2012 Predictions / Driver Line-up / News etc...

I didn't as soon as they appointed De La Rosa as a driver. They have again delayed launching their car which for a team like HRT is a poor decision. When your a team at the back of the field you need as much testing as possible. I honestly don't know why they are in F1.

 

HRT will probably end up making a dog of a car that a GP2 car could beat, even after delaying the launch.

 

Well at least they are turning up to the 1st test with the old car, which is an improvement. Cant say that for Marrusia!

 

Both just as bad. At least Catheram looked like they were making progress last season.

 

De la Rosa and Karthikeyan.

No debate to be had about worst driver line up then.

 

maybe they are waitinmg to look at everyone elses before they start designing there own, atm it's a steering wheel, 4 wheels, an engine and a DRS activation module in a big wooden box sitting in the corner of the garage. I think judging their performance in relation to Lotus will see if they're going anywhere this year, if the car is lik llast years then, with these drivers, 107% is going to be a push.
There is also the possibility that HRT are using Karthikeyan for his money to improve the car quicker than they normally could, then kicking him out mid-season for someone a little better, (who knows what his contract states performance wise) there's a few decent drivers outside of the current F1 that could do a job, and a back of the grid car could be the ideal preparation for someone who, say, had their arm severed off in a rally accident....

 

Time for a testing thread I think...http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97309

 

Formula 1's first pre-season test will kick off with 11 teams at Jerez on Tuesday, with only Marussia not running.

The Spanish circuit has issued a running order for the opening of the winter tests, with nine news cars set to run for the first time.

Mercedes GP is running last year's car but using its three days of running to evaluate tyres, while HRT is only running Pedro de la Rosa in its 2011 challenger on the first two days.

The full running order is:

PHP:

Team           Tuesday              Wednesday    Thursday    Friday
Sauber         Kobayashi            Perez        Perez       Kobayashi
Ferrari        Massa                Massa        Alonso      Alonso
Force India    di Resta             di Resta     Hulkenberg  Hulkenberg
Caterham       TBA                  TBA          TBA         TBA
McLaren        Button               Button       Hamilton    Hamilton
Mercedes       Rosberg/Schumacher   Schumacher   Rosberg     -
Red Bull       Webber               Webber       Vettel      Vettel
Lotus          Raikkonen            Raikkonen    Grosjean    Grosjean
Toro Rosso     Ricciardo            Ricciardo    Vergne      Vergne
Williams       Maldonado            Maldonado    Senna       Senna
HRT            de la Rosa           de la Rosa   -           -

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97309

EDIT: Snap with Forza

 

Is someone going to make a testing thread then?

 

To be fair, Karthikeyan was a bit better at India, but still a very bizarre decision. One advantage the HRT does have for 2012, over Marussia at least, is the fact that it will be running KERS. How much difference that will make remains to be seen.

There's been so much news today, so this has sort of crept under the radar. Sauber technical director James Key has left the team, which is a bit of a shock really. Terrible timing from Sauber's point of view, but I wonder where on Earth he's going. Surely, he's not joining the plethora of technical gurus at Mercedes!

 

If HRT are serious about remaining in F1, Pedro de la Rosa is a perfectly reasonable choice in my opinion, since he is very experienced and exceptionally good on the technical side - and he's Spanish. With him having signed for the team after the end of last season, I'm a little surprised at some of the reaction here, especially with the team having relocated to Spain (with a strong possibility of government help); which surely leaves little doubt about the team's nationalistic perspective; and could help secure their long term survival.

On the other hand, the Karthikeyan decision has little merit in my view, and I echo those above who think it's rather sad. I can only add is that he must be bringing an awful lot of money with him…

 

I do understand the HRT driver line up though. Realistically they wont score points if they waste this year with a talented driver so logically you employ a man with the dosh (Karth eVader) and a man to develop the car (PDLR). It is thier best chance of getting anywhere!

 

Yep, sadly I think it's a question of survival for HRT right now... Which brings things right back to genji's earlier point that there should be a better distribution of F1's massive wealth. Oh well, good luck to 'em.

 

I really don't get that decision though...Giedo Van Der Garde brought the necessary money (6.5 million I believe) and a few others would have I'm sure.

 

that might cover the cost of the cappuchinos, but I doubt that'll go that far, at the end of the day the basic rule of motor racing is the more money you have the faster you'll go. I looked at the original decision of PDLR and could see the reasoning behind it, a good driver may steal the odd position but a good car will get more, even with a crap driver (in relation to the rest of the field). I had hoped they'd go for a young gunner in the no.2 (but saying that there's no guarantee the young charger would be any good), but the reality is HRT need money and/or some out field thinking more than they need driving talent.
I also think HRT will kick Karthkeyan out of the seat if he doesn't perform and replace him, they have quite good form for doing that, and also worth noting is that last season Suzuka was the last time they had the slowest Q1 time, they beat either a Lotus or Virgin (sometimes both) in the rest of the races last season, so compared to those around them they made some improvements.

 

Cant wait for the new williams car

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Dreadful timing, I do wonder what exactly they'll do.




Oh god please not Kolles.

 

Last year there were rumours that the front wing tests might become scriter. Looks like that is the case -the FIA used to allow 20mm flex at 100kg. Now it's only 10mm flex:

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I'm not sure if this will put an end to flexi wings but at least the FIA are doing something to try and stop teams using a blantently illegal device (although I am a bit pissed that they let Red Bull cheat for so long and yet as soon as Ferrari catch up they make the tests stricter).

 

Never mind. Irrelevant post.

EDIT:

I've found something to add to this post:

From Sauber's twitter, a picture of the C31:
http://twitter.com/#!/OfficialSF1Team/status/166141826888253441/photo/1

Closer view here:

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Little tidbit of info, the line-ups for the Jerez test have been announced. Guess which team is listed as "TBA" for all four sessions?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97309

Wonder if the move for Petrov is still on then!

I *think* I see a stepped nose. (Just in front of the black/white colour shift.) and I don't like the black nosecone. I've liked Sauber's livery these last couple of years and that just wouldn't fit.