F1 2014

93EXCivic wrote: Those cars are really freaking ugly. What is purpose of the dick nose? And how can Ferrari get away without having one?

so did Mercedes

93EXCivic wrote: Those cars are really freaking ugly. What is purpose of the dick nose? And how can Ferrari get away without having one?

There is no rule requiring a flaccid gentleman’s sausage on the front. It's the law of unintended consequences. The rules were changed to require a lower nose for two reasons. One to reduce the aero advantage and the other to reduce the risk of a side impact where the nose of the 'hitting' car was deemed a danger to the driver of the 'hit' car being so high. The rule was written to make the noses lower, most teams left the nose as high as possible and stuck a dongle on the end to meet the letter of the law. Some teams found different ways around it. Few are in anyway attractive. For once I think we can all hope that the rule writes sharpen their pencils and write a way to a more attractive future.

aussiesmg wrote:

oldeskewltoy wrote:

I am a function over form guy, but that is the ugliest F1 car ever

Closest 2nd Place I could find:

Force India is definitely letting the dong out, too:

The Jerez tests aren't going well for Renault powered cars. Excellent /MontyBurns

Javelin wrote: Force India is definitely letting the dong out, too:

Hmm does that black...crash structure look bigger to anyone?

I dont get it.

The McLaren rear suspension idea is pure genius! http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112341

With Renault's powerplant problems and McLaren's stroke of fortune, old Jensen may have a shot here.

I actually think Ferrari will win the Constructor's, but Emonso and Ice Man will end up whacking each other Senna/Prost style to let Hammy win another Driver's title.

Today's times so far

Jenson Button McLaren 1:25.030 40 laps
Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:25.495 32 laps
Lewis Hamilton Merceds 1:25.973 45 laps
Felipe Massa Williams 1:27.286 24 laps
Adrian Sutil Sauber 1:30.161 28 laps
Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:30.205 6 laps
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:45.525 22 laps
Robin Frijns Caterham No time 8 laps Daniel
Ricciardo Red Bull No time 3 laps

Renault look to be in serious trouble. J-E Vergne has most laps with 22, but a total of only 33 Renault powered laps today, and you notice that Frijns and Ricciardo have no times. For Ricciardo's 3 laps his first was completed on the back of a truck after he stopped at turn 7 and marshals had to poke thermal event extinguishers up the cars arse end. I think the Vino is being taken off the menu in back at the Renault factory lunch cafeteria for the next few weeks.

GameboyRMH wrote:

Javelin wrote: Force India is definitely letting the dong out, too:

Hmm does that black...crash structure look bigger to anyone?

I heard Vijay Mallya was having money troubles. He needs to find some more sponsorship, he should see if these folks want to get back into F1

wvumtnbkr wrote: It looks like there is an air passage IN the nose. I wonder why? It looks like the little "tab" on the top of the opening may be a "hinge". Could it be that at speed, that opens and directs air somewhere else?

there are electronics and other parts that need to be cooled down in the nose, hence the air inlets.

Javelin wrote: The McLaren rear suspension idea is pure genius! http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112341 With Renault's powerplant problems and McLaren's stroke of fortune, old Jensen may have a shot here. I actually think Ferrari will win the Constructor's, but Emonso and Ice Man will end up whacking each other Senna/Prost style to let Hammy win another Driver's title.

Genius indeed! It probably won't be long before other teams start to copy it.

Genius indeed! It probably won't be long before other teams start to copy it.

Maybe I'm just dense but I can't see anything in that photo....

In reply to KazeSpec:

They talked about that exact scenario. Aparently it would be a pretty involved process to switch to this setup.

Stroker: Those round foam looking things are actually the suspension pieces (arms?). Because they are structural it is within the rules. Basically, when teh car is under braking, the rear of the car moves upwards slightly NOT allowing air to go under them and help downforce. It creates a low pressure zone behind which helps the diffuser to make more downforce.

When the car is low to the ground (under acceleration or at high speeds), the pieces suspension moves and allows the air to go through. This helps take downforce off the rear of the car.

I have that right or exactly backwards. Either way, the point is that they become moveable aero pieces that are within the rules.

Rob R.

stroker wrote:

Genius indeed! It probably won't be long before other teams start to copy it.

Maybe I'm just dense but I can't see anything in that photo....

Those appear to be panels to help direct air.....

I am hoping for a Button championship this year.

93EXCivic wrote: I am hoping for a Button championship this year.

Ditto, then he move over into management at McLaren so Hammy can win his second next year

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: I am hoping for a Button championship this year.

Ditto, then he move over into management at McLaren so Hammy can win his second next year

I'm all in for a Button championship but I thought Hambone was contracted to Merc for a few more years.

I wonder what the Hobbism is for the front wing element will be :)

oldsaw wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: I am hoping for a Button championship this year.

Ditto, then he move over into management at McLaren so Hammy can win his second next year

I'm all in for a Button championship but I thought Hambone was contracted to Merc for a few more years.

It is possible for me to support more than one team. There are limits however. Kimi going back to the Red purse gang means I can't cheer for him unfortunately, Our Nigie was the last acceptable person to cheer for in a red car (I only learned to become a rabid Prost support after the fact so he was not supported at the time, even though he was fighting the cheat, the cheat was in a McLaren, tough times!!)

I will admit that all the cars do not look very attractive. Even the first few shots of the Marussia has that addition, but it is not a sausage looking as some of the other cars. Looking at what Ferrari did with their front aero treatment, may not have the proboscis at the front, but it looks like an elephant trunk as it goes from hig at the cockpit, sloping down to the front wings.

After the first 3 days, the Mercedes power unit seems to have the edge in reliability. The Ferrari unit is very close, and El Toro Rosso, I think I hear them crying and asking why they switched from Ferrari to Renault power!

Mike

To all the people that complained the old "step" noses were hideous, how do you like it now? At least the cars don't all look the same anymore. Did someone throw an "ugliest F1 car" contest and not tell the fans? Props to McLaren for the rear suspension. That falls under the "Why didn't I think of that?" category. Nice to see innovation still has a place in motorsports.

bumped. RBR does 21 laps over 4 days? Not exactly a good sign.

tpwalsh wrote: bumped. RBR does 21 laps over 4 days? Not exactly a good sign.

I think it is better they they work out the bugs now instead of latter, I would be surprised if they were at the back of the pack the first race.

So after 4 days of testing last years front runners and title winning team have some work to do before the next test. I know you cannot read anything into these tests, but Red Bull and Toro Rosso both failed to complete even as many laps as Marussia and Caterham! That is not a good thing.
Surprise though was that Williams was right up there, and a Reserve driver posted some competitive laps today as well.
We might yet see an F1 year where things are tossed on their head.

Mike Kirby