Official Pre-season testing thread

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THE TOP SPEEDS OF BAHRAIN
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="class: table, width: 504"]
[TR]
[TH="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]Team[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]Speed[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]Day[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1 Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]339.6 km / h[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]2 Williams-Mercedes[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]334.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3 Mercedes[/TD]
[TD]332.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]4 Caterham-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]331.2 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 McLaren-Mercedes[/TD]
[TD]330.2 km / h[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]6 Toro Rosso-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]324.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7 Force India-Mercedes[/TD]
[TD]322.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8 Red Bull-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]317.6 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9 Sauber-Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]314.8 km / h[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]10 Lotus-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]313.0 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11 Marussia Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]313.0 km / h[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Top-speed analysis in Bahrain
Ferrari top on the line

The Top Speed's are the big issue in the paddock. Compared to last year, they have risen dramatically. In Bahrain, 25.4 km / h Ferrari leads the rankings ahead of two Mercedes team to clear. Red Bull is lagging behind, but this has little to do with the Renault engine. See Caterham.

The difference is visible. Who has put in Bahrain at the finish line, could feel that the top speed has increased with the new Formula 1 cars. And clearly. At last year's Grand Prix Paul di Resta set in training and Felipe Massa during the race, each with 314.2 km / h at the optimum.

Fernando Alonso flew in the new Ferrari F14T with 339.6 km / h over the finish line. This is a difference of 25.4 km / h The reasons for this are obvious. More power, less air resistance. When the electric motor feeds the full power and the turbocharger delivers the maximum usable boost pressure, are 860 hp.

Ferrari dared only three times
However, the cars are not in every round so quickly. Ferrari came only three days over the 335 km / h mark, since only in selected rounds. Red Bull managed twice 317.6 km / h, but there were also days when crept Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo with only 301 km / h on the straight. Everything depended on what were confident the engine manufacturer. Ferrari dared only three times to release the full electric power and to boost the entire stretch. So then come almost 340 km / h together. Otherwise you moved in the safe area. The boost pressure is controlled bar in this case less than 3.5, and of the electric machine, there are only 120 instead of 160 hp.


For Renault , it was even more extreme. Because of ongoing engine problems, the Renault team drove most of the time with the handbrake on. Red Bull and Lotus as the biggest problem children were able to use only half of the electrical power. So 80 instead of 160 hp. This resulted in disappointing then 317.6 respectively 313.0 km / h on the home straight. Toro Rosso and Caterham were tentatively turn on the tap in the short term more. Prompt landed Caterham with 331.2 km / h on rank 4

Mercedes with the greatest safety
The review of all top-speed values ​​underlines that Mercedes is the best prepared of all engine manufacturers. The work team drove every day beyond the 320 km / h limit. And not just for a few practice rounds. This speaks for a certain self-assurance. Andy Cowell and his guys know that the motor can withstand high power output permanently. , Williams was the team that most often cracked the 330s mark. The best value was 2 km / h faster than the Mercedes. This could be an indication that the Williams FW36 is the more efficient car. And that would be a trump card in fuel consumption. McLaren exceeded only once the barrier of 330 km / h A Mercedes engineer said: "No wonder, when disguised as a leaf rear suspension We have tried this in a wind tunnel is driving dramatic drag upwards..." Force India remained stable below 330 km / h and was with 322.3 km / h on the straights the slowest Mercedes team. Whatever it was that DRS did not work.


Motor car as strong or as efficiently?
Ferrari is the very great unknown in the game. Either the Ferrari V6 turbo a rocket, when the whole performance is obtained, or the car is extremely efficient. It was noted that the F14T called away by far the best top Speeds. But only very rarely. The Ferrari customer teams Sauber and Marussia stayed on the safe side. Sauber only reached 314.8 km / h, Marussia was with Lotus with 313.0 km / h the rear.

Both Sauber and Marussia the restraint is obvious. Damage to the engine go into the money. In addition, the Ferrari engine bearing replacement parts were scarce. They wanted to go instead of screws. Nevertheless, it caught Sauber with a motor Platzer.

Lack of spare parts at Renault
Renault pursued his engines on the gentle cycle. Exceeded the boost pressure a certain limit, or attempted to obtain more than 80 hp from the electric motor, occurred damage. It burned in every nook and cranny, from the turbocharger on the exhaust, the battery, the MGU-K to the classic engine damage. Among the many defects the parts were also at Renault quickly running out. The teams plundered old engines to build new drive units. This in turn had consequences for the operating conditions. The older the components, the more carefully it was Renault. Therefore, the top speeds of Red Bull and Lotus are not to be taken seriously. Red Bull was stopped on two days with 317.6 km / h. Toro Rosso managed a time at least 324.3 km / h


Caterham let Renault-power flash
Caterham for Renault was a guinea pig. The green car was with 331.2 km / h, that is in the engine power when times are fire-free. Fact that it was Caterham achieved the highest top speed of the Renault Armada, is revealing. The green car turned the most laps. Because the installation of the components is at least critical. The control units are cooled better, therefore work more reliable. Caterham's maximum speed would have to Sebastian Vettel really confident right. Because he sees what is possible with a Renault engine when it's up and running. Lotus team leader Alan permane make the six seconds behind the top so no worries: "Alone on the drive side, we give forth several seconds."
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...rain-ferrari-top-auf-der-geraden-8165979.html
 
THE TOP SPEEDS OF BAHRAIN
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="class: table, width: 504"]
[TR]
[TH="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]Team[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]Speed[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]Day[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1 Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]339.6 km / h[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]2 Williams-Mercedes[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]334.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3 Mercedes[/TD]
[TD]332.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]4 Caterham-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]331.2 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 McLaren-Mercedes[/TD]
[TD]330.2 km / h[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]6 Toro Rosso-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]324.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7 Force India-Mercedes[/TD]
[TD]322.3 km / h[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8 Red Bull-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]317.6 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9 Sauber-Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]314.8 km / h[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]10 Lotus-Renault[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]313.0 km / h[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11 Marussia Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]313.0 km / h[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...rain-ferrari-top-auf-der-geraden-8165979.html


Will be interesting to see how these compare when we race in Aus, and indeed when we comeback to Bahrain... I expect big differences ;)
 
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<laugh> It was hard to imagin him losing his cool in the race car as he seems a nice guy. But now we can see
 
Some pictures from the ongoing two day test at Bahrain:

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Interesting that Mclaren are running without their original rear suspension unit. It would be great if something like this put them further up the grid immediatley.
 
Final day 1 testing:


[TABLE="class: thin"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Driver[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Car[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Best time[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Laps[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Difference[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Nico Rosberg[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Mercedes W05[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;35.697[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]121[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]2[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Nico Hulkenberg[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Force India-Mercedes VJM07[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;36.064[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]69[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]0.367[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]3[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Fernando Alonso[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Ferrari F14 T[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;36.626[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]69[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]0.929[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Kevin Magnussen[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]McLaren-Mercedes MP4-29[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;36.634[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]102[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]0.937[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]5[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Valtteri Bottas[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Williams-Mercedes FW36[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;37.305[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]28[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1.608[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]6[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Max Chilton[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Marussia-Ferrari MR03[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;37.678[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]60[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1.981[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]7[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Daniel Ricciardo[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Red Bull-Renault RB10[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;38.326[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]91[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]2.629[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]8[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Sergey Sirotkin[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Sauber-Ferrari C33[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;39.023[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]76[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]3.326[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]9[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Robin Frijns[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Caterham-Renault CT05[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;40.027[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]63[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4.330[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]10[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Pastor Maldonado[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Lotus-Renault E22[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;40.183[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]16[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4.486[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]11[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Daniil Kvyat[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Toro Rosso-Renault STR9[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]1&#8217;40.452[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]67[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]4.755
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Tobias Grüner F1 &#8207;@tgruener Mar 21
Ferrari running similar engine layout like Mercedes: turbo on the back, compressor unit on the front, MGU-H unit in between the "V" (1/2)


From a while ago but is it true?

If it is, the stories that the engine is overwight is probably one of teh reasons why they are slower then, but heard their car as a whole was only 18kg overweight so it would only make up some of the difference to Merc. Maybe it's how they are utilising the arrangement that makes it less efficient than Mercedes?
 
Tobias Grüner F1 &#8207;@tgruener Mar 21
Ferrari running similar engine layout like Mercedes: turbo on the back, compressor unit on the front, MGU-H unit in between the "V" (1/2)


From a while ago but is it true?

An update:

Tobias Grüner F1 &#8207;@tgruener Apr 5
#F1 Heard about engine feature on @SkySportsF1 - we have info Ferrari also separates turbine and compressor - but not as far as Mercedes.



The biggest problem for Ferrari seems to be ERS and software. The head of ERS was already fired after Australia. Hopefully this will be fixed by China:

PitLaneTalk &#8207;@pitlanetalk 4 hrs
Ferrari will introduce 2nd generation PU in China along with larger brake duct inlets and sidepods. Slimmer bodywork planned for Spain.#F1

2nd April (before Bahrain) said:
Botin did, however, ask Domenicali when real improvements for Ferrari's 2014 car will arrive.

"China," the Italian answered. "Good, good," Botin replied.