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[Sleeplessnights]

Sure, that's a great description of Michael. Well done.

Should have seen it coming.

 

[pappe]

Massa fastest on 1m22.413s following some qualifying style runs,

That does not seem fast.

 

[navanman]

Red Bull pushing the bounds of legality with the air channel/tunnel in the diffuser.

 

[Omiee]

how does that work i dont get the blue line?


nvm red is the exhaust fumes and blue is the airflow

 

[navanman]

So HRT and Marussia will both arrive in Australia next week without having had any testing at all of their 2012 cars.

Since HRT's inception three years ago, the team has still yet to run a newly unveiled car in an official pre-season test, although for the past two years it has been present at some with a year-old car.

Autosport

 

[kharma45]

Should have seen it coming.

That's why I didn't bother responding to him.

 

[S. L.]

That new rb exhaust looks impressive

 

[aeroslash]

New image from the exhaust and side pod. If this is not illegal, RB are genius!

 

[DrM]

First problems for Mclaren, issues with hydraulic system. Poor Jenson...

 

[ANDY_098]

I see McLaren have fallen into their old ways of doing very little testing... 17 laps so far today, and only 65 yesterday.

First problems for Mclaren, issues with hydraulic system. Poor Jenson...

If anything that's a relief that there is a reason they have done so little today.

 

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Things are not looking good for Kimi/Lotus

 

[ANDY_098]

Things are not looking good for Kimi/Lotus

What makes you think that?

Edit: Based on the race sims ongoing now I'd say the midfield running order is:

Sauber > FIF1 > STR > Williams

Edit 2: Rain

 

[Omiee]

New image from the exhaust and side pod. If this is not illegal, RB are genius!

i wanna know more about this, the ride height seems to be higher a bit now than right?

 

[ANDY_098]

i wanna know more about this, the ride height seems to be higher a bit now than right?

They will be running a lot of rake to aid the diffuser.

RB are at it with engine modes still...
http://plus.autosport.com/premium/feature/4258/trackside-view-with-gary-anderson/

Even more significant than the pace is the noise coming from the RB8.

It's obvious from the tractor-like sounds coming intermittently from Vettel's car that the team's electronics boffins have been hard at work mapping the engine in an aggressive way to ensure controlled misfires during the braking and downshifting process.

"Do you hear that?" Gary (Anderson) asks. "It sounds like the old traction control used to out of corners. Except it's earlier on. Red Bull has clearly worked very hard on that. It's part of what was done last year with the exhaust blowing.

"The blown diffusers are gone this year, but you can't unlearn things, and the ability to make the engine misfire at that point will still help the driver not lock-up the rear wheels, which can help reduce the rear tyre wear. The Red Bull definitely seems to be doing this best, because the car is just so stable.

Raining properly now, first wet running of the year or will teams not take the risk?

E: Ricciardo continues on inters, everyone else in the pits.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

So as I was walking around Swansea today in a very hungover state desperately trying to feel human again, I stumbled in to a store which sold these:

Pretty cool. The tiny ones were £40 each though! Mental.

Shit quality pics I know.

 

[Omiee]

ah i want that big red bull one.

is that 1:18 or something bigger?

 

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Kimi's jinx is back.. first he lost 2 days of testing, and now it's a steering problem + rain and tomorrow it will be raining as well..

Welcome back Kimi ..

 

[anx10us]

New image from the exhaust and side pod. If this is not illegal, RB are genius!

I"m going to have to ask, i can't for the life of me understand the picture, whats the issue (in layman terms) that makes it illegal (or not).

Thanks

 

[ANDY_098]

I"m going to have to ask, i can't for the life of me understand the picture, whats the issue (in layman terms) that makes it illegal (or not).

Thanks

Essentially you are allowed one hole in the floor/diffuser for the engine starter to fit through so in that sense it is legal. The starter hole also gives an aerodynamic gain as it channels the exhaust into the diffuser, so the teams try to make it as large as possible.

On the RB8 the starter hole seems very large (can't remember the actual limit in size of the top of my head, but this looks a lot bigger than what is allowed), so looks to be illegal. Whilst this design looks to be against the literal meaning of the rules, RB have obviously made an interpretation of the rules which means they can have a hole, which goes against the spirit of the rules, but is perfectly legal by their own interpretation.

They may have run the idea past Charlie Whiting (FIA Race Director) for his thoughts, and other teams may now be protesting to him about it. He can give general feedback on it though can't definitively rule on its legality until scrutineering at the Australian GP. Though RB will think that it is perfectly legal as they would not have wasted their time developing and manufacturing it otherwise.

 

[mclaren777]

Here are some better angles...

Credit to Lurk

Credit to Blackout

 

[Omiee]

really hoping vettel is going to own everyone again at Melbourne this year.

 

[Psychotext]

really hoping vettel is going to own everyone again at Melbourne this year.

That's not looking particularly likely at this point.

I really hope we have at least three teams racing closely, and in an ideal world four.

 

[ANDY_098]

McLaren wing (pic from yesterday).

Pivots down at high speed to reduce drag.

 

[kharma45]

really hoping vettel is going to own everyone again at Melbourne this year.

Hopefully not.

 

[mclaren777]

McLaren wing (pic from yesterday).

Pivots down at high speed to reduce drag.

I'm far more interested in Mclaren not using its snowplow today.

 

[Pterion]

Button was apparently very pleased with the updates, despite the lack of tracktime. Bodes well for the season...

 

[DrM]

Button was apparently very pleased with the updates, despite the lack of tracktime. Bodes well for the season...

Yep, he is very positive

"It worked out well - the laps I actually ran in it," he said afterwards. "Immediately when we put the upgrades on it felt much better.

and the most important part

"The good thing is that it gives us what we expected"

So they must have very similar data from their simulations to compare it with those from the track.

 

[brotkasten]

Maybe Ferrari should get a better simulator.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

ah i want that big red bull one.

is that 1:18 or something bigger?

1:24 it says on the sign?

It seems like a shop that would probably be spread around the country. I dunno - never heard of it before today! It really was very expensive for most things though. Paying £50 for a Force India replica smaller than the size of my hand is a hard sell.

 

[Omiee]

1:24 it says on the sign?

It seems like a shop that would probably be spread around the country. I dunno - never heard of it before today! It really was very expensive for most things though. Paying £50 for a Force India replica smaller than the size of my hand is a hard sell.

no i mean those big mclaren cars.

whats a good web shop that ships to holland that sells f1 cars

 

[Shaneus]

no i mean those big mclaren cars.

whats a good web shop that ships to holland that sells f1 cars

www.foliorumviridumbuysshitforyou.com

 

[mblitek]

no i mean those big mclaren cars.

whats a good web shop that ships to holland that sells f1 cars

There is a really good Formula One/motorsport shop in in Toronto that has loads of various models and memorabilia. I'll try to find it for you and if need be I can ship it to Holland for you?

I think I might be going next weekend to the one in Toronto, if I do go what would you want me to take pictures of?

Edit: Shaneus beat me to it.

 

[Omiee]

thats a great idea.

let me know how much it is.

ill pm

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

www.foliorumviridumbuysshitforyou.com

I'm trying to stock that Webber replica chin for you.

 

[Shaneus]

I'm trying to stock that Webber replica chin for you.

'Twould take a thousand sculptors a thousand years to even come close. You can take your time on that one, kiddo.

 

[Septimius]

Red Bull certainly seems to be at it again. Hats of by all means, but damn, they're almost too crafty!

 

[mclaren777]

If these idiots screw things up for 2012, I'm going to be royally pissed!!

For months we've known of internal bickering among the principals behind the United States Grand Prix, which is scheduled to be held at the under-construction Circuit of the Americas track outside of Austin, Texas, on Nov. 18.

Now, it appears the conflict has come to a head. USGP founder Tavo Hellmund, the racing promoter who first envisioned the track and the race in Texas, has filed suit in an Austin court against his project partners, including investors Bobby Epstein and Red McCombs, both Texas businessmen believed to be the driving forces behind providing and raising fund for the facility, which has variously been estimated to cost between $300 million and $350 million. Rad Weaver, who handles McComb's business interests, is also named in the suit.

The bottom line, according to the suit, is that the project has cost more than anticipated and resulted in reductions in plans for the grandstand, pedestrian bridges over the track, paved parking, concessions and restrooms.

Story #1
Story #2

 

[Omiee]

What is up with vettel and him not posting any Laps yet

Really looks like rbr have a problem

 

[Septimius]

"In breaking news, Vettel has left the pits"

They're running now.

 

[Omiee]

finally posted a lap time. i think the fw was broken.

 

[aeroslash]

finally posted a lap time. i think the fw was broken.

Where are you following the session from?

 

[Omiee]

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/446

the autosport forums and

http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on

 

[aeroslash]

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/446

the autosport forums and

http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on

Thanks!

It seems that Red Bull is mounting a new front wing today!

 

[Omiee]

Thanks!

It seems that Red Bull is mounting a new front wing today!

i think the fw broke when vettel ran over something.

they have a normal wing on right now

 

[kharma45]

Lots of images from testing

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/bilder/fotos-f1-test-barcelona-2-2012-tag-4-4462603.html

 

[ANDY_098]

i think the fw broke when vettel ran over something.

they have a normal wing on right now

It's not broken. Only the ends of the wing are angled, the centre section is still parallel as required by the rules.

 

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Atlast a normal testing day for Kimi

 

[kharma45]

"A close friend of Robert Kubica is in the paddock in Barcelona. He wishes to remain unidentified, but BBC Sport asked him for an update on the condition of the Pole who missed all of last season after suffering horrific injuries in a rallying accident in February 2011. 'Robert is close to leading a normal life," our source told us. 'He drives his road car and goes out by himself. He is still building up the strength in his (injured) right arm. It will be June or July before it can be determined if he is fit enough to test a F1 car.'"

Would be nice to see him back for the 2013 season, he could well end up being reserve driver for Ferrari maybe by the end of the season if he can get fit and prove he's able to handle an F1 car. I know Ferrari have 3 reserve drivers already but I'm sure Kubica could be accommodated.

 

[NHale]

El Ferrari va peor que Messi e Iniesta. En las primeras carreras sufriremos porque no estamos al 100%

I believe he said the exact same thing in the start of last year and everyone knows how that ended. If you admit the car is going to suffer in the first couple of races then you can't honestly expect Ferrari to compete this year again. The question right now is if Ferrari is really the 5th best car like some people present at Barcelona are saying.

 

[Omiee]

nice lap time by raikonnen.