid places in front of Gasly..........

 

Gas is an aggressive driver. Max is... well “aggressive” too I guess. Ita going to be interesting to see what happens when these guys are lined up on the grid next to each other.

 

Thinking about the sound for next year... are we going to night RPMs now that there’s more fuel? I think that couldn’t hurt. I was watching some old races from 2010 and 2011 and it reminded me just how much F1 has lost out on the overall spectacle of it all.

 

I gather that Uncle Marko will soon tell Gasly that one aggressive driver in the script is enough and Max is having that role !!!

 

Yep, Max is Number One at Red Bull, and Gasly has the supporting role.