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[racechick]

Now we have a bit more information about next year, I'm wondering how things will pan out for the different teams. Here's a couple if views to start the ball rolling...

BUTTON thinks the first test will be 'hilarious'
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.ph ... ostpopular

BRAWN thinks it's an exciting opportunity and Merc are in good shape
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.ph ... ostpopular


What do you think? Who might take advantage? Who might struggle? Any surprises?

[CookinFlat6]

Button is the oldest and most experienced guy on the grid. So I think he what he says will set a reference point for assessing which drivers adapt quickest.

"It is going to be very tough to get to grips with it.

Will some drivers not find it tough but actually excel in low grip high torque conditions?

"Hopefully the experience I have with developing the car and making it how you want it to be will help me for next year."

Will we see which drivers are exceptional at providing feedback and setting up the car. Will some drivers get in wrong more than others, will some drivers be 'mystified' and 'unable to comprehend why the setup is not corresponding to what they want it to be?'
Will some drivers find that they just cannot 'make it how they want it to be'

"It is in a bad place right now but by the first race we will all have it sorted," he added.

Its in a bad place now? Last winter it was in the best place yet wasnt sorted out by the first race. Will other teams be more ready come the first race?

"Winter testing is going to be hilarious in Jerez," said Button

Will it be hilarious for everyone?. 2013 was hilarious for McLaren but maybe it will be everyone in the same position in 2014?

So thank you to Button for setting the benchmarks and reference points for the others. We can now see who is above or below this standard

[spankyham]

Very good question.

From a teams perspective this will be all about who can best read the new regs and find avenues and loopholes that others don't see.

The drive-train is where there is plenty of scope.

Aero's will be more important because they are reduced in area.

Delivering power will also be important.

One thought I had was on the HERS and rules of ERS usage. I'm pretty sure KERS generated power is limited to the same use as the last years. However, I think HERS can be used elsewhere. It seems that most think teams will use their HERS to add to the time they can run at boosted power - which would give approx 33 seconds per lap of 760HP and the balance of the lap at 600Hp. I was wondering if a team, under the regs would be allowed to use some of the HERS to spin up the turbo and eliminate lag which I guess still exits although not as much as in the previous turbo eras.

[CookinFlat6]

There will be no turbo lag whatsoever, as the Hers and energy store will always be available to spool the turbo

[1Lemon]

When someone describes testing as potentially hilarious, you know it's going to be an odd season.

[What's Burning?]

Kinetic/stored energy will be used to spool up the turbo so boost will be readily available. So will torque oversteer!

[CookinFlat6]

"Hopefully the experience I have with developing the car and making it how you want it to be will help me for next year."

How can Button say this with a straight face, after the middle of 2012, or indeed most of 2013. Was this not the same chap who trademarked the expressions;

'the grip went missing'
'the balance disappeared'
'I cant understand it'
'I have to work out why'
'something very strange happened'
'It just wasnt the same car as before'
'how can this car be so bad'
'dunno, I just couldnt find the grip'

[IheartKimmi]

CookinFlat, I get that you don't like Button, we all get that but for goodness sake will you let it go? For someone who totally dislikes a person, you are showing a rather extreme example here. Why do you have a quote from Button as your signature if you despise him so much? We all know that Lewis is faster. What are you trying to prove by constantly demeaning Button?
I know I said I wont be back but I am. I have tried not to read anything negative you say about Button but unfortuately that would rule out any thread you ever post in.

[racechick]

IheartKimmi, why don't you give us your views on the winners and losers of the new regs?
button thinks it's hilarious,
Cookin thinks button will struggle
Brawn thinks Merc will do well
Spanky has given a lot if technical things to consider, so who do you think will come out of this shake up well...or not well?

[Hammer278]

"Hopefully the experience I have with developing the car and making it how you want it to be will help me for next year." - Jenson Frigging Button

[What's Burning?]

FI and Williams will be challenging further up the grid.

I expect Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to continue their 2013 efforts as the leading teams with Ferrari once again coming up short. I believe their hiring two cocks instead of their usual one rooster and one hen, means they expect to be struggling a bit on the car front and wanted to maximize their points from a driver's standpoint.

I wish Lotus well but I believe their run up front will suffer greatly, a lack of money to pay their start driver can't mean they had an abundance of money/resources to design the 2014 spec car.

I'm not hopeful for Sauber to continue their form, financial struggles and losing one of the best drivers on the grid is going to see them tumble.

Mclaren is a question mark, I hope Magnussen delivers, but I wouldn't be surprised if their 2014 brings only marginal gains over their 2013.

This is the year for either Caterham or Marussia to make a jump and beat one of the mid field teams should they falter, otherwise they're done.

Williams with their understanding and resurgence of the car after ditching the colander exhaust that they were never able to master, coupled with the Mercedes engine will wind up being next year's biggest gainers.

[spankyham]

Kinetic/stored energy will be used to spool up the turbo so boost will be readily available. So will torque oversteer!

So its confirmed this will be a legal and intended use, thanks for that. I guess it was rather obvious.

[CookinFlat6]

Apart from the efficiency of the power curves for the new engines, the biggest factor will be the feedback from the drivers from testing and the free practice sessions once the season starts. Ferrari have employed 2 of the most able drivers to mitigate this risk. Force India have a good mix of experience and talent. Merc have integrated the engine and chassis teams the best and for the longest. They also have arguable the best driver pairing. RBR have Seb who is exceptional at development. Lotus have little money but have proven to be able to punch above their weight as far as in season development and management.

McLaren are continuing the path they have been on by not applying common sense and street smarts to the approach to next season.

If Button finds it hard to find grip in an era of planted rears and extra downforce from blown exhaust aero.

How is he going to lead a team in an era of no extra aero, torque oversteer, much less grip, unpredictable handling characteristics, little track testing, and a rookie teammate?

[CookinFlat6]

Interesting article about the history of engine reg changes in F1 and the type of teams that have benefited most
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1840617-ferrari-and-mercedes-will-benefit-most-from-f1s-new-engine-regulations-in-2014

After four straight years of Formula One dominance from Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull, fans are ready for a change. The hope is that new engine regulations for the 2014 season will provide it.

While a shake-up at the top of the standings is not guaranteed, major changes to engine regulations in the past have usually benefitted one specific group of constructors: those who build their own engines (or who are the sole customer of an engine company). Red Bull does not. It is reliant on Renault, who will also be powering Toro Rosso and Caterham (Lotus is using Renault engines this year but have yet to announce a supplier for 2014).

The only two constructors who will build their own engines next year are Ferrari and Mercedes. This gives them several advantages, including the ability to develop the engines and chassis side-by-side to complement each other. Meanwhile, engine customers must take what their supplier gives them.

Some historical perspective: In 1960, Ferrari finished third, behind Cooper-Climax and Lotus-Climax, winning just once in nine races. Porsche was seventh, scoring only one point all season.

In 1961, engine size was reduced from 2.5 to 1.5 litres. Ferrari dominated the season with its drivers, Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips, finishing first and second in the Drivers' Championship. Porsche, also supplying its own engines, finished third, behind Lotus (still sharing Climax engines with a number of other teams).

The next significant change in engine regulations took place before the 1966 season: The size was increased again, to 3.0 litres. Once again, teams supplying their own engines capitalized. Brabham, while not actually building its engine in-house, hired Repco to build an engine specifically for its chassis. The team, which finished third in 1965, won the Constructors' Championship. Ferrari was second, improving from fourth the year before.

For the 1989 season, turbocharged engines, which had been dominant for most of the 1980s, were banned. McLaren, the only team using Honda engines, won the championship, as it had in 1988. Williams (using Renault engines for the first time, and the French company's sole customer that year), improved from seventh to second. Ferrari finished third, having been second in 1988.

The reduction in engine capacity for 1995 is an exception to our rule. Benetton and Williams, both using Renault, had their second straight one–two finish, with Ferrari a distant third both years.

The change from 3.0 litre V-10 to 2.4 litre V-8 engines for the 2006 season was the last major change in engine regulations. By now, the results will not surprise you: Renault (now a constructor as well as engine supplier) and Ferrari won every race but one (Honda, supplying their own engine, won in Hungary). In fact, the top six teams either built their own engines or were a sole customer (McLaren–Mercedes). The bottom five teams were customers or shared engine suppliers.

These results are not significantly different from 2005, when Renault also dominated, but it is good to note that its performance did not suffer with the new regulations. The same cannot be said for Williams—in 2005, the team had four podium finishes and placed fifth in the championship as BMW's only customer; in 2006, sharing Cosworth engines with Toro Rosso (although Williams had a newer model), the team finished eighth in the championship and never higher than sixth in a race.

For 2014, if the engine advantages are not enough to convince you that we are in for a change, Ferrari and Mercedes will probably have the two strongest driver pairings for next season, as well.

Sure, Red Bull retains four-time World Champion Vettel, but he will be partnered with the unproven (at least in a top-flight team) Daniel Ricciardo. Meanwhile, Ferrari will feature Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso, who have split three World Championships between them. Mercedes will stick with the same drivers: 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and three-time grand prix winner Nico Rosberg. (In fact, Ferrari and Mercedes are the only teams who will have two grand prix–winning drivers in their line-ups next year.)

Maybe, finally, we will have a new World Champion in 2014.

[Roth]

Red Bull will come up with a dubious *insert clever trick here* and make a mockery of the new regulations.

Again.