http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/479614/No_engine_freeze_delay_for_troubled_Renault/ The engine development 'freeze' deadline will not be extended. Earlier, it emerged that crisis-struck Renault had managed to get onto the agenda for Friday's F1 strategy group meeting a discussion about extending the end-February deadline for the homologation of its troubled V6 'power unit'. But the French marque's Remi Taffin said on Friday: "Today we have sent an engine to the FIA to be sealed and we feel comfortable. "We would however be liars if we said that three more months would not have helped us," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. Correspondent Michael Schmidt said engine rivals Mercedes and Ferrari "were of the opinion that they should not be punished for doing their job well while others did not". Also rejected on Friday was the proposal to extend the new 'double points' concept for the 2014 season finale to the previous two grands prix as well. (GMM)
So I guess red bull will have to try to get this problem sorted race by race. I don't really feel happy about that because I want to see them battle the other top teams with equal machinery, but they had the same time to get it right and they didn't. Should mercedes Ferrari, Williams and the others get punished because red bull didn't do their homework? I don't think so. So maybe the FIA could say we are giving everybody two more months to get it right.
The question is...how does caterham do 117 laps using the same Renault engine and the others can't? Maybe they have to also deal with a change of body to aid cooling better.
Red Bull have issues of their own regardless of the issues with the Renault engine. They will have time to work on those problems prior to the start of the season, just no real track time.
For the very same reasons why many people were hoping for an extension (granted to all teams), I actually like this outcome... "For the good of the sport" Looking to the future, I think this decision is better for the sport. Having already had a 12 month extension, the engine manufacturers have now had 2 years, with a crystal clear deadline. A further extension (to accommodate just one manufacturer, that happens to provide the engine for the current champion constructor) could have made the sport a laughing stock. "For this season's spectacle" We'll just get a different spectacle, but just as interesting. The most dominant team & driver of recent years are now clearly underdogs. Fascinating to see how they respond. VET in a car that forces him to compete from well back on the grid. What will we learn about his ability to fight his way to the front in an inferior car? What will we learn about his mental strengths and weaknesses? Will frustration boil over into a succession of reckless overtakes that take him / others out of races? Will he be controlled and push to the front with driving that befits a multiple world champion? And what about the aero genius of Newey? Suddenly, his tight aero packaging is part of the problem, not part of the solution. What can he come up with? Or will these rules and this engine show him up as a one-trick pony? And those mid-grid drivers who are now in a position to compete with the most dominant driver instead of just seeing him in the pit lane. Who will rise to the occasion? Is this season going to give us a surprising new hero? So it's not going to be the spectacle we wanted, but it's going to be interesting in lots of unexpected ways. Or am I being naive?
Vettel won't even finish a race. The Renault will be lucky to to qualify for the race. And people think he is now at a level playing field?
You know I suspect he's going to be fine. Not straight away, but eventually. And anyway, it's not the first time a champion or potential champion has missed out on a shot at the title because his car isn't up to it. That happens to at least one driver every year. That's motor racing.
It never has been a level playing field for drivers. Vettel benefited from that last year and looks set to miss out this time around. No doubt in time his luck will return. For the sport as a whole it's as level a playing field as it always is. They all had the same regulations.
I don't think anybody is expecting a level playing field right now, but in reality, it's going to take a handful of races to get a true view of the pecking order. Clearly RBR are in a spot of trouble, but expect them to bounce back. As for anything else we've seen in testing... Take it with a pinch of salt right now.
funny, Red Bull have been one of the most innovative teams in recent times, yet all people did was complain because they were too smart for other teams to even copy what they developed and they didn't like the driver who benefited from it, i see very few complaints about them completely gimping rear downforce and general grip when this is supposed to be the peak of what is technically possible in motorsport, why? because people care far more about who crosses the finish line first and they'll shamelessly support whatever rules and regulations they think will generate the result they want.
I'm sorry all people were unable to keep you happy, please forgive our mixed and varied support and opinions
The other way of looking at it is that curtailing innovation and development as F1 has done in recent years stifles competition and keeps the status quo the same. The domination we have seen in recent years has allowed Red Bull to innovate in very strict areas within those rules and has prevented others from being able to get ahead by innovating in other areas. Then the FIA has legislated to remove that domination by changing the rules. Perhaps the better way would have been to make the formula less tightly controlled. As far as any resentment of RBR or Vettel is concerned what people really don't want is anyone dominating, regardless of who they are. Even if two drivers and teams dominated we would have some competition to get excited about.
[HR][/HR]I think a lot of motorsport fans, not just on this forum but worldwide, have forgotten that Formula 1 is more about technical innovations and having the best car than other motorsports. Sports like BTCC and GT racing use cars that we use on the road, so there's little room for innovation. F1 cars are prototypes, they are the best cars that can be designed with the regulations given. This means that being a world class driver doesn't mean you'll be world champion. Formula 1 is more than just racing. Is the technology and engineering behind it. That is why I love this sport so much. Its a world full of talent
People complain because the racing is possessively shyte in general, and having one person win constantly is about as much fun poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I really don't give a crap who wins so long as it's entertaining. I had more fun watching NASCAR last year than F1 for the first time ever... which says a lot. IMO, the regulations should be opened up to allow for more innovation and diversity in design... because without it, we'll just wind up back in the same place as last season down the line... Maybe with RBR, maybe with another team. Either way it'll stink.
I agree, but such tight regs prevent the smaller teams being able out-think an opponent when they can't outspend. They'll always be outspent no matter what.
i'll believe it when i see it, in my opinion the support for F1 has become so lame i can't see 1% of the complaints i've seen the last 5 years being made if it's Hamilton in exactly the same situation or even more dominant.
