2021 F1 cars thread

2021 F1 cars thread

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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resolve10 said:
I've never really understood sandbagging. Put it all on the track and let the other teams stress about how they're going to catch up. There's not a lot you can fundamentally change on the car once it's at testing anyway!
Testing is used for benchmarking and proving concept, each run has a set program they are working through to stress each area. It's not about lap times, this will be even more the case this year with such limited track time.

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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McLaren looks nice, as expected much tighter packaging than last year with the new Mercedes PU, it would be good to see some more detailed photos of the technical areas of change but I’m sure they’ll be out there soon.

Here’s the official launch page https://www.mclaren.com/racing/2021/car-launch/mcl...

Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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resolve10 said:
I've never really understood sandbagging. Put it all on the track and let the other teams stress about how they're going to catch up. There's not a lot you can fundamentally change on the car once it's at testing anyway!
Better to have the other team thinking they have a great car and not give them the opportunity to rush through a series of changes before the first GP.

Anyway when a car comes out that is way ahead the other teams think they are running light or cheating generally rather than there is something wrong with their own car.

HardtopManual

2,404 posts

165 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Kraken said:
Better to have the other team thinking they have a great car and not give them the opportunity to rush through a series of changes before the first GP.
No team comes away from testing thinking, "Well, we're half a second faster than everyone else, no need to rush those upgrades. Everyone take the week off."

Testing is for proving concept, checking correlation of real world with the wind tunnel and CFD, testing reliability and learning how to set up the car.

If you're an F1 nerd, you should definitely go, particularly when there's a big regulation change.

Presuming Ed

1,387 posts

207 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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So how do we think McLaren will do this season, ahead of Aston and Red Bull?

Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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HardtopManual said:
No team comes away from testing thinking, "Well, we're half a second faster than everyone else, no need to rush those upgrades. Everyone take the week off."

Testing is for proving concept, checking correlation of real world with the wind tunnel and CFD, testing reliability and learning how to set up the car.

If you're an F1 nerd, you should definitely go, particularly when there's a big regulation change.
Yes, I'm totally aware of how testing works thank you. My reply was in the context of the post I was quoting rather than something to stand on it's own.

A team that has a planned upgrade path is not going to suddenly change that and go for a series of fast updates if they've come out of testing with no unexpected issues and on what they think is the pace.

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Presuming Ed said:
So how do we think McLaren will do this season, ahead of Aston and Red Bull?
Assuming no major PU integration issues, the expectation must be for a solid third behind MB and RB. The limits on development this season should give them a shout at challenging for second, as RB have traditionally developed their car during the season rather than over the winter.

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Sandpit Steve said:
Presuming Ed said:
So how do we think McLaren will do this season, ahead of Aston and Red Bull?
Assuming no major PU integration issues, the expectation must be for a solid third behind MB and RB. The limits on development this season should give them a shout at challenging for second, as RB have traditionally developed their car during the season rather than over the winter.
I'm not convinced.

Yes they have a better engine this year, but in theory that's all the have whereas the other teams have their two tokens to spend on changing whatever major elements they feel are most lacking. It's certainly possible that Mclaren will hang onto third, but I think it more likely that they'll be overtaken either by Aston or Renault or even both. If Ferrari get their act together with their engine they might be a threat too.

To my mind first and second are 90% set in stone; but third down to sixth could be pretty much any order.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 16th February 16:28

pits

6,423 posts

189 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Presuming Ed said:
So how do we think McLaren will do this season, ahead of Aston and Red Bull?
Depends, if the McLaren of last year was on a similar level as the RB on aero, but now with a much better engine and no issues then I think it will be neck and neck, however I think RB may beat them, I love Lando but I am not sure of the Lando/Ric team will be as strong as the Perez/Max, if Perez can be better than Albon and Gasly then you have a team which will be strong, even if Perez is rear gunner all the time he wont be halfway down the pecking order or 3 miles behind like Gasly and Albon were, that said I would still be watching Gasly in the Tauri.

Now if someone can send a can of clear lacquer to McLaren to finish the paint job off that would be cool.

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Sandpit Steve said:
Presuming Ed said:
So how do we think McLaren will do this season, ahead of Aston and Red Bull?
Assuming no major PU integration issues, the expectation must be for a solid third behind MB and RB. The limits on development this season should give them a shout at challenging for second, as RB have traditionally developed their car during the season rather than over the winter.
You should perhaps factor Ferrari in to that equation.. They may have the same car this year as last, but they will finally be able to use their new PU - which is the PU the car was designed for - not the patched up cheat free 2019 unit they ran last year.

That would mean that instead of third being the target for the likes of Mclaren/RP/Renault, that instead the target would be fourth.

Or... The Ferrari could still be a no hoper at most races.

Personally I would be surprised to see either Aston or McLaren ahead of Red Bull this season. But as for which team will be closest to Red Bull, I wouldn't like to choose between the two until at least pre-season testing is well underway. The Aston should be good... The McLaren could in fact be epically good, or it could prove that on track the switch to Merc power isn't quite as seamless as their admittedly very nicely packaged new car suggests.

Piginapoke

Original Poster:

4,736 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Good review of the new McLaren from Mark Priestley

https://youtu.be/Fwo-bRyTPZc

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Piginapoke said:
Good review of the new McLaren from Mark Priestley

https://youtu.be/Fwo-bRyTPZc
Been waiting for that! His series covering each new car last season was excellent smile

Sandpit Steve

9,885 posts

73 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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kambites said:
I'm not convinced.

Yes they have a better engine this year, but in theory that's all the have whereas the other teams have their two tokens to spend on changing whatever major elements they feel are most lacking. It's certainly possible that Mclaren will hang onto third, but I think it more likely that they'll be overtaken either by Aston or Renault or even both. If Ferrari get their act together with their engine they might be a threat too.

To my mind first and second are 90% set in stone; but third down to sixth could be pretty much any order.
Agreed, Ferrari could be anywhere from regularly winning races to miles behind. They could end up 2nd or 6th. As with last year, the midfield race could be awesome in 2021.

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Tuesday 16th February 2021
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Sandpit Steve said:
kambites said:
I'm not convinced.

Yes they have a better engine this year, but in theory that's all the have whereas the other teams have their two tokens to spend on changing whatever major elements they feel are most lacking. It's certainly possible that Mclaren will hang onto third, but I think it more likely that they'll be overtaken either by Aston or Renault or even both. If Ferrari get their act together with their engine they might be a threat too.

To my mind first and second are 90% set in stone; but third down to sixth could be pretty much any order.
Agreed, Ferrari could be anywhere from regularly winning races to miles behind. They could end up 2nd or 6th. As with last year, the midfield race could be awesome in 2021.
That's my view too. They shouldn't be discounted based on last year as their situation is changing, they have the new PU. In no way does that guarantee they'll be competitive at the sharp end on a Sunday though.

We'll know soon enough one way or the other. I can virtually guarantee however that even if their 2021 car is the finest on the grid, Ferrari will still find creative ways to throw away a championship effort wink

Piginapoke

Original Poster:

4,736 posts

184 months

Wednesday 17th February 2021
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Aston Martin has confirmed plans to unveil its new Formula 1 car on 3 March.

BrettMRC

4,037 posts

159 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Williams have given the FW43B a light airing smile

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/155094/williams-...

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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BrettMRC said:
Williams have given the FW43B a light airing smile

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/155094/williams-...
Odd choice to blur it so heavily! Will hopefully be some clearer images released/acquired by the end of today. I'm expecting it to be a very mild refresh of last years car other than the mandated changes. They'd be bonkers to put too much in to this years challenger at the expense of their 2022 'fresh start' car.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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TheDeuce said:
BrettMRC said:
Williams have given the FW43B a light airing smile

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/155094/williams-...
Odd choice to blur it so heavily! Will hopefully be some clearer images released/acquired by the end of today. I'm expecting it to be a very mild refresh of last years car other than the mandated changes. They'd be bonkers to put too much in to this years challenger at the expense of their 2022 'fresh start' car.
It would be an odd choice to "reveal" the car on the 5th of March if they were going to show pictures of it in mid February.

TheDeuce

21,275 posts

65 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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LaurasOtherHalf said:
TheDeuce said:
BrettMRC said:
Williams have given the FW43B a light airing smile

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/155094/williams-...
Odd choice to blur it so heavily! Will hopefully be some clearer images released/acquired by the end of today. I'm expecting it to be a very mild refresh of last years car other than the mandated changes. They'd be bonkers to put too much in to this years challenger at the expense of their 2022 'fresh start' car.
It would be an odd choice to "reveal" the car on the 5th of March if they were going to show pictures of it in mid February.
Agreed, but that just means the timing feels a bit back to front.

Normally it's reveal first then shakedown. Or at least video/pics of shakedown not revealed at all unto post reveal.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Maybe the pink paint isn't dry yet wink