Motorsport.com had a different take on things in their email roundup, including a link from ROKiT back to Williams some 40 years ago.
2019 car launches
- Thread starter The_Abyss
- Start date
Another day of ******* meetings. I'll update the thread mid-afternoon.
Yeah, the car itself looks pretty mean and tight. The evolution of the livery is just dull IMO.
I think that the Red Bull is one of those cars that looks rather marmite when photographed stationary, but when filmed in motion it will look rather special.
Just waiting for Racing Point...
Just waiting for Racing Point...
Urgh... Sorry Racing Point India, you've designed a minger.
That would be magnificent - it would completely trigger Horner.
My god, there's something just so soulless about McLaren. I like the look of the livery though, but it doesn't have that finished feel that Mercedes have.
That's pretty cool. Loving the helmet - bodes well for the livery.
So, have Ferrari saved the bet until last?...
Ferrari pictures (render) leaked ahead of the launch in the next 30 mins...
That is a matt finish - just watching the launch event now.
They've taken launch events to a new low of corporate dullness. That's saying something, given McLaren's awkward effort yesterday.
https://singleseater.ferrari.com/en/
They've taken launch events to a new low of corporate dullness. That's saying something, given McLaren's awkward effort yesterday.
https://singleseater.ferrari.com/en/
It is embarrassing for such a big team. Crappy launch event, incorrect information (although every single Italian motor manufacturer posts nonsense performance figures - Ducati's inconsistencies with their own marketing and technical material for the V4S launch was hilarious) and the car being leaked beforehand. I hope they hit the ground running on Monday.
With regard to the livery colour, I've seen quite a few of these in the flesh now. The matt finish is definitely duller and darker than the gloss when it is in the shade or cloudy. It just comes to life and shines when it is illuminated. I don't think that Ferrari colour looks any different, although it was difficult to tell at the launch event due to the poor lighting. That was the same as McLaren's launch last year, when the launch lighting made the car look a very rich orange / red but the reality turned out to be different.
With regard to the livery colour, I've seen quite a few of these in the flesh now. The matt finish is definitely duller and darker than the gloss when it is in the shade or cloudy. It just comes to life and shines when it is illuminated. I don't think that Ferrari colour looks any different, although it was difficult to tell at the launch event due to the poor lighting. That was the same as McLaren's launch last year, when the launch lighting made the car look a very rich orange / red but the reality turned out to be different.
Decent afternoon and night out in Sabadell as normal. Met up with a couple of chaps working Ferrari sponsors, doing on-board filming on the car today. That new Ferrari paint is pretty slippery - they lost a camera or two trying to use suction mounts.
After the last couple of years, the weather is pretty good. But it is still cold at night, so if it is at all possible to look at laps times then mid-afternoon is when things will be at their warmest for air and track. New camera and lens to try out this year (Sony A7iii) so looking forward to seeing some cars on track tomorrow. A pity for Williams, but there's been far worse for pre-season testing than losing just one day.
After the last couple of years, the weather is pretty good. But it is still cold at night, so if it is at all possible to look at laps times then mid-afternoon is when things will be at their warmest for air and track. New camera and lens to try out this year (Sony A7iii) so looking forward to seeing some cars on track tomorrow. A pity for Williams, but there's been far worse for pre-season testing than losing just one day.
Today was one of the best test days that I've attended. Great weather certainly helped, but everybody ran, apart from Williams, and achieved a good number of laps. Organisation at the circuit was very poor this year. All entrances were closed off, bar one, and at that one the four cashiers tasked with selling tickets were also given the responsibility to capture email addresses from the purchasers, many of whom were non-Spanish speaking. Only one food outlet on the circuit this year, which sounds like it isn't important until you factor in that you cannot take in any drinks with you and the circuit is huge...
Anyway, I normally think that I've got a reasonable eye for the cars in pre-season. I had nothing today. Red Bull and Mercedes were pretty obviously running fairly high fuel and pumping in endurance laps while Ferrari were chasing the lap times but still doing decent stints. The 2019 Ferrari is beautiful - the matt red in sunlight is stunning and really does elevate a very tired old design. Speaking of which, the Red Bull looks very dated now.
Hamilton was a little more ragged than Bottas, but both were driving well within themselves. Verstappen hardly missed an apex all day, and the Red Bull never looked uncomfortable. Vettel pushed much harder, as did Kimi for a couple of stints, but didn't look unstable either. The McLaren just looked slow to me, but I think that I just see a slow car every time I see the McLaren now. I think Mercedes have a party trick down the pit lane on the limiter - a max engine noise node - very much louder than everyone else.
After a ropey start in the Toro Rosso, the Honda engines were much better in the afternoon. Haas didn't run too much and have a very odd whistle at speed.
Not much time for editing, but some photos:
Anyway, I normally think that I've got a reasonable eye for the cars in pre-season. I had nothing today. Red Bull and Mercedes were pretty obviously running fairly high fuel and pumping in endurance laps while Ferrari were chasing the lap times but still doing decent stints. The 2019 Ferrari is beautiful - the matt red in sunlight is stunning and really does elevate a very tired old design. Speaking of which, the Red Bull looks very dated now.
Hamilton was a little more ragged than Bottas, but both were driving well within themselves. Verstappen hardly missed an apex all day, and the Red Bull never looked uncomfortable. Vettel pushed much harder, as did Kimi for a couple of stints, but didn't look unstable either. The McLaren just looked slow to me, but I think that I just see a slow car every time I see the McLaren now. I think Mercedes have a party trick down the pit lane on the limiter - a max engine noise node - very much louder than everyone else.
After a ropey start in the Toro Rosso, the Honda engines were much better in the afternoon. Haas didn't run too much and have a very odd whistle at speed.
Not much time for editing, but some photos:
I think it is my colour that’s off for Ferrari, but it is very much a brighter more scarlet red.
Back off to the circuit again today.
Back off to the circuit again today.
Might be able to get a better idea of the cars at Turn 9, I found that was one of my favourite points in the track to see how committed the drivers could be. Although I'm sure you know that already
Just to catch up on this, I do indeed know Turn 9 very well
Unfortunately, these cars have now moved things on. Pretty much all of them went around it flat at one point or another, and when they don't you get the feeling they're running a heavy fuel load. It is surprisingly sharp though, and the speed does scrub off which can give the impression of the driver lifting.