## Formula One Season 2 Episode 1: Car Launches and Season Preview
### Introduction
* Hosts Molly and Dr. Obbs are back for Season 2 of the Breaking Bias podcast.
* They discuss their excitement for the new season and share their thoughts on recent off-season events, including the Netflix series "Full Speed" and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
### F1 Car Launches
* The hosts review the car launches that have taken place so far, including the Haas VF24, Kick Sauber, Williams FW46, and Alpine A524.
* They discuss the exposed carbon fiber on the Haas, the Kick Sauber's livery and potential design features, the Williams' nod to Frank Williams' cars, and the Alpine's p-duct.
### Innovations and Trends
* Molly and Dr. Obbs speculate on where teams might be focusing their innovations this season.
* They discuss the trend of teams using exposed carbon fiber to save weight and the increasing use of slot box side pod intakes.
* They also mention the potential for teams to integrate ERS and battery cooling more effectively.
### Controversies and Insights
* The hosts briefly touch on the controversy surrounding Kick Sauber's livery and the potential for gambling sponsorships in Formula One.
* They also highlight some insightful comments made by team principals during the car launches.
**Key Points:**
* The Alpine A524 features a unique p-duct design, which has generated speculation among experts. Some believe it could be a clever innovation aimed at improving airflow and downforce, while others suggest it might be a red herring to mislead competitors.
* The car's wheelbase appears to be shorter than its predecessor, potentially indicating a focus on improving cornering performance and lowering the center of gravity.
* Alpine has made significant changes to the power unit integration, including the relocation of the ERS system, which could provide advantages in terms of packaging and aerodynamic efficiency.
* Aston Martin's AMR24 boasts a striking and innovative front wing design, with a heavily loaded outboard section and unique endplates. However, some experts believe the wing shown in the launch renders may not be the actual race-spec component.
* The AMR24 also features a distinctive intake design, with a curved profile and a small wing-like element on the outer edge. This design aims to maximize forward undercut and generate increased downforce.
* The AMR24's floor design includes a prominent cis bulge near the front, suggesting a change in driver positioning. The top deck of the floor is positioned low, maximizing the distance to the forward undercut and enhancing airflow and pressure generation.
**Car Innovations:**
- The AMR24's pushrod rear is almost flat, unlike other cars' steeper angles, suggesting innovative mechanical setup.
- Teams may focus on tweaking floor edges and optimizing suspension dynamics for marginal gains.
- Innovations could also lie in packaging and cooling around the powertrain, freeing up space for aero and floor developments.
- Control systems and mapping strategies may be areas for teams to extract more performance.
**Carbonization of Liveries:**
- The hosts discuss the trend of carbon-heavy liveries and the lack of paint on F1 cars.
- They express their opinion that the focus should be on performance rather than aesthetics.
- Weight reduction is a crucial factor, and teams may not be willing to compromise performance for paint.
- Colored carbon fiber is mentioned as a potential solution, but its weight and strength properties are questioned.
**Upcoming Car Releases and Season 2 Plans:**
- The hosts anticipate the remaining car launches, including Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull.
- They plan to revisit the topic after testing and have a special guest appearance lined up.
- The podcast aims to produce more tech content and feature insightful guests in Season 2.
**Conclusion:**
The Braking Bias Podcast duo provides an informative and engaging discussion on the recently launched Formula 1 cars, highlighting potential areas of innovation and addressing the ongoing debate about carbonization in liveries. They also tease exciting plans for Season 2, promising more in-depth technical analysis and special guests.