It's meant to be 40bhp up, which I guess is 5% of peak output. Will be a lot faster than Aus 2014 anyway as the engines have gotten about 2-3s a lap faster this season alone. Driveability is something hard to measure but I assume they've made leaps and bounds there, something Honda will have to work though this season.
Even if they find 0.5 of a second with the 2015 engine, that is still devastating. Only Honda can possibly get near them next season, I think Renault and Ferrari are too far behind.
Gonna be very tricky... If Merc don't agree to open up the engine freeze the non-Merc teams could gang up on them and put through a majority vote for changes in 2016.. But with the current hoopla about "costs" all new engine for 2016 onwards won't help resolve that issue! For the benefit of the sport, it would be in everyone's interest if they can work on a better "compromise" with regards to the engine un-freeze to prevent a VERY costly engine war that could very well lead to the likes of Lotus, Sauber and FI going the way of Caterham and Marussia! Then again, Darth Sidius Ecclestone may want that so he can get his wish of 6 three car teams...
What happens if Bernie fails to look after Ferrari (with the engine freeze issue)? I can see them moving their interest to WEC with an LMP1 entry.
Great, that would in part solve the disparity in prize money as Ferrari take the biggest share of it, plus bonus payments that no other team gets. The sport has outgrown Ferrari and can survive without it.
Agreed, I wouldn't think it would hurt F1 popularity in general to be honest. They've been nowhere the last 6 seasons, and nobody really cares.
The purists would say F1 is nothing without Ferrari, but I disagree. If anything, if they go and prize money/sponsorship drops, it would mean the bigger teams have to reduce their budgets, so would bring them comparatively closer to the smaller teams. Could it actually be to the benefit of F1 for Ferrari to go?
Just been looking at some early odds from the bookmakers on 2015. Mercedes 1/3 to win constructors. Jenson Button not in the list for drivers championship with any of them
I can't see Ferrari leaving F1. For all their attitude of being bigger than the sport, pretty much all of their claim to superior racing heritage is based on their unbroken history in F1. They are nothing without F1 IMO.
Marco Mattiaci sacked by Ferrari Not moved, Sacked. Odd, must have been a monumental falling out somewhere. I thought on the surface he was doing an ok job, seemed to really have shaken the team up. Obviously not going to get success overnight but wasn't scared to make big calls. Weird one. Already replaced him, wonder if they will find a role for Ross Brawn?
Ok here is my theory. Searching the Internet and reading numerous tweets my conclusion is as follows. Alonso to drive for Audi in WEC and enter F1 with them in 2016/2017
Domenicalli joined them recently, but no. I reckon if there's going to be a twist, it'll be McLaren ditching Button and Magnussen for Vandoorne to partner Alonso. Though that'd be the craziest call of all the possibilities.
Last call, I think Porsche are running an extra LMP1 car next season so..... Webber + Alonso + Button super exF1 WEC team
2 Seats. Audi's Kristensen has retired. And Porsche are looking to run a 3rd car. I think it will be the latter as you say. Minimal chance Ron will retain Button now.
Alonso did tell Lee McKenzie on Sunday that, although he was not able to say where he would be, "It will not be a surprise. You are close."
Ferrari admit politics is more important than talent Reading that, words absolutely fail me. It's going to take years and years before they're a proper title contender again. They'd better hope they can squeeze Ross Brawn in somewhere, they need some technical know-how from somewhere. But Alonso to WEC to link up with Audi, then be their lead driver in a Brawn-led 2017 Audi/VW F1 team would be stunning.
He also said in another interview he was joining "The only project that can realistically challenge and break the Mercedes dominance soon", So unless he's fooled everyone and ended up joining Red Bull as their test driver, he's doing what we all know and joining McLaren. Another Ron quote recently "We are aiming to dominate".
