So what exactly is HRT F1 Team?

[wolfhound]

Joe Saward has been discussing the subject and thinks that a buy into Sauber or Williams would make a lot more sence. Think of all their infrastructure, wind tunnels fully operational F1 team where as HRT is just a name with very little real assets as everything is subcontracted.
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/

[SJA]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Does the 2011 car also need to pass the 2012 crash tests (new regulation) in order to take part in testing?

The nose is probably legal. The exhausts are also probably not a lot of work to get legal.

Don't know. But I highly doubt the cars that arrive in Melbourne will be genuine F112's. They will say they are F112 and they "are just finishing the assembly of the new cars in pit lane" ala 2011. To keep up appearances. But I'll bet my bottom dollar they will be F111's with re-vamped exhausts and new nose assemblies being fitted!

[GolddustMini]

Originally Posted by SJA

Don't know. But I highly doubt the cars that arrive in Melbourne will be genuine F112's. They will say they are F112 and they "are just finishing the assembly of the new cars in pit lane" ala 2011. To keep up appearances. But I'll bet my bottom dollar they will be F111's with re-vamped exhausts and new nose assemblies being fitted!

bit of flexible heating duct from the old exhausts to the new positions?

[Marbot]

Their new car just failed another crash test today (chassis passed, other parts didn't), so some, if not all of it must be new. And their old car cannot take part in this seasons testing if it hasn't passed the 2012 crash tests, which clearly it had, otherwise it couldn't have tested this week.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97464

[TF110]

It failed the roll hoop and front crash tests. But I think it was said one caused the other. Since one test came before the other test, it failed to do one of the tests which it MAY have passed. Maybe they're pushing the envelope, but the constructor of the carbon chassis isn't in question as they made the McLaren MP4 12C road car, so their quality isn't an issue.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by TF110

....but the constructor of the carbon chassis isn't in question as they made the McLaren MP4 12C road car, so their quality isn't an issue.

It's still cheaper than a Ferrari.

[wolfhound]

HRT to skip 1st Barcelona test.
No shock at this news but anyone taking bets on HRT's new car not running until Australia at the earliest.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97547

[SJA]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

HRT to skip 1st Barcelona test.
No shock at this news but anyone taking bets on HRT's new car not running until Australia at the earliest.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97547

+1
Yeah, totally didn't see this coming...
(see that? sarcasm)

[fredd1]

I believe it has been reported, today, of another crash-test failure.
Things are definitely not looking too hot. For any testing....

[wolfhound]

HRT finally passes all crash tests so can we expect to see a 2012 car on track soon????

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97693

[Marbot]

It would be nice to see them be able to figure some things out before they get to Melbourne. I'm fairly confident that they'll get a couple of test days in, even if it's sometime after the official testing is over.

[JeremySmith]

I respect the fact that they are giving it a go...

[steve nielsen]

this is the new HRT motorhome:




so I think they got their priorities wrong

[csirl]

I've always been amazed by the way this board gives HRT a hard time in comparison with Marussia/Virgin/Manor in spite of the fact that HRT has beated M/V/M in the last 2 seasons and has a 2012 chassis. M/V/M hasnt even got close to a test track this year and wont. If there is a team at risk of not been ready for Melbourne, its M/V/M not HRT.

[steve_r]

Dont worry M/V/M are getting a hard time over on the testing thread as well. I think teething troubles can be expected in the first season or two, but now it is time for the 3 new teams to get their act together and at least 2 of them seemingly are not.

[maximus]

I think HRT are getting their act together though, certainly compared to the last two seasons.

[bella]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

this is the new HRT motorhome:

<insert gin palace>

so I think they got their priorities wrong

that's the old marussia virgin one, so like other posters suggest, it looks like marussia have got theirs on the squiff too

[steve_r]

How exactly are they getting their act together?
Still no car released as far as I am aware. They are still yet to be confirmed at the final pre-season test, and look likely to turn up at the 1st race with an untested car yet again. I want them to do well, I really do... but it looks like another season of Q1 exits is inevitible and Marussia will surely be the only team that they will be anywhere near.

[Marbot]

Perhaps this seasons 2012 HRT car is also last seasons Marussia car?

[Paradise City]

HRT needs to actually have a year in which they are prepared for the season ahead. A wing and a prayer every single year isn't a goer even for the most resilient.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

HRT needs to actually have a year in which they are prepared for the season ahead. A wing and a prayer every single year isn't a goer even for the most resilient.

Indeed. But the carrot of achieving just 10th place in the constructors championship is not something to let go of lightly.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Dont worry M/V/M are getting a hard time over on the testing thread as well. I think teething troubles can be expected in the first season or two, but now it is time for the 3 new teams to get their act together and at least 2 of them seemingly are not.

I get the impression these teams are just trying to milk F1 for every last penny they can get while holding grid slots that anyone wishing to enter F1 will have to buy!

American property developers call properties which they are holding speculatively to develop later and renting out to cover the various taxes in the meantime taxpayers.

So maybe that is the term we should apply to these 3 teams - TAXPAYERS.

Pre-qualifying needs to be reintroduced, and if the established players are not good enough to keep new entrants out of the field they can try again next race or go away and waste some other categories time!

This is theoretically a World Championship and not club racing!

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by wnut

Pre-qualifying needs to be reintroduced, and if the established players are not good enough to keep new entrants out of the field they can try again next race or go away and waste some other categories time!

This is theoretically a World Championship and not club racing!

If they get into the race under the 107% rules, what's the problem?

Pre-qualifying was a means of not allowing up to 39 cars to start the race.

And it wasn't always fair.

http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00016.html

Ironically, it was thought to provide the only means of excitement in oh so predictable racing.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Marbot

If they get into the race under the 107% rules, what's the problem?

Pre-qualifying was a means of not allowing up to 39 cars to start the race.

And it wasn't always fair.


Ironically, it was thought to provide the only means of excitement in oh so predictable racing.

Well actually if some of those cars required to prequalify managed to score points (in the days of only the top 6 scoring points!) it can't have been that predictable. Maybe McLaren-Honda and Ferrari were at the front but further back everything was up for grabs and incredibly unpredictable.
And that is not the case today. No one qualifying in the bottom 6 has a hope of a top six position....

[nicanary]

I can recall when there were so many entries there was pre-pre-qualifying.

Bernie started the closed-shop in order to raise standards so that he could peddle the concept of F1 as a glamorous international extravaganza.The old days of back-markers turning up with a car on a trailer behind a Transit was complete anathema to him.

Unfortunately the teams at the back today just don't have the budgets required to hack it. They joined in on a mis-apprehension, and have'nt recovered since.

Bring back the days of the Connew , I say!