re: 2022 Formula 1 Season Thread

Some updates coming for the cars in Melbourne.

https://www.formu1a.uno/ferrari-in-australia-inizia-lo-sviluppo-della-f1-75/

Translate wasn't perfect. I'm guessing "fund" is actually floor.

quote:

---

Kind of surprising they don't have two spares yet.

---

I think due to the fancy facades we forget how many of the low-budget teams really operate like the Garagistas of the past.

Gene needs to just go ahead and sell the team to Andretti, already. I know it would sting, personally, for Haas, but it would be better for Formula 1 racing.

Some reports say that not only is Red Bull bringing a new rear wing they have also managed to shave 7kg off the car.

If true that could be big.

On the flip side, Merc was supposed to have a new rear wing this week but it hasn't shown up.

quote:

---

I was under the impression that while they have moved development away from Dallara the tubs are still constructed by them. A report on the damaged chassis said it was on its way to Dallara for repair.

---

Wow I had no idea. I know F1 allows more sharing of sub-systems to help out smaller teams, but this seems to be against the spirit of each team being a constructor! If you don't even have to design and build your own tub, then are you really a constructor?

quote:

---

Recently Haas was asked what would make all of his investment worth it and he responded "Winning a race."

---

Of course everyone wants to "win a race," but as you note, they don't seem to be agressively chasing the sponsorships to help achieve this goal. The only way the are going to win a race is under freak circumstances (which admittedly has happened a few times in the last few years). It won't be a direct result of his "investment." I wonder if he would be more willing to sell the team to Andretti if they can get that first win so he'll have a trophy to put in his office.

Hmm, reading earlier articles, I remember that I was aware of the controversy about Haas's technical partnerships, but then I just forgot about it.

One 2018 article I just read explains my question about being a contructor:

quote:

---

Technical partnerships are perfectly fine, provided a team still meets the criteria for being a constructor. This is determined by designing (or owning the IP to) certain so-called 'listed parts'. That includes, crucially, all bodywork "in contact with the external airstream," i.e. all aerodynamic surfaces of the car, excluding items such as cameras, lights, etc.

Haas designs its own bodywork and supplies its drawings to Italian chassis constructor and manufacturer Dallara. Haas uses Ferrari's Maranello wind tunnel for part of this aerodynamic development work, however, and in addition buys whatever it's allowed to from Ferrari ranging from engines, gearboxes, and the suspension system to mechanical parts.

---

quote:

---

If Haas should sell the team someday I hope it's anyone but Andretti. If/when that assclown gets a spot in the circus I will NOT be a fan. Have hated that frick for decades.

Yes, I laughed when he got dumped out of F1 in less than a season.

---

When Michael was a driver, he was a miserable dude, and it was obvious. But after becoming a team owner he became more pleasant and happy, and admitted that when he was a driver he constantly felt the pressure to live up to the Andretti name and he hated it, and he was much happier as a team owner. So I know where you are coming from, but he seems OK to me now, and I think his involvement in many series is good for motorsport and he would be good for F1. Of course the Andretti aura is massively propped up by Mario continuing to be involved with the team and with IndyCar. It will be a sad day when Mario can no longer stay active on the IndyCar scene.

quote:

---

Just for giggles - since the names of these drivers have come up recently in this thread - which of these drivers in their peak beats 2021/22 Max in an equal car over a full season (assuming the car is a front runner and in contention to win both the WDC and WCC):

1) Senna
2) Schumacher
3) Hamilton
4) Gilles Villeneuve
5) Kimi
6) Vettel
7) Prost
8) Hakkinen

---

I'll make my argument that they all would beat him... for giggles.

First Max is a true talent. He may have the best F1 genetics of all time, while a few drivers have had fathers who have had better F1 careers I'm not aware of any that also had a mother that was quit the racer too.

But as I said I will make the argument the entire list could beat him, even if I don't believe it is 100% true.

I am approaching this as if they are both in the same base modern F1 car but each in a different team so team orders/politics and strategy does not help or hamper.

At points I will mention strategic and tactical strategy or racecraft. Strategic is the global view of the race taking into account all the other drivers situations (ie tire wear) and tactical strategy being the tactics for the exact battle you are in at the moment like giving on one corner to extract a bigger advantage from the next.

1. Senna

What can you say here. He is going to be ahead of Max on the grid come race day and out of DRS range by the second lap. His one lap qualifying speed will be a double whammy in the modern era. Senna just needs to smooth out his stabby inputs born from the early turbo lag days and his engineer needs to be in his ear telling him there are no extra points for winning by a minute and keeping him from trying to get fast lap after someone put on fresh softs just for that purpose. One positive about the modern ear is the cars are less fragile so breaking them is harder. If Max wants to get super aggressive Senna can more than match it. Max will be hoping for dry races, in the rain Senna will walk away.

2. Schumacher

Schumacher was also a great qualifier but was even better in the 1 lap qualifying era putting together a single lap and balancing the risk reward was his forte. He will start the grid ahead of Max more often than not and his skills would be great for pulling out the DRS worthy lead quickly and Max would learn about the Schummy chop off the line. He was also the master of the in/out lap which is excellent for getting/keeping a lead in an identical car. His car won't be identical though since he was one of the best at setting up a car. Michael will have advantage over advantage the least of which was his work ethic, no driver would outwork him. Similar to Senna Schumacher could drive a wide car if in front and more than aggressive enough to shoot a gap 2.01 meters wide. His strategy in the car was second to none, very German, very analytical he knows his opponents tire situation as well as he knows his own. He had the full stint pace to change tire strats on the fly a good example is the 2004 French GP. As with Senna any wet races will heavily favor Michael.

3. Hamilton

The hardest part with Hamilton is deciding when he was at his peak. His skill sets changed over his career or at least he relied more heavily on some than others at different times. I will assume he had that F2 aggression he showed in his first couple of seasons still left in him later on. Hamilton is a very balanced driver that operates at a very high level on all accounts but outside coming from the back in a fast car nothing stands out as being the talent. He requires a level of care and feeding from his race engineer but as long as the pit wall gives him the right strategy and confidence he will execute. He is also a damn lucky driver, things break his way more often than not (though horrendously the other way on occasion). He tends to make the most of the good luck and limit the damage from the bad luck which is indeed a talent. This is the battle I see running the longest into the season but being behind tends to perk him up. This might be a last race showdown with Max and anyone betting against Hamilton if that occurs again would be foolhardy.

4. Villeneuve (the greater)

This is the trickiest one of the list. His greatest talent was driving beyond the limit, something that isn't highly prized today but deployed correctly with a modern car could result in lots of poles and great in/out laps both of which equal wins in the modern era. Again Max will be doing the anti-rain dance because Gilles was another of the rain gods. A great example of his prowess in the rain (one of the greatest in F1) was Canada 1981 where he had a damaged front wing for most of the race that was in heavy rain. Not only did it obstruct his view but it finally broke off and he finished the WET race with no front wing and he finished on the podium sans a nose section. Let that sink in. Did I mention the Ferrari was the 5th best car that year? I think he edges out Max by the end of the year using his near peerless tactical racecraft and lack of fear when it comes to driving on the knife edge. Max would never have gotten around Gilles at Yas Marina as he was one of the best mirror drivers ever.

quote:

---

Yes, I laughed when he got dumped out of F1 in less than a season.

---