2007 F1 car launches

[HondaF1]

Originally Posted by -Cpt. J.-

That may be another possibility. Whatever... I am 100% sure Bernie will let them race. If they ban STR, they will have to ban Super Aguri too and that leaves the grid with only 18cars. Thats not enough.

Who says they have to ban Super Aguri, All the talk at the moment is that Super Aguri might have a Honda chassis, but it looks like STR have got an RBR chassis, hence the seceracy.

[-Cpt. J.-]

If Super aguri and STR are using another teams chassis and FIA bans only one they will have to ban the other too. Anyway useless topic... as I have said. It is highly unlikely that Bernie will ban any team.

[HondaF1]

Its not Bernie's decision to ban the team(s). Its the FIA's decision, which Bernie has no say or power in overturning a decision.

[Devon]

New Toro Rosso to appear next week?

09 February 2007
Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR01 Formula One Testing, Day Two, Jerez, Spain, 14 December 2006. World © Patching/Sutton.

The Toro Rosso team have invited the world’s media to a press day in Barcelona next week - even though they cannot promise their new car will be ready for the event.

Toro Rosso are one of just two teams (Super Aguri being the other) still to unveil their 2007 machines. In a statement they said the STR2 should be ready very soon, but conceded they “are not sure exactly when”.

What they have promised is that senior team management - including co-owner Gerhard Berger and team principal Franz Tost - will be present at the Circuit de Catalunya next Tuesday to answer the press’s questions.

Toro Rosso also said their drivers will be in attendance, suggesting their 2007 race line-up could finally be confirmed. Although Berger has previously admitted Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed are well placed to retain their seats, the team have so far resisted making any official announcements.

Source

[Sausageman]

It's so stupid that they're announcing their drivers so late. They're not going to have enough time to get used to the new tyres/car or test anything because of the rain.

[Blythy]

according to theracingline.net all races will be broadcast by FOM this year and this will help make the transition to widescreen and HD

[Devon]

An Exculsive preview of the STR2.

I found this picture on another website reporting Toro Rosso's "launch" day next week.

[HondaF1]

Originally Posted by Devon

An Exculsive preview of the STR2.

I found this picture on another website reporting Toro Rosso's "launch" day next week.

HAHA

It could well backfire on STR. Instead of positive press they are now getting the joke press Serves them right. Get rid of STR. Frees up one more spot for another team then. Bring back Minardi!!

[Sausageman]

That car will probably beat Spyker.

[HondaF1]

Speaking of Spyker, I found this video of their very impressive launch!! Especially love the bit when the bed sheet falls down!! Oh, and the music.... reminds me of the game Grand Prix 2

Seriously though, this car has grown on me. Pity the same cant be said about the Renault!! They should have just made the whole car Orange and White!!

+ YouTube Video

and this one of the shakedown. Looks good on telly!!

+ YouTube Video

[HondaF1]

Found this on itv-f1.com

Liuzzi in at STR; no decision on Speed
Monday, 01, January, 0001, 00:00


Scuderia Toro Rosso has re-signed Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi for the 2007 season, but has still not decided who will drive its second car.

At a media briefing in Barcelona on Tuesday, the Red Bull-owned team said it still had some "contractual issues" to resolve with American Scott Speed.

With the season-opening Australian Grand Prix now little over a month away, Toro Rosso is the only Formula 1 team yet to announce its full race line-up.

The delay has prompted speculation that one or both of its drivers’ seats were in jeopardy due to management dissatisfaction with their performances last year and/or pressure to attract a ‘pay driver’.

Speed recently said he was “pretty sure” of keeping his seat despite having had no direct communication with STR part-owner Gerhard Berger or team principal Franz Tost.

Berger told news agency Reuters: “Everything is fine with Tonio, he’s in the car and he’s going to drive.

“He’s also our driver for this year.

“With Scott we still have some contractual issues to sort out.

“We are going to see later.”

I dont like STR full stop. They are mucking around with their drivers too much, no sign of any car. They arent taking F1 seriously. Hopefully one day they get told focus or lose your slot and then a real team can move in again.

[Sausageman]

I don't like the idea of having B teams in F1, it reduces the amount of competition. Apparently, Williams is turning into a Toyota B team.

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by Blythy

according to theracingline.net all races will be broadcast by FOM this year and this will help make the transition to widescreen and HD

do ITV have a HD channel?

they best do

[HondaF1]

Prodrive is rumoured to be McLarens B Team.

[GraemeH]

Well the STR has been revealed.

[p0w3r]

Originally Posted by Sausageman

Apparently, Williams is turning into a Toyota B team.

thats gonna be better then Toyota "A" team

[HondaF1]

Originally Posted by p0w3r

thats gonna be better then Toyota "A" team

Except at Fuji and Indy when Toyota will run light for qualifying.

[Devon]

New Toro Rosso launched in Spain
...as the Italian squad confirm Liuzzi for 2007

13 February 2007

Toro Rosso unveiled their 2007 challenger, the STR2, at a low-key event at Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday. The Italian squad also confirmed Vitantonio Liuzzi would remain with the team for 2007, but, blaming ‘ongoing contractual negotiations’, did not reveal their second race driver.

Although the media had been warned that the Ferrari-engined STR2 might not be ready in time for the scheduled launch, the Toro Rosso mechanics worked through Monday night to make their deadline and the new car finally broke cover at the Barcelona circuit late in the afternoon.

Despite the last-minute launch, Toro Rosso's co-owner and ex-Formula One driver Gerhard Berger is confident the STR2 will help the team challenge the front-runners as the season progresses.

“We won’t be getting any pole positions or race wins this year, but we have progressed as a team and we have to move forward to fighting some of the bigger teams on a regular basis,” Berger explained.

Designed by Red Bull Technology, the new STR2 is the result of the combined efforts of the team’s own designers and Red Bull's Adrian Newey, who recently oversaw the launch of the RB3. In light of recent media speculation, however, Berger was quick to refute claims the STR2 was a customer car.

“Our car is not a customer car” he explained. “A customer car is when you go to another team, give them money and they give you a car. This is not the case with us and before we went down the route of working with Red Bull Technology, we took our own legal advice and checked with the FIA. I am completely satisfied that our car is in compliance with the rules.”

The STR2 was scheduled to make its track debut this afternoon with Liuzzi at the helm but, with the day's test session already over, the team may have to wait until Wednesday to give the new car its first run.

And here it is:

[HondaF1]

I like the photo of the STR and the RBR together. The front likes identical, maybe STR's nosecone is 10 cm's wider, looks different at the back though. The RBR looks lower too, a definate Newey designed car.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by Blythy

NO!!!!!!!!!

red bull have been bottom of the time sheets for two days in a row :'(

slower than a super a fucking guri


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56523
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56535

Things are looking up.

Barcelona day three - Coulthard quickest in RB3
15 February 2007

Red Bull’s David Coulthard topped the times at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday, during the final day of testing at the Spanish track. Coulthard’s best of 1m 21.855s in the RB3, was a tenth of a second faster than Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.
The Scot was joined on track by fellow race driver Mark Webber in the second RB3. For Webber, however, the day went less smoothly because of drive train problems. While Coulthard completed a mammoth 116 laps, Webber managed only 61 and finished 11th in the times. Even so, the team were satisfied with their progress overall.

“We are very pleased with the way this three day test has gone,” commented Paul Monaghan, Red Bull’s head of race and test engineering. “And yes, it’s nice to see David is quickest, at least for today, but more impressive is the fact he completed 116 laps. We can be happy with the mileage we have completed over the three days and also with the fact that our relationship with Renault and Bridgestone continues to improve, as has the overall performance and reliability of the car.”

Alongside second-placed Massa, Ferrari fielded Kimi Raikkonen who finished the test in seventh. The pair tried out a variety of set-ups as they continued to work through the F2007’s development programme. The Italian team also reached an important milestone, after both cars completed the duty cycle for engines required by the new regulations.

Nick Heidfeld was third fastest for BMW Sauber, while team test driver Sebastian Vettel was 15th. Although Heidfeld began an aero test in the morning, increasingly blustery conditions at the Spanish circuit forced the team to change to a cooling programme instead. Vettel, in the second F1.07, had a much less productive day, completing only 53 laps in total, after a variety of technical problems and off track excursions marred his running.

McLaren ended their week at the Circuit de Catalunya with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and sixth respectively. “We completed a number of race simulations, including Grand Prix specific activities such as pit stop practice as the team acclimatise themselves to the new equipment for 2007,” explained Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren CEO. “Alongside this preparatory work, the development programme for the MP4-22 continued apace.”

Splitting the two McLaren drivers was Nico Rosberg in fifth for Williams. Rosberg was joined on track by fellow race driver Alexander Wurz in the second FW29. Wurz was 14th fastest after spending the session evaluating several new gearbox developments.

Test driver Franck Montagny completed 113 laps for Toyota and finished in eighth. Team mate Ralf Schumacher, meanwhile, trying out the new seamless shift gearbox for the first time, amassed 86 laps and was 16th fastest in the times.

Ninth quickest was Giancarlo Fisichella in the Renault R27, just ahead of team mate Heikki Kovalainen in tenth. Despite several technical issues, the pair enjoyed a successful day, completing most of their planned programmes.

"This was once again a very busy test for the team, with race and qualifying simulations on the first day, followed by set-up programmes on the next two,” explained Christian Silk, Renault’s chief test engineer. “We got through a lot of the programme and made some good progress, but we still have some unanswered questions - which is why we are looking forward to testing in Bahrain next week.”

Rubens Barrichello was Honda’s fastest runner in 12th, with Jenson Button in the second RA107 finishing in 14th. While Barrichello only completed 36 laps, after an exhaust problem concluded his running prematurely, Button covered 98 laps as he continued to evaluate the set-up and balance of the car over longer tyre runs.

Christijan Albers took the 17th slot for Spyker, while Takuma Sato ended the day in 18th for Super Aguri. Sato managed to complete a race simulation during the afternoon, while he analysed the Bridgestone tyres and conducted set-up changes. Completing Wednesday’s line-up was Vitantonio Liuzzi for Toro Rosso. Liuzzi, who was in charge of the team’s new STR2, carried out a 43-lap shakedown test during the new car’s maiden run.

Testing is scheduled to resume next Thursday in Bahrain.

Unofficial Wednesday times from Barcelona:
1. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:21.855
2. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:21.958
3. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:21.965
4. Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1:22.103
5. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.271
6. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.292
7. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:22.363
8. Franck Montagny, Toyota, 1:22.446
9. Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault, 1:22.758
10. Heikki Kovalainen, Renault, 1:22.783
11. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:22.834
12. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:23.257
13. Alexander Wurz, Williams, 1:23.271
14. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:23.278
15. Sebastian Vettel, BMW Sauber, 1:23.571
16. Ralf Schumacher, Toyota, 1:23.789
17. Christijan Albers, Spyker, 1:23.947
18. Takuma Sato, Super Aguri, 1:24.568
19. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Toro Rosso, 1:26.296

Source

It's ashame about Webber having problems though.