Lotus reckons it could be top Renault F1 team amid Red Bull plight Lotus could depose Red Bull as Renault's lead Formula 1 team in 2014, according to technical director Nick Chester. The Enstone squad set the fastest time of the four Renault-powered squads in testing in Bahrain, albeit almost five-and-a-half seconds slower than pacesetter Nico Rosberg's Mercedes. But despite completing five fewer laps than Red Bull overall, Lotus had a good final day while the reigning world champion team struggled. "I think we could be the lead Renault team," said Chester when asked about the possibility of being best of the Renaults. "We certainly haven't gone badly this week in comparison to the other Renault teams and I know they are having a few problems. Top Renault being 5s off the pace isn't ideal..... [HR][/HR] Adam Cooper ‏@adamcooperF1 6h Paul Hembery: "Testing data so far indicates that the 2014 tyres are more consistent and durable than their predecessors" Adam Cooper ‏@adamcooperF1 6h Paul Hembery: "As a result, we are also seeing fewer âmarblesâ on the circuit, one of our objectives at the start of this season" Adam Cooper ‏@adamcooperF1 6h Hembery: "We are still ready and able to change the spec of the tyres for the start of the season if this is shown to be necessary.â
Susie wolff will drive on some Fridays this season. Maybe we can get a better picture of her talent...
I had wondered what would happen to her when this other chap did the final day at Bahrain. Thought maybe she had been released, but glad she will get an opportunity at a race weekend.
Hmm, i'd figured that with all the sponsorship announcements recently, Williams wouldn't have to do things like this. You'd think this season most of all you'd want your race drivers in the car as much as possible.
Worst kept secret now confirmed: ESPN F1 ‏@ESPNF1 1m Rob Smedley will join Felipe Massa at Williams prior to the Bahrain GP in a new role as head of vehicle performance
The thought had crossed my mind, I imagine he'd leave it a bit longer though, he's still reasonably young within F1 I think and could progress his career further yet.
I would have liked to see Massa have a new start at Williams with a new engineer. But if he wants Smedley fair enough.
It will ensure there is good exposure for Williams at their two main events. Why not make use of the opportunity? If it were Felippe Nasr doing the Friday's would anyone have cared less? Williams clearly rate her enough to give her the time in the car. The test she did last year shows she is more than capable of delivering representative performance and feedback.
Still overly complicated and silly in my eyes. Why not let teams start on whatever tyre they like, and give the Q3 drivers a free set of tyres?
I thought they are giving Q3 drivers a new set. That's what it says in your quote above though in a confusing way. It makes sense that all Q3 drivers also have the same tyre (Option) The element now will be teams risking to get into Q3 and wasting their tyres. they then have to start the race on that set...
I don't get the whole starting on your Q2 tyres part, I just don't see the justification for that being a good thing
I presume it only applies to the top 10 so as before they will start on used tyres but now they are free to push for pole without fearing bad tyres at the start of the race. Which is a good thing as a spectacle. In a perfect world they should have a new set for each session
Q1. Q2 Use Q2 tyres in the race. (+ Given a new set of option tyres to use in Q3, if cannot make Q3 retain them for the race) --> Q3 (Use the new tyres and hand them back, or use primes instead and save options for another race stint). Race --> Use Q2 quali tyres in the race. Simple.
The bit I'm not understanding is why drivers are still having their starting tyre dictated to them. Its going to cause the same problem where 11th-13th is potentially better than 8th-10th. Extra tyre for quali is good but this still doesn't help those who are slowest in Q3.
So, basically the FIA logic is, as opposed to just scrapping the pointless "start on qualifying tyres" rule altogether, "why not just come up with an over-complicated solution that basically just shifts all the bullshit into Q2 instead". Great job guys you've done it again!
