The 2014 Formula1 Thread!

[_Rick_]

Technical issue.
Considering that there's pretty much nothing that's off-the-shelf for these cars (By the end of the season, around 20 of those Renault engines will have been run, including units used in testing), and software is getting ever more complex, especially at the beginning of the season the new parts are more likely to fail, due to them being still relatively untested.

Add in the new durability requirements, and you simply cannot risk a power unit to get damaged, and thus have to trust your sensor suite to switch off some components at the slightest sign of trouble. Then you have sensors that occasionally give false alerts, and your car is crippled.

So it may be random software or mechanical or electrical issues that disable one car, while the other has no issues at all, simply because part consistency is going to be not as great as it was last year.

 

[Topweasel]

Don't forget driving style. Some like more overstear, some understear, some approach corners hard and use up a lot of tires, some are more gentle and while slower at the beginning of a race are able to maintain better performance at the end. There have been many an example of cars or tires and set up causing major performance gaps between drivers.

Ferrari 1997-2006 are perfect examples of cars that fit all the models. Rubens was much much more competitive in 2002 and 2004, than he was in the other years, where those cars where near nuetral and easier to set up for bother drivers and the 2004 so fast that even if Rubens struggled with the setup he was still 30 seconds faster than the rest. You didn't even in the end need the team orders really because of how much those cars where designed specifically for Schumi (get well soon).

 

[KingstonU]

With regards to all the fans complaining about the engines not being loud enough (though I completely disagree).

If it really does hurt ticket sales. Then wouldn't it be incredibly easy to make a small universal modification to the exhaust that would make it louder, and just make it mandatory across the board between teams.

Making things quieter has always been a challenge, but making something less quiet seems trivial in comparison no?

 

[Saylick]

With regards to all the fans complaining about the engines not being loud enough (though I completely disagree).

If it really does hurt ticket sales. Then wouldn't it be incredibly easy to make a small universal modification to the exhaust that would make it louder, and just make it mandatory across the board between teams.

Making things quieter has always been a challenge, but making something less quiet seems trivial in comparison no?

I'm no mechanical engineer by any means, but from what I understand, the exhaust system is all straight-piping save for the turbo, so these engines are as loud as they can be. F1 teams wouldn't intentionally run mufflers as that restricts the exhaust and thus would reduce the power output.

I suppose one could make an outlet prior to the turbo (no, not the wastegate) which is always open if all you wanted was more noise, but that doesn't make sense from an engineering standpoint.

 

[_Rick_]

All the energy that used to exit the exhaust and manifest itself as noise is now harvested by the turbo. That's why the cars are less noisy.
And I'm pretty sure we won't see any kind of modification to the current technical regulations just to see an increase in noise levels.

 

[Skurge]

With regards to all the fans complaining about the engines not being loud enough (though I completely disagree).

If it really does hurt ticket sales. Then wouldn't it be incredibly easy to make a small universal modification to the exhaust that would make it louder, and just make it mandatory across the board between teams.

Making things quieter has always been a challenge, but making something less quiet seems trivial in comparison no?

The Audi's diesels are amazingly quiet, but that doesn't seem to have hurt WEC and arguably more people will be watching this year, than the last few.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Don't forget driving style. Some like more overstear, some understear, some approach corners hard and use up a lot of tires, some are more gentle and while slower at the beginning of a race are able to maintain better performance at the end. There have been many an example of cars or tires and set up causing major performance gaps between drivers.

Ferrari 1997-2006 are perfect examples of cars that fit all the models. Rubens was much much more competitive in 2002 and 2004, than he was in the other years, where those cars where near nuetral and easier to set up for bother drivers and the 2004 so fast that even if Rubens struggled with the setup he was still 30 seconds faster than the rest. You didn't even in the end need the team orders really because of how much those cars where designed specifically for Schumi (get well soon).

 

[Topweasel]

Lol oops. But in regards to the Stear I'll take understear.

 

[redgtxdi]

So because I was at the NCAA tourny last weekend, I'm seeing this for the first time. (No wonder I wasn't getting updates in my e-mail anymore, it's a new friggin' 2014 thread)

Anyway.............

I....DO.....NOT......LIKE....THE......NEW......ENGINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have I said that loudly enough?

The Formula 1 "SCREAM" is GONE!! WTMFBOFBS!!!!!!

HORRIBLE!!!

The cars themselves don't look a whole lot different (somewhat but no biggie) but the engines and as I'm witnessing in P2, the HANDLING on these suckers is a joke! EVERYBODY is spinning out.

I may not be able to endure this F1 season.

Goodbye (at least for now) you beautiful V8 motors!!

 

[KingstonU]

From the practice sessions it seems that Ferrari look stronger, particularly Kimi seems happier. Williams and Mclaren on the other hand look to have taken a step back or at least not improved as much as Ferrari.

 

[KingstonU]

Another very wet qualifying, another pole for Lewis. Alonso very lucky they could fix his front suspension in time. Kimi looked really strong but didn't deliver in Q3.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

yeah, another unpredictable qualifying. merc is still the team to beat, but it will take a dry race to truly sort them out. i'm amazed ferrari repaired alonso's suspension so quickly - usually that kind of thing is game over. vettel takes 2nd, despite more technical problems. who knows if the car will hold together for the race?

 

[_Rick_]

Re: Kimi: just like Button and Bottas, he went out on inters and went nowhere.

Alonso's repair almost looked like the carbon piece of the suspension wasn't actually broken, but simply slipped out of the place it's supposed to be stuck in, and they may have fixed it by unloading the suspension, and easing that bit back in. Very lucky, and I was already cursing Kvyat for taking out "my driver".

Pretty impressive to see Vettel on P2, and by such a slim margin too. It looks very much like the Red Bull pulls its usual trick of being very comfortable to drive when high downforce is available. P1/2 also showed reasonable race pace, but I think Mercedes is still the team to beat. Of course, with the DNF lottery still going merrily, who knows what will happen. There's also the matter of whether there'll be a dry or wet race, and how that plays into each team's strengths. Williams didn't look at ease at all, even despite their tire mess-ups.
What surprised me was seeing Grosjean getting usable performance out of the Lotus. If they can take the fight to Sauber and Toro Rosso, that would be huge - but then, they first have to finish a race..

Hülkenberg is also proving to be a very sold investment, putting that Force India up there, basically "best of the rest" with no drama is very nicely done.

Tomorrows race is pretty opaque to me, but come rain, come shine, there will be an AMG on the podium, and probably on the top step. Anything else is pretty much up in the air.

 

[gizmo7]

How is it that we haven't had any discussion on the impact new F1 regulations would have on the outcome of Cars 2?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/26801722

"The mechanics did a super job. I think it's a world record of changing a suspension in three minutes, and I was able to keep running.
"The car really felt very strange. I think the toe or something was a little bit crazy after the crash, because it was so light on the right-hand corners and so heavy on the left-hand corners that I could barely move it with two hands."

and yet, he's 4th fastest.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Re: Kimi: just like Button and Bottas, he went out on inters and went nowhere.

Alonso's repair almost looked like the carbon piece of the suspension wasn't actually broken, but simply slipped out of the place it's supposed to be stuck in, and they may have fixed it by unloading the suspension, and easing that bit back in. Very lucky, and I was already cursing Kvyat for taking out "my driver".

Pretty impressive to see Vettel on P2, and by such a slim margin too. It looks very much like the Red Bull pulls its usual trick of being very comfortable to drive when high downforce is available. P1/2 also showed reasonable race pace, but I think Mercedes is still the team to beat. Of course, with the DNF lottery still going merrily, who knows what will happen. There's also the matter of whether there'll be a dry or wet race, and how that plays into each team's strengths. Williams didn't look at ease at all, even despite their tire mess-ups.
What surprised me was seeing Grosjean getting usable performance out of the Lotus. If they can take the fight to Sauber and Toro Rosso, that would be huge - but then, they first have to finish a race..

Hülkenberg is also proving to be a very sold investment, putting that Force India up there, basically "best of the rest" with no drama is very nicely done.

Tomorrows race is pretty opaque to me, but come rain, come shine, there will be an AMG on the podium, and probably on the top step. Anything else is pretty much up in the air.

It was definitely broken and they completely removed and replace that part. I'm surprised he made it back the the pits quite frankly.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

good race!

mercedes, hamilton and rosberg were just perfecto. red bull still cannot be counted out, and will remain a threat all year. a great drive and result for the hulk, and an excellent duel for 4th.

martin brundle, on magnussen's penalty: "the 5 second penalty gives him some pain, without wrecking his race."
fine, but you know who's race was wrecked? kimi's, the guy magnussen hit.

and now, the big story:
"filipe, valtteri is faster than you."

filipe ignores the order and immediately starts bitching as soon as the race is over, as did ted on sky.
claire williams, deputy team principal, williams: "that's racing"
translation: "tough shit for him, and for you, ted."

good for you, claire! making hard decisions without apology, williams f1 is in good hands.

 

[boomhower]

Once Renault gives Red Bull a competitive power plant we'll have some competition at the front. Red Bull, as expected is up to speed in the turns but are getting blown away in the straights.

 

[JulesMaximus]

good race!

mercedes, hamilton and rosberg were just perfecto. red bull still cannot be counted out, and will remain a threat all year. a great drive and result for the hulk, and an excellent duel for 4th.

martin brundle, on magnussen's penalty: "the 5 second penalty gives him some pain, without wrecking his race."
fine, but you know who's race was wrecked? kimi's, the guy magnussen hit.

and now, the big story:
"filipe, valtteri is faster than you."

filipe ignores the order and immediately starts bitching as soon as the race is over, as did ted on sky.
claire williams, deputy team principal, williams: "that's racing"
translation: "tough shit for him, and for you, ted."

good for you, claire! making hard decisions without apology, williams f1 is in good hands.

I like Claire Williams. She seems like a great addition to the sport. I've been a Williams fan for quite a while and I'd love to see that team return to greatness.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/item/102457-michael-schumacher-showing-moments-of-consciousness

In a statement issued on Friday, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm revealed that there were now encouraging signs about his condition.
"Michael is making progress on his way," said Kehm. "He shows moments of consciousness and awakening.
"We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident.

 

[tweakmonkey]

One big reason for Mercedes' success:
http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1...of-their-turbo-engine-has-given-them-the-edge

 

[DownTheSky]

For those without access

Quality streams from Reddit:
http://epicitv.com/

onboards:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cubejam

mobile:
http://squirrelstreams.com/

 

[_Rick_]

Well, there goes my man again. Rosberg just shrugged off the slower times from FP1-Q1 and then put on the pressure in Q2, and stayed chill in Q3.

Interesting to see 8 places difference between the two Red Bulls, there appear to be some serious consistency issues there.
Perez outqualifies the Hülk, who must be quite disappointed, but starting from eleventh, I'm expecting him to still take the fight to the Williams, Ferrari and McLaren.

It's also faintly ridiculous to see the Mercedes being close to a full second faster than anything else, on such a power-circuit as Bahrain. They'll probably wrap up the constructor's championship by Spa or Monza...

As for my fantasy team, I'm still feeling confident. Rosberg can take the win, if the team doesn't mess up the pit strategy, and he doesn't mess up the start. With DRS there may be more overtaking at Bahrain, but I still think he might be able to pull it off.
The Williams are probably going to trouble me tomorrow, keeping Button/Alonso/Hülkenberg under control. Still, I think those three should not be in positions lower than 8th at the end of the race, at least going on pace. At the same time though, the Red Bulls will be pushing from behind. But they're starting right in the danger zone, so who knows if the RB's even make it through the first corner.
I wonder if someone has statistics, on which positions get taken out the most into the first corner

 

[The Boston Dangler]

it's good to see rosberg take the fight to hamilton. it's a little strange to think of it that way, since rosberg is the title leader. hamilton was just so much faster in australia and especially malaysia.

merc has a 1 second advantage, and more in their pockets. merc motored-cars are dominating the top 10, except for the inconsistent red bulls. still, i think the others will still mix things up - mclaren and ferrari are always a threat, and will fight for wins this year.

 

[DownTheSky]

Skysports F1 HD 720p 3Mb/s stream

You'll need both Livestreamer and VLC.

Steps:

Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Livestreamer 
SHIFT+ Right-Click within the window => open command line here
within the command line type: [COLOR="Red"][I]livestreamer.exe[/I][/COLOR]
after the program initiates type: [COLOR="red"][I]livestreamer http://www.ustream.tv/embed/17671241[/I] [B]best[/B][/COLOR]
This will get you the best quality stream. If you're on a slower connection, leave best out and you'll get a list of all available streams. Replace "[COLOR="Red"][B]best[/B][/COLOR]" with the desired stream.