Formula 1: the class of 2011.

[Ferry_vO]

The first team to show their 2011 car (The F150) was Ferrari, who presented their car last Friday.
Monday we'll see the cars from Team Lotus, Lotus Renault GP and Sauber; on Tuesday Red Bull, Mercedes GP and Scuderia Toro Rosso will show theirs. McLaren will present their car on the 4th and Virgin on the 7th. HRT doesn't have a date set yet.
The first three day test will start this tuesday at the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Spain.

Rule changes for this year will include a ban on the F-duct and the double diffusor. New are a movable rear wing to aid overtaking and the return of the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS). After years of running Bridgestone tires all teams will have to work with Pirelli from this season.

This year's teams and drivers:

Red Bull Renault: Vettel & Webber.

McLaren Mercedes: Hamilton & Button

Ferrari: Alonso & Massa

Mercedes GP: Schumacher & Rosberg

Lotus Renault GP: Kubica & Petrov

Williams Cosworth: Barrichello & Maldonado

Force India Mercedes: Sutil & Di Resta

Sauber Ferrari: Kobayashi & Perez

Scuderia Toro Rosso: Buemi & Alguersuari

Team Lotus Renault: Trulli & Kovalainen

HRT Cosworth: Klien & Karthikeyan

Virgin Cosworth: Glock & D'Ambrosio

20 Races this season, with a new one in New Dehli, India added:

<TABLE class=raceCalender cellSpacing=0 summary="" cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>01 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Sakhir) </TD><TD class=alignRight>11 - 13 Mar </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>02 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 QANTAS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) </TD><TD class=alignRight>25 - 27 Mar </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>03 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) </TD><TD class=alignRight>08 - 10 Apr </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>04 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) * </TD><TD class=alignRight>15 - 17 Apr </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>05 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 TURKISH GRAND PRIX (Istanbul) </TD><TD class=alignRight>06 - 08 May </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>06 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2011 (Catalunya) </TD><TD class=alignRight>20 - 22 May </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>07 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2011 (Monte Carlo) </TD><TD class=alignRight>26 - 29 May </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>08 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2011 (Montreal) </TD><TD class=alignRight>10 - 12 Jun </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>09 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia) </TD><TD class=alignRight>24 - 26 Jun </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>10 </TD><TD class=raceLocation> FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) </TD><TD class=alignRight>08 - 10 Jul </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>11 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2011 (Nürburgring) </TD><TD class=alignRight>22 - 24 Jul </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>12 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 ENI MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2011 (Budapest) </TD><TD class=alignRight>29 - 31 Jul </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>13 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) </TD><TD class=alignRight>26 - 28 Aug </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>14 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2011 (Monza) </TD><TD class=alignRight>09 - 11 Sep </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>15 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) </TD><TD class=alignRight>23 - 25 Sep </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>16 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Suzuka) </TD><TD class=alignRight>07 - 09 Oct </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>17 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 KOREAN GRAND PRIX (Yeongam) </TD><TD class=alignRight>14 - 16 Oct </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>18 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF INDIA (New Delhi) * </TD><TD class=alignRight>28 - 30 Oct </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>19 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Yas Marina Circuit) </TD><TD class=alignRight>11 - 13 Nov </TD></TR><TR style="CURSOR: null" class=row $included="null"><TD class=raceNumber>20 </TD><TD class=raceLocation>FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2011 (Sao Paulo) </TD><TD class=alignRight>25 - 27 Nov</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

And finally a few shots of the Ferrari F150:

 

[Ferry_vO]

The new Sauber C30:

The Lotus T128:

And the MGP W02:

 

[wombat666]

I suppose some of the odd driver selections are based on $$$$$$!!!
Some things never change.
Not a very attractive group of 'cars' so far Ferry, business as usual I guess.

Now the REAL Class of 20011 are the bikes.
How about the size of the pipe on the Ducati!!!
And so far Rossi is finding good potential in the machine.
Sepang three day test begins in a day or so.


View attachment 29997View attachment 29998

 

[Ferry_vO]

Well maybe you'll like this classic livery better: The new Lotus Renault GP R31:

 

[Ferry_vO]

Aaand the next batch of new cars on the first day of testing:

The Red Bull RB7:

The Mercedes W03 (Like this one!):

The Scuderia Toro Rosso STR6:

And the Williams FW33:

A very high nose and a very narrow back end seem to be the major trends for this year, no doubt inspired by last year's RBR car.

 

[wombat666]

That "JPS" Renault makes a complete mess of classic paint job with those God-Awefull RED endplates .........
Can't get enthused about the cars Ferry, under the paint they remain fugly.

PS:I must add that the 'Rossi Yellow' trim on the Ducati is not very attractive either.

 

[Naismith]

Pirelli eh? Do we get a free calender?

 

[wombat666]

Pirelli eh? Do we get a free calender?

I doubt it.
Looks like Pirelli are still trying to work out how to get the tyre stencils around a curve .....

 

[Ferry_vO]

The last photos I saw from the Pirelli calendar had naked supermodels (AKA Skeletons with skin) and men on them.. No thank you!

Anyway the car may not be the most beautiful ever, but the engineer in my loves the engineering that went into them. Just plenty of great little details to look at!

Lotus Renault GP seem to have found something new; there appears to be a lack of exhausts:

But the teams have located them just below the intakes in the sidepods here:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/JLE0970.jpg

Now that the 'double-deck' and 'blown' diffusors are banned, LRGP are now pushing the exhaust gasses out in front of the floor to push more air underneath to take better advantage of the less effective (Comapred to last year) diffusor. Apparently McLaren will have a similar system on their car which they'll show on Friday.

 

[Ferry_vO]

Some more detailed shots:

Lotus Renault:

Mercedes GP:

Red Bull Racing:

Note the low-placed exhausts on the RBR and MGP cars, and the pull rod rear suspension on all three; an idea that was (re)introduced by RBR last year.

It's an incredible feat of engineering to see how narrow the back of these cars are, considering they contain a V8, seven speed gearbox, suspension and a 200+ liters fueltank!

 

[Ferry_vO]

The McLaren MP4/26 was revealed in Berlin today, and it has some interesting design choices, especially around the sidepods!

The car was 'assembled' out on the street, which gave the photographers an opportunity to take a look under the 'hood':

On the McLaren site you can see a 3D model of the car:

http://mclaren.com/2011revealed/

 

[Ferry_vO]

The new Marussia Virgin GP car:

And the new HRT F111:

Almost beginning to look like proper F1 cars!

 

[wombat666]

How long before the protests start on the Renault exhaust system??
Only if it is really a success of course ........

 

[Ferry_vO]

You know you've done something right in F1 if others start protesting or copying..

 

[Ferry_vO]

And the last one, the Force India VJM04:

 

[wombat666]

You know you've done something right in F1 if others start protesting or copying..

As Alan Jones once put it....."The Purple Pole Syndrome".
:mixedsmi: