[Other Sport] F1 2022

[JJ McClure]

Rule change after the Spa fiasco is an obvious improvement - was yet another thing that Masi screwed up last year and helped MV in the championship.

Rules changes for the sprint races is an obvious improvement - points for the top 3 only was...well a bit pointless, and having the records show pole position as the sprint winner rather than fastest lap in quali was just plain wrong.

FIA continuing to hide, delay and hint only at 'structural changes' is an unsurprising joke.

Annoyingly the new cars (with the exception of the RB sponsor 'launch') look stunning and are drawing me back in to something I'm still massively angry about. Lots of different designs, although how they'll actually look come the start of the season will have to wait and see. The high back on the McLaren stood out for me.

 

[Audax]

Now confirmed that the findings of the investigation will NOT be released at all. Just the practicalities of any new rule changes etc.

So having been accused of “marking their own homework” after the Abu Dhabi farce, this time it seems they’re not even going to hand their homework in.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...habi-grand-prix-max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton

The Guardian's take on this is interesting, and doesn't match with what the F1 specialist press have been saying. Firstly, the findings have been presented to the F1 Commission already yesterday. That's in private, but it includes all the teams and we know both Horner and Wolff were there for the session. The release of what they are going to do following the investigation has been delayed a few days while the FIA takes onboard and builds in some feedback they received during the day yesterday. That suggests to me that the FIA *are* listening to what their key stakeholders have to say and aren't just ploughing ahead over the top of any concerns (which they would do if they were genuinely trying to put their heads in the sand over this).

Until we actually seeing what they are proposing in terms of structural change and the action plan, it's hard to judge. Whether or not the findings themselves are ever released, it will likely be relatively easy to extrapolate based on their proposals for the future. There's been some rumours about what's planned emerge already, that pretty clearly point towards a recognition that there were failures in race direction. Among those rumours:

- That the Race Director role will be split, possibly into 3. As part of that, Masi gets removed from the race day role.
- Clear admission that allowing teams to have direct contact with the race director was a mistake. That will now be banned, and a new role created for a person who will be point of contact for the teams and then responsible for passing messages to the race director.
- Probable changes to the rules clarifying how and when the safety car is used and clarifying exactly what powers the race director actually has.
- Possible creation of a support centre for the race director; staffed by a permanent team based remotely who have access to all the video feeds, telemetry, etc. Similar to what the teams themselves already do having remote strategy teams.


Are we going to see them come out and publicly say "we screwed up"? No, I don't think we will. Are we going to see them announce a raft of changes that imply they know they screwed up and are making changes to prevent similar future screw ups? Yes, I think we will. That's exactly what they've already done re: the Spa farce.

FIA continuing to hide, delay and hint only at 'structural changes' is an unsurprising joke.

Yeah, I don't think that's fair just yet - see above. Let's wait and see what they actually announce later this week.

 

[Audax]

Annoyingly the new cars (with the exception of the RB sponsor 'launch') look stunning and are drawing me back in to something I'm still massively angry about. Lots of different designs, although how they'll actually look come the start of the season will have to wait and see. The high back on the McLaren stood out for me.

I'm loving the looks of the new cars so far, and pleasantly surprised at the variety of designs shown so far. The McLaren is indeed a bit exciting, they've taken a very different approach on suspension from all the other teams so far. If they've got that right we could see them being very strong this year, as it's not something the other teams can copy easily. If they've got it wrong, though, they'll be in for a world of hurt (for the same reasons - not easy to switch back).

 

[zefarelly]

The Guardian's take on this is interesting, and doesn't match with what the F1 specialist press have been saying. .

That's funny.

 

[Audax]

The Alfa Romeo car has been on track for a shakedown wearing camo livery:

[tweet]1493547754911584263[/tweet]

Of interest with the Alfa is it apparently has push rod rear suspension (similar to McLaren), deviating away from the universal approach of using pull rod from recent years. Alfa, however, retains push rod front suspension - unlike McLaren, who have switched to pull rod at the front. Otherwise, the Alfa looks to follow a similar set of ideas as Aston martin, with gill-like cooling exits on the tops of the sidepods.

Meanwhile, Williams have launched their livery on a basic show car, but there will be photos of the real car later today after they've completed their own shakedown run:

[tweet]1493574146843987968[/tweet]

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Who’d have thunk it, the FIA closing ranks. Stinks, if true and does absolutely nothing for their credibility.

I bet that was as a result of Red Bull lobbying as well

 

[Audax]

Who’d have thunk it, the FIA closing ranks. Stinks, if true and does absolutely nothing for their credibility.

FIA full announcement not been made yet, but there has now been confirmation of the following:

1. Masi will not be continuing as Race Director. He'll be offered a new role elsewhere (not confirmed what, but thought to be related to circuit safety / new circuit inspections).

2. There will be TWO new Race Directors, who will assume the role in rotation: Eduardo Freitas (from WEC) and Niels Wittich (from DTM). They will be supported by a permanent deputy: Herbie Blash, who was Charlie Whiting's deputy before Masi took over the RD role when Whiting passed away.

3. Confirmation that the Race Director / Race Control team will be supported by a remote team (maybe a bit of a faux pas - they've likened it to the VAR system...)

4. Team -> Race Director comms will be far more tightly controlled - no more direct communication (and no longer broadcast).

5. Safety car rules (in particular re: unlapping cars) will be reviewed - that review to be completed and revised rules presented before the start of the season.

The plans have been approved by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali *and* apparently all of the teams at Monday's meeting.

---

Ferrari have launched their new car today. Lots to look at here - it's yet another variation, strikingly different from the rest of the cars shown so far. In particular, the shaping of the nose tip is unique, then looking back the tops of the sidepods are very hollowed out, concave in shape.

In terms of the livery - I'm loving it. Harks back to the livery they ran when Mansell was in the car, with the bodywork in red and the wings in black.

[tweet]1494300863036338185[/tweet]

 

[zefarelly]

Have the front springs sagged already? or does the car have a lot of body roll ?

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Great to see Ferrari have dispensed with the green blob on the top

 

[Audax]

Have the front springs sagged already? or does the car have a lot of body roll ?

This is a consequence of the new rules. They want to run the cars as close to the ground as possible. We won't be seeing any high-rake cars under the new rules.

Edit: oh, hang on, now I see what you're seeing. F1 cars have always run with front wheels slightly tipped in at the top. Will be interesting to see where they go with this as 2022 progresses - a lot of change in terms of suspension for the cars, because of the change from 13" to 18" wheels. While the tyres have increased in diameter slightly, the sidewall has still be roughly halved and that's going to have an impact on how best to set up the suspension geometry and tyre grip vs life etc.

 

[schmunk]

Have the front springs sagged already? or does the car have a lot of body roll ?

Stanced, innit.

 

[zefarelly]

Stanced, innit.

Dass Wikk'd neg man!

Clearly with lower profile tyres there will be a lot less tyre roll and movement

we may even see suspension moving, it will have to, something has to give somewhere!

 

[Bry Nylon]

Of interest with the Alfa is it apparently has push rod rear suspension (similar to McLaren), deviating away from the universal approach of using pull rod from recent years. Alfa, however, retains push rod front suspension - unlike McLaren, who have switched to pull rod at the front.

Yes, but how many cup holders does it have?

 

[Audax]

Yes, but how many cup holders does it have?

Fully integrated drinks bottle with long straw ... who needs cup holders?

 

[zefarelly]

Red bull sandbgging again

Merc styling




Haas, pine-tune special

 

[GREASED WEASEL]

Meanwhile, Williams have launched their livery on a basic show car, but there will be photos of the real car later today after they've completed their own shakedown run:

[tweet]1493574146843987968[/tweet]

I think it's a shame they have removed the Senna S

 

[Audax]

I think it's a shame they have removed the Senna S

Yes, agree. No longer on the car, but still retained elsewhere on Williams buildings. IMO it belongs on the car. Dorilton are, I think, using it as a proof that the team might still carry the name Williams but it's not "Williams" anymore. That would go along with comments they've made in recent days that they've made structural changes so the team is run more like an engineering business instead of a family operation.

 

[Icy Gull]

FIA full announcement not been made yet, but there has now been confirmation of the following:

1. Masi will not be continuing as Race Director. He'll be offered a new role elsewhere (not confirmed what, but thought to be related to circuit safety / new circuit inspections).

2. There will be TWO new Race Directors, who will assume the role in rotation: Eduardo Freitas (from WEC) and Niels Wittich (from DTM). They will be supported by a permanent deputy: Herbie Blash, who was Charlie Whiting's deputy before Masi took over the RD role when Whiting passed away.

3. Confirmation that the Race Director / Race Control team will be supported by a remote team (maybe a bit of a faux pas - they've likened it to the VAR system...)

4. Team -> Race Director comms will be far more tightly controlled - no more direct communication (and no longer broadcast).

5. Safety car rules (in particular re: unlapping cars) will be reviewed - that review to be completed and revised rules presented before the start of the season.

The plans have been approved by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali *and* apparently all of the teams at Monday's meeting.

---

Ferrari have launched their new car today. Lots to look at here - it's yet another variation, strikingly different from the rest of the cars shown so far. In particular, the shaping of the nose tip is unique, then looking back the tops of the sidepods are very hollowed out, concave in shape.

In terms of the livery - I'm loving it. Harks back to the livery they ran when Mansell was in the car, with the bodywork in red and the wings in black.

[tweet]1494300863036338185[/tweet]

Logical and most of those ideas muted from about 24 hours after Abu Dhabi.

I am more interested in how the World Champ’s aggressive over the limit driving will be handled this year. Is never giving way and driving others off track going to continue to be tolerated “because that’s racing”? This is just as important, probably more important than a few tweeks to the off track procedures imo

 

[Deleted member 2719]

You have to love Lando.





https://www.essentiallysports.com/f...on-lando-norris-takes-his-pick-of-the-season/

 

[Audax]

Logical and most of those ideas muted from about 24 hours after Abu Dhabi.

I am more interested in how the World Champ’s aggressive over the limit driving will be handled this year. Is never giving way and driving others off track going to continue to be tolerated “because that’s racing”? This is just as important, probably more important than a few tweeks to the off track procedures imo

The key for me is consistency. If they want to be lenient, or harsh, or somewhere in between ... I'm ok with any of those options. But it needs to be consistent, and it needs to be something that all the teams and drivers understand where the line is. None of this "running someone off circuit where there's a massive run off area is ok, but doing it where you put them in the gravel by half a tyre width isn't" (Austria vs Brazil).

I'd also like to see them tidy up the red flag rules. As much as it all happened within the rules, I didn't like that Hamilton got away with it in Silverstone only because a red flag was shown and his team was allowed to make repairs during the red. If you've damaged your car in an incident, it should only be repairable under yellow or green flag - not red. [As much as I think Verstappen is a dirty little f*^%er of a driver who shouldn't have won the title, Hamilton made a mistake and caused an incident at Silverstone].