Official F1/Motorsport thread

[fallenangle]

The point about Plato is that in the first two races with the same ballast he started out front and could just keep up a consistent fast pace. In the third race being placed so far back with the reversed grid he needed to have good acceleration to be able to overtake the cars in front to get the third place or better he needed. That's where the ballast weight really came into play because it punished the MG's acceleration. That was the main factor not the, marginally improved, weather conditions for the third race.

Unfortunately that did seem to be the MG's weakness throughout the season. When either Plato or Tordoff were out front they were very difficult to beat because of their pace. But when lumbered with ballast and placed in the centre of the field the significant effect on acceleration often kept them where they were and even lost them places.

[vanpeebles]

The more wet it is the less the ballast comes into effect as they are not accelerating, braking or cornering to their full potential. The MG constantly suffered on cool damp or drying from wet tracks all season. On a hot sunny day it was a flying machine and on a really sodden day everyone is about the same.

I also think the longer wheel base has an effect on the MG too.

[MartyG]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110646 more fragile Porsches :/

Longer report here: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1226740247873

[MartyG]

New Honda F1 engine for next year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=431h20gvm3M

My vacuum cleaner has a better sound :/

[vanpeebles]

I'd wait till they are actually running on a car. For all people go on about the F1 engine noise, the actual racing is pap. Turbos should make it better.

[CMcK]

You can tell its a turbo engine even though it goes to 13,000 rpm. Why don't they fit a massive dump valve on these new engines! Chavs will love it.

[vanpeebles]

I hope they have a Knight Rider turbo boost button so they can jump over the car in front.

[MartyG]

I just hope it improves the racing; all this tyre preservation stuff can be tedious to watch when they should be driving at ten tenths all race long. Sky F1 showed the JP GP from 1989 last weekend and it was so much more exciting to watch, even if the picture quality was awful.

[VR46]

Speaking of tyres and how they are ruining F1, look at this in Moto GP. These manufacturers should be so ashamed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/24592323

Tyre problems - which have seen the Moto2 race shortened to 13 laps - mean that the MotoGP race will have a mandatory pit stop, for the first time in MotoGP history.

Bridgestone tyres say that they are unable to guarantee the safety of their rear slick tyres beyond 14 laps at a Phillip Island circuit which has been resurfaced since last year's race.

Each MotoGP rider will be required to enter the pits and change to his second machine with fresh tyres at the midway point of the 26-lap race, which has been reduced by a lap.

[VR46]

Someone teach Honda Moto GP team how to count to ten please. Their arrogance and yet stupidity astounds.
Roll on next Sunday and Marquez crumbling under the pressure. Hell even Dani may turf him off.

Such a shame that it looks like Redding has pissed it all up the wall this season now.

[Atticus]

Certainly makes the closing stages of the season a lot more interesting.

been really getting into MotoGP over the last few years. Going to miss it when it goes to BT sport

[VR46]

Moto GP has been great for the last 20 years to be fair, pretty close each season, bar when Doohan and Rossi dominated in their heydays. Always guaranteed close racing.
So pleased we're with Virgin already what with the Moto GP and UFC on BT sport for nowt on our package.

[VR46]

F1 driver line up is now complete, and DiResta has gone back to German Touring cars

Hate that pay drivers are in there due to their sponsorship (over talent), but pleased Kobayshi is back.

Japanese driver Kobayashi returns to the grid having been forced to sit out 2013 after losing his Sauber drive, while Swede Ericsson steps up from GP2.

F1 grid for 2014
Red Bull: Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo

Ferrari: Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg

Lotus: Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado

McLaren: Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen

Sauber: Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez

Toro Rosso: Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat

Williams: Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas

Marussia: Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton

Caterham: Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson

[Darwock]

Uhhhh... where is Force India?

[MartyG]

FORCE INDIA
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez.
Engine: Mercedes.