[hellrotm]

Mercedes powered cars looking strong in Bahrain test. Red Bull struggled again today.

[954Stealth]

Check this out:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2014/02/mercedes-f1-360/

[954Stealth]

Here's a good summary of day4:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/26293435

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

Here's a good summary of day4:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/26293435

Another poor day for Red Bull, only managed 15 laps. Red Bull better start getting their act together. I still don't doubt they will, but it is taking a lot longer than I thought.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Another poor day for Red Bull, only managed 15 laps. Red Bull better start getting their act together. I still don't doubt they will, but it is taking a lot longer than I thought.

I think its also general Renault problem. Most Renault powered teams have trouble to run reliably.

[954Stealth]

Webber must be grateful he decided to bow out when he did and I wonder what is going through DRic's mind lately. I'm starting to wonder if these reliability issues are going to seriously affect the rankings. Maybe Vettel will be happy for the double points that he recently said he didn't agree with...

[hellrotm]

Yeah, Webber will be quite happy at Porsche.

It has to have an impact. Just four days of testing left.

On one hand you have Mercedes doing full race distance runs currently in testing. While Red Bull is still struggling with getting their car to last a single stint, let alone get up the pace of the other cars.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

Webber must be grateful he decided to bow out when he did and I wonder what is going through DRic's mind lately. I'm starting to wonder if these reliability issues are going to seriously affect the rankings. Maybe Vettel will be happy for the double points that he recently said he didn't agree with...

Yeah, because Red Bull Racing is sitting on their laurels and have decided 4 back-to-back championships is enough. Right.

Last year they got off to a relatively slow start too, not really picking it up until mid-season. You think with their amount of talent and resources Vettel is the least bit concerned, or that Mark is thanking the heavens he's not racing for them anymore? LOL
It's not an ideal start to the year, but it'll certainly be overcome - without the need for any double-point BS.

[954Stealth]

Johanness, don't put words in my mouth especially if you're going to be pompous and priggish with your response.
Did I say RBR is resting on their laurels? No.
Did I say Vettel is concerned yet? No.
But I do think Webber is confident that he made the right decision at the right time. And if Newey can't get the renault engine to work they'll have to do some catching up later in the season but that's not unique to RBR.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

Johanness, don't put words in my mouth especially if you're going to be pompous and priggish with your response.
Did I say RBR is resting on their laurels? No.
Did I say Vettel is concerned yet? No.
But I do think Webber is confident that he made the right decision at the right time. And if Newey can't get the renault engine to work they'll have to do some catching up later in the season but that's not unique to RBR.

Who's putting words in your mouth? I made a statement based off your assumptions above. Don't get butt-hurt when an opinion differs to your own. It's mine that neither Mark nor Vettel are phased by RBR's lack of early progress. If your sensitive self can't handle it, I suggest u GTFO of a public forum

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by johanness

Who's putting words in your mouth? I made a statement based off your assumptions above. Don't get butt-hurt when an opinion differs to your own. It's mine that neither Mark nor Vettel are phased by RBR's lack of early progress. If your sensitive self can't handle it, I suggest u GTFO of a public forum

It isn't RBR that is lacking progress. It is the Renault powerplant. Honestly nothing really RBR can do about it. All the Renault powered teams are way way behind. Teams were at the mercy of their engine builders going into this season.

Already rumors of RBR switching engines for next year.(A little premature...most likely)

This season is going to be like no other. Never have there been such dramatic changes to the cars from one season to another. The cars are so complicated this year, mostly having to do with the engines and ERS. With no in season testing, this is the last year to get behind. But if there is any team that can get through it, it would be RBR. When the engine problems get sorted, I have no doubt Newey's car will be very quick.

This season is going to be dramatic.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by johanness

Who's putting words in your mouth? I made a statement based off your assumptions above. Don't get butt-hurt when an opinion differs to your own. It's mine that neither Mark nor Vettel are phased by RBR's lack of early progress. If your sensitive self can't handle it, I suggest u GTFO of a public forum

Lol alright whatever, man. Who's "butthurt" now? You want me off a forum because I commented on your assumptions? Anyway I'm not going to get sucked in this. We will just have to agree to disagree. Let's not ruin the thread for everyone else.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by johanness

Yeah, because Red Bull Racing is sitting on their laurels and have decided 4 back-to-back championships is enough. Right.

Last year they got off to a relatively slow start too, not really picking it up until mid-season. You think with their amount of talent and resources Vettel is the least bit concerned, or that Mark is thanking the heavens he's not racing for them anymore? LOL
It's not an ideal start to the year, but it'll certainly be overcome - without the need for any double-point BS.

Never rule out RBR. Even if they can't win championship, they will definitely put up a fight throughout the season!

And I believe Mark Webber would prefer to take the challenges in F1 if he wants.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

It isn't RBR that is lacking progress. It is the Renault powerplant. Honestly nothing really RBR can do about it. All the Renault powered teams are way way behind. Teams were at the mercy of their engine builders going into this season.

Already rumors of RBR switching engines for next year.(A little premature...most likely)

This season is going to be like no other. Never have there been such dramatic changes to the cars from one season to another. The cars are so complicated this year, mostly having to do with the engines and ERS. With no in season testing, this is the last year to get behind. But if there is any team that can get through it, it would be RBR. When the engine problems get sorted, I have no doubt Newey's car will be very quick.

This season is going to be dramatic.

Dr. Helmut Marko did stated RBR will have a long term relationship with Renault.
However, either Ted Kravis or Croft stated their contract do have a performance clause condition. So we will see if Renault power units are extremely under-performing.

Guess what, while everyone was waving their hands about smaller V6 in F1 several months ago. This is the most exciting Winter Testing I've seen for the past several years. I'm sure I'll be enjoying this season a lot!!!

Stealth and johanness, let the fighting begin....haha...j/k~

[E9TOU]

Can't wait to see what happens in Australia. Should make for a very interesting race.

Both Renault and RBR seem to be the cause of RBR's current problems. Renault's power unit seems to be having issues with heating and reliability and RBR seems to have designed their chasis to aggressively and not allowing enough airflow to the cooling units. Lotus seems to be pretty strong given last week was their first test session.

[SenorFunkyPants]

I'll add that its been reported that Renault were not allowing the full range engine map to be used at the recent test...reducing power by some 100bhp. After they lock the engine performance on 28 feb, Renault will have to ask for an exemption to make further enhancements.

[954Stealth]

Christian Horner declared Mercedes the new favorites for 2014 a couple of days ago

Marussia just had a computer virus. Booth said it was Trojan malware and their fear is not being ready for season start

This certainly has been an interesting pre-season

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I'll add that its been reported that Renault were not allowing the full range engine map to be used at the recent test...reducing power by some 100bhp. After they lock the engine performance on 28 feb, Renault will have to ask for an exemption to make further enhancements.

Yeah I remember hearing that. During the last four days of testing Renault had reduced engine power to 80%, just to get the cars reliable enough to run.

[EINSER M]

shit!!!!!!!!

[hellrotm]

Final four days of pre season testing has started.

Day 1 Red Bull had troubles once again.

[FormulaMMM]

iiinteresting

[2blu]

I've always followed F1 from a distance (quite far lately actually) but have been getting quite into it this offseason, so excuse my ignorance, but is it normal for teams to seem so unprepared 3 weeks from the first race ? With three days left in final testing it looks like some of these teams have no idea what they're doing ! Or is it business as usual and it's normal for teams to be at this level of preparation and three weeks is plenty of time to sort things out ?