F1 2020 Season

Thought I'd start this thread since no-one else has yet.

First glimpse of this season's cars as Haas unveil their entry for this year. Not really much difference visually from last season, but then there haven't been any major rule changes:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51405017




Have to say I quite like this livery.

Feel free to add more pics as they are released...

On track testing has been cut back further for the 2020 season. This must be difficult for drivers especially rookie drivers - there is only so much that can be learnt from being stuck in a simulator.

formula1 dot com wrote:F1 teams will have six days of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to fine-tune their cars on-track ahead of the 2020 campaign. Traditionally, there have been two four-day tests at the Spanish Grand Prix venue, but with an extra race added to the calendar, a compromise has been reached.

Two three-day winter tests will be held, the first running 19-21 February and the second running 26-28 February, with a four-day gap in between.

The two in-season tests have been removed from the 2020 schedule, placing a great emphasis on testing parts in Friday free practice sessions.

The first race is scheduled for 15 March in Melbourne. The fourth race is scheduled for 19 April in Shanghai - not sure what is going to happen with that race weekend given the coronavirus - possible end of days outbreak.

No name Bertie wrote:
The first race is scheduled for 15 March in Melbourne. The fourth race is scheduled for 19 April in Shanghai - not sure what is going to happen with that race weekend given the coronavirus - possible end of days outbreak.

Yeah - I see that playing havoc with the schedule, unless they can get a grip on things pretty quickly.

As to the cuts in pre-season testing, I honestly have no issue with it. You hear the teams say how they do hundreds of laps and thousands of kilometres...which I think is frankly ludicrous. Even a rookie should be able to get a pretty good handle on a car after doing one race distance...50-70 laps.

I can see it might hurt teams that have car issues and struggle to understand what is causing them...but those still happened all through the season with the old testing regime. So again, I don't see it being a major issue.

2020 team car launches

Date............Team.........Launch Venue
11 February.....Ferrari........Reggio Emilia, Italy

12 February.....Renault.......Paris, France
12 February.....Red Bull......TBC

13 February.....McLaren......Woking, UK

14 February.....Alpha Tauri..Salzburg, Austria
14 February.....Mercedes.....Silverstone, UK

17 February.....Racing Point.Mondsee, Austria
17 February.....Williams.......Digital-only launch

19 February.....Alfa Romeo...Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
19 February.....Haas............Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona

Mercedes W11 2020 livery, after announcing their new partnership with Ineos.

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Nice-looking car...but those sidepods are TINY! Wonder if they're going to have cooling issues at the hotter venues?

Ferrari SF1000

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Red Bull RB16

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Chinese GP postponed

Hmm. Ferrari going with a fairly pronounced engine cover fin, while RB's is pretty minimal and Merc somewhere in the middle.

Ferrari is quite a bad-ass looking machine. The RB a bit more functional. Seems tiny sidepod ducts are the in thing for this season. Still can't get used to it, when you think back to how big they used to be.

Sensible action to postpone the Chinese GP. Though we're still going to be on a tight schedule with 21 races. Think it will end up just being scrubbed from the calendar this year.

McLaren MCL35

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Alpha Tauri - Hello!

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Just John wrote:Alpha Tauri - Hello!

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Quite a bland-looking livery...and it still looks an awful lot like the Red Bull. They may have changed the name and their colours, but I'm guessing they are still very much the sister team.

Williams

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Racing Point

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With only three x 2 testing days it seems all teams have hit the ground running posting faster times than the first day of testing last year. I see that Robert Kubica is in the Alfa Romero (unless that is a misprint from the BBC). Williams appear to be in the mix now.

No real surprise that the teams are hitting the ground running, given it’s the final year of this regulation, and the technology is now better understood, and engines getting ever more reliable.

Seems the most talked about subject so far, is Racing Point pretty much turning up with a Mercedes. No real surprise, given the relationship they have, and now RP using the Mercedes wind tunnel. Mercedes also showcasing it’s new steering wheel DAS system.

Just John wrote:No real surprise that the teams are hitting the ground running, given it’s the final year of this regulation, and the technology is now better understood, and engines getting ever more reliable.

Seems the most talked about subject so far, is Racing Point pretty much turning up with a Mercedes. No real surprise, given the relationship they have, and now RP using the Mercedes wind tunnel. Mercedes also showcasing it’s new steering wheel DAS system.

Be interesting to see if any of the teams appeal against it...or whether the FIA takes matters into its own hands.

Also less surprising to see Sergio Perez setting such good lap times...although Kimi was quickest in the Alfa today (though I think that was on softs, whereas Serio was running mediums).

I would be mildly surprised if they're allowed to keep it.

GSC wrote:I would be mildly surprised if they're allowed to keep it.

Well, be mildly surprised - deemed to fall within the 2020 regulations, but not the revised regs for 2021 (which only permit the front wheels to be moved by rotation of the steering wheel, which seems to me to leave the door open for some sort of 'automatic' adjustment of the toe-out as the steering is first turned).

Now the bigger question is whether it is actually a worthwhile benefit.

I doubt it, any kind of gimmick that appears at testing gets over analysed

You dont really generate nearly as much heat through the tyres on a straight so it's probably marginal gains

Marginal gain, most likely, but clearly the concept was worth pursuing. Been in contact communication with the FIA about the DAS, so doubtful they would continue down the route, without some kind of go ahead from the FIA.

From what I’ve seen so far at testing, it looks ominous again. I’d expect if Mercedes dominate early doors, the majority will go full steam ahead for, 2021.

I would be interested in learning about the power of the Ferrari engine. Ferrari have had the best engine for a number of years but towards the end of last year Red Bull believed they had found the reason for that - and then the FIA gave clarification forbidding special fuel management arrangements that Red Bull believed Ferrari were using in order to get more fuel to the engine during acceleration.

Mattia Binotto is saying that this year Ferrari have developed a car that has greater margin for change and that the first three days of testing were designed to map the cars characteristics under different aerodynamic and mechanical configurations.

Last year although they looked impressive in testing it soon became clear at the start of the season that they had boxed themselves in designwise and weren't able to improve quickly enough across the season to respond to the Mercedes challenge.

DAS banned for, 2021

Just John wrote:Marginal gain, most likely, but clearly the concept was worth pursuing. Been in contact communication with the FIA about the DAS, so doubtful they would continue down the route, without some kind of go ahead from the FIA.

From what I’ve seen so far at testing, it looks ominous again. I’d expect if Mercedes dominate early doors, the majority will go full steam ahead for, 2021.

Looks like Mercedes have stolen a march on everyone (again). Marginal gains is enough to have a significant effect over the course of a season...depending on whether or not other teams decide to explore DAS. As you've said, its unlikely anyone else will, as they will be concentrating fully on the new regs.

If the Ferrari engine suffers a bit of a power drop, now they have to comply with the FIA's recently-clarified fuel regs, its quite possible Red Bull will be Mercedes' closest challengers.

In any event, the season is already looking like a foregone conclusion. Hamilton to match Schumacher's 7 titles.

But hey - at least its all change next season. Finally something to be genuinely excited about.

No name Bertie wrote:
I would be interested in learning about the power of the Ferrari engine. Ferrari have had the best engine for a number of years but towards the end of last year Red Bull believed they had found the reason for that - and then the FIA gave clarification forbidding special fuel management arrangements that Red Bull believed Ferrari were using in order to get more fuel to the engine during acceleration.

I'd expect them to suffer a slight power drop. Maybe the new aero / chassis designs will compensate for that. However, that "greater margin for change" could equally be greater margin for mistakes. Given Ferrari's recent performances, you wouldn't bet against it.

Hoping I'm proven wrong though, as I would love to see this era of cars sign off with a genuinely competitive season. With Racing Point apparently running a Mercedes clone and looking pretty rapid in testing, they could be in the mix for podiums.

Formal FIA verdict on Ferrari's power unit shenanigans.

Opaque statement from FIA: "After thorough technical investigations, the FIA has concluded its analysis of the operation of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Power Unit and reached a settlement with the team.

"The specifics of the agreement will remain between the parties.

"FIA and Ferrari have agreed to a number of technical commitments that will improve monitoring of all Formula 1 Power Units for forthcoming seasons as well as assist FIA in other regulatory duties in F1 and its research activities on carbon emissions and sustainable fuel."

What a load of garbage...basically saying Ferrari have been naughty boys and doing something they shouldn't have, without disclosing any details whatsoever.

Well, you don’t reach a settlement, without being guilty of something. Don’t think any of the teams will be happy about an agreement being made with the FIA, without it being made public, and transparent. We knew Ferrari were exploiting areas around the engine/fuel flow, and the drop off in performance was significant, once more TD’s and sensors were installed. Just embarrassing for Ferrari, that they still were unable to win anything, even by going down this route.

As for testing, it looks like Mercedes, followed by RB. A gap back to Ferrari, who will be there or thereabouts, with the Pink Mercedes, and the ever improving McLaren, in behind.

Seems the other teams were not happy with the way the FIA handled it either (at least the ones not supplied by Ferrari).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51736247

They expressed their "strong objections" in the above public statement.


But the FIA were ready for that and have clarified why they acted as they did.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51755673

What it boils down to is that, although they suspected Ferrari were in breach of the engine regs, it would have been very difficult to prove they had been altering the fuel flow rates. They also wanted to avoid a lengthy and costly legal battle that would likely prove inconclusive in the end.

Though that hasn't stopped the other 7 teams pursuing their own course of action:

Seven of the 10 teams on Wednesday issued a joint statement saying they would "pursue full and proper disclosure" and "reserve our rights to seek legal redress" over the settlement.

They questioned whether the FIA's decision met its "responsibility to act with the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency".

So this isn't done and dusted by any means.

this is typical F1 sabre rattling.

Fans banned from the Bahrain GP

Just John wrote:Fans banned from the Bahrain GP

Well they are probably one of the few circuits (along with Abu Dhabi) that could absorb the financial hit from "racing behind closed doors".

TV crews still allowed, so at least it will still be broadcast.

Turning into a strange season, with the China GP postponed and likely cancelled, unless they can work it into the season later.

Just find it odd that there has been no apparent impact on the Australian race, or Vietnam (which is scheduled just before China).

China isnt going to happen this year to be honest. You cant really organise a GP on short notice

I’d expect Vietnam to be called off within the next few days. Surprised the Australian GP is going ahead, especially with McLaren & Haas staff, self-isolating.

It is crazy that the Aussie race is still going ahead, to be honest.

too much money invested.

Tend to agree though

McLaren have withdrawn from the Australian GP. Should be a domino effect now

it's going to be cancelled

Just John wrote:McLaren have withdrawn from the Australian GP. Should be a domino effect now

I guess it was only a matter of time..the amount of travelling the teams do and the numbers of people they come into contact with.

Looks like the championship could be reduced to 16-17 races.


Got a few work meetings coming up over the next couple of weeks. Wondering what the chances are of those being cancelled (not that I know anyone who has been affected...yet)

I'm supposed to be in Amsterdam start of April (for work), suspect that wont be happening.

given how close teams run to the waterline budget wise, I imagine liberty are going to have to foot some substantial bills

apparently it will go ahead (watch this space closely)

bbc now saying its off

Farcical stuff. Should never have even got to this stage, given the severity of the global situation, and how pretty much every other Formula of motorsport, has been cancelled. This on/off reporting by the media, is just further embarrassment for everyone involved.

Bin it off, and re-evaluate for the start of the European phase of the calendar, on, May 3rd.

pretty much every other sporting event has been called off worldwide, or will be within the next few days. just get it over with

Looking like the first race of the season might be the Dutch GP (1st May) - depending how long it takes for the infections to slow down / reduce.

Agree its ridiculous they left it to the 11th hour to call off the Australian race. I know there is a lot of money invested in the sport, but a pandemic (WHO has now officially designated it as one) has to take precedence over everything.

Bahrain and Vietnam gone

Spain is the latest to declare a state of emergency.  This season is looking like it is not going to happen.  It is a global sport but borders are being closed to people.  Europe is now seen as a hot spot.   Once the number of people getting it swamps intensive care places in hospitals then the death rate starts to rise rapidly.  This is what is happening in Italy.   Governments are being urged to stop large gatherings of people.

I think if its feasible to start the season in May, we could still have a decent 18-race season. Possibly even as few as 16.

Beyond that though, I think they'd have to look at writing off the season.

Probably not a huge loss if they did, (in sporting terms), given we were looking at a re-run of last season.

I think you would still run even half a season but say championships wont be officially recorded. Teams need the money

GSC wrote:I think you would still run even half a season but say championships wont be officially recorded. Teams need the money

Well apparently you only need to have 8 races for it to be an official championship season...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51960674

Which is just as well, given that the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco races are now looking likely to be cancelled too. They are currently looking at starting the season with the Azerbaijan GP on 7th June. The pandemic ought to be dying down by then, according to current predictions...but then again predictions appear to be getting revised every few days so...

Dutch, Spanish & Monaco GP’s officially cancelled.

Looking like the much anticipated 21’ regulation change, will now be delayed until, 2022. Seems all the teams have unanimously agreed for a delay.