Jerez Testing

Sudarshan · Post by **Sudarshan** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 6:58 am

Didnt see any link on this, Sorry Mods, do block if duplicated.
Any reports, pictures etc ? News to look forward to:
- Mclaren Honda - Bang or Bust
- Red Bull - Special Camouflage livery
- Merc - Again the best?
- Ferrari - Hows this year looking
- Williams - Next step?
- Sauber - Can it be a bolt of blue?
- Renault - Does the famed Merc engine propel them with a bang?
- Torro Rosso - Aim for fifth?
- FI - See you in next test

Exediron · Post by **Exediron** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 7:36 am

F1 Fanatic has their live update thingy up already. Haven't seen any others yet.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/f1-informati ... hes-tests/

As with many others, McLaren is the one I mostly want to keep an eye on, but I'm also eager to see if the Ferrari looks like it's any good. And the RBR is always worth keeping an eye on, just to see what's the right aero direction for everyone else to go in

Pimpwerx · Post by **Pimpwerx** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 7:58 am

Also Autosport: http://m.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/813

Exediron · Post by **Exediron** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:06 am

Sky's up now, too: http://www1.skysports.com/live-blog/124 ... y-one-live

... Anyone want to take a wild guess about rather that's Red Bull's real livery for 2015?

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:37 am

And from Auntie http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/formula1/31059101

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:53 am

08:40
Red Bull have already had a more successful day than they managed this time last year. In 2014, Sebastian Vettel managed just two laps. After less than an hour of this year's first day, Daniel Ricciardo has clocked up four, including the first timed lap of the day - 1:29.141.

M44 · Post by **M44** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:54 am

So last years fastest time was a 1.27 on day one from Kimi.. Rosbergs just gone and thrashed a 1.23 in

..in before the 'it's only testing'. I know - but we can have some fun, and surely draw some conclusions right?

Love Red Bulls livery..

w1Y! · Post by **w1Y!** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:03 am

That livery will be just for testing

It's to prevent teams being able to easily see the shape etC. Car companoes to it all the time

Blackhander · Post by **Blackhander** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:19 am

Doubt that camouflage is even remotely effective at hiding any details... It will be on the front Page of anything even remotely related to motorsport however, so as a marketing device it's working brilliantly!

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:20 am

Don't want to start a new thread for another nose discussion, so this is probably the best place.

There seems to be two main nose concepts for 2015; long and short.

Long:

McLaren
Toro Rosso
Ferrari
Sauber
Force India (not certain, but impression given by mock nose at livery launch)

Short

Williams
Red Bull
Mercedes
Lotus

Probably makes little difference, but interesting all the same that there seems to be a near 50/50 split between the two ways of interpreting the regs.

mds · Post by **mds** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:22 am

Rosberg just beat the fastest lap time of the four days in Jerez last year. They are already looking quite good.

RunningMan · Post by **RunningMan** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:25 am

Mercedes are already doing longer runs quicker than anyone else...similar story last year and we all know how that ended.

Alex53 · Post by **Alex53** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:28 am

I'm driving up to Jerez tomorrow with my slr camera and spending the day watching the testing, like I do most years.

But I have to say, this year is the least excited I have been about this for many years. There just isn't anything special about any of the new cars.

Does anyone feel like that about this season?

funkymonkey · Post by **funkymonkey** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:57 am

Must admit, that Ferrari looks good on the track in real life. First time in 54 years a good looking Ferrari.

Ennis · Post by **Ennis** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:58 am

Alex53 wrote:I'm driving up to Jerez tomorrow with my slr camera and spending the day watching the testing, like I do most years.

But I have to say, this year is the least excited I have been about this for many years. There just isn't anything special about any of the new cars.

Does anyone feel like that about this season?

Definitely not like last season but I'd say this is true of most 'evolution rather than revolution' seasons.

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:38 am

McLaren has lines of tiny little winglets on the rear wing endplates, don't think I've ever seen those before.

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:39 am

Sorry for massive pic.

MistaVega23 · Post by **MistaVega23** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:40 am

What happened to the 18 inch wheels pirelli said we'd have this year?

Blackhander · Post by **Blackhander** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:54 am

The winglets on the rear wing end plate were there last year too, introduced around mid year and used most races. The leading edge of the upper element has the waves as well. Probably last year's wing

The front wheel rim is interesting, have we seen that before? What's the story with all the little fins?

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:09 am

Scarbs has just tweeted that he's seen blown front axles on the Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.

I don't know what this means!

EDIT: Probably something to do with the wheel rims that Blackhander mentions. I know blown wheel hubs have been played about with by various teams before.

Clarky · Post by **Clarky** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:10 am

According to Paddy Lowe all seems to be going smoothly at Mercedes.

AngusWolfe · Post by **AngusWolfe** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:29 am

Not really surprised at increased performance versus last year, after all, last year was the first laps the power units had ever done.

Already new teams are confusing me, I'm getting excited about every good thing I hear about Ferrari and discarding McLaren, before I remember Alonso did the switch. I also quite like both Red Bull drivers, despite not really liking them as a team. It's 2010 all over again.

AngusWolfe · Post by **AngusWolfe** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:31 am

MistaVega23 wrote:What happened to the 18 inch wheels pirelli said we'd have this year?

Concept at this stage. Won't be introduced until at least next year, if at all.

Laura23 · Post by **Laura23** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:31 am

MistaVega23 wrote:What happened to the 18 inch wheels pirelli said we'd have this year?

Pirelli said that wouldn't be until 2017/18 at the earliest.

Anyway Mercedes look to have the championships in the bag given how mighty they already look. Hope a couple of other teams have something in the locker, or at least can be closer to them than in 2014. Lewis Hamilton must think all his christmases have come early again.

backdoc · Post by **backdoc** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:46 am

Laura23 wrote:Anyway Mercedes look to have the championships in the bag given how mighty they already look. Hope a couple of other teams have something in the locker, or at least can be closer to them than in 2014. Lewis Hamilton must think all his christmases have come early again.

Given its only the first 4 hours of testing, I'd suggest that even though that is quite possible, I'm going to go out on a limb and say too premature!

Laura23 · Post by **Laura23** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:48 am

backdoc wrote:
Laura23 wrote:Anyway Mercedes look to have the championships in the bag given how mighty they already look. Hope a couple of other teams have something in the locker, or at least can be closer to them than in 2014. Lewis Hamilton must think all his christmases have come early again.
Given its only the first 4 hours of testing, I'd suggest that even though that is quite possible, I'm going to go out on a limb and say too premature!

Of course it's premature but it is certainly also very ominous.

AngusWolfe · Post by **AngusWolfe** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:52 am

Last year's fastest first day time was set by Raikkonen.

Saying that, I agree with Laura, unless Nico has found some serious pace over the winter we're in for a dull year.

Laura23 · Post by **Laura23** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:53 am

AngusWolfe wrote:Last year's fastest first day time was set by Raikkonen.

Saying that, I agree with Laura, unless Nico has found some serious pace over the winter we're in for a dull year.

I don't think it't the times that scare people, it's the consistency of the long runs from Mercedes on day 1 again.

JohnnyGuitar · Post by **JohnnyGuitar** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:57 am

AngusWolfe wrote:Last year's fastest first day time was set by Raikkonen.

Saying that, I agree with Laura, unless Nico has found some serious pace over the winter we're in for a dull year.

Do you think 2014 was dull?

AngusWolfe · Post by **AngusWolfe** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:02 pm

Laura23 wrote:
AngusWolfe wrote:Last year's fastest first day time was set by Raikkonen.

Saying that, I agree with Laura, unless Nico has found some serious pace over the winter we're in for a dull year.
I don't think it't the times that scare people, it's the consistency of the long runs from Mercedes on day 1 again.

I doubt this year's engine will be that different for Mercedes. Evolution rather than revolution. Ferrari and Renault have to change theirs pretty dramatically, and Honda are new. I can't see this year going anywhere but Mercedes, unless they're disqualified or something.

AngusWolfe · Post by **AngusWolfe** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:09 pm

JohnnyGuitar wrote:
AngusWolfe wrote:Last year's fastest first day time was set by Raikkonen.

Saying that, I agree with Laura, unless Nico has found some serious pace over the winter we're in for a dull year.
Do you think 2014 was dull?

Three winners, with one driver taking over half. The championship battle was wishful thinking as soon as we left Europe. The races Hamilton got pole saw Hamilton drive off, the races Rosberg got pole either had one move for the lead or were Rosberg driving off. Austria was the only one that Mercedes won that was exciting to watch the leading drivers. That said, the upper midfield was excellent to watch, mostly down to Ricciardo, Alonso and Bottas.

RunningMan · Post by **RunningMan** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:14 pm

Mercedes have certainly done long runs, but let's not forget they did a shakedown in silverstone last week. They probably got many of teething problems out of the way that everyone else was doing this morning.

Which begs the question, why don't other teams to shakedowns, I know Ferrari used to do it, but I haven't read anything about them doing it this year or in the past few years...

Black_Flag_11 · Post by **Black_Flag_11** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:15 pm

AngusWolfe wrote:
JohnnyGuitar wrote:
AngusWolfe wrote:Last year's fastest first day time was set by Raikkonen.

Saying that, I agree with Laura, unless Nico has found some serious pace over the winter we're in for a dull year.
Do you think 2014 was dull?
Three winners, with one driver taking over half. The championship battle was wishful thinking as soon as we left Europe. The races Hamilton got pole saw Hamilton drive off, the races Rosberg got pole either had one move for the lead or were Rosberg driving off. Austria was the only one that Mercedes won that was exciting to watch the leading drivers. That said, the upper midfield was excellent to watch, mostly down to Ricciardo, Alonso and Bottas.

I'd add Brazil & Bahrain to exiting battles between Rosberg/Hamilton.

But I agree with your point, the two way title battle was only made interesting by double points and reliability in the end. Entertaining enough last season but I'd much rather see a 2010/2012 style battle with 3/4 different teams capable of winning on merit.

rife_hypocricy · Post by **rife_hypocricy** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:18 pm

RunningMan · Post by **RunningMan** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:19 pm

JohnnyGuitar wrote:Scarbs has just tweeted that he's seen blown front axles on the Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.

I don't know what this means!

EDIT: Probably something to do with the wheel rims that Blackhander mentions. I know blown wheel hubs have been played about with by various teams before.

A blown front axle is blowing air through the wheel nuts I believe.

nixxxon · Post by **nixxxon** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:22 pm

Seen some videos of the McLaren, it sounds really rough, perhaps because they run in low revs...

rife_hypocricy · Post by **rife_hypocricy** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:28 pm

AngusWolfe · Post by **AngusWolfe** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:31 pm

Nico likes the car so much he didn't want to get out for lunch.

Lt. Drebin · Post by **Lt. Drebin** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:32 pm

That Mclaren livery looks even more frustrating, the longer I look at it. Amazing how they lack any idea or imagination in that department, or should I say artistic inteligence.

Clarky · Post by **Clarky** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:34 pm

nixxxon wrote:Seen some videos of the McLaren, it sounds really rough, perhaps because they run in low revs...

I believe they have the engine turned down