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2014 F1 Car Launches & Winter testing


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From Ferraripilot on the FerrariChat forum:

 

Re Renault:
Craig Scarborough has reported new information on this Renault problem on the Pit Stop Radio Show podcast on Monday evening.
@ minute 14:17, after discussing the ES problem briefly, Craig then says the big problem is in the ERS-K system. He said the ERS-K was apparently bringing its power in too quickly back to the ICE mainshaft, causing failure in the ERS-K, and the crankcase itself. He said there is a fundamental problem with the shaft of the ERS-K. Consequently, they now have a big redesign.
"For the rest of testing, they're going to have to without full ERS power... There is also some debate as to whether this part will be ready for Melbourne as well. So potentially for some of the first races the Renault engines could be handicapped because of this problem with this motor generator."
That is the fourth person to report some information on this same problem... First the Judge from the Jerez paddock reported it directly, then Rob White of Renault Sport F1 alluded to this in his interview of Jan 31st, Gian Carlo Minardi's own article of Feb 13th had an obtuse reference to this, and now this Scarborough podcast interview describes it more directly
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From the Autosport live feed:

 

12:28 Glenn Freeman spotted somebody from Mercedes stationed towards the end of the back straight recording various cars as they pass by on full throttle.
GARY ANDERSON: "It's likely he will be recording the engine sound. From that, you can work out the engine RPM and gear ratio. And from that, probably the engine torque and the electrical torque that a given car is using to reach its top speed."
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Perez fastest as Red Bull struggles again:

 

 

Force India's Sergio Perez finished the first day of the final pre-season test at the top of the timesheets as the teams started their final push for performance ahead of the opening race in 16 days' time.

Perez's best time of 1:35.290 was set in the morning and remained at the top in the afternoon as most drivers focused on long runs. Williams' Valtteri Bottas completed a race simulation in the afternoon before setting the second fastest time with a 1:36.184 in the final 45 minutes of the session. He also completed the most laps with a total of 127 by the end of the day.

After completing just 12 laps in the morning, Kimi Raikkonen brought his total to 53 in the afternoon and set the third fastest time in the process with a 1:36.432. Nico Rosberg was fourth fastest in the Mercedes and 1.334s off Perez, but proved last week that he is capable of lapping roughly two seconds quicker on a low fuel run. He completed 89 laps in total but ended his day half an hour early.

Adrian Sutil was 1.076s shy of Rosberg after a productive day for Sauber that resulted in a total of 88 laps. Kevin Magnussen was sixth fastest but spent most of his afternoon completing a race simulation, which left him with a total of 109 laps by the end of the day.

After another tricky week at the second test, Red Bull again struggled to put laps on the car with Daniel Ricciardo completing 32 in the morning but just three more late in the afternoon as the team struggled with overheating issues. Ricciardo is scheduled to have just one more day in the car before the Australian Grand Prix but Red Bull is not alone in its problems, with all the Renault-powered teams continuing to struggle.

Lotus ended its day of testing early when, after stopping on track before lunch, the team discovered an exhaust issue and had to strip the car down in the afternoon. After skipping the first test in Jerez, each hour of track time is vital for Lotus ahead of Australia and Pastor Maldonado has managed just 116 with only one day in the car remaining.

Caterham also had a tricky day after the car caused the first of the red flags when it stopped with smoke coming from the rear. Kamui Kobayashi completed just 19 laps by the end of the day and was at the bottom of the timesheets behind Maldonado and Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso. Max Chilton's Marussia was the only non-Renault-powered car in the bottom five.

Day One times:

Sergio Perez Force India 1:35.290 104 laps
Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:36.184 127 laps
Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:36.432 53 laps
Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:36.624 89 laps
Adrian Sutil Sauber 1:37.700 88 laps
Kevin Magnussen McLaren 1:37.825 109 laps
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:37.908 35 laps
Max Chilton Marussia 1:38.610 44 laps
Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:39.242 56 laps
Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1:40.599 31 laps
Kamui Kobayashi Caterham 1:42.285 19 laps
Read more at http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/146927.html#mZsLCdoXSfeY1stR.99
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Alonso ran a 1:35.6 this morning to go second-quickest. Then he ran a best of 2014 first sector and backed off after. I think Ferrari's just beginning their performance runs.


Almost lunch time. Here's the lap count.


Hamilton (Mercedes) 61

Alonso (Ferrari) 45

Massa (Williams) 39

Gutierrez (Sauber) 34

Perez (Force India) 33

Bianchi (Marussia) 28

Vergne (Toro Rosso) 27

Ericsson (Caterham) 22

Button (McLaren) 20

Maldonado (Lotus) 17

Ricciardo (Red Bull) 13

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BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer Andrew Benson:

"Renault has issued a statement regarding the request for an extension of the engine homologation deadline that is being discussed at the F1 strategy group this morning. It says: 'Renault is providing the reference Power Unit and appropriate supplementary material to the FIA, as per today's homologation deadline.

"There is a background request from some teams for alternative proposals (as will be discussed by the strategy group today) that regard some parts and components. However, the basic requirements of the homologation deadline will be delivered today as mandated by the FIA.' Renault declined to provide details of the proposals, or which parts they applied to."

 

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I don't recall seeing so many issues with F1 cars in the past. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention.

 

Nick

There usually aren't so many, but this year begins a new formula, so these are brand new, completely redesigned cars for the first time in years. And it's the most complex powerplant formula they've ever had. Also, compared to the not too distant past, there's relatively little off-season testing during which to iron out all of these little and big problems.

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