70 replies to this topic

[Graveltrappen]

A world away from the first motorhomes seen in F1... here are this years units. Saubers is impressive considering their place in the pecking order... though it's not been updated with the new blue scheme (though maybe they'll ditch that with the engine change next year?), Haas is like one of the ones seen in the 90's.

A LOT of effort for a few days trackside... all part of the 'show' though.

Also a free Heineken bar set up in the paddock this year...

[muramasa]

 

 

 

 

[KWSN - DSM]

How many trucks do they fold these out of?

 

[KWSN - DSM]

And the few days and these palaces are how they get companies to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship - I give you $50 million, then I can bring my board and their wives and we can have a horrid beverage and watch the race on big screen TV's.

 

 

[johnmhinds]

Better pic of the Sauber motorhome:

 

 

 

And the Pirelli motorhome:

 

Edited by johnmhinds, 16 May 2017 - 13:12.

[pingu666]

i think in the macca-merc days it was 11-14 lorry loads just for that one team...

[7MGTEsup]

All a bit ott if you ask me.

[johnmhinds]

 

Edited by johnmhinds, 16 May 2017 - 13:32.

[Graveltrappen]

Better pic of the Sauber motorhome:

Ahh, so it's pretty low tech really (2 old motorhomes) with a tent flung in the middle. On closer inspection it looks like the 'white' tent is quite weatherbeaten and stained... not very 'f1'

[Graveltrappen]

I remember going to spa one year and down past pouhon all the Mercedes trucks were parked up... all immaculate with almost machine personalised registration plates... most of them just to bring the motorhome, nothing to do with the actual cars/engines!

[Bristo]

How long will it take to build one. Are these done by the team staff or from external vendors.

[johnmhinds]

Ahh, so it's pretty low tech really (2 old motorhomes) with a tent flung in the middle. On closer inspection it looks like the 'white' tent is quite weatherbeaten and stained... not very 'f1'

 

Those pics were taken during the rainstorm last weekend, it looks ok when it is dry.

 

I think they started using it during the BMW era so it has been around for a while, probably time for an upgrade.

[EthanM]

Fun fact. The Sauber motorhome is actually the Bmw motorhome from 11 years ago with a lick of paint

[EthanM]

How long will it take to build one. Are these done by the team staff or from external vendors.

 

team personnel (not mechanics obviously, personnel whose sole job it is to erect then dismantle the motorhome plus do any maintenance), usually they start Monday morning and they 're finished Wednesday afternoon 

[muramasa]

　

renault/enstone's motorhome is ex-Toyota F1's  \(^o^)/

[EthanM]

　

renault/enstone's motorhome is ex-Toyota F1's  \(^o^)/

 

and Haas is the old Ferrari motorhome ;)

[johnmhinds]

and Haas is the old Ferrari motorhome ;)

 

No they don't, they just have a similar looking design to the trucks that Ferrari use for their technical side.

 

 

 

 

Plenty more pics of the motorhomes here: https://www.motorspo...&s=5&oft=48&p=2

Edited by johnmhinds, 16 May 2017 - 15:29.

[KWSN - DSM]

In a vague memory way way back think when McLaren build their first palace was frontpage news on the printed Autosport - And that they used TWO trucks to get all of it there, pretty sure the truck drivers and some mechanics were the assemblers back then.

 

[EthanM]

No they don't, they just have a similar looking design to the trucks that Ferrari use for their technical side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty more pics of the motorhomes here: https://www.motorspo...&s=5&oft=48&p=2

 

 

I 'm pretty certain Ferrari sold Haas it's 'eco' motorhome (the one on the right in the pic below) back I think in 2014, but since I can't google verify ... so I 'll take your word for it.

 

Edited by EthanM, 16 May 2017 - 15:44.

[Nathan]

Some races (Hungary near the end of the lap off the top of my head) you can see dozens and dozens of the trucks with flat bed trailers that haul these around lined up along the inside of the race track from the helicams.  Bananas.

Edited by Nathan, 16 May 2017 - 15:46.

[Graveltrappen]

Some races (Hungary near the end of the lap off the top of my head) you can see dozens and dozens of the trucks with flat bed trailers that haul these around lined up along the inside of the race track from the helicams. Bananas.

That's what I saw at Spa... yet they decrease the engine size to become 'more relevant'

insane beyond belief

Edited by Graveltrappen, 16 May 2017 - 15:49.

[johnmhinds]

I 'm pretty certain Ferrari sold Haas it's 'eco' motorhome (the one on the right in the pic below) back I think in 2014, but since I can't google verify ... so I 'll take your word for it.

 

 

If they did I don't think I've seen them use it, they turned up to their first F1 test last season with all those brand new shiny trucks.

[george1981]

Do drivers still have their own motor homes? It used to be a big thing in the 90s at the European GPs. I think DC and JV used to park their's next to each other. 

Button used to have one, according to this link it used to be JV's and then Button used it until 2011. 

http://www.dailymail...Villeneuve.html

[johnmhinds]

Do drivers still have their own motor homes? It used to be a big thing in the 90s at the European GPs. I think DC and JV used to park their's next to each other. 

Button used to have one, according to this link it used to be JV's and then Button used it until 2011. 

http://www.dailymail...Villeneuve.html

 

Its must be hard to tow them to the track.

 

[EthanM]

Do drivers still have their own motor homes? It used to be a big thing in the 90s at the European GPs. I think DC and JV used to park their's next to each other. 

Button used to have one, according to this link it used to be JV's and then Button used it until 2011. 

http://www.dailymail...Villeneuve.html

 

AfAIk no, drivers have a room in the team motorhome ... nothing as lavish (or ahem tacky) as the thing you linked, small room, massage table, place to sit and reflect ... no animal print bedsheets though.

 

Though to be honest, I suspect what you linked was a hotel alternative, not really a motorhome as it's used today

[Graveltrappen]

Do drivers still have their own motor homes? It used to be a big thing in the 90s at the European GPs. I think DC and JV used to park their's next to each other.
Button used to have one, according to this link it used to be JV's and then Button used it until 2011.
http://www.dailymail...Villeneuve.html

I believe Palmer is travelling to the European Grand Prixs in this... parks it in the paddock and saves on hotel expenses. Erricson sleeps over too, in a sleeping bag on the floor.

[Graveltrappen]

Back in 1998 when I first started following F1, the motorhomes were still essentially a big bus with a lean-to tent on the side. It was only when McLaren rocked up at Imola with their first ever big modern motorhome that the game started to change. It was huge news at the time and Ron of course had everything absolutely perfect at all times.

[EthanM]

Back in 1998 when I first started following F1, the motorhomes were still essentially a big bus with a lean-to tent on the side. It was only when McLaren rocked up at Imola with their first ever big modern motorhome that the game started to change. It was huge news at the time and Ron of course had everything absolutely perfect at all times.

 

and it typical Ronstyle, it wasn't called a motorhome, it was called a 'brand center'

[Kristian]

Back in 1998 when I first started following F1, the motorhomes were still essentially a big bus with a lean-to tent on the side. It was only when McLaren rocked up at Imola with their first ever big modern motorhome that the game started to change. It was huge news at the time and Ron of course had everything absolutely perfect at all times.

 

Yeah I remember that. Then Red Bull upped the game even more with the Energy Station. 

 

Its weird how much is still invested in them, given they can take them to less and less races, and certainly not those where the deals are done... 

[Graveltrappen]

and it typical Ronstyle, it wasn't called a motorhome, it was called a 'brand center'

Back then it was a 'communications centre'... and the year was 2002

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/18534

[george1981]

I believe Palmer is travelling to the European Grand Prixs in this... parks it in the paddock and saves on hotel expenses. Erricson sleeps over too, in a sleeping bag on the floor.

 

That might explain how Palmer is funding his racing career if Breaking Bad is anything to go by. 

[chunder27]

I think they are absolutely disgusting, over the top, precocious and rather poor taste.

 

But this is f1 after all. so what all fits in very well!

[Fonzey]

I love them, they're very much a part of the excess essence of modern F1 and I love getting anywhere near close to them when I attend a GP. Seeing them majestically peeking over the "poor person" boundary at a Grand Prix weekend is awesome, I wish for the day I can blag myself a sponsored "corporate" invite.

[KWSN - DSM]

I think a lot of the drivers have Motorhomes during the European season, just having a closet in the team unit does not cut it. Button at least used to be in one.

 

[f1paul]

I want one of the teams just to turn up with a shed with a barbecue outside it and some deck chairs.

[chunder27]

Motorcycle racing has a huge travelling army of both team homes and the riders ones, they tend to travel to races in them, keep them at track, and at GP level most are owned, but at SBK and BSB they are usually leased or hired.

Some of them are silly, Garry McCoy had one in the early 00's that was an articulated lorry, and Rossi has one now I think, but you can sort of expect that from him.

 

Most are luxorious Winnebago type things, not that extravagant and at least they stay at tthe track and have their own comforts rather than the expense of hotels.

[KWSN - DSM]

I want one of the teams just to turn up with a shed with a barbecue outside it and some deck chairs.

 

That would be so cool...

 

[Fastcake]

I want one of the teams just to turn up with a shed with a barbecue outside it and some deck chairs.

 

Wasn't that effectively Lotus' hospitality in 2015, when they stopped paying bills?   

[Tenmantaylor]

Visit the McLaren MH for the Honda food, stay at the Merc MH for the engine.

[spacekid]

Meh. It's all a bit vulgar for me.

If F1 wants to go green it could look at the carbon footprint of lugging that lot around.

(Don't worry, I know the hybrid engines have nothing to do with anyone wanting to reduce F1s carbon footprint...)

[RECKLESS]

Fun fact. The Sauber motorhome is actually the Bmw motorhome from 11 years ago with a lick of paint

Saved a few bucks right there.

 

[Tsarwash]

And the few days and these palaces are how they get companies to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship - I give you $50 million, then I can bring my board and their wives and we can have a horrid beverage and watch the race on big screen TV's.

 

That's the hilarious thing, I sell far, far better booze in my old and tatty pub than all of these things do with their gauche, chrome and glass monstrosities. If you look at the global brand portfolio of Heineken, there is almost literally not a single thing that I would drink, even if it was offered for free. Affligem is about the only non awful thing they own.

[Jovanotti]

I would even put up with a GP2 engine for unlimited access to that Honda Sushi, Sashimi and whatnot. 

[king_crud]

what a load of wank

[superden]

That's the hilarious thing, I sell far, far better booze in my old and tatty pub than all of these things do with their gauche, chrome and glass monstrosities. If you look at the global brand portfolio of Heineken, there is almost literally not a single thing that I would drink, even if it was offered for free. Affligem is about the only non awful thing they own.

Not a decent ale in sight.

[Kristian]

That's the hilarious thing, I sell far, far better booze in my old and tatty pub than all of these things do with their gauche, chrome and glass monstrosities. If you look at the global brand portfolio of Heineken, there is almost literally not a single thing that I would drink, even if it was offered for free. Affligem is about the only non awful thing they own.

 

Its so true. 

[KWSN - DSM]

We all know that Heineken is the Red Bull of beer, but these Palaces and their importance can and should not be underestimated - In a day and age where the difference between haves and have not's are as big as it is, anything which will have a company splurge millions on your team should be pursued heavily. These Palaces are visuals of the teams, and are the place they can entertain and make a sponsor part of the team, having a CEO sipping Mumm while the drivers, team managers, designers are there lending interested ears is what keeps the wheels moving.

 

In the bigger scope of things, I don't think the cost of the Motorhomes really amount to that much for any team.

 

[muramasa]

Visit the McLaren MH for the Honda food, stay at the Merc MH for the engine.

...it's not mclaren em-haitch.....it's honda em-haitch where u get the honda food...

[jonpollak]

Here's ours...

Jp

[B Squared]

Here's ours...

Jp

That's simply over the top...who do you guys think you are?

 

I swear some here get worked up over things that are meaningless. IMHO, of course.