F1 - General discussion and 2017

Analysis: Ferrari tipped for new livery, new engine tech in F1 2017

Formula 1's focus has already shifted to the arrival of the all-new 2017 cars – which will be wider, more aggressive looking and faster than their predecessors. But, as Franco Nugnes reveals, even bigger changes could be coming at Ferrari.

Is Ferrari ready to ditch its white livery band, for example? It is a desire of the technical staff at Maranello, and there are suggestions the team will abandon the white stripe that returned last year.

The white had been historically associated with bad times and, after a season where the SF16-H took 11 podiums but no wins, Ferrari's management may hope that reverting to an all-red concept may at least mark the start of a new chapter.

Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne and team principal Maurizio Arrivabene want to turn the page on a disappointing 2016 campaign.

And although the two chief men at Maranello are not going to risk making firm predictions for 2017, they are both convinced in the job that the technical group under Mattia Binotto can do.

Binotto is an excellent organiser, and is credited with giving a chance of redemption for a lot of the specialists in the racing department that were left in the shadows by the arrival of James Allison and other technical management.

Allison's departure last July was not painless for the team, because some of those left behind were not convinced about the new structure that was put in place, where there would no longer be a pyramid reporting structure but a more horizontal one.

Ferrari chose, however, not to sign a big-name replacement – although some of the reason for that was the lack of available candidates.

Mercedes' Aldo Costa, for example, is bound to the German car manufacturer until January 1, 2018 – and even if he had decided to return to Italy he would still need to go through a year of gardening leave – meaning he would only really be on board for 2020.

Binotto has got straight down to work through, and is pushing hard the 14 working groups inside Ferrari to try to get back to winning ways – and end a victory drought that stretches back to the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix.

Ferrari has set a February 24 date for the presentation of its 2017 car, which will run at Fiorano for a filming day.

That date – just a few days before Barcelona testing begins – has been set because the team wants to hold back on unleashing its engine (with only four power units available for 2017) and its aerodynamic developments until the last possible minute.

In engine terms, the 062/2 marks a different direction for the team – with its head of ERS, Thierry Baritaud, set to be given an internal combustion engine that will make better use of the MGU-H – which should increase the efficiency of the hybrid systems and also limit the risks of turbocharger reliability.

But perhaps the most radical innovation concerns the combustion chamber, with Ferrari considering the use of a new multi-jet ignition system that will move the team to the next level in its relationship with the Mahle technology company.

Ferrari's gearbox is also set to be heavily revised, because the 2016 concept of mounting the rear suspension between the differential and the gearbox proved useful for helping deliver a very narrow rear suspension but was not very efficient in maximising traction at the rear axle.

So Ferrari is set to revert to a more proven solution, and will pursue a front suspension route similar to Mercedes.

The overall chassis dimensions are also set to change, although this has been partly forced on it because the fuel tank capacity will be increasing from 100kg to 105kg as part of the new regulations.

It is expected that the wheelbase of 3494mm will grow by around 200mm – with the engine set slightly further back compared to last year's car.

At Maranello the team is staying tight-lipped about what is being planned, but there are expected to be some surprises from the 668 (the codename of Ferrari's 2017 car) – amid talk that there are some 'unusual' shapes on the wind tunnel model.

We will see just how radical these designs are next month.
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Source
 
Zyraz said:
Analysis: Ferrari tipped for new livery, new engine tech in F1 2017

That date – just a few days before Barcelona testing begins – has been set because the team wants to hold back on unleashing its engine (with only four power units available for 2017) and its aerodynamic developments until the last possible minute.

Source
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Surely the Barcelona tests don't use race power units.
There may be a testing restriction as well but I would have thought that the "only four power units available" rule would kick in in Australia.
If the two preseason tests are using the four race units allocated then the circuit de catalunya is going to be very empty for those two weeks.
 
Genisys said:
Issue is, this is F1. Nothing is a done deal until it was leaked by multiple sources, then denied by the team in question, and then confirmed by the same team two days later.
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Hahaha yeah the PR is rather predictable in F1
 
was just thinking how good it would be to have Webber as Hamilton's teammate


edit: if he was still racing in F1
 
Yorkie said:
was just thinking how good it would be to have Webber as Hamilton's teammate


edit: if he was still racing in F1
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I don't care what his F1 achievements reflected, I dig the guy as a sportsman. Loved watching him in Le Mans.
 
Polish said:
a-ah

despite his childish arrogance LH is a very talented race driver, so if we are comparing skills i would def agree with D4N
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Definitely, he is a good driver, but the stats doesn't lie. I still feel Ric would have been a good team mate for him, and possibly a world champion give the right car.
 
Genisys said:
Definitely, he is a good driver, but the stats doesn't lie. I still feel Ric would have been a good team mate for him, and possibly a world champion give the right car.
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Agree. Ricciardo would be WC in the right car. He's also very likeable.
 
mubeend said:
Hamilton's Mercedes mechanics could not beat Rosbergs Mercedes mechanics
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Rosburg had Hamiltons Mercedes Mechanics, that was one of the key issues this year, they swapped key people arround to break up team cliques.
 
Ferrari letter prompts row over 2017 Formula 1 suspension designs

Leading Formula 1 teams could be forced to revise their suspension systems on the eve of the 2017 season following a Ferrari query over technology pioneered by Mercedes.

The champion team is among those developing fully-legal hydraulic systems to improve chassis stability following the effective ban on FRIC (Front and Rear InterConnected) suspension in 2014.

Mercedes has placed a heave (or third suspension element) behind the rocker assembly to control vertical displacement of the suspension.

The benefits of the system were clear in 2016, but it is now under the microscope after Ferrari queried the use of such concepts in correspondence with the FIA before Christmas.

Red Bull could also be affected, having managed to exploit once again the radical rake angles integral to its aerodynamic concept.

Writing to the FIA to discuss whether new ideas on other cars are legal is common practice for F1 teams.
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Full story here
 
Yorkie said:
Ferrari letter prompts row over 2017 Formula 1 suspension designs



Full story here
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So what's the deal - Ferrari can't emulate it in time, or they're genuinely playing by the spirit of the rules? I have no issues with teams innovating if it means my road car benefits somewhere down the line but if they have not emulated it themselves because they believe the rules are being breached then I support them in that. At the very least, it should be accessible to all. They should make all IP open source two years after it's used by any team IMO.
 
Heavyonthemagick said:
So what's the deal - Ferrari can't emulate it in time, or they're genuinely playing by the spirit of the rules?
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Ferrari have never played by "the spirit of the rules" and often get the rules changed in their favor.
The question did make me laugh though, which was nice on my first day back at work :)

Agreed on the Open IP - That would make F1 much more road relevant but could also make manufacturers reluctant to partake.
 
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