Formula 1 - 2011

Well it is 42 days till the first GP of 2011 in Bahrain. Teams seem to be slowly finishing building of the 2011 cars and we should start to see the new machines soon.

Just read a article that Helmut Marko recons it was only reliability that let Webber get near Vettel in 2010. He says that "without 66 points he lost due to technical defects, the stand-off with Mark Webber would never have occurred". Me thinks he is trying to cause trouble already for 2011

Also now that team orders have been legalised by the FIA wonder if Red Bull will change any rumblings in that area??

This year will definitely be interesting.

If Webber doesn't get the same support (which he won't) he could always make it very difficult for Seb during races.

I also was reading that Hamilton is trying to loose more weight to help with KERS.
The bloke is nothing now, what's he going to be like if he loses any ore weight.

Haven't been keeping up to date with what is going on. Too much else to occupy my mind at present

Well the first official 3 day test has occurred at Valencia. While some teams bought their new cars along other ran last years car (I guess for tiers and driver training etc). Combined times over the 3 days had the following top 10

1. Kubica - Lotus Renault
2. Sutil - Force India (old car)
3. Alonso
4. Button (old car)
5. Vettel
6. di Resta - Force India (old car)
7. Webber
8. Hulkenberg - Force India (old car)
9. Massa
10. Glock - Virgin (old car)

Today in Berlin McLaren are launching their new car. Force India launch their 2011 car early next week as well.

I think that next week is more offical testing in Jerez.

i must say i am really looking forward to the new season. I like some of the new car livery's, nice change (more colour)

not sure if you guys have seen this but robert kubrica has been in a rallying accident

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/2/11714.html

I had not seen this yet, and have just been reading serveral stories about it, not sure how long before he will be back if at all. He had such a great season last season it would be very disappointing for him to bow out of F1 this way, by the sounds of it very lucky man.

I hope he gets back soon, he is one of the best F1 drivers out there. what he managed to do with that car last year was awesome and if this years car is better he could have really fought for lots of points.

It seems that Kubica is on the mend but will be unlikely to race at all this year. Nick Heidfeld is his most likely replacement at this stage.

They are on the 2nd lot of practice at Jerez and at the end of day 1 Massa was the quickest, seems like most teams are now running their 2011 spec cars. Webber was 3rd fastest doing almost 100 laps.

yeah i reckon heidfeld will be the replacement for robert, i dont see bruno or luizzi getting it.

You where right Ulti, Heidfeld has now signed till Kubica is back. There where rumors floating around the paddock that Kubica wanted Luizzi instead .

Combined results from the 4 day 2nd official practice session that finished Sunday (F for Friday and S for Saturday, nothing is Sunday):
1. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m 19.832s
2. Michael Schumacher Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 20.352s F
3. Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault GP-Renault 1m 20.361s S
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 20.413s F
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 20.493s S
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m 20.601s
7. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m 21.009s F
8. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m 21.099s S
9. Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 21.213s
10. Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 21.214s F

It appears that most teams where running lots of tyre testing and setup checks. There are 2 more official testing sessions to go and they say the last one will show better how performance of cars is going.

Bahrain race is under a bit of a cloud because of political protests in the country, may not be a great start to F1 season. Only 22 days till first practice.

hehe i was right for once, woot

Had to happen sooner or later Ulti

We are now testing in Catalunya, Barcelona.

Should know in the next couple of days about whether they will race in Bahrain.

would you guys like to do a f1 tipping or fantasy league comp? if so ill set one up.

Thanks for the offer ulti but for me I would say no, every time I start tipping comps I find my enjoyment of the sport is lost, not to mention that I seem to always forget to do tips.

Well at this stage the season is now 1 race shorter with Bahrain now being canceled because of the political unrest. They are trying to see if they can slot it back in sometime later in the year (provided the situation has improved) but not sure how that would go. This also means that the last official test is going to be moved from Bahrain back to Catalunya.

The combined results from the 3rd official test in Catalunya are
1. Felipe Massa Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 22.625s Mon
2. Nico Rosberg Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 23.168s Sun
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m 23.315s Sat
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m 23.442s Mon
5. Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP-Renault 1m 23.463s Sun
6. Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 23.519s Sat
7. Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 23.550s Mon
8. Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault GP-Renault 1m 23.657s Mon
9. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m 23.858s Sun
10. Fernando Alonso Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 23.978s Sat

Lots of testing with aero, tyres and KERS plus teams seemed to be trying a number of race and qualifying simulations.

while im glad that Aus will be the first race of the season, im disappointed that i now will have to wait longer for the first race hehe

I know what you mean Ulti.

The last official testing session is now 9/3 to 12/3 at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. Not sure how all this works given that they will then still need to ship heaps of gear to get to Melbourne for the end of March. The last test was supposed to be in Bahrain.

The final testing has started in Barcelona (at the Circuit de Catalunya) before the F1 circus packs up and heads down under (16 days to Practice 1).

On the end of the first day Webber topped the time sheets with Button second. There was only 8 teams who ran, so not a huge indication of performance but I guess that will come as this test continues.

Day 2 and Vettel tops the time sheets from Buemi and Petrov. They are all still being cagey about where they think they are etc etc. Vettel recons it could be round 3 before we see the proper order becomes established.

yeah and i see liuzzi is HRT other driver

So the final driver in the grid is locked in.

Day 3 of testing and Webber was 3rd fastest (behind Sergio Perez in the Sauber and Massa). That was Webber's last official practice before Melbourne.

Webber is going to drive his RB6 along the Bolte Bridge and down to docklands, he has been warned not to break 100km/h or do burn outs.

Testing is now finished and we are just 12 days away from the first practice session at the Melb gp.

The last day of testing was washed out with torrential rain so not many laps at all.

It seems that Red Bull and Ferrari are really quick but some other interesting teams will be how Mercedes go and if McLaren can get the reliability into the car. It is a long season and if it is a variable as we are hearing (mainly due to tyre degradation and not the moveable rear wing or the KERS) it should be a very interesting season.

Oh yes and Vettel is on the verge of signing with Red Bull until 2014

not sure if you guys have seen this but there are apps for phones

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/3/11809.html
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/3/11804.html

Thanks Ulti, I downloaded the 2010 free version of the Formula1.com app for the iPhone last year and it is great.

I watch the race and have the app running. Turn to portrait mode and you get the sector times and can see where everyone is while the TV focuses on what it wants to.