The Sauber name has disappeared from the sport, the team is now known as Alfa Romeo Racing. I don't know why but I have instantly lost a chunk of sympathy for the team. :(
I actually think the Williams looks pretty good on track. The initial computer renders were awful but its brightness on track is a very fine addition to the grid.
Regarding how Williams looks on track? I don't know the correct word to use – flabbergasted/shocked - a professional racing team on the F1 circuit can't get their car delivered and on the track!
For me, it is hard to imagine that scenario. Can you imagine if the car did not show up for a race and they overlooked having all the necessary parts available to assemble their car?
It may look good on track, but in essence they lost 3 days of testing. They didn't even have time to do a shakedown and see if they had even assembled the car correctly. Their shakedown was on the track. "Okay driver – go do a few laps and we hope the car stays in one piece."
Honestly I am flabbergasted also. I am almost certain that the car not being ready is just a cover up, I reckon something deep down is up. Financially? Who knows. Talks about lots of people not getting on with Paddy Lowe either do that could have something to do with it
It can't just be the car not being ready, especially when they can then turn up on the Wednesday
Why exactly can't it be the car not being ready? We've seen it countless times before, just never before with Williams. And more importantly, why on earth would they choose to miss 2.5 days of testing on purpose?
About doing the shakedown during testing - the same was true for McLaren and RP. They had their first runs on Monday morning (resulting in only 30 laps of testing on Monday for RP. McLaren did manage 119 which is extraordinary).
They improved 1.8 seconds that is massive you would think they would have a bigger gain to come as they didn't do the laps of the others I just hope it is as close as the times suggest having 14 cars within a second with Alfa just out side q 2 will be interesting.
This season we reaally need someone like McLaren, Renault, Alfa (or Williams...but probably not them...) to get amongst the big three. I'll be hoping for Red Bull's third spot to be challenged by at least Renault and McLaren in the first half of the season. Red Bull always do improve during the season though so you'd think they'll at least keep their third spot,but who knows. Ricciardo getting a podium or two would be my biggest hope for the season. And Kimi :)
Yeah but they're a boring team with a boring livery. There's zero charisma in general with them. Who actually likes them? Not one thing about the team is recognisably 'american'. They could at least have on of the big trucks they have over there taking the shit to races with..but no they have... https://www.flickr.com/photos/95735001@N08/38796284114 The only american thing I see going on is when Gene Haas makes the odd appearance.
I doubt any of the american trucks would pass european emissions laws, plus you guys probably still have the old length laws in effect (at least thats why we used to have cab overs, once restrictions on rig length were relaxed we started building the regular cab trucks again... idk if thats the case there)
Man that truck looks so damn cool....I mean they should at least get something like that hauling the gear around. You're probably right, EU laws and such probably prevent it from being possible. I mean, those (supposedly american) coke trucks we have at Christmas that everyone seems to want to see, they're not actually any bigger than a standard haulage vehincle, nor is the cab anything like as fantastic as the one you posted...its just a truck with tree lights round it basically. But, I guess it does the job Coca-Cola want it to do ;)
Anyway, my only point really is Haas should strive to appeal to its home market a bit more. Its just my opinion really that they should at least try and look more cosmetically american than they are. If I was an american, I don't see how I'd have any kind of feeling towards the Haas team as such. At least, I am not seeing what is supposed to be american about the team, so dunno how anyone in America would...or maybe they do and I just don't see it :)
This season we reaally need someone like McLaren, Renault, Alfa (or Williams...but probably not them...) to get amongst the big three. I'll be hoping for Red Bull's third spot to be challenged by at least Renault and McLaren in the first half of the season.
Red Bull's third spot eh... well after those two weeks of testing, it's not even certain if they will hold the third spot, or Mercedes will. Autosport are definitely on the side of there being a battle for the 2nd placed team rather than the first right now, which they're saying is definitely Ferrari.
This is how last season started though, with Ferrari being the better car for the first half of the season, then after the summer break Mercedes usurping them and leaving them for dust. But Autosport reckons they're at least half a second slower atm. It's testing so I don't really buy it. Hamilton will likely turn up in Melbourne and grab pole. But I agree, it'd be interesting for the midfield to get closer to the top.
Either way, I'm not sure i'm looking forward to hearing an angry Max Verstappen at multiple races this season. And taking a few people with him. Probably. I mean, it will be funny the first few times Red Bull get a DNF, but by Monaco - or any race where Red Bull might expect to 'perform' - I think I will be switching off when either he or Horner get near a microphone!
Talking of which, I see Christian Horner having a pop at Daniel Ricciardo already for "running away from a fight" with Verstappen. Think such talk is premature tbh - certainly talk that made Horner sound confident that they will beat Renault. I'm sure they will over the length of the season. Maybe it was more that Ricciardo was running away from a fight for who can get the most DNFs though, just that choosing Renault as his destination was maybe not the best idea ever...Alfa Romeo might well have been a better choice. Choice being a prime word in F1 though I spose. This shit needs to be more entertaining going forward though. Midfield battles are nice, but we need contenders to emerge as genuine front running/race winning challengers. That has not happened since 2012. Time will tell I guess.
This is how last season started though, with Ferrari being the better car for the first half of the season, then after the summer break Mercedes usurping them and leaving them for dust. But Autosport reckons they're at least half a second slower atm.
Hmm in their video yesterday they said around 3 tenths, not at least half a second. 3 tenths is not a lot in my opinion, it's within a range where you can say the track characteristics and weather conditions will be decisive.
They start discussing Mercedes after around 13 minutes.
how can a team being ranked as 9th be called mid-pack. Or are we in a world of being afraid of calling a once great as being tail-end backmarkers. McLaren's problem is style over substance. Just look at those beanie hats they are wearing. Don't they look damn funky.
I mean, those (supposedly american) coke trucks we have at Christmas that everyone seems to want to see, they're not actually any bigger than a standard haulage vehincle, nor is the cab anything like as fantastic as the one you posted...its just a truck with tree lights round it basically.
That's a pretty standard (minus the lights) type truck for here, most trucks look that way (and there are ton's of them, more of those on the highway than cars). I've never actually heard of the whole coke truck thing. We don't have that here.
Anyway, my only point really is Haas should strive to appeal to its home market a bit more. Its just my opinion really that they should at least try and look more cosmetically american than they are. If I was an american, I don't see how I'd have any kind of feeling towards the Haas team as such. At least, I am not seeing what is supposed to be american about the team, so dunno how anyone in America would...or maybe they do and I just don't see it :)
I've never met a haas fan.
It's a different mindset here when it comes to racing fans. There is a higher importance placed on drivers as opposed to teams. For example, you won't find people saying "I'm a chevorlete fan" when it comes to nascar. It is wierd, as you will find people who hate ford cars/trucks for example... and constantly bash them... but will be a fan of a drivers in nascar who drives a ford.
Of course, with most racing forms here there isn't a single team racing a particular make. Instead there are multiple teams racing them. For example, nascar only has 3 types (ford chevrolet and toyota) but there are up to 43 cars in each race.
Even when it comes to F1 fans here, most I meet are fans of drivers as opposed to teams. So you might meet a vettel fan, or a hamilton fan ... but there is less importance placed on ferrari and mercedes. Generalized obviously as there are some of both, but for the most part that is the overwhelming racing culture here.
Quote ( Daniel Douglas @ March 4th 2019,02:43:10 )
It's a different mindset here when it comes to racing fans. There is a higher importance placed on drivers as opposed to teams. For example, you won't find people saying "I'm a chevorlete fan" when it comes to nascar. It is wierd, as you will find people who hate ford cars/trucks for example... and constantly bash them... but will be a fan of a drivers in nascar who drives a ford.
That's interesting - in Australia the whole Holden v Ford rivalry is HUGE
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