I had a thought about the new engines for 2014 but I fear it will just degrade into 'who will have the best engine debate'. So for the purpose of this thread you may have to throw team allegiances out of the window. I was thinking what if one engine was miles ahead of the other two in every way, what would that mean for the relative short team of 2014? I came to the opinion that it very much depends on which of the teams had the upper hand. I may have mucked up here so please check Ferrari engines -Ferrari -Sauber -Marussia Mercedes engines -Mercedes -McLaren -Force India -Williams Renault engines -Red Bull -Lotus? -STR -Caterham If Ferrari have the best engine its fairly safe to assume that Ferrari will face little competition from the others, where as for the other two suppliers there are two 'top teams' However, with Lotus suffering serious money issues and as far as I can remember not actually confirmed as a Renault engined team that leaves only the Merc powered teams who can challenge each other. McLaren will be back next season and Williams could spring a resurgence, meaning that even with a engine dominance we may get a battle next season. At the end of the day I doubt any engine maker will have anything other than a small advantage, but it is interesting to wonder what battles we may see if engines are a deciding factor.
You must be on crack if you think McLaren are going to be challenging Mercedes. They made no progress last season, and wouldn't surprise me if they continued the trend this up coming season. If anything, I won't be surprised if they were locking horns with Caterham, or STR next season. If anything they were too stubborn last season, where the worst features of the car initially became the only redeeming features at the end, the downforce. This is going to be an issue for sure next season where aero-dynamics and chasis will play an even bigger role next year. Rather ironically I think it would be interesting if Renault had the best engine. If anything that's a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.
Despite all the huffing and puffing that has been coming out, I think the engines will be relatively even in terms of power, but the driveability of them and how they deliver that power may make a difference. May cause a shift in form at different races where some call for top end power, and others good low down grunt off the corners. Let's hope so..
I'm only taking into account their approach this season to blindly go down to the development path that trashed the handling of the car. On the plus side, it will have a Mercedes engine, so that should put them up against the exhilarating heights of Williams. I was simply referring to the fact that if McLaren continue on this development trend, that this is the most likely outcome next season, especially with pensioners like Button at the wheel, mind you Hamilton is entering the twilight of his career now too....
I'm surprised it took you two posts to shoe horn Hamilton into one of your posts! Actually it kind of makes sense, almost half your posts contain that magic word, regardless of the topic...
I suspect it's love... or some kind of infatuation. Doesn't seem to be coping with it too well though does he? I had similar feeling for Cheryl Baker when I was a lad. He'll get past it though.
The works teams (Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull) will have a big advantage over their customers. That's why I believe McLaren are leaving Mercedes to team up with Honda. Also why STR switched to Renault to copy RBR's rear end. Maybe in qualifying we will see one team dominate, but in the races I suspect reliability will have a big effect on the results, hopefully preventing one team or driver dominating.
The fuel consumption will be key I think, it maybe that the cars qualifying at the back have the fuel consumption to be able to drive harder for longer to push them to the front.
Anyone feel we're getting our hopes up over nothing, and all the engines are going to be broadly similar, allowing Vettel to cruise to the title thanks to Newey aero?
Hard to say... I'm sure we'll see a few giving up in a spectacular manner though. Maybe we need a 2014 engine eruption sweepstakes.
DON'T SAY THAT, but as I've discovered recently the world runs on irony I wouldn't be surprised if Vettel wins it earleir than ever
