Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2019 18:57:27 GMT
Its interesting to compare the team times for today and yesterday. McLaren - Sainz over 0.6sec faster than Norris on the same tyre. Racing . - Perez 0.04 SLOWER than Stroll, same tyre. Ferrari - Vettel over 0.5sec faster than Le Clerc, same tyre Alfa R - Raikonnen 0.35sec faster than Giovanazzi, same tyre Haas - Grosjean 0.4sec faster than Magnussen, same tyre Red Bull - Verstappen 0.6sec SLOWER than Gasley, same tyre. Toro Rosso - Kyvat 0.03sec slower than Abon, same tyre. Mercedes - Bottas faster than Hamilton, both days on the same tyres (0,02 & 0.15sec respectively) Renault - Ricciardo 2.5sec SLOWER than Hulkenberg today on harder tyre Renault - Ricciardo 0.2 faster than Hulkenberg yesterday on same tyre Williams - Kubica 0.3sec faster than Russell on same tyre. Generally it looks like the times today were 0.3sec or better faster than yesterday. So the guys today who were the same or slower than their team mate weren't having a good day - and the standouts in that are Perez (slower than Stroll?  ), and Verstappen (Slower than Gasley). Bottas has been having consistently faster times than Hamilton most of testing. Is this showing us who the quicker drivers are in each team, or just the teams that are failing to improve their cars? ? It's a fun list but I'm not sure about how much you can read into it. We know the tyres but we don't know the fuel loads, what program they were on, ambient temperatures, etc. Bottas is for sure not faster than Hamilton.
Looking at testing today shows the Merc is still not where it wants to be. It looked like Hamilton was having a good run in the morning on the C2 but then his time was shattered by Leclerc on the same tyre. And running on the softs (which Mercedes didn't run), the Ferrari is superior. Looks like a good season ahead! Forza!  Probably very little, I'm just trying to make some sense of the meagre information I've seen. You'd think that the motorsports sites that have people at the tests, or just watching the livestream could do more than just report fastest lap times, failures, accidents and driver press releases. There must be more insight to be had, like; what times are the Teams doing in their long run tests and race simulations, and; are Mercedes showing signs of concern about their apparent lack of pace, or is there the underlying smugness that suggests they are playing a smarter sandbagging game than everyone else? I'm also hoping for a Forza Ferrari season, but after so many years of disapointment, am suspicious when signs look so good in pre-season testing. What have we missed? |
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Feb 28, 2019 23:35:14 GMT
Its interesting to compare the team times for today and yesterday. McLaren - Sainz over 0.6sec faster than Norris on the same tyre. Racing . - Perez 0.04 SLOWER than Stroll, same tyre. Ferrari - Vettel over 0.5sec faster than Le Clerc, same tyre Alfa R - Raikonnen 0.35sec faster than Giovanazzi, same tyre Haas - Grosjean 0.4sec faster than Magnussen, same tyre Red Bull - Verstappen 0.6sec SLOWER than Gasley, same tyre. Toro Rosso - Kyvat 0.03sec slower than Abon, same tyre. Mercedes - Bottas faster than Hamilton, both days on the same tyres (0,02 & 0.15sec respectively) Renault - Ricciardo 2.5sec SLOWER than Hulkenberg today on harder tyre Renault - Ricciardo 0.2 faster than Hulkenberg yesterday on same tyre Williams - Kubica 0.3sec faster than Russell on same tyre. Generally it looks like the times today were 0.3sec or better faster than yesterday. So the guys today who were the same or slower than their team mate weren't having a good day - and the standouts in that are Perez (slower than Stroll? ), and Verstappen (Slower than Gasley). Bottas has been having consistently faster times than Hamilton most of testing. Is this showing us who the quicker drivers are in each team, or just the teams that are failing to improve their cars? ? Ref. Bottas vs. Hamilton: There have been some headlines recently about Bottas, saying that he's ready to fight Hamilton, ready to be "the villain", etc. My initial impression was that, "this is just Barrichello vs. Schumacher all over again". Barrichello said similar things around 2001 or 2002; but it lasted only two or three races, then it was tacitly "forgotten". But Bottas might be "on it" this year -- it will be interesting to see. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Mar 1, 2019 1:13:13 GMT
ecclestone leveraged power and privilege as means to an end, playing all sides against the middle and everyone for a fool.
It's unclear what the new bosses intend, but it's unrealistic to expect they would kill the golden goose
At least they could use some of its feathers to make those splintered wooden stands more comfortable Goose down pillows are a wonderful idea, but someone would need to sand the benches smooth. Otherwise, massive pillow fights would be inevitable, not entirely bad if a safety car interrupts a dull race...  |
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Mar 1, 2019 13:07:26 GMT
... Still, Vettel set a new lap record during last year's test; it was 1:17.182 ... This morning, 1:16.221 -- almost a second faster than the best time last year! I also had a look at the times from 2017. At that time, Raikkonen set the fastest time, 1:18.634. So about 1.5 seconds faster from '17 to '18 - and probably a full second faster from '18 to '19, in spite of the new rules. Or maybe even more ...? |
|
|
|
Post by René on Mar 1, 2019 16:54:50 GMT
I'm also hoping for a Forza Ferrari season, but after so many years of disapointment, am suspicious when signs look so good in pre-season testing. What have we missed? Oh I know what you mean! I have waited 21 years once (Scheckter>Schumacher) so the 12 years now is easy-peasy... ahum.  And what have we missed? The silver arrows! Hello Mercedes! Finally the Mercs have shown what they can do and they are right up to Ferrari speed. The Ferrari is good, very good but Mercedes is right there. 1.16.221 for Seb and 1.16.224 for Lewis!  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2019 3:32:25 GMT
Ref. Bottas vs. Hamilton: There have been some headlines recently about Bottas, saying that he's ready to fight Hamilton, ready to be "the villain", etc. My initial impression was that, "this is just Barrichello vs. Schumacher all over again". Barrichello said similar things around 2001 or 2002; but it lasted only two or three races, then it was tacitly "forgotten". But Bottas might be "on it" this year -- it will be interesting to see. Apart from anything else, the salaries seem it indicate very clearly who Mercedes think their No1 driver is. That said, let's hope that Bottas can find the speed in the early races to challenge Hamilton, and that Mercedes don't shut him down if he does find the pace to start taking points away from Hamilton. While it was awesome when Rosberg did that in 2014 and 2016, that was in the days of the two car series. Nowadays, if it is looking close in the drivers championship, it is hard to imagine that Mercedes wouldn't ask Bottas to act as the number 2 driver. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2019 3:39:29 GMT
... Still, Vettel set a new lap record during last year's test; it was 1:17.182 ... This morning, 1:16.221 -- almost a second faster than the best time last year! I also had a look at the times from 2017. At that time, Raikkonen set the fastest time, 1:18.634. So about 1.5 seconds faster from '17 to '18 - and probably a full second faster from '18 to '19, in spite of the new rules. Or maybe even more ...? The pace of development in F1 is relentless. The designers always seem to find more pace, even when the regulations change to try to slow them down. For me, the most amazing thing is that the relative pace changes much more slowly than the absolute pace. How is it possible that all the teams, with their different structures, budgets, and design concepts, all seem to make similar improvements in pace? |
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Mar 3, 2019 7:44:52 GMT
One thing that makes the F1-aerodynamics interesting is that it often turns out to something completely different from what you would normally think. We have been led to believe that it is bad to disturb the airflow. But now, in the explanation of the new rules, it is said the following about the new rear wing layout: " What’s the change: A higher, wider, simpler wing " Why has it been made: Like the front wing, to help promote even closer racing. Height is up by 20mm, taking the 'rooster tail' wake coming off the back car higher into the air. Combined with a width increase of 100mm, the larger wing assembly creates a bigger hole in the air – to the benefit of cars trying to slipstream behind." ( Citation from : www.formula1.com ) "... the larger wing assembly creates a bigger hole in the air – to the benefit of cars trying to slipstream behind." This is interesting! But it makes sense. I believe it's like this: it's not bad (for close following) to disturb the airflow, if the disturbed air is "fully turbulent" (thinking in terms of sound, like white noise). What is bad/damaging is to create vortices (also known as "coherent flow structures" - so again in terms of sound, vortices can be likened to ... sentences of words (coherent structures)). A well-known researcher said, in some well-turned words, that "vortices are the sinews and muscles of fluid motion". So in terms of this analogy, the new rules reduce the "sinews and muscles" of the air flow generated by the cars (by getting rid of all those vortex generators on the front wing(s)) - and at the same time they increase the "belly fat" (= unstructured turbulence) of the air flow (by increasing the size of the rear wing). So it becomes more like it "used to be", in the '70's and '80's. Yes, seen in this light, probably the winged cars of the '70's were not worse than the wingless ones of the 60's regarding slipstreaming.  Monza 1971  Jamara 1981 |
|
|
|
Post by René on Mar 3, 2019 11:20:34 GMT
Wonderful post Mikael and great photos!
Yes, it does make sense the way you explain it and there are some positive signs as several drivers have said they had the impression that following other cars has improved. We'll see.
Now testing is over and the teams are on their way down under it is interesting to read the different analysis of the well known F1 reporters. Their performance list may vary here and there but they agree on one thing: Ferrari is top of the list. Lewis came very close at the end but he needed several tries to get there while Seb was sidelined with an electric problem. A strong indication of Ferrari's actual pace was the lap that Seb did before he did his fastest lap on the softs. It was a 1:16.7 on the mediums (C3). When you translate that to C5, he could easily have done a 1:15.9 and probably even deeper in the 1:15s had they gone full qualy trim. Noone else can do that right now. But of course, we should never count Mercedes out of the equation.
Red Bull had a bit of an up and down test. A lot of bullish talk by Morner and Harko and they are certainly not bad but they are not a threat to Ferrari yet and I don't think they are at Mercs level either although opinions differ on that. Still not a bad start with Honda and for Honda it is good to work with a team that always builds a world class chassis.
Renault did not look bad although not entirly clear if they have actualy come closer to the top three. I think we can only see that after a few races and Haas is right in their slip stream. Alfa was less impressive in the second week compared to the first but there is great potential. Ferrari (FIAT) will make sure they don't fall back too far. Leading the midfield will be their aim I guess. Great potential could also be at Racing Point if daddy Stroll keeps pumping enough cash in the team. It has always been a creative bunch of racing people who know how to build a good car.
Toro Rosso and McLaren made for headline times but they were glory runs, or on a more positive note motivation runs. Still, Albon looks to be very good and McLaren seems to be on the way up which cannot be said about Williams. There is finance now but something is not right. If it's the people/knowledge or organisational I don't know but a change is needed at Grove.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 12:11:12 GMT
I declare his name to be Lance Schumacher. Bill,
As Rene writes, it's good you are awake, although apparently from a disturbing dream about illustrious fathers and their sons. Mick is a curious name for a German, but I predict he'll do well unless he has his father's arrogance. Lance Stroll will not do well unless daddy buys the commercial rights and creates a reformulated series called Formula Lance.
What is your opinion of the new circuit in Australia, The Bend Motorsports Park?
Cheers, Carl
Drove a short layout of it the other day, Carl. Very dusty and slippery but an excellent circuit. It will be good to see fast racing cars there ie faster than V8 Supercars. |
|
|
|
Post by chrisb on Mar 3, 2019 16:06:47 GMT
Lewis has been a bit more vocal than I have previously noted, speaking about the UK TV audiences drop from nearly 9 million watchers 10 years ago to around 2 million now, saying that can't be good for business and surely Liberty or words to that effect will look at that
Also whilst there is hope for closer racing and genuine racing Lewis has been quite critical of the tyres and how they may effect the racing,
Mikael, great photos my friend, only slight drawback was that incredible 1981 Spanish GP no one could get past the amazing Gilles so am not sure that following closely will produce anything as exciting as that day in Jarama,
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Mar 3, 2019 17:25:08 GMT
Bill,
As Rene writes, it's good you are awake, although apparently from a disturbing dream about illustrious fathers and their sons. Mick is a curious name for a German, but I predict he'll do well unless he has his father's arrogance. Lance Stroll will not do well unless daddy buys the commercial rights and creates a reformulated series called Formula Lance.
What is your opinion of the new circuit in Australia, The Bend Motorsports Park?
Cheers, Carl
Drove a short layout of it the other day, Carl. Very dusty and slippery but an excellent circuit. It will be good to see fast racing cars there ie faster than V8 Supercars. Your description reminds me of Riverside, an excellent and challenging circuit also prone to the occasional wind driven dust from the surrounding high desert. |
|
|
|
Post by robmarsh on Mar 6, 2019 22:15:53 GMT
I read that Williams have axed Paddy Lowe. Not a moment to soon in my view. I thought he was overated anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisb on Mar 7, 2019 11:41:01 GMT
trouble is Rob with Pat Symonds already departed not having improved matters, Rob Smedley as well, one wonders what exactly is going on at our favourite engineering F1 team?
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Mar 7, 2019 15:19:54 GMT
trouble is Rob with Pat Symonds already departed not having improved matters, Rob Smedley as well, one wonders what exactly is going on at our favourite engineering F1 team? Good observation Chris. Although I've never seen a leader in Lowe, it can't be only him where the problem is. Several good people have not been able to turn Wiliams' fortunes around over the last few years. As I mentioned in my previous post, something is just not right at Grove. Is the company's working method not up to modern F1 standards? Are their facilities outdated? Or is Claire just not the right person to lead the team, to have a vision and a goal on the horizon and make everyone go in the same direction? I think it's great to keep the team in the family and even better to have a woman leading an F1 team. But is she good enough?
|
|
), and Verstappen (Slower than Gasley).
