Racing (Car) : Formula 1 2015 Season thread

[andy_m]

Despite the fact they've agreed Caterham can? Disgusting. Presumably so they can get a slice of the prize money Bianchi won them.

[SnoopZ]

The other teams will lise £30+ million if they race is what i read

[andy_m]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/31175166

They're not giving up! I'm really rooting for them now.

[MalteseFalcon]

I cannot believe that Force India are that desperate for the £4 million that they woudl get if Manor don't race at all. I always support the underdog anyway, so Manor will be added to that list.

[andy_m]

My understanding is that Force India got to vote first. Because the vote had to be unanimous, once Force India had voted no there was no longer any point in the other teams voting, although the likelihood is that others would have voted the same way. I think it's a bit misleading to suggest Force India vetoed the plan, they were just the first to say no meaning the others didn't have to, and they were probably going to.

I've read reports this morning that Manor are going to try and put a 2015 car together in time for China.

[MalteseFalcon]

Latest news ahead of the Second series of Testing.

New drivers to make debut in Barcelona.

Jolyon Palmer will make his first appearance for Lotus during this week's pre-season test in Spain.

The reigning GP2 champion joined the team as their third driver earlier this year, with the deal including a 'significant number' of Friday practice sessions over the course of the season.

Palmer's first taste of the Mercedes-powered E23 will come this week however, with the Briton set to drive on the second day in Barcelona.

Lotus's 2015 regulars Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean will be behind the wheel on the other three days, with Maldonado on duty on the first and third days and Grosjean completing the work on Sunday, the fourth and final day.

Alongside Palmer, Susie Wolff will drive on the first day of the test for Williams as part of her expanded official test driver role.

Mercedes reserve driver to test for Force India.

Mercedes' reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein will drive for Force India on two days of the forthcoming four-day pre-season test at Barcelona.

The deal is part of an increased association between Wehrlein and Force India, with the 20-year-old also slated to drive for the team in both of this year's in-season tests.

"I am very happy that Sahara Force India has offered me the opportunity to drive their car for two days at the official test in Barcelona and that Mercedes-Benz has supported me to make this happen," Wehrlein said.

"As a young driver, any time you can spend in the car is extremely important and you can learn a lot. I know the simulator already, but I don´t have much experience on the track.

"My first goal in Spain will be to do a great job together with the team, to learn as much as possible and to give good feedback to the engineers."

Force India will be using their 2014 car at the four-day Spanish session after experiencing delays with their new machine, the VJM08. Wehrlein, who made his Formula One test debut with Mercedes at the end of 2014, will drive the VJM07 on Thursday and Saturday, while the team's regular drivers, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, will be behind the wheel on Friday and Sunday respectively.

"I have already driven the world champion Mercedes-Benz F1 W05 Hybrid," said Wehrlein, "and the comparison with Sahara Force India will be very exciting for me: the way the team works, how they improve the car and handle problems - all this will help me to gain experience and to reach the next level in my development.

"Everybody knows that lap times only play a secondary role when you're testing. But, of course, I want to be as competitive as possible. Sahara Force India delivered a very strong performance in the last season and I hope I will be able to make a small contribution to push the team forward and be ready for the opening race in Melbourne."

Vijay Mallya, Force India's team principal and managing director, commented: “I’m pleased to give Pascal a chance to work with us in Barcelona. He’s an exciting young talent who has already proved he has what it takes to be successful at the highest level in motorsport.

"As a reserve driver for Mercedes-Benz, he’s clearly destined for a career in Formula One and I’m sure the test will be a positive experience on both sides. Being able to call upon Pascal for testing duties is also a clear demonstration of our strong working relationship with our engine partner, Mercedes-Benz, and I thank them for their collaboration.”

Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, added: "This is a great opportunity for Pascal to develop his Formula One knowledge with our friends at Force India and shows the good working relationship within the Mercedes-Benz family.

"Pascal impressed us with his approach to the Abu Dhabi test last year and I am sure his feedback will be useful to Force India also. It is also a valuable opportunity for him to work with another team and gain more experience.

"This is an important year for Pascal with his primary programme in the DTM, and also these tests to build his F1 experience. We will be following his progress on both sides with great interest."

Will also be interesting to see if anyone can beat Ferrari for times or Mercedes for laps set around Barcelona.

[MalteseFalcon]

Who's driving for each team in the second test (going from Thurs to Sun L-R):

Mercedes: Hamilton, Rosberg, Hamilton, Rosberg
Red Bull: Ricciardo, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Kvyat
Williams: Wolff, Massa, Bottas, Massa or Bottas
Ferrari: Raikkonen, Raikkonen, Vettel, Vettel
McLaren: Button, Alonso, Button, Alonso
Force India: Wehrlein, Perez, Wehrlein, Hulkenberg
Toro Rosso: Verstappen, Sainz Jr., Verstappen, Sainz Jr.
Lotus: Maldonado, Palmer, Maldonado, Grosjean
Sauber: Nasr, Ericsson, Ericsson, Nasr

Manor & Caterham both not participating this test. Will post the times and laps later.

---------- Post added at 11:12 ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 ----------

Hamilton pulls out of day's testing due to illness, meaning Mercedes called up their reserve driver Wehrlein, who was driving for Force India today. He'd done 20 laps, quickest time being 1:28.329, already for Force India before Mercedes called him back. Force India now looking for someone to drive for the rest of today in their car.

Force India announce on Twitter that Perez will drive for them this afternoon.

[MalteseFalcon]

Rosberg also a doubt for testing, he has an inflamed nerve in the neck, so a doubt for taking part at all. So unless this reserve does all 4 days, Mercedes might not do all 4 days.

---------- Post added at 15:09 ---------- Previous post was at 15:09 ----------

McLaren out of Day 1 after power unit failed on Button's car.

[MalteseFalcon]

Day 1 times and laps:

1. Maldonado, Lotus. 1:25.11, 69 laps
2. Raikkonen, Ferrari. 1:25.167, 74
3. Ricciardo, Red Bull. 1:25.547, 59
4. Perez, Force India. 1:26.636, 34
5. Nasr, Sauber. 1:27.307, 79
6. Verstappen, Toro Rosso. 1:27.900, 94
7. Button, McLaren. 1:28.128, 21
8. Wehrlein, Force India. 1:28.329, 32
9. Wehrlein, Mercedes. 1:28.489, 48
10. Wolff, Williams. 1:28.906, 86
11. Hamilton, Mercedes. 1:30.429, 11

Mixed bag really. McLaren look like they were doing much better this time around before the power unit failed. Hopefully they can continue improving. And I think the reason for the other teams voting against Force India using their 2014 car is because they were actually doing quite well in testing today.

[SnoopZ]

It was Force India voting against Manor using their 2014 car in 2015, not the other teams stopping Force India wanting to use a 2014 car.

[MalteseFalcon]

Oops, so it was. Sorry, blame me being drowsy earlier after taking some codeine linctus for my cough.

[andy_m]

The Wehrlein thing was amusing, driving for Force India in the morning then getting pulled by Merc and placed in the best car on the grid, whilst Perez had to be called to the track to replace him. Just goes to show how, because of the money situation in f1, the smaller teams have to dance to the bigger teams tune, and not even the bona fide race drivers are immune.

On the subject of Manor, apparently looking increasingly likely that they'll be back at some stage http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article...50219?irpc=932

[MalteseFalcon]

YET again McLaren do the least amount of laps today. Even a car running last year's technology managed to do more.

1. Ricciardo, Red Bull. 1:24.574, 143 laps
2. Raikkonen, Ferrari. 1:24.584, 90
3. Massa, Williams. 1:24.672, 88
4. Perez, Force India. 1:24.702, 121
5. Hamilton, Mercedes. 1:24.923, 89
6. Rosberg, Mercedes. 1:25.556, 66
7. Alonso, McLaren. 1:25.961. 59
8. Palmer, Lotus. 1:26.280, 77
9. Ericsson, Sauber. 1:27.334
10. Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso. 1:28.945, 100

[MalteseFalcon]

Gets worse again for McLaren. Button came to a stop on the track, and they had to red flag the session. Now looking unlikely that McLaren will be back on track for the rest of the day. Bloody ridiculous. Cannot believe that they are former winners of the F1 title.

---------- Post added at 11:02 ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 ----------

And as I typed that, BBC Sport tells me he has done a further 3 laps in the car. So hopefully he is on the way to doing some serious testing this afternoon.

[MalteseFalcon]

And again no shock to learn that McLaren did just as bad today.

1. Maldonado, Lotus. 1:24.348, 104 laps
2. Verstappen, Toro Rosso. 1:24.739, 129
3. Hamilton, Mercedes. 1:26.076, 101
4. Ericsson, Sauber. 1:26.340, 53
5. Vettel, Ferrari. 1:26.407, 105
6. Kvyat, Red Bull. 1:26.589, 111
7. Massa, Williams. 1:26.912, 55
8. Wehrlein, Force India. 1:27.333, 81
9. Bottas, Williams. 1:27.556, 59
10. Button, McLaren. 1:29.151, 24

Total laps after 3 days:

1. Toro Rosso, 323 laps
2. Mercedes, 315
3. Red Bull, 313
4. Williams, 278
5. Ferrari, 269
6. Force India, 268
7. Lotus, 250
8. Sauber, 245
9. McLaren, 104

---------- Post added at 21:25 ---------- Previous post was at 21:16 ----------

Oh, Ericsson on Day 2 did 113 laps. Too late to go back and edit that in.