[Other Sport] F1 2023

[Icy Gull]

One of each makes one whole squirrel.

Zef, you may not be quite an F1 driver but you are in the chain, don’t run yourself down

 

[rool]

Team bosses, drivers or FIA officials?

Women, according to Borat

 

[Audax]

First look at 2023 Red Bull F1 car with dramatic sidepods - The Race

Champion team Red Bull's RB19 2023 Formula 1 car has been revealed ahead of pre-season testing beginning in Bahrain.

the-race.com

The 2023 Red Bull car finally revealed during testing this morning. Looks an obvious evolution on last year's car, the most obvious difference being the undercut at the front of the sidepod is even bigger than last season.

Fastest times as of roughly 09:30:

1. Sainz (Ferrari) 1m33.253s, C3, 40 laps
2. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m33.549s, C2, 36 laps
3. Albon (Williams) 1m33.671s, soft, 33 laps
4. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1m33.723s, C3, 26 laps
5. Russell (Mercedes) 1m34.174s, C3, 32 laps
6. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1m34.787s, test, 33 laps
7. Gasly (Alpine) 1m34.822s, C3, 31 laps
8. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1m25.389s, test, 24 laps
9. Piastri (McLaren) 1m35.599s, test, 26 laps
10. Drugovich (Aston Martin) 1m37.719s, C3, 13 laps

(For anyone not aware, the C3 / C2 etc indicate which tyre was used. The range is C0 (the hardest, slowest) through C5 (softest, fastest). Not sure what's going on with the "soft" and "test" entries.

 

[Audax]

Times at the end of the first morning. Teams are now taking lunch break:

1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m32.959s, C3, 71 laps
2. Sainz (Ferrari) 1m33.253s, C3, 72 laps
3. Albon (Williams) 1m33.671s, C5, 74 laps
4. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1m33.723s, C3, 67 laps
5. Russell (Mercedes) 1m34.174s, C3, 69 laps
6. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1m34.424s, C3, 51 laps
7. Drugovich (Aston Martin) 1m34.564s, C3, 40 laps
8. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1m34.671s, 46 laps
9. Gasly (Alpine) 1m34.822s, C3, 60 laps
10. Piastri (McLaren) 1m34.888s, C3, 52 laps

Testing times (especially after the first morning) don't mean much. But I was surprises to see Albon where he is. Aided by using the softest available tyre, though, which the others haven't as yet.

 

[Audax]

So while day 1 of this 3 day test is still running, I thought I'd take a stab at some pre-season predictions for the season ahead based on not much at all evidence . Here we go, my top 10 predictions for 2023:

1. (Red Bull will start the season with the fastest car ), but their windtunnel / CFD penalty for overspending in 2020 will affect their development rate [] and they'll be caught in the second half of the season [].

2. Hamilton wins races (multiple) and is in the title fight deep into the season. []

3. Ferrari are right in the hunt on pace [], but continue to drop the ball operationally and Leclerc gets increasingly frustrated [] leading to (rumours that he'll jump ship ). [Rumours already started before race 2... including one suggesting a Hamilton / Leclerc swap. All gone quiet towards end of the season though.]

4. The threat of Ricciardo taking his seat hangs around like a bad smell that Perez just can't get rid of. Rumours begin swirling as soon as Perez has a few bad races [].

5. Williams become regular points contenders, constantly on a pace (with Albon) for finishes in the 8th-12th range [].

6. (Aston Martin take a step forward ) (with Alonso) and become a genuine P4 WCC contender alongside Alpine. [2nd fastest first half of season, but have dropped back. With 5 races to run still in 4th, but likely to lose that to McLaren]

7. McLaren's struggles from 2022 carry over into 2023 for at least the first 5 races. (Norris and Piastri both complain of strange car characteristics that hamper the handling ). [Driver comments were made during testing, but then revised after the Bahrain race. Big development packages mid-season transformed the car.]

8. Sargeant struggles and is replaced by Mick Schumacher mid-season []. [Logan will see out the season but likely to be replaced for 2024]

9. De Vries handily beats Tsunoda, resulting in the latter losing his seat at the end of 2023 (if not before the end of the season) and is replaced by whichever Red Bull junior aces F2 (or possibly Mick Schumacher if prediction 8 doesn't happen) []. [De Vries sacked mid-season, replaced by Ricciardo, who was then replaced by Lawson due to injury.]

10. The WDC title fight goes down to the last race []. Verstappen has an early lead whittled down during the second half of the season, (with Horner constantly moaning about the impact of the wind tunnel / cfd penalty on their in-season development ). [OK, they're not quite 'moaning' level yet - but Horner and Marko have both already opened the can. I'm sure the worms will be tipped out ASAP anyone catches them []]

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Times at the end of the first morning. Teams are now taking lunch break:

1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m32.959s, C3, 71 laps
2. Sainz (Ferrari) 1m33.253s, C3, 72 laps
3. Albon (Williams) 1m33.671s, C5, 74 laps
4. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1m33.723s, C3, 67 laps
5. Russell (Mercedes) 1m34.174s, C3, 69 laps
6. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1m34.424s, C3, 51 laps
7. Drugovich (Aston Martin) 1m34.564s, C3, 40 laps
8. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1m34.671s, 46 laps
9. Gasly (Alpine) 1m34.822s, C3, 60 laps
10. Piastri (McLaren) 1m34.888s, C3, 52 laps

Testing times (especially after the first morning) don't mean much. But I was surprises to see Albon where he is. Aided by using the softest available tyre, though, which the others haven't as yet.

Are the teams only running one car at the moment?

 

[Audax]

Are the teams only running one car at the moment?

Yep. Testing limitations, in order to reduce costs, means only 1 car on track at a time for each team.

Most of the teams are splitting the duties each day - there's now 19 drivers who have set times. The only team using the same driver for both morning and afternoon today is Red Bull.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

So while day 1 of this 3 day test is still running, I thought I'd take a stab at some pre-season predictions for the season ahead based on not much at all evidence . Here we go, my top 10 predictions for 2023:

1. Red Bull will start the season with the fastest car, but their windtunnel / CFD penalty for overspending in 2020 will affect their development rate and they'll be caught in the second half of the season.

2. Hamilton wins races (multiple) and is in the title fight deep into the season.

3. Ferrari are right in the hunt on pace, but continue to drop the ball operationally and Leclerc gets increasingly frustrated leading to rumours that he'll jump ship.

4. The threat of Ricciardo taking his seat hangs around like a bad smell that Perez just can't get rid of. Rumours begin swirling as soon as Perez has a few bad races.

5. Williams become regular points contenders, constantly on a pace (with Albon) for finishes in the 8th-12th range.

6. Aston Martin take a step forward (with Alonso) and become a genuine P4 WCC contender alongside Alpine.

7. McLaren's struggles from 2022 carry over into 2023 for at least the first 5 races. Norris and Piastri both complain of strange car characteristics that hamper the handling.

8. Sargeant struggles and is replaced by Mick Schumacher mid-season.

9. De Vries handily beats Tsunoda, resulting in the latter losing his seat at the end of 2023 (if not before the end of the season) and is replaced by whichever Red Bull junior aces F2 (or possibly Mick Schumacher if prediction 8 doesn't happen).

10. The WDC title fight goes down to the last race. Verstappen has an early lead whittled down during the second half of the season, with Horner constantly moaning about the impact of the wind tunnel / cfd penalty on their in-season development.

You see, this is what I want from the internet. Someone who's done their research to tell me what's going to happen. Not sure you're going out on too much of a limb with the Horner moaning thing in point 10 though

 

[Audax]

Fastest times for each driver at the end of the first day:

1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m32.837s, C3, 157 laps
2. Alonso (Aston Martin) 1m32.866s, C3, 60 laps
3. Sainz (Ferrari) 1m33.253s, C3, 72 laps
4. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1m33.267s, C3, 64 laps
5. Norris (McLaren) 1m33.462s, C3, 40 laps
6. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m33.508s, C3, 83 laps
7. Albon (Williams) 1m33.671s, C5, 74 laps
8. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1m33.723s, C3, 67 laps
9. Russell (Mercedes) 1m34.174s, C3, 69 laps
10. Sargeant (Williams) 1m34.324s, C3, 75 laps
11. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1m34.424s, C3, 51 laps
12. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1m34.558s, C3, 71 laps
13. De Vries (AlphaTauri) 1m34.559s, C3, 85 laps
14. Drugovich (Aston Martin) 1m34.564s, C3, 40 laps
15. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1m34.671s, 46 laps
16. Gasly (Alpine) 1m34.822s, C3, 60 laps
17. Ocon (Alpine) 1m34.871s, C3, 53 laps
18. Piastri (McLaren) 1m34.888s, C3, 52 laps
19. Magnussen (Haas) 1m35.087s, C3, 57 laps

Norris sets a good time, but McLaren have apparently had some issues with, guess what ... front brake temperatures (is this 2023 or 2022?) causing damage and lost time for Norris earlier in the afternoon. Overheating brakes melted the insides of the front wheel arches.

 

[kojak]

from what I see of it
Verstappen was driving around with one arm out of the cockpit
Alonso was hustling the Aston like on a quali

 

[JJ McClure]

I fear that even with the aero development penalty that the Red Bull / Max combo will still be streets ahead and we'll be in for another yawn of a season.

 

[Audax]

7. McLaren's struggles from 2022 carry over into 2023 for at least the first 5 races. Norris and Piastri both complain of strange car characteristics that hamper the handling.

Well, didn't take long to tick this one off. Brace yourselves for a difficult start to the season, McLaren fans: Piastri has just said during a day 2 press conference that the 2023 car has issues that feel similar to last year's car's issues.

Worth noting as well that Norris set his fast time yesterday late in the day, when conditions were at their best for setting fast times. He was 9th this morning, although spent the entire session on harder tyres.

 

[Icy Gull]

I’d love to see this happen. i have warmed to the finger wagging Kraut over the last couple of years!

Aston Martin will not rule out shock Vettel return

Aston Martin refuse to rule out the possibility of Sebastian Vettel making a shock F1 comeback at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Audax]

I’d love to see this happen. i have warmed to the finger wagging Kraut over the last couple of years!

Aston Martin will not rule out shock Vettel return

Aston Martin refuse to rule out the possibility of Sebastian Vettel making a shock F1 comeback at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

www.bbc.co.uk

Been ruled out now. They've confirmed that if Stroll isn't fit, it will be Drugovich who races.

Stroll has a wrist injury, exactly what isn't specified.

There's some talk that Aston Martin might be strong enough to be a threat for both Mercedes and Ferrari. Widely expected that Red Bull will be class of the field for next weekend at least.

Edit to add end of Day 3 testing times:

1. Perez (Red Bull) 1m30.305s, C4, 133 laps
2. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m30.664s, C5, 65 laps
3. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1m30.827s, C5, 131 laps
4. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1m31.024s, C4, 67 laps
5. Sainz (Ferrari) 1m31.036s, C4, 76 laps
6. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1m31.261s, C4, 79 laps
7. Magnussen (Haas) 1m31.381s, C4, 95 laps
8. Russell (Mercedes) 1m31.442s, C5, 83 laps
9. Alonso (Aston Martin) 1m31.450s, C4, 80 laps
10. Drugovich (Aston Martin) 1m32.075s, C5, 77 laps
11. Norris (McLaren) 1m32.160s, C3, 37 laps
12. Gasly (Alpine) 1m32.762s, C3, 56 laps
13. Albon (Williams) 1m32.793s, C5, 136 laps
14. Ocon (Alpine) 1m33.357s, C3, 76 laps
15. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1m33.329s, C3, 77 laps
16. Piastri (McLaren) 1m33.655s, C3, 44 laps
17. De Vries (AlphaTauri) 1m38.244s, C3, 87 laps

 

[Audax]

Less than a week to go. The F1 season proper gets underway at Bahrain this weekend. We'll get our first proper look at which cars are genuinely fast and which aren't on Friday, our first qually shootout on Saturday, and then our first taste of race action on Sunday.

In the meantime, it has today been confirmed that this year's Spanish GP at Barcelona will run without the final chicane and return to the original double-right-hand fast corner layout to finish the lap:

Spanish Grand Prix to run on faster circuit layout

The final chicane will be replaced by two high-speed right-hand corners at this year's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

www.bbc.co.uk

The more I see on Twitter, F1 news sites, etc, the more it's feeling like this'll be a Verstappen walk over this weekend. The Red Bull looks very good to start the season. Ferrari also looks better than the end of 22, but there's some talk that the car might be a bit of a diva and getting the best out of it may be hard work for them. Mercedes had a mixed pre-season test. They sound confident that they've got a car to fight for the title with, but it's not going to be quick enough to fight for wins in the early races - so a lot is being pinned on development work already planned.

The cat amongst the pigeons appears to be Alonso and the Aston Martin. The hype train is suggesting they could be in amongst the top 3, potentially even being the closest to Red Bull for race 1. This is reflected in betting odds, with Alonso the only driver outside of the big 3 teams (RB, Merc, Ferrari) to have odds that are suggestive that it's actually a realistic chance. Which probably means they're bad value given how strong Verstappen / Red Bull look.

At the other end of the grid, there is a distinct possibility that McLaren could be facing a double Q1 elimination. Both drivers have commented that the 2023 car is just as badly behaved as the 2022 car, and team representatives have admitted that they "missed their targets" on aero development. The car is too draggy for the downforce it generates, which means they'll be faced with very compromised set up choices.

Williams appear to have a better behaved car than last year, however they've lost staff and the consensus is that the car is underdeveloped and therefore lacking in ultimate pace.

Finally: rumours are once again swirling that red Bull might put the AlphaTauri team up for sale. If they do, will Andretti bite? Or will Andretti wait for the outcome of the FIA new teams tender process?

 

[Vankleek Hill Seagull]

The cat amongst the pigeons appears to be Alonso and the Aston Martin. The hype train is suggesting they could be in amongst the top 3, potentially even being the closest to Red Bull for race 1. This is reflected in betting odds, with Alonso the only driver outside of the big 3 teams (RB, Merc, Ferrari) to have odds that are suggestive that it's actually a realistic chance. Which probably means they're bad value given how strong Verstappen / Red Bull look.

Alonso was second in the first practice session and then topped the second practice session. Could be an interesting race.

 

[A1X]

Alonso winning after Red Bull coasted through testing would be amazingly funny

 

[Audax]

Alonso winning after Red Bull coasted through testing would be amazingly funny

Verstappen appeared to have a setup issue that was resolved after the qualifying sim. His long run pace looked ominous. Alonso still close though - I'd say he's definitely in the frame for a podium.

 

[Icy Gull]

Not looking good for us Lewis fans. Have Mercedes been too pig headed with their stand alone zero sidepod design?

Lewis has gone all GP too - “It is what it is”

Bahrain Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes on 'wrong track' and 'a long way off' rivals

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes are "on the wrong track" with their new Formula 1 car at the start of the 2023 season.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[kojak]