I believe they will be better, but I don't see them contending for wins. Williams level performance is realistic I would say. All content subject to revision once testing starts!!!
Williams are a team I'm looking forward to seeing. They held back on 2015 development to put more into their 2016 budget. They need a marked step forward. They wont beat Mercedes as they are simply a customer but they need a car with more downforce so this is a big year for them if they are to get back into the big time. Anyone looking forward to the first fully-fledged James Allison & Peter Prodromou cars?
I get the impression that Merc have reached their full potential (or at least wishing) and whilst they will make incremental gains the overall performance will be similar. If this is the case, then we will start to see how competitive other areas of their package is. My gut feel, is that they will take a gamble and lean towards 2017 - relying on their PU unit to keep them ahead. Really looking forward to the Ferrari, and with the option of more and softer compounds I hope to see them really pressure Merc, if only physcologically - they are frail under pressure and with Nico out of contract, sparks will fly. I do believe Honda will and can find 2+ seconds on their PU, but their biggest challenge will be how their chassis adapts when running at 100% rather than 50%, and the associated tyre wear and fuel economy when running appropriate downforce.
I wonder if a very quick and easy change that could be made for 2016 is PU manufacturers must supply only 1 version of it's PU and the PU can be run under the same restrictions as manufacturer uses i.e. same maps, same rev limits, fuel flow limits etc. OK so teams will be using different cooling, exhaust, gearbox systems and possible different fuels and lubs but it would at least give the non manufacturers a bit more of a chance.
That change was certainly mooted, not sure if it was implemented or not in the end. I believe the argument against it was that manufacturers couldn't produce enough of the new parts quickly enough for all.
Very true but even worse Merc (probably Ferrari and Renault) certainly seem to not allow customers to have certain engine modes! Add to that the extra hp from the PU manufactures development work with their partner fuel and lub supplier that probably wont be available to customers. The fuels and lubs is a difficult one, on the one hand standard fuel and lub across all teams would be good for equality the problem is the teams would use out on sponsorship money. Don't get me wrong I don't not want all things standard but I do believe the customers should not be at a disadvantaged over their own PU supplier. FIA should have set max cost of complete PU per season and each PU manufacturer must be capable of supplying 35% of grid unless first year then maybe single team in first year only. So as long as 3 PU manufactures all teams have PU available at fixed costs.
Have to agree with you here, as a Ferrari fan it is hard to ignore the strangle hold it has on important decisions such as the one discussed. Some really interesting points that I had glossed over in this thread. Tyre selections and PU development seem slightly complicated. As Chris said, I am not listening to driver drivel before Qualifying takes place, as 90% of it is false hope 90% of the time. I don't think Mercedes will be easily caught by Ferrari or anybody this season. Any big developments will most likely occur in 2017. Will be interesting to see RB and Renault work together. On another note I only expect Williams to make any large developments. The likes of FI, Sauber and STR will stay as they are. (As they always do). Alonso and Button both praised the driveability of the Mclaren as opposed to its power last season, so if they can make some progress with that, who knows what they can bring to the table. In terms of other brands entering the sport. VW- Too busy sorting out the mess from the 'cheat device' scandal. Jaguar- Has decided to point its development towards Formula E. Ford- Having a shot at the WEC. Aston Martin- As far as I know backed out of any deal with FI.
Agree re Ferrari. The best feedback in testing will be from drivers outside of the said teams. There is always a general feel for which car looks good/fast - they all know within a few % what fuel, revs, maps etc. they are all running.
Fair enough. Will look out for that when it starts. Do we have a testing thread at all? I am ready to set one up. - Just realised the initial test in Catalunya is in February.
Good video - but I still think the rules are stupid and unnecessarily complex. Interesting that the tyres are chosen by the driver, not the team, which I hadn't picked up before. Obviously the team will have a large say, but it opens up the possibility of teammates doing different things. Being possibly the most boring Formula 1 team ever, I assume Mercedes will force their drivers to do the same. It will be interesting to see if it has any effect on certain drivers performance relative to their team mates, Button/Alonso and Perez/Hulkenberg and Bottas/Massa could be interesting to watch from this point of view.
please log in to view this image F1 Gossip Column Kevin Magnussen could make an F1 comeback at Renault – and may yet line up on the grid for the start of the new season in March. According to The Daily Telegraph, the Dane, who was dropped in October by McLaren from his role as reserve driver, held talks at Renault’s Enstone base last week. While Magnussen could take on a reserve role at Renault, it’s speculated that the youngster could take the seat reserved for Pastor Maldonado. Although Renault, then operating as Lotus, announced four months ago that Maldonado would continue in 2016, The Telegraph says ‘given the political uncertainty in Venezuela and the low price of oil - Maldonado brings lucrative sponsorship through the state oil company, PDVSA - the 30-year-old's place could be under threat.’ (Full story - external site)
