Hello all, few weeks into 2019 now and some series have already started (Formula E) or are starting soon (WRC this weekend), so I thought I’d make this a general motorsport thread although I daresay F1 will still be its main focus/attraction over the course of the year once it gets going. I’m not 100% sure on car launch dates but think most are mid February (with some teams like Toro Rosso nearly always opting to unveil on the morning of the first test day), so not even a month to wait till we can first see the 2019 cars on track
The F1 lineup for the 2019 season Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel and Charles LecLerc
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly
Renault: Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo
Haas: Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen
Racing Point Force India: Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll
McLaren: Carlos Sainz Jr and Lando Norris
Toro Rosso: Daniil Kyvat and Alexander Albon
Sauber: Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi
Williams: George Russel and Robert Kubica
The F1 schedule is as follows Pre Season Testing,
Test 1, February 18th - 21st
Test 2, February 26th - March 1st
Good news for Sky viewers, they’ll be showing some of testing live (last done in 2013 if I remember correctly).
Both tests are once again being held at the Circuit de Catalunya, lets hope for warmer weather and no snow in 2019 like we had in 2018!
Grand Prix calendar,
Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, 15th - 17th March
Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit, March 29th - March 31st
Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai International Circuit, April 12th - April 14th
Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku City Circuit April 26th - April 28th
Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Catalunya, May 10th - May 12th
Monaco Grand Prix, Monaco, May 23rd - May 26th
Canadian Grand Prix, Circuit Giles Villeneuve, June 7th - June 9th
French Grand Prix, Paul Ricard, June 21st - June 23rd
Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull Ring, June 28th - June 30th
British Grand Prix, Silverstone, July 12th - 14th
German Grand Prix, Hockenheimring, July 26th - 28th
Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring, August 2nd - 4th
Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, August 30th - September 1st
Italian Grand Prix, Monza, September 6th - 8th
Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Circuit, September 20th - 22nd
Russian Grand Prix, Sochi Autodrom, September 27th - 29th
Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, October 11th - 13th
Mexican Grand Prix, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, October 25th - 27th
United States Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas, November 1st - 3rd
Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos, November 15th - 17th
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina, November 29th to December 1st
As you can see, we have a few complete rookies in Lando Norris, Alexander Albon and Gearge Russel and then we have Antonio Giovinazzi who has completed a few races back in 2017 when he stood in for Pascal Wehrlein. We also get to see the return of Robert Kubica who last raced back in 2010. Sadly this season Channel 4 only have highlights for all the races, barring one which is the British Grand Prix, I imagine this will make viewing figures fall as free to air (live F1 at least) is at a bare minimum in 2019.
So what is everyone predicting for 2019? As much as I want to see Vettel lift a WDC and WCC at Ferrari I just don’t see Mercedes faltering, if they do win the WDC it’ll certainly be Hamilton lifting a 6th WDC rather than Bottas getting his first (unless he finally challenges Hamiltons lead position in the team with a string of strong performances at the start of the season).
I actually think LecLerc will prove a good challenge for Vettel as well, weather he’ll be allowed to fight for the WDC is another question though, Seb may have one more solo crack at it before they let both drivers fight it out if they have a capable car.
There will be a lot of good teammate fights as well, one I’m particularly looking forward to is Hulkenberg vs Ricciardo, Hulkenberg has a very good chance to show just how good he is against Ricciardo, a proven race winner.
Has anyone been watching any other forms of motorsports in the off season? Formula E has recently started up again and I have to say the second race was fantastic. I’m also looking forward to the WEC getting back underway and I try to watch the WRC highlights when I get chance (although sadly that’s not too much), that’s starting back at the end of January in Monaco. Moto GP is also back on March 10th, I tried to watch a bit of this last season but it never really grabbed my attention as much as the 4 wheel alternatives
If I’ve missed anything please feel free to post and I’ll edit when I get chance, Think that’s about all for now, so discuss! (If you want, not going to force anyone)