F1 Testing 2014: Week 1 Jerez

Hmm, looks like the FIA didn't really understand their own rules with the camera mounts. The Merc nose is a pretty consistent swoop down to the tip, yet the fixed location for the cameras is above the top level of the nose, hence the ears.
 
Just, wow.
The pressure the Renault guys will be under now. I've highlighted the damning part.
Renault admits it has numerous problems with its new power unit and that it underestimated how it would perform on track.

After issues throughout the first test at Jerez, Renault-powered cars completed just 151 laps compared to 444 for Ferrari and 875 for Mercedes, while the fastest time by a Renault engine was over five seconds slower than the best Ferrari-engine time and almost seven seconds off the quickest Mercedes-powered lap.

Renault Sport F1 deputy managing director (technical) Rob White conceded the engines had not been reliable enough to extract the required performance from them.

We have not run enough laps, and when we have they have not been run at an acceptable performance level, White said.The underlying causes are not straightforward: there isn't a single component or system that has caused particular trouble. A number of related things have been troublesome, principally concerning the control and operation of the various sub-systems of the Power Unit within the car.

For example on the first run day, we had problems with a sub-system within the Energy Store that did not directly concern either the battery nor the operation of the battery it is an electronic part that was in the same housing as the Energy Store.

We subsequently had problems with turbocharger and boost control systems with knock-on effects on the associated engine management systems, subsequently provoking mechanical failures.

And White also admitted that Renault had underestimated the difference between testing its engine on the dyno and how it performs in reality.

We believed our initial configuration was a robust start point for track use but it has not proved to be the case. We have done substantial dyno running in a similar configuration with few issues. We now know that the differences between dyno and car are bigger than we expected, with the consequence that our initial impressions were incomplete and imperfect.

Our intention was to run the car; we are very frustrated to face this litany of issues that we should have ironed out on the dyno and which have deprived us of a precious learning opportunity.
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Skeeter said:
Teds Notebook. Sometimes he does a 'development corner' bit where he goes into details about fine points of cars designs. The one on todays Notebook was great.

It will be up here soon: http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1



I believe so. Based on being the previous 4 years champions.
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really does show what a new set of regs can do.
would have put money on renault being the best package with their past, silly assumption, but one non the less
 
Would have put money on Merc for the pure reason Merc do not like being 2nd best, new rules, brand new, more emphasis for them
 
Having seen that an engine that can work on a dyno perfectly can then really struggle when put in the back of a car, I think Ferrari and Mercedes will have a real advantage this year, as their chassis' will have been developed with a full understanding of their engines.

I think I'm going to drop a tenner on each of the Mercedes and each of the Ferrari drivers to win the WDC.
 
Ok chaps - just arrived back in the UK after a fun day in Gibraltar. I ended up taking around 600 photos - no idea how many are actually going to be any good but I've quickly whizzed through them and picked out ten for you (please excuse me if I got the drivers wrong - it is late and I've had about 12 hours sleep since Tuesday!)


Kevin Magnusson by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Jenson Button by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Valterri Bottas by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Jenson Button by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Nico Rosberg by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Kimi Raikkonen by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Nico Rosberg by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Sebatian Vettell by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Nico Rosberg by Greg Kingston, on Flickr


Nico Hulkenberg by Greg Kingston, on Flickr

Edit - added Lewis Hamilton


Lewis Hamilton by Greg Kingston, on Flickr
 
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It must be the nose effect but the Ferrari and Mercedes both look like shorter wheel-bases than the likes of the McLaren.

The McLaren has one fantastic side profile though.
 
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