Testing complete - 1 day till Free Practice 1 in Melbourne!

[Wardez]

NBS Sports just became a standard channel on Direct TV (220 & 221). So I don't have to buy any new channel blocks!

Here's the scheduling btw (all times are Eastern):
FP1: Fri, 12 AM (delay),
FP2: Fri, 1:30 AM (live),
Qual: Sat, 2 AM (live),
Race: Coverage starts 1:30 AM Sun, with pre & post shows

And the 30-minute F1 pre-show "Countdown to F1" is gonna be on at 9pm EST this Thursday. Lots of replays afterward as well.

Still not clear on exactly how they plan on doing streaming, but it should be similar to their Tour De France coverage. Streaming certain elements but having all of it available for replay online for a week or so after the event.

 

[avens]

anyone has a good silly picture of a current f1 driver that isn't on the top of the pack? To replace the Kobayashi one since he is out.

 

[DK]

Try this:

 

[stiggygonzalez]

Xd

 

[SkengD]

i hope the silver arrows are for real

 

[chromatic9]

Not going to get carried away yet over Mercedes. I'm sure they'll win a race or two though. Garry Anderson is getting excited.

Hope that they really have pulled something out of the bag, their new additions to the team are encouraging and want to see them up there with the main three.

 

[Wardez]

Interesting speed trap analysis:

http://www.f1zone.net/news/new-red-bull-slowest-on-the-straight/17991/

Of course, the more downforce the slower you are on a straight, no surprise there. But it goes to also show (we can only infer so much though) that the Marussia has the least amount of downforce since it's the fastest in a straight line. That body really is a little too simple for its own good. But, upgrades baby, upgrades o_o.

And the VivaF1 wrap up:

​

Be sure to check out this other awesome pre-season guide by VF1 (too big to embed):
http://i.imgur.com/ZIMqe7B.jpg

Here's an AWESOME project done by Moneysupermarket. They got together a bunch of experts, sites, and bloggers to weigh in on their 2013 predictions and testing analysis. The results of their voting and nods were put together in this infographic:

And here's the helmets for 2013 (btw, Bottas' is absolutely BOSS, my clear favorite. And lol at Sutil being sponsored by Capri-Sun xD )!

Ok, so now I'm gonna spoil you guys more and post the updated and finalized day 4 section pieces, with new news and links!


Video:
Ted's notebook:
(Part 1)

(Part 2)


News stories:
Lotus not worried by Mercedes' pace:
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/102145.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
Maldanado very happy with upgrade:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/03/maldonado-aero-upgrade-clear-improvement/
Perez feeling unlucky due to bad weather during his final testing runs:
http://richlandf1.com/?p=6761
Ferrari says to expect to be shocked at the results of the first race:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105828
Vettel says inconsistent and high-deg characteristics of the three tests makes it very hard to find out how your car is really doing:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105827
Horner: Hamilton and Mercedes will be a factor this year:
http://www.yallaf1.com/2013/03/07/horner-hamilton-and-mercedes-will-be-a-factor-this-year/
Alonso says he's better than last year:
http://www.yallaf1.com/2013/03/05/alonso-i-am-better-than-last-year/
No one really knows wth is up with Red Bull:
http://www.yallaf1.com/2013/03/04/red-bull-sandbagging-or-struggling-as-melbourne-looms-large/
Ferrari: Still a lot to learn about the tires:
http://www.yallaf1.com/2013/03/04/ferrari-we-still-have-a-lot-to-learn-about-the-tyres/
Testing facts, stat's, and analysis from Pirelli:
http://www.f1technical.net/news/18203?sid=8a0148442bf9b7951dfde977ef9f0b2a
Vettel keeping an eye on 'dangerous' Mercedes:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/06/vettel-keeping-eye-dangerous-mercedes/
Two DRS zones for every track except Suzuka and Monaco
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/06/bar-tracks-drs-zones-2013-2/
Editor's note in this article made me LOL. I wasn't even thinking it till I read it:
http://www.pitpass.com/48494-A-rude-awakening-for-Perez-and-Ricciardo
Red Bull deception:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/06/2013-f1-season-preview-red-bull/
Final analysis before the season:
http://www.yallaf1.com/2013/03/07/preseason-testing-the-final-analysis-ahead-of-melbourne/
Final day wrap-up:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/03/mercedes-top-rosberg-testing-ends/

 

[TheBook]

Speaking of helmets, what's the over/under on how many different designs Vettel will have over the course of the season?

 

[IceMan PJN]

Interesting speed trap analysis:

http://www.f1zone.net/news/new-red-bull-slowest-on-the-straight/17991/

Of course, the more downforce the slower you are on a straight, no surprise there. But it goes to also show (we can only infer so much though) that the Marussia has the least amount of downforce since it's the fastest in a straight line. That body really is a little too simple for its own good. But, upgrades baby, upgrades o_o.

I figured this was pretty much common knowledge with fans of the sport, really. I noticed frequently that your front-runners were typically, though not always, posting slower speed trap times and that the backmarkers tended to be higher up in terms of top speed. I don't expect this to ever really change so long as aerodynamics play a big part in the sport.

 

[Ardius]

In some cases, that was because certain teams lacked higher downforce parts (HRT ran basically 2 packages the entire year, where the top teams would bring packages specific to different circuits) and some teams manage to design cars that are very aero-effecient, even if they aren't great at generating overall downforce (i.e. the car doesn't produce as much drag for the downforce it creates and hence goes faster in a straight line).

Things are made even muddier with DRS affecting the results too.

 

[DaxCobra]

9 days.... This is torture.

 

[Wardez]

5 days till first practice

Here's some new articles to keep informed with!

2013 rule adjustments hurting Red Bull the most:
http://www.acef1.com/2013/03/2013-f1-rule-changes-red-bull-most.html

Five main threats to Vettel:
http://www.f1plus.com/en/news/item/3167-five-main-threats-to-vettel

Gary Anderson's choice for 2013 WDC:
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/188728...tm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Christian Horner warns to not underestimate Button:
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/8551583/Horner-hails-shrewd-operator-Button

McLaren working tirelessly on the MP4-28:
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/188723...tm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

New Jersey GP back on track for 2014:
http://en.espnf1.com/usracing/motorsport/story/102555.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

 

[braunracing88]

5 days till first practice

Here's some new articles to keep informed with!

2013 rule adjustments hurting Red Bull the most:
http://www.acef1.com/2013/03/2013-f1-rule-changes-red-bull-most.html

Five main threats to Vettel:
http://www.f1plus.com/en/news/item/3167-five-main-threats-to-vettel

Gary Anderson's choice for 2013 WDC:
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/188728...tm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Christian Horner warns to not underestimate Button:
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/8551583/Horner-hails-shrewd-operator-Button

McLaren working tirelessly on the MP4-28:
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/188723...tm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

New Jersey GP back on track for 2014:
http://en.espnf1.com/usracing/motorsport/story/102555.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Got another one here: Virginia Williams, wife of Williams F1 founder Frank Williams, dead at 66
http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-virginia-williams-dead-at-66

 

[05XR8]

Australian GP FB page has some new pics of cars being offloaded. I'll be there for the Thursday morning pit & front straight walk and post some pics.

 

[zed300]

Have Pirelli posted the tyre selections for round 1?

 

[05XR8]

I'll see if I can post a video of an RB F1 starting up in Federation Square when i head over there at 5pm.

 

[Wardez]

The tire selection for Melbourne is Supersoft and Mediums.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-pirelli-surprises-f1-with-melbourne-supersofts/

We can look forward to many, many, pit stops. As to whether that's a good thing or not... we'll see soon enough

Pay close attention to Free Practice live timing to see what type of mileage each team's able to get out of the primes.

 

[Samus]

Paul Hembrey said they expect three.

 

[DaxCobra]

Paul Hembrey said they expect three.

So, in other words, at least 4.

 

[axletramp]

5 if it rains...

 

[DaxCobra]

5 if it rains...

6 if it dries up after the rain....

 

[TheCadabers]

6 if it dries up after the rain....

7 if it rains after it dries up .

 

[zed300]

The tire selection for Melbourne is Supersoft and Mediums.

Ok....thanks Wardez. That should make for some varied set ups. Trying to get a set that works for both well, will be next to impossible. Should be a treat right to the flag then.

 

[Terronium-12]

The countdown special on NBCS earlier got me nice and excited.

Can't wait until Friday.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Now that testing is over and we have a thread on the race, perhpas it's time to move the discussion over there.

 

[daan]

Yep, I think we're done here.

Locked.