F1 2023

[Crow555]

It's this part of the season I hate. You hope some of the teams have made up ground (e.g. McLaren, Merc) and there will be multiple teams going for wins.

And then by July the reality will set in that RedBull will be cruising another 1 horse race.

 

[DC.]

Here’s hoping to reduced wind tunnel time for Red Bull will have had the desired effect.

I hope McLaren can provide Norris with a car capable of challenging for podiums.

I also hope it’s not a one horse race.

 

[RallyCiaran]

I think all the ingredients are there for it to be a great season of racing.

 

[svensktoppen]

Things like wind tunnel time and compute time appear to be completely self policed. Can't see that making any real difference to be honest if a team is prepared to go beyond "the spirit" of the rules.

I honestly think they should just scrap the budget cap rules. They appear to be all but completely unenforceable. They can't even be enforced in the same season, it's taking a year to complete audits. And then "negotiating" the results...

Use more regulation parts instead to keep the costs down for the majority of the teams. And let the top teams spend their way through, say, aero and engines, within some actually enforceable limits.

 

[cauld1]

I don't really like the idea of standardised parts, given it is supposed to be the pinnacle.

But not sure what the fix is tbh, as budget caps aren't levelling the playing field and are policed terribly.

 

[RallyCiaran]

I think the budget cap is fundamental to the increase in interest from new teams.
Audi wouldn't be there if it was going to cost them £500 million a year.

I assume as time goes on the budget audits will happen more quickly.

 

[svensktoppen]

Absolutely, that's right too. But the budget rules are so complex, and so much of it is self-policed and cannot actually be audited effectively, that the whole thing is a bit ... diluted. It appears most teams have made an effort to "play nice" and stay within the spirit of the rules. But it's no given that all teams do the same. Just look at the difference in the number of new parts and upgrades different teams managed to produce for "the same budget".

Add to that a set of technical regulations that are also so complex that half the time the FIA themselves do not actually know what the actual rule is.

But hey, maybe last year was a blip with everyone getting used to it all. Maybe there have been enough "clarifications" on both budget and technical regulations that it can all begin to even out.

 

[RallyCiaran]

A new set of rules always widens the performance window across the teams.
I think all the 2023 cars will start to look like the 2022 Red Bull, but that should tighten up the gaps.

 

[svensktoppen]

I hope you are right

 

[cauld1]

Liking this (as far as modern F1 cars go). Ferrari also looks great.

Lots of cars with at least some bare black carbon bits this year!

 

[svensktoppen]

Wow, is that the official livery this year? It's very... severe, lol.

But yes, I have a soft spot for black too and that works.

 

[cauld1]

Wow, is that the official livery this year? It's very... severe, lol.

But yes, I have a soft spot for black too and that works.

Yep, launch was this morning! Looks like it's mostly unpainted for weight I think.

See they've kept the zero sidepod idea. Fingers crossed it works well this year.

 

[svensktoppen]

I guess so far it's all renderings, and not enough for the geek machines to start speculating about changes and upgrades from last year?

Will be interesting to see how much of last year's Mercedes survives. It was so different from all the others, but it didn't quite work out...

 

[Phil_EK9]

I guess so far it's all renderings, and not enough for the geek machines to start speculating about changes and upgrades from last year?

Will be interesting to see how much of last year's Mercedes survives. It was so different from all the others, but it didn't quite work out...

A number of cars have been spotted during their shakedown tests and studio shots. But a lot of it may not be the final parts they'll use in testing/racing.

 

[DC.]

Mercedes hope to bring an update to their car sooner rather later.

Mercedes plans early season sidepod revamp for W14 F1 car

Mercedes plans to change its sidepod concept early in the new Formula 1 season, team boss Toto Wolff has revealed.

www.motorsport.com

 

[stevyg]

Loving the exposed carbon on the Merc. Ferrari look great too. Mercedes are developing their side pods for early season adoption.

 

[svensktoppen]

Surely they'll bring an "update" like that to pre-season testing?

 

[carmad.]

it’s seams they are sticking with their zero pod design

last year toto admitted they tried to run the car to low

 

[cauld1]

I'm just hoping they have it sussed!

Ferrari must be the team running the most amount of paint/vinyl on their car.

The Alpine, or the version in this photo at least looks, interesting too.

 

[Phil_EK9]

it’s seams they are sticking with their zero pod design

last year toto admitted they tried to run the car to low

Or so they want you to think...

Remember their show car last year had sidepods before they whipped the zeropod chassis out for the second test session.

 

[carmad.]

 

[weeloaney]

View attachment 388619View attachment 388620

So now they have hard, not quite as hard, medium, soft, bit softer and too soft.

All of them crap

 

[svensktoppen]

Formula 1: Honda considering formal return to coincide with new engine regulations

Honda says it is considering a formal return to Formula 1 to coincide with the new engine regulations that will be introduced in 2026.

www.bbc.co.uk

I'd love to see Honda officially back. Apparently the name is back on the "RB" engine this year too.

No idea how it will all play out with RB and Ford if Honda re-enters officially. I believe RB claim they are developing "their own" engine for the new regs, but we all know it's the Honda still...

 

[DC.]

McLaren-Honda for 2026.

 

[svensktoppen]

It's just really weird with RB "building their own" which is actually a Honda too... So two Honda engines on the grid, lol. Or one that's actually the same and just pretends to be something else

And then maybe a Ford badge on one of them