F1 Season Buildup/Testing/Car Launches

Malt_Vinegar · 15 Feb 2018 at 14:36

So, here we are!

Were winding up for the season.

Lets try to keep all the related chat in this thread.

2018 car unveilings and launch dates
Team Date Location
Haas - February 14 Online - https://www.haasf1team.com/VF18
Williams - February 15 Online/London - https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/134387/williams-launches-2018-fw41-contender
Red Bull - February 19 Online - http://redbullracing.redbull.com/article/appetite-disruption
Renault - February 20 Online - https://twitter.com/RenaultSportF1/status/965966784204386305
Sauber - February 20 Online - https://www.sauberf1team.com/photos/c37-launch
Mercedes - February 22 Silverstone - https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/mercedes-amg-f1/car-launch-2018-f1-w09-eq-power-plus/
Ferrari - February 22 Online - http://sf71h.ferrari.com/en/
McLaren - February 23 Online - https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/20...veils-striking-2018-challenger-mcl33-3162533/
Toro Rosso - February 26 Barcelona - Morning at testing
Force India - February 26 Barcelona - Morning at testing

Testing Dates:
PRE-SEASON
February 26-March 1 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
March 6-9 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
IN-SEASON
May 15-May 16 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
July 31-August 1 Hungaroring, Budapest

Race Diary:

25 March - Melbourne - Australia
8 April - Sakhir - Bahrain
15 April - Shanghai - China
29 April - Baku - Azerbaijan
13 May - Barcelona - Spain
27 May - Monaco - Monaco
10 June - Montreal - Canada
24 June - Le Castellet - France
1 July - Spielberg - Austria
8 July - Silverstone - Great Britain
22 July - Hockenheim - Germany
29 July - Budapest - Hungary
26 August - Spa-Francorchamps - Belgium
2 September - Monza - Italy
16 September - Singapore - Singapore
30 September - Sochi - Russia
7 October - Suzuka - Japan
21 October - Austin - USA
28 October - Mexico City - Mexico
11 November - Sao Paulo - Brazil
25 November - Yas Marina - Abu Dhabi

Malt_Vinegar · 15 Feb 2018 at 14:37

https://www.haasf1team.com/VF18

Haas has launched!

Looks great, Halo integration looks pretty neat, and hopefully Haas can keep moving forward with this neat looking new car

pacegod · 15 Feb 2018 at 18:00

Malt_Vinegar said:
https://www.haasf1team.com/VF18

Haas has launched!

More like, Haas posts a render of a car they are building.

Can see how much input they are getting from Ferrari.

The_Abyss · 15 Feb 2018 at 19:50

I believe that Force India will also be announcing a change of team name at their launch.

I still disagree on halo - I think it looks absolutely terrible. Put a driver in the car, with contrasting helmet and race suit, and it'll look even worse. If I was a team principal I'd launch my car without it in place and just save it for the track or the wind tunnel.

Malt_Vinegar · 15 Feb 2018 at 20:47

Yup, force India name change will be being kept quiet in order to stop cyber squatters and news breaking early after the problems last year!

I hope they do change and we need them to gain sponsors and get up the grid

Malt_Vinegar · 15 Feb 2018 at 20:49

The Williams launch without a car was a bit of an anticlimax, but it looks very narrow at the rear on the model, which makes the shark fin look long. Side pod work like last years ferrari, and clear proof that Williams have a lot of work to do before testing!

timmeh · 15 Feb 2018 at 22:34

WTF1 (on Facebook) seem to think that it's similar to the 2017 Ferrari...

Front wing: similar
Front suspension: different and different position
Sidepods: different
Engine cover: different
Rear wing: different

It's about as similar as any other car on the grid.

The_Abyss · 15 Feb 2018 at 23:48

Interesting comparison, thank you. If they've sorted the brakes then that could be quite a competitive car.

The_Abyss · 16 Feb 2018 at 08:39

So now we have a white halo to go alongside the black, and it still looks like crap. I'll stop being angry about it eventually, perhaps by 2021...

Malt_Vinegar · 16 Feb 2018 at 09:05

I really don't think it looks that bad!

I think it gives the cars a futuristic look

Glaucus · 16 Feb 2018 at 09:09

The_Abyss said:
So now we have a white halo to go alongside the black, and it still looks like crap. I'll stop being angry about it eventually, perhaps by 2021...

I'll be happy about it when they implement a fighter jet cockpit screen. If it's for safety enclose the ****** and get it done. Instead we have an ugly interpretation which still allows small objects through.
Fighter cockpit on the other hand looks cool and protects against practically everything.when the last time we actually have d a fire. The new fuel tanks are extremely good.

The McLaren concept looked amazing and looked like it should solve some of the racing issues due to aero. Very simplistic front wing and simpler aero all round.

timmeh · 16 Feb 2018 at 12:27

Is there a reason that they put the halo support in the middle and not on either side?

Having a tiny dot on my windscreen irritates the **** out of me, I can’t imagine what a pillar like that would be like!

MissChief · 16 Feb 2018 at 12:36

timmeh said:
Is there a reason that they put the halo support in the middle and not on either side?

Having a tiny dot on my windscreen irritates the **** out of me, I can’t imagine what a pillar like that would be like!

Racing drivers look to the apex of corners and then far off into the distance on straights. Having two pillars right where the apex is would not be good.

Malt_Vinegar · 16 Feb 2018 at 12:37

Its the least disruptive for cornering, and was not considered any different to the LMP1 windscreen.

It is primarily designed for wheel deflection, barrier diving protection, and impacts from above/rollover.

It is much better than a screen for the majority of problem scenarios explained above. The FIA understand they cannot stop all small objects (Massa 2009) but it significantly decreased the possibility of such an impact in tests.

andicole0 · 16 Feb 2018 at 12:49

I believe the centre support is because they already have telemetry aerials in the centre in front of the driver.
The screen was dismissed due to problems with optics IIRC.
Andi.

Malt_Vinegar · 16 Feb 2018 at 13:17

Interesting article on the FW18:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/feature/8008/the-major-step-that-has-the-best-of-mercedes-and-ferrari

SoliD · 16 Feb 2018 at 14:14

Malt_Vinegar said:
Interesting article on the FW18:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/feature/8008/the-major-step-that-has-the-best-of-mercedes-and-ferrari

What's the gist for non subscribers?

timmeh · 16 Feb 2018 at 14:16

MissChief said:
Racing drivers look to the apex of corners and then far off into the distance on straights. Having two pillars right where the apex is would not be good.

That's a good point. Thanks

EddScott · 16 Feb 2018 at 14:45

SoliD said:
What's the gist for non subscribers?

Williams, though not for the first time, will field a car that is likely to be a pretty decent effort and most likely let down by questionable driver lineup.

Least that's probably what it says.

Malt_Vinegar · 16 Feb 2018 at 14:53

Essentially, since Paddy Lowe and Dirk De Beer have joined, the car is deemed to have taken the best bits from both Ferrari and Mercedes, and changed design concept from low drag to high downforce.

I do also know the team are pulling all-nighters to make pre-season!