OT: Racing 2013 (Spoiler Alert)

[GB_Simo]

Fellas,

Another year, another racing off-season. I know you're all dying to discuss Danica and Ricky, of course, but I've just managed to catch the launch of the new Lotus F1 machine - featuring an absolute dog's breakfast of a colour scheme and, on the grounds that the permitted vanity panel would "weigh a few grams", the return of the stepped nose - and even though it only feels like five seconds since Vettel was rolling backwards down a Brazilian bank, I'm more than ready to see this year's machines on track.

Did anyone (and I'm banking on one of you in particular here) catch the race at Daytona over the weekend?

[Rodster]

Me thinks Ferrari should be helped by Pedro De La Rosa. That's one helluva test driver and where he seems to excel the most. Also Ferrari using Toyota's wind tunnel and shutting down their current wind tunnel in Maranello should help them compete with the top teams at the start of the season.

To me love them or hate them it ain't F1 or Baseball if Ferrari or the NY Yankees aren't competing at the top. Here's hoping Felipe has a helluva season but it will be wishful thinking if he thinks Ferrari will let him beat Capt. Morgan. I'm massively pulling for Hammy. I'm hoping he can squeeze every ounce of performance out of the Benz and see him fighting in the top 5/poles/wins.

Can't wait for March.

[GB_Simo]

I thought PDLR wrung the HRT's neck last season and, especially knowing what we know now about the life cycle of some of that car's parts, did a very gutsy job indeed. We know he's got the analytical and developmental skills in his locker, but it'll please Ferrari that there's still some speed to go with it.

Through that story, I was also reminded of Marc Gene's existence. Given their apparent fondness for ageing Spanish drivers, expect Alex Soler-Roig to get a test and development deal before February ends.

Speaking of pay drivers, and knowing it's always been this way, it saddens me greatly that Marussia have had to give Timo Glock the heave-ho in favour of someone better funded. I'm not absolutely convinced that Max Chilton is ever going to end up anything better than moderate at this level, so logically, a talented, experienced lead driver is what that team needs. Hard to imagine where they'll get one from now.

Edit to add: I can't see Massa being Alonso's equal over a season whether they let him be or not, Rod, but his last few races of 2012 were those of a man with more to give yet. I've never been so glad to be completely wrong.

[Rodster]

Yeah, totally agree about Massa. I like the guy and always cheer for him to do good. He's one of the reasons why I still follow Ferrari. That said, he and Alonso are not equals when you fire up the engines. I can't recall a driver who just willed the car to the podium throughout the season like Alonso did last year and was so impressed I was hoping he could have won the title. If it weren't for the 2 quick exits last year he probably would have won the title with room to spare. I don't take anything away from what Vettel did but Alonso was just on a different level with an average car.

Felipe had a bang 2nd half of the season and outperformed his teammate in a few races, Texas was one in particular. But that said if i'm running Ferrari you gotta go with Alonso. He's just a phenomenal talent.

[pk500]

Another gorgeous car launched by McLaren. I hope it's the fastest on the grid simply so the scourge of the stepped noses can be eradicated from F1, although the new regs for 2014 also may achieve that laudable goal.

[Rodster]

As usual the McLaren is a real looker. A few of the angle shots of the nose I saw this morning made the nose look black. Then the remaining pictures showed it in it's chrome paint glory. Can't wait for March.

[GB_Simo]

Another gorgeous car launched by McLaren. I hope it's the fastest on the grid simply so the scourge of the stepped noses can be eradicated from F1, although the new regs for 2014 also may achieve that laudable goal.

That modesty panel (for that's what it is - there's a stepped nose lurking beneath, unlike last year) could easily go walkies if there turns out to be some benefit to removing it. I'm very much hoping it doesn't happen, since the pictures I've seen are practically pornographic, but it could...

Would it shock anyone to discover that in the coming months, that car will start wearing the logos of a selection of Mexican companies? I'm not suggesting for a second that it was the sole reason for signing Perez, but I still struggle with the idea that Nico Hulkenberg is in a Sauber and Kamui Kobayashi isn't in anything at all while Sergio lands one of the best seats in the house.

[pk500]

Not to mention that Perez's form dropped straight into the crapper after he signed his deal with McLaren. It sure seemed as if he didn't need Sauber anymore and stopped mustering maximum effort.

I've read and heard from a few sources that Perez has no shortage of ego. I hope Button ruins him.

[Rodster]

It looks like PK is getting his wish. Ferrari and Force India released their cars today absent of a stepped nose. It's truly puzzling that Force India may not make their final driver announcement before the second test. Ferrari must be throwing lots of incentive at Force India to sign up their young driver Jules Bianchi. I thought Adrian Sutil was heading there.

[pk500]

Corporate sponsors don't want to be involved with drivers who thrust broken champagne glasses into CEO's necks, Rod.

[Rodster]

I always thought there was 2 sides to what happened to Adrian. It reminded me when Jensen called out Richard Branson for hitting on his hot girl friend. Button handled it the right way by calling him out. That's why the questions for me was never answered the night of the Sutil incident.

That said on a performance level he's good but not great. I would rather give the seat to an up and comer hoping you'll get a Kimi or Lewis in the cockpit.

[pk500]

Rod:

Sutil was convicted in a court of law of stabbing Eric Lux. That's just a smidge different than accusations of a sponsor hitting on a driver's girlfriend.

[pk500]

At the risk of sounding like a fashionista, there's far too much black on the new Ferrari. Another classic livery botched this year, just like Lotus.

[Rodster]

My problem with the Sutil incident is this:

"The whole incident seems odd and the details of what caused the altercation have ranged from it being an accident or war of words to some other situation that leaves both accused of sexual orientations and innuendos. The simple fact is, no one really knows what it was about or why it has even come this far in the courts. If a person can take an altercation like this to court and merely suggest that a phone apology isn’t good enough, then perhaps it is time I file suit against F1 for foisting DRS on me and demand they come to my home for a formal apology."

http://www.formula1blog.com/2012/01/30/ ... ot-enough/

I don't condone the violence on Sutil's part but my issue is that it's still unclear who started the incident and who said what to whom. An apology was offered from one party and the other rejected it and took it to court. Maybe Adrian should have hired Ray Lewis attorneys.

[GB_Simo]

There's a lot of murk surrounding it, Rod, I agree, and a fair amount of surprisingly partisan reporting - surprising to me because Sutil inspires the same lack of feeling in me that beige inspires in me - but it wasn't unclear to the law courts. That's the issue at hand, particularly when Force India are presumably going to need to cast their net wider for sponsorship soon. Mallya's empire is crumbling around him and Sahara isn't faring an awful lot better, so in the medium term, that could be Kingfisher and Sahara's names disappearing. I'm a bit surprised to see that the United Spirits brands are still there, in fact.

As far as their second driver is concerned, Rod, I'd guess you've got it right: it'll be a matter of exactly what sort of incentive there is to take on a Ferrari academy driver and, presumably, how much of that incentive ties in with a 2014 engine supply. All of which could, of course, leave the Mercedes-backed Paul Di Resta in a bit of a bind. Time will tell.

Edit to add: though I've just seen some kind of story suggesting that Di Resta welcomed Bruno Senna to FI on Twitter last night, then deleted the tweet soon afterwards. I would like that, but don't see how Bruno would get a better time there than he got when being shunted out of the car for Bottas at Williams every other Friday.

Haven't seen an official announcement yet, but the word on the grapevine seems to be that Marussia, unprepared to let Caterham have 2013's least inspiring driver line-up, have installed Luiz Razia in Timo Glock's still-warm chair.

[Rodster]

This Sauber looks sweet and no stepped nose.

[pk500]

What a FANTASTIC livery. Beauty.

[Rodster]

I think that Sauber is right up there with the McLaren as far as looks. I'll miss the gentleman Peter Sauber this season. I'm also in agreement that I don't like the black trim on the new Ferrari. It should be ALL red. I think if the Ferrari looks competitive at the start of the season then upper management won't care what colors are on that car.

[GB_Simo]

This Sauber looks sweet and no stepped nose.

It has one, but you can only see it from the front. I viewed an awful lot of pictures before I saw this: http://www.planetf1.com/photo-gallery/8 ... 32#photo=3

Still a cracking colour scheme.

[EZSnappin]

Red Bull in the lead for most hideous livery of 2013. Egad.

[pk500]

The 2013 F1 season may go down as a bad acid trip of livery design.

Lotus ruined its classic John Player scheme. The Ferrari looks like last year's Marussia. And now the Red Bull, which is hideous.

What's next? Will Williams launch a livery that looks like the Partridge Family bus?

Thank God for Sauber and McLaren, two teams that still create classy, sensible liveries.

[Rodster]

I just read an article on Autosport where it said that Ferrari is getting Rory Bryne heavily involved with their 2014 car. I was amazed to read how both he an Adrian Newey designed some of the fastest F1 cars.

[GB_Simo]

The 2013 F1 season may go down as a bad acid trip of livery design.

Am I too late for a Lousy Liveries face-off? I'll open the bidding with a Brabham BT60 from this mighty fine Flickr stream and see if anyone fancies upping the game from there...

[pk500]

Oh, Simo, that's dire.

I nominate the 1993 Ligier



vs.

the 2007 Honda "Earth" car:

[GB_Simo]

There's a BT60 in my Donington Museum photo album on Facebook, mate. It looks even worse when you're stood next to one.

My favourite thing about that Ligier is they only ran that gipsy lady/Fresian cow paintscheme at the final couple of races. Someone had to put the idea forward and better yet, find someone else who agreed it looked better than standard. I don't know how I forgot the Earth Car, though "sheer force of will" is probably the answer.

For the rFactor GP79 fans in the house, the AH! KILL IT! KILL IT! stylings of the Shadow DN9: