F1 2015: All Chat Here

[stevyg]

Coincidently the FIA has been discussing closed cockpits for evaluation very recently
and are due to test some ideas soon , one of which comes from Mercedes , seems a better
idea than just a canopy so that a driver can be removed when upside down .

The past few months proves that there's still a lot of work to be done in Motorsport with regards to safety, to the cars & to the track.

 

[DC.]

FIA should make it mandatory that all open wheel cars have a cockpit, of sorts, by 2020.

Yes the cars don't look aesthetically pleasing with one but it would certainly reduce the risk a great deal.

 

[Crow555]

Coincidently the FIA has been discussing closed cockpits for evaluation very recently
and are due to test some ideas soon , one of which comes from Mercedes , seems a better
idea than just a canopy so that a driver can be removed when upside down .

I would say that design would've had little effect against the push-rod suspension spring Massa hit a few year back.

 

[svensktoppen]

There have been talks about closed cockpits in F1 for absolutely forever, but there really is no solution that retains an open formula. Closing the cockpit just turns it into an LM prototype (aerodynamics dictate this, look at any closed cockpit formula), and has other safety problems instead.

These accidents are fantastically rare. Rushing to "do anything to do something" would not be the right thing to do. It is like all the people baying for bans on air displays just because one plane crashed the other day, or whatever.

 

[DEEJAY.B]

Some serious CAD work went on here , well impresssed !

Formula 1 photos | F1 Design Concepts | Motorsport.com

 

[weeloaney]

They look cool as fk. But can't see it ever happening.

 

[DEEJAY.B]

Coincidently the FIA has been discussing closed cockpits for evaluation very recently
and are due to test some ideas soon , one of which comes from Mercedes , seems a better
idea than just a canopy so that a driver can be removed when upside down .

 

[pablo]

thats bound to be hugely distracting

 

[svensktoppen]

All of the above is just recycled renderings that pop up whenever this topic comes up. Be it debris, or flipped cars, or whatever. Been bounced around for years and gets dragged up whenever some "we are doing something" publicity is needed.

F1 is an open cockpit/open wheel format, and there are loads of other FIA formats like that. Not just F1. If they close the cockpit it will quickly turn into LMP, and there already is an FIA series for that. Cannot see them changing it now. Even if they did, it would be years of committee wranglings before it made it into official regulations. At least for anything beyond a slightly raised "windscreen".

 

[Gambit]

Nice tribute to Justin Wilson
IndyCar stars in Golden Gate Bridge tribute to Justin Wilson - BBC News

 

[Crow555]

BBC Sport - Motorsport must find a way to protect drivers - Allan McNish

Alan McNish giving some valid points to proposed safety changes.

 

[davecoupe]

Sure they have something in mind, just not making it official. Only two options after all. And only really one option if they want to win again. Though I still think both Merc and Ferrari are not giving quite the same performance to their customer cars as they get themselves...

Lotus on the ropes too. Hard to see Renault still making engines next year at this rate, and without an engine they are hardly going to bail out their old team.

Renault to return as F1 works team with 65% stake in Lotus F1

Don't know how reliable this source is to be honest. It all seems fairly plausible though.

 

[DEEJAY.B]

80% done deal , should be completed next week . .

 

[svensktoppen]

Looks like the only option for the team. Basically the Renault team anyway, they just sold off a stake to Lotus and now look like buying it back again. By the looks of things, they may well have no customers of their engine left next year, so if they want to continue with F1 engines they have to buy back their old team.

Somebody at Renault clearly has a lot of money to spend though! No idea how they make that equation work, but hey.

 

[svensktoppen]

TIL - that McL were given a total of 105 grid places in penalties at Spa. Apparently a new record, quite impressive either way

Already have a 10-place penalty for this weekend, for each of the cars, even before anyone has turned a wheel...

 

[Crow555]

Yep, and I'd say more engine changes will mean they'll be back of the grid for the rest of the season. Given how difficult Honda are finding it in catching up, and how Renault are almost being forced out, you can see why so few manufacturers want to have a stab at F1 again (such as Ford or BMW for example).

 

[mce23]

TIL, Lewis Looks like a ridiculous Eminem look alike. Great banter!

 

[svensktoppen]

Lol, he does like his "fashion"

 

[Mark King]

TIL, Lewis Looks like a ridiculous Eminem look alike. Great banter!

Nah,he looks like a gimp.

 

[Crow555]

Lewis Hamilton, yesterday.

 

[lackingBHP]

So merc 1-2 in qualifying and race then plus no prizes for what order they will be in. Oh well that's my Sunday afternoon freed up.

 

[DC.]

The fight for third should be good. Hopefully Hulkenberg can edge out Vettel.

Mercedes already trying out their 2016 engine.

 

[lackingBHP]

He has roughly 30bhp more on a track that is 76% full throttle so it's not a fair fight. Mercedes is distroying f1. Yes I know the others have to catch up but it's pointless even watching now.

 

[svensktoppen]

That was a bit of a surprise, Ferrari squeezing out Niko and Raikkonen ahead of Vettel - Hyvaa Suomi

Can see Raikkonen ordered to move over for Vettel sharpish though, lol.

Apparently Niko had to go back to the "old" engine, problems with his upgrades. So he was down on power too compared to Lewis. Ferrari have clearly come on a bit.

Williams making up the numbers.

McL and RB not even competing by the looks of it, both right at the back. The grid penalty system for upgrades/engine changes really is more than a little bizarre, lol!

 

[svensktoppen]

Nearly fell off the sofa in the interviews when Lewis came on dead serious and explained how his pole lap was actually a bit rubbish, despite being a mile ahead of the rest, lol. And he really meant it too! Only way he will loose is if he has problems with his engine upgrades, like Niko did in practice.