FORUMula1.com

[Jabberwocky]

The hulk is putting some times in this week.

[Hammer278]

Those times have been set on softs, while most others are sticking with mediums.

[Jabberwocky]

Lets hope FI are not doing a ProstGP

[CookinFlat6]

Seems like the brake by wire is the cause of Merc and Ferrari issue. Fine tuning the system, this sounds intriguing, what happens in a race if the software fails? Do the brakes default to full lock? If so that could be dangerous at certain points in the race. Can we really rely on a computer to regulate the rear brakes at200 mph? Is there a cabled back up?

Any ideas?

[Hammer278]

I read somewhere that there is a backup cable which will function in case the BBW registers a failure. It's an automatic relay which triggers the cable to start functioning though of course the braking characteristic completely changes. Sutil is saying Sauber are still learning about it and he's had to adjust his style to his new system.

BTW Magnussen has just thrashed Vettel's 2013 record at this track, 1:35:4 to boot. Bloody impressive stuff.

[CookinFlat6]

That must mean that rumours of 850 bhp etc from Merc might not be far off the mark. To beat last years numbers with the reduced Df must mean the engines are developing more than last year

[Jabberwocky]

I think that is why the front brakes are still Manual, just incase the fly by wire fails.

[Hammer278]

Maggy's gone even faster with 1:34:9. Soft tyres, but still....this puts him around 2.5 seconds slower than last year's Q3 pole time.

[Jabberwocky]

All the renault teams seem to be about 3 seconds off where I would expect them to be. So I assume that is how much the engines are turned down.

[1Lemon]

Williams did over 100 laps today, doing 1:37s from the Finn to Win

[Hammer278]

Does anyone know what was Vettel's longest stint today?

[CookinFlat6]

Maggy's gone even faster with 1:34:9. Soft tyres, but still....this puts him around 2.5 seconds slower than last year's Q3 pole time.

I can see those 2.5 secs achieved by the end of the the 3rd test in all out gung ho low fuel mode

which would be an amazing achievement by the engineers, shame about the lack of the true F1 sound of an engine sreaming its head off at 16k revs, this 10k stuff is like a bunch of boy racers in road cars

[cheekybru]

http://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/car/f1-w05-360-video/ does this vid work for you guys? I get the audio but no video, cant find the footage on youtube ethier ;(

*Edit - its working now great vid, THIS is the sort of visuals we need to show the speed of F1!

Just to bring this up again, ive just been on and realised you can rotate the camera with your mouse and look wherever you want, amazing lol you guys probably already noticed this but its just wowed me

[spankyham]

Magnussen - 1m34.910s (super soft)
Hulkenburg - 1m36.445s (super soft)
Alonso - 1m36.516s (soft)
Rosberg - 1m36.965s (Medium)
Bottas - 1m37.328s (soft)
Kobayashi - 1m39.855s (soft)

All teams now getting decent laps done. My team looks competitive so I'm pleased about that.

Ferrari finally bolted a monkey seat on the F14-T, albeit last years. For the Tifosi, Nando was fastest in S2 which is clearly the df tester at Bahrain.

I'd say Mercedes would have to be the pre-season front runner at this stage. They have done the most laps with no real problems and the car looks good. By the time we get to Europe it will probably be Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari leading with the most reliable one probably in the lead.

[spankyham]

Lap totals to date by team:-
Mercedes - 467.
Ferrari - 411.
McLaren - 371.
Sauber - 300.
Williams - 295.
Force India - 283.
Caterham - 209
Toro Rosso - 117
Red Bull - 93.
Marussia - 50.
Lotus - 26.