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

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!

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

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.

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

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!

Malt_Vinegar · 19 Feb 2018 at 09:09

RB14 is go!

Its only a ~~testing~~ "launch" livery, but I do like it!

Malt_Vinegar · 19 Feb 2018 at 12:11

I think the detail of the side-pods is hidden in the darkness, I think they might be larger/and or more L-shaped than the pictures imply.

I had a look around in GIMP and could not get any discernible detail from the given images

Malt_Vinegar · 19 Feb 2018 at 13:35

The forward winglets on the side-pods??? Just seen them in more detail in the Silverstone images.

That's bold...

Malt_Vinegar · 20 Feb 2018 at 11:56

I believe that Merc have shortened wheelbase to allow for more ballast and adding halo

Malt_Vinegar · 20 Feb 2018 at 14:04

I wish there was some more red on the front, otherwise, it looks fantastic

Malt_Vinegar · 20 Feb 2018 at 20:15

Nick1881 said:
Is it true that Sauber will be running the latest spec Ferrari engine? If so that will give them a good boost.

Yup, 2018 engines, supposedly on equal spec to factory team! The closer ties to the prancing horse, taking on Leclerc and a technological partnership "SHOULD" bring them up the grid.

Malt_Vinegar · 21 Feb 2018 at 21:06

If they don't get it together this year, I think they will walk, Honda, that is.

Malt_Vinegar · 22 Feb 2018 at 11:13

Oh yes! Lets hope they have the speed to make the Orange look good!

Malt_Vinegar · 23 Feb 2018 at 09:21

How could they make an orange livery look so... boring?

I don't know why, but it reminds me of the truly terrible "Mastercard Lola" of 1997. Lets hope it works a bit better.

Malt_Vinegar · 23 Feb 2018 at 09:41

ping8781 said:
Why wouldn't you at least launch it with the SuperHard (Orange) tyre on it. Looks very, very basic car especially around the sidepods

I think maybe that is why it reminded me of the Lola, the colour helps, but the basic look of it is worrying.

Also, look at that really high rake!

Malt_Vinegar · 23 Feb 2018 at 11:11

Spunkey said:
Any word yet on when the FI launch is, and why it's so late and secretive? Reading between the lines from a couple of reports it seems they have had a couple of technical issues with the HALO and passing the tests, and money issues too.

Lots of speculation that there is a take-over/sale possibly going off, with Mallya looking to offload it. I suspect his legal fights and the company name are really toxic with his association (rightly or wrongly) when it comes to international sponsors. So I guess they might be holding off on the rebranding till the takeover is confirmed?
Would be silly to launch a new name, sell, then have to wait a year to change it all again.

Malt_Vinegar · 23 Feb 2018 at 22:25

Autosport are saying the McLaren looks intricate and advanced aero wise. So I guess I called it wrong. Perhaps looking basic means it's working well and extra details to correct flow is not needed as much?