F14-T- Development & News

[voiko]

ferrari engine overweight by 13k !!!

Mar.19 (GMM) One of Ferrari's main problems is that its all-new 2014 engine is overweight.

That is the claim of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, who said customers Sauber and Marussia are also struggling with a 'power unit' that weights 13 kilograms too much.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the overweight Ferrari caught even the Maranello based team by surprise, having successfully argued against a further increase in the minimum car-plus-driver weight of 691 kilos for 2014.

Fernando Alonso finished just fifth in Melbourne.

"I have 12 points more than Vettel and Hamilton, which is a positive," the Spaniard said, "but I was missing 35 seconds to Rosberg.

"That must give us pause," added Alonso.

Indeed, technical boss James Allison admits: "Our competitiveness was not acceptable in Melbourne."

Slimming-down the Ferrari engine might prove difficult, as in the wake of the end-February 'freeze' deadline, changes can only now be made for safety, cost or reliability reasons.

The FIA's Charlie Whiting revealed that all three F1 engine makers, including the troubled Renault but also dominant Mercedes, have already applied to the FIA to make changes.

"Ultimately, it's for us to decide," he said.


How could this be possible? I thought we were the lightest. Again that was a rumor and so is this.

hahaha remember all of the rumours when the engine was being developed pre season that we had found some exotic materials and our engine was going to be awesome.. FAIL. hahahahaha

[mirafiori]

hahaha remember all of the rumours when the engine was being developed pre season that we had found some exotic materials and our engine was going to be awesome.. FAIL. hahahahaha

Well again we don't know if this is true, if it is then we will be handicapped in every race throughout the season, the only advantage of having a sturdy engine that it is well made and will be very reliable.:

[mark p]

The story does not add up. Ferrari argue against a weight increase and do not know the weight of their car until the 1st race? They spend millions on a windtunnel etc but do not have weight scales in the factory and have to use FIA scales at 1st race to discover weight.

They knew the weight at every stage of development and would not have argued against weight increase if this was the case.

This is journalist rubbish now their fuel consumption rumour did not exist. Clearly there are things to improve but likely small things everywhere not 1 huge issue, but it makes a good story for people to go off on one about.

[AfterLife]

The story does not add up. Ferrari argue against a weight increase and do not know the weight of their car until the 1st race?
They spend millions on a windtunnel etc but do not have weight scales in the factory and have to use FIA scales at 1st race to discover weight.

They knew the weight at every stage of development and would not have argued against weight increase if this was the case.

Well said...

[alfaromeo]

If this is true then the ferrari in big trouble. I think the Mercedes this season, unfortunately walked up to the title of champion, because the advantage at the beginning of the season too large to Ferrari. I am not a pessimist but the reality is such that the Mercedes engine is far ahead of all. I do not know what they are doing in the engine department at Ferrari but it seems to have done a poor job. Yes reliability are good, but will also eliminate this error in Mercedes and Renault then what will or we will fight for 8, 9, 10 positions in the race .... I hope not!

[bondilad]

If this is true then the ferrari in big trouble. I think the Mercedes this season, unfortunately walked up to the title of champion, because the advantage at the beginning of the season too large to Ferrari. I am not a pessimist but the reality is such that the Mercedes engine is far ahead of all. I do not know what they are doing in the engine department at Ferrari but it seems to have done a poor job. Yes reliability are good, but will also eliminate this error in Mercedes and Renault then what will or we will fight for 8, 9, 10 positions in the race .... I hope not!

Easy now........ they are just rumors after all. Like Mark p said why did ferrari argue against increasing the weight limit and I'm sure they have weighing scales at Maranello

[alfaromeo]

I have confidence in the Ferrari motor section where I think things will be solved. If you remember history in 2008, the V8 engine was not the best but they then get to the best engine in F1. I hope to have a good Ferrari engineers in the electrical section of the drive train, because I think that is a problem in this context. Ferrari has experience with the hybrid system in the automobile manufacturing only laferrari but still there have also had problems with battery power.

[Muhammad Ansib]

waow fascinating news, I really really pray that its not true.

If it is we are in big trouble. it might be a rumour as was that in Pre-Season that we are the lightest But THE FACT is we need the Minimum amount of Cooling as compared to Renault and Mercedes. I am not that much of an aerodynamicist but Pros and Cons of smaller sidepod opennings vs Fewer Cooling requirements at the expense reduced HP. anyone?

[Ste]

After the race, there were rumours that we were 18kg overweight.

Apparently our electrical problems were with the MGU-H and they made us run in fuel conservation mode for pretty much the entire race. We lost performance and saved a LOT of fuel. Maybe it's possible that the rumoured 18kg was all saved fuel because of the problems...

This would tie in with our drivers (particularly Kimi) saying that Aus didn't show the true picture.

Not sire how true that is but I read it a couple of days ago.

[Majki2111]

Leo Turrini: Ferrari are unable to optimize the ICE and the ERS. Hardware rather than software related, which is not a good sign. F14-T will receive a software update expected to optimize ERS and boost power by 30%. Ferrari will apply remapping in Bahrain. We believe the Ferrari engine is as powerful as Mercedes, but their ERS cannot run at full capacity yet due to electrical glitches. That said, it's uncertain if the issue is software or hardware/mechanical. The software update might be half a step until a full solution. Even if it's mechanical, they can modify the PU despite homologation, since it's a reliability measure to prevent electrical glitches.

[Ste]

All of the team-wear in Hi-Res

If anyone is looking for the Alonso flat-peak and you're in the UK, you can find it at www.onpole.com. I think they're the only people in the UK selling it.

Just got my hands on one and it's made a lot nicer than the normal Ferrari caps.

[PURE PASSION]

If anyone is looking for the Alonso flat-peak and you're in the UK, you can find it at www.onpole.com. I think they're the only people in the UK selling it.


Just got my hands on one and it's made a lot nicer than the normal Ferrari caps.

Nice!!!!!

[ferrari4life]

Renault is saying their engine can catch Mercedes
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113001

So will we be relegated to the slowest engine?

[Nero Horse]

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the overweight Ferrari caught even the Maranello based team by surprise, having successfully argued against a further increase in the minimum car-plus-driver weight of 691 kilos for 2014.

So what this "Auto Motor und Sport" journalist is trying to claim is that the Ferrari engineers didn't know exactly how much their engine weighs, before being totally surprised in the first race? LOL that is seriously one of the most ridiculous hogwash I've ever heard! It doesn't surprise me at all though that this kind of rumor comes from a German magazine.

[mark p]

Renault is saying their engine can catch Mercedes
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113001

So will we be relegated to the slowest engine?

Just as easy to say Ferrari can beat them both and Merc will have the worst engine. Just a load of words from people with no access to detailed info on all the powertrains.

These stories are getting really tiresome, at least if they had some logic. I will make a tick list of the rubbish sprouted the 1st to be ticked off is Ferrari non existent fuel consumption.

We have supposed technical experts saying the engines do not have spark plugs then basically saying Ferrari did not know the weight of their car until the 1st race. Whatever next?

[Jas]

whats the difference between he hardware and software and why does it take so longer for the former!

[Jas]

tbh we still don't know about fuel consumption of Ferrari due to the one lap taken off and safety cars...although aus is meant to be a high demand on fuel!

[Alesi1]

If anyone is looking for the Alonso flat-peak and you're in the UK, you can find it at www.onpole.com. I think they're the only people in the UK selling it.

Just got my hands on one and it's made a lot nicer than the normal Ferrari caps.

Cool. One thing I've noticed though that is disappointing with the caps in general, (although I'm not sure if I'm right on this one) is the Santander logo is embroided very 'flat' . I think FA genuine cap is 'thicker' bit like the embroidery on the Schumacher caps with the deutch ver.....logo and bit like the old dekra logo. I may be wrong though so feel free to shoot me down. (got a bit of hat obsession)

[Alesi1]

If anyone is looking for the Alonso flat-peak and you're in the UK, you can find it at www.onpole.com. I think they're the only people in the UK selling it.

Just got my hands on one and it's made a lot nicer than the normal Ferrari caps.

Cool. One thing I've noticed though that is disappointing with the caps in general, (although I'm not sure if I'm right on this one) is the Santander logo is embroided very 'flat' . I think FA genuine cap is 'thicker' bit like the embroidery on the Schumacher caps with the deutch ver.....logo and bit like the old dekra logo. I may be wrong though so feel free to shoot me down. (got a bit of hat obsession)

[Alesi1]

Nice!!!!!

Cool. One thing I've noticed though that is disappointing with the caps in general, (although I'm not sure if I'm right on this one) is the Santander logo is embroided very 'flat' . I think FA genuine cap is 'thicker' bit like the embroidery on the Schumacher caps with the deutch ver.....logo and bit like the old dekra logo. I may be wrong though so feel free to shoot me down. (got a bit of hat obsession)

[Ferris]

It's early where i am but i am struggling to see how the team caps can assist with the performance of the F14T...

[Nero Horse]

It's early where i am but i am struggling to see how the team caps can assist with the performance of the F14T...

Can't you see the aerodynamic benefits that can be gained from these caps?

[Ferris]

Can't you see the aerodynamic benefits that can be gained from these caps?

I'm trying to but as far as i can tell they take them off before they put their helmets on...

[GustavoTrunci]

whats the difference between he hardware and software and why does it take so longer for the former!

Software is a computer program. They can fix it faster because is just a bunch of guys in front of a computer working on computer code. If the problem is with the hardware they are talking about batteries, cables, connections, etc. If you have to build a new battery you need a new project, call the manufacturer, receive it, test it, bla, bla bla....

[Jas]

Software is a computer program. They can fix it faster because is just a bunch of guys in front of a computer working on computer code. If the problem is with the hardware they are talking about batteries, cables, connections, etc. If you have to build a new battery you need a new project, call the manufacturer, receive it, test it, bla, bla bla....

Thanks very much...IT is not my strongest haha

[Ste]

It's early where i am but i am struggling to see how the team caps can assist with the performance of the F14T...

I posted all the team-wear early on in this thread so instead of creating another thread solely for it, I decided to reply to my original post.

Cool. One thing I've noticed though that is disappointing with the caps in general, (although I'm not sure if I'm right on this one) is the Santander logo is embroided very 'flat' . I think FA genuine cap is 'thicker' bit like the embroidery on the Schumacher caps with the deutch ver.....logo and bit like the old dekra logo. I may be wrong though so feel free to shoot me down. (got a bit of hat obsession)

You're correct. It's a lot flatter than the DVAG embroidery.

[bondilad]

break-by wire issues for kimi - improvement expected in malaysia

The Finn, who has returned to Ferrari this season four years after his previous stint with the team, has been uncomfortable with the F14 T's handling so far.

Raikkonen only qualified 12th in Melbourne after getting delayed in traffic in Q2 and then crashing on his in-lap. He was classified seventh in the race.

The secrets of brake-by-wire

"We identified some general problems which we have to tackle in Maranello and there are other aspects linked to the set-up on my car to do with the brake-by-wire system," said Raikkonen.

"Getting this device working correctly is definitely something that contributes to the general feeling from the car, because it has a great effect on corner entry.

"Having said that, the F14 T improved right through Friday and Saturday and not getting into Q3 was not down to the competitiveness of the car."

He said he was very calm about the problems and optimistic that he would be in a better position from the next round in Malaysia.

"I've been in this game for quite a while now," said Raikkonen, "and I can say this is definitely not the first time that I've gone through a difficult first race weekend.

"I'm sure that, if we work in the correct way, then right from the next race in Malaysia, the results can definitely be better."

[GrndLkNatv]

Software is a computer program. They can fix it faster because is just a bunch of guys in front of a computer working on computer code. If the problem is with the hardware they are talking about batteries, cables, connections, etc. If you have to build a new battery you need a new project, call the manufacturer, receive it, test it, bla, bla bla....

Fixing in the software is always easiest.. I have been on projects where you need a 9 month lead time to build the hardware in order to start testing both the hardware and software and then with problems we had to compensate for the hardware with software (image dithering) until after the hardware was redesigned and then shipped for testing again.

[Rob]

Wise words from Raikkonen

Maranello, 19 March –The two words that spring to mind after the Australian Grand Prix are patience and work. Scuderia Ferrari’s main aim is clearly to make the F14 T more competitive. The feeling is that many teams used this first GP of the season to get a better understanding of the complicated new cars and that raises the hope that, as the races go by, the spectacle will also improve.

Kimi Raikkonen, one of the most experienced drivers on the grid also believes that patience is the key. “I think that at the start of a season like this one, with new tyres but more than that, completely new cars, the main aim has to be getting to the chequered flag. We did just that and I was finally able to run a full race distance in this car.”

“I’ve been in this game for quite a while now,” continued Raikkonen, “and I can say this is definitely not the first time that I’ve gone through a difficult first race weekend. We identified some general problems which we have to tackle in Maranello and there are other aspects linked to the set-up on my car to do with the brake-by-wire system. Getting this device working correctly is definitely something that contributes to the general feeling from the car, because it has a great effect on corner entry. Having said that, the F14 T improved right through Friday and Saturday and not getting into Q3 was not down to the competitiveness of the car.”

Kimi then returned to the key word of the moment. “First of all, we have to stay calm. The team is united, we know what we have to do and how to go about finding more performance. We also know this development process will not happen overnight and so we must be patient and concentrate hard on our work without watching what the others are doing. However, I’m sure that, if we work in the correct way, then right from the next race in Malaysia, the results can definitely be better

- See more at: http://formula1.ferrari.com/news/wis....PwccnHSH.dpuf

[Jas]

saw on article about how Raikonens manner in how he talks has changed and thus is all made up by the new PR person we have employed...