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Official Pre-season testing thread

Discussion in 'Formula 1' started by BrightLampShade, Jan 9, 2014.

  1. El_Bando

    El_Bando Can't remember, where was I? Forum Moderator

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    One hope we do have is maybe other teams are more fuel efficient than Mercedes.
     
    #1641
  2. dhel

    dhel Well-Known Member

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    It wouldn't be a pretty sight to see mercedes duo way out in the lead and pull up near the finishing line....no more fuel...lol....guys just kidding...that's my favorite team. Lol
     
    #1642
  3. 51LV3R8RR04

    51LV3R8RR04 Well-Known Member

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    I think I will enjoy watching Vettel be the hunter for a change rather than the leader.
     
    #1643
  4. Mr.B

    Mr.B Well-Known Member

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    I'm hoping Ferrari & McLaren will get up there, but it looks like we're in for some early season dominance for Mercedes. I agree it would be interesting to see Hamilton & Rosberg fighting it out.

    Further back, any car that's borderline on cooling won't be very happy stuck behind another car. Interesting to see what that does for defensive driving and desperate overtakes.
    Could we see a few rear-end shunts when the car ahead cuts out without warning?
    Monaco gridlocked after 5 laps with dead cars all round the circuit?
    Pit lane fires?

    Part of me would welcome all of that nonsense, just to avoid a Mercedes-led procession. (Nothing against Mercedes themselves. I'd just love to see lots of cars & drivers battling it out.)
    And it would be good to see Vettel having to compete in a mid-field car, starting from the 4th row. Interesting to see how he copes on both a driving and a psychological level.
     
    #1644
  5. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    Crazy how there is no news about the tyre condition this year, have they been made to last longer? are they faster?, or are they the same spec?

    Mercedes may also need to look at this as well as fuel uptake. But other than that they are looking sweet.
     
    #1645
  6. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    [video=youtube;y5l6sP8FHFA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5l6sP8FHFA[/video]

    If that is how easily the wheelspin happens, I have less hope for Maldonado/Kvyat and Ericsson. That is dangerous.
     
    #1646

  7. allsaintchris.

    allsaintchris. Well-Known Member

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    Dangerous? Are you kidding?

    So the drivers have to actually control the throttle input and we're saying it's dangerous?

    wtf man? Woudl you rather they can just plant the throttle 100% and let electronics/blown diffusers/coanda exhausts do the rest?

    The drivers have to drive the cars again. This is how it should be.


    30 years ago the cars had 1000+bhp, bugger all downforce, and the drivers loved it. Too much nanny state going on.



    edit: Much prefer Kimi's nose job on the Ferrari...............
     
    #1647
  8. Smithers

    Smithers Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    When he Button was interviewed at the first test he was talking about the outright pace of the cars and made a reference to the tyres being slower this year. I think I have read so where that they are almost a compound harder than last year, so the SS would be equivalent to the Soft and so on.
     
    #1648
  9. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Danger only comes into it if the power delivery/grip is inconsistent. I think the main problem they have got is the electronic management of all the harvesting and the application of the stored electrical energy.
    I think they may have the ability to harvest the turbo generator so this could be used to manage turbo lag to sort of act as a traction control system. But if the system doesn't activate because they have harvested their maximum on the lap then they might get unexpected results.
    The systems are so new and complex the management of these is going to be so critical this year.

    Hope the FIA graphics show some details but I bet the teams don't want that data shown.
    I can't wait for the season to start.
     
    #1649
  10. BrightLampShade

    BrightLampShade Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    Did Kimi's crash damage his back again? Could flair up on the bumpy circuits

    please log in to view this image
     
    #1650
  11. allsaintchris.

    allsaintchris. Well-Known Member

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    No, he's just practicing his YMCA for the after test party.
     
    #1651
  12. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    I would rather not want this to happen into a concrete wall, injuring a driver.
     
    #1652
  13. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, explains why there are less complaints.
     
    #1653
  14. BrightLampShade

    BrightLampShade Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    please log in to view this image



    Realistic current standings?
     
    #1654
  15. allsaintchris.

    allsaintchris. Well-Known Member

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    Crashes are a part of motor racing, it is an inherently dangerous sport. Where is the skill element if the driver is not on the edge? These cars have more grip, are stronger and have LESS power than those from over 30 years ago. Only one driver died at the wheel of a turbo car first time around and that was because of inadequate marshalling at Paul Ricard in 86, as opposed to the car being too powerful or tricky to drive. We should be embracing the fact that cars are harder to drive, and anyway, how many accidents have there been so far in testing which have been caused by driver error? 2/3 maybe? Let's not overreact because Kimi was trying to find the limits of what his car can do, eh?

    If it was too easy to drive, we could all have crack at it. What fun would that be for an audience to watch?
     
    #1655
  16. allsaintchris.

    allsaintchris. Well-Known Member

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    I hope it isn't as the gap from Merc & McLaren to the rest is ridiculous. I can;t beleive no other team has had a go at a quali run yet.
     
    #1656
  17. EternalMSC

    EternalMSC Well-Known Member

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    I see your point.

    Looking at that table Caterham and Marussia are in for another year of staring at the back of the other 18 cars.
     
    #1657
  18. allsaintchris.

    allsaintchris. Well-Known Member

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    Dissapointed with Marrusia. Was hoping they'd put on a better show, but Bianchi not being able to set a lap time is very very poor.
     
    #1658
  19. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    I didn't think these engines suffered turbo lag. I was under the impression that the electric motor kept the turbo wound up.
     
    #1659
  20. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    Shame the camera person was too busy getting artsie fartsie shots and missed the whole thing.
     
    #1660

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