Will Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) So the teams are starting to announce their cars and testing begins next week, time for the 2016 Formula 1 thread I think. First a little info: 22nd-25th February - Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 1st-4th March - Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 3rd February - Renault 18th February - Red Bull 19th February - Williams 19th February - Ferrari 21st February - Mercedes 21st February - McLaren 21st February - Haas 22nd February - Manor 22nd February - Toro Rosso 22nd February - Force India 22nd February - Sauber March 20th - Australia April 3rd - Bahrain April 17th - China May 1st - Russia May 15th - Spain May 29th - Monaco June 12th - Canada June 19th - European (Azerbaijan) July 3rd - Austria July 10th - Britain July 24th - Hungary July 31st - Germany August 28th - Belgium September 4th - Italy September 18th - Singapore October 2nd - Malaysia October 9th - Japan October 23rd - United States* October 30th - Mexico November 13th - Brazil November 27th - Abu Dhabi Channel 4 Live races in blue *subject to confirmation Mercedes 44 - Lewis Hamilton 6 - Nico Rosberg Ferrari 5 - Sebastian Vettel 7 - Kimi Raikkonen Williams - Mercedes 19 - Felipe Massa 77 - Valtteri Bottas Red Bull - Tag Heuer 3 - Daniel Ricciardo 26 - Daniil Kvyat Force India - Mecedes 11 - Sergio Perez 27 - Nico Hulkenberg Renault 20 - Kevin Magnussen 30 - Jolyon Palmer Toro Rosso - Ferrari 33 - Max Verstappen 55 - Carlos Sainz Jr. Sauber - Ferrari 9 - Marcus Ericsson 12 - Felipe Nasr McLaren - Honda 14 - Fernando Alonso 22 - Jenson Button Manor - Mercedes 94 - Pascal Wehrlein 88 - Rio Haryanto Hass - Ferrari 8 - Romain Grosjean 21 - Esteban Gutierrez I can`t see this season being anything other than another Mercedes double, but I really hope Nico can give Lewis a run for his money. I also really hope that the McLaren isn`t a complete piece of crap like last year, as I really miss Alonso being at the front. Anyone planning on attending any races? I`m hoping that I can make it to Japan and Singapore if I can find a good deal. Thoughts on the cars so far? I`m really liking the matte finish on the Red Bull, hopefully some other cool looking cars to make for at least an interesting look to the grid. Here`s to hopefully a good season of racing! Will try to keep the info above updated, let me know if I`ve missed anything! Edited February 22, 2016 by will'
Goron_3 Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 Great O.P! 2015 was really disappointing but I think 2016 may prove to be very exciting... 1. The pack will be closer. I expect Ferrari to close the gap to Mercedes which should give Seb and Kimi a chance at some big points, especially if they force the Merc's into taking a more defensive strategy. I also think we'll see Honda jump to the mid-pack early on, with Haas and Manor fighting Sauber throughout the year. Hope to see Force India do well 2. The new tyre strategies will be interesting. Hopefully we'll see more teams taking gambles, particularly those that have less to lose (Force India, Red Bull etc). 3. PASTOR HAS GONE.
Londragon Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Are RedBull still rocking the Renault engine? What with their disputes last year, I thought they'd move on.
Will Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 I quite like the Ferrari, I think the white/red works really well. Then again I have a weird thing for white cars... On the Red Bull thing... Yes it's a rebadged Renault engine. I didn't follow the whole story with that properly but from what I understand they tried their hardest to get anything but the Renault engine and everyone told them to get stuffed so they ended up going back to them with their tail between their legs.
Retro_Link Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 I don't get the Red Bull engine thing either. They're using a Renault engine, but it's a Tag Heuer branded Renault engine... Tag Heuer are solely a watch maker... it's not like Infiniti of the last few years. Someone explain.
Will Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 I'm remembering a long way back and I could be totally wrong but I think it's a way around sponsorship rules. They can have a sponsor in the official name of the team but there are various monetary penalties involved. Alternatively they can name the engine after a sponsor and it doesn't count in quite the same way, but still achieves the goal of the sponsors name being shown in everything they do.
Nicktendo Posted April 19, 2016 Posted April 19, 2016 So what does everyone think after the first three races? Glad the qualifying saga is behind us and we can (maybe) concentrate on the racing. We've had three cracking races so far and hopefully Sochi will serve up another good one. Rosberg has been MEGA, while Hamilton has just been plain unlucky but will come back strong, I'm sure. I still think this will be a mightily close season, especially with Ferrari and even Red Bull not too far behind. Love how mixed up the midfield is this year, and the Haas story is one of the best we've had in years. Can see Kvyat being dumped in favour of Verstappen mid-season if he doesn't become more consistent (China was a good showing), which would really spice up the battles at the front. Slightly off topic but has anyone been watching Formula E? Really been enjoying the series since its inception and like how it offers something completely different to F1 but still has good drivers and close racing. Next race is this weekend, give it a chance if you haven't yet, you might be pleasently surprised.
Goron_3 Posted May 1, 2016 Posted May 1, 2016 So what does everyone think after the first three races? Glad the qualifying saga is behind us and we can (maybe) concentrate on the racing. We've had three cracking races so far and hopefully Sochi will serve up another good one. Rosberg has been MEGA, while Hamilton has just been plain unlucky but will come back strong, I'm sure. I still think this will be a mightily close season, especially with Ferrari and even Red Bull not too far behind. Love how mixed up the midfield is this year, and the Haas story is one of the best we've had in years. Can see Kvyat being dumped in favour of Verstappen mid-season if he doesn't become more consistent (China was a good showing), which would really spice up the battles at the front. Slightly off topic but has anyone been watching Formula E? Really been enjoying the series since its inception and like how it offers something completely different to F1 but still has good drivers and close racing. Next race is this weekend, give it a chance if you haven't yet, you might be pleasently surprised. Man, Hamilton can't catch a break, can he?! Luckily his relaibility problems are happening in qualifying and not the race - he can still get big points today. Have to admit I'm not a fan of this circuit. It just looks so bland and the amount of run off simply dilutes any excitement I get from watching cars go fast. Hopefully Bottas will get a good start today and take the lead into turn 2. That would certainly make it interesting! As for Formula E...funnily enough, I work for them! It's a great little series and Paris was a mega event. Great city too @Retro_Link also does a great Formula E podcast that's worth checking out called the eRadio Show. Check it out!
Will Posted May 15, 2016 Author Posted May 15, 2016 Totally crazy, happy for Verstappen, a very solid performance. The Mercedes situation will certainly be interesting.
BowserBasher Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 Amazing. It was refreshing to actually watch a close race.
Nicktendo Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 I am speechless, what a great race! Kudos to Verstappen!
Mr-Paul Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 Best race for a while with the Mercedes taking each other out! Amazing drive from Verstappen, although I did feel like they were making it out a bit like he'd never raced an F1 car before when he's been doing it for over a season! But still, crazy achievement. Winning a Grand Prix at the age of 18! Fortunate that he was on the winning strategy rather than the 3-stopper that they put Ricciardo on, but still, so pleased for him!
Goron_3 Posted May 16, 2016 Posted May 16, 2016 Best race for a while with the Mercedes taking each other out! Amazing drive from Verstappen, although I did feel like they were making it out a bit like he'd never raced an F1 car before when he's been doing it for over a season! But still, crazy achievement. Winning a Grand Prix at the age of 18! Fortunate that he was on the winning strategy rather than the 3-stopper that they put Ricciardo on, but still, so pleased for him! Ricciardo looked so gutted The two stopper was on a proper knife edge - I was utterly convinced that they wouldn't make it to the end. When I saw Ricciardo with the puncture I assumed it was Max!!!
Retro_Link Posted May 16, 2016 Posted May 16, 2016 Doesn't bode well for Ferrari in Monaco. I wouldn't be surprised if we had the same front 3 rows as we had here, with maybe even a Toro Rosso thrown in amongst the Ferrari's.
Nicktendo Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 Not a bad race today, eh? Delighted for Jenson and Pascal Wehrlein, and the crash was entirely Nico's fault IMO, lost his head completely.
Nicktendo Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 Not a bad race today, eh? Delighted for Jenson and Pascal Wehrlein, and the crash was entirely Nico's fault IMO, lost his head completely.
BowserBasher Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 Not a bad race today, eh? Delighted for Jenson and Pascal Wehrlein, and the crash was entirely Nico's fault IMO, lost his head completely. Not bad at all. Enjoyed it a lot. The three tire chose change seems to bring that little bit extra to the races. Agree 100%, the replays show he just didn't turn into the corner.
BowserBasher Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 Not a bad race today, eh? Delighted for Jenson and Pascal Wehrlein, and the crash was entirely Nico's fault IMO, lost his head completely. Not bad at all. Enjoyed it a lot. The three tire chose change seems to bring that little bit extra to the races. Agree 100%, the replays show he just didn't turn into the corner.
Emerald Emblem Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 Hamilton on course for the win to close the gap to Rosberg and then boom goes his engine, the drivers title could be decided a few races before the last race and that would be highly disappointing. 23 point gap with 5 races to go, let's see what other twists may happen between Suzuka and Abu Dhabi.
gaggle64 Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 Cripes, my heart went to my boots when that happened. No shock Lewis is upset, hell of race all round though.
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