*** Official Formula One 2015 Season Thread ***

[Donger]

I realize that many Americans aren't Formula One fans, but I'm hoping that this thread will generate some new interest in this wonderful formula of racing. We've had a United States Grand Prix off and on over the years, but the USGP now has a (hopefully) permanent home at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

Here's a primer on the formula:

The FIA Formula One World Championship (also Formula One, or F1) is the highest class of single-seat auto racing that is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The "formula", designated in the name, refers to a set of rules with which all participants' cars must comply. The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix (from French, originally meaning great prizes), held throughout the world on purpose-built circuits and public roads. The results of each race are evaluated using a points system to determine two annual World Championships, one for the drivers and one for the constructors. The racing drivers, constructor teams, track officials, organisers, and circuits are required to be holders of valid Super Licences, the highest class of racing licence issued by the FIA.

Formula One cars are the fastest road course racing cars in the world, owing to very high cornering speeds achieved through the generation of large amounts of aerodynamic downforce. Formula One cars race at speeds of up to 360 km/h (220 mph) with engines currently limited in performance to a maximum of 15,000 RPM. The cars are capable of lateral acceleration in excess of five g in corners. The performance of the cars is very dependent on electronics – although traction control and other driving aids have been banned since 2008 – and on aerodynamics, suspension and tyres. The formula has radically evolved and changed through the history of the sport.

And, here's the schedule for the 2015 season:

The following twenty Grands Prix are currently scheduled to take place in 2015.

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date

1 Australian Grand Prix Australia Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne 15 March
2 Malaysian Grand Prix Malaysia Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 29 March
3 Chinese Grand Prix China Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai 12 April
4 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir 19 April
5 Spanish Grand Prix Spain Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona 10 May
6 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 24 May
7 Canadian Grand Prix Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 7 June
8 Austrian Grand Prix Austria Red Bull Ring, Spielberg 21 June
9 British Grand Prix United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 5 July
10 German Grand Prix To be announced[68][69] 19 July
11 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungary Hungaroring, Budapest 26 July
12 Belgian Grand Prix Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 23 August
13 Italian Grand Prix Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza 6 September
14 Singapore Grand Prix Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore 20 September
15 Japanese Grand Prix Japan Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 27 September
16 Russian Grand Prix Russia Sochi Autodrom, Sochi 11 October
17 United States Grand Prix United States Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas 25 October
18 Mexican Grand Prix Mexico Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City 1 November
19 Brazilian Grand Prix Brazil Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 15 November
20 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi 29 November

Here is a link to channels and times for the GPs. Most are shown on NBCS:

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/schedule?circuit=1

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by KC native

BMW used to be an engine supplier in F1 (their V10 was the first to break the 19,000 RPM mark).

I have no doubt their experience went into the M5's motor, but the M5 is a 5 liter engine whereas their F1 V10 was a 3 liter.

Sure. It's fun - but I still prefer a souped v6/turbo.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Donger

Here's a lap of Spa (Belgium GP) by Fernando Alonso driving a Ferrari. Spa is my favorite track:

@ :48 is one of the most famous corners in all of racing for those that don't know. The eau rouge complex is bad ass (eau rouge is the first slight left).

[Donger]

I will make a prediction that the 2015 Drivers Champion will be my favorite driver:

Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes

I do think Fernando Alonso, who drives for McLaren this year, is the best driver in the field, however.

[KC native]

Ze German will get Lewis this year (hopefully).

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KC native

Ze German will get Lewis this year (hopefully).

Won't happen. Rosberg is soft.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KC native

Don't just watch the races. At minimum you should watch qualifying and the race. Qualifying gives a great build up to the race.

Watch practice if you get a chance too. It lets you get more into some of the story lines and inside dirt on F1 because the announcers have more time to talk about it.

Good point. Floppy, practice takes place on Fridays (local to the event) and qualifying is on Saturday.

[Donger]

One thing you'll hear about F1 is neck-strengthening. F1 cars are capable of exerting 3 to 4G laterally and up to 5Gs under braking.

Every F1 car on the grid is capable of going from 0 to 160 km/h (100 mph) and back to 0 in less than five seconds.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Donger

Won't happen. Rosberg is soft.

Wahmilton is soft too. He just got lucky and had a Vettel-like car advantage last year.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KC native

Wahmilton is soft too. He just got lucky and had a Vettel-like car advantage last year.

Rosberg had an identical car and had fewer DNFs. He's just soft. Hamilton is a better driver, period.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Donger

Rosberg had an identical car and had fewer DNFs. He's just soft. Hamilton is a better driver, period.

I agree that he's a better driver than Rosberg.

I'm still hoping for a string of 6 DNFs in a row for him though.

[KCTitus]

Originally Posted by KC native

Australia, Canada, Belgium, Monaco, Italy, Japan, and the US are the best races to watch generally.

Mexico's rehabbed circuit should be good as well.

My two faves are Abu Dhabi and Monaco. Monsa is great as well...

I cant believe they used to run the full Nurnburgring...that's just crazy.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by KC native

I agree that he's a better driver than Rosberg.

I'm still hoping for a string of 6 DNFs in a row for him though.

Well, maybe Rosberg will have some more Schumacher-like Monaco moments this year...

[KC native]

Originally Posted by KCTitus

My two faves are Abu Dhabi and Monaco. Monsa is great as well...

I cant believe they used to run the full Nurnburgring...that's just crazy.

Yes, the full Nurburgring is nuts. It killed a lot of drivers.

[KCTitus]

Ive always been partial to McLaren since their Honda days and Senna...when Hamilton came in I was a big fan of his when he almost beat Raikkonen for the title his rookie year.

It seems to me that Mercedes has the car figured out, and Ferrari, McLaren and even the Renault Red Bulls havent yet, so it's not really competitive. I'd like to see a more equal footing in that regard.

I'd really like to see McLaren get back to the front...maybe this year.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by KCTitus

Ive always been partial to McLaren since their Honda days and Senna...when Hamilton came in I was a big fan of his when he almost beat Raikkonen for the title his rookie year.

It seems to me that Mercedes has the car figured out, and Ferrari, McLaren and even the Renault Red Bulls havent yet, so it's not really competitive. I'd like to see a more equal footing in that regard.

I'd really like to see McLaren get back to the front...maybe this year.

In preseason testing, the speed gap has narrowed considerably for all the teams. Reliability looks to be an issue for McLaren-Honda though.