F1 Testing 2014: Week 1 Jerez
- Thread starter Shimmy
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Bear in mind it's not much different to the beam wings all the cars used to have, it's not an addition as such: http://www.f1sport.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/beam_wing_red_bull.png
What I mean by that is, McLaren have simply found a clever way to reincorporate the beam wing as part of the suspension now that the beam wing itself is no longer permitted. So whilst there is 'more drag' than them not being there, it's a downforce advantage that all the teams employed last year by way of the beam wing.
In reality, McLaren have effectively maintained a beam wing (with improvements by the sounds of it) and all the other teams have lost theirs.
What I mean by that is, McLaren have simply found a clever way to reincorporate the beam wing as part of the suspension now that the beam wing itself is no longer permitted. So whilst there is 'more drag' than them not being there, it's a downforce advantage that all the teams employed last year by way of the beam wing.
In reality, McLaren have effectively maintained a beam wing (with improvements by the sounds of it) and all the other teams have lost theirs.
"I have to say, the McLaren is looking by some margin the best balanced car. Having spent the day walking the circuit, whether in the hands of world champion Jenson Button or rookie Kevin Magnusson, the MP4-29 was cornering as though it was on rails." - anon.
So many positive things I'm reading about MP4-29
So many positive things I'm reading about MP4-29
3rd day of testing, yep, definately time to declare that we know exactly how the season will pan out 
.
But given the massive rule shift loosing testing time is going to seriously hamper some people. If the Renault remains a bit unreliable, I hope its bat our of hell quick. Seeing all the Renault cars going full chat while praying they won't explode could be great.
But if one engine turns out to simply be a dog then its not going to be brilliant if 1/3 of the grid needn't bother turning up.
.But given the massive rule shift loosing testing time is going to seriously hamper some people. If the Renault remains a bit unreliable, I hope its bat our of hell quick. Seeing all the Renault cars going full chat while praying they won't explode could be great.
But if one engine turns out to simply be a dog then its not going to be brilliant if 1/3 of the grid needn't bother turning up.
3rd day of testing, yep, definately time to declare that we know exactly how the season will pan out
But given the massive rule shift loosing testing time is going to seriously hamper some people. If the Renault remains a bit unreliable, I hope its bat our of hell quick. Seeing all the Renault cars going full chat while praying they won't explode could be great.
But if one engine turns out to simply be a dog then its not going to be brilliant if 1/3 of the grid needn't bother turning up.
Would still be better than the second half of last year where 90 percent of the grid needn't have bothered turning up tbf!
Soldato
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Nice stat. Didn't think of that one. Technically the Sauber engine in Massa's days was a Petronas though 
What the hell, brake by wire? Didn't realise that was in. Surely that opens up a world of trick electric ABS settings?
Edit: actually, sounds like its meant to be ABS style by design. Electronically govern brake bias, engine baking and caliper input. Still possible to lock the fronts though.
Edit: actually, sounds like its meant to be ABS style by design. Electronically govern brake bias, engine baking and caliper input. Still possible to lock the fronts though.
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Caporegime
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Yup, when he's got 15 mins or something, spending even half of that chat talking about hashtag crofty and stuff, is pretty wasteful.
Rewatched some of yesterdays notebook, apparently I missed the beginning on the engine and his awful toy/mock up engine stuff, funny, but awful. It was the latter part I saw which was pretty dull. Obviously it doesn't help, during the season the teams are far less secretive as it's too late, and he can walk up and down the pits. Here he can't do that. Some of it's interesting, but a lot of filler nonsense.
Third test will be more interesting notebooks. Nose stuff could be interesting though.
As for Mclaren and strategy, we'll see, no more Whitmarsh, we'll see what difference that makes. Lotus got there strategy right quite often, but not perfect with the Kimi staying out several times when he shouldn't have.
They also had the terrible year in the pitstops but they were improved last year.
lol at Ted's visual aids.
Caporegime
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It wasn't entirely clear and was my immediate first thought, but then you can still have pressure via a sensor rather than hydraulic, the electronic side might purely be how much from the discs vs how much from engine, but the actual amount of braking being done is governed by pedal pressure. Definitely something I would like to hear clarified.
The problem with the idea of the last three races having double points is what if there is one driver that dominates as per last year? If that person is then killing it for double points in the last three races and stretching his lead out even further, it will make the problem that double points was supposed to fix even worse!
It's a gamble that it might let others catch up at the end of the season and keep the championship alive, but it might also allow the front runner to run away with it even more quickly.
It's a gamble that it might let others catch up at the end of the season and keep the championship alive, but it might also allow the front runner to run away with it even more quickly.
