Dave
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5l of petrol and a match should be the solution to the McLaren problem...
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F1 - General discussion and 2017
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5l of petrol and a match should be the solution to the McLaren problem...
That is like the old Sailing Definition:
The Boom - A noise made when a Primus Stove is combined with a Valid Insurance Policy to turn a Yacht into a liquid asset.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap so far in Formula 1 pre-season testing on the penultimate morning at Barcelona, as McLaren breakdowns caused two red flags.
Vettel became the first F1 driver to break the 1m20s barrier on Thursday when he set a 1m19.341s on soft tyres, coming within 0.031 seconds of the winter benchmark established by Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas on Wednesday.
At the start of the final hour, Vettel edged even closer to the Finn's best with a set of super-softs, falling short by just 0.004s, despite clearly backing off along the start/finish straight.
The Ferrari man continued to sandbag in the final sector on his subsequent runs using ultra-softs, which came after the first stoppage caused by Stoffel Vandoorne's McLaren grinding to a halt just after the pit exit with around half an hour left to run.
Once the action resumed, Vettel finally beat Bottas's Wednesday time, first with a 1m19.164s, before improving to a 1m19.024s on ultra-softs, despite clearly keeping lap time in reserve.
Vettel's nearest challenger was Lewis Hamilton, who moved up to second on super-softs late before posting a further improvement on ultra-softs to end up with a best time of 1m19.352s.
The Mercedes driver's fastest lap came moments before the red flag was brought out for a second time, again the result of Vandoorne coming to a halt - this time at Turn 10 - which effectively ended the session.
Daniil Kvyat was another late improver for Toro Rosso, going fourth fastest on super-softs, four tenths ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, who was 1.800s off the pace using softs on the Red Bull.
Kevin Magnussen was sixth for Haas, just 0.039s slower than Ricciardo but using super-softs, followed by Vandoorne, who at least set the Honda-powered squad's fastest time of the winter so far before his MCL32's two stoppages.
The 2014 GP2 champion's best effort was a 1m21.348s on ultra-softs, putting him 2.324s off the pace set by Vettel.
Jolyon Palmer was eighth for Renault ahead of Sauber's Marcus Ericsson - the morning's most-productive man with 88 laps on the board - and Williams rookie Lance Stroll, who racked up 85 laps in another trouble-free session.
THURSDAY MORNING TIMES:
POS DRIVER CAR TIME GAP LAPS
1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m19.024ss 1m19.024s 60
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m19.352ss 0.328s 52
3 Esteban Ocon Force India/Mercedes 1m20.161ss 1.137s 51
4 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Renault 1m20.416ss 1.392s 34
5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m20.824ss 1.800s 41
6 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1m20.863ss 1.839s 45
7 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren/Honda 1m21.348ss 2.324s 33
8 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1m22.418ss 3.394s 31
9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1m23.330ss 4.306s 88
10 Lance Stroll Williams/Mercedes 1m24.863ss 5.839s 85
Vettel became the first F1 driver to break the 1m20s barrier on Thursday when he set a 1m19.341s on soft tyres, coming within 0.031 seconds of the winter benchmark established by Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas on Wednesday.
At the start of the final hour, Vettel edged even closer to the Finn's best with a set of super-softs, falling short by just 0.004s, despite clearly backing off along the start/finish straight.
The Ferrari man continued to sandbag in the final sector on his subsequent runs using ultra-softs, which came after the first stoppage caused by Stoffel Vandoorne's McLaren grinding to a halt just after the pit exit with around half an hour left to run.
Once the action resumed, Vettel finally beat Bottas's Wednesday time, first with a 1m19.164s, before improving to a 1m19.024s on ultra-softs, despite clearly keeping lap time in reserve.
Vettel's nearest challenger was Lewis Hamilton, who moved up to second on super-softs late before posting a further improvement on ultra-softs to end up with a best time of 1m19.352s.
The Mercedes driver's fastest lap came moments before the red flag was brought out for a second time, again the result of Vandoorne coming to a halt - this time at Turn 10 - which effectively ended the session.
Daniil Kvyat was another late improver for Toro Rosso, going fourth fastest on super-softs, four tenths ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, who was 1.800s off the pace using softs on the Red Bull.
Kevin Magnussen was sixth for Haas, just 0.039s slower than Ricciardo but using super-softs, followed by Vandoorne, who at least set the Honda-powered squad's fastest time of the winter so far before his MCL32's two stoppages.
The 2014 GP2 champion's best effort was a 1m21.348s on ultra-softs, putting him 2.324s off the pace set by Vettel.
Jolyon Palmer was eighth for Renault ahead of Sauber's Marcus Ericsson - the morning's most-productive man with 88 laps on the board - and Williams rookie Lance Stroll, who racked up 85 laps in another trouble-free session.
THURSDAY MORNING TIMES:
POS DRIVER CAR TIME GAP LAPS
1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m19.024ss 1m19.024s 60
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m19.352ss 0.328s 52
3 Esteban Ocon Force India/Mercedes 1m20.161ss 1.137s 51
4 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Renault 1m20.416ss 1.392s 34
5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m20.824ss 1.800s 41
6 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1m20.863ss 1.839s 45
7 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren/Honda 1m21.348ss 2.324s 33
8 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1m22.418ss 3.394s 31
9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1m23.330ss 4.306s 88
10 Lance Stroll Williams/Mercedes 1m24.863ss 5.839s 85
Have Ferrari found a loophole in the 2017 regulations to steal a march on their rivals?
'In recent years, Ferrari had been accused of having built a conservative car,' an article in Auto Motor und Sport states. 'Not this time.'
Comparing the sidepods on the SF70-H to their rivals' challengers, these appear much higher with several flow aids in front of them - but the German publication's Michael Schmidt writes that these side boxes, while following the FIA regulations, are attached to the real side pods which are hidden behind.
The FIA incorporated rules about what angle the side pods should be, and paragraph 3.8.8 says that that angle should be 75 degrees. This is purely to aid aesthetics - aerodynamicists would prefer the angle be 90 degrees to help air flow. All other teams' sidepods are 75 degrees - Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey is said to be baffled by Ferrari's idea, while Mercedes are one of many teams who raised their suspension to clear a path for air to move under and around the sidepod.
Now, here's where Ferrari's loophole and possible advantage comes in. The carbon work in front of, and attached to the sidepods, is 75 degrees, thus following the rules, and this allowed Ferrari to make their actual side pods much smaller. It also allowed the Scuderia, under the guidance of technical chief Simone Resta, to make them at the desired 90 degree angle.
Ferrari have impressed in Winter Testing so far - do innovations like this prove it really could be their year?
Full story, in German
'In recent years, Ferrari had been accused of having built a conservative car,' an article in Auto Motor und Sport states. 'Not this time.'
Comparing the sidepods on the SF70-H to their rivals' challengers, these appear much higher with several flow aids in front of them - but the German publication's Michael Schmidt writes that these side boxes, while following the FIA regulations, are attached to the real side pods which are hidden behind.
The FIA incorporated rules about what angle the side pods should be, and paragraph 3.8.8 says that that angle should be 75 degrees. This is purely to aid aesthetics - aerodynamicists would prefer the angle be 90 degrees to help air flow. All other teams' sidepods are 75 degrees - Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey is said to be baffled by Ferrari's idea, while Mercedes are one of many teams who raised their suspension to clear a path for air to move under and around the sidepod.
Now, here's where Ferrari's loophole and possible advantage comes in. The carbon work in front of, and attached to the sidepods, is 75 degrees, thus following the rules, and this allowed Ferrari to make their actual side pods much smaller. It also allowed the Scuderia, under the guidance of technical chief Simone Resta, to make them at the desired 90 degree angle.
Ferrari have impressed in Winter Testing so far - do innovations like this prove it really could be their year?
Full story, in German
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It hasn't been a seamless start to the 2017 season for last year's 'best of the rest' Force India, with the team looking like a middle-of-the-pack team so far.
On top of balance and exhaust issues, Auto Motor und Sport report that the VJM10 is 10 kiograms too heavy. That comes down to the bigger-than-expected new Mercedes engine, and the fact that both Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon have increased muscle mass.
"We told them that they can only weigh 70 kilos in Melbourne," technical director Andrew Green said.
Because of this extra weight, it is claimed that Force India will not be running any qualification sims in Barcelona.
Full Story - In German
On top of balance and exhaust issues, Auto Motor und Sport report that the VJM10 is 10 kiograms too heavy. That comes down to the bigger-than-expected new Mercedes engine, and the fact that both Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon have increased muscle mass.
"We told them that they can only weigh 70 kilos in Melbourne," technical director Andrew Green said.
Because of this extra weight, it is claimed that Force India will not be running any qualification sims in Barcelona.
Full Story - In German
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One theme we have seen so far in Winter Testing is these new wider Pirelli tyres lasting a lot longer than we usually see in Barcelona. The soft tyres just keep going and going, while Lewis Hamilton even completed 20 laps on the ultrasofts on Day Two.
Because of this, Force India technical director Andrew Green is predicting one-stop races in 2017, and perhaps even a change in tyres.
"They appear to be lasting a lot longer than last year," he told Sky F1's David Croft. "We've got a soft tyre now that can just about do a race distance in Barcelona at Winter Testing, which is sort of unheard of.
"Looking ahead to other races, that would mean we're going to be doing one stop. I'm sure it's going to get tweaked. Where we are now, we could see some quite dull races."
Because of this, Force India technical director Andrew Green is predicting one-stop races in 2017, and perhaps even a change in tyres.
"They appear to be lasting a lot longer than last year," he told Sky F1's David Croft. "We've got a soft tyre now that can just about do a race distance in Barcelona at Winter Testing, which is sort of unheard of.
"Looking ahead to other races, that would mean we're going to be doing one stop. I'm sure it's going to get tweaked. Where we are now, we could see some quite dull races."
Agent_Smith
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Sigh...
Heisenborg
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Supersport is bringing us the SKY f1 feed this year incl all the experts before the qualifying and race 
Heisenborg
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You will enjoy it.
I started watching the SKY F1 stream a few years ago and eventually gave up on DSTV entirety - I don't even bother watching DSTV in the pub if traveling. I just wait til I get home and watch the SKY F1 recording rather.
They are by far the most complete coverage and most knowledgeable team of presenters out there.
It’s been another problematic day for McLaren, causing two red flags due to an electrical issue. But what Alonso said last night is a major worry for both McLaren and Honda. Being unreliable is one thing, and it can take time to get on top of it, but lacking power is another thing. As you try to find more power, you can be hit by new reliability problems that wear everyone down.
Eric Boullier was fairly vocal about what I said about the McLaren in Turns 1-3 during the first test (he called it "fake news" and blamed it on the engine characteristics), but I can assure you what I saw was not a power delivery problem, it was a chassis balance and driver-confidence problem. Yes, McLaren will get on top of this side of things quicker than Honda will the power unit problems, but they still need addressing.
There’s two ways to look at these problems Eric commented on. The positive is they are reading Autosport – the negative is they aren’t being honest with themselves or Honda.
Gary Anderson
Eric Boullier was fairly vocal about what I said about the McLaren in Turns 1-3 during the first test (he called it "fake news" and blamed it on the engine characteristics), but I can assure you what I saw was not a power delivery problem, it was a chassis balance and driver-confidence problem. Yes, McLaren will get on top of this side of things quicker than Honda will the power unit problems, but they still need addressing.
There’s two ways to look at these problems Eric commented on. The positive is they are reading Autosport – the negative is they aren’t being honest with themselves or Honda.
Gary Anderson
Ocon exits the pits immediately, as Kvyat ends his short runs on softs.
Straight back in to the pits for Ocon, and the track's silent once more.
As the track's quiet it might be time to tuck into the Lion bar we mentioned earlier. That was a gift from a bearded Williams PR person. Chocolate is appreciated, but it won't stop us from pointing out Stroll is the slowest driver of the day so far.
Of course, he is one of the busiest – 85 laps logged before lunch. Not a performance run in sight. Really solid shift from the Canadian rookie. He's bounced back well from last week's incidents.
Straight back in to the pits for Ocon, and the track's silent once more.
As the track's quiet it might be time to tuck into the Lion bar we mentioned earlier. That was a gift from a bearded Williams PR person. Chocolate is appreciated, but it won't stop us from pointing out Stroll is the slowest driver of the day so far.
Of course, he is one of the busiest – 85 laps logged before lunch. Not a performance run in sight. Really solid shift from the Canadian rookie. He's bounced back well from last week's incidents.
Speaking of Stroll, out comes his afternoon replacement in the Williams – the not-retired Massa.
Bottas – another afternoon driver having taken over from Hamilton – joins his former team-mate Massa on track in the Mercedes.
Bottas – another afternoon driver having taken over from Hamilton – joins his former team-mate Massa on track in the Mercedes.