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Old 6th May 2015, 17:55   #1
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2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Deetjohn usually starts these threads but I thought I'll give it a shot this time. Sorry mate!

Its the start of the European leg of the F1 season. Personally my favorite part of the season as most of the racing are on classic tracks. This particular venue is known to all as it also plays hosts to winter testing in the pre season. Usually by this time of the season the pecking order for the remainder of the season is usually set. Many teams will heavily revise the spec of their car for this race and beyond with many updates as compared to what they started with in Australia. Should make for a super exciting weekend.

Some Facts & Figures:
Venue: Circuit de Catalunya
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16
Laps: 66
Race date: 10 May 2015
Circuit opened: 1991
First Grand Prix: 1991
Lap record: 1:21.670 (Kimi Räikkönen, 2008)
Circuit length: 4.655 km (2.892 mi)
Race distance: 307.104 km (190.826 mi)
2015 timetable (GMT +2):
Friday 8 May
Practice 1 10:00-11:30 local time
Practice 2 14:00-15:30 local time

Saturday 9 May
Practice 3 11:00-12:00 local time
Qualifying 14:00 local time

Sunday 10 May
Race 14:00 local time

Additional on-track events:
GP2 Series
GP3 Series
Porsche Supercup

Driver steward: TBC

DRS zones:
Zone 1 - back straight
Zone 2 - main straight

Pitlane speed limits:
80 km/h (49.7 mph) for the entire event

Fuel usage: 1.52kg per lap
Top speed: 335 km/h (208 mph)
Full throttle: 53 per cent of lap
Gear changes: 58 per lap
Max. corner g-force: 3.5 (Turn 3)
Tyre selection: Medium (White), Hard (Orange)

Weather forecast:
Friday - Sunny, high 29°C / low 15°C
Saturday - Sunny, high 24°C / low 14°C
Sunday - Sunny, high 27°C / low 15°C
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2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-circuitdecatalunyabarcelona-teambhp.jpg  

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Old 6th May 2015, 20:30   #2
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Isn't that the old layout in the pic before they neutered the last corner and put that chicane in?
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Old 6th May 2015, 22:44   #3
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

You are right, it is! Thought it was a lovely picture though. Also putting up Mclarens new livery.

Source: GPUpdate.net
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Old 6th May 2015, 23:46   #4
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullrevs View Post
Also putting up Mclarens new livery.

Source: GPUpdate.net
Most of the McLaren fans seems to be hating the new livery. It's like they wasted a chance to launch a new style for their brand after all the hype with the Red & white McLaren Honda cars.

What is going to be the most interesting thing this weekend will be the performance gains various teams have made after the break.

Honda did not use any tokens.
Renault has a new spec. engine.
Niki Lauda believes Merc & Ferrari engines have equal power.

Now waiting for the first practice.

Last edited by jfxavier : 6th May 2015 at 23:52.
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Old 6th May 2015, 23:46   #5
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Most teams bringing buckets of upgrades as usual, it hardly ever changes the pecking order though.
Am very curious however on how much McLaren improve.

Front tire wear is a big factor at Catalunya, we will have to wait and see if Ferrari get an advantage even though the tire choices here are the hardest for the season.

The video of Alonso driving Senna's 1988 MP4/4 was absolutely amazing to watch.
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Old 7th May 2015, 07:17   #6
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Round 5

And Europe is here.

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Allen
The Spanish GP at Barcelona has been on the calendar since 1991 and gives the strongest indicator of which team has the best car, given its characteristics which test all aspects of a car’s performance, especially downforce. The combination of slow, medium and fast corners makes it the ultimate test venue for the sport. Gusty sidewinds can also catch drivers out. Its most exciting section, a flat-out 90-degree right hander, has been toned down by a slow chicane since 2007 in order to reduce the speed at which the cars enter the pit straight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullrevs View Post
Deetjohn usually starts these threads but I thought I'll give it a shot this time. Sorry mate!
No worries! I was just waiting for James Allen to put up the Race Strategy Briefing to put the thread up. And here it is.

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-capture.jpg
2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-capture1.jpg

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Allen
Barcelona is the main test track for F1, however it can still catch the teams out and strategy plays a key role in the race outcome. It is a tough track on tyres, with the long Turn 3 the most difficult corner as it puts a heavy load on the left front tyre. The surface is also quite abrasive and as a result the Pirelli medium and hard tyres will be used again. Last year the battle for victory between the two Mercedes drivers centered on two different tyre strategies, which we could see throughout the field this year. Traditionally Spain is the race where the teams bring the first significant performance update to their cars, which can change the order.
And in news for the round: Renault is introducing a modified engine spec for Spain.
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Old 7th May 2015, 22:04   #7
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That mclaren is gonna look gorgeous sitting at the back. It's a pity, though. Got the show, let's see what it's made to do by Butonso.
I'm in no two minds about, it looks absolutely smoking, and cannot be confused anymore with the FI.

Hammertime, though!!
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Old 8th May 2015, 06:35   #8
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Updated power unit component use table. Three Renault drivers are on the brink.

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-capture.jpg

The engine allocation was increased from 4 to 5 for the rest of the season last week.
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Old 8th May 2015, 12:04   #9
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by deetjohn View Post
The engine allocation was increased from 4 to 5 for the rest of the season last week.
I am afraid the number of Engines allowed remains at 4.
Mercedes vetoed the move to increase it to 5 as I understand.
From 2017 it will be a majority decision and not a unanimous one. So things will be different.
Probably the reason to introduce a 21 race calender by Bernie for 2016 also comes from the same point of view as to get 5 engines allotted for 2016. FIA does not accept any addition to the calender after it is approved. Deletion is ok. So probably 2016 will also be a 20 race year with 5 engines allowed.
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Old 8th May 2015, 15:21   #10
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

FP1:
It was business as usual at the front with Mercedes maintaining a one-second advantage over Ferrari. Ricciardo just managed a handful of laps (in his 4th ICE).

Susie Wolff was14th fastest for Williams, less than second slower than team-mate Felipe Massa. However, Jolyon Palmer impressed for Lotus, out-pacing Pastor Maldonado.

Despite its relaunch in a new livery, the McLarens still appeared to be as slow as ever.
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Old 8th May 2015, 17:50   #11
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Romain lost his sidepod on the main straight in FP2

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-screen-shot-20150508-2.18.05-pm.png

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-screen-shot-20150508-2.18.19-pm.png

Quite spectacular, I would say.

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-screen-shot-20150508-2.22.51-pm-copy.jpg

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-screen-shot-20150508-2.27.50-pm.png

2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread-screen-shot-20150508-2.29.08-pm.png

Last edited by ecenandu : 8th May 2015 at 17:59.
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Old 8th May 2015, 20:45   #12
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

FP2 :
Mercs & Ferraris trading places.
Hamilton on top this time even though Rosberg set the early pace on fresh hard tyres.
The session was red flagged when the entire rear bodywork exploded away from Romain Grosjean’s car while his Lotus was flat-out on the start-finish straight, with its DRS open.
Thanks ecenandu for the pictures.
There were complaints from drivers throughout the session, mostly regarding lack of grip.
The best were Kimi & Fernando.
“Maybe you have a virus in your computer because it's not charging anything.” Fernando - About the ERS failing to deliver upto his expectations.
"Do you want to keep going and doing laps and laps, because I get nothing out of this..." Kimi - About the lack of grip.
Jenson managed to get his McLaren to seventh. Some good news for them.
Obviously these times don't mean much as the runs were mostly long ones. FP3 is where the qualifying simulations will happen.
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Last edited by jfxavier : 8th May 2015 at 20:49.
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Old 8th May 2015, 21:38   #13
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfxavier View Post
I am afraid the number of Engines allowed remains at 4.
Mercedes vetoed the move to increase it to 5 as I understand.
My comment was based on an AutoSport article from last week stating engine allocation was increased from four to five. Source

And today they reported that F1 Strategy Group will vote against proposal for a fifth engine. Source

Apparently, RBR and Mercedes are in support of the fifth engine, but everyone else will vote against it on cost grounds.
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Old 9th May 2015, 12:07   #14
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by deetjohn View Post
My comment was based on an AutoSport article from last week stating engine allocation was increased from four to five. Source

And today they reported that F1 Strategy Group will vote against proposal for a fifth engine. Source

Apparently, RBR and Mercedes are in support of the fifth engine, but everyone else will vote against it on cost grounds.
The Strategy Group is compromised of six votes for the FIA, six votes for Bernie Ecclestone, and a vote apiece for Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Williams and Force India.
In theory the issue does not need to be agreed on unanimously at the Strategy Group – but it does at the next stage, the F1 Commission, where all the teams are represented, as it is a change for the current season.

Mercedes wants the fifth engine to be restricted to Friday use in order to encourage drivers to run and not save mileage.
Ecclestone remains in favour because he wants to keep the track busy on Fridays.
However, the Red Bull boss says that the fifth engine should be freed up for use at any time, and not just on Fridays.
Meanwhile, Force India's Bob Fernley says that his team cannot make a definitive call until the details of what the teams are voting on, and the financial implications, are made clear.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fi...et-says-horner

BTW, the flovis looks good on the McLaren.
They should keep it on all the time IMO.
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Last edited by jfxavier : 9th May 2015 at 12:13.
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Old 9th May 2015, 15:57   #15
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Re: 2015 Spanish GP: Discussion thread

FP3:
Rosberg was quickest with two tenths of a second clear of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and a further tenth ahead of Hamilton, who seemed to be struggling a bit.
Raikkonen was fifth, behind Williams' Bottas, after the Finn's pit crew mistakenly put him on track with the "wrong setting" on his ERS system.
..."I don't know what is going on," he complained, along with some select words. "Excellent, excellent," he said. Not the happiest Kimi we have seen.

Hamilton had earlier spun around Turn Three almost hitting the wall into which Alonso crashed during pre-season testing.

Mercedes still appear to be having a single-lap pace advantage over Ferrari but not so much in race trim.
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Last edited by jfxavier : 9th May 2015 at 16:00.
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