ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

How many of you guys follow F1?? Thoughts on 2014 regulations, testing, drivers, cars ???

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I follow.

Sub'd.

I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of engine/drivetrain failures this year. Less than FaeFae, more than Hustler.

ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, mostly from the Renault powered guys. Mercedes engines are doing very very well. Most Mercedes guys have done race simulations already and are working on adding performance. I was never a hater of the Turbo engines, Though i wish they didn't limit the fuel capacity.

rwyatt365

Avid F1 fan. 2014 should prove interesting. The big question right now is whether Adrian Newey and company can recover from the bad start at testing. Will some other team have a chance this year? Will Herr Vettel be dethroned? Can Sire Lewis win in '14? Will Caterham or Marussia get into Q2?

Should be an interesting year - aside from the ugly-*** nose configurations.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I miss Mark Webber already.

ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

those noses crack me up, the red bull is the most elegant looking chassis. But is a turd at the moment due to the extreme packaging. I have good faith in Jenson this year, mclaren look strong and the butterfly suspension is going to be the novel edge this year, like double diffusers and f-ducts.

curly

iTrader: (25)

The noses are awesome. I'm very excited to finally see Red Bull on their back foot, even if it's just for a race or two.

I feel like this year they took a cattle prod to the rule book and engine design. I love it.

Oscar

iTrader: (2)

Big surprise, renowned MT.net member who loves the phallus-shape

It gives me great pleasure watching RB struggle with their basement-developed powertrain.

ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

i agree, i chuckle every time i read they caught on fire, or had to end their testing program early.

Supe

I think a lot of the heavy hitters may be down in points early on due to failures with all of the new energy recovery system issues. The first several races will be a war of attrition.

rwyatt365

I'm looking for Lotus and McLaren to be out front early, with RB catching up mid-season. Any thoughts on how Kimi will make out at Ferrari? Things have been suspiciously quiet from that front.

Supe

He'll do just fine there. They can afford to pay him. He certainly wasn't having any trouble getting used to the car, he had FTOD on the first day of testing.

ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

Ferrari is the best of the rest, that is non Mercedes power. I think its going to be a battle between Mercedes and Mclaren. Ferrari might get lucky in the first few races but i wouldn't expect people to start catching up until they hit the euro races. Although a lot can change as they will be bringing a lot of Melbourne spec parts next test up to FP3.

stratosteve

iTrader: (1)

Bummed to find out no New Jersey race this year. Surprised to see Sochi on the 2014 schedule.

ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

NJ organizers dropped the ball on funding, pretty much they didn't pay Bernie. Sochi was planned for a while now. They are pretty far along on the venue, but contraction can't interfere with the Olympic games

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Big F1 fan

Also a member of the "Anyone but Vettel" club

Re - Crack at Renault F1 engine being developed in a basement: An engineer that worked for Renault F1 engine team left Renault to go work for HPD (Honda Performance Development) in California. After a year he went back to Renault F1.

So if Renault F1 is the worst engine team in F1, and it's still 100x better than HPD...how bad is HPD? Hopefully there is a big difference (there is...) between Honda F1 and HPD

ctdrftna

iTrader: (1)

Mclaren/Honda will dominate next year. Honda has a extra year to develop their motor based on what others struggle with. They will be getting data from Maca about the merc engine. It will be built to suit the Mclaren. They are immune to the freezing of engine parts this year.

Not to mention that Mclaren have Ron Dennis back, Eric Bollier as Head of racing. They have Neweys right hand man coming to take over aero.

Jenson Button WDC 2014+2015 then he will retire.

stratosteve

iTrader: (1)

From the little reading I did, it is still on for 2015?

Going to at least one F1 race is on my bucket list and NJ would be in driving distance, therefore not breaking the bank. I would love to go to Texas, but too costly.

We have gone to the Baltimore GP both years it ran here. Now it is postponed for a couple years due to scheduling conflicts. I know F1>everything but too close to not go to Balt. I guess we will be going to a NJMP event this year.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Texas > NJ. Just sayin'. LOL.

z31maniac

Big F1 fan here. I'm mixed on this year's regulations. This entire "green racing" thing is mind boggling.

"Hai gays, letz maek teh cars use les feul"

While totally ignoring the 20+ hospitality buses per team and the like.

I'm also part of the "anyone but Vettel" club. And I even use to be a big fan of his, but it's boring to watch the domination. I only ended up watching the first few races, then my favorites (Monaco, Spa, Canada, Monza) and skipped the rest.

I don't like that the regs have slowed the cars down almost to GP2 levels.