Malaysian GP 2014 Race Thread

[Red is Best]

Wow, how about the power difference of rosberg merc. We got off the line better then it just steamed away

Traction out of slow corners looks awful. The power delivery doesn't seem smooth at all.

[Jas]

Just thinking about our deficits....low top speed and awfull, traction, that 100% rules out Monza, spa, monacco, Singapore...great!

[Jas]

NEWS IN FROM JAMES ALLINSON:

Following a mixed performance in Malaysia, Ferrari Technical Director, James Allison, insists that the team is pulling out all the stops in its efforts to catch Mercedes.


With the third round of the season just days away, Ferrari is unlikely to make any inroad to Mercedes advantage in Bahrain, but Allison insists that work continues on all fronts.

"We are working in a constant way and with the highest levels of dedication in all the areas of potential development," he said. "We brought a useful upgrade to the Malaysian GP and were duly rewarded with a more competitive performance than at the first race, but the whole team is in no doubt about the size of the challenge that remains ahead of us this season.

"We are not disregarding anything," he continued. "Much has been spoken about the new power units on the 2014 cars, but it is rarely mentioned that 1% of engine power is not so different in its effect on the stopwatch as 1% of aero efficiency.

"Our development programme will keep delivering steps to the efficiency of the F14-T; aero, power unit, mechanical grip - race by race these steps will help to hunt down those in front.

"If we can keep up the progress that we made between Melbourne and Malaysia then it will start to tell in both in grid positions and in the Championship."

[Jas]

calm and collected instead of the usual crap Stefano says (God I don't know why all off a sudden im getting annoyed at him)

[Nova]

I would think the same. Something is really wrong at Maranello. We are a racing team with great history, experience and resources; And when start a brand new season with everyone virtually at zero and we are so far behind the Mercs engine cars on a new platform, something isn't just cooking well.

We could well see a lot of people being moved around again....

But the car was better in Mal than Oz. Not by much but it was better. If they can step up race after race with development we may see a pretty good car.
Still cant figure how the Merc is able to drive away from everyone with the fuel rlimits. Plus I was never crazy about them dumping Aldo Costa. I always thought he was very good, plus his work at Merc is showing. Yes I know its not all him, but thats where he is. I have a feeling Ferrari will surprise.

[RedPassion]

Did you look at the Photo on Austosprint were a Red Bull Mechanic is without helmet at the pit stop??!!

[REDARMYSOJA]

Red Bull was reprimanded for that, not sure if it included a fine.

[Rob]

Did you look at the Photo on Austosprint were a Red Bull Mechanic is without helmet at the pit stop??!!

more than just a helmet...

[RedPassion]

more than just a helmet...

What a mess!!!!.I strongly believe that apart from the aerodynamics department and the budget Red Bull is quite a mediocre team,when i hear critics against Domenicali i often try to imagine where Horner and Materschitz would be without Newey and Prodromou.Its hilarious how everyone was critisizing Ferrari for Germany 2010 when everyone is using team order,the only difference is that in Ferrari team orders are respected without discussion and the all team works like a swiss clock.

[Winter]

What a mess!!!!.I strongly believe that apart from the aerodynamics department and the budget Red Bull is quite a mediocre team,when i hear critics against Domenicali i often try to imagine where Horner and Materschitz would be without Newey and Prodromou.Its hilarious how everyone was critisizing Ferrari for Germany 2010 when everyone is using team order,the only difference is that in Ferrari team orders are respected without discussion and the all team works like a swiss clock.

Ok. What that little accident tells to me is, maybe they are just mortals after all.. Even they screw things sometimes

[RedPassion]

Ok. What that little accident tells to me is, maybe they are just mortals after all.. Even they screw things sometimes

Of course, it was not my intention to bash on the mechanics,was just pointing out that if that would happen to us as often as it happens to Red Bull we would be screwed,but in all fortune we have the best track team and organization.

[Firnas]

It is very funny to see Lewis trying to hide his baldness after removing his helmet & in the podium when he has to remove the cap. He was frowning to make his forehead smaller, pulling his hair down etc. If he accept the fact that he is little bit bald, then he doesn't have to be so funny which makes things worse for him in our eyes.

[killer]

But the car was better in Mal than Oz. Not by much but it was better.

Braking? Kimi didn't struggle with the brakes like he did in Melbourne. The start was pretty much the same.

Frustrated with the Kimi and K-Mag incident; we may have seen better points. More frustrated that Fernando has so far had to hold back for 3/4 of the race so he can have a good go at the end. Kimi seems to like the car better in the early stages, though.

[Stormsearcher]

more than just a helmet...

looks like Mark Webber to me.

[SilverSpeed]

http://pitlanetalk.wordpress.com/201...ari-explained/

[M.K]

That looks like towel around guys neck, maybe he just came out of shower.

[Senna4Ever]

http://pitlanetalk.wordpress.com/201...ari-explained/

especially last paragraph

Fernando Alonso is able to cope with the system a lot easier, having raced with a pull-rod suspension at Minardi in 2001. Which is probably why Ferrari decided to reinstall the system to make the Spaniard more comfortable in the car.

so because Alonso raced 2001 with a pull-rod in a Minardi, he desired this pull-rod suspension so much (nearly ten years after) that he forced Ferrari to go this way ... with all the problems?
How was this man just able to get 2x WDC without his desired pull-rod?

I hop Ferrari can just produce the parts Kimi needs ... if doesn't work maybe change the cooking as it might also be in Alonso favour ...

[Senna4Ever]

General question: if such a situation happens again like Kimi was, and say the car hasn't any damage at all and could retrieve full performance. With this 100kg/h flow limit would it ever be possible to really catch up like the years before? As due to this flow limitation you will be penalized twice: first by getting hit by another driver and fall back and second you're limited due the fuel flow limitation and you can't go full power to close the gap ...

right?

[RedPassion]

especially last paragraph



so because Alonso raced 2001 with a pull-rod in a Minardi, he desired this pull-rod suspension so much (nearly ten years after) that he forced Ferrari to go this way ... with all the problems?
How was this man just able to get 2x WDC without his desired pull-rod?

I hop Ferrari can just produce the parts Kimi needs ... if doesn't work maybe change the cooking as it might also be in Alonso favour ...

Yeah it seems quite Ted Notebooks quality,he doesnt really know whats he s talking about.Ferrari never had stubborn understeer on purpose after Schumacher departure as we always had drivers with the same preference,a pointy car tending to oversteer,the first understeering driver was Alonso.This doesnt mean that the F150th or the F2012 where designed for him for no teams want that much understeer,driver preferences are normally set up adaptations no team build a clearly understeering or oversteering car on purpose for it means you are building a basically slow car.

[Hornet]

http://pitlanetalk.wordpress.com/201...ari-explained/

A whole lot of hot air. I don't see Ferrari mechanics rushing to change the setup during free practice. In terms of suspension performance, there's no difference between push rod and pull rod.

Time and again, designers have said they design the fastest car possible, there is no such thing as designing a car to a driver's liking. Setup changes is where a car tuned to a driver's style, not the design. But of course people keep ignoring this and continue throwing claims that a car is design for a driver and leave the other out in the cold

[PadGeT]

Wow. Stefano shud hire these front suspension geniuses.

[Senna4Ever]

Wow. Stefano shud hire these front suspension geniuses.

Stefano will contact you ...

[PadGeT]

Stefano will contact you ...

Why should he?
By da way my comment was directed to the writer of that article. Anyone knows how credible his words are?

[mark p]

Been waiting for the bs about pulllrod to start. Seems like every possible issue has been put forward and now we are back on everyones favourite.

[Senna4Ever]

Why should he?

why not ... ?
But sorry ... I wasn't clear who you address with

Stefano shud hire these front suspension geniuses

if you're looking to this private blog you don't see much activity in terms of reports. So maybe he is busy in the pits or same @home expert like many of us ...

[Nova]

A whole lot of hot air. I don't see Ferrari mechanics rushing to change the setup during free practice. In terms of suspension performance, there's no difference between push rod and pull rod.

Time and again, designers have said they design the fastest car possible, there is no such thing as designing a car to a driver's liking. Setup changes is where a car tuned to a driver's style, not the design. But of course people keep ignoring this and continue throwing claims that a car is design for a driver and leave the other out in the cold

Regarding the suspension, I look at "how many Championship cars have won their championships using this suspension?" Of course a lot of it is the driver, but also the car.
I dont recall 1 wcc car that utilized this setup. What r we talking..Minardi? Add to that that the car looks like it handles poorly only reinforces my opinion. Look at the most stable looking car out there, RB.

The following disclaimer is added to prevent any bashing I may recieve for voicing my opinion: I am NOT a suspension guru

[eddie]

more than just a helmet...

That's another 10 place grid demotion. Violation of safety protocol... Towel guy is illegal...

[Ed Harley]

According to latest news the F14 T design is to be changed to a driver's liking with different parts. It is my understanding that this change is related to front suspension.

[Hornet]

Regarding the suspension, I look at "how many Championship cars have won their championships using this suspension?" Of course a lot of it is the driver, but also the car.
I dont recall 1 wcc car that utilized this setup. What r we talking..Minardi? Add to that that the car looks like it handles poorly only reinforces my opinion. Look at the most stable looking car out there, RB.

The following disclaimer is added to prevent any bashing I may recieve for voicing my opinion: I am NOT a suspension guru

Well I don't think the type of suspension has major effect on a car's total performance. It just so happens the last team to use it prior to Ferrari reintroducing it were bad teams that would have had issues regardless of which suspension they use.

Anyway Scarbs did an analysis on Ferrari's suspension back in 2012 here, and Fry said it's lighter, lower center of gravity, and aero benefits. Although it's 2012, I'd imagine Ferrari is keeping this pull rod layout for the same reasons till today.

Here Scarbs explain the aero advantage our suspension have.

A mention of front suspension in the cars launch analysis will be unique to Ferrari this year, as they have revisited an old direction with its layout. Every other car for well over ten years has had pushrod front suspension, but Ferrari has revived the pullrod set up for the front of the car.

This effectively turns the pushrod set up upside down, now the rod passes down from the upper wishbone and connects with the rocker, which is now mounted at the bottom of the chassis. According to Fry, this set up is a little lighter and has a slightly lower Centre of Gravity. These gains alone will not pay for the systems inclusion on the car, so the team claim to have found an aero benefit. The pullrod can be thinner, but the real gain is the pullrod is mounted near horizontal across the front suspension. This places it in line with the upwash from the front wing. Just as with the wishbones, its profile can be subtly altered within the rules to help control the wake from the wing and improve the airflow over the rear of the car. Despite appearances the pullrod is as effective in moving the rocker for a given wheel travel as a pushrod. The important factor is the angle between the rod and the wishbone is connected to, rather than the rods angle to the chassis. I’ll explain a lot more pull rod suspension in a subsequent article.

http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/2012/02/23...ferrari-f2012/

As far as mechanical performance goes, they are the same

[Rob]

According to latest news the F14 T design is to be changed to a driver's liking with different parts. It is my understanding that this change is related to front suspension.