Formula One 2022

[Cleoriff]

This is the year of the change to regulations and a new look for F1 cars. According to the FIA, 'it's to level the playing field'. I'm not happy with that, it's killing innovation and turning an elite sport into F2.

I may be wrong but that needs to be proved.

Anyway the 'confirmed' calendar is here.

In other news, various sports articles are showing concern that Lewis Hamilton has maintained a social media blackout since the fiasco of Abu Dhabi.

Depending on your point of view, this race was 'nearly' won by Hamilton who was 12 seconds ahead of Verstappen until 5 laps from the end when a crash by Latifi brought out a safety car. The race director who was being harangued by Toto Wolff (Mercedes manager) and Christian Horner (Red Bull manager), made some very controversial decisions in order to 'get one lap of racing'.

The outcome was, Verstappen won the race and his first championship.

Hamilton who was within 5 laps of an historical 8th WDC, behaved with utmost dignity at race end. Congratulated Verstappen and Horner. Was interviewed by Jenson Button and refused to be drawn on any comment regarding the controversy. Stood on the podium and continued to go through the motions of the celebration.

Since then nothing has been heard from him.

According to his brother Nicholas 'Lewis is fine. He's having a break Social Media can be a very toxic place'.

Further rumour is Hamilton was the one who stopped Mercedes from taking this case to the F1 Court of Appeal, which was their intention after their appeal was dismissed by the FIA in Abu Dhabi.

Anyway roll on February when the cars are revealed and March when testing begins.

[Cleoriff]

What a bloody mess up!! New Race Director not wanting to start the race in the rain. Damn ridiculous. Waited until rain stopped then out of pit to follow safety car and Latifi (who else) and Stroll brush the barrier and have to repit.

Then lap 32 and Schumacher goes into barrier. Race red flagged and restarted behind the safety car 30 mins later. Away we go again.

[Cleoriff]

Race Results....

[Cleoriff]

This weekend F1 is in Azebaijan at the street circuit in Baku.

It looks as if the gains made by Mercedes in Spain, came to nothing after Monaco and Baku is another street circuit so....

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

And finally Qualifying Yesterday

[Cleoriff]

The race starts at 12 md. I am expecting mayhem. Crashes, red flags and safety cars. This is a track where being on pole doesn't matter much. You need a damn good strategy, reliability and to keep out of trouble. Bring it on 😂

[Cleoriff]

Not a race I expected. Both Ferraris had to retire with engine problems after being in 2nd and 4th. Two other cars with Ferrari engines also retired. Helped the Mercedes no end 😂

[Cleoriff]

This weekend is Canada. The FIA have decided they have to review the porpoising on many cars on the grid due to the long term health and safety of the drivers. They will be fitting sensors on the cars at the next race to test the level of bouncing. Suggestions are that this problem can be eliminated if teams raise the floor height of the cars. Problem is, this will cause a loss in performance.

We wait and see.

Practice 1

Practice 2

P3 It was lashing down for this session

And Qualifying. Still raining

[pgn]

I remember you explaining porpoising some time ago, @Cleoriff 

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Off-Topic/Formula-One-2022/m-p/1534911/highlight/true#M249947

Reminds me of this haunting version of an Alice in Wanderland story:

[Cleoriff]

Great race. Perez had an engine failure and Leclerc started at the back of the grid as he's taken a new engine.
A real mixed Grid with Alonso driving for Alpine, second on the starting grid.

Yet again Magnussen in the Haas, clattered into Lewis on the first lap. This time it was him who sustained the damage and need to pit for a new wing.

The Mercedes showed some real pace today, with Hamilton holding the fastest lap for about 6 laps. There were 2 incidents calling for a VSC and a FULL safety car

Verstappen and Sainz pretty well had the race tied up at the front, with Lewis (the King of Montreal having won here 7 times) absolutely delighted to take 3rd in this weird car 😂

[gmarkj]

What's happened to Hamilton/his car this year for him to be so far off the pace @Cleoriff ?
I don't follow the F1 very much so have no clue...

[Cleoriff]

@gmarkj 
The FIA introduced new regulations about the car build. The idea was to bring the grid closer together and not one Manufacturer to run away with the championship. Problem was, with the new cars build, it resulted in porpoising. Bouncing up and down. Unfortunately the one team who got their build badly wrong was Mercedes. (unbelievable really). Red Bull and Ferrari got their build correct and are currently running away with the championship. Mercedes have been relegated to the 3rd best car on the grid,

The problem is having an effect on the drivers. Many complaining of back and neck pain. So the FIA have stepped in. Red Bull are enraged, stating Mercedes should have built a better car. They can get rid of the porpoising by raising the height of the car but they would lose performance. Apparently the FIA are planning to place sensors under each car at the next practice sessions to measure the effect of this bouncing. If it exceeds a certain level, they have the power to disqualify the car from the race.

Mercedes are now saying they think they have virtually solved the problem 😂

In fairness and at one point, Lewis was the fastest car on the grid for 6 laps in Canada yesterday.

They haven't got the outright speed of Ferrari or Red Bull but came 3rd and 4th yesterday.

Who knows where it will end?

It's Silverstone in 2 weeks and I very much doubt it will be another win for Lewis. 😩