In the round-up: Antonio Giovinazzi plans on playing close attention to his experienced team mate’s approach in F1 this year.
What they say
Giovinazzi says he plans to model his driving style on Kimi Raikkonen’s:
I think it would be just a mistake to go on a different way of him. My target is to work with him and just learn from him.
I think the right thing for the team as well is to go on the same way, and also maybe it’s better from my side to try to you know go on Kimi way and also driving on Kimi way just make it a lot more easy also for the team.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Daniel knew it would be difficult choosing a recording device for the new season…#F1Testing pic.twitter.com/qAxwkpcyMi
— Alan Baldwin (@alanbaldwinf1) February 19, 2019
Viva la revolution! Proper footage in the media centre at testing. Usually just one fixed CCTV angle pic.twitter.com/ScwxsYvyKY
— Nate Saunders (@natesaundersF1) February 19, 2019
Lance Stroll on the plight of his former team Williams:
"I don't know the ins and outs so I won't comment. It's a shame to see them sitting on the sidelines."#F1 pic.twitter.com/LtK5fjAgp2
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) February 19, 2019
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Mexico's Grand Prix could screech to halt pending costs - president (Reuters)
"Lopez Obrador said last week that work would shortly begin on the Maya Train, a dual tourist and freight rail project that is expected to cross five southern Mexican states."
"Next month, a behind-the-scenes documentary on Formula One will be aired on Netflix, showing previously unseen footage of Williams tearfully questioning her credentials to lead the team during last season’s Monaco Grand Prix."
Mercedes enjoy constructive winter but Williams sleep through alarm (The Guardian)
"What the hell is Mission Winnow? During the course of all the speeches in last week’s hour-launch of the SF90, this question was never addressed. There is a website on which a page outlining their purpose contains lots of words like “transformation”, “passion”, “sustainability”, “positive impact” and “transparency” without actually saying what product all this is in aid of."
How NASCAR is nipping at F1's technical heels (Motorsport magazine)
"As for the rules changes themselves, the jury is out on whether a huge decrease in power – from around 850hp to 550hp at most tracks – is the way to improve the spectacle."
Ultra-protective helmet based on new F1IA standard makes F1 debut (FIA)
"As is often the case with safety research, this project has been driven by specific accidents such as at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix where a loose spring hit Felipe Massa’s helmet. This is one of the reasons for the most noticeable change – the visor opening being lowered to incorporate increased ballistic protection in the frontal area."
W10 clocks up the laps in Barcelona (Mercedes)
"The car was better balanced than yesterday, but there’s still a bit of room for improvement."
Sauber Junior Team development drivers revealed (Sauber Junior Team)
"Sauber Junior Team by Charouz will be represented in the FIA Formula 2 Championship by Ferrari Driver Academy member Callum Ilott, 20, from the UK, and American Juan Manuel Correa, 19, who impressed during last year’s F2 post-season test in Abu Dhabi."
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Comment of the day
Standardised gearboxes from 2021? Rhys is in favour:
Great plan – and reduce the penalty for failed boxes.
I’ve been following F1 only since 2009, and in that time I’ve never really thought much about the gearbox other than the number of failures.
Many other series have standardised gearboxes (among other things), so its far from unusual. I doubt most fans would even notice.
In addition to this, the gearbox is no longer road relevant with the gradual shift to electric. Standardise it and free up budget-capped funds for the areas fans can see the difference.
Rhys Lloyd (@Justrhysism)
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svianna (@svianna)
20th February 2019, 0:06
Resign, Claire. Resign.
socksolid (@socksolid)
20th February 2019, 0:56
This is just a publicity stunt to make more profits from the oncoming williams documentary :p
ColdFly (@)
20th February 2019, 6:54
And who will fire Lowe then?
Aldoid
20th February 2019, 9:52
Maybe Sir Frank should retire? If he’s the one overseeing development work at Williams, I don’t see how he’s managed to stay blameless in all of this. He’s the one who still insists they do everything in house (which isn’t efficient or cost effective compared to the approach of their rivals… and judging by statements made in the past by the likes of Webber & Rosberg, they’ve been behind the curve for a long time). Claire gets a lot of flak, but I’m sure she tries to do what her father wants (She seemed genuinely relieved the other day that he supposedly liked the new livery) & she’s always proudly shouting the Williams “We’re a real constructor” creed, but there’s no point harping on about their pride in the fact that they’re a real constructor when they’re the only team who’s car isn’t “constructed” in time for testing.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
20th February 2019, 12:14
This. I was quite harsh on Claire these days, but then I see at Williams site that Frank is still the leader and Claire only a Deputy.
Witan
20th February 2019, 0:52
It seems Paddy Lowe is in the firing line, too. So perhaps they both should quit and have a clean sweep at the top and Sir Frank retire fully too.
Something is seriously amiss with one of the most famous names in F.1. And it is not a blimp or sudden stumble but a four year downward path to ignominy.
@HoHum (@hohum)
20th February 2019, 2:17
Having been the “head of” I know how thankless it can be when the owner gives you a program but fails to provide the resources to implement said program. Paddy Lowe can’t have hidden total incompetency all these years nor would he have forgotten all he learned whilst on gardening leave. Williams have a long history of disloyalty to their drivers, discarding them once they proved their worth. Seems Lance has turned the tables, what goes round comes round.
ColdFly (@)
20th February 2019, 8:48
As another ‘head of’ I disagree. When I’m asked to deliver something, I will deliver within the limited resources I have been given. And I’ll make sure I have sufficient contingency plans to make sure we don’t miss the big deadline.
@hohum
@HoHum (@hohum)
20th February 2019, 10:10
@coldfly, I too have always made my deadlines, but sometimes the owner changes wants last minute changes, then they have to accept it may effect timing.
@HoHum (@hohum)
20th February 2019, 10:14
delete 1st. “changes” thanks.
BlackJackFan
20th February 2019, 17:10
Coldfly – As another ‘head of’ I agree. When the ‘big-boss’ requests something which I know is not possible with the available resources I make this clear, immediately, and offer alternative solutions.
On one occasion I was asked: “What can we do if we throw money at it…?” I told them, they suddenly found more money, by cancelling another project… and we got what was required. Otherwise they have to alter the request.
It simply is not possible to bumble along, in the naive hope all will be resolved…
On a second point I always remember the interviews Mr Lowe gave when he was at Merc. Whenever they did well he invariably took the kudos – when they failed, it was always someone else’s ‘fault’… Apart from saying little in favour of his character this also suggests a weakness in management skills…
RogerA
20th February 2019, 0:57
i completely disagree with COTD, The shift towards standardised gearbox internals is not the direction F1 should be going.
F1 is supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport, It’s supposed to be about pushing boundaries & innovating in any area an advantage can be found & just because fans can’t see it or don’t understand it doesn’t mean it is not important & should be standardised. There are many fans out there who love the sort of geeky tech side of F1 & that is a massive part of what sets F1 out above other categories.
It should all be about performance & competition in every area and not ‘show’ or equalisation. That just is not F1. Never has been & never should be!
F1 is slowly becoming F1 in name only & is heading towards been nothing more than Indycar+ which is not the direction it should be going. Unfortunately however I fear that this is only the start of a lot more standardisation & that the more it goes that way the easier it will become for them to defend the next standard part they want to introduce.
@HoHum (@hohum)
20th February 2019, 2:29
It may come as a surprise, but I’m okay with a standard gearbox as a cost saving measure given as how restricted the design of current gearboxes is. A benefit of which must logically be removal of penalties for gearbox failure. Back in the rose-tinted golden age of F1 teams bought their gearboxes from the specialist manufacturers like Hewland and ZF so a standard gearbox is not such a big change.
ColdFly (@)
20th February 2019, 8:49
Exactly.
PS re. CotD. Even electric cars can have a gearbox (the Taycan will have one).
lunaslide (@lunaslide)
20th February 2019, 11:12
I’m not sure one way or the other, but the gearbox isn’t really the hill I’d want to die on. I get the argument that innovation will stop in that area if it becomes spec, but frankly the most efficient and effective type of transmission was already tried many years ago and banned: CVT. They’re soulless and boring, but they are the ideal power delivery device. So since double clutches won’t be adopted because of the weight, and CVT won’t be accepted due to the aforementioned, and especially because the gear ratios and number of gears are already fixed, specs have already kind of decided that innovation isn’t the ultimate goal in the transmission department.
On a Williams note, one of the things that might doom them is their pride in being a constructor, refusing to go for the Mercedes gearbox to save money when given the option. Making some of these parts spec might just save them from themselves.
lunaslide (@lunaslide)
20th February 2019, 11:13
Ironically, it was Williams who came up with it.
https://www.racefans.net/2007/05/03/banned-continuously-variable-transmission-cvt/
Phylyp (@phylyp)
20th February 2019, 3:29
For Williams’ sake (and that of the sport), I hope that their problem is something that can be fixed with time (even if that should spill over to the next season), rather than something terminal like a funding crunch.
It’s worrying to the extent that I no longer feel like taking cheap pot-shots at the team.
To start with, let’s hope their car makes an appearance today, and racks up some mileage.
bob
20th February 2019, 8:08
Income down, costs up for a negative result last year when they had a mega-pay driver and an established title sponsor… of course they’re in a funding crunch but it doesn’t have to be terminal – they’ve probably just gone a little to close to the bone.
Trayambak Chakravarty (@major-dev)
20th February 2019, 5:16
Did Lance Stroll just refuse to comment on something?!
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
20th February 2019, 5:18
@phylyp: Agree. No pot shots. But can we start a Bring Back Patrick petition? Or even Adam – would include an ‘Annoy Bernie’ bonus.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
20th February 2019, 6:01
@jimmi-cynic – LOL, yeah.
That said, I’d be curious to know what ails Williams – is it a lack of funding/resources as @hohum alludes to, a lack of capable management, or a lack of good technical direction.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
20th February 2019, 6:17
@phylyp: The answer to those questions is…. Yes. And yes. And yes.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
20th February 2019, 6:23
@jimmi-cynic – you’re such a… ah, what the heck, it’s right there in your username ;)
ColdFly (@)
20th February 2019, 8:51
Such a Jimmi ;)
Garns (@)
20th February 2019, 12:37
@phylyp
Agree- seeing Williams struggle like this is no good for the sport – we need more teams not less, especially ironic one like Williams. If you look back to 2014 & 2015 they were up there, I think 3rd in 2014 if I remember correctly?
People look at Claire and maybe she should go (it wont happen) but is it bad decisions or just bad engineering, or lack of funds? We don’t know if Sir Frank is still making behind the scenes decisions or if its bad engineering- is so Lowe may go, as has been reported.
A cost cap has to be done to keep team like this in F1, otherwise the whole thing may collapse.
JR Love (@dermechaniker)
20th February 2019, 6:19
I have zero insight about Williams’ issues and zero right to make any sort of bold statement about any of it.
I can only say that I’m seriously saddened by the state they find themselves in.
Balue (@balue)
20th February 2019, 6:58
“Mutiny” against Lowe? That’s serious stuff if true. Is this just sensationalism from The Telegraph do you think?
And if Lowe has to go (there’s a rhyming mutinous chant for you), who would replace him?
lunaslide (@lunaslide)
20th February 2019, 8:23
I like Giovinazzi’s stated approach. He’s got a hell of an opportunity to learn from one of the smoothest drivers in the paddock and round out his quickness with a lot of other skills more specific to F1. Add to that, Kimi has already said he’s probably not going to be around for the 2021 regulations, it puts Giovinazzi in a position to gain two years of experience learning from a WC and then take over as a team leader for the next rookie to come along.
Granted, of course, he can deliver the goods. How close do you reckon he needs to stay in the standings for Alfa to stick with him?
Garns (@)
20th February 2019, 12:42
@lunaslide
Good comment, learn from one of the best.
I think Antonio will follow how Kimi goes about an F1 weekend, follow his set ups but on Saturday and Sunday arvo try to well and truly beat him.
This will be an interesting battle this year- a new driver that seems quick and an old Champion. This one, Ferrari and Renault are the team battles to watch this year!
lunaslide (@lunaslide)
21st February 2019, 5:21
@garns
If fairness, if Giovinazzi doesn’t still try to beat Kimi on Saturdays and Sundays, he wouldn’t be much of a race car driver, would he! I think that’s exactly how it’ll play out, and I think most of the time Kimi will still get the better of him. But it’ll be fun to watch.
Speaking of that, I think Gasly/Verstappen will be another great battle to watch this season. Some of the commentary today was suggesting that in terms of personality, Gasly is pretty good about letting it go when things don’t go well for him and tends to stay calm, and Max is more fiery but has trouble letting it go, like on the weigh scales in Brazil last year. They likened this to Prost/Senna, which I wouldn’t have spotted myself. Should be explosive if Gasly has some pace for Max.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th February 2019, 9:44
Potentially losing the Mexican GP would be a shame especially just because of some railway.
A reasonable approach by Gio.
I couldn’t agree more with @RogerA concerning the COTD.
RB13
20th February 2019, 9:51
I’m sorry but Claire Williams has flushed Williams down the gutter, it’s her first job! How competent were we all in our first ever jobs?
Amongst the litany of bad decisions, the latest of which is that livery, the refusal to move to CF gearbox casing or make a technical deal with Mercedes for the heritage factor has to be the kicker. What about the heritage of once World Champions now barely propping up the back of the grid.
@HoHum (@hohum)
20th February 2019, 10:21
I don’t see anything wrong with the livery !
But of course if the real bodywork is still at the paint shop…….
RB13
20th February 2019, 11:31
It looks extremely amateur when put alongside the rest of the grid. Like someone using photoshop for the first time discovered the gradient brush and went to town. Awful.
BlackJackFan
20th February 2019, 17:16
Agreed – it’s artistically embarrassing.