F1 Mugello test (1-3 May)

[Skeeter]

Location, cost and weather at a guess.

Yep. European, sunny, and traditionally used for testing.

It's a shame they don't go elsewhere, there are some great tracks about.

 

[GravyMonster]

All old tracks > all new tracks
Hungary sucks. Malaysia is pretty good

Tilke tracks are poor, although they are getting better.
I'd say they started pretty good and are getting worse

Valencia is the worst track on the calendar, and a candidate for worst ever
Agree

Actual worst ever is the Vegas carpark
Valencia is worse as it had more planning, but it's not worse by much

Some of the best tracks in the world are not on the F1 calendar at the moment
Agree, Mugello, Portimao and Potrero de los Funes being prime examples

Abu Dhabi is massively impressive in everything except the key point of track itself
Agree. As a hotel, spa and christmas light display it's fantastic. As as race track it gets beaten by my driveway.

Spa is the best track on the calendar
Agree

Canada is the second best
Agree

Silverstone is held up by its heritage more than the quality of the track
Monaco is marmite
Agree. Whichever way you skin it, Silverstone is pretty dull, and the new section has not improved it. In fact I'd say it's worse.

Sao Paulo should always be the final race of the year
Agree. Much better to have the finale in front of passionate and mental Brazilians, rather than rich Middle Eastern socialites who couldn't give a toss.

Tracks with packed grandstands should always trump those where 4 people turn up but its government funded
Agree

Paul Ricard will suck in every possible way
I don't know. Given the right layout, I think it has potential

Portimao should be on the calendar
Definitely

Bahrain, Singapore, Korea, Valencia, and Barcalona could all be dropped from the calendar and nobody would care.
Agree, and add India too

 

[Skeeter]

I think F1 would ruin Mugello. They would need to tighten the apexes and increase the runoff. Portimao would be epic though.

 

[Kevin Clark]

McLaren tested a higher nose on one of the days apparently.

 

[Mr Men]

Oh that is interesting I guess some people will have egg on their face now.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18371725

 

[Skeeter]

The look of the McLaren nose is to do with the height of the front of the carbon tub, and not the nose section itself.

The higher nose gives the same aerodynamic principles as the rest of the teams (i.e. as much air under the nose as possible), but without looking gash.

Those photos show a different nose section. The tub is still the same lower height at the front than everyone else.

 

[Mr Men]

They have moved towards what everyone else is doing though. They have changed the nose to get more air under the car, as Anderson stated they had limited themselves and the experts here mocked.

 

[arknor]

what developments did the teams bring anyway?

merc
slightly altered front wing
new brake ducks that deflect air to seal the diffuser.
finally a monkey seat (looks quite advanced to) unlike most teams simple blocks
altered the diffuser
altered the rear of the floor
new aerodynamic gear box case (the bottom section that sits infront of the diffuser and has the starter hole)

be nice if everyone can list what the team they suport have done/tested

 

[sunama]

What is a monkey seat?

 

[Mr.Fantastic]

What is a monkey seat?

Basically it's the tall thing attached to the beam wing.

 

[sunama]

Thanks.

 

[~Mike~]

McLaren tested a higher nose on one of the days apparently.

Also McLaren were testing an adjustable brake duct-system, which could alter the tyre temperatures during a race. Could also have been running it since the start of the season.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/mclaren-technik-bremsen-trick-und-hohe-nase-4907992.html

Google translate

McLaren can adjust the brake ducts?

In addition to the nose could still see something interesting in Mugello. Both Paffett and Turvey came during their long runs every now and again briefly in the box, parked parallel to the garage and drove to a few seconds further back. During the brief stops were not as commonly changed tires or temperatures measured. They could see only two mechanics here who feigned on both sides of the airbox with a little crank spins. The only question is what?

Without a glance at the Carbon Dress we have no definitive answer - but a hot suspect: Even before the Mugello test there were already some rumors that McLaren is said to have developed a new revolutionary ventilation of the brakes, during a race can be adjusted. Initially there was speculation that the system will only work on the rear axle. The competition but now believed that it is both front and back tested.

Temperature regulation for tires

The benefit is easily explained: The system is not about the temperature of the brakes but the heat output can be controlled from inside the rim of the tire. The first Grand Prix of the year have shown there: Who can race Sunday to respond to temperature fluctuations, has a big advantage. The new Pirelli rubber of the 2012 vintage will only work in a small window.

It would be a real coup if the engineers had found a way out of Woking, adjust the temperature in the tires during the race. Since it is the brake ducts to aerodynamic parts, the driver from the cockpit itself is nothing to adjust active. If there is no other trick would have to make the mechanics during a pit stop, the necessary settings.

At the pit stop to get but not ran directly to the brakes without taking the tire change in the length. There must be another solution be found. Have the necessary screws will therefore be moving into the central part of the car? Perhaps we are in Barcelona a little smarter. Auto Motor und Sport is tuned but definitely on topic.

as posted here http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=21862864#post21862864

 

[FrankJH]

Interesting - but that surely is either brand new (or since the 3rd race at least) or its complete bs - like everyone McLaren were having real issues with tyre temps in one of the races (I think it was 3rd race)

Interesting to read further developments on this though

Im still worried that McLaren didnt have either race driver at Mugello, like every other team. I just cant see how the team can get viable information from the two youngsters alone (that will apply directly to a race situation)


That new nose does make me laugh, cant quite get away from thinking its a (middle) finger

 

[Duke]

what developments did the teams bring anyway?

Going by the F1 show on Sky last Friday, Marussia had a new front wing and rear suspension. Force India had some parts they were hiding, think it was a new exhaust layout?

 

[TaKeN]

Yes Duke, I believe Force India now have a McLaren style exhaust solution.

 

[Skeeter]

Where was Lewis this week anyway? Jenson was in Hungary driving up and down the streets (PR trumps development, it would seem), but no news as to where Lewis was meaning he couldn't go?

Jenson did make a good point in the F1 show though that the testing they are doing at Mugello ties in heavily with their simulator work, and that Turvey and Paffett were doing most of the simulator work too.

I don't think its the massive concern that some people think it might be. I can see why McLaren might have wanted Turvey and Paffett in the car. Its just a little unnerving to get the impression that the drivers aren't really that interested in the testing...

And I hardly think the new nose on the McLaren is any reason to point fingers and go "ah ha, you go it wrong!". Its served them well so far.

 

[arknor]

MERC changes in pictures for anyone interested.

its a pitty you have to scour threads on the internet to find what devlopments happen as SKY cant be bothered to go into detail on the sky f1 program and would rather chat ****



top wing is the new one , wider pylons (like mclaren have done) , the nose seems a lot bigger aswell and 2 of the winglet things have been altered and merged together

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Mercedes really do seem to be getting their act together. Good to see.

 

[Skeeter]

Mercedes really do seem to be getting their act together. Good to see.

I think its more a case of use getting a much more in depth view of Merc's changes through arknor than for any other team.

I'm fairly sure that most of the teams would have been testing that many new bits, but nobody has gone to the effort to collate them all like arknor has for Merc.

 

[sunama]

Indeed. Other teams (especially Ferrari), have not been sitting on their laurels.
The proof will be when they start next week's GP (it is next week...isnt it?)