FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:
Ferrari's technical director Aldo Costa has played down fears the new Ferrari is too conservative when compared to its rivals.

Among the new class of 2011 are the new McLaren, with radically shaped sidepods, the Renault with front-exiting exhausts, Williams' ultra-low rear and small gearbox, and the double-floor of the new Toro Rosso.

"I think the fastest car will be the one with the best performance balance between aerodynamics, the mechanical side and reliability," Costa told L'Equipe. "If you attempt something extreme in one area, you might pay in another, so for a car that wins you need a balanced approach."

He also revealed that Ferrari's F150 will evolve between now and the first race of the season in Bahrain. "Mechanically, the car will be almost complete at Jerez [this week], but from an aerodynamic standpoint, there are still a lot of changes coming.

"More than an extreme approach, we are seeking a productive approach and ultimately it will be the lap times that will make the verdict."



Discuss.

[vaptin]

I think he's correct, its great seeing innovation though, and of course you'll have to keep up particularly if a team innovates and manages to reblance the car with that innovation.

The Ferrari might have new stuff that they just haven't put on yet or isn't so obvious to see.

[vlad]

That's a reasonable statement, but, the thing is, you never know these things for sure in Formula 1. McLaren and Mercedes are (I dare to say) 2 of the top 4 teams. Both teams have done some radical changes, but, is that the best solution??? I think Jerez will tell us pretty much how things stand...

[bud]

In nature you adapt or die, In F1 it's no different!

[vlad]

Pure Darwinism!

[spankyham]

I doubt any practice times from Jerez or anywhere else will tell us that much at all.

Remember how Vettel, in the runaway fastest car last year, ended on his last three practice at Barcelona before the season proper?
I'll remind you - 5th, 8th and 5th.

[F1er]

I agree! most teams concerns are reliability

[scotty]

Discuss.

Well, last year we saw that the Ferrari was the best car mechanically (imo - evidenced by their speed on very mechanical tracks such as Monza and Singapore) and so we could reasonably expect more of the same this year. Generally speaking, i'd say that recent trends have shown that it's easier to develop aero over the course of the season compared to the mechanical side, but the flipside is that if you start off behind in the aero stakes you will probably always be playing catch up, and there's a hell of a lot of circuits where aero is the key. In many ways Costa is stating the obvious here though (as am i, perhaps ).

You know what i think'll produce the fastest car? The car that works the tyres best, regardless of everything else...

[What's Burning?]

Discuss.

Well, last year we saw that the Ferrari was the best car mechanically (imo - evidenced by their speed on very mechanical tracks such as Monza and Singapore) and so we could reasonably expect more of the same this year. Generally speaking, i'd say that recent trends have shown that it's easier to develop aero over the course of the season compared to the mechanical side, but the flipside is that if you start off behind in the aero stakes you will probably always be playing catch up, and there's a hell of a lot of circuits where aero is the key. In many ways Costa is stating the obvious here though (as am i, perhaps ).

You know what i think'll produce the fastest car? The car that works the tyres best, regardless of everything else...

Tires will wind up being the story of the year. I don't know if we'll see 3 pit stops, but based on the driver feedback, it's looking like we'll need 2 pit stops per race.

[scotty]

Discuss.

Well, last year we saw that the Ferrari was the best car mechanically (imo - evidenced by their speed on very mechanical tracks such as Monza and Singapore) and so we could reasonably expect more of the same this year. Generally speaking, i'd say that recent trends have shown that it's easier to develop aero over the course of the season compared to the mechanical side, but the flipside is that if you start off behind in the aero stakes you will probably always be playing catch up, and there's a hell of a lot of circuits where aero is the key. In many ways Costa is stating the obvious here though (as am i, perhaps ).

You know what i think'll produce the fastest car? The car that works the tyres best, regardless of everything else...

Tires will wind up being the story of the year. I don't know if we'll see 3 pit stops, but based on the driver feedback, it's looking like we'll need 2 pit stops per race.

Yup. I do think we might see some drivers being able to one stop races though, on occasion, but that's just a hunch. I guess with all the overtaking aids we could just as easily see drivers going for it by making an extra stop and using the fresh tyre advantage, seeing as track position may not be such a big deal this year! Very hard to predict exactly.

And then we have the prospect of a wet race, my god the first one of those is going to be a lottery if teams have basically zero experience on them

[Hexagram]

Ferrari and Red Bull look to have the best cars imo. Less attempted tricks going on, their designs look confident and both of them have unique and clean looking rear diffuser set ups. (Specially Red Bull)

I'd be willing to put my money where my mouth is and say they will be the pace setters in Bahrain.

That's not to say McLaren, Renault & Mercedes won't be in the mix too. I've just got a feeling Ferrari and Red Bull are ahead.

[vaptin]

This probably should be the goal of the FIA thinking about it more, to come up with a set of regulations that balance all three, would make things interesting.

[FRAFPDD]

Ferrari and Red Bull look to have the best cars imo. Less attempted tricks going on, their designs look confident and both of them have unique and clean looking rear diffuser set ups. (Specially Red Bull)

I'd be willing to put my money where my mouth is and say they will be the pace setters in Bahrain.

That's not to say McLaren, Renault & Mercedes won't be in the mix too. I've just got a feeling Ferrari and Red Bull are ahead.

Ive always refrained from these i think these have best cars things, cause no matter how impartial i try to be i always end up saying, well Mclarens looks good, im gonna say Mclaren, i dont think anyone of us can help but just pick our favourite team for example and use whatever reason is there for us to do so. But personally i think Mclaren will be the best car!

[bud]

I don't think anyone can say who will be the fastest based on looks! Only an illogical fool would go out on a limb and suggest a car is faster because of a prettier diffuser or nose nose cone!

[What's Burning?]

I don't think anyone can say who will be the fastest based on looks! Only an illogical fool would go out on a limb and suggest a car is faster because of a prettier diffuser or nose nose cone!

I agree that it would be illogical to suggest the speed of a car has anything to do with the looks of it, I left some of your wording out for impact.