F1 2023 thread

dulpit

Bottas has a special helmet for testing incorporating his mullet and tache... Underrated sense of humour from him...

https://twitter.com/katyfairman/status/1628426718666010625?t=FKf1lNjK_aN0W8NlDIu7rQ&s=19

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275647#Comment_120275647

I read/heard something yesterday saying that only a few constructors have actually released their new upgraded car, most have just released their livery.

On an unrelated note, Ted Kravitz reckons that RB are 'nigh on unbeatable" for the season ahead. Never thought I'd hear him go against the British contingent but there you go. I'd have to agree with him too, I've no idea what sort of improvements are possible for Ferrari and Mercedes, but I can't imagine them being able to close the gap from last season in just one off-season.

Frank Bullitt

I am super interested in seeing what the RB is actually like. Ted Kravitz seems to think it will be the car to beat from what he has heard.

Frank Bullitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6d84AUPtyM&ab_channel=SkySportsF1

Decent review (of sorts) on the new cars.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275962#Comment_120275962

Looks pretty cool that actually. You reminded me of something I saw on /r/formuladank the other day, no idea wtf is up with the cat but made me laugh.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276134#Comment_120276134

I'd be happy if Ted was right but not holding my breath. That Ferrari was plenty quick last year, especially in qualifying, if they have sorted their engine issues for race conditions then it might be nip and tuck between them. Would laugh if Merc went backwards and one of the midfield teams replaces them as best of the rest.

Hoping Piastri exceeds expectations too.

Hijpo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276134#Comment_120276134

Getting in with a narrative before the season starts i suspect. When merc are winning races or are extremely close it will be the driver that is doing all the work in a car that should be no where near the front.

Jordan 199

Pre-season testing begins today. Woohoo!

Frank Bullitt

This is what RB have been hiding, pretty extreme undercut that runs the length of the sidepods. Interesting floor details as well.

dulpit

It was touched on a few weeks ago when the main guys left WTF1, it looks like their new venture (mattP1tommy) is killing WTF1. Their view counts on videos appears to be consistently higher and the current active viewers on their live streams on twitch is around 250 on WTF1 and over 3000 for Matt & Tommy.

Whatever happened to their relationship, looks like WTF1 are screwed..

Andrew76

I know it means not a lot but nice pace from the Red Bull so far. 😎🤞

Cool_CM

Ferrari just announced that Rueda has been "moved to a factory role".

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277959#Comment_120277959

I-a never-a hearda that-a persona before-a.

Hijpo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277815#Comment_120277815

Are those aero rakes near the rear wheel or are they part of the package

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278028#Comment_120278028

Yeah sensors I reckon as they're not on the car now.

AMKC

A Williams in 3rd 😯🙂

You just know that Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and maybe even Albine have got more to give if that's the case unless Williams have made huge progress in which case that really would make this a great season as no one team would be the slowest at every track.

This is it

They're running on the softest tyres too, with everyone else on the C3

quokula

It's the very first morning of testing, absolutely none of the times mean anything. Verstappen was fastest, but was still 2.5 seconds slower than his own qualifying lap around the same track last year.

Frank Bullitt

Alonso has gone second, I know it is testing but that was some lap.

Frank Bullitt

Apparently as well, Lance Stroll has broken both his wrists from that accident.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120279251#Comment_120279251

In fairness, that's not far off. Usually on the first day of testing they could be anywhere from 4-10 seconds off their actual pace. They must have had to cut the foreplay with the reduced testing days.

Andrew76

Ignoring the times, reliability seemed to be pretty good today? I don't think there were many red flags, one for Drugovich in the morning for sure. Max was the only driver doing morning and afternoon, he has the morning again tomorrow and then Perez get's the remaining 3 sessions.

McLaren had brake issues again in the afternoon, same as last year I believe.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:32.837 (157 laps)

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.029, (60 laps)

Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.416 (72 laps)

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.430 (64 laps)

Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.625 (40 laps)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.671 (83 laps)

Alex Albon (Williams) +0.834 (74 laps)

Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) +0.886 (67 laps)

George Russell (Mercedes) +1.337 (69 laps)

Logan Sargeant (Williams) +1.487 (75 laps)

Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +1.587, (51 laps)

Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) +1.721, (71 laps)

Nyck de Vries (Williams) +1.722, (85 laps)

Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin) +1.727, (40 laps)

Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) +1.834, (46 laps)

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1.985, (60 laps)

Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +2.034, (53 laps)

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +2.051, (52 laps)

Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +2.250, (57 laps)

El_Duderino 09

All drivers covered by 2.25 seconds is unheard of on the first day of testing.

TCP/IP

That new Redbull looks an absolute beast and certainly the one to beat along with great reliability.

Mclaren going nowhere with their current management structure. I see them as the next Williams.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280427#Comment_120280427

You think so? That might be a bit harsh. People underestimated Zak Brown from the Drive to Survive series and he was called a spoofer in this thread. I think he's done pretty well.

There are rumours (only rumours so far) about mclaren exploring Red Bull Powertrain for 2026. That will be worth keeping an eye on.

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277959#Comment_120277959

About bloody time.

PsychoPete

The Ferrari looks fantastic on track but it will probably be another year of disappointment as a ferrari fan

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Interesting that Max did almost twice the laps than anyone else. I might be jumping to conclusions a bit but it perhaps suggests they're either very happy or not happy at all with their car. It's very hard for a fan to take anything from these sessions though, even practise sessions tell us nothing.

DTS Season 5 dropping tomorrow for those with an interest. Max supposedly taking part for the first time.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280820#Comment_120280820

Max’s lap count was because he was driving both sessions whereas other teams split the day between their drivers. Still, great reliability. 🙂

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280427#Comment_120280427

McLaren are a disgrace. They were in a bad way when Brown came but he did little but sell the property out from under themselves and load themselves with debt.

Norris is going to fall out with them if he is not wining races this year.

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280863#Comment_120280863

He was only a few dozen laps short of what they usually get in the endurance races at the same track. That is pretty impressive.