F14-T- Development & News

[abbottcostello]

Haha..my conversation..thanks..

[abbottcostello]

Encouraging quote from JA in that rushlane.com article that Alonso14 posted the link for, even though it is right after Melbourne it is good to see him saying this

With all the new regulations this year, the opportunities to improve the car are legion and we can expect the race to improve the cars to be even more intense than normal.” “Our competitiveness was not acceptable in Melbourne,” concludes Allison. “But we intend to fight our way back up the grid with the improvements that we will bring to the car.”
Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/honeywell-1-...TdrFXmO4gHT.99

Well I guess they want to make sure they get the credit when you copy some of their text, it automatically inserted a link to it with some kind of identifier tacked onto the end, to boot!

Also, I've got a question on the pics tifosi1993 posted above. In the #5 & #6 pics there is a paddle or almost fishtail looking piece right in the middle of all the suspension arms, covered w/flo-vis. Seems it might be a part of the brake duct assembly? What is the function of it & I thought there was no aero benefit allowed to be gained from the brake cooling ducts?

[Laferrari]

departure from Doménicali and the fact that we are 3 sec behind in race trim from mercedes is impossible to erase this year and maybe nextyear .Mercedes are in front on developpement one year , not one month not 2 but one year so .

[Naeem]

departure from Doménicali and the fact that we are 3 sec behind in race trim from mercedes is impossible to erase this year and maybe nextyear .Mercedes are in front on developpement one year , not one month not 2 but one year so .

I'm not sure, I think shedding 70kg of dead-weight may do us the world of good.

[shamim179]

departure from Doménicali and the fact that we are 3 sec behind in race trim from mercedes is impossible to erase this year and maybe nextyear .Mercedes are in front on developpement one year , not one month not 2 but one year so .

Even next year is doubtful. Mercedes have too much of an advantage and going into next year they'll be extremely strong. And Stefano's departure further complicates things as he surely had a strategy laid out and whoever comes in to replace him may or not implement these strategies and it could either be for the worse or for the better. It's very uncertain times for Ferrari. The situation will get clearer as to which direction Ferrari will be heading once the new TP has a season or two of experience with the team.

[Hornet]

Even next year is doubtful. Mercedes have too much of an advantage and going into next year they'll be extremely strong. And Stefano's departure further complicates things as he surely had a strategy laid out and whoever comes in to replace him may or not implement these strategies and it could either be for the worse or for the better. It's very uncertain times for Ferrari. The situation will get clearer as to which direction Ferrari will be heading once the new TP has a season or two of experience with the team.

Actually IMO, next year is our best chance to catch the Merc. We are allowed to make performance modifications for next year, however with each passing year, there's also a list of components in the engine that will be frozen. This is a gradual process to freeze the entire engine within the next 4-5 years

Therefore, with each passing year, our freedom to improve our engine will diminish. If we do not catch Mercedes sooner rather than later, it will be very difficult later on as more of the engine is frozen. Merc's advantage will get frozen in place if no one does anything about it within the next couple years or so.

Unless of course if they decide to rethink this engine development rules to close the gap.

[brawnydog]

Can anyone tell me who was the chief aerodynamicist for Ferrari during the Rory Byrne era? I understand that Rory was the chief designer but was he also the chief aerodynamicist? Today, it seems as though we have a chief for every single micro-department, but I also understand the cars are much more complex and must require more accurately defined departments and managers.

[PadGeT]

Can anyone tell me who was the chief aerodynamicist for Ferrari during the Rory Byrne era? I understand that Rory was the chief designer but was he also the chief aerodynamicist? Today, it seems as though we have a chief for every single micro-department, but I also understand the cars are much more complex and must require more accurately defined departments and managers.

As far as I know Brawn, Tombazis, Alex Cinneli,John Iley, James and some junior aero guys. As for your second question, a lot D/F in earlier cars were generated from floor. Here, Bryne was able to do his magic. Now that the floor sizes been drastically reduced, team has to find its alternative. That needed higher scale windtunnel models for engineers to work on.
A proper F1 team needs to asses its CFD, windtunnel and various simulation facilities and upgrade them accordingly, because they are after all the lifeblood of an F1 car.

[brawnydog]

As far as I know Brawn, Tombazis, Alex Cinneli, James and some junior aero guys. As for your second question, a lot D/F in earlier cars were generated from floor. Here, Bryne was able to do his magic. Now that the floor sizes been drastically reduced, team has to find its alternative. That needed higher scale windtunnel models for engineers to work on.
A proper F1 team needs to asses its CFD, windtunnel and various simulation facilities and upgrade them accordingly, because they are after all the lifeblood of an F1 car.

Ahh, yes. I forgot about James Allison. He was, in fact, the chief of aerodynamics, wasn't he? I know Rory was chief designer so he oversaw the overall car, but I think Rory is also an Aerodynamicist by education and profession. Thanks. By the way, wasn't it Aldo Costa that called Ferrari out on the broken wind tunnel? Funny how they let him go before they fixed it. Now he's chief designer at Mercedes - a bit of the old Ferrari technology in the Mercedes now? Brawn after all brought him over to Mercedes and both worked at Ferrari. Interesting, isn't it? I wonder if Ferrari should consider getting back the old dream team. They got Brawn out of retirement once. Why not try again? Rumour has it that he turned down an offer from Luca. Anyway, I wonder if they're sorry they let Aldo go, as look where Mercedes are now. Perhaps some bad judgements have been made and Ferrari and we the fans just haven't been patient enough. I've always said it's better to keep a team stable and united and frequent break-ups and shakeups is not the solution.

Cheers.

[zike]

Maranello, 15 April – The Formula 1 season has been rushing along at a hectic pace since the curtain raiser in Melbourne, with no less than three Grands Prix taking place in the space of three weeks. The data base of information available to the Scuderia Ferrari engineers has grown since the first race of the year and the numbers generated have been poured over, picked at and used to drive simulation programmes back in Maranello. However, despite the advances made in virtual car development, there is still no substitute for real track time and so Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are looking forward to getting back on track at the Shanghai International Circuit for the fourth round of the world championship.

That’s particularly true given that the Bahrain Grand Prix proved to be the most difficult race so far for the Scuderia. It was no surprise given that the desert track was always going to highlight the weak points of the F14 T, without ever playing to its strengths. “Since the Bahrain race, it’s been a very busy time for us, as we examined all areas of car performance from the power unit to suspension configurations and aerodynamic improvements,” commented Ferrari’s Engineering Director Pat Fry.

All three races so far have been won by the same team and therefore Fry is realistic about the Scuderia’s short term goals. “We are naturally working as hard as we can on closing the gap to the top teams, with Mercedes having a reasonable lead over the rest of the field,” says the Englishman. “Currently, our first priority is to establish ourselves as the second best team. We are looking at all areas of the car – power unit, aero, suspension. We are trying to make as big a step as we can for each and every race.” As for the challenge presented by 56 laps of the 5.451 kilometres of the Shanghai International Circuit, Fry sees it as typical of the modern breed of race circuit. “China’s an interesting track with a good mix of corner types. It begins with the long slow speed corners early in the lap, then a mix of high speed ones in the middle sector, plus a very long straight, about 1.3 kilometres worth, where you need to tune the cars for maximum top speed. However, even with this straight, normally in Shanghai, you find yourself running more towards the top end of the downforce range and with that long straight providing the one real overtaking opportunity, I’m sure everyone will be looking to trade off speed to make sure you can both attack and defend.” There are other challenges in China starting with the long straight, which will ask questions of the still relatively new power units. The brakes will have a much easier time than in previous races, however tyres, particularly the rears, need careful looking after because of the loads imposed by all the very long corners.

It’s proving hard to make predictions this year – at least when it comes to who can challenge the current leaders – so the Scuderia Ferrari crew will approach the Shanghai weekend in its usual methodical way in the hope that lessons learned so far will see the F14 T run more competitively. In his usual blunt way, Kimi Raikkonen sums up perfectly what lies ahead for the Prancing Horse. “We know what we have to do. The people are pushing 100 per cent, but it takes time.”


So after reading this, I came to a conclusion..........NO updates

[bonzo]

So after reading this, I came to a conclusion..........NO updates

Logical conclusion, mate.

[Laferrari]

we will see if they will have update other than what we saw(brake) during barhain test.I think nothing will change, you cannot recover 2.0 - 2.8 sec in 2 weeks.Everybody will have small updates so the situation will remaining the same.shame but it s realistic.
Fry is playing down update because he knows he cannot promise the updtade will work and give everyone too much hope...he fear he will loose his place too.I heard some rumor that Lucas is also on the firing list after doménicali...maybe he will be replace by someone from agnelli family...Now there plenty of talk from ferrari but nothing good , a shame

[Senna4Ever]

.I heard some rumor that Lucas is also on the firing list after doménicali...maybe he will be replace by someone from agnelli family...

right one month after his contract was renewed?
ei ei ei ...

[Senna4Ever]

so after all the changes and rumours: hopefully our drivers and especially our pit crews show up ...

[Kyss4k]

Just passing by with an off topic info: it seems that McLaren's title sponsor will be Gillette.

[Alesi1]

Pat fry has been a huge disappointment. He has 'restructured' how things are supposedly done. Perhaps in 20 years we will see some results from his changes :)

[PadGeT]

Comparison - relative wheelbase of cars in this pic.

[zike]

FA @joseluisf1 2m
In China Ferrari brings new pieces (few) to improve cornering and top speed, the motor unit depends on the software

Pat Fry: "Currently, our first priority is to establish ourselves as the second best team. We are looking at all areas of the car - power unit, aero, suspension. We are trying to make as big a step as we can for each and every race.”

[Laferrari]

Comparison - relative wheelbase of cars in this pic.

Our car look so fat compare to the other team...earlier rumour said that we have the best cooling system , it s sound for me a joke when i see these pics.Force india,torro rosso and even mclaren look slimmer than us.

[Kyss4k]

Our car look so fat compare to the other team...earlier rumour said that we have the best cooling system , it s sound for me a joke when i see these pics.Force india,torro rosso and even mclaren look slimmer than us.

It's because we have those short cooling outlets, there is huge undercat below them. I never understood why are we doing it this way though. It surely has to disturb the air going to the back end of the car.

[Alonso14]

Comparison - relative wheelbase of cars in this pic.

Maaan, the Toro Rosso, Macca and FI are all so much thinner at the back. That's a huge disadvantage for us. :(

[windwaves]

Again, as the poster above notes, the F14T is a failure at ALL levels. And really this has been said by everyone in and out of Ferrari for quite some time.
SD development once again was clearly worth zero. We have seen no updates of substance and nothing coming. Why ? the car is just not even close to where it should be so even if there was a dvpt plan it was rendered totally useless once the reality on track was revealed.

Peace.

I am excited about Ferrari finally changing things at the top. It is only the beginning. Lets support the new guy, MM. He has got some very very difficult times ahead to say the least.

With SD gone, Pat Fry basically saying current situation is hopeless, I suspect he knows even fighting for 2nd is going to be very difficult, at best.

[SilverSpeed]

Better cooling = fatter car it seems.

[impactX]

Again, as the poster above notes, the F14T is a failure at ALL levels. And really this has been said by everyone in and out of Ferrari for quite some time.
SD development once again was clearly worth zero. We have seen no updates of substance and nothing coming. Why ? the car is just not even close to where it should be so even if there was a dvpt plan it was rendered totally useless once the reality on track was revealed.

Peace.

I am excited about Ferrari finally changing things at the top. It is only the beginning. Lets support the new guy, MM. He has got some very very difficult times ahead to say the least.

With SD gone, Pat Fry basically saying current situation is hopeless, I suspect he knows even fighting for 2nd is going to be very difficult, at best.

We won the last race in 2013 when Pat Fry was hospitalised and was not able to attend to the GP that weekend. We just discovered the key to winning.

[paneristi]

weight distribution might rather swing back to rear causing massive understeer (?)

[Alesi1]

FA @joseluisf1 2m
In China Ferrari brings new pieces (few) to improve cornering and top speed, the motor unit depends on the software

Pat Fry: "Currently, our first priority is to establish ourselves as the second best team. We are looking at all areas of the car - power unit, aero, suspension. We are trying to make as big a step as we can for each and every race.”

Typical, if you don't aim higher you've already lost. Never give up always aim to win no matter how hopeless it looks and how long it takes. Got no confidence in the guy.

[Kiwi Nick]

Comparison - relative wheelbase of cars in this pic.

I can't really tell if there is distortion due to parallax, but Kimi's car has a significantly longer wheelbase than the Macca and is even longer than the FI and the STR. The car also seems to be longer overall. The weight distribution, front axle/rear axle is controlled by the regs, they should all be the same. But the longer WB should affect stability and turn-in. The additional length would make the car less nimble.

The size of the side pods is a little disturbing. We have been told that the F14T had superior cooling, but the size of the side pods argues against that notion.

[PadGeT]

I can't really tell if there is distortion due to parallax, but Kimi's car has a significantly longer wheelbase than the Macca and is even longer than the FI and the STR. The car also seems to be longer overall. The weight distribution, front axle/rear axle is controlled by the regs, they should all be the same. But the longer WB should affect stability and turn-in. The additional length would make the car less nimble.

The size of the side pods is a little disturbing. We have been told that the F14T had superior cooling, but the size of the side pods argues against that notion.

Indeed, we do have longer wheelbase, that helps give the car more downforce imo, but downside is the car becomes understeery as we found out with Lotus last year.

[Kiwi Nick]

Indeed, we have longer wheelbase, that helps give the car more downforce imo, but downside is the car becomes understeery as we found out with Lotus last year.

Exactly the longer WB affects the ability of the car to turn-in quickly. On the other hand it should improve stability. I'm not so sure about the affect of WB on downforce.

[PadGeT]

Much of airflow energy gets stronger, such as vortex from the FW cascades with distance. Longer wheelbase allows the vortex to meet the bargeboard at larger distance, thereby strengthening the flow along the way. Also the CG of the car is pushed more to the front, closer to the centre of pressure of the car. Thats my view, I guess. Also some team increases their floor length/T-tray, splitter position, although whether its fair I don't know.