F1 testing in Spain

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Originally Posted by henners88

FIA to eliminate potential for F1 exhaust blowing by closing off ECU loophole - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

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Renault announced before testing even began that they'd figured out a way around the ban, and Newey said too that he still had some exhaust tricks working, so I think it was pretty much just a matter of time before this came to a head. The initial report this morning was that Ferrari was protesting and that Mercedes was using the trick as well. But maybe it was McLaren or Merc doing the protest.
It doesn't matter. What matters is that it was done before the first race so that we don't have to deal with it then. It has historically been Ferrari's style to wait until the last possible moment to lodge these kinds of complaints. It could put a team or two a little on its back foot, while ensuring it is clarified in time for it to be inaccessible for any part of the season without having to bring the the spectre of penalties into the arguement. What matters is that it was done before the first race so that we don't have to deal with it then. This is no different than any other preseason protest, like the double diffuser issue or anything else, and if I was Ferrari or anyone else that fancies themselfes fighting for wins I would want this out of Red Bull and Newy's developement department ;)

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Originally Posted by jens

Looking at the comments around, Red Bull seems to be the car to beat (hardly surprising!). Arguably McLaren runs close, but it is anyone's guess, how close exactly. Is it closer than last year or perhaps even able to match RBR? Ferrari has improved, but are still behind the leaders. As is Mercedes. Lotus with their chassis issues is now a complete unknown - how much are they going to fall?! Midfield is still hard to rank, but it looks like Caterham is finding it overwhelmingly difficult to threaten the midfield even in their third season of F1.

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It seems th general feeling is that status quo remains. Very odd! Look back at history and rules changes shakes up the order!

Williams seem to have been fastest for much of the week, but the press releases seem to suggest that actually the car isn't handling as well as they thought.

Also, I know test times are pretty much meaningless, but I thought that Caterham would make a step towards the midfield (though I wasn't really expecting them to properly catch them). It looks like they haven't, but Marussia and Hispania have just moved even further to the back.

I think I'd put my money on Vettel for the title again, possibly by some margin - times haven't been special but everyone seems pretty happy with the car, which is more than can be said for most of the competitors. I was expecting Ferrari to make a much bigger step than they appear to have done, considering the rules changes would appear to hurt the 2011 Red Bull and McLaren more than the Ferrari.

McLaren have a major upgrade to come on their car for the final pre-season test.

"Button said after Thursday's testing: "We have an update on the car for the first race. It is not a completely straightforward update as it is not about bolting downforce on the car - it is slightly more than that.

"I just hope we are going in the right direction. The wind tunnel says we are. I am looking to the update next week, and then we can start balancing the car and finding a direction for the first race." "

BBC Sport - Kamui Kobayashi sets pace on final day of Barcelona test



Sounds intriguing

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Originally Posted by Zico

McLaren have a major upgrade to come on their car for the final pre-season test.

"Button said after Thursday's testing: "We have an update on the car for the first race. It is not a completely straightforward update as it is not about bolting downforce on the car - it is slightly more than that.

"I just hope we are going in the right direction. The wind tunnel says we are. I am looking to the update next week, and then we can start balancing the car and finding a direction for the first race." "

BBC Sport - Kamui Kobayashi sets pace on final day of Barcelona test



Sounds intriguing

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I think this^^^^^ was it bro.

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Originally Posted by Mr Alcatraz

I think this^^^^^ was it bro.

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Are you saying that you think this was the final pre-season test? .. According to the link there is another test on 1st March...

Not at all! I have a suspicion the upgrade that Whitmarsh is referring to is the exhaust overrun loop hole that will be programmed out of the ECU. Please take note I said I think not that I know. If it is something else we will find out in due time.
Chill bro :cool:

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Originally Posted by Mr Alcatraz

Not at all! I have a suspicion the upgrade that Whitmarsh is referring to is the exhaust overrun loop hole that will be programmed out of the ECU. Please take note I said I think not that I know. If it is something else we will find out in due time.
Chill bro :cool:

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Ah, got you now, just didn't know what you meant, I'm chilled bro. :cool:


:)

How do you reconcile "test times are pretty much meaningless" with "I was expecting Ferrari to make a much bigger step than they appear to have done" in you post? How do you know they haven't and how do you know McLaren has? Not based on their times I hope.

I don't know where everybody is. I actually this year I see more hiding then ever before. Especially form Ferrari. And don't forget McLaren being involved in this pre-season mini scandal abouit running their car with they blown diffuser deemed illegal for this season?So, if you say you know how meaningless test times well............they really are. Let's wait and see until..................Barcelona I would say

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Originally Posted by mstillhere

How do you reconcile "test times are pretty much meaningless" with "I was expecting Ferrari to make a much bigger step than they appear to have done" in you post? How do you know they haven't and how do you know McLaren has? Not based on their times I hope.

I don't know where everybody is. I actually this year I see more hiding then ever before. Especially form Ferrari. And don't forget McLaren being involved in this pre-season mini scandal abouit running their car with they blown diffuser deemed illegal for this season?So, if you say you know how meaningless test times well............they really are. Let's wait and see until..................Barcelona I would say

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Rather than Ferrari actually hiding something, I'd believe that they aren't finding their way with the car just yet. However, this isn't really significant, as we still have some weeks to go before the first GP and they can get their car sorted out before then. Or perhaps it's a dog and it doesn't have any of the potential they were looking for. Anyway, considering that, according to various sources, the car wasn't behaving well enough at the exit of the corners, I doubt that they're hiding something, it's just that the car isn't working just yet.