In the round-up: Max Verstappen says he is encouraged by the steps Honda are taking with their power unit this year.0
What they say
Verstappen was asked whether Honda have continued the progress they made last year:
Well, they’re pushing flat out. And of course, you always want improvements. The improvements definitely have been made compared to last year as well. And also what I like is, of course, what they show you, what they project, what is coming is always happening.
So I’m very confident that it will be the same this year again. So, yes, everything is heading into the right direction. But of course the other ones, they’re also pushing flat out. So we just have to try and work hard.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Presenting the class of 2020 in Warsaw 👏🏻 📸@PKN_ORLEN @TeamORLEN pic.twitter.com/UrStXxC23d
— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) February 24, 2020
In accordance with official regional guidelines, the #MuseiFerrari announce that they will be closed until March 1st 2020. Purchased tickets will be valid for 12 months following the date of purchase. For further information, please contact museo@ferrari.com pic.twitter.com/TEFpwY3jWO
— Musei Ferrari (@MuseiFerrari) February 24, 2020
⏱ Go karting, friends and drones!!
I hope you guys like it!
With @robertomerhi @CarmenJorda https://t.co/2Y5uL2QCRt
–
🚁 @andriu_fpv#carlossainz #dontblink pic.twitter.com/AItRv9cSL3— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) February 23, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
‘Free-for-all’ standards prompted oval exit – Chilton (Motorsport Week)
"I think everyone builds up to it and everyone has a lot more respect there than when they drive at other places, you watch the driving standards at other ovals, Indy always has a good driving standard."
Magnussen: Corvette C8.R Was ‘Pegged So Far Back’ (Sportscar365)
"I’m sorry to see it get pegged back so far. It’s a fantastic car. I’m sorry how this weekend went and sorry that the team had to be in this situation. Maybe Sebring will be a little bit better."
Novalak, Ahmed and Das join Carlin for F3 (Carlin)
"Carlin are proud to announce that three returning Carlin drivers will make up the team’s 2020 F3 line-up. 2019 British F3 champion Clement Novalak, 2017 British F3 championship Enaam Ahmed and race winner Cameron Das will return to the Surrey based team for the 2020 season."
Electric road car shift complicating Honda F1 future (Autosport)
"The other thing we have to consider is the whole car industry is facing a very difficult situation because of electrification."
Why Red Bull and Ferrari are closer to Mercedes than F1 testing suggests (Motorsport magazine)
"Subtract that one second and the SF1000 would actually be vying with the Red Bull as the second-fastest car – and this was followed up by a very quick race stint on Friday by Sebastian Vettel that in no way tallied with the single lap pace displayed."
Lone Star Le Mans 2020 - Full Race Highlights (WEC via YouTube)
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Comment of the day
Instead of reducing it, should F1 try to make testing more of an event?
If the empty grandstands are a problem (and Stevenson mentions it) what about testing during weekends?
People work, you know. I live 30 minutes from the track but I cannot go there and have a look.
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Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
25th February 2020, 4:40
What a nanny-state dumpster fire WEC has become. If the FIA/ACO must micro-manage at this level, perhaps they should just put their own car on track – without a BoP or success handicap, of course.
Or just give up and make it a spec-series. Get rid of all those different classes and different cars. Stop giving points to any finishers – put all the competitors on the podium. Everyone gets a trophy!
/s
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
25th February 2020, 8:19
Has become? Wec may be a new thing but the problem is old, Le Mans is not a competition.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
25th February 2020, 6:15
So, Less than a week and DAS is already being adopted in F3. Talk about ‘not before mid-season’
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
25th February 2020, 6:41
Saw what you did there, @mrboerns. And appreciate the chuckle. ;-)
ColdFly (@)
25th February 2020, 9:39
Stellar!
RB13
25th February 2020, 13:51
lmao
ColdFly (@)
25th February 2020, 9:38
Based on this I changed my opinion on DAS; I now conclude it should not be allowed.
If they use it like a lever and can lock it in either position it is no longer a ‘steering’ function but an adjustment setting.
To me, it would only be legal if it is a continuous adjustment and if it cannot be locked. Let the drivers struggle with it and find the exact position they want, and make sure they don’t use it at the wrong moment.
Balue (@balue)
25th February 2020, 11:39
@coldfly Yeah it seems bizarre that it’s allowed but no teams are challenging it, so I guess it’s a rules loophole.
Interestingly, I believe Brawn just came out to say that in future, he would like to see regulation where loophole innovations can be clamped down upon immediately (in order to level the playing field).
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
25th February 2020, 14:07
@balue
Just hold your horses, Binotto said that they will seek clarification from the FIA which suggest that they will send a letter similar to the one Resta wrote before the start of the 2017 season about the trick suspension used by Mercedes and especially RBR. I’m not saying that Ferrari considers the DAS as an illegal device but trying to get it banned can scrap Mercedes development plans free of charge.
Helmut Marko has already said that the device is illegal :) So we can expect fireworks by Melbourne.
ColdFly (@)
25th February 2020, 10:07
Just some random stats on the Corona Virus.
– all people affected in Vietnam have recovered; Vietnam does not have any active cases
– There are more new cases in the USA and Italy than in China outside of Hubei.
– There are 3 deaths in Shanghai (GP delayed), whereas 7-8 in (Northern) Italy (Ferrari and Alpha Tauri factories close by)
It might be statistically riskier to meet a Ferrari/Alpha Tauri employee than a random fan in Shanghai.
Jere (@jerejj)
25th February 2020, 14:03
@coldfly Interesting notes there.
Jere (@jerejj)
25th February 2020, 14:02
Regarding the COTD, I partly copy-paste my post from yesterday: With eight days it was Monday to Thursday for the first four-day test, and Tuesday to Friday for the 2nd, and Wednesday to Friday for this year. Saturday and Sunday have more or less always been avoided (intentionally or coincidently) when it comes to pre-season testing for some reason.
BTW, who’s the fourth guy uncovering the F2005? The person besides the right-rear tyre? I struggle to recognize him, although he can’t be Marc Gene because he was with Williams at the time.