Barcelona Testing

[A2jdl]

If that is true here is an interesting question, would you, as an F1 driver, prefer a fast but unreliable PU or an average reliable one?

I think 100% or drivers will all say fast but unreliable one

[nixxxon]

^

Agree, I think its easier to make a powerful engine become reliable, compared to make an unpowered engine become powerful and still maintain the reliability.

[Aussie Grit]

What would the new redbull be for or have they already assembled it?
They aren't very specific with there tweets.

[Need4Naiim]

If that is true here is an interesting question, would you, as an F1 driver, prefer a fast but unreliable PU or an average reliable one?

I choose fast but unreliable, because team can make its life longer with cooling settings, gearing or rpm limit values.

But if it has an internal design fault, better eyeball a different team.

[Laura23]

What would the new redbull be for or have they already assembled it?
They aren't very specific with there tweets.

Filming day. It'll just be a new car with what will be the final 2015 livery. They won't use the camo bull livery for a filming day and it'd take too long to get the car they already have painted into the normal one.

[Clarky]

Really impressed with the new Force India so far.

They have got so many laps in.

[Clarky]

Winter testing complete at Williams

[slide]

its hard not to notice the bitching about the red bull domination years , but at least merc gave us a show last year , unlike red bull ever did

[Clarky]

Button does a 1m25.327s on the Super-Soft

[VDV23]

its hard not to notice the bitching about the red bull domination years , but at least merc gave us a show last year , unlike red bull ever did

Red Bull also gave us a good show in 2010 and 2012 thanks to Seb

[dizlexik]

its hard not to notice the bitching about the red bull domination years , but at least merc gave us a show last year , unlike red bull ever did

Not all years where bad. 2010 and 2012 were very interesting.

[Laura23]

its hard not to notice the bitching about the red bull domination years , but at least merc gave us a show last year , unlike red bull ever did

Mercedes were more dominant last season than Red Bull have ever been. Yes Rosberg stayed in the title hunt until the final round but everyone knew that was down to reliability woes for Hamilton earlier in the season and of course what happened in Spa. Hamilton dominated Rosberg in 2014, the points don't tell the entire story. It wasn't as interesting as some would have you believe and down the line I don't think it will actually be considered a classic season when push comes to shove. It'll be the year when the guy who won a double number figure of races nearly didn't win it.

[dizlexik]

its hard not to notice the bitching about the red bull domination years , but at least merc gave us a show last year , unlike red bull ever did

Mercedes were more dominant last season than Red Bull have ever been. Yes Rosberg stayed in the title hunt until the final round but everyone knew that was down to reliability woes for Hamilton earlier in the season and of course what happened in Spa. Hamilton dominated Rosberg in 2014, the points don't tell the entire story. It wasn't as interesting as some would have you believe and down the line I don't think it will actually be considered a classic season when push comes to shove. It'll be the year when the guy who won a double number figure of races nearly didn't win it.

This. And I also remember Lauda and Wolf crying because one of their drivers dared to overtake the other Mercedes driver at the beginning of the race. Hardly a fight between 2 drivers.

[Clarky]

2015 WINTER TESTING COMPLETE

NEXT STOP AUSTRALIA

[Bacus]

As much as I want Hamilton and Mercedes to win, I really don't want it to be again a walk in the park for them separated from the rest. It really doesn't look to good as the times show now.
They probably have a bigger gap than what they had last year.

[Laura23]

Melbourne should be a foregone conclusion for the win. Merc have about a second in hand in certain conditions according to some, the smallest gap I've seen claimed is still 0.6. Their reliability is outstanding as well, they did the entire 12 days testing with one engine. They can't not win in Oz!

[johnp]

anyone have the total laps ran for each team (I'm sure McLaren's total was a disaster)

[Need4Naiim]

Melbourne should be a foregone conclusion for the win. Merc have about a second in hand in certain conditions according to some, the smallest gap I've seen claimed is still 0.6. Their reliability is outstanding as well, they did the entire 12 days testing with one engine. They can't not win in Oz!

Rain may be a factor. I expect one of the Mercedes to DNF there.

[Laura23]

Melbourne should be a foregone conclusion for the win. Merc have about a second in hand in certain conditions according to some, the smallest gap I've seen claimed is still 0.6. Their reliability is outstanding as well, they did the entire 12 days testing with one engine. They can't not win in Oz!

Rain may be a factor. I expect one of the Mercedes to DNF there.

Forecast says dry weather on Sat and Sun for race weekend. Even if it rains I expect the Mercs to remain as dominant as they are in the dry. They were miles ahead in the wet in Suzuka last year and Hamilton dominated Rosberg.

[AngusWolfe]

If that is true here is an interesting question, would you, as an F1 driver, prefer a fast but unreliable PU or an average reliable one?

Might get some flak for this, but depending on how average we're talking, I'd go for reliability. Seasons like 1982 and 2005 where faster cars have lost titles because they were less reliable. Obviously if it was too slow then it's pointless.

Anyway, this year is going to be a walkover by the looks of it, I just hope and pray Rosberg has found some race pace.

[Need4Naiim]

Melbourne should be a foregone conclusion for the win. Merc have about a second in hand in certain conditions according to some, the smallest gap I've seen claimed is still 0.6. Their reliability is outstanding as well, they did the entire 12 days testing with one engine. They can't not win in Oz!

Rain may be a factor. I expect one of the Mercedes to DNF there.

Forecast says dry weather on Sat and Sun for race weekend. Even if it rains I expect the Mercs to remain as dominant as they are in the dry. They were miles ahead in the wet in Suzuka last year and Hamilton dominated Rosberg.

So dry race ahead for Melbourne. If it is wet, then Lewis will outclass Rosberg.

OK.

[M44]

I haven't the faintest idea where to look for the data, but can anyone tell me whether Mercedes were the only team not to run the super-soft in testing?

By the looks they won't have to use them to win races (I jest), after all - this was only testing!

[pokerman]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

[VDV23]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

I don't think the FRIC ban was ever supposed to hold them back, it was just against the regulations.

[pokerman]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

I don't think the FRIC ban was ever supposed to hold them back, it was just against the regulations.

It wasn't new technology though and they could have banned it at season's end so why the rush, how can something be legal for one race and the very next race be illegal?

[hk77]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

The points system changed, and after 04 there was 1 tyre per race.

[Aussie Grit]

I haven't the faintest idea where to look for the data, but can anyone tell me whether Mercedes were the only team not to run the super-soft in testing?

By the looks they won't have to use them to win races (I jest), after all - this was only testing!

I could be wrong but i don't remember seing redbull run the super softs.

[pc27b]

What would the new redbull be for or have they already assembled it?
They aren't very specific with there tweets.

Filming day. It'll just be a new car with what will be the final 2015 livery. They won't use the camo bull livery for a filming day and it'd take too long to get the car they already have painted into the normal one.

i agree about new livery and filming day, but do f1 teams still paint cars ? i figured they used the vinyl wrap, not sure though.

[Laura23]

What would the new redbull be for or have they already assembled it?
They aren't very specific with there tweets.

Filming day. It'll just be a new car with what will be the final 2015 livery. They won't use the camo bull livery for a filming day and it'd take too long to get the car they already have painted into the normal one.

i agree about new livery and filming day, but do f1 teams still paint cars ? i figured they used the vinyl wrap, not sure though.

Paint for the base coat at least would weight less I'd imagine. Then just put stickers on top for the sponsors. They use vinyl wrap for show cars though because they change the coat on them less often. I'm sure some of the top teams respray the cars between every race that isn't a double header.

[Covalent]

If that is true here is an interesting question, would you, as an F1 driver, prefer a fast but unreliable PU or an average reliable one?

I choose fast but unreliable, because team can make its life longer with cooling settings, gearing or rpm limit values.

But if it has an internal design fault, better eyeball a different team.

They are allowed to fix reliability issues regardless of them being caused by "rpm limit values" or "internal design fault".

[Mercedes-Benz]

If there is a weekend Mclaren can get podium finish then they can risk it, I guess. Hero or zero 3 podium and 5th in WC sounds better than 5ht or 6th in constructors with no podiums. They need to be smart and plan, target some races accordingly. But for Mercedes especially reliability is most important as they can loose races and other top team too where podium can be lost. That is the worst thing to happen for driver

[Need4Naiim]

If that is true here is an interesting question, would you, as an F1 driver, prefer a fast but unreliable PU or an average reliable one?

I choose fast but unreliable, because team can make its life longer with cooling settings, gearing or rpm limit values.

But if it has an internal design fault, better eyeball a different team.

They are allowed to fix reliability issues regardless of them being caused by "rpm limit values" or "internal design fault".

So i couldn't make the initial question logical enough.

[mcdo]

Melbourne should be a foregone conclusion for the win. Merc have about a second in hand in certain conditions according to some, the smallest gap I've seen claimed is still 0.6. Their reliability is outstanding as well, they did the entire 12 days testing with one engine. They can't not win in Oz!

There's always a chance

[pokerman]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

The points system changed, and after 04 there was 1 tyre per race.

Well the change in the points system was not going to slow the car down, and the tyre change worked because there was a tyre war, all the teams have the same tyres now.

[Covalent]

Bottas 1:23.063 on the Super-soft

Still slower than Hamilton's Soft run yesterday despite it being warmer today.

Warmer isn't faster necessarily.

Benefits of cooler weather:
- Better tyre management (soft tyres last better throughout the lap in quali simulations)
- More power from the engine (cool air is thicker)
- More downforce (cool air is thicker)

[Need4Naiim]

Bottas 1:23.063 on the Super-soft

Still slower than Hamilton's Soft run yesterday despite it being warmer today.

Warmer isn't faster necessarily.

Benefits of cooler weather:
- Better tyre management (soft tyres last better throughout the lap in quali simulations)
- More power from the engine (cool air is thicker)
- More downforce (cool air is thicker)

I agree but "more dense" instead of "thicker" sounds better. Sorry for behaving as pedantic. I sometimes dislike my own posts.

[Covalent]

Bottas 1:23.063 on the Super-soft

Still slower than Hamilton's Soft run yesterday despite it being warmer today.

Warmer isn't faster necessarily.

Benefits of cooler weather:
- Better tyre management (soft tyres last better throughout the lap in quali simulations)
- More power from the engine (cool air is thicker)
- More downforce (cool air is thicker)

I agree but "more dense" instead of "thicker" sounds better. Sorry for behaving as pedantic. I sometimes dislike my own posts.

Thank you for this feedback.

[hk77]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

The points system changed, and after 04 there was 1 tyre per race.

Well the change in the points system was not going to slow the car down, and the tyre change worked because there was a tyre war, all the teams have the same tyres now.

the points system meant that the difference between 1st and 2nd was 2 points instead of 4, so that meant it was harder to build a points gap and it meant that drivers didn't want to take the risk to go for first.

the 1 tyre/ race meant that their was an advantage given to the non Ferrari teams in 05

both of these incidents, resulted in a closer racing.

thats why I believe that the FIA should intervene , even during the season if Mercedes will dominate like last year.

[pokerman]

Lets hope the FIA intervenes like the did in 02 & 04 , so as to balance the field a bit.

other wise ,
judging from rosberg's lap, the final podium place will be the main event.

I think they tried to when they banned the FRIC suspension, what did they do in 2002 and 2004?

The points system changed, and after 04 there was 1 tyre per race.

Well the change in the points system was not going to slow the car down, and the tyre change worked because there was a tyre war, all the teams have the same tyres now.

the points system meant that the difference between 1st and 2nd was 2 points instead of 4, so that meant it was harder to build a points gap and it meant that drivers didn't want to take the risk to go for first.

the 1 tyre/ race meant that their was an advantage given to the non Ferrari teams in 05

both of these incidents, resulted in a closer racing.

thats why I believe that the FIA should intervene , even during the season if Mercedes will dominate like last year.

I don't see how they could have known that changing the tyre rule for 2005 would adversely affect Ferrari?

These things that happened in 2002 and 2004 were globally done to affect all the teams and drivers and were done in between seasons not partway through.

You seem to want the FIA to target Mercedes only in order to slow them down by introducing arbitrary new rules whenever they seem fit, that's hardly sporting as Mercedes are playing a fair game.

[Paolo_Lasardi]

Actually, Bridgestone/Ferrari pushed for the one-tyre rule for 2005 since Bridgestone tyres appeared to be much more durable than Michelin's in the years before. Ironically it turned out the other way ...