Argh! One Debrief later and my whole schedule has gone wrong. Today we're looking at a couple of launches and some testing in Portugal - although Ferrari decided against it because of the weather. Plenty of pictures should be heading our way, then, so keep your eye on the comments for that and more.
- Williams are semi-launching the new car today. A car is turning up that may or may not be the official '09 machinery, it's running a winter testing livery, and only Hulkenberg is available to chat about it. I wouldn't really call that a launch, but we'll take what we can get.
- Renault are releasing their new car today, letting it loose on the tarmac at Portimao. They've also confirmed Grosjean as third driver, ousting di Grassi from the role. Boo.
- I wonder whether we'll see any decent testing runs. Although the times are clearly meaningless at the moment, especially if you're trying to compare cars, it'll be good to see the new cars running in anger. Unfortunately, the weather looks set to ruin everything, with rain predicted for three of the four days. Oh well.
That's it for now. Please keep us up to date with any stories that crop up through the day, and we'll get searching the web for some pictures. I'll see you in the comments.
New Renault: http://i44.tinypic.com/35k0sn4.jpg
New Williams (interim): http://premium.f1-live.com/f1/photos/2009/team-williams/diapo_110.jpg
First comment and moderated! Woop!
Romain Grosjean has become Renault's reserve driver.
(which I see was already mentioned... doh!)
Morning, I know we've already seen the few spy shots but I'm looking forward to the Creme Egg livery Renault getting unveiled today. :P
Looking at the previous comments, seems I was right about the Renault, although more egg cracked over the body than a creme egg. A lot more orange and yellow than I was expecting... :|
Looks like a fat nose on the Williams
However, on the low down front shots that are around, look at the windows in the garage door behind the car. ;)
3 largish FW31 images uploaded.
Good god... the Renault has a fat nose as well.
How the hell did that fail those safety tests recently?!!
Maybe part of the safety tests is a taste test?
They took one look at it and threw up....
Which would explain the orange/yellow colourscheme...
Looks like the new Renault colour scheme has been coined 'The McDonald's livery' :-D
I wish Williams would race that dark blue livery. It would stand out from the crowd especially compared to the Renault. Good taste bad taste.
I thought the exact same thing!
The BMW countdown continues...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sFE86tcIkLQ
'This video is private'
honda news from the mole:
"I am sure that Mercedes-Benz will want a multi-year deal and financial guarantees before agreeing to an engine deal. However, Honda could ask for the money invested in Brawn and Fry to be paid back over time, and they could even have an option to buy the F1 team back in, say, five years. That would be sensible. The car markets of the world should improve eventually and then Honda might want to get back to F1 again."
more: http://www.grandprix.com/mole/mole21122.html
One thing i meant to mention last night. Are Mercedes still trying to place Paul di Resta with FIF1? ART have announced their GP2 drivers so he is not going there. Haug was quoted in Autosport last week saying that he didn't know whether di Resta or Ralf would get the fourth new car in the DTM for 2009. If diResta was staying in the DTM he would be guaranteed a new car so there would not be a question. The only reason to be thinking of Ralf getting the new car is if di Resta is going elsewhere.
Wasn't Ralf guaranteed a 'new' DTM car this year as he had a 1-year old model in 2008?
didn't Ralf retire?
any news on Ferrari's exhausts?
EDIT: there is: http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090119145200.shtml
had no idea they were under scrutiny?
can't believe they made a mistake, they helped write the regs.
presumably they've got a reason for doing so, but i think the rain we saw in testing pics this morning is a good enough excuse to bail.
The rain gave Ferrari a convenient excuse. If they weren't so lucky with Mother Nature, I wonder what excuse they would've used?
Oh dear what a cock up.
I am reminded of the Italian captain in Allo Allo. "What a mistake to make"
I had a look at Alianora's Aleman team and it is full of German drivers so I guess that is why the name was chosen.
Murray's autobiography arrived in the post today for £2.20, looking forward to that. Also have to read DC's, Eddie Jordan's autobiographys and a huge ayrton senna biography to read over the enxt few months...
anyways... need to get on with these assignments I'm finding impossible to do.... :(
I get
This video has been removed by the user.
Try this on for size: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1s4zZUfn3M
Any idea where the latest podcasts have gone? I do believ we're awaiting Episode 91? It's been a quiet week in the car this week :-(
recorded live last night rcc. you can watch again here:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/01/18/live-the-difficult-third-season/
christine will probably edit this evening, but it was a feature length show, so no promises on that front.
Attention! McLaren MP4-24 out on track!
http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/121770
The front looks a bit like the lego one I made.
I really don't know why, but the more I look at that R29 at an angle, the more I don't seem to mind it that much.
I knew someone would come round eventually!!
It aint THAT bad, still looks better then the Fiat
Cheers Mr C
Alianora on pole in a FIF1???
Unlucky Scott
Thats what happens when you do your runs 15 minutes before the session and crash.
I am so pleased Ron isn't around any more and I don't have to explain to him why I lost pole by 0.020s to a FIF1. I think either I will get fired or that nice Mr Whitmarsh will,
Well done Alianora. Excellent lap indeed.
Technically, there are about 21 other people who are quite embarrased as well.
Well done Alianora still, perform like this in RLB and surely shes gonna be good.
WTF is wrong with this goddamn McLaren! Twice i've had problems in qualifying! Absolute joke.
Wow. Must be a race contender. :)
2 races ago I was last in it
Yay! Just got a fastest lap in the first race of my public game! :)
Oh, well done Alenyaa on winning his public race in France.
Damn that collision, one more lap and I woulda been able to make an excuse to pit in for fuel as well.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72863
Lewis did know about Ron's plans. He just didn't know when the rest of us would be told.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72869
I need a Simpsons HA! HA! here. Ferrari's test at Mugello was rained on all day. Good plan going there then.
I predicted this last night on the feedback/chat/call-in section I think in the first of my calls.
I should stick to that rather than Batracing :(
Good job they tested there to fix the illegal exhaust covers and not for the weather then ;-)
:D
:)
So Gavin have you switched to the realtime doohicky?
Yep. I'm converted. ;-)
By the way, want to know what my "get well soon" present was?
A giant Ferrari F1 calandar :-D
(I did go back to work today and so far, all is well ;-) )
Thanks for the other link to part 2 of BMW Sauber launch
gotta be worth embedding:
we know it's white then.
At least it is not as ugly as the Renault
And seizure-inducing :-P
How very creative all the teams have gotten.
Yes. Max must be thrilled at all the money they are saving ;-)
Can anything be that bad?
Times from the Algarve (lovely place)
1) Buemi - Toro Rosso - 1:45.528 - 65 laps
2) de la Rosa - McLaren - 1: 46.076 - 28 laps
3) Hulkenberg - Williams - 1:46.335 - 28 laps
4) Piquet - Renault - 1:48.907 - 33 laps
5) Kobayashi - Toyota - 1:50.989 - 46 laps
lauda says f1 drivers should double-stint and lewis should drive DTM too:
"In these difficult times Mercedes could use Hamilton"
has the man finally lost it?
more here: http://www.focus.de/sport/formel1/formel-1-lauda-fordert-doppelstart-fuer-formel-1-piloten_aid_363103.html
I didn't know you spoke German.
Translated version (mod queue may be intrested now)
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.focus.de/sport/formel1/formel-1-lauda-fordert-doppelstart-fuer-formel-1-piloten_aid_363103.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.focus.de/sport/formel1/formel-1-lauda-fordert-doppelstart-fuer-formel-1-piloten_aid_363103.html%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26hs%3DRDf
On the original question, I'd see if a driver drove for F1 in the summer and another in the winter, but surely not two at the same time. Wouldn't that get chaotic? Too many different things happening, I'm sure if they want more glory, they'll keep Hamilton focused on the F1.
For the answer, yes, yes he has
I knew that would end in the Moderation Mayhem Queue
LOL! Buemi owned all the 2009 cars! :D
sorry, should've linked to the translation. you might have more luck with the mod queue if you throw extra long url's into:
http://tinyurl.com/
Reet, cheers for the tip
it seems drives are hard enough to come by as it is, without having the overpaid drivers nick the cheap seats too.
just for kicks:
http://craziestgadgets.com/2009/01/19/f1-grands-prix-limousine/
UTTER TOSH!!!
I think its a typo lol
i didn't even read it, just liked the piccy. here's a better link:
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/f1-grand-prix-limo-jpg
And we thought the Renault wings were bad.
Not surprised. Full aero package and more power....
Have a look at this video there are some shockers competing for honours and most are right off the factory production line!
the bit they reveal of the front wing... looks like a lego brick :|
Still not as ugly as the 2009 Renault F1
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=44964
First test times
Re Lewis driving in DTM....
Just how embarrassing would that be for say... Vodaphone... if Lewis were beaten by say ...Gary Paffett...
Actually that would be more embarrassing for Ron....
And if not by Gary Paffett... Lewis could be beaten by.....
Aghhhhh..... Ralf....
Now that would be a picture to laugh on.
Obviously not for Hamilton, but I might take a mental thought about that.
Not lego, Megablocks
Alonso determined to win 2009 title - i like the sound of that :)
If that Renault is as good as it was at the end of last season, Alonso will walk it this year.
thats cheered me up
with THAT nose?
Oh no he won't....
He has needed to be strong at the beginning of the season to be in with a chance...
That's how he and Renault did it in 2005 and 2006 I recall...
We all know that although the Renault did improve last season (although it was so awful at the start it could hardly fail to improve) the wins were more down to the big guys dropping the ball or serious luck....
Despite Alfonso's words the new car looks odd due to some hasty stuff on the front wing...
Failing the crash test perchance...
As somone ironically posted on another site on a different matter
"I'd rather have a fast ugly car than a nice-looking slow one"
More a case of I'd rather have a car that doesn't do a...."Red Bull"... and disintegrate...
nah. they can run a car at a private test that's already failed an fia test can't they?
that nose is deliberate, even if it's only to tie the competition up in knots. they may not race it, but they could easily make the same nose out of stronger and thicker material if needs be.
it's ugly, but intentional.
Looks like a fish, moves like a fish, steers like a cow...
That's the point....
The pretty one FAILED the test...
So they've had to make do and mend and start with this one....
Not deliberate.... but sort of close....
The word is ever so slightly..... desperate...
so what though?
they didn't just cook up that shaped nose in the time since the failure did they? why, when they could have just made the failure stronger. thrown more composite material at it.
nope, i think you're wrong. remember pat was one of the 'three' who cooked all of this nonsense up. he and paddy and the other guy, know all there is to know. now they have to out-fox each other.
That is what the drivers used to do. Some would race in 5 or 6 different championships in a season. Not necessarily doing every race in every series but racing pretty much every weekend of the year. That is what gave Jackie Stewart a duodenal ulcer. Racing F1 and Can-Am on alternate weekends and flying the Atlantic twice a week.
Insanely enough that is the case. They can even run a var that has failed a crash test at an official FIA test day. It's all part of Max's safety drive.
Unfrtunately the nose was intended to be that ugly. They couldn't have turned round a new nose design in the time availabel.
that's what i figured. the gpda has no teeth, else they would've sorted that years ago.
i wouldn't be surprised if they didn't fail that test on purpose too.
nothing says "we're really trying", than a car that falls to pieces the moment you look at it.
anyone who's already passed the required tests, are probably wondering if they've gone too safe now. maybe there's a queue for re-tests at the fia?
As to Renault...
And the nose....
You may want a look at Keith's f1fanatic site....
Oh sure guys...
Like they did after Red Bull failed last year...
Now how strong was that car?...
Okay, who said BMW's looked like a megablock piece?
And the Williams, looks the best out of the lot.
i just read that comment as:
"Andy Williams, looks the best out of the lot."
;)
faster than the renault if i recall? in the right hands (vettel) it won a race too.
Theo Ferrari doesn't come close!
I'm still laughing at that Hamilton article. I mean... I know The Sun are awful... but wow.
Wrong car I am afraid...
The TR never quite disintegrated and didn't fail a test either....
And the win for TR and better results for RB came very very much later in the season.... after they got over the fragility issues...
Surely you aren't wishing that on Renault....
i'm not the one wishing anything on renault here :)
There will, of course, be much debate at least until 29 March....
The b*st*rds have revealed his identity together with photo
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article5548705.ece
Bang out of order ;-)
who'd do a thing like that eh?
does that mean it was the stig who did this:
http://www.chattershmatter.com/2008/04/21/james-bond-movie-car-crashes-into-italian-river/
It was fairly well known anyway, plus I have heard that there are multiple Stigs.
just remember there are actually a few stigs, one main one, and a few other drivers... and i know that is definitely true. but shhh you didn't hear that from me. ;)
i know nothing.
I don't understand it at all. The Stig isn't a person.
Some say....
It seems that the Telegraph ran the original story at the weekend, the Times is merely picking up on it.
It must be a slow news day then... That was reasonably common knowledge.
*covers mouth to avoid obvious joke.....*
Please take this as a constructive comment rather than just a 'doohickey whinge'
Is it possible to have some form of sign at the top of the page indicating that the doohickey has stopped updating. Yes I know there's refresh (which loses loads of text below) or scrolling to the bottom to see the refresh time.
Maybe the refresh time could be at the top?
As ever, I know it's pretty low on the list but just putting it out there
My favourite some say is...
"some say he introduced the Queen to a racist greek"
I haven't clicked on the link. Just like I didn't click on the "photo of me" some people were touting around the internets. People who suggest these people are real and exist out in the real world are the deluded ones if you ask me!
Absolutely!!
understood. it would be better if i just fixed the damn thing though :)
it's actually quite high up me list, just one more launch to get out of the way tomorrow and we'll see where we're at.
Just don't ask "Me". He of course thinks he's real ;)
I actually had a problem with the LCLT yesterday right at the end. It stopped allowing me to add new comments. Buuuut... It was really updating because when I added other updates in a new tab it worked and updated back in the old tab. This was in Firefox 3 on Vista.
I suppose actually, this conversation doesn't reflect well on me... because if he's not real, I'm the weirdo who married him!
:) :) :)
Well I wouldn't like to say ;)
But yes, everyone here wants to believe in Father Panda Christmas Mr Christine (or whatever his name is). They just need a little shove :)
I had a look at Alianora’s Aleman team and it is full of German drivers so I guess that is why the name was chosen. {Steven Roy - 96 comments ago}
That is precisely correct. The team will have as many German drivers as I can shoehorn into there, and no other nationality, for the whole season. Unless they all get sacked, then I'll need a plan B.
I got moderated and there was no link or bad language. Weird.
I did talk about Me's secret identity though ;)
the flav, he say kers... it's all nonsense:
"First of all we don’t know how much it will cost to develop. We don’t know if it’s dangerous or not; it looks like it’s not 100% under control, anyway. And it’s something which doesn’t bring any good to us – it brings only costs. This is sure."
sounds like he's a fan!
more: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=44967
I said some that rhymes with Keen Wolf
Alianora on pole in a FIF1??? {Steven Roy - 86 comments ago}
What?!? This I have to see - I've not been on BATRacer yet today and the idea of me being on pole in anything is already fairly implausible...
i unmoderated you all :)
*something
Though I have an idea what the offending word was. Or Wordpress doesn't like M.J. Fox 80's movies
I'm really not sure what mine was. Perhaps it was the 4 smilies?
Thank you Me :)
Doohickey feedback pt 2
Could unmoderated comments go in as new entries (i.e. at the top) on doohickey or does that become too complicated?
In relation to this http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/ferroyle-jpg
you should be given an OBE or an MBE or something for that, thats genius!!
It's Lukeh's work, he's been doing a few. Check out Dr Bernie and the real Trulli Train on Frop.io
He's quite good with PS
at present, yes. it's a wordpress problem actually.
have plans to move away from WP though, because it's too slow and doesn't scale. not sure when yet mind you.
I've got to do something to keep me (mildly) sane with spc alongside awful assignment work I suppose ;)
in the same way that seb loeb is "quite good" on four wheels!
If any has any interesting Miro feeds can they post the links on Frop.io or something. We need a folder that doesn't move with the calendar, like a useful (non-F1) links
I don't understand the "keep me sane part" :D
Lewis Hamilton is quite good with pizza :D
not sure what you mean by that?
touche good sir, touche :)
Was a bit confusing wasn't it
Too complicated, never mind! :D
Feel free to use the Wiki for anything like that.
Not like how drop.io posts move as they are collated by the day they are posted on.
[Eureka!] I guess a Miro thread on the wiki would do it
And then I looked up from the keyboard to see Christine's post :D
Oooh, what you been coding!?
WP doesn't scale well, I agree - it has been hopelessly slow since I first launched 'The White Blog' way back when. But it does have a decent community behind which will, eventually, listen. If you shout loud enough and are successful enough to encourage the development and promotion of it. :D
But you didn't marry "Me", you married ******* *********.
:)
(Please note that the number of stars does not accurately reflect the number of letters in Me's real name, just in case you were wondering).
And to clarify that - WP's slowness wasn't my fault (it's just inherent in any of my web projects :lol: ). Just that TWB was my first intro to WP and I noticed it's issues back then, circa 2005, I think.
it's the spaghetti code that's the problem.
it's old, requires too many resources and is built to appeal to too many people. we have simple requirements, and it's just overkill on so many levels.
needs to be thinner, lighter and optimised to handle live commenting.
Page started under "Other projects" twisty
I completely agree. But it is open-source, which makes it good as a base to hack it to your needs. Until the following week when you need to upgrade and re-code your hacks! lol.
it's a great starting point no question. we've probably outgrown it now though. i can't see it being completed removed before this time next year, but we'll rely on it less and less and get faster as a result (in theory anyhow).
I am so pleased Ron isn’t around any more and I don’t have to explain to him why I lost pole by 0.020s to a FIF1. I think either I will get fired or that nice Mr Whitmarsh will {Steven Roy - 85 comments ago}
Try the Hamilton technique of calming down such a dispute*. That should help ;)
* - Lewis got stuck behind a FIF1 for nine laps at a high-overtaking circuit, but he got away with it because he earned a rather nice souvenir, also known as the World Driver's Championship trophy.
Technically, there are about 21 other people who are quite embarrased as well. {R.G. - 85 comments ago}
Admittedly, the Super Aguris have a good excuse (their car is the slowest on the grid)...
perform like this in RLB and surely shes gonna be good. {R.G. - 86 comments ago}
Thank you for the vote of confidence, R.G. :) I am hopeful of a Formula Trinity seat for next season.
Wow. Must be a race contender. {Dom - 85 comments ago}
We'll see. Hopefully I won't fade in the race like I did before.
Yay! Just got a fastest lap in the first race of my public game! {Dom - 84 comments ago}
That's great - keep up the good work :)
I need a Simpsons HA! HA! here. Ferrari’s test at Mugello was rained on all day. Good plan going there then. {Steven Roy - 81 comments ago}
You can run from the weather, but you can't hide!
Ah yes, good ol' Nelson Muntz. :D
But hey, at least they saved on transport costs. If it was raining in both Mugello and Algarve, might as well have your test in Mugello anyway.
Especially if you might need your big hacksaws to fix your exhausts :D
Flavio's out to confuse us!
what?
"Flavio Briatore has dismissed suggestions that he will leave Formula One within the next two seasons."
is that because ron's decided to leave now?
You'd think he'd want to get out of there as soon as possible, with the car looking the way it does. ;)
Just noticed a headline on the ITV site:
"Alonso wants to silence Ferrari talk"
Then, mysteriously just afterwards:
"Briatore denies planning to quit"
oh, you are soo drawing conclusions there. i cannot believe you just made that leap of faith.
that renault must be fast!
We were talking about F1 personalities in tv or movies and if the cars can be classified as personalities here's how I would cast The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. The Good goes to Williams (in the words of Murray Walker 'Absolutely Incredible') The Bad goes to Toyota and the Ugly has to go to Renault. This list may change depending on what the other teams do especially BMW.
I didn't say nuffink! ;)
Flavio’s out to confuse us! {Dom - 7 comments ago}
Something he usually manages to do without even trying...
I must apologize for my remarks about the Ferrari, it's not that bad of a looking car other than that rear wing but everybody has that rear wing so I apologize for being to harsh. Renault has the ugliest car I've seen since the Pontiac Aztek. With my luck that last comment will come back to bite me in the ass.
hehe! we'll dig it out in december :D
Right I think it's time I finally headed off to bed, I've spent the last 12 hours on 1 assignment (and still not done!)so I need to give my frazzled brain a rest...
night everyone :)
night luke.
I'm off to bed too. Thankfully I've finished playing spot-the-difference with Parisian paperwork and can give myself something different to do.
Pity it involves pricing up backup hard drives...
drobo!
that was easy.
night btw alia :)
a classic from bernie today, on the subject of fota wanting a greater revenue share:
"We don’t need to pay more. We’ve got to give them less. They could ask for more money but they won’t get it."
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/69fd82f4-e65b-11dd-8e4f-0000779fd2ac.html
rent-a-quote goes one better in this article:
"It’s bad for me to say this, but the only team we would really say we would miss is Ferrari. I wouldn’t want to lose McLaren for sure. I wouldn’t want to lose Williams, but the strength of the Ferrari brand, in particular, is central to the health of F1."
at least he's honest i guess.
more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/996114fc-e665-11dd-8e4f-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
Going onto drop.io now is a video which I made as a kind of mock up season tralier for RLB Season 9 Formula 1, but I never put it up because of the way the screen went all funny. I've never found out why that was :(
Anyway, if you can make the clips out, hope you enjoy it. Kind of showcases my editing abilities. :)
Wow, you were all burning the midnight oil I see ;-)
New U2 song "Get on Your Boots" preview online: http://goyb.u2.com/
The link automatically plays the song...
BMW.Sauber.F1.09 launch
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72888
oh dear.
I'm having problems uploading my video. It says it's complete but it still says uploading. Any ideas why?
i see it :)
Yup, used the HTML loader instead. :)
Let me know what you think in today's daily thread :)