Private Barcelona test for Mercedes W03

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Mercedes W03, Silverstone, 2012

In the round-up: Mercedes complete a full day of testing with their new W03 at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Links

Mercedes via Twitter

“[The] W03 had a second track outing today as we completed a private test in Barcelona. Michael [Schumacher] drove this morning and Nico [Rosberg] this afternoon. Over 300km completed for our testing programme with the new car. To confirm: under the testing agreement, not running on the final day of the team test in Jerez allowed us to nominate a private test day.”

Mercedes conducts full test at Barcelona with W03 (Adam Cooper)

“Although the reduced running with the new car is obviously a handicap – with only the two four day tests at Barcelona still to come – Mercedes won back an extra day with the W03 by using only three of the four available days at Jerez with the old car. Under the testing agreement, missing that day earned the team a private test, which it utilised today – with no prying eyes and no red flags caused by others to disrupt running.”

BIC all set for ‘Unif1ed’ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (Bahrain International Circuit)

Bahrain International Circuit chief executive Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa: “Based on the success of past Grands Prix, we are all together looking forward to staging yet another spectacular Formula One weekend. We are excited about making Bahrain proud and for the whole world to see that we are indeed One Nation in Celebration.”

Petrov ready to fly (Sky)

“They have KERS and in August they will move to a new factory. I like what they are doing and I like to be part of this team.”

Mike Gascoyne via Twitter

“On the F1 side will still be at most races with Caterham F1 for the next few years. Have to be there for our first points and podiums.”

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Comment of the day

Journeyer on Italy’s F1 driver drought:

I think Italy’s priorities are very clear. They sure were in 1983 at Imola. Riccardo Patrese was leading and was set to take his first home win. But when Patrese made a mistake and crashed out, the crowd roared in cheer, because it allowed the Frenchman Patrick Tambay to win.

What was Tambay driving? A Ferrari, of course.
Journeyer

From the forum

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On this day in F1

Want to go to an F1 race this year? Not sure which one? This article from today in 2009 may help give you some ideas:

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100 comments on “Private Barcelona test for Mercedes W03”

  1. So the W03 must have something they don’t want other teams seeing until the very last possible moment.

    1. Yeah, that’s what Newey said last week. I guess we’ll find out what it is soon enough though!!

      Woohoo second test here we go!

      1. The ‘w-duct’?
        This and this?

        1. That is fantastic. The video of the lap with the airflow through the ducts is brilliant to watch. I hope it is real it is such a simple concept but incredible in its application. Wow wow wow.

        2. If that is actually what it is and how it works, that is brilliantly ingenious.

    2. Caterham did this last year. They wanted the track to themselves for a day, so they did a deal with the FIA where they were skipped the first day of testing and had a private session at the circuit the day after everyone left. Mercedes have probably done the same thing here, because they didn’t attend every day of the last test session. I doubt it has anything to do with having something super-secret on the car, but rather the knowledge that they only needed three days to test the Pirelli tyres, and so they had an extra fourth day lying around unused. Rather than let it go to waste, they got permission to hold a private test, especially given that the 2012 pre-season only has three test sessions rather than four (the fourth will be at Mugello in the middle of the season; although mid-season testing is back, the maximum number of testing days remains unchanged).

      1. I think you are over explaining it.

        I think it would be suffice to say that they took advantage of the extra test day, having not had their car ready in time (planned or not) for the first test.

        1. I think you are over explaining it.

          CotD

    3. I cant imagine what is Mercedes hidding, I suspect they were just running late because they can and because it was for the best, whatever the car has it mustnt be visible.

      1. Or maybe the fact people can’t imagine it is precisely why they’re hiding it! My guess is Brawn has come up with something again, it’s more than likely to be honest, he’s overdue.

  2. Mercedes is playing the game. They got it right, I suppose (and pray!)

    – Comparision test with the old car (good base to test tyres on a car they know)
    – Private test with the new car, followed by a week of testing in the same track.

    I like this.

    1. +1 on that really hope they are up there this year.

    2. last year Mclaren was testing with their old car on first test too but it wasn’t very effective

      1. If you think about it, it was highly effective. They were able to compare the data from 2010 car with the 2011 conecpt and see it just wasn’t stacking up (reliability issues aside).

        Australia comes and they’ve pretty much re-developed the car to be somewhat competative, so in my eyes it was super effective.

        Lets just they get it right from the starting block, need someone to knock Red Bull off the top step and lets face it, from what’s been seen of the Ferrari so far even Alonso will struggle to stick it on the top step consistently.

        But of course this is pure conjecture and speculation

  3. Unless there’s a limit on the kilometres covered in a private test, which I don’t think there is, only completing around 200km isn’t exactly encouraging for the W03’s initial reliability.

    But, as ivz mentioned, the privacy of the test may foster speculation on all sorts of exotic developments that, after being tested today, may only be seen in Melbourne.

    With any luck, they might have the reliability fixed (well, improved) by Tuesday.

    1. Unless there’s a limit on the kilometres covered in a private test, which I don’t think there is, only completing around 200km isn’t exactly encouraging for the W03′s initial reliability.

      It depends on Mercedes’ testing programme. They have a tendency to run both their drivers on the first day of testing, so as to give them a feel for the car. They then use the early feedback to make adjustments to their full testing programme. Most teams don’t actually do that much running on their first day of testing, anyway. It’s mostly system checks, an installation lap, and setup work.

      And don’t forget, Mercedes also did a 100km shakedown at Silverstone three days ago. So the car has already done one full race distance.

  4. This took me a bit by surprise. I didn’t realize that unused official testing days could be “banked” to use privately on a later date.

  5. If teams can skip a day’s testing and use it later, away from prying eyes…will other teams suddenly disappear from the Barcelona test?!

    And do Marussia and HRT get back the days they missed in Jerez (assuming they have the money, time – and a car – to use them)?

    1. I would guess because a private test is more expensive and has to have a full medical team and fire truck on hand. The insurance has to be covered and rent has to be paid to the track. Normal test days, though bigger events, spread the cost.
      i remember once reading somewhere that a days testing costs around $5 million. That was a couple of years ago and probably when Max was trying to cut costs and testing. I dont know how accurate it is and what it is currently.

      1. Nah its not that high to hire a track, for example a cpl of years ago you could hire rockingham for 8k for the day and mercedes do that too a few times a year

        1. rockingham is not an fia approved formula one ready track.

  6. Could any team opt to do this? It’d be a way test parts that you didn’t want rivals to see. How come HRT and marussia haven’t opted to do this to make up for their missed testing time?

    1. I’d say that there are limits on how much you can actually do it. I don’t think the FIA would appreciate it if teams started asking for four-day private tests.

      1. Private tests are much more expensive, i guess. That’s why smaller teams cannot afford it. Just think about costs of all trackside operations (helicopter. marshals etc) and add a rent fee – nobody provides track days for free.
        When it’s shared between 10 or so teams it is much cheaper in the end.

        1. And, yes – i know Ferrari has Pista Di Fiorano, but it’s about the weather in this case i reckon.

  7. Speaking of Mercedes, did everyone see this? (Link via @f1enigma in Twitter.) Be sure to watch the video, which even I (not exactly an aerodynamics expert!) found pretty interesting!

    1. It’s in Spanish, so I don’t understand it, but from the looks of things, it’s detailing a system where the car’s aerodynamics work to redirect the airflow over certain parts of the car more than others depending on the direction of travel; if it’s going around a right-hander, more air will flow over the left side because that is where the grip is needed the most. If they’ve actually managed to get that working, then it’s ridiculously clever.

      1. I used Google Translate to get the gist of it, but I thought the video was particularly illuminating (at the level I could understand, anyway).

      2. it doesn’t say much we (f1 freaks) don’t already know from listening to Scarbs.

        But all you said it’s right. It diverts the airflow depending on the angle of the car relative to the air, and it feeds a diffuser that directs the flow to certain parts of the wing.

        It’s absolutely passive and it’d work in every situation… apparently.

        Hope Scarbs gets his tooth on it soon.

        1. The diagrams show it on a Ferrari nose. Which is weird, because the article makes no mention of Ferrari having developed it. Although with no solid images of the W03 to go by, the artist probably just had to use another front wing as a stand-in for illustration purposes.

          1. @prisoner-monkeys the diagram shows a Ferrari because the site is spanish, and Alonso drives for them.

            I guess that’s the answer.

    2. I for one find the whole thing quite astonishing, and this non flexing solution to an active front wing seems to be the general buzz after those Silverstone photos.

    3. For one thing, that’s really ingenious, but what I want to know is how do detailed plans like this get out….?

      1. Mercedes were believed to be working on a “passive F-duct” for the front wing – which shifted the flow of air across the front wing depending on the air pressure without using any moving parts – for some time last year. They made no secret of it, largely because they knew it would take so long to develop that they would need to run the parts in race weekends, and any team attempting to do the same thing would be faced by the same extended development period. The W-duct system takes the concept and applies it to the entire car. It’s the natural evolution of a passive F-wing.

    4. I’ll have a proper look later but it certainly looks very interesting @aka_robyn

    5. Yes, it’s a very interesting article, isn’t it, and that video does a nice job explaining. Someone put a lot of effort into figuring out how this could work, very clever.

      I do wonder if it wouldn’t be incredibly finicky to get working perfectly under all circumstances (side-winds?).

      Yes, Mercedes did get some experience with their rear, and tests with their front f-duct, but this would need not just a more accurate on-off switch (and most teams had trouble of leaky switches), it will influence the entire car behind.

      1. I do wonder if it wouldn’t be incredibly finicky to get working perfectly under all circumstances (side-winds?).

        I think at the speed the cars would be travelling (I’m guessing there would be a minimum speed where the W-Duct starts working) side wings wouldn’t be an issue. There’s no doubt it’s a complex idea though. I hope it works out for them.

        1. If it does work exactly like in the video then the loss of downforce and drag on the straights could hurt during breaking. On top of that the air flow didn’t shift until almost mid corner this video must be pure speculation but if accurate this could still be either genius or madness. Either way neither nico or michael will want to lose a front wing this year or indeed any decent size chunk of one. This system is spread about so much that pretty much any main part of the wing ending up in a rival teams hands would instantly confirm if they are and how they are doing it.

          1. That’s obviously the answer then. Knock the wing off their car accidentally on purpose during testing and then clear up the debris. Cash and time saved, job done ;-)

  8. Firstly, thanks for the Bday shootout! (Although it’s still sunday here hahaha)
    Secondly, I was just about to share what @aka_robyn posted. That might just be what Newey was talking about the Mercedes’ particular nosecone. And since it lacks driver manual activation (works with the airflow) or mobile parts, it’s fully legal. But, let’s think we are racing in a pretty windy place… wouldn’t it affect the system?

    1. Happy Birthday @carlitox!

    2. Have a great brithday when you wake up @carlitox!

      And yes, I agree, wind would be the most obvious thing to mess up their air flow. I also think that it might just make the wing more susceptible to the wake of a car ahead, and especially ala Vettel in Spa 2010 when coming out of someone’s slipstream for an overtake.

  9. That was the reason why they didn’t run final day of Jerez…Interesting. as Newey said, there should be something. I can’t wait for it!!

    1. Sorry, but I don’t see this as proof that Mercedes have come up with something clever. They just had a spare testing day lying around, and with the number of pre-season test days cut down from sixteen to twelve (to make way for the mid-season test at Mugello), Mercedes probably figured it was best to make hay while the sun shined. Like I said, Caterham did the same thing last year, and they didn’t have any aerodynamic trickery that they wanted to keep quiet.

      1. “They just had a spare testing day lying around”
        and it just happened to be in Barcelona 2 days before the official test. You may be right but why all the coyness and secrecy and why are they looking so pleased with themselves. They have been working on that car for ages and I think they may have something up their sleeves. Schumacher is arguably the best car developer bar none helped not in the least by the fact he trained to be a mechanic and the amount of work he put in over the years. I find it hard to accept that the team at mercedes are simply falling behind in development. They understand the tyres, they may have tested parts that they can now keep away from the next test and they have a reference for the next test. There is a big difference between Catherham and Mercedes.
        Plus they have denied having anything special except the body language says otherwise. We should thank them for adding a little preseason suspense at anyrate.
        Of course they will look pretty silly if they turn up with nothing.

        1. Btw, they ran a full test distance of 300ks. http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/02/19/mercedes-conducts-full-test-at-barcelona-with-w03/
          No reported issues as yet.

        2. and it just happened to be in Barcelona 2 days before the official test

          Easily explained by convenience. Only a handful of circuits are approved for winter testing, and the teams like to test in Spain because of the stable climate over the winter break. With the next test scheduled for Barcelona in two days, it makes sense for Mercedes to use the circuit rather than take the time to travel somewhere else and then back to Barcelona. Plus, Barcelona is perhaps the best-known circuit on the testing calendar, making it easier to gather data, and is the most neutral circuit in terms of setup – it is neither high- nor low-downforce, does not require high or low ride heights, gear ratios and so on and so forth.

          You may be right but why all the coyness and secrecy and why are they looking so pleased with themselves.

          It’s not secret. It’s being reported as having taken place. And it’s not like they managed to talk their way into having a special test – there is a precedent for having private test sessions if a team misses a scheduled test day. They never made any secret of their intention to test.

          As for their happiness, perhaps they are simply satisfied that their car works as planned, that there are no serious problems and that both their drivers are comfortable with it.

          I find it hard to accept that the team at mercedes are simply falling behind in development.

          But they’re not. This was always part of the plan.

          They understand the tyres, they may have tested parts that they can now keep away from the next test and they have a reference for the next test.

          If the reports from Spain are to be believed, then they cannot take the “W-duct” off as it forms a fundamental part of the car’s entire aerodynamic package. Because of this, Mercedes could freely use it in testing, because it would be very difficult for other teams to replicate – they would need to totally overhaul their entire cars. When Brawn and the other teams introduced the double-diffuser in 2009, it took Adrian Newey two and a half months to understand the concept and re-designed the rear suspension geometry to accomodate a double-diffuer without compromising the aerodynamics of the car. How long do you think it would take a designer to give the car a total overhaul?

          Plus they have denied having anything special except the body language says otherwise.

          Kinesics is an imprecise science to begin with, but more to the point, what body language are you talking about? I haven’t seen a single video from anyone at Mercedes talking about the W03.

          I think you’re reading far too much into Mercedes’ private test. If Adrian Newey hadn’t said “I think they might have something on their car”, we would not be having this discussion. But, clever as he is, Newey has not seen the W03, and so he can only speculate on it.

          1. You are entitled to your opinion but I’m surprised you cant even consider they may be up to something. There are enough comments, pics and videos to make a judgement on how happy or not the team are with the car. Even in Jerez Rosberg was beaming. Yes a lot of my observations are speculation but they are not simply based on Neweys comments. I have been following F1 for over 40years, have attended races and I have a decent amount of knowledge about what goes on and I say there is a chance that Mercedes have a trick up their sleeve and that warrants consideration. Arguing about it does not.:)

          2. I’m surprised you cant even consider they may be up to something.

            I can, but I find Ockham’s Razor to be useful in cases like these. Ockham’s Razor suggests that when you are faced with two or more competing explanations for a phenomena, then the simplest explanation is most likely to be true.

            For example, Mercedes are in Barcelona for a private test two days before all the other teams begin testing. Are they there because:

            a) The next group test session is in Barcelona, so it is a matter of convenience to be there the day before everyone starts arriving (tests usually begin at 8am local time) because they will already be set up, and they can have a rest day or use it to finalise their testing programme for the week based on the data they gathered on Sunday?

            OR

            b) They have some super-secret parts on the car that they want to test in private and then remove before anyone has a chance to see them, parts which – based on the photos that are available – are seemingly invisible to the naked eye?

            Scenario A requires much less suspension of disbelief than Scenario B. Therefore, under Ockham’s Razor, it is the more-likely situation.

          3. LOL, under freedom of speech we are both entitled to speculate so in this case Schrodinger’s cat is a better way to consider the situation. Until we know more about the situation the WO3 can be considered a car with an exciting secret and a car that is behind in development at the same time.;)

          4. PM, you are a plank.

            I think you’ll find it’s Occam’s Razor.

            Go on, write 200 words moaning about my pedantry. Knock yourself out.

          5. Lol, wow, nice one PM.

        3. I remember reading in James Allen’s biography on Schumacher that the general consensus was that he isn’t a great test driver because he doesn’t complain when the car isn’t handling the exact way he wants, he just goes and adjusts his driving style to suit (which is exactly what makes him a good race driver), which in turn makes it difficult for engineers to take his feedback and work out what is good and what is bad.

          1. Well everybody else he worked with says different from my recollection. The Bridgestone guys reckoned he was the best they had worked with. I think I have read most of the books on F1 and a lot about Schumacher and I have never came accross any doubts about his feedback in the car.

          2. I remember reading in James Allen’s biography on Schumacher that the general consensus was that he isn’t a great test driver because he doesn’t complain when the car isn’t handling the exact way he wants, he just goes and adjusts his driving style to suit (which is exactly what makes him a good race driver), which in turn makes it difficult for engineers to take his feedback and work out what is good and what is bad.
            I seem to recall someone – possibly here – posting the theory that the reason why Schumacher was such a great driver in the 1990s and 2000s was because testing was largely inrestricted, so he had all the time in the world to learn the car inside out. Once he knew exactly how the car would behave and when and why, he could use that knowledge to get the most out of the car.

          3. Instead of getting all defensive and just saying “well everybody else he worked with says different”, why not give some references that people can verify for themselves. Why not give a reference, or a link to where the Bridgestone guys say he was the best they worked with?

          4. Pinball @prisoner-monkeys an instinctively adaptable driver would have issues reading a car, yes. Because they’d just subconsciously change the subtleties they’re having problems with, from a driving perspective.

            But I’m more in agreement with @Bobdredds . Schumacher is very detailed in his feedback – very German. During testing days he (apparently) used to commentate on entire laps and how the car was behaving and what needed improvement.

            Schumacher was never a natural adapter to be honest. The unlimited testing back then helped him a lot. If you remember back to his first career, Parc Ferme etc didn’t exist. Even during qualifying, Michael would still be doing setup work diligently. Then in the Sunday warmups; he would be working on his driving – trying different lines; trying different techniques and styles for corners.

            Michael is definitely adaptable; but he’s not a fast learner in terms of adapting.

          5. I haven’t read that, but in my mind this was about Kimi.

          6. Well, it’s not about Raikkonen. It’s about Schumacher.

          7. Pinball, how am I being defensive. I mention Schumacher is excellent at car development and this is from watching him and articles I have read over the years. Way too many to remember. I didn’t expect that to be an issue quite frankly but surely it is up to those who challenge that view tho provide references initially and then I could see where they are coming from. I do include references where I think they help anyway. I have been a member of this site for some time however it’s only recently I have started to add my 2 cents regularily and I am still finding my way. I have no interest in arguing over any topic. These are my views. Feel free to accept them or not. I have no interest in being offensive or defensive. If any member feels that they dont appreciate any comments I make let me know I will refrain from commenting on their posts/threads no problem.

          8. If MS “just goes and adjusts his driving style to suit,” then why would he have struggled with what we were told in 2010 was front grip, and struggled so much in quali last year? Methinks MS benefitted greatly in the past from being on the most resourced team throwing more effort behind one driver in the history of F1, at a time when testing was only limited to the depth of a team’s pockets, of which Ferrari’s were bottomless at the time.

            A driver is coloured by his car, and while it is perhaps romantic to think of one’s favourite driver as being a great car developer, the massive effort that went into helping MS compile the numbers he did is the bulk of the reason why they ended up where they did.

            MS’s situation at Merc is nowhere near how he had it.

        4. Lol, Bobdredds…”why are they looking so pleased with themselves…” You are kidding right? So now we can determine how a team is doing by their look? I guess if that is the case they at Merc must be the worst poker players in the world. They’re looking pleased therefore they couldn’t possibly just be optimistic, they must be in race winning mode now, but unfortunately have revealed their secrets by smiling.

          1. You know I haven’t been a regular poster for a while and I thought this forum was a bit more civilised. Apart from repeatedly using IMHO and clearly stating that my views are just that in a bit of pre-deason speculation some here are reacting as if I am trying to ram facts down their throats. Between breaking down my posts in to sections and commenting on individual phrases and missing the the point entirely, to your over reaction to my view on Mercedes body language and inferring that I am some kind of crazy person for what is simply a bit of fun tells me I was mistaken. This is not the reason I joined the forum and I wont be bothering you in the future unless it’s something I feel really strong about like the Sky deal. Enjoy the season.:)

          2. Bobdredds…suit yourself, but this is a forum after all…if the point was that we all should just walk away because our point was not being agreed to, then I guess there wouldn’t be much of a forum left. It’s about sharing thoughts and ideas and discussing them which often means disagreeing with them. That to me is the bit of fun you speak of. How come you are entitled to having a bit of fun and others are not? If your point is challenged you have every opportunity to answer to that. If you want to just walk away, that’s your decision too. If the reason you joined the forum was strictly to have people agree with you because you have decided you know more than others, there probably isn’t a forum in the world for you.

          3. Please go and read my posts, I have no problem debating any issue but I have no interest in arguing with people who’s response is to simply dismiss views without bringing anything to debate. If you read what I said in my previos post and in the earlier posts you would get the points I am trying to make. I have been a member of several forums over the years and I still am. I’m not surprised by your response because people like you are never wrong, never apologise, you will always find justification for whatever it is you said and you dont care what you have to say to justify it either. It too juvenile for me and I will post less and only on topics I feel strongly about as I said previously but you missed it. Exchanging petty insults is frankly boring. Now I know that you will want to have the last word being convinced that you can do no wrong and not able to see my point other than to dismiss it. So fire away, just dont expect a reply if it’s going to be another lecture on who or what I am and who or what I should do. ;)

          4. I have re-read your comments, and I think Prisoner Monkeys did bring your views into debate. And I feel strongly that it is impossible to tell from a team’s body language that they have something up their sleeves. I don’t think they are being unusually coy or secretive with regards to how they have done their testing days so far. I think they have shown enthusiasm typical of any team that is putting a positive spin in these early days of the season on their new effort. Why wouldn’t they? They want to keep their sponsors pumped about what they have done. And if they have something up their sleeve that they want to hide, they presumably would be going to great lengths to hide the physical aspect of it on the car, or sandbag in testing, which I don’t think any team really has time for anymore, but I certainly don’t think they would let simple body language give their hand away if in fact they had something to hide.

            To admit you are purely speculating and then to get so insulted when your points are debated seems inconsistant. Lots of us have been watching F1 for a long time…for me it is since Gilles Villeneuve’s entry into F1 brought televised coverage to Canada in 78/79. And I’ve followed it closely ever since. Doesn’t mean I think I can surmise something from a team’s body language. And I admit perhaps I sounded a bit juvenile in making my point earlier about that, and perhaps I have been a little clearer in this post as to my point on that, but it seems to be you who are using the strongest language here, such is the offence you have taken…ie. nobody has called you a crazy person, nobody as really insulted you, I certainly don’t think I can do no wrong, and if I have sounded lecturey at all it is because I think you degrade yourself by implying we don’t see your point and only care to dismiss it therefore you’re going to walk. “I’m not surprised by your response because people like you are never wrong, never apologise, you will always find justification for whatever it is you said and you dont care what you have to say to justify it either.” Now who is being lecturey?

            I think MS was perceived as a great car developer when he had all the resources a driver could possibly hope for in the F1 world centered around him, with unlimited testing and with his teammate shuffled under the carpet. I think that the situation he is in now is night and day different to how he had it, and I’m not talking about his age. I think it will be at Merc this year as Haug has suggested. They hope to be making steps toward the front of the grid, but they never expected, and likely have not, leapt to the front of the pack coming from a distant 4th last year.

            On a side note, and to keep a friendly conversation going given that you have mentioned Sky, I was concerned about what the F1 coverage would look like in Canada with the advent of Sky’s entry into the game. I only just recently finally had it confirmed that sure enough TSN, one of our regular sports channels available on even a basic cable or satellite package, will indeed be carrying all the races, be they Sky or BBC ones, having secured coverage in the past from BBC and from ITV when they had it. Not knowing anything about Sky but my understanding being that they are a pay-per-view channel, I was worried that TSN would not be able to justify what I perceived to be a higher expense to carry the races they have the rights to. Especially since the Montreal GP is a Sky race. I wondered how that would work. Glad to see TSN is carrying all the races no matter who is covering them. So I’ll be watching from race one to see if in fact you are right and Merc had something up their sleeves all along.

          5. There is a difference between debate and attempts at smart ass comments unless you think “Ockham’s Razor” had any real relevence to the debate.
            So You dont think that you can judge anything from watching a teams body language. You didn’t consider that maybe somebody else could by examining it from a different perspective. Had you asked I would have elaborated on what I based it on but you decided to dismiss it out of hand rather than explore the possability and then by not reading my post in proper context assumed that I was leaving the forum because of it. I simply said that I wasn’t going to post as much and then only on those issues I cared about. Now I know you will want the last word and this time I’m not going to respond so off you go.

    1. I dont watch F1 on Sky.;)

    2. That shows you that if they wanted, they could turn modern F1 into an action movie.

    3. @sato113 It is really good, pretty excited now!

    4. Don’t see what’s so fantastic about that? It’s just what FOM shot last year and the bbc and other television channels televised. Now sky are forcing you to pay for exactly the same thing and you planks are excited by it lol.

      Infact that’s not even what the sky coverage will be like. They’re doing extensive coverage which means there will be alot of times where nothing is going on just like on the bbc last year, except even more so because they are planning on showing more hours than the bbc did.

      If you really like that video then my advise is wait for rush to come out or failing that the bbcs highlights packages will be closer to what you see there because they will have to edit the best bits together and forego 2 hours of birdwatching at the canadian gp etc etc.

  10. Woohoo! COTD! Happy with that. :)

    1. You made a bloody good point!

        1. Brilliant COTD

  11. So does it mean that Marussia not running on the first test will have 4 days of private testing??

    1. No, because they didn’t attend the test. They stayed at their base.

      I wouldn’t be surprised if they do get an extra day or two, though. They originally planned to go to Jerez with the MVR-02 to give Charles Pic some running time in a Formula 1 car, and then bring the MR-01 to Barcelona. That plan changed when the MR-01 was delayed. Instead, they will use the MVR-02 in Barcelona for Pic to get some time behind the wheel and for Glock to test the new Pirellis. I would be very surprised if they did a full four days. If I were them, I would talk to the FIA and try and get one or two private test days going by skipping the last two days of the upcoming Barcelona test. I would then use those extra two days either immediately before or after the third test. Six days’ testing with the MR-01 is better than four.

      1. They could stay for a day longer, like McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes did last year at the second Barcelona test.

  12. LehonardEuler
    20th February 2012, 3:47

    Maybe Italians prefer a Ferrari over an italian driver, but stating that today this is cristal clear talking about what happened almost 30 years ago I find it quite a long shot.

    1. In 2011 I’d have preferred to see Liuzzi win a race rather than Ferrari doing so. It all depends on how many Italians there are and how competitive they are.
      There are priorities: Ferrari comes first. But with the Prancing Horse not being the best team, and not giving many satisfactions, having an extra driver to cheer for helped to keep expectations higher.

  13. Looks like nonsense to me…A lot of collecting and redirecting airflow for what advantage gain?? Keeping it simpler with a proper wing shape meant to create downforce while reducing drag seems more logical instead of this magic act. Sure stirred up the pot though….

  14. For anyone in central London today: Mercedes and Williams have F1 cars on display outside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET – just off Parliament Square).

    The Mercedes is a W01 with the distinctive blade roll hoop, but I couldn’t hang around long enough to work out the designation of the Williams (2012 livery, could be last year’s car). There’s also a Lola Le Mans prototype chassis. The aim is to celebrate the British Motorsport Industry, although I wasn’t clear what exactly is being done other than a static display. It’s the second closest F1 cars have been to my office – the closest was in 2006, when Damon Hill did a straight line demo run of a Renault R25 in the car park outside my window to promote the London Motor Show.

    If you don’t know the area, nearest tube is Westminster and 1 Victoria St is just over the road from Westminster Abbey. The building is quite distinctive and the cars are just behind a low wall – look carefully for the “Celebrating the British Motorsport Industry” branding or you’ll walk right past without noticing, as I almost did.

    1. @timg Thanks for that tip!

      I suspect the Williams will be the show car that used to be on display at Cosworth.

    2. Don’t forget the McLaren on display at 1 Hyde Park (near Knightsbridge tube) and they used to have Damon Hill’s 1994 Williams on the ceiling of the Sports Cafe on Haymarket (Piccadilly tube) which may still be there

    3. Talking about F1 cars in London, Zanardis 1999 Williams is on Fleet St, nearer the St Pauls end. Saw it the other day (really random) in the foyer of some business building.

      And I think Schumi’s 2005 Ferrari is still in the Ferrari store on Regents Street.

      So that’s SIX f1 cars you could see in London today!

  15. The best Mers

  16. My forum post about the latest on the Bahrain GP made it to the Daily Round-Up thanx to @KeithCollantine :D

    Here’s a direct link to my post http://bit.ly/zlazuU

    1. I admit I am rather sceptical in expecting any good to come from hosting a GP in Bahrain currently @LAK, but if it really goes ahead, I wish all of you there wisdom and luck in making it a positive event for everyone in Bahrain, regardless of their views of the government, or politics in general.
      And one without need for restricting free press, rights of expression of one’s thoughts and views and mainly without any violence.

      1. Thank you for your wishes @BasCB I do appreciate it. I hope all goes well too as the people of Bahrain do deserve it.

        It’s interesting how the International view has begun to change in regards to Bahrain. Yesterday at the press conference I met Gary Meenaghan, an F1 journalist, and he was saying how surprised he was to see that the country is very peaceful and that there is nothing really going on! It’s nothing like what we see on TV he said. So I’m sure many people will feel the same way once they come out here and see for themselves. :)

  17. I don’t get all this hype on mercedes’s F-duct or secret weapon! the idea of front wing F-duct came to attention of all teams before Abu dhabi test! if they wanted to copy it, they already have!

    1. Haug says there are no big surprises on the WO3 but then goes on to say “I certainly hope that we have some clever solutions and we have some good ideas incorporated on the car”. Personally that doesn’t tell me much and he’s simply being conservative in my view. I can see how others will read it differently.

    1. +1

      Thanks for the link, great shot of the neat bottle end!

      1. Is that Ralph Schumacher in the shot or is it Rosberg?

        1. Sorry Ralf!

          1. Must have been Ralf, if DC is to be believed. :P

            https://twitter.com/#!/therealdcf1/status/171615439766556672/

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