Formula One in 2016

[ManWithNoName]

Calendar released. 21 races. Ugh.

April 3 - Australia
April 10 - China
April 24 - Bahrain
May 1 - Russia
May 15 - Spain
May 29 - Monaco
June 12 - Canada
June 26 - Britain
July 3 - Austria
July 17 - Europe (Baku)
July 31 - Germany
August 7 - Hungary
August 28 - Belgium
September 4 - Italy
September 18 - Singapore
September 25 - Malaysia
October 9 - Japan
October 23 - USA (Austin)
October 30 - Mexico
November 13 - Brazil
November 27 - Abu Dhabi

 

[Simple Jack]

lol "Europe".

 

[ManWithNoName]

China, Bahrain and Russia. There's three weeks I bet the mechanics can't wait for.

 

[Sven]

It looks like the summer break has been pushed back to August, and only goes for 3 weeks (between Hungary and Belgium). Strangely, given there are 21 races, there's only 7 back to back races.

Azerbaijan is really pushing the "Europe" thing, hosting the European Games last month.

I think the engine allocation for 2016, barring any rules changes, will be 5 due to the calendar having more than 20 races.

 

[Sven]

More tweaking going on at the FIA

The FIA has announced sweeping changes to the new points system that will be used to qualify for mandatory Formula 1 superlicences from next season.
As part of a clampdown on young and inexperienced drivers getting to F1, following 17-year-old Max Verstappen's signing by Toro Rosso, the FIA created a new system in which drivers must accumulate 40 points across a three-year period.
But after criticism of the way points were allocated, the FIA has increased the list of series that award points and adjusted the rankings following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Mexico on Friday.
The FIA's planned new Formula 2 championship had previously offered 60 points for its champion, with GP2 on 50 and IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship's LMP1 class and the Formula 3 European Championship awarding 40.
Now all five will offer 40 for the title-winner, with the same amount going to second and third in F2.
The FIA added the winner of the Formula E Championship will also be given a superlicence even though the series is not part of the points system.
The Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion will receive 35 points, rather than the planned 30, but will still require success the previous season to qualify.
DTM and the World Touring Car Championship have been added to the list, with the winner earning 15 points apiece, along with Indy Lights and the senior category of CIK-FIA World Championship karting.
The FIA has also increased the flexibility for drivers who qualify for a superlicence but are then unable to secure an F1 racing seat and take a test role instead.
Drivers must still have scored at least 40 points during the three-year period preceding the application, but will now get a three-year grace period in which those points are valid if they are testing but not racing in F1.
Verstappen finished third in the F3 standings last year, which would have earned him just 20 points on the new licence system, and forced him to either race again in the category or move up to GP2.
From 2016, F1 drivers must be at least 18 years old, have passed a test on sporting regulations, and completed at least two years in junior single-seater categories to qualify for a superlicence.

REVISED SUPERLICENCE POINTS SYSTEM:

|1st|2nd|3rd|4nd|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th|10th
\Future FIA F2| 40|40|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3
\GP2| 40|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2
\F3 European|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2| 1
\WEC LMP1|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2| 1
\IndyCar| 40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2| 1
\FR3.5|35|25|20|15|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1
\GP3| 30|20|15|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0
\Super Formula| 25|20|15|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0
\WTCC| 15|12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0
\DTM| 15|12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0
\Indy Lights|15|12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0
\National FIA F4 12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0| 0
\National F3|10|7| 5| 3| 1| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0
\FR2.0|10|7| 5| 3| 1| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0
\CIK-FIA Senior|5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0

 

[ManWithNoName]

More tweaking going on at the FIA



REVISED SUPERLICENCE POINTS SYSTEM:

|1st|2nd|3rd|4nd|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th|10th
\Future FIA F2| 40|40|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3
\GP2| 40|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2
\F3 European|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2| 1
\WEC LMP1|40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2| 1
\IndyCar| 40|30|20|10|8| 6| 4| 3| 2| 1
\FR3.5|35|25|20|15|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1
\GP3| 30|20|15|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0
\Super Formula| 25|20|15|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0
\WTCC| 15|12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0
\DTM| 15|12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0
\Indy Lights|15|12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0
\National FIA F4 12|10|7| 5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0| 0
\National F3|10|7| 5| 3| 1| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0
\FR2.0|10|7| 5| 3| 1| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0
\CIK-FIA Senior|5| 3| 2| 1| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0

Yeah because Max Verstappen's been a disaster

 

[Sven]

Haas looking more and more like the Ferrari B Team....

Gene Haas confirmed that Jean-Eric Vergne, Esteban Gutierrez and Nico Hulkenberg have all been linked with the two available race seats.
"We have a list of drivers in which we are interested in, but in the next few months there will be many moves in the (existing) teams' lineups and we will wait to see who is interested in the project we are developing," he said.
As for the reports specifically mentioning Vergne, Gutierrez and Hulkenberg, Haas added: "Two of them are reserve drivers from Ferrari, so they are certainly a possibility.
"As far as the other name that you mention, he is a driver from another team, so the possibility of him driving for us depends of his position with his team.
"Anybody who is driving in a formula one team right now, certainly, is someone that we would be interested in, if he becomes available," said Haas.

I doubt Hulkenberg would move to Haas as it would likely be a retrograde step in his career. The opportunity for Vergne and Gutierrez to get back into a regular F1 seat would be very tempting I'd say.

 

[Sven]

Sauber could be set for a change of engine supplier for 2016.
That is the news of the Swiss newspaper Blick, whose veteran and well-connected correspondent Roger Benoit claims that talks took place recently in Hungary.
Currently, Hinwil based Sauber is supplied by its long-time partner Ferrari, but the 'power unit' market looks set for a major shakeup as Renault contemplates buying the Enstone team Lotus.
It could mean divorce between the French carmaker and both Red Bull-owned teams, with Red Bull Racing linked to Mercedes and Toro Rosso with Honda.
In the fallout, Sauber could end up as a Renault customer, Benoit reports.
"It makes sense," the veteran journalist explained, "because in 2016 Sauber would only be Ferrari's number three." He is referring not only to Ferrari's fabled works team, but the new, closely Ferrari-aligned entrant Haas F1 Team.
Regarding the 'silly season', meanwhile, Benoit claims that Mercedes is looking to bring its reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein, 20, onto the grid next year, possibly to replace one of Force India's current drivers Nico Hulkenberg or Sergio Perez.
Benoit said the deal could result in "cheaper engine bills" for the struggling Silverstone based team.

That would mean that 5 of the 11 teams would be running new engines in 2016 and I doubt there would be that much change on the grid.

Mercedes engines - Mercedes, Williams, Force India, Red Bull
Ferrari engines - Ferrari, Haas, Manor
Renault engines - Lotus, Sauber
Honda engines - McLaren, Toro Rosso

 

[NotAMagpieBogan]

Calendar released. 21 races. Ugh.

April 3 - Australia
April 10 - China
April 24 - Bahrain
May 1 - Russia
May 15 - Spain
May 29 - Monaco
June 12 - Canada
June 26 - Britain
July 3 - Austria
July 17 - Europe (Baku)
July 31 - Germany
August 7 - Hungary
August 28 - Belgium
September 4 - Italy
September 18 - Singapore
September 25 - Malaysia
October 9 - Japan
October 23 - USA (Austin)
October 30 - Mexico
November 13 - Brazil
November 27 - Abu Dhabi

I didn't realise there is only 3 street circuits (4 in 2016), I felt like there were more.

 

[ManWithNoName]

I didn't realise there is only 3 street circuits (4 in 2016), I felt like there were more.

They keep building all these expensive circuits that get used once a year then wonder why nobody makes any money.

 

[NotAMagpieBogan]

They keep building all these expensive circuits that get used once a year then wonder why nobody makes any money.

Are you talking about the street circuits? Or are you talking about permanent circuits like Sochi or Abu Dhabi?

 

[ManWithNoName]

Are you talking about the street circuits? Or are you talking about permanent circuits like Sochi or Abu Dhabi?

The permanent ones. Like India, South Korea, so forth. They spend tens of millions on these race tracks that barely get used, jack up the prices for the F1's to make up for it, nobody pays those ticket prices, then everyone wonders why nobody's making money.

 

[Simple Jack]

The permanent ones. Like India, South Korea, so forth. They spend tens of millions on these race tracks that barely get used, jack up the prices for the F1's to make up for it, nobody pays those ticket prices, then everyone wonders why nobody's making money.

I think technically South Korea is meant to be a street circuit.

 

[ManWithNoName]

I think technically South Korea is meant to be a street circuit.

I think the idea was to turn that area, which is a million miles away from everywhere, into a really big precinct. Fair to say that's died off.

 

[Simple Jack]

I think the idea was to turn that area, which is a million miles away from everywhere, into a really big precinct. Fair to say that's died off.

Yeah it was. The pit straight and that 90 degree left/right/left (or the other way around) complex were supposed to be public streets.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Did someone say "street circuit"???

 

[Robco]

That would mean that 5 of the 11 teams would be running new engines in 2016 and I doubt there would be that much change on the grid.

Mercedes engines - Mercedes, Williams, Force India, Red Bull
Ferrari engines - Ferrari, Haas, Manor
Renault engines - Lotus, Sauber
Honda engines - McLaren, Toro Rosso

I would rather Toro Rosso stays with Renault and Honda buys Manor, turning it into Ultra Aguri

 

[Sven]

I would rather Toro Rosso stays with Renault and Honda buys Manor, turning it into Ultra Aguri

It's all speculation, but I like your thinking

 

[Sven]

all the rumours turn to nought as far a Ferrari is concerned, Kimi's back!

Ferrari has announced today that the Italian team will continue with it's current driver line-up, as Kimi Raikkonen has renewed his agreement for the 2016 season.

I wonder if there was some behind the scenes negotiations between Mercedes and Williams to keep Bottas at Williams. It's something we'll never know, Ferrari would be offering big bucks for Bottas if they wanted him, and it's not like they haven't paid another team for a driver in the past....

 

[Sven]

The confirmation that Kimi Raikkonen will remain with Ferrari for the 2016 F1 season is set to kick off a flurry of announcements in coming weeks.
As it stands, only a small handful of teams have officially confirmed line-ups, but several others have options that are likely to be fulfilled, such as Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull and both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas at Williams.
The 2016 F1 driver line-up so far
Mercedes - Nico Rosberg (Confirmed), Lewis Hamilton (Confirmed)
Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel (Confirmed), Kimi Raikkonen (Confirmed)
Red Bull - Daniel Ricciardo (Confirmed), TBA (Possible candidates: Daniil Kvyat)
Williams - TBA, TBA (Possible candidates: Felipe Massa, Valtteri Bottas, Alex Lynn, Jenson Button)
McLaren - Fernando Alonso (Confirmed), TBA (Possible candidates: Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen, Stoffel Vandoorne)
Force India - TBA, TBA (Possible candidates: Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, Pascal Wehrlein)
Toro Rosso - Max Verstappen (Confirmed), TBA (Possible candidates: Carlos Sainz Jr, Pierre Gasly)
Lotus (In possible talks for takeover by Renault) - TBA, TBA (Possible candidates: Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado, Jean-Eric Vergne, Nico Hulkeneberg)
Sauber - Marcus Ericsson (Confirmed), Felipe Nasr (Confirmed)
Manor - TBA, TBA
Haas - TBA, TBA (Possible candidates: Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Gutierrez, Jean-Eric Vergne, Alexander Rossi)

The big question mark in my mind is Pascal Wehrlein (the Mercedes test and reserve driver). Mercedes have stated a desire for him to race in 2016 and with many Mercedes engine cars on the grid it will be very easy for Mercedes to fund his place on a team with a sweet heart deal on engines.

Would Mercedes push Red Bull into taking Wehrlein in exchange for Mercedes power in 2016???

That being said, if Hulkenburg moves to Haas, there's an immediate vacancy at Force India....

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Raikkonen continuing at Ferrari trolls a lot of race fans around the world.

 

[RolandF1]

Raikkonen continuing at Ferrari trolls a lot of race fans around the world.

Ferrari policy of not caring too much about the 2nd seat if they think their main driver is a superstar. Raikkonen at this stage is a bit like Eddie Irvine: Doesn't care about the results, just happy to accept a high paying job of driving around and helping his teammate once in a while. It's a nice position to be in.

 

[Sven]

Trivia fact of the day.

Kimi Raikkonen was the reason Red Bull sold their interest in the Sauber team. Sauber recruited Raikkonen for the 2001 against the wishes of Red Bull who wanted Enrique Bernoldi in the seat.

Red Bull decided to go their own way after that decision and bought a team outright in 2005

 

[RolandF1]

Trivia fact of the day.

Kimi Raikkonen was the reason Red Bull sold their interest in the Sauber team. Sauber recruited Raikkonen for the 2001 against the wishes of Red Bull who wanted Enrique Bernoldi in the seat.

Red Bull decided to go their own way after that decision and bought a team outright in 2005

Yeah, I remember thinking at the time Sauber were idiots going with a very inexperienced Raikkonen over a reasonable Bernoldi to please Redbull. Ultimately it ended up being extremely profitable for Sauber selling Kimi's contract for a lot and using that money on their state of the art wind tunnel. Still though, was very risky.

Bernoldi ended up at Arrows with Redbull backing of course. Redbull were thinking of buying Arrows in 2002 but the team's finances at the time were in the toilet, despite the team's decent facilities over the likes of Jaguar.

 

[Sven]

Put a line through one of the drivers linked to Haas for next year. Jean-Eric Vergne and Esteban Gutierrez are still in the mix.

Nico Hulkenberg is staying with Force India.
The Silverstone based team announced on Tuesday that the German has signed up for 2016 and 2017.
2015 Le Mans winner Hulkenberg, 28, had been linked with a move to Haas or Lotus, but said: "I know this team inside out and I feel at home here so it made perfect sense to make a long term commitment."

It is believed that Sergio Perez and Pascal Wehrlein are in competition for the other seat.