Selection box - There was no us and them - A huge selection of the best of the F1 web
Published by Christine
As we cross that awkward gap between the end of testing and teams travelling to the first race of the season, I've gathered a bumper crop of articles, podcasts, videos and pictures to peruse to fill the hours. The 2016 is so close now, you can almost feel it, and delving into this week's selection box options will help you feel even closer. There's testing wrap-ups, behind-the-scenes photos, as well as an unboxing of sorts - dive in!
Let's begin with a podcast chat from a well respected magazine with an equally regarded stalwart of the F1 paddock.
Simon Arron, Damien Smith, Mark Hughes and Rob Widdows are joined by Williams' Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds to review testing and preview the 2016 Formula 1 season.
UK viewers are eagerly anticipating the season ahead, if only to see how Channel 4 are going to manage their first season of F1 coverage. They've had good ideas in the past, but this season looks slightly more traditional than you might expect. The next post is a fab report from their launch day.
Jones described himself as “hugely excited” to be Channel 4’s presenter and I think that was noticeable throughout the morning. Jones blended in with the remainder of the line-up, there was no “us and them”, it felt like “we” and that was important, cracking jokes with the remainder of the team. Jones said that since he found out he was the chosen one at the beginning of January, he has watched every race from last season back-to-back.
Now a few more excellent round ups from the two weeks of sunny Spanish testing, where we all try to analyse the results whilst at the same time not reading too much into them.
Over the eight days of testing the 11 teams totalled 8498 laps (39,558.190km) on the new cars, this count is not including the first test from Sauber where they used the 2015 car. The total distance tested last year with 2015 cars was 39,503.294km, so with four fewer days (but two more cars) the cars drove an extra 55km in 2016.
We were also given the absolute privilege of standing at the back of team garage as the team worked on Rio Haryanto’s car, fired it up and sent it out on track. We’ve exchanged a few messages with Rio and it would have nice to say hello in person but he looked kinda busy. It was a real thrill to stand in the garage with my headphones on listening to the race engineers relaying instructions to Rio and them receiving his feedback. Something we won’t ever forget.
The second week started with more frustration when Fernando Alonso's telemetry systems stopped working just before lunch. Once repaired the car completed 93 laps. Things began to run smoothly, bar a suspension issue on the Tuesday that was quickly repaired. Adorned with colourful high-vis paint the team could focus on important aerodynamic work. McLaren will use this data to bring out a revised aero package for the season opener at Australia. With 2,053 miles completed throughout the entire test, this is world's away from last years dismal 1088 (which featured 4 more days).
Moving from words to pictures, Romain Grosjean has been sharing some pictures of his seemingly very restful off-season, but now it looks like he's at least trying to get back in the car.
Not the best way to prepare #australiangp for sure... But what a good time to spend as a father.
Before the first laps take place at the circuit we have had weeks of top-secret photographic assignments. In January this year, I had already shot seat fittings, contract renewals, new liveries, driver portraits and sponsor announcements – all of which are photographed in advance and then released to the media at launch time. Or thrown in the bin after a last-minute sponsor change! It’s good fun, its unique photography and I always enjoy the pre-season build up.
Next up, another spot of audio for you. The wonderful Aussie accents pour out of this show from the official Australian Grand Prix outfit - and includes an interview with one Bernie Ecclestone.
In this week’s ‘Keeping Track’ podcast, we speak exclusively to Bernie Ecclestone, and review F1 testing in Barcelona with Peter Windsor.
Bernie is one of those who has weighed in on the potential qualifying changes, and let's be honest, we've all had our own thoughts about it too! Here are some more from Pete.
Yes, there are a few shortcomings but nothing like the troubles which are being reported. We enjoyed some absolutely fantastic races last season (Hungary, Britain and USA to name but a few) which afterwards no-one would dare say ‘F1 is too boring’, but you have one race which isn’t epic and it’s crisis stations. In any sport you will have the more forgettable and the less forgettable, as a football fan also I can testify to the number of drab games I have experienced, and you have to accept this in any sport.
Finally, defending champion Lewis Hamilton gives us a bit of an insight into one of the key parts of his new car.
Ahead of the 2016 F1 season Lewis Hamilton unboxes his new steering wheel.
