Bahrain testing 27 Feb-2 Mar

[rossopervincere]

Fernando Alonso believes he is “in a position of advantage” as the first race of the season approaches having enjoyed a lot of running during testing.

With just two days of the final pre-season test left, Alonso has completed the most laps with 455 – leaving him just four laps clear of Nico Rosberg for Mercedes. With such mileage under his belt and one day of testing still to go, Alonso feels he is in a better position than most heading to Melbourne.

I'm happy in the position that we are now,” Alonso said. “Ferrari did a great job all winter and the last part of last year to prepare this car. I don't know how we are in total laps this winter but we are for sure one of the best teams and I am one of the drivers with the most laps this winter. So that puts me in a position of advantage at the moment and hopefully I can use that in Australia to arrive a little bit more ready.”

However, asked if he felt fully prepared for the first race, Alonso replied: “Probably not.

“Not many people will say they are ready after five days of testing. If you go to the World Cup in football and they changed the ball and they changed the size of the pitch and they give you five days to touch the ball … we all would like more days and more experience.

“On the other hand if I look at the number of laps that I did in five days that's probably more than any other driver. So in a way with it being the same for everybody I think I'm in a good position in terms of experience and in terms of laps thanks to the Ferrari car that has been quite strong all winter so far.”



Source : http://www.crash.net/f1/news/200744/...m_campaign=rss

[PadGeT]

Do not forget who pioneered this setup after the 2009 rule change. We may be laughing at them now but RBR know their aero and when (if) Renault get their power unit running at expected levels they probably will be fighting with the front runners. But to me that rake setup is just for testing purposes because it looks from this angle extremely high and not very efficient.

Whats baffling me is Ferrari are running effectively 3 tiered gurney tab arrangement on the trailing ends of their diffuser yet prefer to maintain low AoA wheras RB has effectively 2 and running such rake

[PadGeT]

i honestly dont like button the driver... with his smoth driving skills he would be better suited to limo driver than race car driver..

there i have been dying to say it and sorry its out of context

[Axelsson]

Alonso: performance now the priority for Ferrari in F1 2014 testing

Fernando Alonso believes that Ferrari should prioritise improving the performance of its F14 T during the final two days of Formula 1 pre-season testing before the Australian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard had a busy day in the car as he worked on set-up options in the morning and then completed a race run in the afternoon, bringing his total for the day up to 122 laps.

Alonso and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen have one more day of testing each before the first race of the season, and despite the laptimes on his race run catching the eye of some rival teams, the two-time world champion believes that Ferrari is not quite ready.

We still have two more days that are crucial for us in terms of performance," Alonso told reporters in the Sakhir paddock.

"We really need to exploit the potential of the car. Tomorrow with Kimi and then on the last day we need to...we must have a smooth test and good days to arrive in Australia at 100 per cent.

"I think right now we are missing something."

Alonso tried to play down the significance of his race run, saying that while he was able to complete the 57-lap distance without interruption, he was having to manage a lot of issues with the car.

"It was OK, we could have had a better one," he said. "We still had some issues during the laps.

"We tried to compensate with some changes that you can do on the steering wheel to play a little bit.

"On the other hand, we completed the laps without stopping in the garage and the car was running all the time, so I'm happy overall with the day."

While Alonso wants to see more performance from his car, after he "found one setup that did work and two things that didn't", he believes that his and Ferrari's mileage so far leaves him in a good position.

"On that side [mileage-wise] I'm happy with the position we are in," he said.

"I don't know how we are in total laps for this winter but we will be one of the best teams and I am one of the drivers with the most laps.

"That puts me in a position of advantage at the moment and hopefully I can use that as an advantage to arrive in Australia a little more ready

Autosport

[fronaldo]

Guys...did anyone know all Alonso's sectors time for his FL? And how do exactly Ferrari doing in 2nd sector?

[Hornet]

I'm happy to hear that, sounds like Alonso is fired up for another title fight. We should not rest until everything is perfect.

[Winter]

i honestly dont like button the driver... with his smoth driving skills he would be better suited to limo driver than race car driver..

there i have been dying to say it and sorry its out of context

He is good at wet and mixed conditions. Otherwise he is just too passive driver. Seems to be nice guy though.

[FerrariF60]

He is good at wet and mixed conditions. Otherwise he is just too passive driver. Seems to be nice guy though.

exactly...when i think of Button, i think of DC....just as unperdictable; one race day he'd do for win, another race weekend he'd be 10th or lower

he got really lucky winning the WDC in 2009 thx to Ross Brown and Co....otherwise he'd be nowhere and would never win a WDC based on pure talent...much the same i have to say for the Screaming school "girl" Pettel...aka vettel; put him in an inferior car like the F2012 or F138 and see how he'd do...

[Winter]

Peter Windsor analyzing drivers cornering and driving lines at turn 9.

[Avantifer12]

Whats baffling me is Ferrari are running effectively 3 tiered gurney tab arrangement on the trailing ends of their diffuser yet prefer to maintain low AoA wheras RB has effectively 2 and running such rake

It's all about sealing the diffuser. As I meantioned earlier I don't think that RBR would race that configuration because I refuse to believe they are able to seal the diffuser at that height without exhaust gasses, maybe vortices can be used but I don't know how effective they are. Honestly I didn't expect teams to run agressive rake angles because of the new exhaust rules (exhausts were a powerful tool to seal the diffuser)

Here is a good blog post about rake: http://mccabism.blogspot.se/2011/08/...-and-rake.html

[ferrari4life]

exactly...when i think of Button, i think of DC....just as unperdictable; one race day he'd do for win, another race weekend he'd be 10th or lower

he got really lucky winning the WDC in 2009 thx to Ross Brown and Co....otherwise he'd be nowhere and would never win a WDC based on pure talent...much the same i have to say for the Screaming school "girl" Pettel...aka vettel; put him in an inferior car like the F2012 or F138 and see how he'd do...

I think button has proven that he cant do anything with an inferior car. However I think the jury is still out on Vettel. Lets hope this year will proove that he was just a flash in the pan with a fast car. Hope he has to struggle to see what he is worth. Maybe that will cause some growing up and he might be worthy of a Ferrari drive in the future.

[Hermann]

I think button has proven that he cant do anything with an inferior car. However I think the jury is still out on Vettel. Lets hope this year will proove that he was just a flash in the pan with a fast car. Hope he has to struggle to see what he is worth. Maybe that will cause some growing up and he might be worthy of a Ferrari drive in the future.

Well he already is struggling, i wonder if that remark about not wanting to drive the car is true- it wouldn't surprise me if it was. Not having a car that goes 2 seconds faster than all others must be a real bummer.

[PadGeT]

It's all about sealing the diffuser. As I meantioned earlier I don't think that RBR would race that configuration because I refuse to believe they are able to seal the diffuser at that height without exhaust gasses, maybe vortices can be used but I don't know how effective they are. Honestly I didn't expect teams to run agressive rake angles because of the new exhaust rules (exhausts were a powerful tool to seal the diffuser)

Here is a good blog post about rake: http://mccabism.blogspot.se/2011/08/...-and-rake.html

Yea but dats been RB's strong pt hasnt it, creating wied vortices wid their cascades in FW around the bargboards and sealing the floor while maintaing the high drag setup of their rear wing . Hence running such high rake without stalling the diffuser. I wonder if they arn't showing something and are ahead in their windtunnel model.
for the link

[Rob]

It's all about sealing the diffuser. As I meantioned earlier I don't think that RBR would race that configuration because I refuse to believe they are able to seal the diffuser at that height without exhaust gasses, maybe vortices can be used but I don't know how effective they are. Honestly I didn't expect teams to run agressive rake angles because of the new exhaust rules (exhausts were a powerful tool to seal the diffuser)

Here is a good blog post about rake: http://mccabism.blogspot.se/2011/08/...-and-rake.html

Teams, will loose performance from the diffuser, with that much rake and no EBDs helping seal it, but with the rear at that angle will help produce D/F. Teams, must/maybe trying to use the bodywork somehow to help the diffuser. Iam surprised that teams, especially RBR running that rake.

[Senna4Ever]

Probably we can be happy with this day ...
wonder how Ric managed this lap and suddenly here in Austria the media is happy again ... as RedBull strikes back ...

[Nero Horse]

Looks like we're really starting to turn up the heat now on our rivals. We have much more sophisticated and complex wings on our car than we did before and the reliability and pace look really good. There have certainly been some positive steps forward during these last few test days, no doubt about it. I hope I don't jinx it, but I must say that things look pretty good at the moment. Hopefully we can keep going in this positive direction and then be fully prepared and ready to demolish the competition in the "land down under".


Only 12 days to go till FP1 in Oz...

[Suzie]

Only 12 days to go till FP1 in Oz...

Ugh, that long?

[Nero Horse]

Ugh, that long?

[Forzi]

Peter Windsor saying that the RBR is actually brilliantly quick. Looked best out of anyone in the last two days.


And some news: extra tires will be introduced for Q3, double points for only the last race and more.

[Winter]

Peter Windsor saying that the RBR is actually brilliantly quick. Looked best out of anyone in the last two days.



Last half of that clip gave me chills

And some news: extra tires will be introduced for Q3, double points for only the last race and more.

[PadGeT]

Peter Windsor saying that the RBR is actually brilliantly quick. Looked best out of anyone in the last two days.

No ones surprised

[Jas]

I think we all expect them to be quick when they get the PU sorted out, its not like they have forgotten how to do aero work all of a sudden!

[DIEK]

[Nero Horse]

Nice powerslide...reminds of the cars sliding in the 80's and 90's.

[OSS EL BOSS]

The car looks difficult to drive here but no worries, El mágico has everything under control

[mirafiori]

The car looks difficult to drive here but no worries, El mágico has everything under control

I have a good feeling the F14T will turn out being the winning car,

[Forzi]

Still problems with managing power delivery. Rear wheel went on the kerb, too much power went in, almost lost it. Similar to Kimi crash i suppose.

[Nero Horse]

I have a good feeling the F14T will turn out being the winning car,

I believe you're right, but the key thing will be in-season development. If we can get that right then we can definitely have a really great and successful season. But we need to keep up in the car development race, that will be crucial.

[PadGeT]

The famous understeering ferrari!!

[Alesi1]

The famous understeering ferrari!!

I think the front suspension (pull rod) is so 'stiff' in that it doesnt cope with loading like pull rod does. So as soon as it touches the curb it gives up, rapidly transferring energy to the rear rather than progressively and then completely destabilizes the rear. Very frustrated that they have persisted with this approach at the front. You only have to look at what happened to mclarens car last year to see. Sorry just a bit of a rant. Nothing to do with power delivery. I would be interested to see whether they could somehow compare to two back to back. Anyway if they win regardless who cares