Bahrain Grand Prix 2014, Sakhir - Race 3/19

Glaucus · 4 Apr 2014 at 13:32

Wouldn't be surprised if this is rbr true pace, when there's not mixed conditions. But have to air till qauli like usual to see.

Crippled Potato · 4 Apr 2014 at 13:49

Glaucus said:
Wouldn't be surprised if this is rbr true pace, when there's not mixed conditions. But have to air till qauli like usual to see.

I doubt it, they wouldn't have had 2 podium finishes in the past two races by fluke would they? (Ignoring the fuel sensor debate)
Red bull are still mighty quick, only really hampered by their power unit woes.

Glaucus · 4 Apr 2014 at 13:50

Not by fluke, wet weather always improves poor cars. It always has, as you can't use the full potential off the good car.

Like so many drivers winning their first race in the wet, in mid team cars. Is it a fluke? No. Did the cars suddenly get good? No. It simply levels the playing field that extra BHP, or better downforce at high speeds means nothing.

As I say we'll have to wait to qualifying to see, but I do think the first two races have been kind to them and all though they've improved massively, I don't think they improved as much as the first two races suggest.

deuse · 4 Apr 2014 at 16:02

P2 has started.

So rb are saying they've had another sensor frailer. Getting ready for the appeal I think.
Now they are saying that only the Renault teams are having problems because of where the put it.

utajoker · 4 Apr 2014 at 16:50

RBR seem to be the only team with sensors failing.

both mercedes have done 1:34's hamilton 1:34:3

XeNoN89 · 4 Apr 2014 at 16:52

utajoker said:
RBR seem to be the only team with sensors failing.

both mercedes have done 1:34's hamilton 1:34:3

RBR, Toro Rosso and Lotus are the only teams to have serious issues with the sensor, and all 3 are the only team to have made modifications to it. (Apparently so it can be put in a different position to everybody else)

utajoker · 4 Apr 2014 at 17:02

ah, i have only read of red bull moaning.

Tenzo · 4 Apr 2014 at 19:00

Merc looking pretty tidy again

FrankJH · 4 Apr 2014 at 19:07

6/10th's between 3rd in p2 and 13th.

Quali is going to be very painful for a few drivers tomorrow (q2 at least)

this_is_gav · 4 Apr 2014 at 19:27

deuse said:
Now they are saying that only the Renault teams are having problems because of where the put it.

I thought the sensor was in the fuel tank?

deuse · 4 Apr 2014 at 19:56

this_is_gav said:
I thought the sensor was in the fuel tank?

It's just what they was saying on sky.

"W05's technical secrets disclosed " :eek:

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...of-their-turbo-engine-has-given-them-the-edge

"Mercedes' dominant car is running with its turbo turbine and air compressor split"

Yes all merc teams have it. I don't know if it's true or not.

Skeeter · 4 Apr 2014 at 21:35

Scarbs pointed that out back in testing, and Ted noted that Mercedes' video of how their engine worked didn't actually match their engine design.

Its very clever. Isn't the MGUH also within the V of the engine with a shaft running through the whole thing? Effectively putting the electric motor in the middle of the (all be it very 'long') turbo?

SS-89 · 4 Apr 2014 at 21:46

englishpremier said:
I hear you dude. Perhaps I got too excited about the new rules but if anything the two races so far have been more boring for me than ones where Vettel was leading from start to finish. At least then there was some action for the podium.

In the last race there was nothing at all. Once the top three were set (quite early on) that was that. Even the Alonso, Hulkenberg battle wasn't that great.

I agree on Ferrari. In a decent car Alonso could have easily been a 5 times WDC by now, but that's how it goes. Why a driver of his calibre would sign his career away on such a long contract I just can't fathom. I'd have been looking at two year contracts with an option to extend a further year. It's not like he needed the security with his talent.

Don't get me started! Sucks seeing ferrari flounder year after year and you're right alonso is a great driver who has been stuck in frankly rubbish title challenging cars.

I also agree with the point that the last two races were rather boring. Like someone said I actually think it's worse than last year.

this_is_gav · 4 Apr 2014 at 22:23

SS-89 said:
I also agree with the point that the last two races were rather boring. Like someone said I actually think it's worse than last year.

Albert Park was very good, but all the good bits were concentrated around the first quarter of the race. I expect this race to be as poor as Sepang (there has never been a good Bahrain race), but when the European (and Canadian) season starts we'll be back on track... after Barcelona (as ever).

Zuban · 4 Apr 2014 at 23:03

Skeeter said:
Scarbs pointed that out back in testing, and Ted noted that Mercedes' video of how their engine worked didn't actually match their engine design.

Its very clever. Isn't the MGUH also within the V of the engine with a shaft running through the whole thing? Effectively putting the electric motor in the middle of the (all be it very 'long') turbo?

yeah I think your right its in the V, the split turbine housings is a great idea, its really interesting the differences between each manufacturer, the Mercedes uses a log style exhaust manifold, I think the Ferrari and Renault?? both use tubular manifolds which take more space, to me this suggest merc have taken a much more holistic attitude towards the design of their powertrain and car overall and so far its doing the business.

Have just read elsewhere Ferrari also do the same and split the turbine housings, like it!.

CaptainRAVE · 4 Apr 2014 at 23:20

Skeeter said:
Scarbs pointed that out back in testing, and Ted noted that Mercedes' video of how their engine worked didn't actually match their engine design.

Its very clever. Isn't the MGUH also within the V of the engine with a shaft running through the whole thing? Effectively putting the electric motor in the middle of the (all be it very 'long') turbo?

It is very clever indeed. No wonder vettel is crying so much about the state of the engines - i doubt he would be if they had this advantage.

This gives Mercedes so many performance gains.

Zuban · 4 Apr 2014 at 23:43

or Ferrari they are clearly playing games with recent quotes from Alonso and di'montezemelo, I think they see merc out ahead, and red bull only a matter of time between them and merc so they have to try some other tactics.

Glaucus · 5 Apr 2014 at 10:20

TD conference was good, as I've been saying it's teams wanting more ballast, rather than actually struggling with weight issues. It's cheap for the team to tell a driver to lose weight, it's costly and hard to lose a few kilos in the car.

Just like jockeys and other sports, teams will always want the smallest lightest driver they can.

dalin80 · 5 Apr 2014 at 10:29

CaptainRAVE said:
It is very clever indeed. No wonder vettel is crying so much about the state of the engines - i doubt he would be if they had this advantage.

This gives Mercedes so many performance gains.

I would love to see that set-up in more detail, it would allow for all sorts of different routing and packaging options. Hell separating the units like that should in theory greatly diminish the size of inter-cooler required to cool the intake air. On the other hand I could see it increasing lag slightly but that doesn't seem to have hurt them much.