Most liked posts in thread: 2014 - F1

Steve · Dec 16, 2013

Here's hoping there's plenty of coverage for a change. :fingerscrossed:

Button: First 2014 test will be hilarious (racer.com)

Jonathan Noble, Matt Beer |December 16, 2013

Jenson Button believes the drivers' first on-track taste of the 2014 Formula 1 cars will be "hilarious."

The 2009 world champion suspects that the combination of the very different behavior of the all-new turbocharged V6 engines, inevitable initial unreliability and cold temperatures at Jerez in January will make the first runs a bizarre experience.

"Winter testing is going to be hilarious in Jerez," said Button, who has tried the 2014 McLaren in the team's simulator. "It will be cold, the tires aren't going to work, the cars probably won't work either and, when you do get a lap, it is probably going to feel weird because you are running higher gears â€“ you get into eighth gear before you get to seventh gear now.

"It is a very different way of driving and you have to forget a lot you have learned over the years in terms of the driveability of a racing car, the engine, the power output of a racing car and the way you put the power down. It is so, so different."

He said the mixture of increased torque and reduced downforce would be an intriguing challenge.

"No one knows how they will perform until the first race next year," said Button. "It is going to be tricky because we do have a lot more torque with the engine.

"There will be a lot less downforce as there will be no [exhaust] blowing. I don't care what they say, there is still a massive amount of blowing on an F1 car. It is going to be very tough to get to grips with it.

"There is a lot to learn for all of us, even the experienced drivers, and it is exciting. You want to be out on circuit at the tricky corners, even Turn 2/3 [at Jerez] will be tough to get the power down. You need a throttle pedal that is a meter long to control the torque of the engine. Hopefully, the experience I have with developing the car and making it how you want it to be will help me for next year."

Although he expects testing to be potentially chaotic, Button has no doubt that the teams will be on top of things in time for the season opener.

"It is in a bad place right now but by the first race we will all have it sorted," he added.

Testing commences at Jerez on Jan. 28, with the season beginning with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

This article originally appeared in Autosport.com
Click to expand...

Steve · Dec 16, 2013

Curious to see whether the new noses this year will be as bad as some have predicted. Even if they are, this definitely won't be the first time F1 cars have hit the track with ugly protuberances.

Ligier JS5, 1976:

Steve · Dec 17, 2013

Much better without the De Gaulle tribute air snout.

Steve · Dec 19, 2013

Do they need to find a way to allow Pirelli to test more? Yes, they do.

Rosberg suffers 320km/h tyre failure (GPUpdate.net)

9:34 â€“ Nico Rosberg has revealed that he suffered a random tyre failure at 320km/h (199 mph) on the final day of Pirelli's post-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The German is one of six drivers in action this week, with his Mercedes team, Red Bull, Ferrari and Toro Rosso aiding the Italian supplier with the development of its 2014 rubber.

"Just spun at full speed 320km/h on Bahrain straight because my tyre blew up without warning," said Rosberg via social networking site Twitter. "Thanks to that I need to get some toilet paper now..."

Bahrain will host further testing ahead of the 2014 campaign, with a pair of pre-season gatherings scheduled after the opening test at the Circuito de Jerez.
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mrntd · Dec 19, 2013

First you say it... then you do it

Crashton · Dec 19, 2013

Just saw this....

Formula 1 - Rosberg in high speed Bahrain blow-out - Yahoo Eurosport UK

Zapski · Dec 19, 2013

Crashton said: ↑

Just saw this....

Formula 1 - Rosberg in high speed Bahrain blow-out - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Click to expand...

And immediately Pirelli says this:

Safety of 2014 tyres "not in question" - Pirelli - F1 Fanatic

Crashton · Dec 19, 2013

What would you expect them to say? :wink:

Angib · Dec 20, 2013

I see that Mattia Binotto, the Vice-Director of Motor and Electronics is so concerned with energy recovery that he even sits at his desk when being interviewed with a Ferrari-logo'd scarf nonchalantly, but stylishly, wrapped around his neck, cutting his own energy loss.

Clearly, a lack of style will cause poor performance - though I can't get that condensed to just a certain number of 'P's......:devil:

Steve · Dec 20, 2013

Bernie would rather apply the double points rule to the last THREE races of the season.

Anyone surprised?

Double points may be axed by next month, says Ecclestone (nbcsports.com)

Chris Estrada | Dec 20, 2013, 6:23 PM EST

The much-maligned double points award for Formula One season finales may not be long for this world according to Formula One kingpin Bernie Ecclestone.

The British billionaire has told the UK’s Telegraph newspaper that the controversial rule could be scrapped as soon as next month’s meeting of the F1 Strategy Group.

But in doing so, he also revealed his own inclination for the rule.

“Personally, my preference would be for the final three races to be worth double points,” he said to the Telegraph. “But it may well be that the rule is cancelled altogether at the next [Strategy Group] meeting in January.

“I think it should be the final three races or nothing. The final three races would mean the championship is kept interesting for everyone – fans, press and television – right until the end.”

The Telegraph also says that such a rule was actually considered by the FIA in Paris before getting soundly rejected in favor of simply making the season finale only worth double points.

From the moment it got out of Paris, the scenario has triggered a negative response across almost all of Formula One with reigning four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel calling it “absurd” and former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine dubbing it “insanity”.

Today, it was Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo’s turn. In a meeting with Italian reporters, Montezemolo said the rule “seems rather artificial and not very sporting.”

He then proceeded to call for a summit of all F1 squads at Maranello in late January.

“I think the time has come to all sit around the table with the other teams to discuss the overall approach to Formula One,” he said. “I want to talk constructively, without discussing anything to do with competitiveness but putting forward proposals in a transparent manner, without any under the table agreements.

“There should be more dialogue between the teams when it comes to discussing the problems affecting Formula One.”
Click to expand...

Angib · Dec 21, 2013

He then proceeded to call for a summit of all F1 squads at Maranello in late January.
Click to expand...

And he's going to usher them into a lockable room and offer them his specially-prepared Ferrari refreshments. And some of the lesser team bosses may crawl out alive....

Who thinks Ferrari's preparations for the new season aren't going well and they've already switched to Plan B? :eek6:

minimark · Dec 21, 2013

Me thinks he merely feels that "double points" sucks just like everyone else in the literate world does save Bernie....

Steve · Dec 21, 2013

News from Sauber.

They made money deals with some Russian companies and planned to sign the 17 year old (or maybe 18 now?) Sirotkin as a driver...if they could get him an FIA Super Licence. But then Telmex signed on again as a sponsor and they announced Gutierrez as their second driver and signed Sirotkin as test driver.

Nathan · Dec 30, 2013

Moved all the Schumi head injury posts to a common thread.

Please use this thread http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/off-topic-racing/20396-michael-schumacher-critically-injured-while-skiing.html#axzz2oym1LX9W for updates and discussion.

Steve · Dec 30, 2013

He's probably right.

Lauda: Reliability key to 2014 title (racer.com)

Jonathan Noble, Scott Mitchell | December 30, 2013

Triple world champion Niki Lauda says it will be reliability and not speed that will decide the 2014 Formula 1 title battle.

The Mercedes non-executive director is wary of the challenges posed by the sport's huge regulation shake-up for next season, despite his team being marked out as one of the favorites. But with F1 facing its biggest rule change for many years, Lauda has joined a host of other figures in stating that it may not necessarily be the quickest car that will come out on top.

Instead, as Alain Prost suggested earlier this year, Lauda thinks that a priority for all teams must be in ensuring that their cars get to the checkered flag each time.

Asked if he believed Mercedes could win the title, Lauda said: "Nobody knows. But the target has to be reliability. Who has the most reliable piece of engine, gearbox and car will win the championship.

"Next year is not speed, it is reliability. It is what we all have to work for."

Mercedes' status as a works team has left it as one of the clear favorites for 2014 success, with customer team McLaren reckoning it will be the strongest team. Although Lauda has stopped short of stating that it should be a contender, he admitted the new regulations do give the German team a chance to end the domination of F1 by Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull.

"It is a big challenge and a big opportunity to go ahead again," he added. "But this challenge is on the side of the engine, gearbox and car, so I think it is a different thing to the last couple of years. I am looking forward to it."

This article originally appeared in Autosport.com
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Crashton · Dec 30, 2013

I agree reliability will be huge & teams must have it, but not at the sacrifice of speed.

ScottinBend · Jan 2, 2014

Nice write-up on the coming season.

INSIGHT: Plumbing the depths of F1's changes for 2014 - Racer.com

mrntd · Jan 3, 2014

Who might use a "U" shaped nose on their car? Hollow through the middle so the air can still get to the tea tray while meeting the new regs. I like that idea better then the long skinny ones being talked about.

Zapski · Jan 3, 2014

That's an interesting idea. Let's hope someone goes for it!

ScottinBend · Jan 3, 2014

I would guess that that would not be easy to design to meet the crash test.

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