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[sagi58]

, Glenn Freeman and Matt Beer wrote:">Mercedes form during F1 testing not a worry to Alonso

Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari will be in the hunt with the Mercedes-powered teams at the front of the 2014 Formula 1 field, despite its muted Bahrain test form.

..."They are strong, no doubt," he said of the Mercedes teams.

"After Jerez and two days here, the Mercedes cars look to be performing in a strong position, but this is just a test.

"We don't really know how much fuel they really have, or the useage of the tyres, etc.

"So it's not a concern, not a worry.

"I think everyone will be on top of their problems more or less before Australia, so I expect the Mercedes engines will be strong in Australia, I expect Red Bull will also be strong in Australia, and Ferrari too.

"It will be a great competition."...

[sagi58]

GMM wrote:">Ferrari V6 turbo engine uses clever method to save fuel
Ferrari looks to have come up with another of the big Formula 1 innovations of the 2014 season.

It emerged last week that the new Ferrari F14T features an unique cooling system that allows their new challenger to have very small sidepods, notwithstanding the extreme cooling demands of the all-new ‘Power Unit’ rules.

Now, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Ferrari’s new V6 turbo engine is also highly innovative.

The report said the engine features a ‘cut-off’ system that works with the direct injection to keep engine temperatures low and save crucial fuel.

The system means that, at times, the flow of fuel into the combustion chamber is stopped altogether and the engine is not sparked...

[racechick]

Andrew. Benson thinks Ferrari are looking competitive. He sums up thus.......

BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer Andrew Benson
"Ferrari continue to be quietly impressive in testing, performing reliably and regularly close to the top of the time sheets. Fernando Alonso was third fastest on Thursday, beaten only by the super-soft-shod McLaren and Force India.

"The Spaniard said he was 'happy' with Ferrari's progress so far, and that he was not worried by the obviously strong performance of the Mercedes-engined cars. 'They are strong, no doubt,' Alonso said. 'After Jerez and these two days in Bahrain, Mercedes-engined cars look to be performing in a strong position, but it is just a test.

"'We don't know how much fuel they have, how is the usage of the tyres etc. It is not a concern or worry at the moment. As is not the Red Bull or Renault performance. Everyone will be more or less on top of the problems in one way or another before Australia. I expect Mercedes engines strong in Australia, and Red Bull also, and Ferrari, too. It will be a great competition, I think.'"

[sagi58]

GMM wrote:">Ferrari confirms wind tunnel crisis is now over



Fernando Alonso appears to have confirmed reports claiming that Ferrari have now resolved their wind tunnel crisis.

For some time, including throughout last season, the famous Italian marque has been working at Toyota’s Cologne facilities, while the troublesome Maranello wind tunnel was closed for a complete overhaul.

Ferrari had struggled with the correlation of data between the tunnel and the real world, but last week at Jerez proved that the Maranello facility is now back up to full steam.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed that the “aerodynamic validation” at Jerez last week “matched our expectations” with regards to the brand new F14T car.

Spaniard Alonso agrees that Jerez showed that Ferrari, having not won a Drivers’ crown since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, is now back on track.

“The car has some good signs and, let’s say, the philosophy that the car has been designed is just what we are seeing now on the data,” he told CNN in an interview.

“So there is nothing wrong, nothing to be pessimistic about, but a lot of work to do,” Alonso added.

[sagi58]

Staff wrote:">'I destroyed the car quite badly' - Raikkonen



Kimi Raikkonen said his spin on the final day of testing was "not the end of the word" as he brushed off the accident that saw him finish Saturday's session in the barrier.

With just five minutes remaining Raikkonen lost the rear of his Ferrari on the exit of Turn Four and destroyed the nose of the car against the barriers. However, with four full days before the start of the next test in Bahrain the team will have no problems fixing the F14 T.

"I spun and crashed in the wall unfortunately," Raikkonen said. "I destroyed the car quite badly but luckily we can fix it, it's just a little bit of work unfortunately. But that's how it goes. Maybe it was me, but sometimes it happens and it's not like it's the end of the world even if people like to think it is. I just got wheelspin and went to the inside and into the wall." ...

[CookinFlat6]

When Alonso says "'We don't know how much fuel they have" its a little worrying. Surely he should assume that a time 3.5 seconds quicker than his car has been able to do was on absolutely low fuel quali trim?

This all seems to be following a certain familiar pattern, the team say they are confident, dont know about the others, then come the first race they are behind and admit to having some issues, then say they have updates on their way for the first few races, then those updates dont work out so well, then Alonso drops a few hints in public that they are behind, then Monte bashes him in public etc etc

Why not just say they are behind Merc? They were close on reliability and speed until Merc ramped it up. So they are obviously behind on the testing schedule as they havent ramped it up, assuming there is more to ramp up.

Sounds all a bit too defensive

[Jabberwocky]

Maybe he is saying the Ferrari has 3.5 seconds worth of extra fuel.

Sent using NCC-1701

[spankyham]

All we know is that Mercedes has completely shown their hand. We are still holding our cards close to our chest. We also know Mercedes stopped twice with failures and that Nico was half a second faster than Lewis on the same tires.

[CookinFlat6]

All we know is that Mercedes has completely shown their hand. We are still holding our cards close to our chest. We also know Mercedes stopped twice with failures and that Nico was half a second faster than Lewis on the same tires.

Hmm. surely testing is the time for, well, testing. With so little time available to get to grips with the newness of it all, why would Ferrari be sandbagging? Either they are behind Merc as far as testing schedule and getting to know their car on track, or they simply do not have the low fuel, soft tyre pace 3.5 seconds quicker than their 2 very fast drivers have been able to squeeze out of the car so far.

Either they have done no fast laps because they are still grappling with other issues or the very similar times both their drivers have done is the limit. When are they gonna show their hand, at Q3? Would they not want as much time as possible testing the limits before the first race

I want Ferrari to be up there creating credibilty to Mercs prowess, but I suspect either a big setback or a big issue. Have they done a full race sim or are they holding those cards close also, maybe till the first race perhaps

Also Merc have only had minor problems better found in testing than later, Ferrari could be looking at a car thats a handful to drive, unless Kimi had a sneaky half pint of lager before his incident

[spankyham]

All we know is that Mercedes has completely shown their hand. We are still holding our cards close to our chest. We also know Mercedes stopped twice with failures and that Nico was half a second faster than Lewis on the same tires.

Hmm. surely testing is the time for, well, testing. With so little time available to get to grips with the newness of it all, why would Ferrari be sandbagging? Either they are behind Merc as far as testing schedule and getting to know their car on track, or they simply do not have the low fuel, soft tyre pace 3.5 seconds quicker than their 2 very fast drivers have been able to squeeze out of the car so far.

Either they have done no fast laps because they are still grappling with other issues or the very similar times both their drivers have done is the limit. When are they gonna show their hand, at Q3? Would they not want as much time as possible testing the limits before the first race

I want Ferrari to be up there creating credibilty to Mercs prowess, but I suspect either a big setback or a big issue. Have they done a full race sim or are they holding those cards close also, maybe till the first race perhaps

Also Merc have only had minor problems better found in testing than later, Ferrari could be looking at a car thats a handful to drive, unless Kimi had a sneaky half pint of lager before his incident

Ferrari are not sandbagging, they clearly are running a different test program to Mercedes. That is totally normal and is exactly how it happens during testing. I remember everyone getting all excited at last years testing, and Gary Anderson declaring McLaren as the team to beat based on their lap times. Conversely do you remember where the winner of the 2013 Australian GP ended up after testing completed in 2013? (and we still have another 4 days of testing to go). Do you remember where the winner of the 2nd race of 2013 ended up after testing completed in 2013?

[CookinFlat6]

If 2/3rds of the availble testing time has gone before the start of the biggest reg change ever, then I cannot believe there is any testing schedule that would opt to leave a race sim AND low fuel fast runs till the last 4 days. And why would Alonso say 'we dont know about their fuel load or tyre usage' Surely he should be saying 'we know our fuel load and tyre usage and in knowing that we are not worried'

Not meaning to pee on the fans parade but its better to know there is a hitch that can and will be overcome rather than the usual 'cards to chest' routine we see at the start of each year

Also Spanky what is your opinion on this - I posted earlier on another thread, its not really reported upon and Ferrari have since changed their tune to 'We dont know about the others we are not worried we do our own thing'

Envoy Autosprint in Sakhir (Bahrain) - Alberto Antonini

Now admit it, half-heartedly, even at the box Ferrari . driven Mercedes teams are in the lead. If you corrected now, maybe the F14 T could beat Williams and Force India , but against McLaren and especially Mercedes GP would be really tough.

This guys is saying the Ferrari garage admit they would come third if the race was tomorrow
http://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/2014/02/21/analisi-2-quanto-vale-la-ferrari/13306/

Maybe not enough that cant be clawed back once they get everything going, but apparently driveability problems so far, its not as good round the corners as the Merc, listen to this from 2.20 in

[youtube]aflurrK5LcI[/youtube]

[spankyham]

If 2/3rds of the availble testing time has gone before the start of the biggest reg change ever, then I cannot believe there is any testing schedule that would opt to leave a race sim AND low fuel fast runs till the last 4 days. And why would Alonso say 'we dont know about their fuel load or tyre usage' Surely he should be saying 'we know our fuel load and tyre usage and in knowing that we are not worried'

Not meaning to pee on the fans parade but its better to know there is a hitch that can and will be overcome rather than the usual 'cards to chest' routine we see at the start of each year

See my answer above. Ferrari are running a different test program to Merc. As you say we still have a third of testing to go. Nico has told us that Merc were running low fuel Q sims, so Mercedes have declared their hand.

Also Spanky what is your opinion on this .....

He believes he can work out a pecking order, I don't believe that's possible at this point in time. His opinion is that Ferrari is behind Mercedes, McLaren, Force India and Williams which places Ferrari in 9th and 10th position in the title chase. Let's see how accurate he is once we have wrapped up 2014.

[Hammer278]

Wouldn't you think testing is also the time to test a light car and how it responds in terms of setup, I mean I'm sure Kimi wasn't having a relaxed drive when he wiped the nose of that Ferrari lol

[CookinFlat6]

No no no, he is quoting someone in the Ferrari pit as having this impression of the pecking order. Thats what I mean, the teams will all know roughly where they are compared to others. I dont speak Italian but going by the translation, a Ferrari insider said they were behind the 2 teams at present. Then later the team are saying the usual 'we do our own thing we dont know about the others'

Thats what is a little concerning - Merc have done low fuel runs, lets assume thats their full 1 lap pace, then Ferrari will know how much fuel they had in the car etc when consistently maxing out with both drivers 3.5 secs off that. They should know that 'with low fuel and soft tyres' we can beat that or not. To say we dont know we dont care is interesting, especially in the light of this Italian journo claiming Ferrari told him they couldnt do the times of 2 teams

Also how come they havent done race sims and short sprint testing, normally teams will have at least done one of thos in the first half of testing

[spankyham]

Wouldn't you think testing is also the time to test a light car and how it responds in terms of setup

I'd say once testing is completed Ferrari will have done setup work and then some Q sims. What I see is Ferrari spending a lot more time understanding and learning their car for the whole season and not much focus yet on race setup and qualifying.

I mean I'm sure Kimi wasn't having a relaxed drive when he wiped the nose of that Ferrari lol

Probably as relaxed as Lewis was when he wrote the nose of his Merc