241 replies to this topic

[siztenboots]

4 Apr 2014 12:00-13:30 First free practice 16:00-17:30 Second free practice 5 Apr 2014 13:00-14:00 Third free practice 16:00-17:00 Qualifying 6 Apr 2014 16:00 Race Weather : no rain in Bahrain Live TV Coverage : Sky 406 - Live Bahrain F1 GP: Practice 1 Friday 11:45am Sky 406 - Live Bahrain F1 GP: Practice 2 Friday 3:45pm Sky 406 - Live Bahrain F1 GP: Practice 3 Saturday 12:45pm Sky 406 - Live Bahrain F1 GP: Qualifying Saturday 3pm Sky 406 - Live Bahrain F1 GP: Track Parade Sunday 2:30pm Sky 406 - Live Bahrain F1 Grand Prix Sunday 3pm (race start 4pm) Highlights : Qualy - BBC2 - http://www.radiotime...ying-highlights Race - BBC2 - http://www.radiotime...prix-highlights

[siztenboots]

Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko the French under pressure. To Sport Bild he says: "If no noticeable improvement Renault gets two to three months of existence, we are definitely talking about an alternative."

[siztenboots]

So from the 56 laps of Malaysia, fuel usage during the race , pro-rata from lap 54, Vettel finished with ~ 98.5% , so 1.5Kg left of fuel for FIA sample

 

[Claws]

Could RBR switch to Ferarri or Mercedes power this season?

[slindborg]

Would be a 'slight' repackaging nightmare, but the general assembly cant be hard to master.

 

Afterall, if its 3-4 weeks of 24/7 working to integrate a new powertrain Vs suffering an utterly sh*t season, I know what I'd chose.

 

 

Now to find some Carling with a skysports pass

[techieboy]

Could RBR switch to Ferarri or Mercedes power this season?

 

Not a chance in hell. Would mean a massive redesign to fit a different engine, gearbox and all the energy recovery sh!t and assuming the FiA would even permit it and one of the other manufacturers would supply it, they'd have no way to test it works other than at a race.

 

Will they kill the engine deal after this season (and probably seal Renault's F1 fate)? Quite possibly.

 

Is it all posturing ahead of an application to homologate a new version of the engine? Definitely.

[Claws]

I know the packaging would be a major stumbling block, but I thought it would have been a major 'No' in the regs. Then I thought about it, can't see why not in the regs other than fairness and the fact it is a major component that you have specced at the start of the season.

[slindborg]

Maybe need to read up on the rules, but I believe that you cannot change the 'sealed' and homologated engine contents..... thats not to say you cant change engine outright.

 

given the operating and packaging parameters of the cars/engines, you could make a short leap of faith that mechanically they would fit with ease and its just bodywork and electrical integration. Willing to be proved wrong though

[Claws]

Don't see why they can't shoehorn it in

[techieboy]

It's one thing teasing the front bulkhead or slam panel in a Nova to fit a redtop in . 

 

Bit different when the engine, gearbox and associated sh!t is a stressed component of the actual car. It's not only bodywork, it'll be suspension, fuel tank, exhausts, mapping, aero, everything will need to change and no way to test any of it. 

 

There's just no win for them. The resource restriction agreement (not that they pay much attention to it unless they're accusing someone of breaking it) wouldn't permit it. It's better to effectively write off this season as far as winning championships and just grab a podium place and politely listen to Vettel's bitching as and when they can get it (at this rate they're still likely to finish second or third assuming no more disqualifications), whilst accelerating development on next years car with a totally different engine package and ERS systems that actually work (they've had the most unreliable KERS since it was introduced). Even if the sporting regs do allow it, there's no way they'd be vaguely competitive until the last few races and even with double points on the final one, they'd still be fcuked other than getting a sly extended test programme for next year.

 

 

 

 

[JG]

that, and the fact they are not that far off, means there is no chance they will change.

[siztenboots]

high fuel consumption might play towards Williams ,

 

large image alert!

[techieboy]

Nobody got any strategy insights then?

[Scuffers]

So from the 56 laps of Malaysia, fuel usage during the race , pro-rata from lap 54, Vettel finished with ~ 98.5% , so 1.5Kg left of fuel for FIA sample

 

no.

 

fuel sample is outside of the 100Kg's of race fuel.

 

the 100Kg's is fuel used from lights to flag, before and after that is irrelevant, so the cars on the grid will have more than 100Kg's of fuel in them.

 

what's interesting is that anybody would finish without using all (or dam near to) of their 100Kg's, as this means they are basically carrying dead weight and also did not use as much engine power as they could have, fine if you finish in 1st place (no need to use the fuel) but for Massa, what's the excuse? why save fuel when you don't have to and there's a car in-front of you to steal points from?

 

if that graphic is right, Massa must have finished with ~7-8Kg's of fuel he could have used?

 

only reason I can see for this is if they short fueled the car to start with to save weight, but that under the current regs (and this early in the season) would seem a very risky strategy? I would rather have the full 100Kg's avaliable and if I knew I could run on 90Kg's use the extra 10 early on in the race to gain track position.

 

 

 

 

[Gedi]

This all seems a bit dramatic. Richardo had a 2nd (possibly helped by a high fuel rate) and Vettel hung onto the back of Rosberg's Mercedes for the whole race. We're only 2 races in, it's hardly a write off.

 

I reckon they'll be challenging for drivers and constructors championships towards the end of the season.

[Scuffers]

Could RBR switch to Ferarri or Mercedes power this season?

no.

 

FIA have a say in how many teams can use the same engine, so that no make can take over, the guide is 4 max.

 

also, I can't see merc or ferrari wanting to go there.

 

Renault will get there, the only question is how long it takes them and how much leeway they can get from the FIA in terms of changing from the homologated specifications.

 

I would suggest a lot of the red bull fuel sensor bullshit is tied up in the political game to get the FIA to let Renault make changes...

[LY_Scott]

This all seems a bit dramatic. Richardo had a 2nd (possibly helped by a high fuel rate) and Vettel hung onto the back of Rosberg's Mercedes for the whole race. We're only 2 races in, it's hardly a write off.

 

I reckon they'll be challenging for drivers and constructors championships towards the end of the season.

 

Totally agree.

 

It's not unusual for them to start off slow. Their rate of in season development is first in class.

 

I'm surprised how far they are up already.

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

Could it be the cars with more downforce are using more fuel, Red bulls were one of the quickest cars in the high speed corners and used nearly all there fuel Williams totally opposite but with good straight line speed ?

[siztenboots]

Fuel flow sensors tampered with 

The FIA have issued a new technical directive, that following the Spanish GP only sensors which have not been modified, may be fitted to the cars. Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Lotus, have been modifying the sensors provided by Gill prior to their calibration by Calibra.

The modifications are apparently intended to facilitate the installation of the sensor between the fuel tank and the engine and the threads on the sensor have been drilled where the fuel lines are attached.

FIA has revealed 95% of the fuel flow sensor problems to date have mysteriously occurred on Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Lotus cars.

From Barcelona onwards, only sensors in their original condition as supplied by Gill sensors will be legal.

[CocoPops]

Oooops.... That's not gonna help RB's appeal case then is it