[Team] 2020 Season Launch/Pre-Season Testing

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I'd say it's darker. Maybe they tweaked it in Photoshop? Publicity photos usually get a bit of a touch up.

yeah very possible!

the darker shade really works for me so i might be disappointed if it turns out to look the same as last year's on track/tv.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I'd say it's darker. Maybe they tweaked it in Photoshop? Publicity photos usually get a bit of a touch up.

When I look at photos of the 2019 car, given how bright the color is, shadows, lighting and post processing of the images results in a variety of shades of pink.

In some photos it even looks like two different shades on the same car (not talking about the magenta accent).

That same photo from above is shown on the BWT site and the color match is very close to that which is used on their site (it seems blue and pink are their colors). In the end, I suspect it's the same shade as last year and what we are seeing is lighting/post processing differences.

As to it being pink. I never was a fan. I am surprised they don't change it up much. Given blue is also a predominate corporate color, I am curious why they don't use more if it than just on the logo/text.

Richard

[Richard C]

Thankfully testing starts tomorrow as I just realized we have sunken to the level of discussing the shade of pink on the Racing Point car. Hopefully this is the low point of the off season!

Richard

[chillibowl]

right!

Kubica to get the first morning session in the Alfa.

cynically i could say its about his sponsor/money but i have to think its also about what Kubica can bring to the table in terms of feedback and development.

also kudos to his sponsor for their commitment to his career.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/k...-test/4687299/

[S griffin]

His development skills are beyond question. Even if he doesn’t quite have the strength to race in F1 anymore, he still is very valuable in terms of feedback

[Richard C]

Williams up and running!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pexjmwGa3Wk

Richard

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Williams up and running!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pexjmwGa3Wk

Richard

looking at the steering wheel...the display screen is mounted in the cockpit and not a part of the steering wheel?

this is unusual no?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

looking at the steering wheel...the display screen is mounted in the cockpit and not a part of the steering wheel?

this is unusual no?

So it is.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

looking at the steering wheel...the display screen is mounted in the cockpit and not a part of the steering wheel?

this is unusual no?

McLaren supply every dashboard. They say that Williams are unique in mounting it off the wheel. They've been like that for a while.

https://www.mclaren.com/applied/lab/five-f1-tech-facts-every-fan-should-know/

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

McLaren supply every dashboard. They say that Williams are unique in mounting it off the wheel. They've been like that for a while.

https://www.mclaren.com/applied/lab/...n-should-know/

knew Mclaren supplied the ECU but did not know they also supplied the dash. also never noticed that Williams have been doing it differently in recent years.

good knowledge and thanks for the sharing of it!

i suppose there is a logic in the screen staying upright as you turn the wheel but if the benefits were tangible you would think the other teams would have followed suit by now.

im curious to know Williams' thinking on this.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

im curious to know Williams' thinking on this.

Apparently it is/was a Pat Symonds design feature that is intended to give a lighter steering input requirement by removing weight (and subsequently inertia) at the wheel. Connected to the level of input required by the driver during acceleration, it's now seen as just how Williams design their cars.

[chillibowl]

would the light weight also allow for more accurate steering inputs then?

or too bad the Williams' isnt going fast enough for anyone to notice?

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

would the light weight also allow for more accurate steering inputs then?

I am sure it's measurable. Will the drivers notice? I know the sport is about looking for ANY edge, but I question that they would notice any steering improvement. I suspect the display is relatively lightweight. I initial thought it might simplify steering wheel construction (simpler wiring), but then thought they might be using a serial bus and/or a type of connector that it may support it being on the wheel vs. chassis anyhow?

Frankly, I see the larger advantage of a static display that is not impacted by wheel rotation. But are drivers looking the display mid-corner? Probably not?

In the end, this is a better topic than the shade of pink on the Racing Point (but not by much).

Looking forward to talk about testing tomorrow.

Richard

[Adam43]

A Williams wheel and dash. No screen on the wheel I notice.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Adam43

A Williams wheel and dash. No screen on the wheel I notice.

And none of those flappy paddles either, just a gear stick and manual clutch to change gear

[chillibowl]

i guess there is something to be said about continuity...all the teams seems to be running relatively trouble free, running a lot of laps, trying out the different compounds.

everyone came to play today!

qualifying times from last year if anyone is interested in looking over an essentially meaningless comparison. of course i could have used last years winter testing times as a comparison but you cant tell anything from winter times!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_S...classification

that said, Russell/Williams almost a second faster!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

i guess there is something to be said about continuity...all the teams seems to be running relatively trouble free, running a lot of laps, trying out the different compounds.

Impressive isn't it? Day 1 and they're piling in the laps - pretty much all teams breaking the 100 lap barrier at this stage.

[P38 in workshop]

Originally Posted by Adam43

A Williams wheel and dash. No screen on the wheel I notice.

At that time,about 35-40 years ago ,driver displays were a bit basic.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

i guess there is something to be said about continuity...all the teams seems to be running relatively trouble free, running a lot of laps, trying out the different compounds.

everyone came to play today!

qualifying times from last year if anyone is interested in looking over an essentially meaningless comparison. of course i could have used last years winter testing times as a comparison but you cant tell anything from winter times!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_S...classification

that said, Russell/Williams almost a second faster!

Racing Point and Williams seem to have made the biggest gains.

I think we can just ink Hambo in for the title too.

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by wnut

Racing Point and Williams seem to have made the biggest gains.

I think we can just ink Hambo in for the title too.

Ferrari shone in testing last year.

title is far from inked

[MCWB]

Interesting feature on the Merc that seems to adjust toe via the steering wheel/column: https://twitter.com/SavlarSVK/status...24820141232130

Scarbs' estimate of how it works: https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/statu...38962566705152

I love this sort of stuff and F1 is great at generating it!

[S griffin]

A lot of talk about how similar the Racing Point is to the Merc of last year or this year. Maybe it’s a sign of their intentions. I can see them moving up the grid this season

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by MCWB

Interesting feature on the Merc that seems to adjust toe via the steering wheel/column: https://twitter.com/SavlarSVK/status...24820141232130

Scarbs' estimate of how it works: https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/statu...38962566705152

I love this sort of stuff and F1 is great at generating it!

It's interesting that it's dramatic enough that you can actually see the toe change as he moved the wheel!

Richard

[Greem]

Originally Posted by MCWB

Interesting feature on the Merc that seems to adjust toe via the steering wheel/column: https://twitter.com/SavlarSVK/status...24820141232130

Scarbs' estimate of how it works: https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/statu...38962566705152

I love this sort of stuff and F1 is great at generating it!

Obvious headline: "Was ist DAS?"

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Greem

Obvious headline: "Was ist DAS?"

it is pretty crazy that you can actually see the wheels move.

so far it seems like a legal innovation and if effective, and i am just guessing here, but one that would be difficult for anyone to copy at this stage?