Alonso the car developer

[Greig]

Where is it?

I expected this car to be built around him, to give him what he needs...........

[Lithium]

Where is it?

The car improved quite a bit since Melbourne! Yay Alonso!

[prancing horse]

i think it is fair to say everyone in Ferrari has been wrong footed. coming out of winter testing everyone thought we would up there building on last year.

even in their worst nightmares they could not have anticipated to be so far off the pace and have the Mclarens beat them too. That is the most worrying aspect of this episode.

[Hermann]

I don't think Fernando asked for a car with massive understeering and not enough front end grip.

[Ferrarichamp]

I think Ferrari need to recruit new engineers, to state the obvious I suppose.

[scuderiafan]

I don't think Fernando asked for a car with massive understeering and not enough front end grip.

I have heard that Alonso's driving style he likes a car to understeer a little. I know not these proportions, but his renaults understered a little.

[prancing horse]

one possible cause for this mess could be all the restructuring that went on in the winter. the last thing we need is constantly chopping and changing people.

do you think we would be so far off the pace had Alonso won the WDC last year. i think not.

[Lithium]

i think it is fair to say everyone in Ferrari has been wrong footed. coming out of winter testing everyone thought we would up there building on last year.

even in their worst nightmares they could not have anticipated to be so far off the pace and have the Mclarens beat them too. That is the most worrying aspect of this episode.

In other words, the drivers have been given a turd to work with. If it's a turd, it's a turd, you cannot polish a turd, no matter how much the drivers work on it. In conclusion, the highly paid engineers need to up their game to put up a more decent car, then I'm sure the drivers will do their part by giving feedback and perfecting it.

[Hermann]

I have heard that Alonso's driving style he likes a car to understeer a little. I know not these proportions, but his renaults understered a little.

A little. Maybe the engineers missunderstood the difference between 'a little' and 'massive'?

[Hermann]

I think Ferrari need to recruit new engineers, to state the obvious I suppose.

[Ferrarichamp]

oh, and bring back Michael

[scuderiafan]

oh, and bring back Michael

i think you need to look at the quali positions again.

[impactX]

How much faster is Alonso compared to Massa in Q3?

[scuderiafan]

In other words, the drivers have been given a turd to work with. If it's a turd, it's a turd, you cannot polish a turd, no matter how much the drivers work on it. In conclusion, the highly paid engineers need to up their game to put up a more decent car, then I'm sure the drivers will do their part by giving feedback and perfecting it.

About turds.

See this guy? Isn’t his expression just the definition of a -eating grin? That’s because he’s invented a perfume. Made from human poop. His name is Jammie, and he was able to create a perfume distilled from his own fecal matter. He’s selling the perfume, dubbed Surplus, for around $75 dollars a pop.

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-gu...-his-own-poop/
A bit off topic, but turns out you maybe able to 'polish a turd'. Anyways, i dont' think that car is that bad. it has improved on Melbourne and the race pace was good there. Alonso can work wonders. Good start, and who knows? McLaren had a car off the pace last year at this point, but ended up going into europe the championship leaders.

[Hermann]

How much faster is Alonso compared to Massa in Q3?

Fernando 1.35.802

Felipe 1.36.251

[Meiga]

Where is it?

I expected this car to be built around him, to give him what he needs...........

Am I to assume that if the car evolves over the next races, you will be giving Alonso full credit for that?

Alonso has always been described as very good at technical feedback; but even the best feedback cannot tell an engineer how to desing a wing that flexes yet is compliant with FIA regulations.

What Alonso can do better than other drivers (according to the technical people who have worked with them) is identifying the problem and sometimes suggesting adjustements, something that comes from his karting days, doubling as a driver and a mechanic for other drivers.

[TheProdigalSon]

Where is it?

I expected this car to be built around him, to give him what he needs...........

You answered your own question without realizing... Engineers! No good telling someone what's wrong with a car if they cant fix it.

[Kingdom Hearts]

Where is it?

I expected this car to be built around him, to give him what he needs...........

Are you blaming Alonso for the inability of Ferrari to construct a winning car?. No matter how good it's Alonso feedback, the problem it's not him at all. He is doing his job pretty good so far, and that job it's drive the car.

[Hermann]

Am I to assume that if the car evolves over the next races, you will be giving Alonso full credit for that?

Alonso has always been described as very good at technical feedback; but even the best feedback cannot tell an engineer how to desing a wing that flexes yet is compliant with FIA regulations.

What Alonso can do better than other drivers (according to the technical people who have worked with them) is identifying the problem and sometimes suggesting adjustements, something that comes from his karting days, doubling as a driver and a mechanic for other drivers.

Yes but the question is- and i suppose this was the question intended by Greig- why has this not been working at Ferrari so far? Fernando has been sitting in the simulator half of the winter and they come out with a car that is 1 second behind the RB in qualy pace?

[Greig]

Are you blaming Alonso for the inability of Ferrari to construct a winning car?. No matter how good it's Alonso feedback, the problem it's not him at all. He is doing his job pretty good so far, and that job it's drive the car.

No I am asking why after all testing he is still driving it like he does not understand it

[TheProdigalSon]

No I am asking why after all testing he is still driving it like he does not understand it

So is Massa. You need to realize that Ferrari have made a mistake with the car. its not the drivers fault.

[Kingdom Hearts]

No I am asking why after all testing he is still driving it like he does not understand it

For a driver that don't understand his car, 4th in the first race and fifth in quali in the second race, that it's a good job by most of the people standards (driving the 3rd best car, pretty close to the 4th best car). You got the wrong person to blame.

[Meiga]

Yes but the question is- and i suppose this was the question intended by Greig- why has this not been working at Ferrari so far? Fernando has been sitting in the simulator half of the winter and they come out with a car that is 1 second behind the RB in qualy pace?

I thought that by now we all had acknowledged that Newey is a brilliant engineer! Seriously, though: nobody can make sure that another team will not come out with a better solution, particularly on the aero side. What really surprised me is that the F-150 of winter testing seems to be different from the F-150 we see now not in terms of speed, but in terms of handling. It is that difference that puzzles me, although I remember a similar situation with the R-29 - hopefully history will not repeat itself this time!

[Lithium]

About turds.

See this guy? Isn’t his expression just the definition of a -eating grin? That’s because he’s invented a perfume. Made from human poop. His name is Jammie, and he was able to create a perfume distilled from his own fecal matter. He’s selling the perfume, dubbed Surplus, for around $75 dollars a pop.

Ewww.
Although it does make me more hopeful for the rest of the season

[Meiga]

Ewww.
Although it does make me more hopeful for the rest of the season

I don't know, Lithium, I think I would prefer not to be that creative but to keep my dignity!

[scuderiafan]

Ewww.
Although it does make me more hopeful for the rest of the season

maybe they recruit him? But yeah, Fernando is confident, so am i.

[Sianellen]

I think all Greig was saying is that the car is probably designed for Alonso so it should be working better for him. Its pretty tough when nobody really knows whats wrong with it.

[Lithium]

I don't know, Lithium, I think I would prefer not to be that creative but to keep my dignity!

Dignity schnignity! I say do whatever needs to be done to build a faster car! Even if there's poo involved... I hope Ferrari engineers are taking note of this.

[Hermann]

I thought that by now we all had acknowledged that Newey is a brilliant engineer! Seriously, though: nobody can make sure that another team will not come out with a better solution, particularly on the aero side. What really surprised me is that the F-150 of winter testing seems to be different from the F-150 we see now not in terms of speed, but in terms of handling. It is that difference that puzzles me, although I remember a similar situation with the R-29 - hopefully history will not repeat itself this time!

But in terms of handling, the car was twitchy and nervous and not enough grip out of the curves already in winter testing. I read some reports from people who had been there and this is what they said. And when i posted that here i was told numerous times 'not to worry'.

The lack of speed has- imho- a lot to do with the lack of grip. And we actually saw that already in winter. Just all the 'hype' from some journalists made people 'forget' about that.

[Red is Best]

Well he's a driver, not an engineer. If the engineering team sucks, there's not much he can do.