2016 Team/Car Launch Thread

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 17 Jan 2016, 17:47

it's that time again. the time when the cure for F1 deprivation comes around!

so far, Ferrari have a confirmed date at the 19th of February

anyone have any information on the other teams? i know they pushed the test days back a week or something, and all the teams want to reveal their cars accordingly.

novitopoli · Post by **novitopoli** » 17 Jan 2016, 23:56

Looks like the days of fancy car launches like the ones we were used to in the late 90's/early 00's have long passed. Nowadays it just looks like "well, that's it, nothing special uh? Take a couple of photos, s*d off and let us work" - either that or an online launch.

Post by **Londoner** » 18 Jan 2016, 17:15

McLaren are launching their new car on February 21st, whilst worryingly, Sauber are already behind schedule with their car. Given Sauber are only surviving because of Nasr's Banco Do Brasil money, and the efforts of the EricssonEra, I fear this could be their last season.

Finally, I'll leave you with these two photos from the latest F1 Racing magazine.

Post by **mario** » 18 Jan 2016, 19:19

novitopoli wrote:Looks like the days of fancy car launches like the ones we were used to in the late 90's/early 00's have long passed. Nowadays it just looks like "well, that's it, nothing special uh? Take a couple of photos, s*d off and let us work" - either that or an online launch.

It is indeed the case that the large scale publicity events have fallen out of favour, even for larger teams that would traditionally throw such events for their sponsors (McLaren being one such example).

Looking at the other teams, Haas have confirmed that they will launch their car on the 21st Feb; Williams, meanwhile, intend to hold a short press session in the pit lane of the Circuit de Catalunya on the 22nd, shortly before the circuit opens for testing.

Out of the remaining unconfirmed teams, I would suspect that Mercedes, Toro Rosso and Red Bull are likely to follow Williams's lead and to also launch their cars at the circuit (they have done that for the past few years). The bigger questions are probably over Force India, Renault and Manor - I would not be surprised if Renault are late to launch given that Renault's takeover of the team came in late 2015, whilst financial pressures are likely to be a question for the other two teams (moreover, we still currently do not know who will even drive Manor's car yet).

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 18 Jan 2016, 21:57

East Londoner wrote:

That livery is so cool that it's definitely not what'll actually happen.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 19 Jan 2016, 09:40

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:That livery is so cool that it's definitely not what'll actually happen.

It'll be something like though, I think. Renault yellow. It's a funny thing but most years there's some excited speculation that McLaren may turn back the years and go orange with their livery, only for Ron Dennis to open the can of paint marked 'Boring'. But oddly Renault staying old skule with their yellow never quite excites me as much.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 19 Jan 2016, 11:40

CoopsII wrote:
UgncreativeUsergname wrote:That livery is so cool that it's definitely not what'll actually happen.

It'll be something like though, I think. Renault yellow. It's a funny thing but most years there's some excited speculation that McLaren may turn back the years and go orange with their livery, only for Ron Dennis to open the can of paint marked 'Boring'. But oddly Renault staying old skule with their yellow never quite excites me as much.

Thing is though, Renault were never that successful in their own right in the first place anyway. When you think of the Renault team in the late 70s to mid 80s, what do you picture? Turbos, lots of DNFs, wheel-banging at Dijon and Prost failing to win the title before he switched to McLaren.

Not on the same level as McLaren orange which was on all their cars and as a team were far more successful, in many categories. I suppose Renault had a bit of success at Le Mans after they took over the Alpine cars too.

SuzukiSwift · Post by **SuzukiSwift** » 28 Jan 2016, 23:15

AndreaModa wrote:
CoopsII wrote:
UgncreativeUsergname wrote:That livery is so cool that it's definitely not what'll actually happen.

It'll be something like though, I think. Renault yellow. It's a funny thing but most years there's some excited speculation that McLaren may turn back the years and go orange with their livery, only for Ron Dennis to open the can of paint marked 'Boring'. But oddly Renault staying old skule with their yellow never quite excites me as much.

Thing is though, Renault were never that successful in their own right in the first place anyway. When you think of the Renault team in the late 70s to mid 80s, what do you picture? Turbos, lots of DNFs, wheel-banging at Dijon and Prost failing to win the title before he switched to McLaren.

Not on the same level as McLaren orange which was on all their cars and as a team were far more successful, in many categories. I suppose Renault had a bit of success at Le Mans after they took over the Alpine cars too.

The RE30 and RE40 were quite successful. TBH Renault did pretty well even if they didn't win a Championship.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 03 Feb 2016, 12:46

SHINY!!!

AdrianBelmonte_ · Post by **AdrianBelmonte_** » 03 Feb 2016, 12:50

A bit Minardi 1991 to me...

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 03 Feb 2016, 12:53

Aguaman wrote:[img]A%20black%20Renault[/img]

SHINY!!!

So they went with pretty much full black. My theory is that they know they will suck this year and so they want to camouflage themselves with the tarmac and try to go by 2016 unnoticed.

Regardless is it very underwhelming. They also seem to have very few sponsors.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 03 Feb 2016, 12:55

DanielPT wrote:
Aguaman wrote:[img]A%20black%20Renault[/img]

SHINY!!!

So they went with pretty much full black. My theory is that they know they will suck this year and so they want to camouflage themselves with the tarmac and try to go by 2016 unnoticed.

Regardless is it very underwhelming. They also seem to have very few sponsors.

Microsoft, Something else that starts with E I think, Bell and Ross, and some music stereo company

AdrianBelmonte_ · Post by **AdrianBelmonte_** » 03 Feb 2016, 12:56

Aguaman wrote:
DanielPT wrote:
Aguaman wrote:[img]A%20black%20Renault[/img]

SHINY!!!

So they went with pretty much full black. My theory is that they know they will suck this year and so they want to camouflage themselves with the tarmac and try to go by 2016 unnoticed.

Regardless is it very underwhelming. They also seem to have very few sponsors.

Microsoft, Something else that starts with E I think, Bell and Ross, and some music stereo company

And Jack and Jones, don't forget it

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 03 Feb 2016, 12:59

They have a surprise for Monaco. Obviously it's a weapon. A weapon known as PASTOR MALDONADO!!!

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 03 Feb 2016, 13:18

AdrianBelmonte_ wrote:A bit Minardi 1991 to me...

With a hint of '92 Andrea Moda!

Dexter249 · Post by **Dexter249** » 03 Feb 2016, 13:32

Aguaman wrote:

SHINY!!!

A Bit 1986 Minardi To Me

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 03 Feb 2016, 13:33

CoopsII wrote:
AdrianBelmonte_ wrote:A bit Minardi 1991 to me...

With a hint of '92 Andrea Moda!

And an engine which is a good tribute to Lamborghini efforts back in 91.

MorbidelliObese · Post by **MorbidelliObese** » 03 Feb 2016, 13:48

As much as those Minardis are among my favourite colour schemes of all time (I remember being disappointed with their 1993 offering), not really a fan of this. Was hoping for yellow with bits of black rather than the other way around. At least there's no Total red though so that's one thing!

Or maybe these are just their testing colours?

Dexter249 · Post by **Dexter249** » 03 Feb 2016, 13:51

MorbidelliObese wrote:As much as those Minardis are among my favourite colour schemes of all time (I remember being disappointed with their 1993 offering), not really a fan of this. Was hoping for yellow with bits of black rather than the other way around. At least there's no Total red though so that's one thing!

Or maybe these are just their testing colours?

Something Like This

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 03 Feb 2016, 14:17

MorbidelliObese wrote:Or maybe these are just their testing colours?

I wondered that myself. It seems so long since I saw a fancy-pants launch rather than just the more recent trend of pulling-the-cover-off-in-the-pitlane-um-well-here-it-is-what-do-all-think-of-it? launches that I forgot the protocol. Can they change the livery massively now without confusing people?

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 03 Feb 2016, 14:48

CoopsII wrote:
MorbidelliObese wrote:Or maybe these are just their testing colours?

I wondered that myself. It seems so long since I saw a fancy-pants launch rather than just the more recent trend of pulling-the-cover-off-in-the-pitlane-um-well-here-it-is-what-do-all-think-of-it? launches that I forgot the protocol. Can they change the livery massively now without confusing people?

It might be testing livery.

Post by **Ataxia** » 03 Feb 2016, 14:48

...it could maybe use a few yellow flashes around the matte hexagons at the rear end of the car. However, it looks pretty badass.

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 03 Feb 2016, 14:59

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122678
Autosport confirming it will be used for testing but will probably be modified a little for the season itself.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 03 Feb 2016, 15:12

Yep they'll have a new livery in Melbourne, and that isn't the new car either, prompting a bunch of people to ask "well what was the point in all that then?"

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 03 Feb 2016, 15:22

AndreaModa wrote:Yep they'll have a new livery in Melbourne, and that isn't the new car either, prompting a bunch of people to ask "well what was the point in all that then?"

Maybe the point was "He's gone, he's really gone, think of all that money we'll save on damage repair!"

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 03 Feb 2016, 15:39

I quite like that, although annoyingly, it will probably encourage Haas to go yellow since they'll be the only ones. At least Renault had history with it....

SuzukiSwift · Post by **SuzukiSwift** » 03 Feb 2016, 17:33

I too was reminded of old Minardi, or the AGS JH25 (sorta, after a few drinks). It's ok.

MorbidelliObese · Post by **MorbidelliObese** » 03 Feb 2016, 17:56

I was about to ask for details of where you get your booze from before remembering the car as it ran in 1990, as opposed to this:

Post by **mario** » 03 Feb 2016, 21:46

AndreaModa wrote:Yep they'll have a new livery in Melbourne, and that isn't the new car either, prompting a bunch of people to ask "well what was the point in all that then?"

I guess that, as CoopsII has said, it seems to have mainly been an opportunity for the team to announce their latest restructuring - asides from confirming Magnussen, they have also confirmed that they are bringing in the head of ART Racing, Frederic Vasseur, to take on their Race Director role.

Apart from that, the only other reason I can think why they've done this is because it gives them an opportunity to monopolise the headlines at a time when the motorsport press is desperate for news - they should be able to gain a considerable amount of exposure in the short term, the one thing that Renault previously complained they did not have enough of when partnering with Red Bull.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 03 Feb 2016, 22:38

It's just plain black with some white words on it, barely a livery at all... not actively ugly, but I'm glad it's not the race version.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 04 Feb 2016, 01:23

It reminds me a lot of the 1988 Tyrrell, driven by one certain Jonathan Palmer...

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 04 Feb 2016, 01:48

AndreaModa wrote:Yep they'll have a new livery in Melbourne, and that isn't the new car either, prompting a bunch of people to ask "well what was the point in all that then?"

I think that's the actual car. Just not the livery.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 04 Feb 2016, 02:06

Aguaman wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:Yep they'll have a new livery in Melbourne, and that isn't the new car either, prompting a bunch of people to ask "well what was the point in all that then?"

I think that's the actual car. Just not the livery.

It is and it isn't. While it is the new RS16 chassis, the bodywork I think is from last year's Lotus. Even if it isn't, they've said that the car will have different parts in testing.

Post by **mario** » 04 Feb 2016, 06:42

Simtek wrote:
Aguaman wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:Yep they'll have a new livery in Melbourne, and that isn't the new car either, prompting a bunch of people to ask "well what was the point in all that then?"

I think that's the actual car. Just not the livery.

It is and it isn't. While it is the new RS16 chassis, the bodywork I think is from last year's Lotus. Even if it isn't, they've said that the car will have different parts in testing.

Yes, it is the case that the car seems to be a slightly modified version of a late 2015 spec E23, although there are rumours that the actual RS16 is itself essentially an E23-B rather than an all new design.

Mind you, it seems that Renault themselves don't seem entirely sure of the name of their own car - if you zoom in on the photos of the show car from the launch, the decals call the car the "RE16". Evidently, somebody didn't get the right message somewhere along the line...

Post by **Ataxia** » 04 Feb 2016, 12:01

mario wrote:
Simtek wrote:
Aguaman wrote:I think that's the actual car. Just not the livery.

It is and it isn't. While it is the new RS16 chassis, the bodywork I think is from last year's Lotus. Even if it isn't, they've said that the car will have different parts in testing.

Yes, it is the case that the car seems to be a slightly modified version of a late 2015 spec E23, although there are rumours that the actual RS16 is itself essentially an E23-B rather than an all new design.

Mind you, it seems that Renault themselves don't seem entirely sure of the name of their own car - if you zoom in on the photos of the show car from the launch, the decals call the car the "RE16". Evidently, somebody didn't get the right message somewhere along the line...

It appears to be the new name of the power unit (Renault Energy-16), but I agree that it's a bit confusing!

Post by **mario** » 04 Feb 2016, 18:25

Ataxia wrote:It appears to be the new name of the power unit (Renault Energy-16), but I agree that it's a bit confusing!

I believe that you are indeed correct about "RE16" being the name of the power unit. Still, it is rather confusing when the car is marked as the "RS16" in the studio shots but "RE16" during the launch event.

Dom_Wings · Post by **Dom_Wings** » 04 Feb 2016, 20:54

Aguaman wrote:Microsoft, Something else that starts with E I think, Bell and Ross, and some music stereo company

I bet you mean Eurodatacar

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 04 Feb 2016, 22:44

Wow, this is weirder to me than I thought. It's almost like the whole Lotus saga was just a very strange dream now.

Eifelland · Post by **Eifelland** » 05 Feb 2016, 00:20

Waris wrote:Wow, this is weirder to me than I thought. It's almost like the whole Lotus saga was just a very strange dream now.

Who shot Pastor?

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 05 Feb 2016, 11:31

Eifelland wrote:
Waris wrote:Wow, this is weirder to me than I thought. It's almost like the whole Lotus saga was just a very strange dream now.

Who shot Pastor?

Kimi, with his Magnum, in the pitlane.