Australian GP 2014 Friday and Saturday practice thread

[Jas]

RB took us for a ride.

I don't think they did...I don't think they did the ultimate sand bagging ever and just not run haha...I think they had some very long hours in the factory burning the midnight oil!

[Jas]

Had to share this regarding red bull...very clever, yet so simple, however arnt our cameras used positively to aid air flow?

LINK HERE TO SEE PIC http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/vi...amera_in_nose/

Tech Talk: Red Bull hiding FOM camera in nose

Friday 14th March 2014, 19:14 by TF1T Staff



Red Bull appeared to be running an illegal car during practice one and two for the Australian Grand Prix. However it turns out that they've come up with an ingenious solution to the mandatory FOM camera requirements.

All 22 cars on the grid must run five camera housings which can be used by FOM during the season to provide onboard footage. Whilst not all of these housings will have a working camera, they carry a dummy camera to the same weight and size to ensure no competitior is advantaged of disadvantaged.

As you can see on the above image, the RB10 doesn't have any visible camera mounts on the front of the car. Compare that to the image below of the Mercedes, and the camera mounts are clearly visible.

These small wings provide drag, albeit a small amount, and therefore hinder the airflow running over the car despite the designers best attempts at placing them in the best possible location to minimise the effects.

The inset image above sheds light on how Red Bull have managed to get around having these wings. Above the 'o' of Casio, a small hole can be seen which is for the FOM camera lens to see out of.

Red Bull have mounted the cameras within the vanity panel of the nose. Whilst a small opening on the nose will also provide drag and airflow disruption, it has a far smaller effect than the traditional approach.

It's likely the legality of Red Bull's solution will be questioned, but the technical regulations don't state anything about the mountings having to be placed externally, or a certain distance from the centre line of the car.

[SilverSpeed]

Copy the camera sollution I'd say .

[mark p]

The order people are trying to establish from fp sessions can turn on its head overnight. No team has track info with new rules so 1st practices maybe who got closest to best setups at 1st attempt but overnight all teams will change things. I do not doubt Merc will be high up but others can rise others could fall back quite dramatically and i think this will be the case for 1st half of the season before changes in the order become less pronounced.

If these practice session results were from the last pre season test everyone would be saying Ferrari and Merc are the one to beat.

Williams did not show a glimpse of anything today on a race weekend but many people think they are up there based on pre season test sessions. Times do not mean everything on Friday practices but to me mean more than times from pre season tests.

[mark p]

Copy the camera sollution I'd say .

Why?

[GrndLkNatv]

Guys, every where here I see everyone worried about the speed of the car. This year that will matter only in Quali. In all honesty, you could start fromthe back of the grid now and still end up on the top step of the podium. Given 34 gallons of fuel to run the entire race, you will be lucky not to run out of fuel before the end and having a liter left at the end, well almost impossible unless you are driving like a granny. The drivers this year will not be going all out all the time, if they do, they will DNF. This year the cars are all about mileage, and with the reliability problems we have seen, I would bet 1/2 the cars won't finish the race on Sunday, for sure Lotus on down and I would be the Red Bull's drop out and at least one Merc as well. I won't go so far to predict the race, but worrying about top pace is a non starter, it won't matter in the race or you will run out of fuel.

From Fer:

“The new Formula 1 rules are very different to what we were used to. I think the concept of what constitutes a grand prix will actually change this year, with Saturday and Sunday being very different from one another. In qualifying, one will be able to get everything out of the car, pushing the new power unit to the limit, trying to get the absolutely best result. But in the race you won’t get anywhere near that level.”

“Last year, towards the end of the races, on new tyres, you could do very quick lap times, whereas in the closing stages this year, you will have to bear in mind how much fuel you have left, the state of the batteries and that of the tyres. You will need to be very clever to manage these parameters and the new race strategies could see drivers being unable to go flat out to the end.”

Folk, we are nearing the time when F1 will be like racing lawn tractors.

[mirafiori]

Guys, every where here I see everyone worried about the speed of the car. This year that will matter only in Quali. In all honesty, you could start fromthe back of the grid now and still end up on the top step of the podium. Given 34 gallons of fuel to run the entire race, you will be lucky not to run out of fuel before the end and having a liter left at the end, well almost impossible unless you are driving like a granny. The drivers this year will not be going all out all the time, if they do, they will DNF. This year the cars are all about mileage, and with the reliability problems we have seen, I would bet 1/2 the cars won't finish the race on Sunday, for sure Lotus on down and I would be the Red Bull's drop out and at least one Merc as well. I won't go so far to predict the race, but worrying about top pace is a non starter, it won't matter in the race or you will run out of fuel

What make's me feel you have a good point, our drivers seem to be reasonably happy with the way things are going, as you say fuel and reliability will be the key elements in this new world of formula one. So I repeat if Alonso is happy for the moment then so am I. For me we need to score points on Sunday, if we can finish in the top 5 positions we have to be happy, as I believe we will out develop the other teams with our improved facilities Wind tunnel especially, I also believe we are still not running the engine to full power.

[1nfern0]

This mornings news is saying 29 and thunder storms

[stefa]

I really don't know what to think about Ferrari pace comparing to the other... Obviously I'll need to wait till Sundays race is over...

[mirafiori]

Guys, every where here I see everyone worried about the speed of the car. This year that will matter only in Quali. In all honesty, you could start fromthe back of the grid now and still end up on the top step of the podium. Given 34 gallons of fuel to run the entire race, you will be lucky not to run out of fuel before the end and having a liter left at the end, well almost impossible unless you are driving like a granny. The drivers this year will not be going all out all the time, if they do, they will DNF. This year the cars are all about mileage, and with the reliability problems we have seen, I would bet 1/2 the cars won't finish the race on Sunday, for sure Lotus on down and I would be the Red Bull's drop out and at least one Merc as well. I won't go so far to predict the race, but worrying about top pace is a non starter, it won't matter in the race or you will run out of fuel

What make's me feel you have a good point, our drivers seem to be reasonably happy with the way things are going, as you say fuel and reliability will be the key elements in this new world of formula one. So I repeat if Alonso is happy for the moment then so am I. For me we need to score points on Sunday, if we can finish in the top 5 positions we have to be happy, as I believe we will out develop the other teams with our improved facilities Wind tunnel especially, I also believe we are still not running the engine to full power.

[Nero Horse]

With Crofty, i really get strong impression he is a Merc fan, dont know why i get that

Trust me mate, you're not the only one who gets that impression. He's absolutely head over heels in love with Ham and Merc lol.

[Alonsomaniac]

The funny part is that even after this weekend we have no idea who will be the team to beat this year.....with all this new stuff it will take at least two or three races - or more - for things to settle down.

[schuy]

Hey guys, been a while since I have posted here but just an update on the weather, still dry here bit windy, looking at the local radar there's some light showers around nothing major yet, hoping it stays dry come fp3.

[Jose Lorca]

Mark Hughes:

Ferrari looks more competitive in qualifying – where there’s no 100kg fuel limit to worry about – than in race day trim when it seemingly has to run less power to remain within the instantaneous fuel flow limit of 100kg/hour. Because the energy recovery is not as efficient, more use has to be made of the engine itself – costing fuel. So to keep the fuel usage on target, it has to run lower boost.

Although he goes on to say that Merc's energy recovery is so efficient that they might not need to use the full 100kg of fuel

[Jose Lorca]

Emlyn Hughes ‏@radarguruf1 8 mins
#F1 Saturday #Melbourne: Mainly cloudy today with a chance of showers for P3 and qualifying. Moderate NW winds up to 35 kmh. Max 28c82f.

[Hornet]

Hey guys, been a while since I have posted here but just an update on the weather, still dry here bit windy, looking at the local radar there's some light showers around nothing major yet, hoping it stays dry come fp3.

Thanks for the updates

I actually hope it stays dry for the entire day today. I think our qualifying pace is ok, top 3 looks possible with Alonso's pace yesterday. Only unknown is race pace.

[blackDaemon]

I know it is too early to judge, but I have a feeling that the much awaited fight between ALO and RAI is pretty much over with the very first lap of 2014 season at Australia

[Ferris]

I know it is too early to judge, but I have a feeling that the much awaited fight between ALO and RAI is pretty much over with the very first lap of 2014 season at Australia

I think that is not the case. We have a lot of work to get through to get these cars working well to begin with. Kimi will push Alonso very well but I do expect Alonso to end the season on top. They were both on different programs yesterday and that car was not doing what Kimi wanted it to, that's for sure.

The good news for us is that Lewis and Rosberg will push each other very hard and take points from each other and word is that the harmony is already being strained between them.

Rosberg is apparently getting married this year and guess who was not invited even though they live 5 min from each other??? Yes that's right, Mr. Wannabe rapper Lewis (look at my two muts) Hamilton.

[Nero Horse]

I know it is too early to judge, but I have a feeling that the much awaited fight between ALO and RAI is pretty much over with the very first lap of 2014 season at Australia

I think it's waaay too early to be making such statements after just two free practice sessions.

[ferrari1.8t]

any links to a live feed of fp3? thanks everyone!

[Nero Horse]

any links to a live feed of fp3? thanks everyone!

Here you go:

http://www.drakulastream.eu/motor-sp...ing-video.html

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?...07&part=sports

[ferrari1.8t]

Here you go:

http://www.drakulastream.eu/motor-sp...ing-video.html

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?...07&part=sports

Thank you!

[Nero Horse]

Thank you!

You're welcome.

[Winter]

I know it is too early to judge, but I have a feeling that the much awaited fight between ALO and RAI is pretty much over with the very first lap of 2014 season at Australia

What ever you mean, I disagree Give him at least a race to adjust himself to "new" team.

[anakin]

still not out yet???

[pluto]

we love sitting in the pits wasting valuable track time. we always do it.

[LivingHitokiri]

Neither Fernando or Kimi are out yet, is something wrong with our cars?

[LivingHitokiri]

Kimi is out

[Kiwi Nick]

What ever you mean, I disagree Give him at least a race to adjust himself to "new" team.

I agree, Alonso is not so far behind that he cannot catch up!

[LivingHitokiri]

132,365 for Kimi, he lost a lot in second and first sectors but its on par on 3rd sector.