F1 2016

[Limejuice]

The BBC are carrying this story.

Supercar maker McLaren denies Apple investment report - BBC News

Also, interesting thoughts on why Apple might be interested in anything to do with McLaren.

 

[1%er]

Also, interesting thoughts on why Apple might be interested in anything to do with McLaren.

Apple have been rumored to be working on a car project for a couple of years but have yet to come out in the open about it. There was talk a while ago that they wanted to by Tesla cars, a company much more suited to Apple I'd have thought, but the company was not for sale, just one guy Elon Musk owns around 25% of the company and said he wouldn't sell.

I'm sure Apple want their software (carplay) in more cars but buying a small car company doesn't seem the best way to go about it, I'm sure I read a while ago they headhunted some guy from Blackburry to help with their in-car software.

 

[Limejuice]

This follow up suggests it's the fast innovation cycle (an updated F1 car every 2 weeks, and a three-year cycle on road cars) that might appeal:

The logic in Apple buying McLaren - BBC News

The big attraction, it says, is that McLaren Applied Technologies is a very smart problem solver.

 

[1%er]

This follow up suggests it's the fast innovation cycle (an updated F1 car every 2 weeks, and a three-year cycle on road cars) that might appeal:

The logic in Apple buying McLaren - BBC News

The big attraction, it says, is that McLaren Applied Technologies is a very smart problem solver.

For sure Apple would be far more interested in McLaren Applied Technologies than just their car business.

 

[1%er]

McLaren launch new all electric car
This McLaren P1 is the first all electric car from McLaren and maybe that is why Apple.Inc were so interested in buying the company It is aimed at the next generation of drivers and their willingness to get behind the wheel of an electric car quite literally. The newest edition to the British supercar maker's range is a full plug-in electric version of its P1 hybrid hypercar. What's more this one is an open-top roadster and one that also borrows the legendary McLaren F1's central driver's seat setup. Its top speed can be reached in three seconds, it boasts three forward and one reverse gear, plus an MP3 player The car also features working lights, a push-button start and while it will only be available in Volcano Yellow, the car will sport McLaren's trademark dihedral upward opening doors.

A rare image of this yellow car is available here

Still lots of conflict of interest stories about the F1 takeover
Liberty Media’s takeover of Formula 1 may not be as smooth as they had hoped as questions have been raised about the FIA’s conflict of interest. Earlier this month Liberty Media confirmed that it had agreed a deal to takeover Formula 1 for $4.4bn. However, the deal, which will see the company purchase all the shares of parent company Delta Topco, still needs the approval of the FIA. And that is where the conflict of interest lies, the FIA owns a 1 percent stake in Delta Topco meaning motorsport’s governing body will profit from the sale.

Anneliese Dodds, Labour MEP for the south east of England, said: “It is unacceptable that a regulator of any industry should be allowed to benefit financially from sanctioning the sale of one of the companies it regulates”. The sale will net a tidy profit for the FIA who bought the shares in 2013 for $458,197.34 but could sell them for $44m. Sports lawyer Charles Braithwaite added: “If the FIA approves the sale, people may question whether it was driven by the desire to get the multi-million sale proceeds; despite the fact that the FIA is the governing body and regulator of Formula One”.

I have a feeling that nothing will come of this conflict of interest stuff and also that the EU investigation into F1's "noncompetitive practices" will be dropped. At the time of the last EU investigation the FIA were told they could not hold shares in F1's commercial side, so the fact they they currently do hold a stake makes them naughty boys and the EU would tell them to get rid, which is what they are about to do anyway. As for the noncompetitive practices complaint I'm sure both Force India and Sauber will withdraw it now that a new company is in control and wait to see what Liberty Media will offer in the new Concorde agreement.

 

[spitfire]

McLaren launch new all electric car
This McLaren P1 is the first all electric car from McLaren and maybe that is why Apple.Inc were so interested in buying the company It is aimed at the next generation of drivers and their willingness to get behind the wheel of an electric car quite literally. The newest edition to the British supercar maker's range is a full plug-in electric version of its P1 hybrid hypercar. What's more this one is an open-top roadster and one that also borrows the legendary McLaren F1's central driver's seat setup. Its top speed can be reached in three seconds, it boasts three forward and one reverse gear, plus an MP3 player The car also features working lights, a push-button start and while it will only be available in Volcano Yellow, the car will sport McLaren's trademark dihedral upward opening doors.

A rare image of this yellow car is available here

Wow, that's a hot ride.

 

[1%er]

Provisional calendar 2017

26 March – Australia (Melbourne)
9 April – China (Shanghai)
16 April – Bahrain (Bahrain)
30 April – Russia (Sochi)
14 May – Spain (Barcelona)
28 May – Monaco (Monte Carlo)
11 June – Canada (Montreal)*
18 June – Azerbaijan (Baku)
2 July – Austria (Spielberg)
9 July – United Kingdom (Silverstone)
23 July – Hungary (Budapest)
30 July – Germany (Hockenheim)*
27 August – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
3 September – Italy (Monza)
17 September – Malaysia (Sepang)
1 October - Singapore (Singapore)
8 October – Japan (Suzuka)
22 October – USA (Austin)
5 November – Mexico (Mexico City)
12 November – Brazil (Sao Paulo)*
26 November – United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
*Subject to confirmation

Agreed rule changes for 2017
Wet-weather standing starts: A new procedure regarding wet weather starts was accepted. From 2017, if a safety car is deemed to be required for the beginning of a race due to wet weather, a normal standing start will occur once the track is deemed safe to race. The process will see the safety car return to the pit lane and the cars assemble on the grid for the start.

Helmet livery rules eased: Drivers must continue to present their helmets in substantially the same livery at every event of the FIA Formula One World Championship for easy recognition of the driver in the car, however a driver will now be allowed one event (such as a home race) for a special livery (at the driver’s choice). Drivers will also be allowed to change their helmet liveries if changing teams during the season.

No more stockpiling power units: During any single event, if a driver introduces more than one of a power unit element that is subject to penalty, only the last element fitted may be used at subsequent events without further penalty. This is to prevent the stockpiling of spare power unit elements.

Fixed early-season tyre allocations: For the first five events of the 2017 Championship season only, the normal team selection procedure for tyres will not be used as the deadline occurs before pre-season testing. For these events the supplier will allocate two sets of the hardest compound specification, four sets of the medium compound specification and seven sets of the softest compound specification to each driver. The WMSC also confirmed changes to Appendices 6 and 8 of the 2017 F1 Sporting Regulations which clarify outsourcing arrangements and conduct permitted regarding Listed Parts, Non-Listed Parts, wind tunnel testing and personnel transfer between teams engaged in a working or developmental relationship.

Races subject to confirmation

As you may have noticed from the list about, 3 races are subject to confirmation. These are Brazil, Germany and Canada.
Brazil
Brazil is facing financial troubles and there has been a lot of talk about who and how the race there will be financed. Insiders have said that F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone told FIA on Wednesday that the race would be dropped unless the organisers in Sao Paulo found a significant amount more money.

A statement released by the organisers said: "The Brazilian Grand Prix Organisation took notice, with surprise, of the 2017 F1 calendar which shows the race to be confirmed. "There is a contract in place until 2020, every provision of which will be complied with as it has been for the past 45 years".

Germany
The German race is up in the air as this year it is meant to be hosted at the Nurburgring, but has been listed as Hockenheim who have said they could not sustain a grand prix every year on financial grounds, as yet no deal has been completed for the German race.

Canada
The problems for Canada revolve around the organisers' failure to complete renovation works that they promised as part of their latest contract.
The paddock area, which is cramped by modern standards, is scheduled to be updated at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. It is highly unlikely that this race will be cancelled as Liberty Media have already stated that one of their main priorities is to expand the sports profile in the Americas

 

[Limejuice]

K Mag had a spectacular fire in the pit lane. No-one hurt, but putting it out made a big mess.

The team managed to save most of the car, give it a polish, and shove it out for P2.

Most impressive.

 

[Limejuice]

If you get the chance to see the Renault fire episode in FP1, do so.



A good example of why any new halo / head protection system has to allow the driver to get out pretty damn quick.

It would have been horrible if the fire had started out on the track with an injured driver.

 

[1%er]

Limejuice What no race times this weekend (I'll have to go and look them up myself

K-mags fire


Will Mercedes win constructors championship this weekend
With 5 races left and a lead in the constructors championship of 222 points over there nearest rival Red Bull, it look very likely that Mercedes will wrap-up the the title this weekend. So the only question remaining is can Nico continue his good run or will Lewis put the kibosh on his 8 point lead by the end of the race in Kuala Lumpur.

Jenson celebrates his 300th GP in the McLaren pub
McLaren transformed their motorhome into a British pub in honour of Jenson Button’s 300th grand prix start at Sepang this weekend. Several of Button’s F1 rivals joined the celebration at ‘The Dog and Button’. Specially-branded bottles of beer titled ‘300’, ‘Somerset Scrumper’ and ‘Ol’ Brawny’ a reference to his championship-winning 2009 season completed the pub theme.

EU complaint is pushing ahead say Force India
Progress is being made on a complaint to the European Union about Formula One according Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley. Force India lodged the complaint along with Sauber a year ago with the EU’s competition commission. Fernley revealed the EU has sent requests for further information to other parties. “It has gone through due process,” Fernley confirmed during the FIA press conference “I can confirm that it’s gone to the next level in terms of a request for further information from the EU. Who those have been sent to I don’t know. From our point of view, because we’re in a legal process with them, we can’t say anything about what we’re doing. But I can confirm that it is at that stage, from an EU point of view.”

Fernley also did not rule out the possibility of a similar complaint being pursued through the American courts. “I think it’s not appropriate for something where we’re getting legal advice, it’s probably a bit speculative, but for sure everything’s still on the table from our side. We’re very, very committed to challenging what we believe is a very anti-competitive system with these bi-lateral agreements. Whatever it takes to deliver that, we will certainly look at.”

 

[Limejuice]

Limejuice What no race times this weekend (I'll have to go and look them up myself

The Malaysia sessions are strange (UK times):

Fri 03.00, 07.00
Sat 07.00, 10.00
Sun 08.00

I remember thinking the Malaysia timings were weird.

ETA: That pit-lane fire went on for about 4 or 5 minutes. Fuel was pumping out of the top of the air intake cowling and re-igniting. In fact, the Race Direction was very slow in red-flagging the session. Once you know no-one's been hurt, the drama is enjoyable.

 

[1%er]

No, 30th October.

The Malaysia sessions are strange (UK times):

Fri 03.00, 07.00
Sat 07.00, 10.00
Sun 08.00

I'm getting old, maybe not getting, am

 

[1%er]

Good morning it is a lovely day here,the sun is just coming up over the sea

 

[Limejuice]

Back in time for Q1.

(I've just dropped Limejuice minor at the station where he's heading to university. Room to rent! )

 

[1%er]

Back in time for Q1.

(I've just dropped Limejuice minor at the station where he's heading to university. Room to rent! )

What is he going to study?

 

[Limejuice]

What is he going to study?

Law - the world needs more lawyers.

 

[1%er]

Alonso starting from the airport car-park he has so many penalties

 

[1%er]

Lewis is looking fast this weekend

 

[Limejuice]

Lewis is looking fast this weekend

Yes, he wants a third world title, so he has to start putting Nico in his place.

 

[1%er]

Red bulls only 2/10ths behind Nico I'd like to see one of them in front of him

 

[Limejuice]

Red bulls only 2/10ths behind Nico I'd like to see one of them in front of him

Indeed. They were very good in FP3, comfortably ahead of Ferrari.

 

[1%er]

Indeed. They were very good in FP3, comfortably ahead of Ferrari.

Yes, I have a feeling Ferrari will only get 3rd in the constructors championship and that will be very bad to the job prospects of the team bosses

 

[1%er]

Go on Jenson Q1

 

[Limejuice]

Nice one, Jenson. P8.

ETA: Snap!

 

[1%er]

They are getting there slowly, maybe next season we will be seeing them up the front, sadly without Jenson in the car

When I say front I mean top ten

 

[Limejuice]

I would love to have seen Jenson versus Alonso in a tip-top car.

 

[Limejuice]

Holy moly.

Hammy half a second clear!

 

[1%er]

wow that grandstand across from the pits looks empty

 

[Limejuice]

Now all Hammy needs to do is get away from the grid faster than my granny.

wow that grandstand across from the pits looks empty

Surprising. They were saying before that Malasia is the least expensive tickets.

 

[1%er]

Now all Hammy needs to do is get away from the grid faster than my granny.



Surprising. They were saying before that Malasia is the least expensive tickets.

and one of the highest hosting fees