Adam Scott Aukerman
Member
It really is starting to look likely that we'll have a heavy dose of petulant Vettel to look forward to on top of everything else this season. That's his only entertaining mode.
Can't wait.
Can't wait.
The Formula 1 2013-2014 Off-Season |OT| Powered by 1.6L V6 Turbo
- Thread starter Leunam
- Start date
Lol. They might be a strong team of engineers, but not so strong that they don't need to test properly. I think every team has probably done more laps than RBR by this point.
Of course. Cutting holes in your bodywork is all just a trick to lull the competition into security. Based Horner continues to be a genius.
Nevertheless, if the Renault engine itself is powerful enough and the current issues all "just" related to installation and software integration, they could be serious contenders again soon, but in Melbourne a finish would already be a success.
Nicktendo86
Member
I don't knowif its sandbagging or what but McLaren are slooooooow. Williams seems to have lot of pace, we know merc are good. The updates are just not coming for McLaren, are they behind schedule? Is the suspension causing problems? Are they holing back to not give to much away? Amazing that williams, on a much smaller budget, seem to be doing a better job. If Massa does better than either Ferrari it would be amazing.
Psychotext
Member
All of them? No. But having massive engine issues on top of packaging problems? Too much to sort in the timescale... clearly.
Looks like Mclaren are indeed slower than the previous tests have suggested, Williams and Ferrari are now chasing Mercedes for the top spot. Force India are also impressing with their race pace (simulated obviously). Marussia surprisingly seem to have a foot solidly in the midfield door so to speak, and there is some decent pace hidden within that Red Bull. It just can't do more than a few laps at a time without catching fire. Yet.
Button re: Mclaren vs. other teams pace:
Revised pace/order predictions:
Tier 1:
Mercedes
Williams
Ferrari
Tier 2:
Force India
Mclaren
Red Bull
Tier 3:
Toro Rosso
Marussia
Sauber
Caterham
Cooling (or lack of) due to the tight packaging which Newey has produced.
Button re: Mclaren vs. other teams pace:
Revised pace/order predictions:
Tier 1:
Mercedes
Williams
Ferrari
Tier 2:
Force India
Mclaren
Red Bull
Tier 3:
Toro Rosso
Marussia
Sauber
Caterham
Cooling (or lack of) due to the tight packaging which Newey has produced.
Only significant thing to change at RBR from this year to last is Webber's absence. Bet the team's missing him now!
It seems like all the reliability issues that somehow 'missed' Vettel these past 4 years have decided to strike him down before the season has even began.
Webber's probably laughing from the cockpit of his shiny new Porsche.
Nicktendo86
Member
Looks to me like Ferrari are slow as well, maybe slower than McLaren. Car looks a handfull.
I'd put it as:
RB (if car worked)
Mercedes
Williams
FI
McLaren
Ferrari
TR
Sauber
Marussia
Caterham
Lotus
Psychotext
Member
There's been precisely nothing that would indicate that could be the case. If there was a single Renault runner that had been within two seconds of the fastest run it would be one thing... but there hasn't been, so are you basing your guess on anything?
Nicktendo86
Member
Just a hunch, and trackside reports say it LOOKS like it have down force to spare. I dunno.
McLaren and Ferrari are dogs though
brotkasten
Member
Ferrari is by no means a tier 1 team. I'd root for Williams, though.
bobnowhere
Member
It would be fantastic if Williams brawned off into the distance at the start of a new formula.
fu3lfr3nzy
Member
Hamilton vs Massa in 2014? :lol
Nicktendo86
Member
I think the wheels locked up due to a pu failure. My best guess anyway.
edit: amus reporting the front brake disc exploded
I've been watching the lower half of the field the past few days and it seems like Caterham is finally getting somewhere, pace-wise them and Marussia seem to be within reaching distance of Sauber. Chilton has had an absolutely abysmal day today though (electrical issues apparently), looks like he's going to end the test with only 20 or so laps on the board and +5s off the Williams benchmark.
Up at the front, Williams again are looking very strong. Massa or Bottas on the podium wouldn't be a bad shout for Melbourne. I'll post some select excerpts from Autosport's final test write-up when it appears later today or tomorrow.
Massa deserves another shot so yeah, I can get behind this!
In Alonso's hands the Ferrari seems pretty good on long runs... it does seem to lack the outright pace of Mercedes and Williams though. I would currently consider Force India to be 'matched' with Ferrari.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Mclaren have been trying different engine covers for the past 2 tests now. A few journalists seem to think they'll be changing them on a race-by-race basis depending on ambient temperature.
Up at the front, Williams again are looking very strong. Massa or Bottas on the podium wouldn't be a bad shout for Melbourne. I'll post some select excerpts from Autosport's final test write-up when it appears later today or tomorrow.
Massa deserves another shot so yeah, I can get behind this!
In Alonso's hands the Ferrari seems pretty good on long runs... it does seem to lack the outright pace of Mercedes and Williams though. I would currently consider Force India to be 'matched' with Ferrari.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Mclaren have been trying different engine covers for the past 2 tests now. A few journalists seem to think they'll be changing them on a race-by-race basis depending on ambient temperature.
I love how Lotus is like fucking nowhere in your predictions :'D
Psychotext
Member
Hmm. Who is that red flag for?
Edit - Bottas.
Edit - Bottas.
Templar Wizard
Member
Its only testing and has been seen many times in the past,you can look good in testing and then a total retard in the first race.
The biggest story is how Vettel takes his possible new position in the mid field. Like Alonso mused: Will he outperform the car and show how incredible he is, or will his 4 titles in a rocketship make him look bad.
He did outperform his STR once, but lets see.
The biggest story is how Vettel takes his possible new position in the mid field. Like Alonso mused: Will he outperform the car and show how incredible he is, or will his 4 titles in a rocketship make him look bad.
He did outperform his STR once, but lets see.
Psychotext
Member
Probably did more mileage than they're expected to do per unit, but would like to see the actual numbers.
olore
Member
I`m following BBC F1 live updates, no mention of faulty Merc ICEs, do you guys follow any other update streams?
I think those times we're getting from this afternoon are pretty close to barebones quali pace and you have to say that Williams look like the Lotus of 2014...
It would be great to see them back at the top, especially with the beautiful Martini livery, and what a story that would be for Massa !
It would be great to see them back at the top, especially with the beautiful Martini livery, and what a story that would be for Massa !
Haha yeah, it says a lot when I'm going into so much detail and completely forget about them.
They're nowhere anyway.
Psychotext
Member
Game over. Two weeks to the first race and the entertainment of a Renault PR nightmare.
Dutch Gronk
Banned
They've been in the same shit for 5 years now, nothing changes.
Psychotext
Member
Super Soft.
Nicktendo86
Member
No softs apparently, there are conflicting reports...
Mercedes and Williams are miles ahead of everyone else. MILES.
Mercedes and Williams are miles ahead of everyone else. MILES.
Yeah, conflicting reports with Mercedes twitter post about supersofts, but Lewis managed that time several minutes before that Tweet..
Allen is reporting this:
Lewis is very satisfied with their car and he tried quite hard to downplay chances for Melbourne when talking to press.
Allen is reporting this:
If they are really on softs, this would mean that they are way ahead
Lewis is very satisfied with their car and he tried quite hard to downplay chances for Melbourne when talking to press.
Melbourne will be crazy.
I'm pretty sure "cool" and "controlled" won't be words used by commentators to describe Vettel this season. The meltdown will be spectacular. It will be interesting to see what he can do in suboptimal conditions though.
Hamilton is arguably the strongest (or second strongest) qualifier on the grid. Vettel grabbed many more poles, but he had a car that could do things in corners other cars could not. Rosberg showed he could hang with Hamilton last season, but that pole lap by Hamilton in Silverstone is a level of performance that Rosberg have not shown so far.
Already it would not be optimistic to say Hamilton should take the championship, but he has shown to dish out brilliance unevenly, and somehow manages to loose a step (sometimes a fumble) somewhere over a weekend. He does not deliver when the conditions allow him to as often as Vettel and Alonso has done. Maybe he just needs to avoid the pit entry gravel in China (he must still be haunted by that moment).
I'm pretty sure "cool" and "controlled" won't be words used by commentators to describe Vettel this season. The meltdown will be spectacular. It will be interesting to see what he can do in suboptimal conditions though.
Hamilton is arguably the strongest (or second strongest) qualifier on the grid. Vettel grabbed many more poles, but he had a car that could do things in corners other cars could not. Rosberg showed he could hang with Hamilton last season, but that pole lap by Hamilton in Silverstone is a level of performance that Rosberg have not shown so far.
Already it would not be optimistic to say Hamilton should take the championship, but he has shown to dish out brilliance unevenly, and somehow manages to loose a step (sometimes a fumble) somewhere over a weekend. He does not deliver when the conditions allow him to as often as Vettel and Alonso has done. Maybe he just needs to avoid the pit entry gravel in China (he must still be haunted by that moment).