Yup. And you don’t see anyone at MB bitching about it. They made a mistake, Toto admitted it.
If one stop is in the cards, don’t send the car out so tight on weight. It’s 100% on Mercedes.
Formula 1
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Yup. And you don’t see anyone at MB bitching about it. They made a mistake, Toto admitted it.
If one stop is in the cards, don’t send the car out so tight on weight. It’s 100% on Mercedes.
During the early 80’s, some teams ran extra large water tanks and would dump water during the race to reduce the weight of the car. They said it was to cool the brakes, but it was really about reducing weight during the race and the FIA eventually banned it.
In terms of weighing the cars without tires, I’m not sure if that’s practical. Especially after the race when teams are often scrambling to pack everything up for the next race. You’d need a weighbridge capable of lifting the car and the teams would have to bring all of their wheel guns down to parc ferme. Just seems like a lot to do to be able to weigh just the chassis.
Post race weighing process may not be perfect, but I think it’s probably the best option. It’s not like we’ve had this issue pop up a lot.
Agree with you on Russell though. It was a very impressive performance. Sucks it ended like this, but weight limits are one of those rules that have to be black and white.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas to unveil tyre modifications after the Summer Break....
I remember a few years ago that Red Bull narrowly avoided the same fate. I think it was Vettel that crossed the finish line and was instantly told to shut the engine off and coast down through the tire kleg. It’s a penalty to shut a car down on track but RB avoided that by claiming technical problems with their telemetry, even though it was obviously for weight and fuel sample. I’m surprised Merc didn’t try the same thing and risk a lesser penalty.
So, if I'm understanding this correctly, cars have to make weight before and after the race because F1 teams were figuring out ways to add sacrificial weight to the cars for the pre race weigh in, and then dumping it somewhere during the race, and if a car/driver, through whatever circumstance (even if they were NOT cheating), like running their tyres down enough where they didn't have enough rubber left on them to stay within the guidelines of the post race weigh in, that's tough titty, because w/o those guidelines, the F1 teams WOULD cheat their asses off. Is that about the size of it?
If so, I can live with that.
(some of you all are clearly more informed about the nuances of F1 than I am, and I have no problem admitting that)
If so, I can live with that.
(some of you all are clearly more informed about the nuances of F1 than I am, and I have no problem admitting that)
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Yeah, you pretty much nailed it. Though some of the teams might argue they were exploiting loopholes in the language of the rules.
But a lot of past F1 cheating has focused on running cars underweight. Removing mass instantly improves all aspects of the car. It accelerates faster, it helps it corner quicker and makes it easier to slow the car under braking.
When Martin Brundle was with Tyrell in 1984, the team ended up being disqualified for the entire season because they were trying a variation on the water tank trick teams used in 1982. Instead of cooling the brakes, they had a water injection system on the engine which allowed them to dump water from the tank during the race.
When the cars came in for their final pit stop, the team would top off the water tank. But they secretly included a bunch of lead shot in the container they used to pour the water, so they were also filling the tank with a bunch of lead pellets to make sure they met minimum weight. They got caught and were hammered by the FIA.
BAR also got into trouble back in the mid-2000’s for using a second, secret fuel tank to allow them to run underweight. During the last pit stop, they’d fill both tanks to the brim, but the scrutineers would only drain the first tank before weighing because they didn’t know a second one existed. So they basically used fuel as extra ballast, illegally.
Someone will always try something to skirt the rules in F1, but that’s part of the fun of it.
I'm a McLaren fan, but those guys are cheating. LOL
Well, EVERYONE is CHEATING, but McLaren is doing it better right now.
RB19 was an absurd car, but MCL38 is other-worldly.
Well, EVERYONE is CHEATING, but McLaren is doing it better right now.
RB19 was an absurd car, but MCL38 is other-worldly.
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I've pulled for Red Bull because they're Honda powered but Honda is get out of F1 after this year so my allegiance will shift to another team next year. But, McLaren is kicking butt right now.
My wife and I along with another couple are planning a trip to Italy next year to catch a F1 race...unless the tickets are already sold out. We need to get on it...
Honda’s not going anywhere.
They’re supporting Red Bull through end of next year. At that point, Honda will start building engines for Aston Martin.
??? I haven't read that. I don't remember what article I read but I thought Honda was getting out of F1 all together. If Honda is moving to AM, then sign me up as a AM fan.
It was announced last year.
After Honda officially withdrew at the end of 2021 (Honda is currently an advisor and supplier to Red Bull Powertrains), Honda later approached Red Bull about getting back into F1 as an official engine supplier. However, Red Bull had already proceeded down the path with Ford at that point. That opened the door for the agreement with Aston Martin.
Between Honda as an engine supplier and Adrian Newey as the car designer, there’s a realistic possibility that Aston Martin has the fastest car on the grid in 2026. The question will be whether they have a championship caliber driver. That probably depends on whether Lawrence Stroll’s objective is for Aston Martin to win a championship or for his son to win a championship.
If Aston Martin ends up trying to prioritize Lance Stroll as a their number one, I’m not sure how successful they’ll be, even if they have the fastest car.
Aston Martin confirm Honda as F1 engine partner from 2026 as Japanese manufacturer makes official return to sport
Aston Martin to become a works team from 2026 with Honda engine supply; Japanese manufacturer completes full-time return to F1 in line with sports new engine regulations;watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend
Thanks for that info UKC...I completely missed that. Hopefully AM will find a couple of good drivers when that shift happens.It was announced last year.
After Honda officially withdrew at the end of 2021 (Honda is currently an advisor and supplier to Red Bull Powertrains), Honda later approached Red Bull about getting back into F1 as an official engine supplier. However, Red Bull had already proceeded down the path with Ford at that point. That opened the door for the agreement with Aston Martin.
Between Honda as an engine supplier and Adrian Newey as the car designer, there’s a realistic possibility that Aston Martin has the fastest car on the grid in 2026. The question will be whether they have a championship caliber driver. That probably depends on whether Lawrence Stroll’s objective is for Aston Martin to win a championship or for his son to win a championship.
If Aston Martin ends up trying to prioritize Lance Stroll as a their number one, I’m not sure how successful they’ll be, even if they have the fastest car.
Aston Martin confirm Honda as F1 engine partner from 2026 as Japanese manufacturer makes official return to sport
Aston Martin to become a works team from 2026 with Honda engine supply; Japanese manufacturer completes full-time return to F1 in line with sports new engine regulations;watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekendwww.skysports.com
Like I said; I don't know WHAT McLaren has done, but that car is super-naturally good right now. RB made some adjustments, and Max has obviously accepted the situation and gone into "prevent defense" mode, in order to try and POSSIBLY hang on to the driver's championship by the skin of his teeth. It took great race management, and a very disciplined race by Max to finish second, by what, almost 30 seconds? Max had the inside line into turn one at the start, and that MCL38 car DUSTED him off the line and never looked back. And, in spite of Lando, busting the front wing, and making pretty good contact with the wall once or twice, in the the last 15 or so laps he STILL proceeded to get faster.
This is isn't sour grapes, it's admiration. I never thought I'd see a car more dominant than RB19, but this McLaren car is a witch.
(also, re: Newey/AM/Max etc. I wonder if Newey would even WANT to deal with Verstappen any more...)
This is isn't sour grapes, it's admiration. I never thought I'd see a car more dominant than RB19, but this McLaren car is a witch.
(also, re: Newey/AM/Max etc. I wonder if Newey would even WANT to deal with Verstappen any more...)
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So which team gets kicked out?It was announced last year.
After Honda officially withdrew at the end of 2021 (Honda is currently an advisor and supplier to Red Bull Powertrains), Honda later approached Red Bull about getting back into F1 as an official engine supplier. However, Red Bull had already proceeded down the path with Ford at that point. That opened the door for the agreement with Aston Martin.
Between Honda as an engine supplier and Adrian Newey as the car designer, there’s a realistic possibility that Aston Martin has the fastest car on the grid in 2026. The question will be whether they have a championship caliber driver. That probably depends on whether Lawrence Stroll’s objective is for Aston Martin to win a championship or for his son to win a championship.
If Aston Martin ends up trying to prioritize Lance Stroll as a their number one, I’m not sure how successful they’ll be, even if they have the fastest car.
Aston Martin confirm Honda as F1 engine partner from 2026 as Japanese manufacturer makes official return to sport
Aston Martin to become a works team from 2026 with Honda engine supply; Japanese manufacturer completes full-time return to F1 in line with sports new engine regulations;watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend
OT: Thailand Moto GP is on...that's crazy how those guys ride those bikes. I would be dead within a second if I tried doing that.
I’ve always thought that the Isle of Man TT is the most insane sporting event in the world.
Since they resumed racing the TT after WW2 ended, there’s been at least one rider killed in a crash in every TT except for 1982. So for the past ~80 years, you knew going into the race that someone is going to be killed and those guys hop on their bikes and do it anyway.
Absolute master class by Max yesterday. Sure, McLaren’s strategy was shit as usual, but to start 17th and still dust the field by 20 seconds is crazy.
Great result for Alpine too. Really fun race.
Great result for Alpine too. Really fun race.
Just announced that GM is joining F1 in 2026 as an 11th team. Will be branded as Cadillac.
Despite the fact they’ve made a few interesting performance cars over the last several years, I still don’t really associate Cadillac with cutting edge performance. Perhaps this is unfair, but it’ll be a little weird for me to hear Croft and Brundle talk about Cadillac during an F1 race.
Nice to see F1 expand the grid though.
www.formula1.com
Despite the fact they’ve made a few interesting performance cars over the last several years, I still don’t really associate Cadillac with cutting edge performance. Perhaps this is unfair, but it’ll be a little weird for me to hear Croft and Brundle talk about Cadillac during an F1 race.
Nice to see F1 expand the grid though.
Statement on General Motors application to join FIA Formula One World Championship in 2026 | Formula 1®
Formula 1 announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the 11th team to the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
www.formula1.com
Nice way for F1 to bring even more viewers in from the US.Just announced that GM is joining F1 in 2026 as an 11th team. Will be branded as Cadillac.
Despite the fact they’ve made a few interesting performance cars over the last several years, I still don’t really associate Cadillac with cutting edge performance. Perhaps this is unfair, but it’ll be a little weird for me to hear Croft and Brundle talk about Cadillac during an F1 race.
Nice to see F1 expand the grid though.
Statement on General Motors application to join FIA Formula One World Championship in 2026 | Formula 1®
Formula 1 announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the 11th team to the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
