In the round-up: Kimi Raikkonen says the changes made to cars for the 2019 F1 season, including reshaped front and rear wings, have made it easier for drivers to follow each other more closely:
What they say
I don’t know if I overtook anybody in the new DRS. But I think the cars for sure lets you get more closer undisturbed.
I think exits are still tricky when you’re really close. But I think the cars are more easy to follow now, getting closer.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Charles slowed by short circuit (Ferrari)
"Ferrari technicians and engineers traced the fault on the car to a short circuit within an injection system control unit. This type of problem had never been seen before on the component in question."
'Crazy' barber practice ends with Hinchcliffe atop speed chart (IndyCar)
"Neither Hinchcliffe nor Herta, however, avoided the rash of drivers who ran off course during the day. Among the others were Tony Kanaan, Matheus Leist, Takuma Sato, Spencer Pigot, Santino Ferrucci and Zach Veach."
Red Bull: Aero fix in place by Spanish GP (Autosport)
"It is all a consequence of us running an interim version of our car at the final day of testing in Barcelona. We did not have the complete package available after Gasly's crash."
What explains Ferrari's Australia to Bahrain F1 leap? (Motorsport magazine)
"It was clearly protecting something it was nervous about (perhaps the ers that had failed in week two of Barcelona testing), hence it not running above mode five (out of 11) on race day (apart from the in/out laps)."
Paddocks renovation at the Circuit Gilles Villenueve (Parc Jean-Drapeau)
"The objective of the project is to upgrade the equipment in the paddocks, which were built in 1988, and bring it up to the standards required by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Formula One World Championship (FOWC), while increasing the capacity of the loges above the garages to 5,000 people, up from the current capacity of 1,800."
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Comment of the day
F1 already has some minimum cockpit dimensions but does it need to go forther, as George Russell suggests?
I quite like the idea of a standard driver tub. I’d rather see a driver picked for their talent, not their ability to fit in a small space.
At the end of the day, it’s not something we see and it’s something the teams would quickly accommodate, even if they whinged a bit.
@Gardenfella72
From the forum
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OOliver
6th April 2019, 0:48
Re COTD
Lets just accommodate a 7feet driver and be done with it.
MtlRacer (@mtlracer)
6th April 2019, 0:53
If you follow follow the link about Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, make sure to try the time lapse function on the North View and South View!
Phylyp (@phylyp)
6th April 2019, 0:59
It is interesting to see how different viewers are giving differing opinions on the ability to follow cars with the new outwash changes this year. It makes me wonder if that is also indicative of how different teams (and design philosophies) are affecting the ability of their car to follow.
@HoHum (@hohum)
6th April 2019, 1:53
Well Kimi should know all about following.
–
–
Sorry Kimi, couldn’t resist it, didn’t mean it.
erix
6th April 2019, 2:54
As Kimi’s fan ..I thought the same.
Kimi is bad on 3 things:
1. Never block inside from overtaker
2. Worst slipsteamer on the grid
3. Never thought of unfair moves
erikje
6th April 2019, 19:36
And most important.. He really sucks in rain!
FA
7th April 2019, 10:21
He was wayyyyy faster than max in hungary-quali and in the race in germany. He probably would have lapped max if the SC hadn’t come out; max was terrible in the rain last year.
Robbie (@robbie)
6th April 2019, 2:54
@phylyp You read my mind. It would perhaps be hard to compare each drivers experience because it depends on what car they’re in, following what car. Seems some cars are perhaps a little easier to follow if they are making a little less wake, and some follow easier if they are a little less sensitive, or perhaps treat their front tires a little better in the turbulence.
W-K (@w-k)
6th April 2019, 3:48
He’s probably comparing last years winning cars, with this years also ran’s. Not wrong in what he is seeing but not realising he is comparing apples with oranges.
grat
6th April 2019, 14:06
Yeah– the Mercedes has the closest to a “traditional” wing design, and the Sauber has the biggest difference in design from last year’s wings. Hamilton says there’s no difference, Raikkonen says there is.
Maybe they’re both right.
ColdFly (@)
6th April 2019, 18:19
The impact is supposed to come primarily from the wing design of the leading car, rather than your own wing.
grat
7th April 2019, 17:55
True– but perhaps the inboard-heavy design of the Sauber wing makes it less sensitive to the wake of the car in front.
Although if the article on the BBC site was accurate, it means Mercedes has much more room to develop it’s wing– the car will be more persnickety, but should have a wider range of performance available.
maiagus
6th April 2019, 1:51
A win in China next week should award 1000 points.
Where is Bernie to propose that?
@HoHum (@hohum)
6th April 2019, 1:55
The Chinese refused to pay twice the price so they dropped it.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
6th April 2019, 2:20
@hohum – someone’s feeling chipper on a Saturday morning :)
@HoHum (@hohum)
6th April 2019, 20:03
:)
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
6th April 2019, 5:16
Marko already feeling ghastly about Gasly in blaming RBR’s parts shortage on Pierre.
ColdFly (@)
6th April 2019, 7:35
It seems they’re testing his metal strength.
Clearly not running short on posts for that test ;)
Robbie (@robbie)
6th April 2019, 14:28
Or…Marko is simply stating a fact, and he and PG have already moved well past the ‘stuff happens’ conversation. After all, I’m sure PG didn’t do it on purpose, and felt terrible about the unforeseen consequences of the crash, and has been consoled by the team. He sure doesn’t appear to be downtrodden and psychologically damaged, and indeed had a better second race than the first.
Short Circuit (@jjohn)
6th April 2019, 6:32
I deny having anything to do with Charles’ injection problem!
ColdFly (@)
6th April 2019, 7:36
;)
HRT (@vvans)
6th April 2019, 6:42
Red Bull (or in this case Marko) should really stop blaming Pierre for the lack of performance of the car.
What he says might very well be true. But if that is the case the real person responsible would be the one who made the decision to make the performance of the first 4 races depend one single (last) day of testing.
The chances of missing a whole day are considerable, no matter what team, engine or driver. Even experienced drivers can make mistakes and crash. There can be engine issues or electrical problems. Or it might even have rained on that day making the day useless in terms of data collection.
So if what Marko says is really true, Red Bull should take a hard look at themselves and make sure they don’t plan their testing schedules so tightly in the future.
The Skeptic (@)
6th April 2019, 10:33
+1!
Jere (@jerejj)
6th April 2019, 11:50
@vvans I couldn’t have put it any better. I Thoroughly agree with you.
Robbie (@robbie)
6th April 2019, 14:23
@vvans Let’s not make it sound like every time Marko sees Pierre in the garage he sneers at him or something. Even Marko with his cut to the chase comments knows that denigrating one of his drivers would not help advance the cause. I’m quite sure Marko knows that any number of things could have cost them delays from testing, but in this case it was PG’s crash. That happens, Marko knows it, and in this case it is a factual reason as to why they are behind where they wanted or expected to be at this point in time. As to not planning their testing schedule so tightly next time? Yeah I’m pretty sure that’s unavoidable with such limited numbers of testing days. Does any team ever come to their final definitive package within 7 days of on 8 day test, or is it a never ending process of refining these cars from the beginning of testing to the end of the season?
@HoHum (@hohum)
6th April 2019, 20:08
@robbie, Marko, denigrate 1 of his drivers !? Whatever will they think of next?
JohnH (@johnrkh)
6th April 2019, 7:57
Yes testing without Ricciardo :)
erikje
6th April 2019, 19:39
And testing with Ricciardo results in a very fast Renault.. Not.
FA
7th April 2019, 10:42
Yes. That’s why they didn’t let RIC test in ADhabi. And yes, the REN is closer to the RB than last year, with a much smaller budget.
F1oSaurus (@)
7th April 2019, 13:34
Actually Renault does have a very fast car.
DanielH (@danielh)
6th April 2019, 9:33
“Charles slowed by short circuit”, what like Monaco or Austria?
Nitzo (@webtel)
9th April 2019, 7:52
@danielh
DanielH (@danielh)
9th April 2019, 9:18
It was a joke.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
6th April 2019, 10:11
So Kimi then says cars are easier to follow. I hazard to mention again, that front running teams are much more prone to struggle in dirty air.
As for COTD, I agree fully. Driver tubes should be speced for atleast 75kg 185cm driver. There should be minimum dimensions to accomodate this.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
7th April 2019, 9:05
@jureo They’re already specced for a 80 kg, 190 cm driver – the problem is that there’s nothing in there to specify this has to be compatible with actual existing 80 kg, 190 cm drivers or driver candidates (as long as ther is a 190 cm person who fits in there, the team’s in the clear), or let alone whether it has to be a comfortable fit (by the same definition of “comfortable” as shorter, lighter drivers take for granted).
formevic (@formevic)
6th April 2019, 10:45
It may be it’s Haas easier to follow other cars, as consequences of displace the fewest surface on front wing so, less sensible to wind turbulence.
formevic (@formevic)
6th April 2019, 16:48
Oops. I meant Alfa Romeo..
Jere (@jerejj)
6th April 2019, 11:54
Regarding the article on the paddock renovation at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve: Hopefully, everything’s going to be ready in time by the Canadian GP in the first half of June. Approximately two months left to get everything complete in time.
Regarding the ‘From the forum’ section: I think you mean ‘next week’ rather than ‘next year.’
JohnH (@johnh)
6th April 2019, 12:59
I had the opportunity to walk round the track 2 weeks ago, and they have a lot to finish! And that’s assuming the 4ft of snow at the side of the track melts too…
The pit buildings still need an exterior, and probably an interior, and the pit lane needs tarmac. That said, those time lapse videos really show them working fast!
I was also surprised by the poor quality of the tarmac on the track. It’s definitely not the billiard table that is Silverstone. Good to see :-)
erikje
6th April 2019, 22:08
You are joking about Silverstone I hope??
http://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/24019860/lewis-hamilton-says-whoever-resurfaced-silverstone-did-worst-job-ever
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
7th April 2019, 9:12
@erikje @johnh @jerejj Perhaps they’re referring to this year’s Silverstone surface, which is being relaid next month (I know because my 10 k running race got moved to accommodate it)?
Big Joe
6th April 2019, 12:11
There are already karting classes for heavy weights and goalposts have been moved over the years to accomodate bigger built drivers even though our potential superior arm strength is an advantage.
The truth is the drivers filtering through to the top with talent – ultra fast reactions and finesse are usually the smaller built ones.
The current weights in F1 are that of a light heavy weight boxer. Go back to cars without power steering and brakes, the bigger drives should get an advantage.
anon
7th April 2019, 16:17
Big Joe, you seem to be mixing up the idea of raw strength with stamina, as usually the latter factor has been much more important in motorsport than outright strength.
If you look at drivers of the past in eras without power steering, they’ve never had an especially heavy build – quite a lot of drivers from the 1980s and 1990s weighed about the same as most drivers do these days. Equally, if you look at IndyCar drivers, even though those cars do not use power steering, their training regimes are still fairly heavily cardiovascular based since it’s not just about peak muscle strength, but stamina and sustained muscular activity.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
6th April 2019, 16:41
I think Kimi can only capable of telling the truth.
Another article mentioning Gasly’s crash in Barcelona cause delay of Red Bull development. Now from Helmut Marko. This is keep coming back, like foreshadowing future driver line up decision.
FA
7th April 2019, 10:35
Au contraire, I’d say GAS for sure looks more stressed and under pressure than ever. Away ago seems his care-free attitude and flair.
It sounds ridiculous to blame a driver for a shortage in parts/package, esp as max crashed and damaged his car in the double digits. And consoled by the team? By putting out every week a new PR-message that it’s due to PGs crash that they’re slow, marko, horner and max taking turns? I’m sure PG feels very consoled.
F1oSaurus (@)
7th April 2019, 13:37
Well since Red Bull can’t blame Renault for their failures anymore, they need a new scapegoat.