2026 Watch
- Thread starter Sportista
- Start date
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Exactly, which makes a lot more sense then when we were wondering why someone would run something different.
By the look of them this week they'll be concentrating on getting into Q1 more than out of it.Harsh, but not unfair!
Not been able to follow this week as closely, unfortunately.
The impression I have is that the Merc looks quick, the Ferrari is quick and McLaren have made good progress this week to get on terms with them. RedBull have either hit a ceiling or have been disguising their pace significantly as they now look a little detached from the other three, but well ahead of the midfield.
In the midfield the Haas and Alpine look strong, which is seriously impressive from Haas as the smallest team in F1 dealing with such a big change. RB, Williams and Audi all look reasonably close together, but behind the leading pair.
Cadillac look stronger than anticipated, but also off the midfield and I think we’re all pretty clear that Aston has a lot of work to do.
The impression I have is that the Merc looks quick, the Ferrari is quick and McLaren have made good progress this week to get on terms with them. RedBull have either hit a ceiling or have been disguising their pace significantly as they now look a little detached from the other three, but well ahead of the midfield.
In the midfield the Haas and Alpine look strong, which is seriously impressive from Haas as the smallest team in F1 dealing with such a big change. RB, Williams and Audi all look reasonably close together, but behind the leading pair.
Cadillac look stronger than anticipated, but also off the midfield and I think we’re all pretty clear that Aston has a lot of work to do.
Aston/Honda do seem to have big issues. Sounds like they have ICE temp issues, gearbox problems and battery problems. They could all be related to cooling but I doubt it. Hopefully they can do something quick to enable them to run in Aus, even if it compromises aero.
The biggest problem they have is that they have to homologate the PUs on 1st March - 8 days!!!!
The biggest problem they have is that they have to homologate the PUs on 1st March - 8 days!!!!
Seems to be emerging that Merc were running an upgraded PU this week. Maybe explains why they seemed to take a step back in reliability? Audi PU apparently sounded quite different too and they were quite open that they started testing with an early spec. The drop in reliability was present for RedBull and maybe to a lesser extent Ferrari too, so I wonder if it’s something all the works teams were working on this week?
AutoSport are reporting that the starting procedures have been changed but also lowering the energy recovery cap on the straights!
I assume the starting procedure is giving the cars an extra 5 seconds to build boost but I can't seem to find specifics as surely this will hurt Ferrari?
As for lowering the harvesting on the straights again that doesn't seem fair to the teams who can't use 1st gear to harvest in the slower corners.
I really don't like this changing the rules at the last minute stuff, doesn't seem fair.
OK so the start procedure and harvesting maybe a safety issues but still it's a very late change that will remove advantages some teams had. Yes it is a new rule set but in this day and age did no one other than Ferrari look at starting sims? Are Red Bull the only team to have worked out that they can use 1st gear in slow corners to boost harvesting? Seems like FIA missed a few things along the way!
I assume the starting procedure is giving the cars an extra 5 seconds to build boost but I can't seem to find specifics as surely this will hurt Ferrari?
As for lowering the harvesting on the straights again that doesn't seem fair to the teams who can't use 1st gear to harvest in the slower corners.
I really don't like this changing the rules at the last minute stuff, doesn't seem fair.
OK so the start procedure and harvesting maybe a safety issues but still it's a very late change that will remove advantages some teams had. Yes it is a new rule set but in this day and age did no one other than Ferrari look at starting sims? Are Red Bull the only team to have worked out that they can use 1st gear in slow corners to boost harvesting? Seems like FIA missed a few things along the way!
Thanks, so I think the recovery thing isn’t a late change, I think that’s referring to the 250kW limit for “super-clipping” to try and avoid excessive closing speeds? As far as I know Ferrari have supported the start changes that have been made (all teams did) so I assume it’s not impacting an advantage they’re concerned about.
It would be wrong to change things at the last minute. As it is, if Merc have been told they need to change the compression ratio at high temperatures by the end of the summer break, that is the FIA screwing up through lack of clarity.
One more weekend and we will see what we will see. Need a few races to get to understand the likely order.
This winter break has gone fast, maybe its because I am getting older.
One more weekend and we will see what we will see. Need a few races to get to understand the likely order.
This winter break has gone fast, maybe its because I am getting older.
Being reported that they might want Merc to change by 1st June!!!!
What I don't get is what happens to the ICE that have been used i.e. do they get 3 new ICE if they have used each of the high compression ratio ICE that they have?
It would be harsh to have them make changes and not give them another tally of 3. Maybe that is the compromise for forcing the change on Merc.
Has the vote passed? The last I saw was that the the teams wanted a hot test, the FIA have proposed a hot and cold test, which the rival teams don’t want and doesn’t help them, so likely it wasn’t going to go through?
If they do change the rules, I assume they just lose any engines from the pool that don’t comply, teams didn’t get cost cap back last year when they had to scrap pre Barcelona wings. I think it’s 4 ICE elements allowed for 2026, so if a rule change occurs for mid season, theoretically you could build two of each and only have a slight loss of flexibility assuming you don’t lose any due to failure.
If they do change the rules, I assume they just lose any engines from the pool that don’t comply, teams didn’t get cost cap back last year when they had to scrap pre Barcelona wings. I think it’s 4 ICE elements allowed for 2026, so if a rule change occurs for mid season, theoretically you could build two of each and only have a slight loss of flexibility assuming you don’t lose any due to failure.
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I wonder if they'll cancel the Bahrain GP after today's missile strikes.
So if I’ve understood this right.
Now 16:1 at ambient and anything you like outside of that
June 1st 16:1 at ambient and 130 deg C (and Merc claim they meet this already so no actual impact to them)
2027 16:1 at 130 deg C and anything you like outside of that.
Basically they’re making it easier to hit 16:1 in 2027 and limiting the ability to operate above 16:1 from 1st June.
They should do if there’s even the slightest safety concern , but they won’t unless they absolutely have zero options .
Sounds like Aston and Honda have come up with what could be a good excuse to the problems. They are blaming excess vibrations causing battery issues!
They are saying that IF they can sort the vibrations then their PU will be able to increase power to max. I do wonder if some problems have been caused by gearbox issues or cooling miscalculations?
They are suggesting that they are OK about meeting the homologation date (tomorrow, 1st March) I think as their main problem is vibrations not ICE/PU.
When Honda last started in 2015 with McLaren didn't they have vibration issues as well? It seems like they are having problems on track so do they have test bed to track correlation issues again? It's a bit déjà vu as far as I can see. Didn't McLaren try very tight bodywork as well - size zero springs to mind?
I almost feel sorry for Aston, then again they do have Lance....... So maybe we should all feel sorry for them
They are saying that IF they can sort the vibrations then their PU will be able to increase power to max. I do wonder if some problems have been caused by gearbox issues or cooling miscalculations?
They are suggesting that they are OK about meeting the homologation date (tomorrow, 1st March) I think as their main problem is vibrations not ICE/PU.
When Honda last started in 2015 with McLaren didn't they have vibration issues as well? It seems like they are having problems on track so do they have test bed to track correlation issues again? It's a bit déjà vu as far as I can see. Didn't McLaren try very tight bodywork as well - size zero springs to mind?
I almost feel sorry for Aston, then again they do have Lance....... So maybe we should all feel sorry for them