The F1 Thread 2015 Season

[pauldyson1uk]

2015 PRE-SEASON TEST SCHEDULE - UNOFFICIAL
February 1-4: Jerez, Spain.
February 19-22: Barcelona, Spain.
February 26-March 1: Barcelona, Spain.

2015 RACE CALENDAR
March 15: Australian GP
March 29: Malaysia GP
April 12: Chinese GP
April 19: Bahrain GP
May 3: Korean GP (TBC)
May 10: Spanish GP
May 24: Monaco GP
June 7: Canadian GP
June 21: Austrian GP
July 5: British GP
July 19: German GP
July 26: Hungarian GP
August 23: Belgian GP
September 6: Italian GP
September 20: Singapore GP
September 27: Japanese GP
October 11: Russian GP
October 25: U.S. GP
November 1: Mexican GP
November 15: Brazilian GP
November 29: Abu Dhabi GP

DRIVER LINE-UPS

MERCEDES
Drivers: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
Engine: Mercedes

RED BULL
Drivers: Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat
Reserve driver: Sebastien Buemi
Engine: Renault

WILLIAMS
Drivers: Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa
Engine: Mercedes

FERRARI
Drivers: Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
Reserve driver: Esteban Gutierrez
Test driver: Jean-Eric Vergne
Engine: Ferrari

McLAREN
Drivers: Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button
Reserve driver: Kevin Magnussen
Engine: Honda

FORCE INDIA
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez
Engine: Mercedes

TORO ROSSO
Drivers: Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz
Engine: Renault

LOTUS
Drivers: Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado
Engine: Mercedes

SAUBER
Drivers: Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr
Reserve driver: Raffaele Marciello
Engine: Ferrari

MARUSSIA
Drivers: TBC
Engine: Ferrari

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Thought I would start this now , with the testing already under way with new cars.
Will update with drivers, new and old later.

 

[Count Orduck]

They've dropped the retarded double points thing for this, haven't they?

 

[pauldyson1uk]

new McLean/ Honda MP4-29H/1X1

 

[pauldyson1uk]

They've dropped the retarded double points thing for this, haven't they?

I hope so, but knowing Bernie he will keep it and add some just has daft.

 

[Count Orduck]

I wish they'd go back to the old orange and white for the McLaren Honda.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

MERCEDES
No. 1 or No. 44 — Lewis Hamilton
No. 6 — Nico Rosberg

RED BULL
No. 3 — Daniel Ricciardo
No. 26 — Daniil Kvyat

FERRARI
No. 5 — Sebastian Vettel
No. 7 — Kimi Raikkonen

MCLAREN
No. 14 — Fernando Alonso
Jenson Button

WILLIAMS
No. 19 — Felipe Massa
No. 77 — Valtteri Bottas

LOTUS
No. 8 — Romain Grosjean
No. 13 — Pastor Maldonado

FORCE INDIA
No. 11 — Sergio Perez
No. 27 — Nico Hulkenberg

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
No. 38 — Max Verstappen
TBA Carlos Sainz Junior

SAUBER
No. 9 — Marcus Ericsson
No. 40 — Felipe Nasr

THE REST
For Marussia and Caterham, the big question is if they’ll even make it to the 2015 grid, never mind who will be piloting their cars.

Marussia will get a big chunk of television money by dint of Jules Bianchi’s ninth-place finish at Monaco, the two points ensuring they finished ahead of both Caterham and Sauber in the race to avoid F1’s wooden spoon.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Full line up for Abu Dhabi testing.

Red Bull: Tuesday: Carlos Sainz; Wednesday: Daniel Ricciardo.

Mercedes: Tuesday: Nico Rosberg; Wednesday: Pascal Wehrlein.

Ferrari: Tuesday: Kimi Raikkonen; Wednesday: Raffaele Marciello.

Lotus: Tuesday: Charles Pic; Wednesday: Esteban Ocon.

McLaren: Tuesday and Wednesday: Stoffel Vandoorne.

Force India: Tuesday: Jolyon Palmer; Wednesday: Spike Goddard.

Sauber: Tuesday and Wednesday: Marcus Ericsson.

Toro Rosso: Tuesday and Wednesday: Max Verstappen.

Williams: Tuesday: Valtteri Bottas; Wednesday: Felipe Nasr.

Caterham: Tuesday and Wednesday: Will Stevens.

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

No. 14 — Fernando Alonso

I know this is the worst kept secret since Vettel to Ferrari but has it been made official?

 

[matherto]

I wish they'd go back to the old orange and white for the McLaren Honda.

I don't think they can without a lawsuit from Phillip Morris.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I know this is the worst kept secret since Vettel to Ferrari but has it been made official?

No I dont think it has yet, but like you say worst kept secret.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

The McLaren-Honda made its eagerly awaited public debut on the first day of the Abu Dhabi test, but completed minimal running at the Yas Marina Circuit due to unreliability.

Stoffel Vandoorne was forced to abandon the MP4-29H on the side of the track on his second run due to what McLaren-Honda described as 'a fuel/data exchange issue' as the new partnership ran into inevitable teething problems and completed just three laps in total.

Nevertheless, despite the limited running, McLaren reported they made 'lots of progress' as they start to get to grips with the returning Japanese manufacturer's brand-new power unit.

"This test is an opportunity for us to build up that operational strength; to get McLaren and Honda working together under the same roof," Racing Director Eric Boullier said.

 

[Dargonk]

Not sounding great from Honda so far. Really hope that they can put together a competative engine. I don't want a situation like this season, where basically only one of the engines were good enough to actually compete properly for the title.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I would not read to much in to it, first real run of the engine , bound to be problems.
I see them being decent next season.

 

[Skills]

How come vettel has legged it from Red Bull after winning WCs in 4 of his 6 seasons with them? Haven't really.been following in too much detail in the last few years.

 

[kotha]

How come vettel has legged it from Red Bull after winning WCs in 4 of his 6 seasons with them? Haven't really.been following in too much detail in the last few years.

He's always admitted to being a big Schumi fan.. So I guess a chance to do what Schumi did to Ferrari was too tempting for him..

 

[pauldyson1uk]

96 laps for #PascalWehrlein to conclude the two day test! Quickest by over half a second;

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Jean-Eric Vergne tweeted this earlier.

Despite a good season & 22 pts, I'll not drive anymore for Toro Rosso in 2015. Thanks for those years. Let's go for another big challenge.

 

[MajorTom]

new McLean/ Honda MP4-29H/1X1

Spoiler

Really like the look of that, especially from that angle. Hope Button is announced a part of their driver line-up for next year. I know Magnussen is only young but he hasn't show a great deal of race pace throughout the year, had a decent start but tailed off rapidly and Button outscored and out-raced him by a great margin.

 

[Sassy Colin]

I wish they'd go back to the old orange and white for the McLaren Honda.

That would be red & white wouldn't it?

I don't think they can without a lawsuit from Phillip Morris.

Not if it was orange, red maybe, but not orange.

Anyway, how come Lotus gets to use John Player Special livery when tobacco advertising is banned?

 

[Leg-End]

They are throwback liveries, Williams did it a while back too.

 

[Marching]

Anyone got plans to get to a GP in 2015? I've just realised I have friends in Abu Dhabi & Oman so might make it out there.

Also might be useful to share any info re best tracks/stands/seats, travel etc.

 

[Count Orduck]

I've only ever been to one GP (Montreal in the year Hamilton and Button did a 1-2 in the McLarens, 2010 I think) but it was amazing. I've been told though that Canada is one of the better races to attend.

 

[matherto]

Any of the older tracks are probably better.

Monaco is special despite the actual racing.

 

[Ubik]

I hope McLaren go orange. I'd like to think they will, given the silver/chrome is thought of as Merc-related. New start and all. Still not heard anything on the new title sponsor...

Predicting a Hamilton double for this year. Bold.

 

[Marching]

Any of the older tracks are probably better.

Monaco is special despite the actual racing.

Did Monaco in 2011 and would recommend going at least once. Being in Abu Dhabi must be a great place to be to see the champion crowned and with a mate working in nearby Oman I might make it out there in 2015.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I did price up Sliverstone last season and for me and my 2 lads , with food and petrol, car parking and extra you always tempted to buy, it worked out £1000 , not a price I could justify.

 

[Leg-End]

I go to Silverstone a fair bit, BTCC, F1 Testing etc. I went to quali and the race in 2007 and watching Hamilton take pole at the death was pretty special.........the race was dull.

For the costs though I wouldn't recommend it, not for Formula 1 anyway. The track is too flat so you basically get a couple corners viewing if you are lucky and the rest you see on the screens if you happen to be situated close to one. For the cost of it I bet you could go to an abroad race and have a mini holiday out of it, pot luck if you get decent Silverstone weather anyway. Nice to do it once, I wouldn't do it again.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I would not mind Spa next season , near my birthday.

 

[Leg-End]

Yeah I'll be going to Spa one day, hopefully Monza too.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

This was tweeted by Martin Brundle.

Some common sense from the Strategy Group and F1 Commission. Double points and safety car standing restarts cancelled for 2015.

 

[Dargonk]

Good to hear. Double points was just stupid and never should have been given the green light in the first place.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I am sure Bernie will have something else equally stupid to replace it.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Nico Hulkenberg will compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours for Porsche in 2015 alongside contesting the full Formula One season with Force India.

The 27-year-old German, who will also contest the six-hour World Endurance Championship race at Spa as preparation for his Le Mans bow, said the desire to compete in both disciplines had been too alluring to turn down.

"Porsche and Le Mans - this combination probably attracts every race driver," said Hulkenberg of the twice-round the clock race, which in 2015 takes place on June 13-14, the weekend in between the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix.

"I've been a Porsche fan for a long time and have been watching their return to the LMP1 class closely. The desire grew to drive that car at Le Mans."

Hulkenberg also thanked Force India for allowing him to race at Le Mans, adding: "I am very pleased the 2015 Formula One calendar allows for it and I'm grateful to my Sahara Force India Formula One Team's generosity to let me go for it.

"Now it's up to me to work hard to satisfy both commitments."

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Scuderia Toro Rosso have announced that Carlos Sainz Junior will partner Max Verstappen in an all-new 2015 driver line-up.

The Spaniard, who recently became the youngest ever winner of the World Series by Renault title, replaces Jean-Eric Vergne who announced his departure from the Italian team earlier this week.

 

[Amir]

With Alonso and Magnussen expected to get the seats at McLaren I think it leaves just Caterham, if they make it at all.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Bit early yet bt looking around for another fantasy league to use, found this one
http://www.fantasy-f1-league.com/ has anybody used it before?

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Rule changes for next season.

The FIA has confirmed it will scrap the controversial double points finale to the F1 season as part of a raft of rule changes approved at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Doha.

The decision to award double points in Abu Dhabi this year provoked outrage among F1 fans and, while it did not influence the championship outcome, has been dispensed with after just one season.



Following successful trials after practice sessions in 2014, a Virtual Safety Car will be introduced next year. “It will normally be used when double-waved yellow flags are needed on any section of track and competitors or officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not such as to warrant use of the Safety Car itself,” the FIA confirmed.



In another new procedure, the Safety Car will now pit once the last lapped car has passed, rather than waiting for lapped cars to catch the pack.



Following a Safety Car period the races will resume with a normal rolling start behind the leader after the standing starts proposal was rescinded.



A 10-second stop/go penalty, which can be served before a pitstop is carried out, will be introduced in 2015 after a similar five-second stop/go penalty worked successfully this year.



The replacement of an entire power unit will no longer result in a pitlane start in 2015, instead penalties will be applied cumulatively for individual components of the power unit.



Grid penalties for power unit components will no longer carry over to the following race if the entire penalty cannot be served. Time penalties will be introduced instead, running on a sliding scale depending on the number of penalty places still to be served.



The minimum weight of the 2015 cars will also be increased slightly to 702kg without fuel, up from 701kg in 2014.



The FIA has also made revisions to the requirements to obtain a Super Licence which will take affect from 2016. The changes will mean drivers must be aged 18 or over and have completed at least two years in junior formulae.

 

[Leg-End]

All fairly positive changes I think, especially the lapped cars/SC thing, it was a pain waiting for them to catch back up.

 

[kotha]

Is the 21 race calender for 2015 confirmed or is still under discussion?