In the round-up: Pirelli plan to introduce new wet tyre compounds for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Links
Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web:
Pirelli already planning new wet Formula 1 tyres (Autosport)
"Pirelli is hoping to evaluate revised wet Formula 1 tyre compounds in time for the Chinese Grand Prix after admitting that the ones tested at Barcelona were not ideal."
Bottas: Mercedes switch a bigger challenge than expected (Motorsport.com)
"I still think there is work to do. Changing teams is maybe a slightly bigger thing than I initially thought it would be. But it's not a hurdle that you can't go over."
Raikkonen: So far, so good (ESPN)
"This week so far has been good, but there is still another week to go and a lot of work to be done, but we cannot complain too much -- it's been a pretty okay start."
Business as usual - Massa on comebacks, Williams, and Bottas v Hamilton (Formula1.com)
"It was the Monday after the Christmas Party where I said bye-bye to everyone at the factory - also to (Claire Williams) - and then she wrote me an SMS asking if I was ready to stop my retirement. I was pretty surprised about that!"
CEO Carey: More races in the US but no 'Americanisation' of Formula 1 (F1i)
"I have called the races 21 Super Bowls, but by that I mean we want to make the events bigger, broader and more attractive. I don't mean we want to make it American."
The Formula One Group gets new offices in London (F1i)
"The Formula One Group will soon enjoy a new headquarter office in London, leaving its historic Prince's Gate building for a prime location on Lower Regent Street."
Azerbaijan simplifies visa procedures for 2017 Formula 1 Grand Prix (AZERTAC State News)
"President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order simplifying visa procedures for foreigners and stateless persons traveling to the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the 2017 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix."
Got a tip for a link to feature in the next F1 Fanatic round-up? Send it in here:
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
An #F1 #Ferrari lit with #F1Testing #sunset light. Perfection! #SebastianVettel pic.twitter.com/1PQ05oBtav
— Darren Heath (@F1Photographer) March 2, 2017
Now this is close racing. pic.twitter.com/vTl4Sa41wL
— Pablo Elizalde (@EliGP) March 2, 2017
Shame not to drive but it's been a great few days. The guys have done an awesome job. Can't wait to be back in the car next week! (2/2)
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) March 2, 2017
That's it for the first test week, a lot learned and big improvements made on the car. I will be back for day 1-3 next week 😉! @F1 pic.twitter.com/bvVPr0P4Gg
— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) March 2, 2017
First laps covered with good looking STR12 , first feelings are positive and we will be back for… https://t.co/LGxTlgRbFp
— Daniil Kvyat (@Dany_Kvyat) March 2, 2017
I personally think this should be banned from motorsports and F1. #hideandseek #thephotographersalwayswin #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/Ph8cczzCBf
— Jamey Price (@jameypricephoto) March 2, 2017
I feel more optimistic about F1's future than I have for as long as I can ever remember, even if races may be processional for this season
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) March 2, 2017
2017 marks the first time that Formula 1 will have it's own marketing department. Yes, that's how 19th Century it has been so far…. https://t.co/kvQnievybk
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) March 2, 2017
Above all, I get the impression the new leadership priority is investment in growth, not playing puerile counter-productive political games https://t.co/OybC2g7qql
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) March 2, 2017
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Should Formula One look to adjust its race weekend format? @shadow13 offers this view…
I don’t overly want a new race format but if we are going to get one I love the idea of having a non-championship test race for it. In the interests of making it not about testing and to alleviate cost concerns it would be good to do it in the off season using last seasons cars. Also it could be used to bring new drivers in, as having Hamilton, Alonso…etc is not exactly necessary to see whether a new format works. Maybe even do it at a non-F1 circuit – gauge interest for a potential F1 championship race there in the future. I quite like the idea of a kind of spectacle race in the off season even if it’s not about bringing in a new format. Kind of like in football or other sports where they have friendly games – often in foreign countries that would otherwise be unable to see those teams. Done right it could serve a multitude of purposes.
@shadow13
From the forum
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Seaney_T!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
The new season got started in spectacular fashion 15 years ago today in Melbourne. Ralf Schumacher launched over the back of Rubens Barrichello’s Ferrari at the start, triggered a multi-car crash. Brother Michael Schumacher won the race ahead of a depleted field, while Mark Webber scored two points on his debut with Minardi.
Nick (@skrabble)
3rd March 2017, 0:43
Still can’t believe F1 hasn’t had a marketing department, ridiculous.
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
3rd March 2017, 1:02
@skrabble Philosophy up until now has been that F1 didn’t need one as it could sell itself as that is what had got the sport popular up until this point.
It was also felt that the marketing done by teams, drivers, broadcasters, circuits, sponsors etc.. was enough to get the F1 brand extra exposure that may draw in new people.
There were always people within FOM that saw what was needed in terms of better marketing & digital/social but a certain somebody was always less willing to listen because of how badly he got burned by the Digital+ venture he was once sold by some of the same people as been the big future thing (Which it actually was, We were well ahead of the times with that, Probably the last time F1 was ahead of anything).
@HoHum (@hohum)
3rd March 2017, 1:07
Bernie’s genius made a dept. totally superfluous! :-)
Kgn11
3rd March 2017, 9:54
They did, however it only consisted of one person
Ninjenius (@ninjenius)
3rd March 2017, 1:06
What you don’t see in the Pablo Elizalde tweet is the McHonda jostling for position behind the middle truck.
Joao (@johnmilk)
3rd March 2017, 7:31
@ninjenius jostling for position behind the truck or being towed by it?
Unicron (@unicron2002)
3rd March 2017, 9:49
@johnmilk mwahaha!
Schmorbraten (@schmorbraten)
3rd March 2017, 1:08
They’d need to pay the teams for non-championship races – otherwise, why would they take part?
@HoHum (@hohum)
3rd March 2017, 1:15
@schmorbraten, yes but they would have an event to sell to the media .
Kringle
3rd March 2017, 8:59
And track time.
Optimaximal (@optimaximal)
3rd March 2017, 9:08
@schmorbraten either that or require that they’re low-barrier-to-entry events meaning more people = more eyes on the cars.
That or essentially run them as competitive test sessions with fewer technical rules to allow teams and their bank rollers to try new/typically banned technology. I’d love it if, for example, Red Bull rocked up to one with a competition version of the RB X in full fan-car configuration.
@HoHum (@hohum)
3rd March 2017, 1:12
Dany Kvyat thinks : ” Got to keep the team happy, remember to tweet something good about the car “.
Tristan
3rd March 2017, 1:33
Isn’t it fair to put screens up every now and then? Surely there’s ideas the teams are working on that they’re not ready to reveal to the other teams, parts of the car they might be looking at without wanting to give that intelligence away.
They could just wheel it into the garage and close the door after all, this just saves a bit of that time. I don’t quite get the complaints from the photojourno’s on this one, there’s still plenty of opportunity to take stunning photos as we see all the time.
Kringle
3rd March 2017, 9:03
He’ll be complaining that he cannot photograph in their design offices next. There has to be a line somewhere mate!
He should go grab a coffee and chill out. The car will be back on track sooner or later.
ExcitedAbout17
3rd March 2017, 10:05
Those screens aren’t necesary, specially how Ferrari and RBR created an impromptu car port when welcoming their car back.
There are many opportunities to take detailed pictures: from above, from the other pit boxes when the cars ‘crawl’ past, and during the many practice starts at the end of the pit lane (a handfull of photographers there within 5m of the car). Funnily enough, Ferrari was one of the teams doing most pit drive throughs yesterday giving ample opportunity for others to fill a full photo album.
McLaren, Renault, Haas did not even bother with screens and even leisurely performed a tyre change in full view.
Screens only make sense when working on the car in the garage.
MaddMe (@)
3rd March 2017, 10:06
All the teams have parts they believe will give them an edge during racing and aero components aren’t always seen. You can guarantee that at least the top teams will have spotter all around the circuit during testing to get as many pictures as possible to try and capture something about a rival.
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
3rd March 2017, 6:56
Good news for those who like a colourful field: AutoBild are reporting Force India will get a new sponsor, BWT, which will lead to a light pink livery.
Joao (@johnmilk)
3rd March 2017, 7:36
@hahostolze this http://www.autobild.de/artikel/formel-1-neuer-sponsor-11332825.html ??
It is a Photoshop attempt, but with a few touches it could look pretty cool.
MacLeod (@macleod)
3rd March 2017, 7:49
Pink!! oh my! Your kidding i hope…
Raveendhana
3rd March 2017, 9:03
And more sponsors for force India means, more money. Force India looked reasonable this concludes test.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
3rd March 2017, 10:04
Pink! Why not that would look pretty cool!
Joao (@johnmilk)
3rd March 2017, 10:33
@spoutnik
for possible reference:
http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8039/28106804000_2202486459.jpg
https://www.adac-motorsport.de/images/483/234/0805513.jpg
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
3rd March 2017, 10:17
Well, good news everywhere, Pirelli sorting wet tires, FOM getting a marketing department and Bottas being a racing driver and finding excuses beforehand…