Posts by shadowhawk24

Amanda Kelly said:Ferrari isn't messing around with their tire choices this year.
Lotus pulled off a win in Australia thanks to a clever strategy, but this time they’re playing it safe by sticking to the standard plan. On top of that, Kimi Räikkönen is looking at his best starting position yet.
Out of the top three teams—and those occupying the first six spots on the grid—Mercedes-Benz is the biggest tire eater, especially Lewis Hamilton.
That gives Ferrari a real shot here. A very good shot.
I just hope Romain Grosjean doesn't do anything reckless at the start. He needs a solid result, and honestly, Kimi could be in the exact same boat.

What I'm actually wondering about is what kind of tire strategy everyone sitting behind 10th place is going to pull.
Are we going to see just the top seven running on softs while the rest of the grid settles for hards? Or will things actually get interesting?

Lotus pulled it off in Australia by running fewer pit stops; the situation was similar to this one where they started on Super Softs and then switched to Mediums, allowing them to pit less than the field😉.
I can't say for sure about tomorrow, but a repeat of the Australian scenario—fewer stops than the leaders—is definitely on the table, though I'm not so certain about Ferrari.
As for Grosjean, don't go pinning everything on him; the kid hasn't made a single mistake in these last two races, especially at the start. People talk, but if he had been performing like this last season, Lotus would likely be much higher up in the constructors' standings.

One quick question here.
Would any potential new rules being voted on be implemented immediately this season, or would they wait until next season takes off?
I mean, things like transcription updates or minor rule tweaks make sense to roll out right away, but changing the points system once the season is already underway? In my opinion, that’s a recipe for disaster. Why?
Now, this falls under the territory of ŠBBKBB, but I have a nagging feeling we'd end up with people whining that it isn't fair to change the scoring system mid-stream. They'd claim everything should have been done under the old rules and argue they were cheated because the new scoring wasn't there from day one.
So, to me, it seems perfectly logical to take these major rule changes, put them up for deliberation and a vote, and then officially bake them into the rulebook for the following season.
Basically, while we are all active during the current season, we should use this time to debate all the ambiguities, potential shifts, proposals, and other championship matters. We discuss, we vote, and we shape the new regulations or amendments for the next year. Because, as we saw during this off-season break—when the current rules and leadership elections were on the table—a huge chunk of the group was either absent, uninterested, or just checked out. Therefore, this system of drafting rules or amendments during an active season to prepare for the next one seems like the only sensible way to go.🙂

redheron12 said:But that’s exactly the point—there shouldn't be any sense of unfairness if teammates choose to cooperate. It’s like saying Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel is being "cheated" because Felipe Massa has to move out of the way for Fernando Alonso. That’s a matter between Massa and Alonso, isn't it?

My initial strategy was to split my picks with Pat; she was leaning toward Red Bull Ferrari and Mercedes, while I went with McLaren, Red Bull, and Lotus. Since McLaren performed so poorly, we could play it safe next week by splitting up again—or we could both go all-in on the same picks. If we hit them, we walk away with a huge haul of points, and the rules definitely allow for it.🤷 🤣

As far as I'm concerned, I don't mind. These kinds of behind-the-scenes maneuvers are part of the game. If people can constantly dig through rulebooks in real life to find loopholes, why shouldn't they do the same here on the forum?🤣.
I just want things to stay within reasonable bounds to avoid unnecessary drama and tension. It would be incredibly stupid to have everyone whining about who cheated whom right at the start of the competition.🙂.
Ultimately, Terry Carter2 will have the final word and make the calls, so everything rests on him.

This "double points" strategy is fine and dandy, BUT what happens if you miss? (Not that there aren't a million variables, but my mind immediately goes to tire wear 😬). What kind of loophole will they try to find in the rulebook for the next race then? 😁

I basically agree with Terry Carter2 that it all boils down to who you define as the aggrieved party.
Take an example: let's say Douglas Patel32 coordinates with his teammate and they both submit identical predictions. Suppose those predictions actually turn out to be spot on, and they snag two out of the top three spots. In that scenario, since the two of them colluded, neither would feel cheated. However, someone else—say me, or any other competitor finishing right behind them—would have every right to claim they were screwed out of a podium finish or even just points. It doesn't matter which. In that specific case, that third party is the one being harmed.🤷
Ultimately, if teammates want to cheat off one another, let them; I’m certainly not going to go running to the officials to complain about it. But, for the sake of maintaining order and integrity within the competition, it would be wise to prevent this kind of confusion or tension. Even if it means we need to rephrase that specific rule to close the loophole.🙂

William Bennett53 said:shadowstag10 said:
"Lotus is a true racing outfit. Their focus remains strictly on the track rather than getting bogged down by external distractions, which is a rarity in this sport. There is significantly less internal politics here compared to other teams, and that is precisely why I find being part of this organization so rewarding. Our only real hurdle is that our budget isn't quite as massive as some of the powerhouse teams. Ultimately, though, what matters most is that everyone is giving their absolute best and making the most of the resources we have at our disposal."

🙏 🙏 🙏

http://www.formula1.com/en/latest/news/raikkonen-we-can-fight-for-the-title/

Well, who wouldn't want him on their side? 🤷

I was actually digging through that interview earlier today. This is exactly his speed—a more laid-back vibe combined with a car that actually has the potential to deliver results.🙂

Jason Campbell70 said:They were regular podium finishers during the first half of the season. It wasn't until the second half that Lotus actually started losing ground.

I wouldn't say a word if Lotus had been overwhelmingly dominant over their competition last year. But they weren't.

My focus was actually on the exhaust system—the design itself was brilliant. That said, I’ll concede the point: if Lotus had been a constant podium threat at the start of the year, I'd be right there with you, noting how they completely ran out of steam mid-season. Part of the blame lies with that passive DRS they pushed so hard but ultimately failed to make functional.

Jason Campbell70 said:They were regular podium finishers during the first half of the season. It wasn't until the second half that Lotus actually started losing ground.

I wouldn't say a word if Lotus had been overwhelmingly dominant over their competition last year. But they weren't.

Look, they weren't dominant, but they certainly weren't missing the mark on their car concept like they were two years ago. Their objective was fourth in the Constructors' Championship, which they achieved. This year, the goal is third. Whether they pull it off or not remains to be seen.
Personally? I expect them to land somewhere around fourth.
All things considered, I still maintain that this chassis is the logical successor to last year's model.

Amanda Kelly, you're absolutely right. I misspoke. What I meant to say was that these lap times don't actually tell us much on their own. It’s nearly impossible to paint a realistic picture of where things truly stand when we have zero clue which variables are influencing those numbers behind the scenes.
As for whether those times matter to the crew? Of course they do. That's the whole point of testing. It gives the teams a baseline to figure out exactly what needs fixing, what needs tweaking, and where they need to focus their energy to actually make progress.

Jason Campbell70 said:

shadowhawk24 Asks:
What made you think the E21 was actually an E20?
Is it an evolution of last year's car? Sure. Most cars follow that path. But is last year's machine actually comparable? Not really. 🙂

Yeah. Evolution, clearly lacking any real spark of originality.

Evolution is what defines the F138—but we’re talking true evolution here. It's visible in every single millimeter of the car.

Stormybadger8 hit the nail on the head regarding my own point. It's the truth. If you look at the Ferrari or the Lotus cars, they might show fewer changes compared to last year, but let's be clear—it's definitely not just last year's car rebranded.
They completely overhauled the front suspension, redesigning it specifically to widen the setup window. They had to fix the mess from last season when Kimi was constantly fighting the car's handling right out of the gate.
The hump remains, and the rear end is an evolution of last year's diffuser. This makes perfect sense because, by the end of the season, the entire Lotus concept proved itself to be stellar. From its debut in India—where it struggled with top speed—all the way through to Brazil, the exhaust setup showed progressively better results race after race. Obviously, there is still plenty of room to push further and find more gains.
And here is the crux of what worked for Lotus: stick to evolving 😬 a proven concept that already delivers great results, rather than gambling on radical redesigns that might fail to meet expectations entirely.

As for these testing times? They likely mean absolutely nothing. We won't see the real situation until we hit the track in Australia.

Jason Campbell70 said:In what way exactly is Renault the star of this test?

Is it because they tried to pass off last year's car as a "brand new" model?

What makes you think the E21 is just a rebranded E20??
Look, it’s an evolution of last year’s design—that’s how almost every team does it—but calling it the exact same car? No. Absolutely not. 🙂

Finally, things are starting to move. The cars are being unveiled one by one, and testing is just around the corner 👋
. I see everyone has been busy dissecting the aesthetics of these three cars, so I figured I’d toss my two cents into the ring.
Since I pull for Lotus—which means I’m rooting for Renault first and foremost—I’ve been following these reveals quite closely, specifically looking at how much they’ve actually changed compared to last year's machine. First off, these photos are deceptive; take that first shot, for instance. At a glance, it looks almost identical, but if you actually bother to look closer, there are significant differences.

They’re claiming the main difference lies in the rear section where they’ve implemented the RB exhaust—or rather, Lotus's version of the "Coanda" exhaust. Everything has been redesigned to optimize aerodynamics and ensure the diffuser performs at its peak.
Furthermore, the entire engine cover has been reworked to improve airflow and overall fluidity. It looks much more "seamless," particularly in the upper section stretching from the driver's cockpit up to the air intake.
In short, plenty of changes. That hump remains at the front, and the front wing mounting seems more pronounced than it was on the previous generation.
I suspect keeping that hump is exactly why it gives the impression of an old car rather than a fresh design.
Personally, I don't mind the hump; I'm used to it by now. Honestly, I think it looks fine, though perhaps that's just my own bias talking.🙂

Now, regarding Ferrari.
Fundamentally, it's a similar story. There are major adjustments to the rear end involving the exhaust and the diffuser. I suspect this will be the primary battlefield this season: seeing which team can best master the integration of the exhaust and diffuser to squeeze out every ounce of performance.

The most striking visual change is the engine cover and that hump. If you look at the comparison shots between Lotus and Ferrari, the Ferrari looks significantly more robust and aggressive, as some of you mentioned. However, if you compare it strictly to last year's model, the real difference is just that specific cover, which makes it look sleeker and more substantial than it actually is.
All in all, it's a better-looking car than last year's. If it happens to be faster too? Even better.👍

As for McLaren.
Much like the top two, most of the heavy lifting happened at the rear.
Up front, the nose seems to sit a bit higher than last year.
Visually, it might actually be the most attractive car of the bunch (though, obviously, Lotus is still my favorite).😁


Regardless, we have some interesting testing ahead of us, and the season itself shouldn't disappoint.
To me, these cars represent a very minor evolution over last year—perhaps even the smallest year-on-year change we've seen in recent memory. But then again, we have no idea what to expect for next season or how the logical conclusion of these regulations will play out. 🙂

The legend himself, Hamilton👋:clapping: