Lap times may be six seconds slower than last year at Jerez but at least Formula One cars are now lapping faster than GP2s, something they did not accomplish in the first two days of testing.
Leading the times is Mclaren's Kevin Magnussen. You get the sense that, never having driven a previous generation F1 car and having to "un-learn", can actually be an advantage. I'm sure that was part of the math in Mclaren's decision with the rookie.
Mercedes engined cars had no major issues, Renault powered ones did. In particular, Red Bull had serious overheating issues and managed to turn exactly 3 laps. There are reports of, pardon the pun, heated words between Adrian Newey and Renault's Rob White in the paddock, just before all of Red Bull's top brass, Newey, Horner, Marko and Dieter Mateschitz left Jerez, presumably in a huff.
Heat management, as predicted, is already a thread to follow in 2014. Mclaren have more room under the bodywork for cooling, Red Bull at the other extreme have the tightest packaging possible.
Ferrari seems to be somewhat in the middle and I think we can now safely presume that LaFerrari test mule really was all about testing cooling solutions. Even so, Alonso was 2 seconds off Mclaren and Williams' pace (cue "Fernando, Felipe is faster than you " jokes).
Red Bull and Renault have a busy night ahead of the last session tomorrow. Certainly the Renault engine did not sound perfectly happy in the video clip below (thanks Mike Humphrey!).
Check out the warbling sound coming from the Toro Rosso as it accelerates down the main straight.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps 1. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1m23.276s 52 2. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m23.700s +0.424s 47 3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m23.952s +0.676s 62 4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m25.030s +1.754s 40 5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m25.495s +2.219s 58 6. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m26.096s +2.820s 17 7. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1m29.915s +6.639s 30 8. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m30.161s +6.885s 34 9. Robin Frijns Caterham-Renault No time - 10 10. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault No time - 3 11. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari No time - 5
I'm not one to whine about the new engines but the comparison with 2013 cars is amusing
ReplyDeleteJeez. I have a feeling this is gonna be one of the wackiest seasons in F1 history. Right now I'm speed-dialing my Vegas bookie. I'm gonna just go ahead right now and double-down on Max Chilton being the 2014 World Drivers Champ!
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that they aren't running these cars at full capacity yet (this includes engine and ERS components). We'll likely see a difference in engine sounds once they are running at full speed. Obviously they won't sound like the V8s, but the V8's didn't sound like the V10s, the V10's didn't sound like the V12s, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think the turbo cars sound awesome. There's a lot going on there. excited about this era of F1.
Exactly… There *is* a lot going on there… Looking forward to hearing a full grid at full tilt… I certainly feel better now then I did with all the, "sound simulations".
ReplyDeleteIn some straight passes seams at full speed ... they don't sound that bad. Still I prefer the sound of the Audi e-tron cuatro.
ReplyDeleteAnd those Miss fires of the toro rosso at then end..... the driver seems to be looking at the new amoled display.. thinking. WTF?
It's so friggin cool hearing that turbo spool noise coming from a Formula car.
ReplyDeleteI don't care what the haters say, I LOVE the sounds of a turbo popping off and spooling up. You really get the sense that there's a lot going on under the hood.
ReplyDelete