2021 F1 cars thread
Discussion
andburg said:
looks like a 3 year old car, all the top teams have abandoned undercut sidepods...
It possibly sort of is an older car as a base, the beards on F1technical.net forums thought the 2020 car used the 2019 tub because of Renault's cost savings at the time, most visible where the 2020 narrow nose joined the 2019 wider front tub with a bit of a hack job.I've just asked the question on the 2021 Alpine thread over there and Alpine haven't altered the tub on this car, so it is still the 2019 Renault tub.
Edited by ajprice on Tuesday 2nd March 16:08
kambites said:
I guess it shows that Renault/Alpine are thoroughly focussed on 2022. It'll be interesting to see if they can stay competitive in the midfield this year with a three year old tub.
Gotta say I doubt it. McLaren have shown a far greater evolution already, and we know that Aston will benefit from the improved Merc back end it'll inherit this season. Back when 22' new car was going to actually be the 21' new car, it made plenty sense to save money - I think they saved a little too much though, others did more for last year and Renault/alpine are now looking quite dated and have obviously slipped back down the grid.
I reckon probably 6th, maybe even 7th for them this year. Sounds shocking I know but.. imo they have that many competitors who I think it's realistic to expect have done more, or inherited more over the last couple of years than can be said of the Renault/alpine.
geeks said:
And there is the rub, looks are subjective, I think it looks like a dogs dinner, however I suspect it will go like the clappers and no one at Merc will give the slightest s
t what I think 
I agree, last year's car looked better to my eye. Also think a big part of thinking it looked so good was really down to me simply being thankful for a black F1 car - so rarely happens but they do look mean and striking.t what I think As for performance... Imagine the depression up and down the grid if Merc have somehow found a solution to the new regs that actually makes them more potent than last season?
ajprice said:
It possibly sort of is an older car as a base, the beards on F1technical.net forums thought the 2020 car used the 2019 tub because of Renault's cost savings at the time, most visible where the 2020 narrow nose joined the 2019 wider front tub with a bit of a hack job.
I've just asked the question on the 2021 Alpine thread over there and Alpine haven't altered the tub on this car, so it is still the 2019 Renault tub.
They are all using last years tub, its mandated.I've just asked the question on the 2021 Alpine thread over there and Alpine haven't altered the tub on this car, so it is still the 2019 Renault tub.
Edited by ajprice on Tuesday 2nd March 16:08
The only team allowed tub mods are McLaren because of the engine switch, but its still last years tub with some minimal changes, not a new design.
jsf said:
ajprice said:
It possibly sort of is an older car as a base, the beards on F1technical.net forums thought the 2020 car used the 2019 tub because of Renault's cost savings at the time, most visible where the 2020 narrow nose joined the 2019 wider front tub with a bit of a hack job.
I've just asked the question on the 2021 Alpine thread over there and Alpine haven't altered the tub on this car, so it is still the 2019 Renault tub.
They are all using last years tub, its mandated.I've just asked the question on the 2021 Alpine thread over there and Alpine haven't altered the tub on this car, so it is still the 2019 Renault tub.
Edited by ajprice on Tuesday 2nd March 16:08
The only team allowed tub mods are McLaren because of the engine switch, but its still last years tub with some minimal changes, not a new design.
I recall this time last season when they revealed their 20' car the general consensus was that it looked same as the 19' car other than a copy and paste Merc type nose awkwardly stapled on to the front...
TheDeuce said:
Of course - but that's got nothing to do with what was said. The question is whether or not in Renault's case the tub is actually from 2019.. a voluntary cost saving measure in preparation for the expense of the me regs in 21' (at the time).
I recall this time last season when they revealed their 20' car the general consensus was that it looked same as the 19' car other than a copy and paste Merc type nose awkwardly stapled on to the front...
The poster isn't querying if the 20 tub was a 19 or not. Just if it is the same as last year.I recall this time last season when they revealed their 20' car the general consensus was that it looked same as the 19' car other than a copy and paste Merc type nose awkwardly stapled on to the front...
It is, they all are.
jsf said:
TheDeuce said:
Of course - but that's got nothing to do with what was said. The question is whether or not in Renault's case the tub is actually from 2019.. a voluntary cost saving measure in preparation for the expense of the me regs in 21' (at the time).
I recall this time last season when they revealed their 20' car the general consensus was that it looked same as the 19' car other than a copy and paste Merc type nose awkwardly stapled on to the front...
The poster isn't querying if the 20 tub was a 19 or not. Just if it is the same as last year.I recall this time last season when they revealed their 20' car the general consensus was that it looked same as the 19' car other than a copy and paste Merc type nose awkwardly stapled on to the front...
It is, they all are.
mw88 said:
Not a bad looking machine.
Nice livery, but that airbox behind the drivers head is huge! I guess they have moved cooling from the side pods up to the airbox, like Mercedes has done for a whileEdited by Piginapoke on Tuesday 2nd March 20:51
Edited by Piginapoke on Tuesday 2nd March 20:52
jsf said:
resolve10 said:
Livery looks really smart. I like how they always manage to freshen it up a little without losing the identity of previous designs.
Anyone know what the two bulges are in the engine shroud? Looks unusual.
Changes made to the PU require it, i suspect it's to give clearance to a change in exhaust routing and turbine design.Anyone know what the two bulges are in the engine shroud? Looks unusual.
andburg said:
Think we can safely assume merc/rbr/McLaren/Aston will be ahead of the alpine.
If Ferrari have their power nut in reasonable trim the as somebody suggested the alpine could well have slipped back and could be behind haas/Alfa with Williams still nipping at their heels
That's my assumption too. Which as per my previous post, will probably put alpine 6-7th in WCC terms, depending on the extent of Ferrari's PU update.If Ferrari have their power nut in reasonable trim the as somebody suggested the alpine could well have slipped back and could be behind haas/Alfa with Williams still nipping at their heels
I think Renault/alpine pretty much set their fate in stone when they chose to stop investing in the car until the big regs change - which is fair enough.
Obviously, if come 22' and the new regs they fail then that decision to cut off investment early on will look a bit foolish! We shall see...
The headline for me is that Renault/alpine are simply out of contention for any sort of valuable place this season. Last season we expected McLaren Vs Renault. This season it's all about McLaren Vs Aston.
andburg said:
This season will be all about Ferrari, how much more competitive will they be.
Assuming Ferrari regain the power required to fight at the top end, then I agree. Also it's true that wherever Ferrari end up, they'll definitely impact other teams expectations.But beyond the drama of Ferrari, I really think that Mercedes must have this season - so the only real drama is the midfield.. for me that's the exciting chapter of 21'
andburg said:
Think we can safely assume merc/rbr/McLaren/Aston will be ahead of the alpine.
If Ferrari have their power nut in reasonable trim the as somebody suggested the alpine could well have slipped back
Agreed, although I do think they have a chance of beating McLaren, Aston Martin or Ferrari i.e. possibly 5th in the WCCIf Ferrari have their power nut in reasonable trim the as somebody suggested the alpine could well have slipped back
andburg said:
and could be behind haas/Alfa with Williams still nipping at their heels
Let’s not get carried away. I think they’ll be clear of these but will have their hands full with Alpha Tauri i.e. possibly 7th in the WCC. Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff