2011 Formula 1 Thread

[OllyW]

The first of next season's "Lotus" teams.

Renault is now re branded as Lotus Renault GP thanks to Genii Capital selling a stake in the team to Group Lotus.

I wonder what this means for Tony Fernandes' Team Lotus who are also running Renault engines in 2011 and planning to run in the black and gold Lotus colours?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88616

 

[robbieduncan]

Don't like the red bits. I hope we have 4 Lotus/Renault cars on the grid

 

[SpookTheHamster]

The actions of Group Lotus annoy me here. Why didn't they buy into the current Lotus team? Lotus Racing really did themselves proud as a new team, and next year with a more competitive engine/gearbox should do even better.

By buying into Renault, they're just opening up a world of confusion and forcing a well liked team into obscurity when they have to change their name.

 

[iGav]

I wonder what this means for Tony Fernandes' Team Lotus who are also running Renault engines in 2011 and planning to run in the black and gold Lotus colours?

Well black & gold aren't Lotus colours, they're Imperial Tobacco colours, they could've run red & gold, they could've run yellow. What is perhaps more interesting is why they aren't running green and yellow?

"we are Lotus and we are back"

Hmmmmm.

Don't like the red bits. I hope we have 4 Lotus/Renault cars on the grid

Unfortunately, all of them about as authentic as that black & gold colour scheme.

Don't the FIA & the other teams have to agree for a team to change their name?

I wonder what Chapman would make of it all.

 

[OllyW]

Well black & gold aren't Lotus colours, they're Imperial Tobacco colours, they could've run red & gold, they could've run yellow. What is perhaps more interesting is why they aren't running green and yellow?

Yes but everyone (of a certain age) associates Lotus with the JPS black and gold. I can just about remember the Gold Leaf colours though.

Could be worse, they could bring back the Camel yellow.

 

[MOFS]

Team Lotus' livery for 2011.

Actually prefer Lotus Renault's livery, but need to see the proper pictures. Interestingly www.teamlotus.com links to Lotus Renault, and Team Lotus is http://www.lotusracing.my. I agree with everyone else that Proton should just have bought into Lotus Racing. It's gonna cause all sorts of confusion ("and Lotus Renault GP are leading Team Lotus Renault in the constructors), and FFS Lotus Renault GP are based in France!

RE iGav: I believe they can change the name of the team because they're "sponsoring" Renault (eg Scuderia Marlboro Ferrari could become Scuderia Santander Ferrari").

 

[OllyW]

...and FFS Lotus Renault GP are based in France!

They are based at Enstone in the Cotswolds.

 

[robbieduncan]

I think this Lotus owner will support the team that actually build their cars in Norfolk.

 

[MOFS]

They are based at Enstone in the Cotswolds.

A bit of both I guess. The engines are built in Viry-Châtillon, and my understanding is that the team would be called "Lotus" if it weren't for them missing out on last year's money [much like BMW Sauber in the 2010 season].

 

[iGav]

The actions of Group Lotus annoy me here.

I don't think you're the only one considering some of the scathing remarks made recently by some quarters of the automotive/motorsport press about the behaviour of the current Lotus Cars/Group Lotus management. But reading the comments made recently by David Hunt, it seems that the behaviour of Lotus Cars/Group Lotus hasn't been particularly savoury since Proton purchased them in 1996.

Group Lotus has never raced in F1, and, despite what it now claims on the freshly-applied murals on the Proton Building at Hethel, it has no F1 World Championships, Grand Prix wins, poles or even races contested in its history.

Oof, put the boot in there son.

Yes but everyone (of a certain age) associates Lotus with the JPS black and gold.

But this is the thing, Lotus Cars/Group are not Team Lotus (nor have they ever been), therefore Lotus Group are being entirely disingenuous in using the black & gold colour scheme, they're playing on the goodwill of fans (of a certain age), taking some for fools as well me thinks.

RE iGav: I believe they can change the name of the team because they're "sponsoring" Renault (eg Scuderia Marlboro Ferrari could become Scuderia Santander Ferrari").

Aye, after spending a little time reading up on the subject today, it's clear that for now, Lotus are just a title sponsor, rather than an actual change in constructor. So, about as authentic as the black & gold colour scheme then.

I think this Lotus owner will support the team that actually build their cars in Norfolk.

As opposed to the one that actually built your car... that's quite the dilemma you know.

 

[Don't panic]

FIA drops team orders ban from 2011
good.
finally a FIA decision recognizing the 'Team' aspects of the racing teams.

enough with the under the table tichy-tacky orders.
let team do whan the want and be responsible to the fans if they push it too much.

 

[ValSalva]

Could be worse, they could bring back the Camel yellow.

Yes! Well at least Senna drove the Camel Lotus car for a year. But nothing could be worse than the pre-Pacific Hitachi, Castrol, and Tommy Hilfiger livery. That was just a big embarrassment!

 

[RaceTripper]

Team Lotus' livery for 2011.

Mike Gascoyne did an informal poll on Twitter asking for livery preferences. 70% preferred the green/yellow livery from this year.

 

[S.B.G]

Questions

I've always liked Formula 1 racing and Indy Car too since I was a child. Since joining the US Marines after high school, I lost touch with the sport and that was a long time ago. Recently I've started to rekindle my interest in F1. But now I have some questions.

1. What does the flashing light on the rear of the cars indicate?

2. What is the point of not allowing teams to refuel the cars during a race?

3. What is the current amount of horsepower the engines are running, isn't it around 750 HP? Wasn't there a time when they were over 1000 HP? What happened with that?

 

[SpookTheHamster]

I've always liked Formula 1 racing and Indy Car too since I was a child. Since joining the US Marines after high school, I lost touch with the sport and that was a long time ago. Recently I've started to rekindle my interest in F1. But now I have some questions.

1. What does the flashing light on the rear of the cars indicate?

2. What is the point of not allowing teams to refuel the cars during a race?

3. What is the current amount of horsepower the engines are running, isn't it around 750 HP? Wasn't there a time when they were over 1000 HP? What happened with that?

1. The light comes on when a) the pit lane speed limiter is turned on or b) it's raining and the car has wet tyres fitted

2. It forces the teams to work on increased efficiency and creates an extra challenge for the drivers. The cars handle completely differently with a full tank at the beginning of the race to at the end. Also, one of the main factors was cost: The fuel rigs weigh and cost a lot, and not having to transport them will save the teams a load of cash.

3. Having over 1000bhp doesn't help when you can't get it down, and the rising speed of the cars (and reliance on aerodynamics) was reducing overtaking. Even with "only" 750bhp the cars have been beating lap records. In 2013 the teams will move to 4-cyl turbo engines with similar power but increased efficiency.

 

[MOFS]

Mike Gascoyne did an informal poll on Twitter asking for livery preferences. 70% preferred the green/yellow livery from this year.

Confirmed by Autosport. To further complicate the issue, there are rumours that Team Lotus could make road cars.

EDIT: Just read your site Spook - thought you'd joined Sauber, but can see the colours are of Brunel. Or the 2011 Sauber is more radical than anyone thought.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

This whole situation with two Lotus teams is giving me a headache...

 

[S.B.G]

1. The light comes on when a) the pit lane speed limiter is turned on or b) it's raining and the car has wet tyres fitted

2. It forces the teams to work on increased efficiency and creates an extra challenge for the drivers. The cars handle completely differently with a full tank at the beginning of the race to at the end. Also, one of the main factors was cost: The fuel rigs weigh and cost a lot, and not having to transport them will save the teams a load of cash.

3. Having over 1000bhp doesn't help when you can't get it down, and the rising speed of the cars (and reliance on aerodynamics) was reducing overtaking. Even with "only" 750bhp the cars have been beating lap records. In 2013 the teams will move to 4-cyl turbo engines with similar power but increased efficiency.

Cool, thanks for the information. So they're going to a 4-cyl turbo eh?

1. What type of configuration do they have right now? I totally love the sound the F1 engines make. I wonder how those newer ones will sound.

2. Are you telling me that when they had over 1000 HP the cars had a difficult time slowing back down? Was it too much power for the brakes? (I do understand though, "only" 750 HP is still a lot of power to manage).

3. Who are the popular teams, constructors and drivers? I don't know anyone so I have no favorite to root for yet.

4. Let's say a driver incurs a grid place penalty for some violation or other and let's say they qualify in last place without the penalty. How does the FIA handle that situation?

 

[ValSalva]

R.I.P. Tom Walkinshaw. Died after battling cancer.

 

[robbieduncan]

R.I.P. Tom Walkinshaw. Died after battling cancer.

R.I.P. indeed.

Team Lotus are running Green/Yellow again...

 

[SpookTheHamster]

Cool, thanks for the information. So they're going to a 4-cyl turbo eh?

1. What type of configuration do they have right now? I totally love the sound the F1 engines make. I wonder how those newer ones will sound.

2. Are you telling me that when they had over 1000 HP the cars had a difficult time slowing back down? Was it too much power for the brakes? (I do understand though, "only" 750 HP is still a lot of power to manage).

3. Who are the popular teams, constructors and drivers? I don't know anyone so I have no favorite to root for yet.

4. Let's say a driver incurs a grid place penalty for some violation or other and let's say they qualify in last place without the penalty. How does the FIA handle that situation?

1. They currently use 2.4l V8 engines, which they've used since 2006. Previously they used 3l V10 engines.

2. When they were running with the V10s, the cars had traction control to keep the power down when coming out of corners. This took away a huge amount of driver skill, and since 2008 no driver aids have been allowed. The reliance on aero also made it difficult for drivers to overtake anywhere other than a braking zone from a long straight (still the case, but not as bad)

3. Depends who you are. If you're looking for American drivers/teams, there currently aren't any. I'm a Red Bull/Webber fan, but that's because I worked for them.

4. He'd still be in last, there's nowhere further back for them to go.

 

[S.B.G]

1. They currently use 2.4l V8 engines, which they've used since 2006. Previously they used 3l V10 engines.

2. When they were running with the V10s, the cars had traction control to keep the power down when coming out of corners. This took away a huge amount of driver skill, and since 2008 no driver aids have been allowed. The reliance on aero also made it difficult for drivers to overtake anywhere other than a braking zone from a long straight (still the case, but not as bad)

3. Depends who you are. If you're looking for American drivers/teams, there currently aren't any. I'm a Red Bull/Webber fan, but that's because I worked for them.

4. He'd still be in last, there's nowhere further back for them to go.

Some more questions...

1. Are there any real major differences between F1 and Indy Car racing?

2. When was the last time F1 raced in the United States and where was it at? I wanted to get to the Detroit Grand Prix in 2008, but was unable to. Bums me out that they aren't racing there anymore... again. It's only 60 miles away from me.

3. Is a Grand Prix the same thing as a normal F1 race for a season?

 

[RaceTripper]

Some more questions...

1. Are there any real major differences between F1 and Indy Car racing?

2. When was the last time F1 raced in the United States and where was it at? I wanted to get to the Detroit Grand Prix in 2008, but was unable to. Bums me out that they aren't racing there anymore... again. It's only 60 miles away from me.

3. Is a Grand Prix the same thing as a normal F1 race for a season?

1. In a nutshell, IRL is primarily an oval track series with spec cars that are lower tech than F1.
2. Formula 1 last raced in the US in 2007 at Indianapolis Speedway.
Wasn't the Detroit race in 2008 an IRL race. Personally, I would rather have attended the ALMS race that was there the same weekend.
3. Yes, F1 races are called Grand Prix, but not all Grand Prix are Formula 1 races.

 

[S.B.G]

1. In a nutshell, IRL is primarily an oval track series with spec cars that are lower tech than F1.

I kinda thought that, just wasn't sure. Oval tracks are so boring to me, except for the Indy 500; I do enjoy that race. All the rest, especially NASCAR stink IMO.

2. Formula 1 last raced in the US in 2007 at Indianapolis Speedway.
Wasn't the Detroit race in 2008 an IRL race. Personally, I would rather have attended the ALMS race that was there the same weekend.

I don't know if it was IRL or not. Just knew there was a race that year called the Detroit Grand Prix. What is ALMS?

3. Yes, F1 races are called Grand Prix, but not all Grand Prix are Formula 1 races.

Well, that just confuses me! How do I know the difference?

 

[RaceTripper]

I kinda thought that, just wasn't sure. Oval tracks are so boring to me, except for the Indy 500; I do enjoy that race. All the rest, especially NASCAR stink IMO.



I don't know if it was IRL or not. Just knew there was a race that year called the Detroit Grand Prix. What is ALMS?



Well, that just confuses me! How do I know the difference?

ALMS = The American Le Mans Series
It's a series comprising multiple classes of prototype and production sports cars racing simultaneously. For my money it -- along with the LMS (European) and ILMC (International) versions -- are the best racing on the planet right now. I am a fan of F1 racing, but Le Mans style sports car racing is where my true passion lies. See http://racetripper.smugmug.com for pictures.

Grand Prix is a term used very loosely, but more or less refers to sports car and/or open wheel races run on road or street circuits.