F1 2015

[Drew.]

So much happens in the few weeks after the final race of the year that its worth making this early to post all the news.



Formula 1 double points scrapped for next season: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30238076

F1 set for record 21-race season in 2015: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30319421

Sebastian Vettel: German joins Ferrari as Fernando Alonso exits: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30128844

Carlos Sainz Jr: Rally champion's son joins Toro Rosso for 2015: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30253498

FIA announces changes to 2015 calendar and rules: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/12/16713.html

http://i.imgur.com/hxss0rb.png

[Drew.]

McLaren confirm Alonso and Button for 2015

Jenson Button will partner Fernando Alonso at McLaren next year, after the team announced the two former champions as their race drivers for the 2015 Formula One season on Thursday.

Kevin Magnussen, who drove alongside Button for what was his rookie campaign in 2014, will serve as McLaren’s test and reserve driver.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/12/16720.html

Can confirm McLaren now have the strongest line up going into 2015, amazing pairing.. Going to be much more exciting next year.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4kjCnHCcAATSxh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/meONEUJ.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4kj4tVIMAAdIRQ.jpg

[Niamh.]

aww glad for Jenson :love:

[Niamh.]

also, Alonso looks strange in a suit

[Drew.]

Jenson staying on is great, he still has so much left in him.. hopefully this secures him down for at least another couple of years.

[Niamh.]

Jenson staying on is great, he still has so much left in him.. hopefully this secures him down for at least another couple of years.

I really like Jenson, so much nicer than that arsehole in your sig :idc:

[Drew.]

Less of that in here Neeve or i'll have to ask James to ban you

[Niamh.]

He can't ban me, he needs me for the Pub Quiz :idc:

[Drew.]

Force India have revealed their new car for 2015

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B74mFYICYAEMfI6.jpg:large

[Drew.]

Williams car for 2015

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B73sCFeCQAAvrPj.jpg

[karl100589]

Loving the New Force India. That is to me exactly the sort of livery that McLaren should have gone for last year.

Not loving the Williams though, or it's nose.

[Drew.]

Yeah, the new Force India car is really smart

[Shaun]

those boring car colours make miss the Jordan and Jaguar teams

[Drew.]

Ferrari.. So odd seeing Vettel in red.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80672000/jpg/_80672687_9bbdf0f8-121f-4d57-b2f5-3ce33a07df60.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80673000/jpg/_80673707_96940955-4052-4d80-9fc3-c5cd9c35ee85.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80673000/jpg/_80673708_0ccfd980-0d04-4ae2-a5d7-d7fc61b8af24.jpg

[Drew.]

Sauber :rolleyes: i guess we'll get a bit more colour on the grid now..

http://i.imgur.com/ztbzDAD.png

http://i.imgur.com/vT2LV9W.png

http://i.imgur.com/qZlHvbz.png

[Drew.]

McLaren

http://i.imgur.com/Zk9v2d3.png

http://i.imgur.com/TRrhKw6.png

http://i.imgur.com/mobXiOj.png

[Drew.]

Merc

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B8ibdaPIIAAzkzL.jpg:large

[James]

those boring car colours make miss the Jordan and Jaguar teams

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80706000/jpg/_80706696_redbullcar_reu.jpg

Red Bull at testing. That's just a 'temporary camouflage livery' apparently.

[Iceman]

Ferrari :love:

[James]

The FIA have banned drivers changing their helmet designs during the season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/31526477

[Iceman]

Vettel won't be happy

[karl100589]

Vettel won't be happy

Ironically Vettel's probably got the best helmet on the grid right now:
http://supertopmotor.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/0000-Vettel-2015-Helmet.jpg

Refreshingly retro.

[Iceman]

Oh I'm off to break my F1 cherry on May. I'm going to Barcelona.

[karl100589]

Oh I'm off to break my F1 cherry on May. I'm going to Barcelona.

It's one of the best experiences you'll ever have. I did Silvestone 04 and 05.

[Iceman]

Yeah I'm looking forward to it. Plus Barcelona is an awesome circuit. And it's less than 3 months away.

[Iceman]

Alonso's been airlifted to hospital. Reports saying he's ok and conscious. He crashed in testing this morning.

[Iceman]

Seems it was a slow speed crash and the hospital is just precautionary.

[Iceman]

The G-Force alarm was triggered so that may be why he's been brought to hospital.

[Iceman]

Reports saying Fernando fainted and that's what caused the crash :/ hopefully he will be okay.

[Iceman]

Alonso will stay in hospital overnight. His CT scan was fine.

In other news Nico Rosberg obliterated the field on the medium tyre in the last twenty minutes. A kind of haha we are quicker than you.

[Iceman]

Alonso will miss the final test this week. He's staying in hospital. The crash was caused by the heavy winds. He hit the wall at 30-G. He has a concussion so he won't be cleared.

Bad times for McLaren.

[Drew.]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-ictuNIMAAyDAZ.jpg

[Iceman]

I feel so bad for him. The car isn't gonna be ready for the first test and he's gonna lose 2 crucial days of running.

[BBfanUSA]

I'm a NASCAR fan. I think it's kinda eerie that Alonso and Kyle Busch's wrecks (hit a concrete barrier head on broke an ankle on one leg and a compound fracture in the other) happened on nearly the same day.

[Iceman]

Alonso remains in hospital. I seriously doubt he will take part in the test.

I reckon Merc will run wild in this and just destroy lap times.

[Iceman]

Rumours Hamilton is asking for 150 million for three years. There is no way they will pay that for him.

[Iceman]

Alonso won't race in Australia. It's to minimise the chances of Secondary Concussion. Magnussen will replace Alonso.

[Niamh.]

Alonso won't race in Australia. It's to minimise the chances of Secondary Concussion. Magnussen will replace Alonso.

Gav will not be pleased with this news

[Iceman]

Poor Alonso. Him and mclaren just don't seem to gel at all. Never mind the fact that he's missed all this testing but now a full race too. He's going to have his work cut out for him when mclaren come good.

[Niamh.]

yeah such a shame for him because he's arguably the best driver but he can't seem to get himself a decent car

[Iceman]

The fact he's so close to achieving what he wants (he's always said he only wants 3 titles). But yet he's so far away is annoying.

[Drew.]

I'm going to end up missing the first race due to being down in Devon, really gutted. Shame for Alonso too, hopefully hes back & ready to go for Malaysia.

[Iceman]

I'll post updates here for you. Haha

[Drew.]

I'll need them :love:

[Iceman]

That's if I wake up haha

[Iceman]

Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael, will appear in Formula 4 from April with Team van Amersfoort, the Dutch outfit announced on Monday.

"He spent a full day in the simulator at our headquarters in the Netherlands. Then we witnessed him during a test session at Valencia and eventually, we reached an agreement to compete together in this year's ADAC Formula 4 series," team chief Fritz van Amersfoort told the team's website.

The 15-year-old was second in the German kart championship last season.

He will make his first appearance in Formula 4, a series for young talents, at Oschersleben in northern Germany on April 25 and 26, with the last race set for Hockenheim in October.

The Schumacher family's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm confirmed that Mick would be quitting karting to focus on the single-seat category.

Formula 4 was created last year as a championship for young drivers hoping to eventually take the step up to Formula One.

Michael Schumacher is still recovering from the serious skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013 that left him with life-threatening head injuries.

:)

[Drew.]

The F1 show is starting now.. so happy to have F1 back :flutter:

[Iceman]

I'm out buying wallpaper. Fml.

[Iceman]

1 week to go :pipe:

[James]

Manor Marussia announce Roberto Merhi as second driver

Manor Marussia have named Spain's Roberto Merhi as their second driver for the start of the 2015 season.

The 23-year-old will line up alongside England's Will Stevens on the grid for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.


From http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/31808243

The teams and drivers:

Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Räikkönen
Force India - Sergio Pérez & Nico Hülkenberg
Lotus - Romain Grosjean & Pastor Maldonado
Manor Marussia - Roberto Merhi & Will Stevens
McLaren - Fernando Alonso & Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen first race
Mercedes - Nico Rosberg & Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull - Daniel Ricciardo & Daniil Kvyat
Sauber - Marcus Ericsson & Felipe Nasr (Sauber have a legal dispute ongoing with Guido van der Garde)
Toro Rosso - Max Verstappen & Carlos Sainz Jr.
Williams - Felipe Massa & Valtteri Bottas

[Iceman]

Well we should know about dauber by tomorrow. VDG will get the seat from Europe onward I think.

[Iceman]

vdg won his case and is allowed race for sauber on Sunday. This is gonna get messy.

[Iceman]

Harrison Newey, the son of Red Bull Formula 1 technical supremo Adrian Newey, is to team up with Michael Schumacher's son Mick in ADAC Formula 4 this season.

The 16-year-old Newey will race with Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing in the new series, which is Germany's FIA-approved F4 category.

He will combine it with a campaign with HHC Motorsport in BRDC F4, in which he made his car-racing debut last November.

It appears that the UK-based BRDC series will take precedence in his racing programme, as the plan is currently to miss two of the eight ADAC rounds.

Team boss Frits van Amersfoort is ecstatic to have secured the sons of F1's most-successful driver and technical director.

"This has been one of the most pleasant weeks in our four-decade history," he said.

"We're extremely honoured to have some of auto racing's most creditable persons choosing to entrust our team in the development of two promising young talents.

"We see their confidence as a unique challenge that everyone at Van Amersfoort Racing is ready to take up with dedication, and driven by a sincere desire to help the drivers fulfil their dreams."

VAR continues with its Formula 3 European Championship team, which brought Max Verstappen to prominence last season, and which will run Charles Leclerc, Alessio Lorandi and Arjun Maini in 2015.

That really is a fantastic pairing of genetics are anything to go by.

[Iceman]

Qualifying starts In five. I reckon 1. Ham 2. Ros 3. Kimi

[Iceman]

Vettel. What. Seriously. No wait. What.

[Drew.]

Great day for the sport in general that a teams finally rivaling Merc.. Pretty gutted for Lewis that he wasn't able to make his pole position count though.

[Iceman]

Kimi coming back to 4th was amazing too. Well deserved from Ferrari. It's been a long time coming.

[Niamh.]

Kimi coming back to 4th was amazing too. Well deserved from Ferrari. It's been a long time coming.

Yeah, hopefully this is the start of his luck changing :fc: Well done to Vettel and lololol at baby Hamilton throwing his toys out of the pram :hehe:

[Iceman]

Ferrari have incredible pace again. Kimi was flying this morning

[Niamh.]

Ferrari have incredible pace again. Kimi was flying this morning

I'll be so mad if he does he really well the one year we don't go to see a race :fist:

[Iceman]

I can't believe I'm going in 4 weeks :love:

If Kimi won id actually die.

[Niamh.]

Ohhhh I hope he does for you, that would be amazing

[Iceman]

I don't mind if he doesn't. I just wanna see a good race lol

[Niamh.]

The Hungarian one last year was definitely the best one I've been to, it was good and we had brilliant seats

[Iceman]

Lights out in 10

[Drew.]

Lewis :worship:

[Iceman]

Kimi is gonna be a handful for Vettel sooner rather than later. Damn safety car ruining that battle. :fist:

[Drew.]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCYWcCtWEAACxWR.jpg:large

[Niamh.]

Come On Kimi!

Raikkonen, Ferrari fastest in first Bahrain practice

http://i.imgur.com/M1F7n7A.jpg

Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel set the pace in scorching conditions during the first practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.

Raikkonen was the only driver to break the 1’38 barrier during a session in which Mercedes appeared to be focusing solely on longer runs.

It was a typically hot and dry start to the weekend, with ambient temperatures hovering around 36°C as the session began.

There was immediate drama when Jenson Button spun his McLaren at Turn One during his first flying lap, with the car appearing to seize up on entry to the corner and stopping facing backwards towards the apex.

McLaren attempted to replace the battery on Button’s car, but were ultimately unable to get the British driver back out for another run in the session.

There were also problems for Sebastian Vettel as the Ferrari driver was told to slow the car and stay in gear when the team discovered a problem with the SF-15T.

The Mercedes were the first to attempt a long run on the Medium tyres with both cars running consistently around the 1’40 range. Hamilton was heard complaining of a burning seat during his extended run.

There was little in the way of drama or incident during the session. Pastor Maldonado ran very wide exiting the final corner, while multiple drivers suffered lock-ups into the tricky braking zone of Turn Ten.

Sebastian Vettel made it back out with around 30 minutes of the session remaining but while it initially seemed as though the problem remained at first, the Ferrari was soon up to speed.

Vettel lowered the benchmark to a 1’38.029 before Kimi Raikkonen followed his team mate to set the quickest lap of the day with a 1’37.827.

Toro Rosso showed pace with both cars in the top ten and there were positives for McLaren too with Fernando Alonso ending the session only seven tenths adrift of the fastest time.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton ended the session in P15 and P16 respectively, but covered almost 50 laps between them. Jolyon Palmer logged over 30 laps during his second First Practice appearance of the season in the Lotus.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2015/04/17/raikkonen-ferrari-fastest-in-first-bahrain-practice/

[Iceman]

Kimi :worship:

[Drew.]

A nice easy pole position again for Lewis

[Niamh.]

Boooo

[Iceman]

Return of the Iceman. Fantastic to see him back on the podium. I'll be at the next Grand Prix :D

[Drew.]

Tense ending there with Lewis's and Nicos cars messing up.. Nico can't get a break at the moment can he, oh well. Another great drive and win from Lewis :worship:

[Iceman]

If Kimi wins in Barcelona I might just cry

[Niamh.]

Kimi the peoples champion :love:

[Iceman]

Got the biggest cheers on the podium too.

[Iceman]

Mick Schumacher winning in only his 3rd ever race. Delighted.

[Iceman]

I'm leaving tomorrow night. Excited beyond belief.

[Niamh.]

I know i asked you this before but is this your first GP?

[Iceman]

Yeah it is :D it'll be an annual thing from now on.

[Niamh.]

Ohhh really exciting so, you should do Hungry next year :love:

[Niamh.]

This is my first year in 3 years not going to one :(

[Iceman]

Yeah I like Hungary but I'm looking at Mexico or America. But who knows. I'll have to survive this first.

Imagine I met Kimi in a bar. :love:

[Niamh.]

Yeah I like Hungary but I'm looking at Mexico or America. But who knows. I'll have to survive this first.

Imagine I met Kimi in a bar. :love:

Oh if you go to America I might bump into you :laugh:

[Iceman]

Oh you thinking of doing America then yeah?

[Niamh.]

Yeah, going to start properly planning it after the summer but I reckon we will and do a bit of a road trip while we're there

[Iceman]

Oh sounds brilliant!!

[Niamh.]

yeah I cant wait!

But anyway back to this year I will have everything crossed for you that Kimi wins :love:

[Iceman]

I have a ten euro bet on him to win or come second.

[Iceman]

If you see me on TV it'll be because Kimi has won and I'll be an emotional wreck :love:

[Iceman]

Fantastic atmosphere here. Nico :worship:

[Drew.]

Ronaldo & Cara Delevingne, what an odd mix

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFw16agUsAAD5BM.jpg

[Drew.]

For **** sakes Lewis, thats unbelievable

[James]

:S

[James]

Lewis pole, Rosberg 2nd. Massa 3rd then Bottas.

Better for Kimi, ahead of Vettel, but not great for Ferrari.

[Iceman]

Does this mean I need to back to being Iceman again?? :fist:

[Iceman]

Scary crash there for Perez. Looks like the rear wheel snapped. It then caused him to flip the car into his head.

[Iceman]

Possibly one of the best races I've ever seen. Mercs both struggling big time. Very questionable calls by both of them. So touching for Jules too. Altogether today though I think anyone who claims f1 is boring is crazy.

[Niamh.]

ffs though Kimi just has the worst luck! Bloody Hamilton getting lucky again with Rosburg getting a puncture

[Iceman]

Kimi just doesn't have luck at all. He was having a solid race. Also what's up with random pieces just falling off his car. First the front wing in practice then the camera mount. So Ferrari have reached their target for the season. Everything else is just a bonus now.

[Drew.]

Looks like i missed out on a classic today.. gotta admit its so refreshing seeing a mixed top 10.. Verstappen though :worship: a fitting race after everything thats happened with Jules.

[Iceman]

That's what happens when you go to Mickey Mouse footie matches!!!! (I joke)

Ah it was a great race in fairness. Maldonado got like 4 penalties.

[BBfanUSA]

Former F1 Driver Justin Wilson has died after a piece of debris from another wreck struck him and caused him to wreck during an Indycar Race in America this past weekend.

[Iceman]

Tomorrow should be interesting. I reckon a 12 car finish.

[Niamh.]

omg what a terrible start for Kimi :facepalm:

[Drew.]

And what a terrible end for Rosberg.. another championship for Hamilton it is then

[Niamh.]

Kimi did well to get up to 5th but ffs he should have been in for a podium position :fist:

[Iceman]

Kimi breaking my heart every weekend. Season over. At least I won't have to watch the rest of them now. Congrats to Hamilton on matching Senna's record

[James]

What's going on with the race result? :S

[James]

Race result stands. : )

[Niamh.]

Boo :fist:

[michael21]

Boo :fist:

You dont like ham then

[Niamh.]

You dont like ham then


No, he's an arrogant little s**t, also it's boring him winning every time now

[Drew.]

Ever since this new contract he's become a fame hungry twat, loads of people have been going off him recently.

[Iceman]

Was I too quick to count the season over?? Wouldn't it be amazing if Mercedes fell apart in front of our eyes. #forzaferrari

[Niamh.]

:worship: Great top 3

[Iceman]

My favourite top 3 of the year. Shame red bull announced they're leaving.

[James]

Man wandering down the side of the track. :O

[Niamh.]

I know, what an idiot :/ This has been an eventful race

[Drew.]

Great weekend for Ferrari.. chuffed for Ricciardo

[Niamh.]

Yeah, I really like Riciardo as well and Kimi :worship:

[Iceman]

If this happens constantly I will eat my lotus top on live stream

[Iceman]

We don't have long to wait to see if Mercedes just had a one race blip. Also button will announce his retirement this weekend

[Niamh.]

aww I like Jenson :love: I heard rumours that he might be joining Chris Evans as a host of Top Gear, I also heard rumours that Susie Perry might be involved

[Iceman]

Ew at liking Jensen. His championship winning year was terrible and only highlighted how much it came down to a car than driver that year. He won6/7 of the first races and then dramatically fell apart for the rest of the season. Terrible, terrible driver that I won't ever miss. All he ever did after that was complain if oversteer or under steer. /rant

[Niamh.]

aww leave Jenson alone :nono:

[Drew.]

Tell him Niamh.. Jenson will be missed, a great guy on and off the track

[Iceman]

Starting now. Gonna be a good race I think.

[BBfanUSA]

Gosjean will be racing for Haas next year.
2nd driver will be Ferrari Development driver.

The owner is an American that also has ownership in 4 car NASCAR team Stewart Haas racing.

[Iceman]

What has happened Grosjeans career??

[Drew.]

Button is staying on at McLaren next year :flutter:

[Iceman]

Huge crash for Sainz. Qualifying is going to be a mess. They've had literally no running in any practice sessions.

[Iceman]

I'll add that he seems to be okay.

[Iceman]

Qualifying has been delayed by an hour.

[Niamh.]

hope the race goes ahead tomorrow

[Iceman]

7 seems so far away doesn't it.

[James]

Lewis Hamilton is World Champ. :)

[Drew.]

Think Lewis has earnt his status as a great now.. what an achievement

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSOzjTCWwAA9uXh.jpg:large

[Samuel.]

I watched Senna last night. Fascinating film, even as someone who doesn't watch F1. The politics are mad.