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Friday 18 April at 17:35 : Apr.18 (GMM) Mercedes' rivals look closer to the pace this weekend in China.
Back-to-back winner Lewis Hamilton was the fastest overall in Shanghai practice, but Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was only a tenth behind.
On Friday morning, the Spaniard was even fastest of all.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport wondered if the red car was putting in "show rounds" to ease the pressure on the new dark glasses-wearing boss, Marco Mattiacci.
But the Italian team does appear to have taken a clear step forward since Bahrain, with correspondent Michael Schmidt revealing Ferrari is using not only a new rear wing in China, but also an engine upgrade and new Shell fuel.
"The competition has moved closer to us," confirmed Mercedes' Paddy Lowe.
Closer, but not quite close enough, as confirmed by Red Bull's Christian Horner. "We are closer," he agreed, "but we can not challenge them on a dry track.
"In the rain, we have a chance."
If it does stay dry, the main event at the front of the field could be yet another ding-dong battle between Hamilton and his fiesty teammate, Nico Rosberg.
The German is desperate to prevent Hamilton from gaining the psychological "edge", as referred to by the Briton and 2008 world champion on Thursday.
Once friends, the pressure of their seemingly inevitable battle for the 2014 title is beginning to tell.
Asked if he had "any contact" - a phone call, an email, a text message - with Hamilton since finishing second to his teammate in Bahrain two weeks ago, Rosberg insisted: "No, nothing."
During their wheel-to-wheel battle, Rosberg had radioed the pits, describing Hamilton's driving as "not on".
Rosberg played that down on Thursday but admitted the pair would need to get together for a clear-the-air session.
On Friday, Rosberg said: "Yes, we sat down and went through everything. It's all behind us and flat-out ahead."
But when asked about that debrief, Hamilton shook his head and answered "No" when asked if it had taken place.
Rosberg confirmed that the rivalry is becoming "tense", and team boss Lowe said he will work hard to keep it in check as the races roll on in 2014.
"We've already seen signs (of the tension)," he told the Guardian, "because they've got a winning car and they both want to win. I think it will require careful management through the year."
http://images.adrivo.com/images/950/...on/0575050.jpg
Indeed, they are trying to push along that line. Here, in this pic.. a lot of negative camber on front wheels.
Maybe, its to do with reduced Fw width this year, can't be sure.
Teams monitor the tyre degradation, ride height with angle slip sensor, such as this : http://www.f1technical.net/images/glossary/correvit.jpg
http://img2.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...035-772571.jpg
http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...7a6-772572.jpg
http://img3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...005-772623.jpg
http://img3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...b1a-772624.jpg
http://img4.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...6ad-772625.jpg
http://img4.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...365-772626.jpg
http://img3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...dbb-772627.jpg
Ferrari ran a high rake setup on Alonso's car during Quali (expected due to wet cond.) & FP1.http://f1tcdn.net/images/news/2014/alonso_2.jpg
In Quali during upshifts there was a lot of wheelspin on both front and rear causing traction problems.
Rake Comparison
http://images.adrivo.com/images/950/...on/0575138.jpg
http://images.adrivo.com/images/950/...on/0575145.jpg
http://images.adrivo.com/images/950/...on/0575144.jpg
Mercs run visibly lower rake than Ferrari, RB.
Ferrari & Rb's sidepod feature sidepod overcuts predominantly, Mercs traditional undercut although it does bulge at the bottom slightly.
Remember RB6 , the car that gives Tombazis nightmare :lol http://www.grand-prix-photography.co...05/DPP_121.jpg
Compare it with F14 T
http://thef1poet.files.wordpress.com...erez-f14t1.jpg
:-D :-D :-D
Mercs may not have the D/F levels of RB and Ferrari, but the car is the most developed and has the best balance in low speed corners.
The front of our car just looks weird. Why not just copy RBR and make it cleaner and get a little more air under the nose
until we get rid of our hideous nose… no hope !!!
oh well, I finally said it….anyway, half joking, but I am sure MM will change that and also finally, omg finally, to push-rod. Wait & see.
Waiting for a reply man, hurry up.
Thanks alot mate for the best comparsion and rationalising our sidepod philosophy, otherwise I was thinking that our design wasnt that good, If Mr.Adrain Newey has passed this design than for sure they work and I pray that we sort out our MGU H problems. That has warmed the cockles of my heart! Kudos mate..FORZA FERRARI
The car looked very good today, aerodynamically and traction-wise. We were strong in S1 and S2 but were losing quite a bit at the big straight.
I feel Barcelona could be by far our strongest race yet.
we are at 80% power wise, right?
Keep hearing rumours of big upgrades for Barcelona? Any truth to this?:Hmm
It is normally routine for all teams to bring lots of upgrades to barcelona as it is a long break and closer to the factory. Hope ours are the best! Think the track won't be too bad for us. If we can get a bit more performance and a bit of luck then we have small WDC chance.
As well as power/power delivery improvements I would like to see a new front wing.
Ok. At the start, the engine bogs downs when driver shifts to 2nd, then we see the fronts slip, even if the rear has traction the fronts have wheelspin. Why does it occur then? I remember plenty of times DC mentioning those wheelspin causing poor getaway.
Rai say that we will have a complete new car in barcelona :-E.
Power engine 100%
this track suit us more than redbull because it s a front demanding not rear where redbull excel(traction and slow corner)
If the improving is big we can compete with mercedes.I think we are 0.6 at 1 sec behind them.Our engine will give us more boost if we can improve his driveability and power delivery.
See a Ferrari on the podium is a great feeling ...but man ferrari need to give fernando a great car, this man is a legend .He is on the same level as Fangio, Senna,schumacher.We will remind him as a pure racer