Formula 1 Pre-season Testing February 2020

[DanielSan]

Sandpit Steve said:

This one does seem to be on the severe end of things that have happened over the years though.

No way would Charlie have allowed that statement to be sent out just as everyone was packing up in Barcelona, in the vain hope the problem would just disappear.

That is true, Bernie would have made then wait until the teams had left the track completely.

[Paul_M3]

HustleRussell said:

slipstream 1985 said:

Wait are Alpha Tauri who run Honda engines still called Scuderia at the start of their name?

'Scuderia' is just Italian for 'Racing Team'. Alpha Tauri are a racing team based in Italy. It doesn't imply any association with Ferrari.

It's actually Italian for 'Stable' or 'Horse Stable'. (I didn't know this by the way, I looked it up a little while ago)

[TheDeuce]

DanielSan said:

That is true, Bernie would have made then wait until the teams had left the track completely.

He would have visited each individual team and found something they've wanted for a while to offer them in return for just letting the Ferrari thing go.

There's always something the teams want changing that could be used as a bargaining chip in a difficult sitch

[Durzel]

TheDeuce said:

Petrus1983 said:

Teams have released a statement following the ‘deal’ between the FIA and Ferrari -

“ We, the undersigned teams, were surprised and shocked by the FIA’s statement of Friday 28 February regarding the conclusion of its investigation into the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Power Unit.

An international sporting regulator has the responsibility to act with the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency.

After months of investigations that were undertaken by the FIA only following queries raised by other teams, we strongly object to the FIA reaching a confidential settlement agreement with Ferrari to conclude this matter.

Therefore, we hereby state publicly our shared commitment to pursue full and proper disclosure in this matter, to ensure that our sport treats all competitors fairly and equally. We do so on behalf of the fans, the participants and the stakeholders of Formula One.

In addition, we reserve our rights to seek legal redress, within the FIA’s due process and before the competent courts.

McLaren Racing Limited
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited
Racing Point UK Limited
Red Bull Racing Limited
Renault Sport Racing Limited
Scuderia Alpha Tauri S.p.A.
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited”

Jeez. However precious Ferrari might be to the sport I don't think they're as precious as that list of teams combined.

Ferrari are starting to feel under some fire this season no doubt, with this farce along with travel ban headaches, team members not able to get to the factory and a car they insist they're not all that happy with..

This particular problem, on at least some levels is of their own making though. Frankly it's hard to see how the FIA can defend their decision if its formally challenged without revealing the terms of the settlement and the transgressions that lead to a settlement being needed in the first place.. If litigation begins, I can't see how that can in the end be avoided.

Frankly I'd hope the FIA get real and about turn. Just make it clear what is not acceptable in terms of fuel hi-jinks, let the teams know to what level Ferrari broke the rules (even if no specifics), and then be open about the penalty applied. It's obvious surely that the other teams need to know roughly how naughty Ferrari were and subsequently how hard their wrists have been slapped... It's not too much to ask.

I would not wish for Ferrari to leave Formula 1 unless you wanted the sport to become almost totally irrelevant.

That being said, FIA should not break their own rules to accommodate them.

[TheDeuce]

Durzel said:

I would not wish for Ferrari to leave Formula 1 unless you wanted the sport to become almost totally irrelevant.

That being said, FIA should not break their own rules to accommodate them.

The problem is, all the cars are pace limited by fuel flow. It's one of the biggest parts of the challenge these days. If one team is allowed to get away with exceeding the define flow limits (however they may have done), that itself makes the sport irrelevant. It just becomes an unfair race if such a fundamental rule isn't applied evenly.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

TheDeuce said:

He would have visited each individual team and found something they've wanted for a while to offer them in return for just letting the Ferrari thing go.

There's always something the teams want changing that could be used as a bargaining chip in a difficult sitch

That's true. Never mind Mike Brewer and his delusions of competence - Bernie was the real deal Wheeler Dealer.

[Mr Dendrite]

TheDeuce said:

Their full official name is now: Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda

Why didn’t they go for Scuderia Honda Alpha Tauri

[kambites]

Durzel said:

I would not wish for Ferrari to leave Formula 1 unless you wanted the sport to become almost totally irrelevant.

I don't really see why. Maybe to those old enough to remember the fact that Ferrari have been there since F1 has existed but F1 is very much courting the social-media generation and for them, Ferrari are no more an intrinsic part of the sport than, say, Redbull.

Personally I think F1 would be better off with entirely performance-based distribution of prize money and no Ferrari than the status quo.

[TheDeuce]

Mr Dendrite said:

Why didn’t they go for Scuderia Honda Alpha Tauri

Because, when they change engine supplier next time they want the primary team name to remain.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

TheDeuce said:

Because, when they change engine supplier next time they want the primary team name to remain.

I think perhaps you need some Special High Intensity Training in the recognition of potty-based acronyms,

[Mr Dendrite]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

TheDeuce said:

Because, when they change engine supplier next time they want the primary team name to remain.

I think perhaps you need some Special High Intensity Training in the recognition of potty-based acronyms,

Would you like to order his Parrot or shall I?

[M3ax]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

I think perhaps you need some Special High Intensity Training in the recognition of potty-based acronyms,

Nice work

[TheDeuce]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

TheDeuce said:

Because, when they change engine supplier next time they want the primary team name to remain.

I think perhaps you need some Special High Intensity Training in the recognition of potty-based acronyms,

Damn it! Yea... nice work

[JonChalk]

Zandvoort looking like an excellent track;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGu--_UHY_o

Overtaking will be a bh, but the banking on many corners looks great.

[SpudLink]

That onboard video reminds me of Suzuka. The way the bends flow into each other.

[HustleRussell]

it is literally unchanged apart from the final corner

[confucuis]

JonChalk said:

Zandvoort looking like an excellent track;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGu--_UHY_o

Overtaking will be a bh, but the banking on many corners looks great.

Jesus, there doesn't seem to be any where to overtake without taking a huge gamble with time loss if you don't pull it off!

That's a Redbull track if I've ever seen one (probably why they wanted Zandvoort in the first place lol)!!

[The Moose]

JonChalk said:

Zandvoort looking like an excellent track;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGu--_UHY_o

Overtaking will be a bh, but the banking on many corners looks great.

Must have the most banking of any current circuit?

[Sandpit Steve]

SpudLink said:

That onboard video reminds me of Suzuka. The way the bends flow into each other.

A little like Suzuka, but without the overtaking opportunities. Or Monaco without the barriers. It’s a big go-kart track, the F1 cars are way too fast for it - but they’ll get 100k Max fans to turn up so that makes it okay somehow.