Formula One 2019

[Cleoriff]

What better way to start the new F1 thread than wishing Lewis Hamilton a Happy 34th Birthday

Here's hoping for a great season and another world championship for the lad from Stevenage

Get In Lewis and hopefully

PS: New cars are revealed from February 12th. Testing starts February 18th..

Season starts in 10 weeks. March15th Australia...

[Cleoriff]

The end of two weeks testing in Barcelona. Mercedes waited until today to unleash it's power.

However, Ferrari are still top of the 'speed' leaderboard. Red Bull didn't run today as they had gearbox issues.

It just two weeks till the start of the 2019 season in Australia. Thank God.

[Cleoriff]

Nice little map, with dates...

[Cleoriff]

A shock for some but not others.

Paddy Lowe, Chief Technical Officer for Williams F1 is 'taking a leave of absence'  from the F1 team.

Paddy has shouldered most of the blame for the car not being ready for testing in Barcelona in February.

How the mighty have fallen. He left Mercedes when Rosberg retired and has failed Willimas miserably...so it looks like Williams are in for another bad year.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-paddy-lowe-leave-tech-chief/4348236/?fbclid=IwAR2l_pwRVH...

[jonsie]

Just goes to show that the grass isn't always greener! Maybe its just me but I can't feel sorry for these guys on the mega-bucks salaries. Pressure and responsibility comes with the territory but yes, a shame for Williams and the sport in general. Fans need to see stronger teams and more competition.

[Cleoriff]

I just feel sorry for the team @jonsie 

All the glory they once had and now they build a car which is probably 7 seconds slower than any other on the grid.

[Cleoriff]

With the first race of the season starting this weekend, there is a new rule which has just been implemented.

Apparently an extra point is going to be awarded to the driver with the fastest lap per race.

One proviso ...

A driver must be classified in the top 10 in order to be awarded the additional point, which will count towards both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-fastest-lap-point-approved/4351146/?fbclid=IwAR2bLXh87KjxLsxBK...

[Cleoriff]

Due to the untimely death of Charlie Whiting Race Director of F1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47564762

the FIA have announced his replacement for the Australian GP which starts with free practice 1 at 130 am tomorrow morning.

Michael Masi will replace him. Whether for this one race or the rest of the season, is, as yet, unknown

R.I.P Charlie, you will be sadly missed by everyone in the F1 family and fans of the sport.

[Cleoriff]

Results for P1 in Australia

Williams showing they have no pace at all. Very sad...

[Cleoriff]

P2 Results. Weird really. 

Are Ferrari sandbagging? Kimi up with Seb though he is driving for Alfa Romeo (Sauber) this season.

[Cleoriff]

Well Gasly for Red Bull is out of qualifying!! First time a Red Bull hasn't made it through to Q2 for years!

Q1 results