rufus_mcdufus
Champion Elect
3 seconds slower you say? Oh, that's terrible, just terrible.
Pre-Season Winter testing : 2014 Season
- Thread starter Greenlantern101
- Start date
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People were worried the GP2 cars were going to be almost as fast as F1.
This is the GP2 grid from last year at Bahrain.
Qualifying times
1. #8 Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering 1:39.427s 121.760mph (10 laps)
2. #1 Marcus Ericsson DAMS 1:40.420s+ 0.993s 120.557mph (10 laps)
3. #9 Felipe Nasr Carlin 1:40.520s+ 1.093s 120.437mph (11 laps)
4. #18 Stefano Coletti Rapax 1:40.585s+ 1.158s 120.358mph (9 laps)
5. #12 Tom Dillmann Russian Time 1:40.689s+ 1.262s 120.234mph (11 laps)
6. #2 Stéphane Richelmi DAMS 1:40.704s+ 1.277s 120.216mph (10 laps)
7. #15 Alexander Rossi Caterham Racing 1:40.756s+ 1.329s 120.155mph (11 laps)
8. #26 Adrian Quaife-Hobbs MP Motorsport 1:40.769s+ 1.342s 120.139mph (11 laps)
9. #11 Sam Bird Russian Time 1:40.842s+ 1.415s 120.052mph (10 laps)
10. #22 Robin Frijns Hilmer Motorsport 1:40.865s+ 1.438s 120.025mph (12 laps)
11. #3 James Calado ART GP 1:40.878s+ 1.451s 120.009mph (10 laps) *
12. #19 Simon Trummer Rapax 1:40.892s+ 1.465s 119.992mph (9 laps)
13. #10 Jolyon Palmer Carlin 1:41.033s+ 1.606s 119.825mph (10 laps)
14. #5 Johnny Cecotto Jr. Arden 1:41.043s+ 1.616s 119.813mph (9 laps)
15. #4 Daniel Abt ART GP 1:41.070s+ 1.643s 119.781mph (11 laps)
16. #14 Sergio Canamasas Caterham Racing 1:41.229s+ 1.802s 119.593mph (11 laps)
17. #25 Kevin Giovesi Venezuela GP Lazarus 1:41.236s+ 1.809s 119.585mph (9 laps)
18. #6 Mitch Evans Arden 1:41.237s+ 1.810s 119.583mph (7 laps)
19. #21 Kevin Ceccon Trident Racing 1:41.243s+ 1.816s 119.576mph (11 laps)
20. #7 Julián Leal Racing Engineering 1:41.504s+ 2.077s 119.269mph (12 laps)
21. #24 Rene Binder Venezuela GP Lazarus 1:41.553s+ 2.126s 119.211mph (10 laps)
22. #16 Jake Rosenzweig Barwa Addax 1:41.687s+ 2.260s 119.054mph (10 laps)
23. #20 Nathanaël Berthon Trident Racing 1:41.730s+ 2.303s 119.004mph (9 laps)
24. #23 Pal Varhaug Hilmer Motorsport 1:41.980s+ 2.553s 118.712mph (11 laps)
25. #17 Rio Haryanto Barwa Addax 1:41.981s+ 2.554s 118.711mph (10 laps)
26. #27 Daniël de Jong MP Motorsport 1:42.284s+ 2.857s 118.359mph (10 laps)
This is the GP2 grid from last year at Bahrain.
Qualifying times
1. #8 Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering 1:39.427s 121.760mph (10 laps)
2. #1 Marcus Ericsson DAMS 1:40.420s+ 0.993s 120.557mph (10 laps)
3. #9 Felipe Nasr Carlin 1:40.520s+ 1.093s 120.437mph (11 laps)
4. #18 Stefano Coletti Rapax 1:40.585s+ 1.158s 120.358mph (9 laps)
5. #12 Tom Dillmann Russian Time 1:40.689s+ 1.262s 120.234mph (11 laps)
6. #2 Stéphane Richelmi DAMS 1:40.704s+ 1.277s 120.216mph (10 laps)
7. #15 Alexander Rossi Caterham Racing 1:40.756s+ 1.329s 120.155mph (11 laps)
8. #26 Adrian Quaife-Hobbs MP Motorsport 1:40.769s+ 1.342s 120.139mph (11 laps)
9. #11 Sam Bird Russian Time 1:40.842s+ 1.415s 120.052mph (10 laps)
10. #22 Robin Frijns Hilmer Motorsport 1:40.865s+ 1.438s 120.025mph (12 laps)
11. #3 James Calado ART GP 1:40.878s+ 1.451s 120.009mph (10 laps) *
12. #19 Simon Trummer Rapax 1:40.892s+ 1.465s 119.992mph (9 laps)
13. #10 Jolyon Palmer Carlin 1:41.033s+ 1.606s 119.825mph (10 laps)
14. #5 Johnny Cecotto Jr. Arden 1:41.043s+ 1.616s 119.813mph (9 laps)
15. #4 Daniel Abt ART GP 1:41.070s+ 1.643s 119.781mph (11 laps)
16. #14 Sergio Canamasas Caterham Racing 1:41.229s+ 1.802s 119.593mph (11 laps)
17. #25 Kevin Giovesi Venezuela GP Lazarus 1:41.236s+ 1.809s 119.585mph (9 laps)
18. #6 Mitch Evans Arden 1:41.237s+ 1.810s 119.583mph (7 laps)
19. #21 Kevin Ceccon Trident Racing 1:41.243s+ 1.816s 119.576mph (11 laps)
20. #7 Julián Leal Racing Engineering 1:41.504s+ 2.077s 119.269mph (12 laps)
21. #24 Rene Binder Venezuela GP Lazarus 1:41.553s+ 2.126s 119.211mph (10 laps)
22. #16 Jake Rosenzweig Barwa Addax 1:41.687s+ 2.260s 119.054mph (10 laps)
23. #20 Nathanaël Berthon Trident Racing 1:41.730s+ 2.303s 119.004mph (9 laps)
24. #23 Pal Varhaug Hilmer Motorsport 1:41.980s+ 2.553s 118.712mph (11 laps)
25. #17 Rio Haryanto Barwa Addax 1:41.981s+ 2.554s 118.711mph (10 laps)
26. #27 Daniël de Jong MP Motorsport 1:42.284s+ 2.857s 118.359mph (10 laps)
Incubus
Champion Elect
I thought Kobayashi's comments on Autosport the other day were quite telling.
While his team's plight is obviously not on the same level as Red Bull's it's quite clear the time spent on trying to solve the Renault units' problems amount to that much time lost on actually trying to develop the chassis. Meanwhile the Ferrari and Mercedes-powered cars aren't exactly sitting still with their development.
Even if Red Bull were sorted by the time the first GP comes up, it's beginning to look as though Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren will have a major head-start on them.
While his team's plight is obviously not on the same level as Red Bull's it's quite clear the time spent on trying to solve the Renault units' problems amount to that much time lost on actually trying to develop the chassis. Meanwhile the Ferrari and Mercedes-powered cars aren't exactly sitting still with their development.
Even if Red Bull were sorted by the time the first GP comes up, it's beginning to look as though Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren will have a major head-start on them.
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Day 3
1. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes-Mercedes 1min 34.263secs 67 laps
2. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1min 34.976secs 103 laps
3. Felipe Massa Brazil Williams-Mercedes 1min 37.066secs 60 laps
4. Esteban Gutierrez Mexico Sauber-Ferrari 1min 37.180secs 96 laps
5. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1min 37.367secs 57 laps
6. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 37.467secs 44 laps
7. Daniil Kvyat Russia STR-Renault 1min 38.974secs 57 laps
8. Pastor Maldonado Venezuela Lotus-Renault 1min 39.6424secs 26 laps
9. Daniel Ricciardo Australia Red Bull-Renault 1min 40.781secs 28 laps
10. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Caterham-Renault 1min 42.130secs 98 laps
11. Max Chilton Britain Marussia-Ferrari 1min 46.672secs 4 laps
12. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes no time 55 laps
1. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes-Mercedes 1min 34.263secs 67 laps
2. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1min 34.976secs 103 laps
3. Felipe Massa Brazil Williams-Mercedes 1min 37.066secs 60 laps
4. Esteban Gutierrez Mexico Sauber-Ferrari 1min 37.180secs 96 laps
5. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1min 37.367secs 57 laps
6. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 37.467secs 44 laps
7. Daniil Kvyat Russia STR-Renault 1min 38.974secs 57 laps
8. Pastor Maldonado Venezuela Lotus-Renault 1min 39.6424secs 26 laps
9. Daniel Ricciardo Australia Red Bull-Renault 1min 40.781secs 28 laps
10. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Caterham-Renault 1min 42.130secs 98 laps
11. Max Chilton Britain Marussia-Ferrari 1min 46.672secs 4 laps
12. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes no time 55 laps
There were two very interesting interviews on the Beeb coverage today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/26279300
Jennie Gow was chatting with Pat Symonds:
"'After the engine freeze on the V8s a few years ago they did downsize Renault Sport in Viry,' Symonds said. 'I think they are paying the price for that now because when the new engine requirement came along, they didn't have the people, they didn't have the infrastructure to really exploit it."
He also said that he thought that Renault did not have the money in the budget to fund the new engine.
Later on she interviewed the Renault engine boss Rob White:
"White says Renault, which had a disastrous first test in Jerez last month, are now in the position they would like to have been when that test started.
"He admits they are behind their rivals, but insists: 'We can absolutely catch up.'"
With the engine freeze starting in a week's time they may well need a time machine to be anywhere near the level of the other teams.
Later on she says about the Renault engines:
"They are not being able to run the full mapping and are about 100-150bhp down on the Mercedes and Ferrari. Teams are not being allowed to do any functionality testing - just running round in circles at a lot less power than everyone else."
The above are only extracts, to see the whole of the text you just follow the link above. The various texts are at 10:21, 12:07, 13:22 and 13:31.
And finally RBR came across another mechanical (13:31) which they have not come across before:
"Because of its nature it means we have to take the car apart," he said. "These issues are of course frustrating but this was unrelated to the others so it's just a case of tackling each issue as it appears. A tough night in prospect but we hope to get a good day in tomorrow."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/26279300
Jennie Gow was chatting with Pat Symonds:
"'After the engine freeze on the V8s a few years ago they did downsize Renault Sport in Viry,' Symonds said. 'I think they are paying the price for that now because when the new engine requirement came along, they didn't have the people, they didn't have the infrastructure to really exploit it."
He also said that he thought that Renault did not have the money in the budget to fund the new engine.
Later on she interviewed the Renault engine boss Rob White:
"White says Renault, which had a disastrous first test in Jerez last month, are now in the position they would like to have been when that test started.
"He admits they are behind their rivals, but insists: 'We can absolutely catch up.'"
With the engine freeze starting in a week's time they may well need a time machine to be anywhere near the level of the other teams.
Later on she says about the Renault engines:
"They are not being able to run the full mapping and are about 100-150bhp down on the Mercedes and Ferrari. Teams are not being allowed to do any functionality testing - just running round in circles at a lot less power than everyone else."
The above are only extracts, to see the whole of the text you just follow the link above. The various texts are at 10:21, 12:07, 13:22 and 13:31.
And finally RBR came across another mechanical (13:31) which they have not come across before:
"Because of its nature it means we have to take the car apart," he said. "These issues are of course frustrating but this was unrelated to the others so it's just a case of tackling each issue as it appears. A tough night in prospect but we hope to get a good day in tomorrow."
snowy
Champion Elect
On the Sky Live coverage of Bahrain testing they have posted videos comparing the sound of the new engines. The most interesting thing about this is the total lack of cracking and popping from the Renault powered cars. The Mercedes engines make all sorts of unusual and random noises under braking, just like last years Red Bull did.
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Incubus
Champion Elect
Well. all turbo engines are supposed to make all sorts of crackling noises under braking, so if we don't hear them from Red Bull that would indicate not even their turbos are working properly. 
Isn't it slightly ironic though to see the engine manufacturer who pioneered the turbo in F1 being apparently confronted with the lion's share of engine unit problems now that turbos are being brought back?
Isn't it slightly ironic though to see the engine manufacturer who pioneered the turbo in F1 being apparently confronted with the lion's share of engine unit problems now that turbos are being brought back?
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Bushi
Race Winner
I may be the only one around here that would find it a disgrace if Renault can't find a solution when the engine freeze starts;
Also I find it strange that Renault is struggling that hard. There's probably some truth in there what Symonds is saying about their engine department. But last time I checked Renault and Nissan worked together. So I can't help but wonder why they are struggling with their engine, while Nissan has a good reputation engine wise.
Also I find it strange that Renault is struggling that hard. There's probably some truth in there what Symonds is saying about their engine department. But last time I checked Renault and Nissan worked together. So I can't help but wonder why they are struggling with their engine, while Nissan has a good reputation engine wise.
rufus_mcdufus
Champion Elect
At least it might solve the problem of Red Bull & Vettel winning all the time and F1 losing viewers because of it.
My suspicious mind almost thinks this situation may have been engineered...
My suspicious mind almost thinks this situation may have been engineered...
Bushi
Race Winner
Yeah 8 cars with 100-150bhp less than their opponents and engines that are braking down all the time is gonna be good for the viewers.
rufus_mcdufus
Champion Elect
After watching years of McLarens blowing up (though not for a while of course) I think I might enjoy someone else suffering misfortune!
Lewywo4
Race Winner
Today I was encouraged to read when Hamilton said, " the car seems to be responding to my style of driving "......
Bushi I don't think the Renault engine is really 100-150bhp down on power, it's just that they're having to restrict it to that to be able to get some laps in. There have also been suggestions that Renault's problems are now more in software rather than hardware. The effect is the same at the moment of course but I'm sure Renault will turn it around, although I wouldn't be making any bets on a Renault powered car to win in Melbourne (remember to quote this post when Vettel ends up winning it....).
A thought just popped in to my head. I presume the engine homologation only applies to the power units themselves not the software. If Renault's problems are indeed largely software based then the engine freeze shouldn't effect them so much. If they (still) have serious cooling issues when the season starts that's a whole can of worms though with what can be done under "reliability updates".
Finally, I don't think anyone wants to see a third of the grid unable to compete. It would be nice to have a season that isn't dominated by Vettel though...
A thought just popped in to my head. I presume the engine homologation only applies to the power units themselves not the software. If Renault's problems are indeed largely software based then the engine freeze shouldn't effect them so much. If they (still) have serious cooling issues when the season starts that's a whole can of worms though with what can be done under "reliability updates".
Finally, I don't think anyone wants to see a third of the grid unable to compete. It would be nice to have a season that isn't dominated by Vettel though...
Fenderman
Rooters Reporter
Hopefully it will be a season full of ups, downs and surprises. Thus far it looks promising on that front. The technical side is more interesting as well. It is disappointing that the power unit reg's are going to tighten season on season leading inevitably back to stasis in that area of development and yet another aero' dominated situation in a few years time. I think an opportunity was missed whereby different power unit/engine solutions could have been allowed to compete. Still, we're getting some variety for now and testing is proving more interesting for us tech' heads this season.
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Delays in running for Lotus tomorrow. Looks like 2 tests not as good as 3 after all.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112606
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112606
Blog Zbod
Podium Finisher
Between the greater thrust (torque) and lower drag, this season's cars had been estimated to be capable of 15 kph higher top speeds than last season's. Today, Alonso went 22 kph faster through the traps than Massa & PDR -- who tied for fastest -- at Bahrain 2013.
With the reduced downforce, they obviously cannot maintain the same cornering speeds. Comnined with the higher top speeds, this will not be a good season to have marginal brakes.
With the reduced downforce, they obviously cannot maintain the same cornering speeds. Comnined with the higher top speeds, this will not be a good season to have marginal brakes.
as drag increases by the cube of the speed I assume with higher speeds that DRS will be even more effective.
You have got to admire a man who has this much optimism...
http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...ult-engine-could-be-even-better-than-mercedes
Always look on the bright side of life...
And when your engine takes it's terminal breath... It's a piece of shit, when you look at it, it doesn't run and likes to catch on fire....
http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...ult-engine-could-be-even-better-than-mercedes
Always look on the bright side of life...
And when your engine takes it's terminal breath... It's a piece of shit, when you look at it, it doesn't run and likes to catch on fire....
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