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Post by afx on Apr 1, 2019 2:20:37 GMT -8
Another Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari better get it together quick!
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 1, 2019 5:56:01 GMT -8
After seeing the results of Qualifying, I just couldn't resist,I recorded the race so I could watch it Sunday night. It sure looked like Ferrari had solved their mysterious HP problems as they were 1 & 2 on the Grid, while Mercedes had both positions on row 2. Leclerc lost the P-1 spot to his teammate Vettel after a poor start, but once he regained it he was just dominating till his engine started to have major issues, but managed to finish 3rd do to a full course Yellow for the remaining few laps of the race.
So Ferrari did have the measure of Mercedes and it was actually a pretty exciting race with plenty of passing and side by side racing. Lets hope that Ferrari solves their engine issues and is ready in two weeks for the China GP.
I was thrilled to see McLaren really making progress, with a strong showing as they seemed the equal to Red Bull. A little more progress and they should really be right up there. Unfortunately Williams was just horrendous. Honestly, it's just so disheartening to see once such a dominate team delegated to the worst of the worst.
Joel
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Post by Chris K. Hale on Apr 1, 2019 6:35:51 GMT -8
I saw the start of the race and asked myself a question, "How can those cars filter that Sand Blowing so hard that it looked like Fog? I answered by saying "Someone is going to break down at the wrong time" thus I believe LeClerc was the answer, being out front and sucking up all the dirt and sand finally took down the Regeneration system on the Ferrari. The gas engine was running, less turbo so he finished the race in 3rd saved by a safety car. Vettel also I felt was a victim of the sand on the track and spun after Hamilton's Mercedes took the air off the front wing in that very close confrontation. Post race I was amazed at Hamilton, actually acting like a World Champion and not like Kanye, he gave full credit to the 21 year old LeClerc, saying he, Hamilton, got lucky that day, that the Ferrari had the full measure of the Mercedes , plus more, and that LeClerc and Ferrari was going to be a big problem for him and Mercedes unless they develop the car to catch the Ferrari development... next the 1,000 F-1 race in China! That will be a site to see and Ferrari will be tough to fight there! Chris
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 1, 2019 7:20:50 GMT -8
Chris, Sand is what you get when you race in a desert. I'm going to assume that just like here, the winds are weakest in the morning, and strongest at the end of the day. Maybe they should have ran the race in the morning, and just had the TV and Cable feeds delayed. Not sure what else they could have done, as I highly doubt that the teams would want to spend countless hours and dollars trying to come up with a filtering system that would work and not kill the air feed into the turbo system.
Joel
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Post by afx on Apr 1, 2019 8:43:59 GMT -8
Spending countless hours and dollars on 1-off parts is what F1 teams do!
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 1, 2019 9:44:50 GMT -8
Spending countless hours and dollars on 1-off parts is what F1 teams do! JC, Most certainly, but for one race in the desert? No so sure. Maybe with the countless Billions in raw crude revenues, they could enclose the track with a temporary cover? Joel
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Post by afx on Apr 1, 2019 9:51:11 GMT -8
I'm sure they could afford to enclose the track. They have an indoor ski resort in Dubia.
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 1, 2019 12:32:25 GMT -8
JC, That's insane!! Joel
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Post by Chris K. Hale on Apr 1, 2019 16:23:14 GMT -8
Actually Dubai has nearly depleted its oil reserves, they do have Trillions in the bank from selling it. Years back they decided to become the Playground for the rich and famous, building the tallest building in the world, making dozens of man made islands in the shape of a Palm tree, and the Globe and selling homes and apartments for ten to hundreds of millions, now the Atlantic Royal Palms Apartments with around 300 units, 82 floor plans and ultra high end finishes and accommodations, those selling beginning in the 20 million mark , and in, just a few miles from Dubai, also in the country of Arab Emirates, Abu Dahbi last but Dear to my heart, the "Ferrari World" Theme park, a Disneyland for Adults, a roller coaster that goes 0 to 149 mph (240kph)in 4.9 seconds.. and dozens of F-1 and Ferrari themed rides and adventures www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/ Since they dont have Oil anymore they found a better way of taking in the World fortunes.Chris
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 2, 2019 5:10:53 GMT -8
Actually Dubai has nearly depleted its oil reserves, they do have Trillions in the bank from selling it. Years back they decided to become the Playground for the rich and famous, building the tallest building in the world, making dozens of man made islands in the shape of a Palm tree, and the Globe and selling homes and apartments for ten to hundreds of millions, now the Atlantic Royal Palms Apartments with around 300 units, 82 floor plans and ultra high end finishes and accommodations, those selling beginning in the 20 million mark , and in, just a few miles from Dubai, also in the country of Arab Emirates, Abu Dahbi last but Dear to my heart, the "Ferrari World" Theme park, a Disneyland for Adults, a roller coaster that goes 0 to 149 mph (240kph)in 4.9 seconds.. and dozens of F-1 and Ferrari themed rides and adventures www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/ Since they dont have Oil anymore they found a better way of taking in the World fortunes.Chris Chris, Another world from the one I live in, that's for sure. I would love to spend just one day at that Ferrari World park, but that's another dream for another life time. Even if I could talk my wife into going (fat chance of that), my Doctor would never ok me on any speed rides with my heart condition. Joel
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Post by afx on Apr 6, 2019 3:29:43 GMT -8
Verstappen has new helmet supplier despite RB15's Arai "basis"
Red Bull says it approved of Max Verstappen’s decision to swap helmet supplier to Schuberth this year despite its RB15 having been created around an Arai design. Changes to the safety standards of Formula 1 helmets this year, to provide extra protection for the forehead area, left a number of suppliers in a race against time to get official homologation. One of the drivers affected was Verstappen, whose previous supplier Arai had not managed to get all its helmet sizes signed off for race use prior to the start of pre-season testing. It was there that Verstappen found the only approved Arai version was too small for him, so he felt very uncomfortable in the car. As a result, he tried out a Schuberth helmet and, being much happier, he did a deal to switch to the German manufacturer for the 2019 season. With the Schuberth helmet having a different shape to the Arai, the change has an aerodynamic influence over the car – but it’s something that Red Bull has accepted. Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko told Motorsport.com: “The Arai helmet was used as basis for our car concept. “We've had a contract with Arai for many years, and not only for the drivers at Red Bull Racing, but also for the mechanics, for Toro Rosso, for our junior team". “But Verstappen had problems with the Arai helmet [in testing]. It didn't fit and he didn't see properly. He felt extremely uncomfortable." Although Red Bull may have preferred Verstappen to stick to Arai because of the aero impact, Marko said it had to consider what the Dutchman was feeling. "If a driver feels uncomfortable with his helmet, it's not wise to force something on him," Marko explains. "At the time we had to decide, it wasn't clear whether Arai would manage the homologation. So we made that decision." It is understood Verstappen is now committed to Schuberth for the remainder of the year.
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 6, 2019 4:33:31 GMT -8
Outside of the safety aspects of those helmets, they've managed to turn them into walking billboards for sponsors or corps willing to pay for a spot on his helmet. Just when is enough, enough?
Joel
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Post by afx on Apr 6, 2019 6:02:45 GMT -8
Racing takes money, sponsor seem willing to provided it. What struck me about the story was that the driver's helmet actually influences the car design.
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Post by Joel_W on Apr 6, 2019 7:13:59 GMT -8
Racing takes money, sponsor seem willing to provided it. What struck me about the story was that the driver's helmet actually influences the car design. JC, Agreed, that sponsorship is the only realistic way to pay for the cost and development of todays race cars, especially in top series. But selling every single drop of space on a driver, his helmet, driving suit, shoes, and gloves, is just getting to the point of absurdity. Next thing they'll be selling space on his Nomex suit. How about little caps for their front teeth for logos? I'm sure that it's been considered. As for the helmet actually effecting the aerodynamics to the point of influencing the car design, the issue is really where the drivers head is in relation to the air flow. I can just see little spoilers and wings appearing as the next step. Of course they'll have to figure out how to keep the drivers head absolutely still so as not to effect the cause and effect relationship. There comes a point when enough is enough. Joel
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Post by afx on Apr 6, 2019 8:00:13 GMT -8
The helmets already have aero appendages, look at the clear wing on the chin guard and the wing at the back of Verstappen's helmet. These have been in use for several years now. Just surprised the car would be designed around a particular helmet manufacturer.
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