Thoughts from Testing so far.... (F1)
Discussion
So, after all the testing to date, who do you think are the contenders this year?
for me, Ferrari look well setup, also seemingly very reliable, Red-bull look fast, as do Torro-Rosso,Williams and Renault.
Lotus look like they have moved up into the midfield pace....
McLaren look scarily bad.....
for me, Ferrari look well setup, also seemingly very reliable, Red-bull look fast, as do Torro-Rosso,Williams and Renault.
Lotus look like they have moved up into the midfield pace....
McLaren look scarily bad.....
SlowlnFastOut said:
Wings - Mclaren for one are using last years.
In an interview on the F1 site Jonathan Neale said they have used the movable rear wing in testing, but maybe an adaption of last years one.I don't think McLaren are as bad as they looked in testing, but I don't think they have fantastical stuff up their sleeve to bolt on at the first race either.
Ferrari always surprise me, their cars always seem to look fairly conventional but they get the performance, guess its all about getting the package to work well together and a good team?
I heard somewhere Red bull were using the movable rear wing in corners, surely this isn't allowed right?
I heard somewhere Red bull were using the movable rear wing in corners, surely this isn't allowed right?
Edited by davislove on Tuesday 22 February 18:01
davislove said:
I heard somewhere Red bull were using the movable rear wing in corners, surely this isn't allowed right?
I think the quirk of it is; you can use it where you like in practice and quali, but only on the designated straight in the race - and only after the first lap or two...red bull and ferrari look very strong both on a fast lap and over a long run, i think renault, mclaren and mercedes and williams will make up the next teir.
with tyre degredation so bad, management of wear is going to be crucial. i just hope that we don't see drivers cruising around trying to nurse their tyres in order to avoid an extra tyre stop or two.
with tyre degredation so bad, management of wear is going to be crucial. i just hope that we don't see drivers cruising around trying to nurse their tyres in order to avoid an extra tyre stop or two.
IMO long run is far important than headline grabbing - and red bull seem to have avoided short, low fuel runs. I reckon the RB cars will be at the front, alongside the very reliable Ferrari. Next, I'd have Renault, and hopefully McLaren.
The rest seems to be a bit of a bun fight - Sauber, Williams, FI have all done a lot of short (presumably low fuel) runs, but they ned to for sponsor grabbing. Torro Rosso are a very interesting prospect, because their design is quite radical (duel floor), and you have to guess they're not hunting for sponsors as much as some others - but red bull bosses will want a good share of the limelight from that team too, so who knows. As to Merc, who knows - they've done some face saving quali runs, but on the long stuff look 2 seconds off the pace - but they keep saying they have big changes for the first race.
Meanwhile, at the "new team" front, I'm not overly sure that they've made much progress, the Lotus looks better than last year, but now leaks more than a cat C Elise, HRT is yet to track a legal car, and Virgin have had some fast ish laps, but very few on longer bits.
I'm really looking forward to a good year though - as others have said, we haven't seen the best from McLaren and Merc, and probably most of the others as well. I also think reliability is an issue for about 1/2 the grid, as you would expect for this stage of the season. I'll be welded to the screen from lap 1 =)
The rest seems to be a bit of a bun fight - Sauber, Williams, FI have all done a lot of short (presumably low fuel) runs, but they ned to for sponsor grabbing. Torro Rosso are a very interesting prospect, because their design is quite radical (duel floor), and you have to guess they're not hunting for sponsors as much as some others - but red bull bosses will want a good share of the limelight from that team too, so who knows. As to Merc, who knows - they've done some face saving quali runs, but on the long stuff look 2 seconds off the pace - but they keep saying they have big changes for the first race.
Meanwhile, at the "new team" front, I'm not overly sure that they've made much progress, the Lotus looks better than last year, but now leaks more than a cat C Elise, HRT is yet to track a legal car, and Virgin have had some fast ish laps, but very few on longer bits.
I'm really looking forward to a good year though - as others have said, we haven't seen the best from McLaren and Merc, and probably most of the others as well. I also think reliability is an issue for about 1/2 the grid, as you would expect for this stage of the season. I'll be welded to the screen from lap 1 =)
Some Gump said:
IMO long run is far important than headline grabbing - and red bull seem to have avoided short, low fuel runs. I reckon the RB cars will be at the front, alongside the very reliable Ferrari. Next, I'd have Renault, and hopefully McLaren.
The rest seems to be a bit of a bun fight - Sauber, Williams, FI have all done a lot of short (presumably low fuel) runs, but they ned to for sponsor grabbing. Torro Rosso are a very interesting prospect, because their design is quite radical (duel floor), and you have to guess they're not hunting for sponsors as much as some others - but red bull bosses will want a good share of the limelight from that team too, so who knows. As to Merc, who knows - they've done some face saving quali runs, but on the long stuff look 2 seconds off the pace - but they keep saying they have big changes for the first race.
Meanwhile, at the "new team" front, I'm not overly sure that they've made much progress, the Lotus looks better than last year, but now leaks more than a cat C Elise, HRT is yet to track a legal car, and Virgin have had some fast ish laps, but very few on longer bits.
I'm really looking forward to a good year though - as others have said, we haven't seen the best from McLaren and Merc, and probably most of the others as well. I also think reliability is an issue for about 1/2 the grid, as you would expect for this stage of the season. I'll be welded to the screen from lap 1 =)
nice post, sums it up well i reckonThe rest seems to be a bit of a bun fight - Sauber, Williams, FI have all done a lot of short (presumably low fuel) runs, but they ned to for sponsor grabbing. Torro Rosso are a very interesting prospect, because their design is quite radical (duel floor), and you have to guess they're not hunting for sponsors as much as some others - but red bull bosses will want a good share of the limelight from that team too, so who knows. As to Merc, who knows - they've done some face saving quali runs, but on the long stuff look 2 seconds off the pace - but they keep saying they have big changes for the first race.
Meanwhile, at the "new team" front, I'm not overly sure that they've made much progress, the Lotus looks better than last year, but now leaks more than a cat C Elise, HRT is yet to track a legal car, and Virgin have had some fast ish laps, but very few on longer bits.
I'm really looking forward to a good year though - as others have said, we haven't seen the best from McLaren and Merc, and probably most of the others as well. I also think reliability is an issue for about 1/2 the grid, as you would expect for this stage of the season. I'll be welded to the screen from lap 1 =)
It's all about tyres. Who's going to use them the best.
The Pirelli's are s
t. They have a couple of laps in them then drop off 5-7secs a lap ! 15-20laps and they're finished.
To me that's not a good tyre. You want some consistence but not a tyre that necessarily will last 60laps.
LH gave them a right bashing. Basically said you can't drive anywhere near the max because the fall apart.
You can drive 60laps and get out of the car feeling you've done nothing.
It doesn't bode well.
Ferrari look very good to me. Long runs and reliable ( apart from Massa's oil leak)
My impression so far is roughly this:
1. Ferrari
2. Red Bull
3+. Most of the other well-established teams and this includes McLaren who are once again getting off to a slow start, even if Melbourne has served them well before.
One more thing with regard to McLaren: the Bahrain cancellation should help them get a better understanding of their car but in my opinion their whole design philosophy has been flawed for about 3 years!
1. Ferrari
2. Red Bull
3+. Most of the other well-established teams and this includes McLaren who are once again getting off to a slow start, even if Melbourne has served them well before.
One more thing with regard to McLaren: the Bahrain cancellation should help them get a better understanding of their car but in my opinion their whole design philosophy has been flawed for about 3 years!
davislove said:
Some Gump said:
IMO long run is far important than headline grabbing - and red bull seem to have avoided short, low fuel runs. I reckon the RB cars will be at the front, alongside the very reliable Ferrari. Next, I'd have Renault, and hopefully McLaren.
The rest seems to be a bit of a bun fight - Sauber, Williams, FI have all done a lot of short (presumably low fuel) runs, but they ned to for sponsor grabbing. Torro Rosso are a very interesting prospect, because their design is quite radical (duel floor), and you have to guess they're not hunting for sponsors as much as some others - but red bull bosses will want a good share of the limelight from that team too, so who knows. As to Merc, who knows - they've done some face saving quali runs, but on the long stuff look 2 seconds off the pace - but they keep saying they have big changes for the first race.
Meanwhile, at the "new team" front, I'm not overly sure that they've made much progress, the Lotus looks better than last year, but now leaks more than a cat C Elise, HRT is yet to track a legal car, and Virgin have had some fast ish laps, but very few on longer bits.
I'm really looking forward to a good year though - as others have said, we haven't seen the best from McLaren and Merc, and probably most of the others as well. I also think reliability is an issue for about 1/2 the grid, as you would expect for this stage of the season. I'll be welded to the screen from lap 1 =)
nice post, sums it up well i reckonThe rest seems to be a bit of a bun fight - Sauber, Williams, FI have all done a lot of short (presumably low fuel) runs, but they ned to for sponsor grabbing. Torro Rosso are a very interesting prospect, because their design is quite radical (duel floor), and you have to guess they're not hunting for sponsors as much as some others - but red bull bosses will want a good share of the limelight from that team too, so who knows. As to Merc, who knows - they've done some face saving quali runs, but on the long stuff look 2 seconds off the pace - but they keep saying they have big changes for the first race.
Meanwhile, at the "new team" front, I'm not overly sure that they've made much progress, the Lotus looks better than last year, but now leaks more than a cat C Elise, HRT is yet to track a legal car, and Virgin have had some fast ish laps, but very few on longer bits.
I'm really looking forward to a good year though - as others have said, we haven't seen the best from McLaren and Merc, and probably most of the others as well. I also think reliability is an issue for about 1/2 the grid, as you would expect for this stage of the season. I'll be welded to the screen from lap 1 =)
... Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but I think that reads nicely between the lines of what's going on, as much as we can do from the testing times and programmes demonstrated so far!cosicave said:
My impression so far is roughly this:
One more thing with regard to McLaren: the Bahrain cancellation should help them get a better understanding of their car but in my opinion their whole design philosophy has been flawed for about 3 years!
Can you expand on this? Do you mean they are trying to find something radical and different as opposed to a well put together package ie ferrari, red bull?One more thing with regard to McLaren: the Bahrain cancellation should help them get a better understanding of their car but in my opinion their whole design philosophy has been flawed for about 3 years!
haven't looked at these in any details but seems to be some quite interesting info on pirelli tyre degredation on james allens site
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/02/f1-test-anal...
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/02/f1-test-anal...
davislove said:
Ferrari always surprise me, their cars always seem to look fairly conventional but they get the performance, guess its all about getting the package to work well together and a good team?
I heard somewhere Red bull were using the movable rear wing in corners, surely this isn't allowed right?
Yes, it can be used wherever a driver chooses in Practice. I do not agree with the overly complicated rules of its use during the race, which artificially restrict a driver from getting the best performance from his vehicle.I heard somewhere Red bull were using the movable rear wing in corners, surely this isn't allowed right?
Edited by davislove on Tuesday 22 February 18:01
woof said:
It's all about tyres. Who's going to use them the best.
Speed is of little consequence it seems. It's all about how each car husbands its tyres.The McLaren was supposed to be easy on the rears due to its long wheelbase but that idea seems to have bit the dust. That said, they've got a new rear wing to come, as have Ferrari(?).
Australia will be compulsive viewing from the first practice session.
Whether this will be an exciting season or not is very much in doubt, but it will be interesting, that's for sure.
Derek Smith said:
woof said:
It's all about tyres. Who's going to use them the best.
Speed is of little consequence it seems. It's all about how each car husbands its tyres.The McLaren was supposed to be easy on the rears due to its long wheelbase but that idea seems to have bit the dust. That said, they've got a new rear wing to come, as have Ferrari(?).
Australia will be compulsive viewing from the first practice session.
Whether this will be an exciting season or not is very much in doubt, but it will be interesting, that's for sure.
Trulli: Pirellis lacking development
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89618
Hamilton & Webber
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89590
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