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As a point of interest, your indictment of Ferrari as being one of the... companies that specialise in ...merchandise'...
is pretty silly, considering Mercedes is only in F1 to sell more road cars.
More astonishing details from the german interview
Who can feel any pity for the fans of Kimi, Seb, Ferrari and RBR for the 2015 misery they will have. It clear the gap will be larger than last year - neither have caught up to the 2014 Merc level and Merc 2015 level is a true magical eventuality. And if Honda slot in behind Merc its all over for 2016 as well
I see Mercedes is spreading their propaganda trying to define the problem as some sort of advantage! Yes Merc we already know that engine development is a once a year lottery and one which is now rigged in favour of last season's engine design winner.
I do fear for Mercedes in stonewalling the other teams (after going back on their word!) in not allowing any flexibility in the rules for 2015 could backfire on the team. Obviously Mercedes is only in it for profit and sales, there is no sporting aspect to this corporation. The apparent lack of investment by Ferrari and Renault in developing the current V6 Turbos for the upcoming season to me could signal that they have made a strategic decision to suffer through a non competitive 2015 and come next November of next year they will by democratic vote move to redefine the engine rules for 2016.
Ferrari is also being very strategic in replacing their team boss with a backroom operator well versed in the political side of the F1 to ensure that they are successful in redefining the sport to their benefit. It has been obvious that the Germans have taken over this political aspect (as was strongly demonstrated by their control of the International Tribunal in last years Testing scandal) and Ferrari seem determined to make it right.
These broken FIA engine rules are one hot sticky mess for F1, alot of damage has been done and alot more may be done until this can be straightened out imo.
Good to see them dip into their vast $8.2 Billion profits. But this is only a stopgap as I doubt CVC is interested in doing this subsidy for multiple seasons. The high price engines will have to be addressed with significant rule changes probably along the lines of Horner's suggestions to standardize the ers and turbo bits etc.
After the agony of defeat, success will be sweet!
This is the last I will post on this since it's obvious that ignorance is bliss and would therefore like to remain just that way. Read the following, I know, I'm sorry there are lots of words again, but see if you've heard anyone on this forum argue vehemently that what Renault themselves are saying here is not true or impossible. PitPass The conclusion of the 2014 season marked the end of a challenging but ultimately productive year for Renault Sport F1. Sweeping changes to engine regulations ahead of the season presented the team at Viry-Chatillon with a fresh and unique set of challenges.
"We've had a baptism of fire this year," says Renault Sport F1 Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul. "F1 set itself incredibly high standards with the new engine regulations. We endured a difficult testing period and first few races, but it's a testament to the sport, and the people who dedicate their lives to it, that all its engine manufacturers managed to deliver technologies compliant with the regulations and standards required by Formula One. No one would have expected such a level of competitiveness after pre-season testing.
"As far as we are concerned, everyone at Viry and our partners - technical and teams - put a huge amount of effort into taking such important strides over a short period of time. We reassessed our goals and made a series of tweaks to gradually regain the reliability and performance we expect of ourselves. Three wins and so many points are the result of our non-stop hard work."
Since the opening race in Melbourne significant gains have been made in energy recovery and Power Unit efficiency, allowing drivers maximum power output for longer periods. In fact Renault teams were approximately 5% more efficient in Abu Dhabi than they were at the start of the season, a significant improvement in a sport more used to the concept of marginal gains. This equates to a time gain of some half a second.
Speeds and performance were also enhanced. For example, at the Italian Grand Prix, lap times were consistent with those of 2013 despite using a third less fuel per lap. And while overtaking another car during the race, Daniel Ricciardo reached 362.1kph, smashing the previous year's top speed by an impressive 20kph. Sao Paulo's qualifying session also witnessed some of the fastest lap times ever recorded there as a result of the Power Unit's architecture being particularly well adapted to the circuit's characteristics.
Huge improvements were similarly made in reliability. After a shaky start, the Renault Energy F1-2014 Power Unit covered more than 90,000 on-track kilometres over the course of the season between the four Renault Sport F1 teams. This equates to an average of 11,250km per driver - or more than 37 race distances. In fact, Daniil Kvyat sits third in the list of total distance covered by an individual driver since the start of the 2014 season, while one single Power Unit has covered more than 4,300km.
"Highlighting one single element as the source of our improvement would be impossible," Abiteboul explains. "Instead, it's the development of multiple parts that has resulted in a much-improved PU to the one that began pre-season testing last January.
"Components have been modified to make them more robust; chassis teams have learnt a great deal about integration and cooling; engine and energy management control advances have enhanced driveability and efficiency; and the ‘knocking' sensation caused by cylinder pressure has been neutralised thanks to the help of our official fuel partner, Total. Together, these elements have undoubtedly impacted on results."
That more robust and competitive package soon saw Renault-powered Red Bull emerge as the greatest threat to Mercedes, whom it was able to ambush on a number of occasions! Indeed, three wins for Daniel Ricciardo - the only driver other than Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to win in 2014 - and five further podium results helped the team claim a comfortable second place in the constructors' championship, while the Australian also finished third in the drivers' title race.
"It's true that second in the constructors' championship is not our usual target, but the result demonstrates that we never stopped pushing hard and constantly improved. Obviously we have a huge job list ahead of next season, but also a clear direction and focus, as well as the determination to challenge for more wins in 2015.
"Mercedes has set the bar extremely high, most notably in terms of how their Power Unit and chassis teams have seamlessly worked together. We would like to congratulate them on a job well done, no doubt the result of years of determination and hard work at Brackley and Brixworth. We also wish to extend our thanks to our partner Total. Their relentless efforts in developing fuels and lubricants contributed to our overall performance this season.
"We are extremely motivated by the prospect of another season of competition, just as we are determined that the Energy F1 should join the illustrious list of title-winning Renault engines."
well said Renault!! They worked at it and finished up second, ahead of the rest of theMercedes teams! not just engine being loads better then! Renault recognises the results to Mercedes came of integrating chassis oil and engine from the point of conception. Or we can imagine a world where we actually believe everything a HUGE corporation shows on their books which reflects the expenditures for a particular branch, without bothering to account for expenditures in a different branch which also impact / benefit the first.
It's true that second in the constructors' championship is not our usual target, but the result demonstrates that we never stopped pushing hard and constantly improved. Obviously we have a huge job list ahead of next season, but also a clear direction and focus, as well as the determination to challenge for more wins in 2015.
Or we can imagine a world where we actually believe everything a HUGE corporation shows on their books which reflects the expenditures for a particular branch, without bothering to account for expenditures in a different branch which also impact / benefit the first.
Non of this addresses the points set in my reply. You have previously shown a lack of focus and knowledge and this is another pointless post. I can't engage with the level of knowledge that maintains that MS designed the2104 hybrid
So best you keep your opinions on merchandising to yourself
After the agony of defeat, success will be sweet!
I would suggest that you educate your opinions before responding to my posts, otherwise I may be unable to continue responding in the interests of avoiding embarrassment for you.
It appears as though your latest objection to my post forgets all the argument you had before about allowing unlimited development and lifting the freeze? I cant take you seriously as you have not offered any conclusion there before moving on to this latest 'opinion'
Please educate yourself thoroughly on the following and then respond again to these facts;
If the 2 losers have decided to 'strategically' suffer through 2015 hoping to change the rules in 2016, then where is the sporting competition there? its not fair on merc to have its rivals give up without even using the tokens provided
The R&D into new engines is where the most money goes. If all 3 makers stopped spending on development and started producing what they have now, the costs would drop completely. The parts are not the most expensive aspect - its the design and testing and implementation
The teams have already spent extra money implement this engine reg change - Lopez at lotus claimed to have spent 60 mill implementing the engines, as the Renault engines were 40mill that means each team has spent about 20 mill just changing their cars to take the new engines - this is a one off cost, so why start again on a new engine type when the chances are that the 2 losers will not be able to get that right- remember you said they have 'strategically' given up trying to improve the engine they had 5 years to prepare
There is one simple fact in F1, rule changes cost money, particularly ones involving the engine - why bring on the extra expense just for 2 teams - RBR and Ferrari, the other are happy with the Merc engine, and Honda will provide further choice - why raise costs just for 2 teams?
Please educate yourself before responding and dont respond unless you address those points as i have no interest in a dishonest shifting argument
........The have-not teams have to do the best they can in getting through 2015 and then prepare for the new democratic rules in 2016.....
The have-not teams have to do the best they can in getting through 2015 and then prepare for the new democratic rules in 2016. Rules that hopefully drive unnecessary costs out of the over complicated engines and allow for a mechanism for the teams to continue to modify their power units race to race to close the gap.
Overboost, did you miss the part about Reault and Ferrari not developing to the level they're allowed?
It's very disappointing that they've given us so little competition. Two out of ten, must try harder!
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