So grid girls are no longer. Whilst I can see why this has inevitably happened I can't help but think the powers that be really should have been looking into about a million other things with the Sport first...

 

I have a feeling they may end up reversing this decision. There's barely any women in F1 as it is, and the Powers that Be have just sacked the majority of them. Not that I care either way, as my enjoyment of F1 has never hinged on the existence of Pit Girls anyway.

My enjoyment in F1 has hasn't hinged on pit girls either, probably was going to happen at some point.

I agree with stopping the practice. They are there for no other reason for creepy old men to have a perv at some attractive young women. It’s creepy and exploitative and belongs in the trash.

 

However. I think Liberty have missed the mark here. Don’t see why they couldn’t announce a global fan lottery (F1 is hardly a povo sport) where fans can be the ones to hold the marker for their hero. What F1 fab wouldn’t want to do that? Get paddock club access for the race weekend and spend build up in the thick of the action?

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/formula-...18-1001266/?s=1

 

Revised schedules for the race weekends has been confirmed. The 10 past the hour shite is here to stay. Why is it Liberty gotta mess with shit that don't need fixing

Get young fans to meet their heroes would work.

 

Stupid with the race starting at 10 past the hour, pointless as anything.

Formula E replaced Grid Girls with Grid Kids and they seem happy with the results

A list of dates for car launches and where they'll take place:

 

15 February Williams Online

20 February Renault Online

20 February Sauber Online

22 February Ferrari Maranello

22 February Mercedes Silverstone

23 February McLaren Online

26 February Toro Rosso Barcelona

 

Formula 1 is to replace 'grid girls' with a new programme called 'grid kids' this season.

 

F1 bosses plan to use budding racing drivers "to make the pre-race ceremony more relevant and interesting for fans, especially the younger ones".

 

The children used will be competitors in karting or junior categories, chosen by national motorsport authorities.

 

 

Shame it’s not fans

Red Bull has launched their car for 2018:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/43111042

As have Haas and Williams! The halo doesn’t actually look too out of place imo.

The new McLaren looks radical!

It looks like a bottle of Irn Bru

With 6 laps into testing, Fernando Alonso crashed his McLaren in the first hour of winter testing.

 

 

Well it makes a change from an engine failure at least.

It looks like for the first time since the hybrids appeared, Renault are leading the engine mileage chart!!!

 

Looked like a strong day for Renault F1 too which is encouraging for me.

 

 

 

I love that there’s new helmet cams! There’s some fab footage around. Being able to actually see where they’re looking is pretty cool as you can see them looking for the apex and the when they switch from apex to apex in combinations of corners

Hoping this season although unlikely that there at least five teams going for the win this season. What would you like the order to be on bases of how competitive teams are?

 

Myself:

 

Red Bull

Ferrari

Mercedes

McLaren

Renault

 

Force India

 

Williams

Toro Rosso

Haas

 

Sauber

The third day of testing in Barcelona has been delayed to snowy conditions.

 

 

I reckon:

 

Mercedes

Ferrari

McLaren (Stoffel did well yesterday!)

Red Bull

Renault

Force India - or whatever they rename themselves as before Australia!

Williams

Toro Rosso

Sauber

Haas

 

Still early days ofc, and tough to gauge really due to the current conditions in Cataluña!

And once again it appears Mercedes will be amongst the front again.