mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 Australian Grand Prix @ Albert Park - Melbourne, Australia Sun, Mar 26 @ 1:00a ET Chinese Grand Prix @ Shanghai International Circuit - Shanghai, China Sun, Apr 9 @ 2:00a ET Bahrain Grand Prix @ Bahrain International Circuit - Sakhir, Bahrain Sun, Apr 16 @ 11:00a ET Russian Grand Prix @ Sochi Autodrom - Sochi, Russia Sun, Apr 30 @ 8:00a ET Spanish Grand Prix @ Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - Barcelona, Spain Sun, May 14 @ 8:00a ET Monaco Grand Prix @ Circuit de Monaco - Monte Carlo, Monaco Sun, May 28 @ 8:00a ET Canadian Grand Prix @ Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - Montreal, PQ Sun, Jun 11 @ 2:00p ET Azerbaijan Grand Prix @ Baku City Circuit - Baku, Azerbaijan Sun, Jun 25 9:00a ET Austrian Grand Prix @ Red Bull Ring - Spielberg, Austria Sun, Jul 9 @ 8:00a ET British Grand Prix @ Silverstone Circuit - Silverstone, England Sun, Jul 16 @ 8:00a ET Hungarian Grand Prix @ Hungaroring - Budapest, Hungary Sun, Jul 30 @ 8:00a ET Belgian Grand Prix @ Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium Sun, Aug 27 @ 8:00a ET Italian Grand Prix @ Autodromo di Monza - Monza, Italy Sun, Sep 3 @ 8:00a ET Singapore Grand Prix @ Marina Bay Street Circuit - Singapore, Singapore Sun, Sep 17 @ 8:00a ET Malaysia Grand Prix @ Sepang International Circuit - Sepang, Malaysia Sun, Oct 1 @ 3:00a ET Japanese Grand Prix @ Suzuka International Racing Course - Suzuka, Japan Sun, Oct 8 @ 1:00a ET United States Grand Prix @ Circuit of the Americas - Austin, TX Sun, Oct 22 @ 3:00p ET Mexican Grand Prix @ Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez - Mexico City, Mexico Sun, Oct 29 @ 3:00p ET Brazilian Grand Prix @ Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) - Sao Paulo, Brazil Sun, Nov 12 @ 11:00a ET Abu Dhabi Grand Prix @ Yas Marina Circuit - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sun, Nov 26 @ 8:00a ET Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 MERCEDES Full Team Name: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 TeamCountry: GermanyBase: Brackley, United KingdomTeam Chief: Toto WolffTechnical Chief: James AllisonChassis: F1 W08 EQ Power+Power Unit: MercedesFirst Team Entry: 1970World Championships: 3 (2014, 2015, 2016)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x55)Pole Positions: 65Fastest Laps: 38 Still favourites and the team that must be beaten; bringing their dominant engine to the new formula puts them on the front foot from the off but they have not yet had to deal with a challenge at the front; real competition and pressure will pose a new test. Mercedes have produced another very neat car, the W08 EQ Power+, which impressed observers at its launch with the outstanding neatness of its packaging. And until the Toro Rosso STR12 was revealed, the Silver Arrow appeared to have a unique shape. It retains its distinct and elegant nose, and has extraordinarily well packaged sidepods which maximise the all-important cola-bottle shaping towards the rear of the car which so influences aerodynamic performance. To the consternation of rivals, Andy Cowell, who has responsibility for the MO8 engine, says that they have made a significant breakthrough in power, too. It’s suggested that Mercedes have found as much as another 70 bhp to go with the reported 1000 they had in 2016… Incoming Valtteri Bottas replaces the retired 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg. He was fast from the start in testing, but admits that it has been a more complex task settling into his new environment than he had envisaged. Lewis Hamilton(GB, aged 32) No44; Debut Australia, 2007; Wins 53; Poles 61; Titles 3 (2008, 2014, 2015); Last season 2nd Reinvigorated after missing out on the title last season and happier with the team as the de facto No1 driver, he finished 2016 driving as well as he ever has; hard to beat and hungry again. Valtteri Bottas (Fin, 27) No77; Debut Australia, 2013; Wins 0; Best finish 2nd; Poles 0; Best qualifying 2nd; Titles 0; Highest championship finish 4th; Last season 8th Chance of a lifetime for the Finn who can no longer hide in midfield anonymity; cool, calm and unruffled, he is quick too but must earn a full-time place by scoring well and even taking the fight to his team-mate. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 RED BULL Full Team Name: Red Bull RacingCountry: AustriaBase: Milton Keynes, United KingdomTeam Chief: Christian HornerTechnical Chief: Adrian NeweyChassis: RB13Power Unit: TAG HeuerFirst Team Entry: 1997World Championships: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x52)Pole Positions: 58Fastest Laps: 52 Need to make a step forward from testing but Adrian Newey is likely to have more for the car in Melbourne; if they do so and a development fight ensues, have every chance to challenge for the title and the right drivers for the fight. It’s not only Mercedes who have made progress with their engine over the winter. Renault’s new RE17 power unit is “95% different” according engine chief Remi Taffin. That’s great news for Red Bull and Toro Rosso as well as Renault themselves, but the new power unit’s ERS system has been a little unreliable which as caused some consternation. Paddock estimates suggested Mercedes had 1000 bhp for qualifying in 2016, Ferrari 960, Renault 920 and Honda 880. Now Renault believe their first iteration of the new power unit will yield 0.3s a lap improvement, with the same amount to come from the second. Which means they should eventually have around 980 bhp. "As a team we've never, ever won the ‘winter world championship’," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said after a relatively low-key first test in which Adrian Newey’s new RB13 did not appear to be running with all of its latest aero kit. “We're going about our own programme, we're learning, the car is behaving as expected, and gives us a good development path. The drivers seem happy and content with it, so it's positive." Daniel Ricciardo(Aus, 27) No3; Debut Great Britain, 2011; Wins 4; Poles 1; Titles 0; Highest championship finish 3rd; Last season 3rd His team-mate took the headlines but the 2016 driver of the year coaxed more from the car than might have been expected. Quick, aggressive and formidable at overtaking, he would relish a fight for the title. Max Verstappen(Neth, 19) No33; Debut Australia, 2015; Wins 1; Poles 0; Best qualifying 2nd; Titles 0; Best championship finish 5th; Last season 5th A remarkable talent with breathtaking audacity but has shown poor judgment with his racecraft. Supremely confident of his own ability, a championship battle would not perturb him, but staying out of trouble would be a prerequisite for making it feasible. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 FERRARI Full Team Name: Scuderia FerrariCountry: ItalyBase: Maranello, ItalyTeam Chief: Maurizio ArrivabeneTechnical Chief: Mattia BinottoChassis: SF70HPower Unit: FerrariFirst Team Entry: 1950World Championships: 16 (1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x225)Pole Positions: 201Fastest Laps: 236 Superb grip, a strong engine and the quickest times – Ferrari had it all in testing; if it translates to race pace they will be contenders. But the team must step up strategically with coherent, clear leadership and organisation to take the fight to the others. Hamilton has already gone on record saying that Ferrari are the current favourite, as the most noticeable apparent improvement came from their new SF70H with its unique and elegant sidepods. Both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were fast straight away and remained so. Vettel disagreed with Hamilton’s view and said there was still plenty of work to be done, but many suspected, especially on the seventh day of testing, that Ferrari were sandbagging and could have gone faster. Outwardly their new car is not dissimilar to others, with its thumb print nose, wider front wing, lower rear wing and shark fin, but the Scuderia have been very adventurous with the design of the sidepods and the work seems to have paid off. The result is a car that looks to have plenty of the aerodynamic grip that its three predecessors lacked in comparison with Mercedes and Red Bull. Vettel referred to the new rules as an “aspirin” when he gave his first opinions about the machine with which he seeks a fifth world title. "From a driver's point of view it's better everywhere,” he said. "Braking is better, cornering is better, you've got more grip. Then in low-speed corners when arguably the downforce effect is less big, you have more grip from the tyres. "It works pretty much like an aspirin, it fixes pretty much everything.” Team mate Raikkonen was a little more circumspect. "We are pretty optimistic every year, but then how it turns out at the end of the year is hard to say. I think we learned our lessons from the past years. The team has done a good job over the winter, and if it's good enough we will see during the year.” That’s the thing with testing. You only know your own fuel loads and engine settings. Qualifying and racing tells the truth. Sebastian Vettel(Ger, 29) No5; Debut USA, 2007; Wins 42; Poles 46; Titles 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013); Last season 4th Anger and frustration behind the wheel affected his performance last season, but if the car has the pace it showed in testing, he is still capable of matching it; would be far more focussed if given a genuine chance of being competitive. Kimi Raikkonen(Fin, 37) No7; Debut Australia, 2001; Wins 20; Poles 16; Titles 1 (2007); Last season 6th Surprisingly strong in the second half of 2016 and still a masterful driver who knows how to win, Kimi has nothing to prove and is driving for pleasure; so while his motivation may be questioned his talent will out, especially in a decent ride. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 FERRARI Full Team Name: Scuderia FerrariCountry: ItalyBase: Maranello, ItalyTeam Chief: Maurizio ArrivabeneTechnical Chief: Mattia BinottoChassis: SF70HPower Unit: FerrariFirst Team Entry: 1950World Championships: 16 (1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x225)Pole Positions: 201Fastest Laps: 236 Superb grip, a strong engine and the quickest times – Ferrari had it all in testing; if it translates to race pace they will be contenders. But the team must step up strategically with coherent, clear leadership and organisation to take the fight to the others. Hamilton has already gone on record saying that Ferrari are the current favourite, as the most noticeable apparent improvement came from their new SF70H with its unique and elegant sidepods. Both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were fast straight away and remained so. Vettel disagreed with Hamilton’s view and said there was still plenty of work to be done, but many suspected, especially on the seventh day of testing, that Ferrari were sandbagging and could have gone faster. Outwardly their new car is not dissimilar to others, with its thumb print nose, wider front wing, lower rear wing and shark fin, but the Scuderia have been very adventurous with the design of the sidepods and the work seems to have paid off. The result is a car that looks to have plenty of the aerodynamic grip that its three predecessors lacked in comparison with Mercedes and Red Bull. Vettel referred to the new rules as an “aspirin” when he gave his first opinions about the machine with which he seeks a fifth world title. "From a driver's point of view it's better everywhere,” he said. "Braking is better, cornering is better, you've got more grip. Then in low-speed corners when arguably the downforce effect is less big, you have more grip from the tyres. "It works pretty much like an aspirin, it fixes pretty much everything.” Team mate Raikkonen was a little more circumspect. "We are pretty optimistic every year, but then how it turns out at the end of the year is hard to say. I think we learned our lessons from the past years. The team has done a good job over the winter, and if it's good enough we will see during the year.” That’s the thing with testing. You only know your own fuel loads and engine settings. Qualifying and racing tells the truth. Sebastian Vettel(Ger, 29) No5; Debut USA, 2007; Wins 42; Poles 46; Titles 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013); Last season 4th Anger and frustration behind the wheel affected his performance last season, but if the car has the pace it showed in testing, he is still capable of matching it; would be far more focussed if given a genuine chance of being competitive. Kimi Raikkonen(Fin, 37) No7; Debut Australia, 2001; Wins 20; Poles 16; Titles 1 (2007); Last season 6th Surprisingly strong in the second half of 2016 and still a masterful driver who knows how to win, Kimi has nothing to prove and is driving for pleasure; so while his motivation may be questioned his talent will out, especially in a decent ride. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 FORCE INDIA Full Team Name: Sahara Force India F1 TeamCountry: INDIABase: Silverstone, United KingdomTeam Chief: Vijay MallyaTechnical Chief: Andrew GreenChassis: VJM10Power Unit: MercedesFirst Team Entry: 1991World Championships: 0 (best finish 4th)Highest Race Finish: 2 (x1)Pole Positions: 1Fastest Laps: 4 Punched way above their weight with fourth last season and there is no reason why they cannot do so again. Car was solid in testing, has Merc power and they have a strong driver lineup but will need consistency to triumph in what will be a very tight midfield. For several seasons now Force India have been punching well above their weight, and finishing fourth in 2016 has inspired Vijay Mallya’s team to even greater effort. The Indian stated the aim for 2017 is to challenge for a top-three position. That will be a huge challenge, given Ferrari’s dramatically improved form and what Sergio Perez described as “weaknesses” in the new VJM10, but the arrival of Esteban Ocon at least promises that the team will have a strong driver line-up as they sort things out. Sergio Perez(Mex, 27) No11; Debut Australia, 2011; Wins 0; Best finish 2nd; Poles 0; Best qualifying 4th; Titles 0; Best championship finish 7th; Last season 7th Has moved on hugely from a difficult season with McLaren in his third season; now a strong points-scorer and able to make the most of any advantages that fall his way, he is quick and reliable, Force India’s sharpest weapon in the fight for fourth. Esteban Ocon (Fr, 20) No31; Debut Belgium, 2016; Wins 0; Best finish 12th; Poles 0; Best qualifying 17th; Titles 0; Best championship finish 23rd; Last season 23rd Moved on from the now defunct Manor, the Mercedes junior driver is without doubt a talent; now must prove it in a car that can show what he can do and in proper competition rather than at the back; signs are he is more than capable of doing so. Quote
BostonBullodu Posted March 24, 2017 Report Posted March 24, 2017 2 minutes ago, mtkr said: baa Vettel or Hamilton this time on whom your bet Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 WILLIAMS Full Team Name: Williams Martini RacingCountry: United KingdomBase: Grove, United KingdomTeam Chief: Frank WilliamsTechnical Chief: Paddy LoweChassis: FW40Power Unit: MercedesFirst Team Entry: 1978World Championships: 9 (1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x114)Pole Positions: 128Fastest Laps: 133 Strong in testing, fourth is a realistic target for the team; have recruited strongly and Paddy Lowe’s return will be a huge boost but with a lineup featuring drivers at either end of the career spectrum they must be bolder and sharper strategically to make it work. 2017 is a very important year for Williams, who jumped from the 2016 FW38 type number to FW40 so they can celebrate their 40th season in their current guise. Bottas’s unexpected switch to Mercedes obliged the team to bring Felipe Massa back out of his zero-race ‘retirement’ after Abu Dhabi so that they can retain some crucial continuity as rookie European F3 champion Lance Stroll joins him. The really big news here is the arrival of former McLaren and Mercedes engineer Paddy Lowe, who is that rare thing, a man capable of lifting a team on to a championship trajectory. It will be fascinating to see what effect his appointment has as the season progresses, and it is worth pointing out that Massa was very quick when Williams were pushing in the second test. Felipe Massa(Br, 35) No19; Debut Australia, 2002; Wins 11; Poles 16; Titles 0; Best championship finish 2nd; Last season 11th Brought back from retirement after Bottas left for Mercedes but is not an ideal replacement. His latter years have been decent but not outstanding and he no longer has the raw pace of the Finn. Williams will need an almighty effort from the old boy. Lance Stroll (Can, 18) No18; Debut N/A; Wins N/A; Poles N/A; Titles 0 (2016 Euro F3 Champion); Last season N/A The 18-year-old Canadian rookie has been bankrolled into F1 by his father and attracted all the wrong attention with offs in testing; but winning in F3 is no cakewalk. Consistency and points will be the target, that and keeping it out of the wall. Williams need their teenager to step up. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 MCLAREN Full Team Name: McLaren Honda Formula 1 TeamCountry: United KingdomBase: Woking, United KingdomTeam Chief: Eric BoullierTechnical Chief: Tim GossChassis: MCL32Power Unit: HondaFirst Team Entry: 1966World Championships: 8 (1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x182)Pole Positions: 155Fastest Laps: 154 Launch-day optimism turned to ashen faces in Barcelona after disastrous testing. The Honda power unit was unreliable and not providing the expected output and, when it was working, the car did not look quick. Need to make remarkable recovery just to match last season. Testing was little short of a disaster for the heavily rebranded McLaren team. The alliance with Honda goes into its third season, but Honda’s new engine proved unreliable and underpowered in Barcelona, to the increasing chagrin of Fernando Alonso. Progress is essential, and there wasn’t much sign of that. Their big asset besides the ever-hungry Alonso is highly-rated rookie Stoffel Vandoorne, who replaces Jenson Button, but both of them will need an engine capable of pushing the newly orange-liveried MCL32 into a position at least to challenge for podiums. That looks a very distant dream right now. Fernando Alonso(Sp, 35) No14; Debut Australia, 2001; Wins 32; Poles 22; Titles 2 (2005, 2006); Last season 10th Still one of the best drivers on the grid, Alonso stuck with McLaren over two frustrating seasons on the promise of a better 2016; but that elusive third title looks further away than ever and he may well chose not to put up with it again – expect fireworks. Stoffel Vandoorne(Bel, 24) No2; Debut Bahrain, 2016; Wins 0; Best finish 10th; Poles 0; Best qualifying 17; Titles 0; Best championship finish 20th; Last season 20th To all intents and purposes a rookie, bar one start for McLaren in Bahrain; he is talented and must show it by getting his head down and making the most of difficult circumstances while right in the spotlight; a real test of character in his debut season. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 TORO ROSSO Full Team Name: Scuderia Toro RossoCountry: ItalyBase: Faenza, ItalyTeam Chief: Franz TostTechnical Chief: James KeyChassis: STR12Power Unit: RenaultFirst Team Entry: 1985World Championships: 0 (Best finish 6th)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x1)Pole Positions: 1Fastest Laps: 1 Switching to Renault after using a year-old Ferrari engine is step forward and the car looks good on aero, making mid-table realistic; driver line-up will reinforce that, and the challenge to do better will depend on ability to develop strongly plus consistency. Toro Rosso have a beautiful car in the STR13, with a stunning new metallic blue, silver and red livery that has drawn universal praise. With Renault power replacing their old-spec Ferrari units and a very neat machine created by James Key, chargers Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat will be in the midfield mix despite teething problems in testing. "They've definitely turned a huge corner," Key says of Renault. "Our impressions are positive. Exactly where it stands in the order is impossible to say at this stage, but there's definitely a marked improvement from what we saw in the past. It’s real, and from a performance point of view we're happy with what we're seeing so far." Daniil Kvyat(Rus, 22) No26; Debut Australia, 2014; Wins 0; Best finish 2nd; Poles 0; Best qualifying 4th; Titles 0; Best championship finish 7th; Last season 14th Came back well after his sudden demotion from Red Bull last season, which proved his character. Is now an experienced driver so needs to be strong from the off to prove he still deserves a place in F1. Carlos Sainz Jr (Sp, 22) No55; Debut Australia, 2015; Wins 0; Best finish 6th; Poles 0; Best qualifying 5th; Titles 0; Best championship finish 12th; Last season 12th Precocious talent often overlooked in the shade of Verstappen but the 22-year-old has excellent qualifying and race pace and closed last season strongly, even with the out of date engine; could seriously out-race his team-mate and further his case for a better drive. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 HAAS Full Team Name: Haas F1 TeamCountry: United StatesBase: Kannapolis, United StatesTeam Chief: Guenther SteinerTechnical Chief: Rob TaylorChassis: VF-17Power Unit: FerrariFirst Team Entry: 2016World Championships: 0 (Best finish 8th)Highest Race Finish: 5 (x1)Pole Positions: N/AFastest Laps: N/A Solid debut season must be matched by this US squad and technical partnership with Ferrari suggests they can deliver. Car was good in testing and they have a reliable, strong engine; can challenge in midfield battle now they have experience under their belts. Haas has continuity in the form of Romain Grosjean, as Magnussen moves over from Renault to complete their driver line-up. Traditionally the sophomore year is more difficult for a new team, but Haas began design work on their new VF-17 very early last year, and the well-funded American looked promising at times in testing. Romain Grosjean(Swi, 30) No8; Debut Europe, Valencia, 2009; Wins 0; Best finish 2nd; Poles 0; Best qualifying 2nd; Titles 0; Best championship finish 7th; Last season 13th More mature driver now, Grosjean has kept the turn of pace that originally got him noticed and he can turn a half chance into a strong race; but struggles when the car is not behaving as he would like. A stable platform and team will let him shine. Kevin Magnussen(Den, 24) No20; Debut Australia, 2014; Wins 0; Best finish 2nd; Poles 0; Best qualifying 4th; Titles 0; Best championship finish 11th; Last season 16th Badly needs to work well on and off the track with his third successive team. Questions being asked after McLaren and Renault dispensed with young Dane’s services; he is quick but putting in some no-nonsense performances in the points is vital. Quote
mtkr Posted March 24, 2017 Author Report Posted March 24, 2017 RENAULT Full Team Name: Renault Sport Formula One TeamCountry: FranceBase: Enstone, United KingdomTeam Chief: Cyril AbiteboulTechnical Chief: Bob BellChassis: R.S.17Power Unit: RenaultFirst Team Entry: 1986World Championships: 2 (2005, 2006)Highest Race Finish: 1 (x20)Pole Positions: 20Fastest Laps: 13 Team’s first year back with their own car as a manufacturer expected to be a stepping stone and it looks able to secure midfield territory. Better resourced and financed now, they can expect to develop strongly and will improve further as Renault tune their power unit. Testing showed that with the R.S.17 Renault have a much better car, which is critical to their progress in their second season since they returned as a manufacturer. Nico Hulkenberg replaces Kevin Magnussen as Jolyon Palmer’s team mate, and it’s fair to say both are under-rated. They need a good car that will enable them to demonstrate their true potential. Both are capable of getting the job done in the right circumstances. It remains to be seen, however, what effect the loss of the respected Frederic Vasseur has on the management side. Nico Hulkenberg(Ger, 29) No27; Debut Bahrain, 2010; Wins 0; Best finish 4th; Poles 1; Titles 0; Best championship finish 9th; Last season 9th Le Mans 24 Hours winner has yet to stand on the podium in F1, which is a disservice to his talent, but will need to get lucky to do so. Must show he is still hungry and make the best of a manufacturer aiming for the title in future. Jolyon Palmer(GB, 26) No30, Debut Australia, 2016; Wins 0; Best finish 10th; Poles 0; Best qualifying 13th; Titles 0; Best championship finish 18th; Last season 18th Had to dig deep after a tough opening to his debut season but did so and finished stronger than his former team-mate Magnussen. Has the ability to build on that and putting Hülkenberg under pressure would be good result. Quote
.thumb.jpg.ce42bb16ec102475a78c2087ce269c7d.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.