Actually 3 ducts. The 2 smaller ones to the sides send air out the sides. The center one channels out the top of the nose. Thoughts are it is for cooling electronics.
In backmarker news.... Marussia Bahrain F1 test disrupted by computer virus - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com OK, 2 things: 1: a "Trojan-style Virus" is a contradiction. A Trojan is a bit of software that you have to install yourself, because you downloaded something dumb or dodgy. Viruses are self infecting and don't require user input. So if it was a Trojan, their stupid IT guy or someone with inappropriate administrator access installed it. Fire that guy. Also, no AV software? Really? 2: "in the racks" - So this wasn't someone's laptop, this was a bloody server. Geebus. I wonder if they need a new IT guy who knows how to set proper access policies.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeWE4D0zGRI]Pirelli on 2014 Formula One tyre changes - YouTube[/ame]
More good news for Mercedes engines, more bad news for Renault. At least Red Bull outperformed Caterham though, so that's something. Ferrari powered cars are looking potentially competitive. Lap times and laps completed at link. Perez leads times as Red Bull struggle goes on - F1 Fanatic
Looks like a disastrous season for Renault powered teams. Is it too late to switch? (sarc) With Honda coming in next year this might be the end of Renault in F1
It was a good day for Ferrari today. Mercedes powered cars had gearbox and technical issues, and Renaults caught fire. Lap times and charts at the link. Perez on top again for Force India - F1 Fanatic
They might get one more year, it depends on how good the Hondas are. From what I've been gathering, it's mostly the new electronics that are killing the Renaults, and having owned one back in the 80's I can't say that I'm surprised by that at all. I agree with you, if they can't do the electrics right, I can't imagine anyone really wanting to stick with them. I think Lotus might be screwed though, they have a multi year contract with Renault and can't switch easily. Honestly I think the McLaren's are probably going to take it this year. The experience they have with supercars and the P1 are probably feeding right into their development. I'm betting that all the work they did with the P1 was specifically done for the Formula 1 team with the 2014 rules in mind.
There is talk, and only talk at this time, that Cosworth and Ford might possibly maybe in a speculative way be in talks to possibly come back to F1. Or so I've read.
Cosworth seem to come and go these days. They didn't race at all 2007-2009, and were in a few cars until last year, when Marussia was the only Cosworth. It'd be nice to see them come back with a winning engine though.
Also (see the full story, not just the title), both Renault's petition for an extension on their engine homologation deadline and Bernie's push to double the points for the final 3 races (vice just the final race) were rejected. F1: Qualifying changes get approval (racer.com)
I'm OK with all of that. I don't think it will make much of a difference to qualification, and it's just too bad for Renault if they can't get their stuff together like everyone else. Besides, I honestly think the double points thing is stupid in general and was only proposed for the last three races to let a certain lagging team overtake the real winners at the end of the season when they have fixes in place for their poorly designed car.
Is the the face of F1 in 2014? en.espnf1.com - Felipe Massa topped the timesheets on the penultimate day of pre-season testing as Red Bull struggled to build on its promising run on Friday. Massa set a 1:37.224 to put himself at the top of the time sheets over lunch, but once again it was the absence of some cars that drew more interest. It took two and half hours for Sebastian Vettel's RB10 to emerge from the Red Bull garage, but when he did he only made it as far as Turn Four before grinding to a halt. The team tried sending him out for a second time in the final hour before lunch, but the Red Bull only got as far as the end of the pit lane before stopping, with Vettel lending a hand as marshals pushed it back in the direction of the garage.
Man that has got to be frustrating, not being able to drive past the end of the damn pitlane! I feel for all the Renault powered teams this year..... This first race is going to be interesting, and since the Williams, Big Macs, Merc's and Force India's are showing reliability, it sounds like it's turning into an economy run series! Only a few more weeks now till we find out.