Ferrari: 2014 a 'massive opportunity' to fail

[vcs316]

There are just three weeks left before the first pre-season test starts in Jerez, ahead of the biggest regulation change in recent F1 history.

Although much of the focus has revolved around the 1.6-litre turbo V6 engines, teams also face headaches in terms of new aerodynamic rules and dramatically different cooling requirements.

It is the area of cooling that Fry thinks will be especially tricky to get right, and any outfit that does not get it spot on straight away could be in for a tough time.

"I think it is one of those years where you need to be developing your car rather than fixing cooling problems," explained Fry.

"At the start of each year when you get the cooling wrong, a huge amount of resource goes into fixing radiators, bodywork and everything like that.

"I am sure we have done it here [at Ferrari] in the past and we've done it at my former team [McLaren] in the past, where you waste the first couple of months.

"With the 2014 changes it is going to be even more dramatic - and the opportunities for getting it wrong are going to be massive.

"Hopefully we have got our sums right, but there will be a lot of people scratching their heads in January."

The likely varied cooling needs among the manufacturers, and different philosophies of how best to approach those demands, have left Fry in no doubt that each team will likely produce very different looking cars this year.

"Cooling is always going to be a challenge with the level of cooling that next year's car needs, and trying to integrate physically that much stuff into the car in a neat package is quite challenging," he said.

"I think it will be interesting and there will be some dramatic differences in cars for once. Some people will be pretty busy I think."

But it is not just the cooling that teams are having to focus on, for Fry reckons that the narrower front wings and aggressively curved endplates will prove tough to get on top of too.

"The front wing and the way you deal with the endplates needs to be different," he said.

"It is a bit like when we went wider on the front wing [for 2009]. It was a disaster to start with but then you get on top of it."

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/f...2000--f1.html?

[bonzo]

Sounds like a pre-emptive explanation of problems SD style.

[Greig]

Not really.

[stefa]

Sounds like a pre-emptive explanation of problems SD style.

It sounds more like, everyone are heading into the dark without lights and waiting for what will happen.

[mirafiori]

Soon testing will start and I cant wait, this has to be the most anticipated test for Formula one season of all time. Lets hope Ferrari makes us all proud.

[ManFromMilan]

Sounds like a pre-emptive explanation of problems SD style.

Sounds more like a team who has the cooling gremlins under control and who have learned from past mistakes.

[PURE PASSION]

Soon testing will start and I cant wait, this has to be the most anticipated test for Formula one season of all time. Lets hope Ferrari makes us all proud.

Me too but on the other hand as we have seing on the last few years, when these tests starts and see some things about the order or the reliability, then we (and the teams)say that it's just the beginning and that we have to wait about the next test or the 1st race!!!
So yes I have the anticipation but as every year I say do we really see the real image or we have to wait for the 1st or more the 2nd-3d race?

[FFFerrari]

There will be a lot of copying after the first Jerez test. You can count on that.

[Ed Harley]

I will be surprised if there are no engine etc. failures in the first test.

[FerrariF60]

There will be a lot of copying after the first Jerez test. You can count on that.

to me it sounds that our team is cautiously quiet about our car (and that is in a good way)
i REALLY hope that our car will be the car to beat next year, quick, reliable OUT OF THE BOX and that other teams will DESPERATELY try and "copy" some of our solutions (whatever those may be), like it has been in the past....a long, long time ago

only time will tell, but as a Ferrari Fan, through and through, i cannot wait until the testing starts and here that we're gonna have a good year

[wisepie]

Maybe Pat Fry is just covering himself and James Allsion in case of disappointment but eveyone will be in the same boat and it's too early to be talking things up or down. We must just pray that we're on top from the outset instead of scratching our heads after Jerez testing.

[Jas]

All im saying, I cant imagine how much flow fiz Ferrari have ordered....we do seem to love it more than others haha!

[radosav]

Ferrari almost never had cooling issues, at least what i remember!
So i believe that cooling department will do their job right!

[medeni73]

Ferrari almost never had cooling issues, at least what i remember!
So i believe that cooling department will do their job right!

Well last year in Jerez (1. day of testing) we had our moments... :) But the problem was sorted out very fast so we could say our boys reacted properly :)

[Jas]

Ferrari almost never had cooling issues, at least what i remember!
So i believe that cooling department will do their job right!

I'm sure we did last year, that's why we introduced thos shark esk grills on the bottom edge of the sidepods....their was an article on this by mercades I think saying manafacturers will have an advantage as theirs nothing better than first hand info on how much cooling an engine requires!

[radosav]

I remember only during 2011 and 2013 testing we had fire issues, that isnt big deal.

[raylinds]

I wouldn't read too much into it, he's talking about challenges every team is facing. Some will get it right and some will get it wrong. I think Ferrari will be in the former category, but will likely face a few hiccups.

I am particularly looking forward to testing this year.

[Hermann]

If i was anti- Ferrari i'd say if you give them a massive opportunity to fail, they most probably will....if.








j/k

[Tobes]

Ferrari: 2014 a 'massive opportunity' to achieve

[PlatzdaTurbo]

Man am just rubbing my hands with anticipation.
Just cant wait for testing to start to get the first glimpse of the kind of performance our 2014 car will have.
Also here's hoping any glitches the car has during testing are sorted out before Albert park !
This year MUST be ours !

[RedPassion]

I am thrilled,because i believe that aero limitations and reliability boundaries push f1 engineers even harder to recover lost pace.If you look how free ruled f1 in the 80s was,and how many limitations have been brought to the years,we should have 300% less downforce and the cars should be at least 20 seconds slower,on the contrary,each limitation obligate designers to be even more creative than before,and to found perfomance where they tought there wasnt any,making the cars each time more efficient and extreme.
Very exciting times are ahead of us!!!

[AfterLife]

Indeed 2014 is a massive opportunity to fail but as Webber said continuity is key for success. Approximately all the teams have started from zero to build the car for 2014 regulations. So it is no surprise that RedBull will continue their evolution with their cars. RedBull 2015 car will be an evolution of 2014 car, RedBull 2016 car will be an evolution of 2015 car and so on ....
So there is no time always ditching current design and think for the next year for a better car and i hope Ferrari are considering continuity from 2014 like 2000-2004 winning days as a unique example of evolution not revolution.

[ManFromMilan]

Approximately all the teams have started from zero to build the car for 2014 regulations. So it is no surprise that RedBull will continue their evolution with their cars.

Remember that RBR's winning workforce is slowly beginning to find new employers. Their dominance is not certain and by no means a given in 2014.

[Nero Horse]

Ferrari: 2014 a 'massive opportunity' to achieve

[AfterLife]

Remember that RBR's winning workforce is slowly beginning to find new employers. Their dominance is not certain and by no means a given in 2014.

All i want to say is that it is important to be able to develop the car in this season and beyond with the same philosophy. Exactly what RedBull did from 2009-2013 or what Ferrari did from 1998-2004.
For example Not ditching the design in the middle of 2015 after finding out that something is fully wrong from 2014 design concept.