F1- 2018 Season.

A scheduled "In Season" test session took place after the Hungarian race with all the teams & Pirelli.    A few teams FI, RB & Williams also ran a session with prototype versions of the simplified front wings that will be introduced next season.   The idea is it will promote closer racing & overtaking by reducing the aerodynamic effects on following cars.  

The aerodynamic changes are:   A simplified front wing, with a larger span, and low outwash potential.    Simplified front brake ducts with no winglets.    A wider and deeper rear wing    (not included in this test session)  

Other changes for 2019 include an increase in race fuel allowance to allow drivers to race at full power for longer, the separation of driver weight from car weight to end the disadvantage of heavier drivers.  

 I just had a look on the news to see how Niki Lauda is getting on. The early bulletins said he had been rushed into hospital in Vienna from a holiday in Ibiza, that he'd had a lung transplant & was in an induced coma.   The latest this morning is a lot more positive;  he is now conscious & breathing unaided & his condition has continued to improve.  He will say in the Vienna hospital until his full recovery.   

I wish, & hope all F1 fans will join me, in wishing the F1 icon that he is, a speedy recovery.

News from Force India (F.I.) is they have agreed a deal to come out of administration; If I read it correctly is a team management initiative, backed by a group of investors led by Lawrence Stroll (father of Lance Stroll), but I'm tempted to read more into it if it turns out Stroll is just more than an investor.

OK, it seems to have saved the team & jobs at the Silverstone base, but not everyone is happy & have listed a number of scenario concerns – Reports at last months German GP are that Stroll has acquired a major shareholding & some rumours are of an outright sale; McLaren, Williams & Renault are concerned about a potential outright sale to Stroll.   as F.I. use Mercedes engines it could become a Mercedes (engines) B Team & just a few miles between their Brackley & Silverstone factories is handy.    I'm not quite sure I can see the problem as Red Bull have a 'B' Team, so its not like they are setting a precedent.

The obvious other is that Lance Stroll will move to F.I. & that will pile more pressure on the trouble that Williams are in. Both F.I. Drivers are out of contract & Ocon in particular is seriously looking for a seat with one of the big three & Mercedes is his first preference, Maybe staying at F.I. (Mercedes Engine B Team) could be a way to get into the A team. Lance Stroll is out of contract & unless Williams can convince him its gonna be better in 2019 (?) he was probably on the move anyhow.

Seems like the usual mid season shenanigans

Enjoyed a day of catch-up yesterday returning from our french holiday.  Hungary & Germany (I’d managed to avoid the results). Great stuff...14 to 1 was a glorious mix of skill, chance & luck and a delight to watch.

G

Wow! That's passion and commitment. I rarely watch catch up and once the GP is over, straight to the Autosport app for the latest updates. 

Fernando Alonso has confirmed he will not race in F1 in 2019. 

Good riddance! Never seen anyone so stuck up his own posterior. 

Carlos Sainz will race for Mclaren in 2019

The new track surface at Silverstone has attracted a lot of criticism.   At the F1 GP in July Lewis Hamilton said it was the fastest it's ever been but was the bumpiest track he's ever experienced.

The circuit was resurfaced at the start of the year to remove several major bumps that were an issue for MotoGP,  now the bikers are also saying its bumpier than before.    And to add fuel to the fire the MotoGP was cancelled last weekend because of surface water draining issues.   MotoGP's boss is saying Silverstone must be prepared to resurface its track again to safeguard the future of its MotoGP agreement.

Silverstone's MD Stuart Pringle defended the track problems as "conjecture" but at the same time has appointed independent expert consultant(s).  Pringle said one was at the MotoGP meeting & started work on the investigation itself on Monday & that he will not be the only independent consultant they will be using.     "We want a thorough investigation to find out what happened. We’ve moved quickly and Aggregate Industries (the resurfacing work contractors) has too.”

Sweet result today – a pity that the win is not allowed tomorrow …

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris to drive for McLaren next season. 

Lando Norris..... has the potential of being a terrific driver...... it’s a good move in my book....

Lando was F3 champion last year, is currently second in the F2 championship and is Mclaren test/reserve driver this year. F1 will be a big challenge bit he shows lots of potential. I just hope the McLaren is a better car next year. 

Snooze in Singapore for the most part.

Laughable race pace. The Q3 session was more entertaining in 10 minutes than the near two hour race.

Maybe it is now time to abandon circuits where drivers just drive to manage their tyres?

(Though if Bottas had put his foot down it may have been more entertaining...)

Yup it was a snooze in Singapore alright.

But MV SV & the rest did not have an answer, & Bottas keeping KR in 5th was a solid job.  So GET IN THERE LEWIS,  it seems his Stella Spectacular Q3 lap & the very convincing fully controlled Singapore race win,  especially as Mercedes were 2nd favourites,  & after the surprise win at Monza,  that was possibly the coup de grace on Ferrari's 2018 season.

Well done Botas for (not) winning the Russian GP. It was heartbreaking to see team orders being applied yesterday by a team which had so far allowed fair and square play for their drivers. Even Toto, the charismatic and passionate boss, found it hard to hide his anguish with the decision taken. F1 is a sad affair these days. 

It is now total rubbish, I have watched for 30 years but this season is not worth wasting my time. Even qualifying is a joke, no point at all. Good luck on pay for view only next year, I won't miss it!!! 

Tony2011 posted:

Well done Botas for (not) winning the Russian GP. It was heartbreaking to see team orders being applied yesterday by a team which had so far allowed fair and square play for their drivers. Even Toto, the charismatic and passionate boss, found it hard to hide his anguish with the decision taken. F1 is a sad affair these days. 

I bet they reverse it in another race at end of season, assuming Lewis has championship sewn up. And they have given VB a new contract. And a bonus for signing on. He’ll be fine.

I enjoyed the highlghts myself. Verstappen picking them all off one by one and Hamilton showing Vettel some class...I must be easily pleased.

G

Congratulations to Lewis on his 5th and also to Mercedes on another championship. Well deserved!

So, another double for Mercedes then. Pretty impressive stuff. And I read today that Lewis has won half of the races since joining them, which is quite an astonishing statistic in its own right.

The red cars and particularly Seb (when compared with Kimi) have really gone off the boil in H2 of the season. Again.

As to Max, well where do you begin? He’s either going to be World Champion or end up stuffing himself into a wall somewhere. Perhaps both. Just let him through and you’d have still won the race Max. Sooner or later someone is really going to lay one on him.

Given that Honda power is making progress then perhaps Red Bull are going to find themselves back at the top next year?

Quite a good set of mid table scraps throughout the year. Shame that the formerly mighty Williams and Jaffas are dragging their arses at the back of the pack.

Nice summary Jamie.     

Lewis has been mighty impressive in both his racing & do I detect a personallity change,  more mellow & tactical.

Sebastian sees to be struggling with both car & team issues & what to do about it, & he's making too many mistakes.   I suspect Ferrari might be ready for some more internal team moves as its not gone well this year & 2nd is a failure in Ferrari.   

The dichotomy is Max, brilliant driver, but seems to be his own worst enemy; did he really need to race Ocon on Sunday,  was that another veil of red mist in the race, it certainly looked like it in the weighing room.  He needs to have a long hard think about applying tactics in his racing,  maybe mentor with someone with a brain like Alain Prost.    

The Red Bull engine change will be interesting:  Will Honda really do it considering they have the Renault singing this season (when its reliable).   What does Daniel know to make him move to Renault.  A side observation not seen by the public in general is Renault Sport F1 are making big noises about 2019 season (they are local to me) 

Anyway Interlargo was the end of the season for me,  I'm out in the bush in southern latitudes for a few weeks. No point in recording the race,  its all over.

F3 driver Sophia Florsch has had a huge accident in Macau leaving her with a fractured spine.

Frankly, watching it I couldn’t quite believe she wasn’t in a far, far worse state. Absolutely terrifying at normal speed playback.

Marshalls and photographers injured too unfortunately.

Superb 5 part series of articles on Fernando Alonso’s career on the BBC Sport website right now. Really highly recommended reading for any F1 fan. Unusually informative insights on what happened at McLaren in 2007 especially. Fascinating stuff. 

I am very fortunate in my line of work to get on some cool "jollies" and spent today at the McLaren tech centre. It really is something else. Bruno Senna was there and gave a talk and a bit of insight into the new McLaren Senna as he is a McLaren ambassador. Also got a tour hosted by Amanda (Bruce's daughter) and clearly loves what she does. EVERYBODY there that I spoke to were enthusiasts and would prob do it for a fraction of what they get paid still. 

VERY different from Ferrari. I met Sergio M (RIP) and others a couple of years ago and it was all about the money and felt as if the "brand" was secondary. 

Looks like McLaren are going from strength to strength with their road cars and hopefully follow into the racing program and from Zak Brown was saying today he is very very focused on turning that around. (please don't think I am name dropping, just impressed these people were willing to talk to a jub like me)

It was awesome seeing such an iconic brand thriving in the UK and going from strength to strength. They get my support every time now ! Seeing the Senna production line was cool, shame they are all sold, not that I could afford one anyway !