Pre-Season F1 2026

[F1Brits_90]

Fascinating comments from Oscar Piastri on F1 2026. He says the new rules need some reform...: "I think it's just complex. There's a lot of things that we've never had to do before, and they are just challenging by nature, because some of them are not very instinctive. And when you've driven a certain way for the last 15 years, it's pretty tough to undo some of those things, especially when some of them are lifting on straights, or stuff like that. Obviously as a driver you never want to be lifting at any point. Even without some of the challenges that we've got and the things we need to address as a sport, ultimately, they are cars that are slower and they have less downforce and probably more power out the corners, so they're always going to feel difficult to drive and tricky. And that aspect is kind of one thing. And then there's all the aspects that are new. and need some reform..."

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022384975287304482

 

[F1Brits_90]

GP2 Engine

 

[cider_and_toast]

Honda in "way behind at the start of new regulations" shock.

 

[FB]

1/3rd as a result of the engine, and 2/3rds down to the hubris of Adrian Newey. And yet it's Honda who are getting the grief?

 

[cider_and_toast]

Well clearly, if the Honda engine was 1.5 seconds a lap faster then Newey's aerodynamics would work far more effectively.

 

[FB]

George Russell is currently the bookies favourite to win the drivers title this year.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Mercedes prospects have been talked up and coupled with their testing performance it's not hard to see why.

I suspect we haven't seen the real pace of some of the other teams yet.

 

[F1Brits_90]

interesting betting wise hamilton come from 40/1 to 10/1

 

[FB]

Today's fastest times

 

[FB]

Have you seen the Ferrari rear wing top section that rotates through 180 degrees to give lift when opened?

F1: Ferrari reveal innovative upside-down rear wing

Technical analyst Sam Collins examines Ferraris innovative upside-down rear wing during the second day of the final test in Bahrain.

www.skysports.com

 

[The Artist.....]

It strikes me that:

1. This will be an absolute nightmare to get the airflow to reattach on braking
2. The mechanism will either be heavy in the endplates, or will be prone to breaking
3. Other teams will complain, because in the straight mode, it looks like the rear wing plane is above the endplates, meaning that it might actually violate the maximum allowed height of the rear wing.

If that runs at a racetrack, I will be amazed.

 

[The Artist.....]

Plus, Norris has effectively set an absolutely barnstorming lap this morning. Clearly the team has been slightly sandbagging, and if we add together his best sectors, he achieved a 1:32.924.

 

[F1Brits_90]

try to figure out a pecking order. is almost impossible as i am watching because ferrari, red bull, mercedes & mclaren look good at different points

although it seems like the days of going from midfield to front runner in a rules change seem to be over.

 

[Il_leone]

The Aston Martin breakdowns is going to peg them back especially as Honda have no engine data comparison

- It cant be sandbagging with them

The speed of the car might be there but the fragility especially if Newey needs more time sorting out the car himself

Interesting times with Aston this season and who is going to combust first

 

[The Artist.....]

The Aston Martin breakdowns is going to peg them back especially as Honda have no engine data comparison

- It cant be sandbagging with them

The speed of the car might be there but the fragility especially if Newey needs more time sorting out the car himself

Interesting times with Aston this season and who is going to combust first

It wouldn't surprise me one iota to see Alonso walk after the Spanish GP. The entire package is not up to scratch - and Newey appears to have bitten off more than he can chew as designer and team principal.

 

[F1Brits_90]

they were discussing this on testing yesterday. their talking about 2030 as potential title challenge. which i bet lifted alonso already cheery mood

 

[Johnny Carwash]

Looks like Ferrari could overtake most of the grid off the start line, judging by the way its starts went today.

 

[FB]