Most liked posts in thread: 2014 - F1

Doggybags · Jan 29, 2014

Live commentary on Jerez pre-season testing:

BBC Sport - Formula 1: Day two of pre-season testing at Jerez

minimark · Jan 29, 2014

mrntd said: ↑

But this was before they need to flow more air under the car to get the down force.
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There is never only one configuration to get downforce. And they aren't, weren't flowing more air "under" the car for more downforce. Air under the car will create lift and drag unless you are doing ground effects which they cannot. The nose was raised so that the working area of the front spoiler/wing could be increased and thusly achieve more downforce in the same amount of space.

2cents

Steve · Jan 29, 2014

A bit of off-track news to go with the test day updates to come. Seems Dennis has a different sort of management structure in mind, adding an extra layer. I'm surprised, saw him as more of a flat org structure type so everyone would have more reason to be afraid of his direct wrath.

McLaren confirms Boullier's role (racer.com)

Jonathan Noble | January 29, 2014

Eric Boullier's switch to McLaren has been confirmed, with the former Lotus Formula 1 boss taking up the position of racing director.

The Frenchman quit Lotus last week as he closed in on a switch to McLaren, which is undergoing a restructuring under new Group CEO Ron Dennis. It had been expected that Boullier would take the team principal role, but McLaren now looks set to implement a structure where there is no straight team boss.

Instead, Boullier will report to the CEO of McLaren Racing. A decision on who will take that role has not yet been made, but is being temporarily filled by managing director Jonathan Neale.

Dennis said that he hoped the new structure would be a big help in allowing McLaren to recover its form.

"I've already personally conveyed to the entire workforce of the McLaren Group, which includes McLaren Racing, the values, principles and mindset that I intend us all to adopt," said Dennis. "My intention is that from now on, everyone at McLaren Racing will understand their responsibilities and accountabilities, focusing on their specific areas of expertise, in keeping with those values, principles and mindset.

"In due course we'll announce the identity of McLaren Racing's new chief executive officer, who'll report to me, and to whom Eric will report.

"I'm firmly of the belief that, once McLaren Racing's restructured senior management team has been assembled, together we'll begin the march back to full competitiveness, quickly and professionally, harnessing the fantastic depth of talent that exists within our organization."

Boullier, who helped maintain Lotus as a competitive force in F1 despite its financial challenges, said he was excited about his new role.

"First of all, I regard this appointment as an honor, a privilege and a wonderful opportunity," he said. "The McLaren Racing workforce and the facilities at the McLaren Technology Centre are world-class, and I'm hugely excited about the prospect of joining such an outstanding team."

It is unclear how long it will take for McLaren to fill the McLaren Racing CEO role, but it is possible that a high profile figure like Ross Brawn could still take that position in the longer term.

This article originally appeared in Autosport.com
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Steve · Jan 29, 2014

I'm continuing to ignore specific lap times as they're meaningless to this point. If you notice any from today, keep in mind that Pirelli moved up the wet track test from Fri to today (Wed) because it rained early and the track was already wet...so they wet it further.

Zapski · Jan 29, 2014

Button seems to think they'll be slower than last year for a little while, then they'll catch up to last years' pace.

Cars 'won't be far off' 2013 pace by last race - Button - F1 Fanatic

Jenson Button expects F1 teams to recover much of the performance which has been lost with the new regulations by the end of the season.

Button set the fastest time of the test so far in the second day of running today, but was 6.3 seconds slower than the fastest lap seen at Jerez last year.

Button believes by the end of this week’s test drivers will still be over four seconds off the pace seen 12 months ago.

“I don’t know what tyre we used last year, at this point we’ve used the medium so far, which we think is half a second slower than last year’s medium. The cars are also heavier, which is about 1, 1.2 seconds through weight. So that’s 1.6, 1.8 seconds already just on those two changes.

“I think you’ll see people getting down to 22s. But it will still be three seconds off day one, what we did last year. But it was always going to be slower.”

“This is the first test with a very new package,” Button pointed out. “Last year was hardly changed at all in terms of the regulations so the first test we were going to be that quick and improve for the first race but it’s not a massive chunk.”

“Whereas now when we get to the first race everyone’s going to be much quicker. And then three races in there’ll be another chunk in terms of lap time, about a second or something. By the end of the year we might not be that far off.”

Button doubted the new F1 cars might be out-paced by GP2 machines, but said “it will be a lot closer at some circuits”.

“High speed we’ll be quicker but we won’t be that much quicker.”
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Gil-galad · Jan 29, 2014

There are earlier posts describing the power plant, but I just ran across this nice gallery of beautiful images that I think are pretty cool. Hope you agree...

An Illustrated Guide to F1's Radical New Engine | Autopia | Wired.com

Loving all of the CF. :arf:

Crashton · Jan 29, 2014

Steve said: ↑

Button's helmet.

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Nice tribute Jenson....

Steve · Jan 29, 2014

Renault must be wishing Lotus were testing. They would still have had to shut down and mileage would be limited to this point anyway but if Lotus were there they'd have a better chance of catching up on track time after resolve this mysterious issue...assuming they can solve it.

Renault to fix problems overnight (racer.com)

Jonathan Noble | January 29, 2014

Renault is confident that overnight fixes to its battery energy stores will cure the problems that have blighted its pre-season Formula 1 testing program.

The French manufacturer has had a troubled opening two days at Jerez, with its teams completing just 38 laps so far. In contrast, Ferrari-powered teams have completed 138 laps, and Mercedes-powered cars a total of 248.

Renault's head of trackside operations Remi Taffin has revealed that the issue that hindered Red Bull and Toro Rosso relates to the energy stores on the cars.

Caterham has escaped these difficulties because the integration of its package is different. The problems are such that they require an overnight fix, with new spare parts being flown in to Jerez to help make modifications that will get Renault's cars back on track on Thursday.

"We know on our side we have one problem that we have clearly identified and we want to fix it," explained Taffin. "We could not fix it for this morning, so we decided to do as much as we could on our side to make sure that, for tomorrow, and especially for Red Bull and Toro Rosso, that we are sure we can take to the track at 9 a.m. We are confident that tomorrow morning we will have all three cars on track."

Taffin declined to elaborate on the specifics of the problem with the energy stores, but suggested it was the way that the batteries were interacting with the rest of the power unit that was causing troubles.

"You have to bear in mind that a power unit is made up of a lot of sub components, and it is not a matter of one of them not working," he said. "It is clearly a problem of integration of all these systems.

"In particular, for this problem, we had to fix the problem through the energy store, but I am not going to go into detail due to the nature of the architecture of our system. We have clearly identified something that we would have to change.

"We have the parts, we have the people here, we have the means to do this, and we were prepared to do this. We did not want to do this when we came here, but that is what has happened and we are doing it."

Taffin added that the smoking issues spotted at Red Bull did not relate to the energy store problems.
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Full article here.

mrntd · Jan 30, 2014

Very interesting rear suspension for McLaren.
Formula 1Â® - The Official F1Â® Website

I'm surprised it not deemed a movable aero device.

Zapski · Jan 30, 2014

Is it just me, or is the Marussia the best looking car so far? Nose notwithstanding.

Weird.

More pics here

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/01/30/marussia-mr03-first-pictures/

Zapski · Jan 30, 2014

mrntd said: ↑

Very interesting rear suspension for McLaren.
Formula 1Â® - The Official F1Â® Website

I'm surprised it not deemed a movable aero device.
Click to expand...

More pics here

McLaren rear design catches the eye - and the attention - of rival teams | Sky Sports

Steve · Jan 30, 2014

Red Bull managed to run a grand total of 3 laps today. I haven't read details but given none of the 3 were recorded as timed I assume none were full laps and all ran pit out to pit in like installation laps. Of the other Renault powered teams, Lotus isn't there and Caterham ran 10 laps with no recorded time (no idea what their problem is). But since Torro Rosso managed 30 laps maybe Renault are getting on top of their initial problem and the remaining trouble is due to component packaging choices made by the team designers?

I read Horner and Newey hit the road back to the factory. Pundits are guessing it's because they're more concerned about fixing some fundamental aspect of design ahead of the next test than they are about the way this test will finish up tomorrow.

Steve · Jan 30, 2014

They aren't saying just what the problem is - naturally, neither Renault nor Red Bull want to give anything away about their respective unique configurations - but "Adrian has gone back to the drawing board" seems to me like a sign there's a significant design and/or layout issue.

Ricciardo says no quick fix for Red Bull (autosport.com)

Jonathan Noble | January 30, 2014

Daniel Ricciardo has suggested there is no quick fix to the Red Bull Formula 1 team's early 2014 problems, although the Australian is sure the reigning champions still have time to sort its issues before the season starts at his home grand prix.

Red Bull has had a troubled first pre-season test, completing just 14 laps so far after a spate of overheating and electrical problems. Team principal Christian Horner and technical chief Adrian Newey left the Jerez test on Thursday to return to its Milton Keynes base to start work on its recovery plan.

Ricciardo, who is hoping a temporary fix for the issues can be implemented for Friday so he can at least get some running, is sure that things will improve over the next few weeks.

"They assume it is going to be something that they will have to go back to the factory and sort it all out," explained Ricciardo. "But at the same time they are trying and hoping that a quicker fix is ready for tomorrow. We will see.

"For nearly 36 hours pretty much they have worked on the car to try to get it running. We are a bit unsure right now."

Ricciardo reckoned Newey and Horner's early departure from the test was essential, so they could start working on curing the issues as quickly as possible.

"Adrian has gone back to the drawing board, definitely," he said. "There is only so much they can do at the track,

"Adrian is pretty happy working in his office back at Milton Keynes, he will definitely be getting involved, trying to sort out the next step."

But even if a quick solution cannot be found, Ricciardo feels that Red Bull has the qualities to recover its situation, even if that does not take place by the first race in Melbourne.

"We have still got a lot of time. Time is on our side still. Even if we go to Melbourne still a bit whatever, it is a long season.

"These guys know how to win, that is important. I am sure sooner rather than later we will get it all together. It is still really early days."
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Zapski · Jan 30, 2014

Steve said: ↑

They aren't saying just what the problem is - naturally, neither Renault nor Red Bull want to give anything away about their respective unique configurations - but "Adrian has gone back to the drawing board" seems to me like a sign there's a significant design and/or layout issue.

Ricciardo says no quick fix for Red Bull (autosport.com)
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Pretty much all the Renault cars have had trouble so far. It's something to do with the new ERS as I understand it. Which makes sense really, since Red Bull was constantly having KERS issues last year, and a couple alternator failures the year before that. Electronics are not Renault's strong points.

Full Disclosure - I used to own a 1984 Renault Alliance back in college, and I had to change the alternator in that thing several times before it had a complete electrical meltdown. I may be a bit biased on my opinion of French wiring.

Steve · Jan 30, 2014

From an Autosport article quoting Rod Nelson (Williams chief test and support engineer) on the McLaren rear suspension aero:

The rear leg of the wishbones, they have got a kind of dogleg in them now.

That means they can get these perpendicular surfaces on the trailing edges, but they still have point to point, from the inboard bearing to the outboard bearing, it is the same geometry.
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This tiny pic shows that "dogleg" shape better than any other I've seen.

Once you've seen it, it's easier to see in less vertical shots.

Steve · Jan 31, 2014

F1 row brewing over new nose designs (grandprix.com)

JANUARY 30, 2014

The FIA is reportedly unhappy with some of the nose solutions that are currently collecting test laps at Jerez.

Germany's Sport Bild reported on Thursday that a major row is brewing in southern Spain, after top teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull unveiled cars with mainly conventional low noses for the new season.

But other teams, notably Force India and Toro Rosso and co, have been attracting phallic descriptions of their 'anteater' thin noses.

Those with the more conventional noses argue that, while the thin noses may comply with the letter of the regulations, they pose a spear-like danger to rival cars in collisions.

Sport Bild said the top three teams want the FIA to re-write the rules to disallow the thin noses on safety grounds.

But the publication said it knows that FIA president Jean Todt is preparing to take the small teams' side.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, on the other hand, said the governing body has launched an investigation, aiming to conclude whether some teams have "gone too far" with their 2014 noses.

And the report said even the low-nosed Red Bull and Mercedes teams are being put under the microscope, since the very tips of the noses are almost paper-thin, with the actual crash structure located much further back -- and higher, contrary to the intention of the new rules.

"This fills the letter but not the spirit of the regulations," an FIA source was quoted as saying.
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Zapski · Jan 31, 2014

Here's a nice series of observations on each car from what we can see so far. Interestingly he seems to think that Caterham's design is for reliability rather than speed. With the testing running the way it is, he might be right. That might mean they could get a point in the first few races.

F1 2014 Car Reveals - YouTube

Zapski · Feb 1, 2014

Bernie sez that there was "no one" on the track.

New F1 rules have created a “total farce,” says Ecclestone | Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

Bernie Ecclestone has done little to reassure fans who harbour doubts about the new F1 rules by branding this weekâ€™s testing in Jerez as a â€œtotal farce.â€

Ecclestone has long made his feelings about the rule change clear, especially with regard to the noise made by the engines.

At the end of last season he told this writer: â€œI still think what weâ€™ve got now is good, I donâ€™t think there was any need to change it. What concerns me is not so much the TV audience, but the people who come to the races. They love the noise, itâ€™s what they like, because itâ€™s different. So Iâ€™m hoping that we wonâ€™t lose people coming to the races.â€

Having followed progress in Jerez this week the man charged with the job of promoting the sport has been even more vocal.

â€œLook at the last few days. I said it was going to be like this â€“ a total farce,â€ he told todayâ€™s Daily Mail. â€œThey [the FIA and the teams] insisted on these new engines. If they wanted to race like this they should go to Le Mans.

â€œThey talk about saving fuel. They donâ€™t need these new engines to achieve that. They should get smaller motorhomes. Then they wouldnâ€™t need so many trucks going all round Europe. Mercedes are taking 23 trucks with them everywhere. If they really wanted to save fuel they should stop that.

â€œThe whole thing with the new engines is totally absurd. People want noise â€“ something special, thatâ€™s what F1 is all about â€“ and now we have quiet engines and nobody on the track.â€

Ecclestone did at least acknowledge that the form book will be mixed up this year.

â€œThe good thing is that the season could be extremely interesting â€“ really unpredictable, and that is the exciting thing.â€
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Bernie is full of it. Because no one but Red Bull counts for him. The sooner he's ousted the better. :mad5:

Renault admit "litany of issues" with Energy F1 - F1 Fanatic

...
Renault-powered cars covered 668km during the first test at Jerez, while Ferrari completed nearly 2,000km and Mercedes in excess of 3,800km. Renault-powered world champions Red Bull covered the least distance of any team present at the test â€“ less than 100km....
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mrntd · Feb 4, 2014

Double points system is for Ferrari

Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that the controversial double points rule has been introduced to help Ferrari compete.

It was confirmed in December that the 2014 season would end with a race worth double in Abu Dhabi, but the move has proved unpopular and received criticism from fans and some team members. However, Christian Sylt writes in CityAM that Ecclestone told Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo the rule was introduced in to benefit his team.

Speaking about di Montezemolo, Ecclestone said: “He was talking about it and I said: 'It is very simple why we got that [rule]. It is because you aren't performing. If you were doing what you should be doing there wouldn't be any need for it.' He said: 'I know, I know.'”
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Steve · Feb 4, 2014

"Exclusive close up scroll through the demonstrator displays of the new McLaren Electronics PCU-8D F1 screen"

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsOQWbJZ9mY]EXCLUSIVE: F1 2014 Steering Wheel Display - YouTube[/ame]

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