OK.... it's almost that time again will it be or that takes the win in 2014? Will Red Bull dominate? Will Hamilton rise above the inner diva? Will the iceman freeze out the Spaniard? Will the new Aussie have the grit? the clock ticks to Melbourne.....
Regardless of who wins in the end it will be an interesting season (I hope). Thanks for starting the new thread.
nice piece from Matt Somerfield on the power-plants: LINK Be still my beating heart At the core of the power unit lies the 1.6 V6 engine (ICE) which differs significantly to it's outgoing brother the 2.4 V8. Needing to work in harmony with the attached components it's a floor up new design, complementing the turbocharger it will run at a much lower compression ratio. F1 also adopts direct injection with the new regulations allowing a more efficient delivery of the fuel a necessity when considering the engine manufacturers are still striving to produce the same if not more power than the larger capacity V8's did with 3,000 rpm more. That's right gone with the high compression is the need to rev the car so aggressively with the regulations capping it at 15,000rpm. It is however more likely that we see the drivers shifting around 12,000rpm as the fuel flow limits placed in the regulations mean peak power will produced much lower. Give me a boost Turbochargers haven't graced the sport since 1988 with the FIA reigning in the engine manufacturer's who by now had cars producing over 1000bhp in qualifying trim. The return to turbo cars helps the sport to leverage the additional power that can be generated by them and re-use it as electrical energy. The turbo's being used from 2014 however are a little more sophisticated than the one you find on your road going cars. Substantially sized they should produce lots of lag with the help of the MGU-H they'll be spooled up for action pretty much all the time. It's getting hot in here The MGU-H is a new unit located in the centre of the engine's V, working on the same base principles of the outgoing KERS but is instead connected to the turbo's turbine. This allows the MGU-H to extract power by slowing the turbo, which it will do under braking and by regulating the boost pressure like a wastegate would normally be used for. Energy being symbiotically harvested by the MGU-K or stored in the ES can be returned to the turbo via the MGU-H spooling the turbo and reducing lag. Energy harvested and dispensed by the MGU-H is unlimited, making it a fantastic tool for the turbo. Filling in the gaps The MGU-K is a redesigned KERS package, whereas KERS was tacked onto the side of the V8's back in 2009 the MGU-K has been designed alongside the rest of the powertrain. Doubling the maximum amount of energy that can be dispensed to 120KW and utilising both it's symbiotic relationship with the MGU-H and the 4MJ capacity of the ES it means roughly 160bhp is available for 33.33 seconds. As with KERS though the driver will be able to adjust the level of power it dispenses/harvests during a lap giving him 80bhp for 66.66 seconds or any other combination of time vs power between 1bhp and 160bhp. Just like it's older sibling the MGU-K harvests energy under braking and redistributes it via the engines crankshaft. However unlike it's sibling the control of energy release will be done autonomously via the drivers input on the accelerator pedal. (Having 5 times the time component to spend around a lap would make busy work of a steering wheel button) Although it's widely accepted that a push to pass style override may still be able to be factored in. Saving it for a rainy day The ES (Energy Store) has a specified weight of 20-25kg's this is to discourage use of both exotic materials to save weight but also to prohibit teams from running a smaller ES to gain ballast that could be placed elsewhere. The ES must also be placed within the survival cell. Running on fumes To further enforce the limit on the teams ability to extrapolate performance from the engine, the FIA have mandated 100kg's as the amount of fuel that can be used by a driver during the race. Early race simulations completed by the engine manufacturer's conclude that at some tracks this is extremely marginal and in some cases downright not enough. This will of course lead to manipulation of strategy, fuel management and clever driving by the drivers.
You know, I wish they would allow fueling up during the race again. It makes it way more interesting IMHO. I understand there are strategies based on fuel consumption/weight and tires plus the Q3 gives an idea of what to expect but I still miss that part. On a diff note, as much as I like Vettel and RB I hope this next season works to be more interesting for the top comp. Thanks for the schematics, pretty cool.
well, we had fueling.... and it had it's own issues next year will be tougher still on fuel with the teams restricted to running even less on board. it does seem all a bit contrived at times.... and it is one of the things we all "debate". Here's a graphic of last year versus this year: LINK (large pic)
I don't mind the fuel limits, as pushing the designers to do more with less could have practical value for road-going cars. However, I think the rules should mandate a fixed energy (as equivalent gallons of gasoline) limit and NOT also specify the engine architecture (or at least leave it much less constrained). Then you might get some truly innovative ideas, rather than incremental improvements on existing technology. Oval pistoned V16s that rev to 25000 RPM? Sure!
DBL points is stupid. My prediction for 2014 is the dbl points thing pisses off Newey and Red Bull and Vettel win every race!
Not sure reducing available fuel to 100 kg is a good idea when they were using about 150 kg last year. Granted it is a smaller engine but it seems to me it will have the lead cars slowing down at the end to make it to the finish line.... I fail to see how this helps make the race interesting. It almost seems like it will be more of a cruise than a race. Guess it may just be me, but I like to see the cars going all out from start to finish... All this rule changing seems to me an atempt to make the faster teams slower and the slower teams faster. Fuel allotment is reminicent of shitty tires to slow down faster cars like KEERS or DRS to help cars behind get ahead..... What ever happened to good old fashion pride.... Tired of losing build a better more competive car. Good teams should not be punished for being faster than the rest. That being said, I think Red Bull is still the better team and will find a way to win! Kimmi will dominate Alonso to the point of making him look bad! Nico will come into his own, take over merc and hamilton will fade away. I can't wait to see what Mc Learen's new driver will do, can't be worst than button!
The practical effect of a mandated fuel load will be less competitive racing and more "fuel management" runs. People hate fuel management enough as it is, without having the FIA force more of it on us. Bah. Double points also reeks. Waiting for the first word of a team pushing the boundary of the new rules, a la Brawn and Red Bull from the past.
We need a countdown to Melbourne clock!!! I am looking forward to the new rules because they should shake things up and create uncertainty. F1 could use more suspense. However, to quote myself, double points in the final race is weapons-grade stupid.
So you figure the slower teams will somehow be less restricted by the new fuel limit? They are slower so therefore they use less fuel? Interesting...
F1's heyday is gone. Now it's corporate strategy, not good engineering. It's Europe's version of NASCAR. Who's watching that? No one. I miss the 90's when engineers were allowed to push their own envelope, not be forced to fit into some politically correct manilla designed by environmentalists. That said, I too would love another competitor on the podium besides Red Bull. And hands-down, no form of racing has the performance of F1.
People have been saying that since 1955 and will be saying it every season to come. In twenty years people will look back to the 2014 formula wistfully.
schedule: Formula One Schedule <table style="font-size:inherit;border-collapse:collapse;vertical-align:top;width:100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><th style="color: #777;font-weight: normal;font-size: 11px;line-height: 17px; height: 17px;border-bottom: 1px solid #ebebeb;text-align: left">#</th><th style="color: #777;font-weight: normal;font-size: 11px;line-height: 17px; height: 17px;border-bottom: 1px solid #ebebeb;text-align: left">Date</th><th style="color: #777;font-weight: normal;font-size: 11px;line-height: 17px; height: 17px;border-bottom: 1px solid #ebebeb;text-align: left">Race</th><th style="color: #777;font-weight: normal;font-size: 11px;line-height: 17px; height: 17px;border-bottom: 1px solid #ebebeb;text-align: left">Winner/Time (*)</th></tr><tr><td style="overflow: hidden;width: 20px">1</td><td style="overflow: hidden">Mar 16 </td><td style="overflow: hidden;text-align:left">Australian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr><td style="overflow: hidden;width: 20px">2</td><td style="overflow: hidden">Mar 30 </td><td style="overflow: hidden;text-align:left">Malaysia Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr><td style="overflow: hidden;width: 20px">3</td><td style="overflow: hidden">Apr 6 </td><td style="overflow: hidden;text-align:left">Bahrain Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr><td style="overflow: hidden;width: 20px">4</td><td style="overflow: hidden">Apr 20 </td><td style="overflow: hidden;text-align:left">Chinese Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr><td style="overflow: hidden;width: 20px">5</td><td style="overflow: hidden">May 11 </td><td style="overflow: hidden;text-align:left">Spanish Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">6</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">May 25 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Monaco Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">7</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Jun 8 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Canadian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">8</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Jun 22 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Austrian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">9</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Jul 6 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">British Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">10</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Jul 20 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">German Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">11</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Jul 27 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Hungarian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">12</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Aug 24 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Belgian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">13</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Sep 7 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Italian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">14</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Sep 21 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Singapore Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">15</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Oct 5 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Japanese Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">16</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Oct 12 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Russian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 1:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">17</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Nov 2 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">United States Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 12:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">18</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Nov 9 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Brazilian Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 12:00 PM </td></tr><tr class="hidden"><td style="overflow: hidden; width: 20px;">19</td><td style="overflow: hidden;">Nov 23 </td><td style="overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</td><td style="overflow: hidden;"> 12:00 PM </td></tr></tbody></table> clock..... <object classid="clsid:d<embed name="cdtw" src="http://countingdownto.com/c/w.swf" flashvars="eid=428230" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" style="outline:none" height="240" width="350"></object> WEBSITE COUNTDOWN WIDGET
