As far as I know the use of hybrid power has the same restrictions as the 2014 regs, I imagine there will be improvements in efficiency and how they use the power, but they probably already operate pretty efficient systems. I fully expect Red Bull to be the team to beat this year under these aero regs, with Mercedes hopefully picking up pieces as the two Red Bull boys squabble. I'm guessing Ferrari will be abysmal, these regs just scream not Ferrari. Really hope to see McLaren pushing to the front, along with the likes of Force India, Williams and Toro Rosso making good little cars.
|I wouldn;t be surprised to see McLaren up there, when you consider how long the others had to design their engines compared to Honda, and how quickly Honda have closed the BHP gap they could end up with the best engine in a season or 2.
I heard a rumour that RB and Merc have had to drastically redesign elements of their car due to the active suspension issues.
For all the hype with Honda, Their F1 record is more about failure than it is success. It took them about 4 years to get their old turbo engine right, they ditched their V10's for V12's in the 90's for no apparent reason or much gain, and either side of these they were pretty woeful with BAR and Jordan (except when Jordan were using Mugen tuned Honda engines before they got 'works' units which just exploded) and the latter works team, and their 1960's effort is best forgotten. I'm not convinced Honda have it in them to get it right before they quit again. If they want success they have to stick at it. Dipping their toe in the water every so often just doesn't work, the pace of F1 is so great that if you are out of the game for any length of time you will lose track of developments.
I can imagine its had a massive effect on the aero of the car as that will have been developed around the suspension system keeping everything nice and stable. For the sake of competition, lets at least hope that is the case!
I'm not sure about Red Bull, yes they will be great aero but remember Renault have a brand new IC engine that they seem to be saying has lots of development potential. I think they will start on lower power than last year and develop during the year. I think that Williams are on their back foot as I seem to recall them not switching to 2017 spec very early at all. Force India, I do wonder how their finance are. I hope they are funded reasonably as they do seem to be getting better and better. McLaren, I really hope Honda give them a decent PU. I believe they have now given up on their in vee turbo and are going same as 2016 Merc. Hopefully that plus all the things they have learned over the last 2 years will gain them massively. So if Honda have it right I expect McHonda to be towards the front. I think this could be a 'Brawn' type year. Who ever gets it right might do really well in the first half of the year until the other catch up. I think the teams that have to change their suspension systems may well be a bit behind at the beginning of the year. They will have to adapt to the new suspension and the appropriate settings for each track. Their models on their sims will need validation work than may not be able to be done till the temps start getting up. Looking forward to seeing who has best interpretations of the rules and who adapts to new tyres quickest. The number of changes are truly massive. Merc and Ferrari I think using upgraded 2016 engines but Honda and Renault all new engines. Everyone using brand new compounds and tyre sizes. This all together with new aero rules. Cant wait.
Would indicate that there is still performance or efficiency to be obtained in the non combustion side of the power unit.
So with Marlboro well gone and Ron Dennis now out of the picture, Looks like Mclaren are still going to keep the MP4 name in their chassis?..
I would imagine so, after all, it stands for McLaren Project 4, the name of the two merged teams, nothing has really changed there
Not sure if you have seen the McLaren Richard Mille livery at today's corporate event but damn, that's how you make a black livery look sexy. Can't link the pics as I'm at work- have a gander.
It's official - It's Bottas. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38489054 Valtteri Bottas has succeeded world champion Nico Rosberg as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate at Mercedes. The move, expected since December, also sees Brazilian Felipe Massa come out of retirement to replace the 27-year-old Finn at Williams. Mercedes' young driver Pascal Wehrlein, passed over in favour of Bottas, joins the Swiss Sauber team. Massa, 35, said he was "extremely motivated to be coming back" and Bottas had been given a "great opportunity". 'It felt like the right thing to do' Massa announced his retirement at the end of last season but quit F1 only because he knew he was not wanted at Williams and there was no other good seat available to him. A winner of 11 grands prix, he said: "Given the turn of events over the winter, I wish Valtteri all the best at Mercedes. "In turn, when I was offered the chance to help Williams with their 2017 F1 campaign, it felt like the right thing to do." Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams said: "With Valtteri having a unique opportunity to join the constructors' champions, we have been working hard to ensure that an agreement could be made with Mercedes. "Felipe has always been a much-loved member of the Williams family, and having the opportunity to work with him again is something we all look forward to. "He was always going to race somewhere in 2017, as he has not lost that competitive spirit, and it was important that we had a strong replacement in order for us to let Valtteri go. "Felipe rejoining us provides stability, experience and talent to help lead us forward. He is a great asset for us." Massa, who said he had signed a one-year deal, is an experienced and known quantity for Williams, who needed a driver over 25 to partner the 18-year-old Canadian rookie Lance Stroll as a result of their title sponsor, drinks giant Martini. Felipe Massa retired at the end of last season but "felt it was the right thing to do" to help out Williams in 2017 Why did Mercedes not pick Wehrlein? Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff negotiated a deal to release Bottas from Williams because he believed Wehrlein was not yet ready for promotion. He turned to Sauber, who use engines from Mercedes' rivals Ferrari, to find a seat for the German to continue his development in F1. Wehrlein will partner Swede Marcus Ericsson in what will be his second season in the sport. The 22-year-old drove for Manor in his debut season last year but the British team are in administration and their participation in F1 in 2017 is in serious doubt. For Bottas, meanwhile, the move is the opportunity of a lifetime. He has been in F1 for four seasons and has shown well at Williams alongside first Pastor Maldonado and then Massa. His best results so far are two second places, at the British and German grands prix in 2014. Wolff has said he will end his ties with the personal management of Bottas' career now the driver is under his employment.
Everything the could possibly be said about it has been. Really though all the discussion was unnecessary beyond "meh".
Seems Bottas deal only 1 year with option of second. I wonder who has the option on year 2 What's the betting Merc see how Wehrlein does and then boots out Bottas after a year!
Like I said, a poisoned chalice for anyone wanting a future career in F1. If Bottas only has a 1year deal he is an idiot.
Well at least it's official. Boring moves and very safe options. I'd be amazed if Bottas comes close to Lewis but it depends on the Merc car and how motivated Lewis is. Williams look set for a real development year to bed in Stroll and the return of Paddy Lowe.
For some reason I believe Williams are going to slip back into mediocrity. Bottas to Mercedes was expected, Wehrlein is a talent but I see him actually replacing Lewis in a few years.
It will be interesting to see how Williams do. i.e. they will, at a guess, have a bigger budget than they had planned due to the discounted (maybe even free engines). So it will take them a while to see components from the increased budget coming through to the car.
