F1 2014 Megathread

[Lindseyw 10]

did you notice the back end wobbles and wheelspins when leaving the pits?

 

Yep, and the screeching of tyres, not heard that for many years !!

Some real wobblers !!

[bigsexydoug 10]

Well RedBull are to appeal and I feel they may just win. The interesting point is that they really believe they didn't go over the allowed 100kg/hr limit. I kind of see their point, as why should they have to turn their engine down to be safe from errors on an FIA approved object ? If they can prove they didn't go over, then why should they lose out ok peak performance ? I believe The other team in question was Mercedes, and I think even at a peak 96kg/hr flow they still have an advantage, so they were more happy to play it safe.

 

I guess it's a little like saying the car can weigh no less than 120kg, but our scales are faulty, so you best make it 125kg to be safe. If the rules are 120kg then why should a team be punished for an error on something the Fia has approved/ recommended ? I'm no Redbull fan and know they have pushed the limits previously, but I do see their point.

 

as long as the have complied with the regulations there is no problem from me, but is their actually specific data released about what was actually done/not done.. all we seem to have is hearsay ?

 

i think the other team will have actually been mclaren myself, they were quite specific on the radio with their fuel adjustments letting magnusson know when he was chasing down riccardo .

 

sure is all over the shop this year at the minute

[Mr_D 10]

as long as the have complied with the regulations there is no problem from me, but is their actually specific data released about what was actually done/not done.. all we seem to have is hearsay ?

 

i think the other team will have actually been mclaren myself, they were quite specific on the radio with their fuel adjustments letting magnusson know when he was chasing down riccardo .

 

sure is all over the shop this year at the minute

 

The FIA stewards issued the following explanation for their decision:

 

 

1) The Technical Delegate reported to the Stewards that Car 3 exceeded the required fuel mass flow of 100kg/h. (Article 5.1.4 of the Formula One Technical Regulations)

 

2) This parameter is outside of the control of the driver, Daniel Ricciardo.

 

3) The fuel flow is measured using the fuel flow sensor (Art. 5.10.3 & 5.10.4 of the Technical Regulations) which is homologated by the FIA and owned and operated by the team.

 

4) The stewards considered the history of the fitted fuel flow sensor, as described by the team and the Technical Delegate’s representative who administers the program. Their description of the history of the sensor matches.

 

a. During Practice 1 a difference in reading between the first three and Run 4 was detected. The same readings as Run 4 were observed throughout Practice 2.

 

b. The team used a different sensor on Saturday but did not get readings that were satisfactory to them or the FIA, so they were instructed to change the sensor within Parc Ferme on Saturday night.

 

c. They operated the original sensor during the race, which provided the same readings as Run 4 of Practice 1, and Practice 2.

 

5) The Stewards heard from the technical representative that when the sensor was installed on Saturday night, he instructed the team to apply an offset to their fuel flow such that the fuel flow would have been legal. He presented an email to the stewards that verified his instruction.

 

6) The technical representative stated to the Stewards that there is variation in the sensors. However, the sensors fall within a known range, and are individually calibrated. They then become the standard which the teams must use for their fuel flow.

 

7) The team stated that based on the difference observed between the two readings in P1, they considered the fuel flow sensor to be unreliable. Therefore, for the start of the race they chose to use their internal fuel flow model, rather than the values provided by the sensor, with the required offset.

 

Technical Directive 016*14 (1 March 2014) provides the methodology by which the sensor will be used, and, should the sensor fail, the method by which the alternate model could be used.

 

a. The Technical Directive starts by stating: “The homologated fuel flow sensor will be the primary measurement of the fuel flow and will be used to check compliance with Articles 5.1.4 and 5.1.5 of the F1 Technical Regulations…” This is in conformity with Articles 5.10.3 and 5.10.4 of the Technical Regulations.

 

b. The Technical Directive goes on to state: “If at any time WE consider that the sensor has an issue which has not been detected by the system WE will communicate this to the team concerned and switch to a backup system” (emphasis added.)

 

c. The backup system is the calculated fuel flow model with a correction factor decided by the FIA.

 

9) The FIA technical representative observed thought the telemetry during the race that the fuel flow was too high and contacted the team, giving them the opportunity to follow his previous instruction, and reduce the fuel flow such that it was within the limit, as measured by the homologated sensor – and thus gave the team the opportunity to be within compliance. The team chose not to make this correction.

 

10) Under Art. 3.2 of the Sporting Regulations it is the duty of the team to ensure compliance with the Technical Regulations throughout the Event. Thus the Stewards find that:

 

A) The team chose to run the car using their fuel flow model, without direction from the FIA. This is a violation of the procedure within TD/ 016*14.

 

B) That although the sensor showed a difference in readings between runs in P1, it remains the homologated and required sensor against which the team is obliged to measure their fuel flow, unless given permission by the FIA to do otherwise.

 

C) The Stewards were satisfied by the explanation of the technical representative that by making an adjustment as instructed, the team could have run within the allowable fuel flow.

 

D) That regardless of the team’s assertion that the sensor was fault, it is not within their discretion to run a different fuel flow measurement method without the permission of the FIA.

 

Mercedes had the same issue in qualifying and changed/ ran at a peak 96kg/hr in the race. That has been reported by a few people who are usually right. In terms of others, you're right there is a lot of hearsay, as some report "several" other teams, so who knows...

It reads as a case of RedBull knowing best, but if there's a problem with something the FIA tell them to use then I fully understand their point. If the options were run a peak flow of 96kg/hr using the Reccomended flow sensor, or run as per the rules at 100kg/hr using a different one thats a tricky choice to make.

[Bladesman 10]

Easy win for Lewis.

 

The Mercedes looks very strong and when Vettel tried up his speed both Mercedes found another gear. Also they appear to be very efficient on fuel.

[*_ash_* 88]

Easy win for Lewis.

 

The Mercedes looks very strong and when Vettel tried up his speed both Mercedes found another gear. Also they appear to be very efficient on fuel.

 

Bit of a boring race though. Shame, it's a great circuit.

[Rampent 10]

Boy racers have a better exhaust note. THAT'S ME DONE WITH F ONE.

[alchresearch 214]

There's more to F1 than the sound of an engine, things change, get over it.

 

Quite an interesting race yesterday, a few failures, very bad luck for Ricciardo (curse of Webber?), ignoring team orders and one team a runaway success.

[Bladesman 10]

There's more to F1 than the sound of an engine, things change, get over it.

 

Quite an interesting race yesterday, a few failures, very bad luck for Ricciardo (curse of Webber?), ignoring team orders and one team a runaway success.

 

Yeah fair bit of ignoring team orders.

 

Looks like Ricciardo has Webbers old car.

[alchresearch 214]

I read last night that Ricciardo now has a 10 place grid penalty at Bahrain this weekend. That poor fella is really out of luck this season.

[truman 10]

I read last night that Ricciardo now has a 10 place grid penalty at Bahrain this weekend. That poor fella is really out of luck this season.

 

Yep and the worst thing is I have him in my Fantasy F1 setup...he needs to start performing soon..

[Mr_D 10]

I read last night that Ricciardo now has a 10 place grid penalty at Bahrain this weekend. That poor fella is really out of luck this season.

 

Yep it's a harsh rule, but if it increases safety in the pit lane then no one can really complain. We saw last year the impact of an unsafe release and no one wants a repeat of that.

[Bladesman 10]

Epic drive from Lewis on slow tyres.

 

Held Rosberg off well and wow the Mercedes are quick. They both ran away after the safety car.