I did it by cursing ferrari left and right. In 96 I don't think I watched a single race where I didn't say ****ing ferrari.



Its a nice PR comment but do you really think Schumi wants to be in another crappy team and then build it up for 10 years only to get pushed out? You have to realize that Schumacher's long term is 3 years. If Brawn can't carry speed into 2010 I don't forsee anything better in 2011 either.

Statements like that (wasn't expecting to fight for wins right away) are what make me think that the MGP isn't a front runner. When was the last time Schumacher gave such a pessimistic statement.

I think I am whining, but completely justifiably. MGP is under performing. If they raise their game I'll be happy. If they don't I'll hate them like I hate ferrari.

underperforming based on what? on the fact that you don't know their fuel loads or anyone else's fuel loads so the times mean nothing? do you think TR is a contender at this point? I guess you think ferrari are way behind also after this week's times. To say that they are underperforming because YOU want to see them at the top of the time sheets or in front of button is ridiculous IMO. maybe they are running with 50kg more fuel than anyone else. The point of testing is that no points are awarded, some teams disguise, some teams go for the glory and most teams focus on getting the car to the best possible position for when it really counts. but knee jerk away...

I am quite confident. All because of Ross and Schumacher's track record.

They never built up a team and went back to midfield with that same team afterwards (except '05, but I think the huge advantage of Michelin was to blame).
They know what they're doing. And they'll be there, up front.

Nico said there will be a sizeable update for Bahrain. I expect Mercedes are still developing the new parts...front wing, diffuser, etc.

Sephiroth,

Like BRK already told you, this thread is FULL of possible reasons why they would delay the new diffuser. It seems like you either ignore those reasons or simply haven't been reading the thread.

In any case here are some of them:

1. They simply didn't finish R&D on it yet.
2. They finished R&D but decided to keep developing further during these weeks to gain some advantage.
3. They believe it's a huge innovation and want to hide it as much as possible to delay copies from other teams.
4. They have such reliable CFD and wind tunnel that they don't feel the need to test it on track before the Barcelona tests.
5. They want to test mechanical components and aero components separately (the advantages of this approach have been explained by me and others).
6. Who knows? You? Do you really think you know how MGP should be conducting their tests better than the team itself?

1 and 2 are not positive points.
3. is unlikely but would be awesome.
4. Possible but nothing compares with a real world test. (Nothing that Brawn could afford anyways).
5. That is a sensible thing and something I agree with too. Post-valencia I also stated that it makes more sense. But Jerez is more aero based. Whats the point of re-testing mechanical grip here again.

Yes I admit I don't know. I am just not optimistic about it. Maybe they are keeping things under wraps and in bahrain will come out with this awesome diffuser/wing that will put me to shame. But do such things actually happen?

Regardless this discussion is getting boring. Its not that I want MGP to be crappy but I am apprehensive about it.

Nice and interesting reply by you, supporting your opinion about each of the points I've mentioned.

Ok.

Having held back thus far I think it's time I said something. I used to work for brawn, was one of te casualities last yr. The probable reason for no diffuser is man power. We struggled to buggery with 650 people to get a car o. Track by first test last year and every year before that. My guess is with 400 people try have grossly mis estimates the time scales and had to scrap the launch front wing and diffuser and will go straight to the Melbourne spec one, whilst this is ok you obviously lose the aero development time on track whic is worth double that of wind tunnel testing. I wouldn't say merc are in the shizzle but they are no way in the position brawn were in last march when they had a car built by 650 people working 2+ yrs on it. If anyone has any reasonable questions I would be happy to try and answer and explain within reason.

Thanks for invitation, and I dive for it. My q.: can they catch up and at which race we will know how the rest of the season will look like? (Welcome in bottomless pit this BB is, BTW).

I have a question. There are a minority that are disgusted by Fry and Brawn for having possibly profited from taking on the honda brackley team to turn it into brawn to being bought out by merc when the current employees received nothing from the deal except their current jobs. Are you bitter about how either men have conducted business, was everything transparent to the employees or done in a deceiving manner and if so, what could they have done differently. TIA.

I just want to know if anyone agrees with me on this point. Since the fastest lap for the top teams always come at the start of the day, I wonder if they are going light fuel earlier in the day as a qualifying set up and then work on using the same set up for race pace throughout the day. If thats the case, the Ferrari's look the best bet followed by Mercedes. Early estimates are that MGP is gonna be down by .5 secs. I think Michael can easily make up that difference on race pace. So maybe they might not win races but they will surely be close.

1. I don't think its possible to tell qualifying speeds at the moment, you can try and guess.

2. Are you saying that if the Ferrari is 0.5 faster then the Merc that MS will easily bridge that gap in the race? All I can is wow............

Exactly my point. I suppose what was to follow shocked you. He was in championship contention every year after that all the way until Silverstone '99,even with a far superior McLaren in '98. Patience.



No he doesn't,this isn't a team that hasn't won in 17 years and struggling to live up to their reputation. If you followed last season,however,it should've been clear to you that they weren't going into 2010 with a massive advantage over everybody else,and that McLaren and Ferrari had caught up and would easily pass them. Third quickest was your best bet,you were dreaming if you thought it was going to be much better than that. However,development over the course of the season will be better given they don't have to worry about the money anymore. Like NR and MS have said,expect to be challenging for wins at least by mid-season.

Remember the team that worked on the 2010 challenger is the same tiny,sparingly funded outfit that struggled to keep pace with the big boys last year: 2011 is a completely different ball game now that a manufacturer is back in play. Well-funded and well-oiled, and with Brawn and Schumacher in the team. Had these guys been at Honda 2006,I bet they would've been fighting for the title,and that the disasters of 2007 and '08 would never have happened.

Well, the 0.5 difference is what everyone's talking bout in all forums. Im none the wiser. Hopefully its not.

Remember 1998 - when the Mclaren Mercedes was atleast 0.5 to 1 sec faster than Ferrari. Schumacher still managed to stick around with them in the race

I think we need to cool it a little. Nobody here (from us who are talking now on this thread) would like to see Schumi struggle and fight for P13 instead of podiums and wins, that's a given. But I don't think he came back with the expectation he would have the best car. I really think he knew what he is facing, since Brawn and he are friends and I suppose Ross told him everything honestly. If the team has manpower problems at the moment, like BusyBusyBee said, I'm sure Michael was aware when he signed his contract. I think he came back because he missed racing. Period. Of course, it soon could turn out to be frustrating for him if the car is a dog, the team is a mess AND there is no sign of improvement. The latter part being important. I think if the car is not so good, but they manage to improve race by race and eventually (whether this year or in the next two seasons) fight for wins and the title, he won't regret coming back. Honestly, I'd be more worried and desperate if he would be looking for his first title, or if he would be at the hight of his career wasting his best years with no good car in sight. But if anybody, MS can take it as fun now. As a bonus. There's no pressure IMO. And his fans should take it like that too.

And in a way I'd find it more interesting and exciting if he had to build up something again, instead of just inheriting the best car.

Excellent post, exactly my thoughts

Yep can't believe all the fuss here.

Let's just wait and see and give them the benefit of the doubt. They know what it takes to build a good car and most off all they are known to always give 110%. Besides that it was already known that Brawn had to cut jobs when he took over no mystery there. Every team is laying off people because of the budget cap which means they have to cut the costs.

Even though the W01 is still running 2009 spec front wing and diffuser like we already pointed out, the end plates (or at least the bottom part) are new:
http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/13245477

This endplate modficaton was tested last year but never raced, so not new. Have the pictures somewhere. Will try to find it.

How many laps has Schumi done so far? He's DEAD LAST. Seriously, I know this is just a damn testing which isn't much good to base on how a car will perform overall, but.....still, im expecting alot better.

Only 11, all in the wet.

eddstrawF1: Schuey goes P1 on a 1m20.971s

I guess he heard me.

P1 on a 1m20.613..nice one Schu.

Already a 1m20.613

Let's see what his laptimes will be when his new tyres grain on the green surface

Surely a big drop-off is expected

Oh thanks for the info! Didn't know that.

I was following another car development last year.

CHECK THIS VIDEO OF A FUNNY INCIDENT WHILE PITSTOPPING WITH SCHUMI IN JEREZ:
http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2010/0...test-right.html

The car stopped on the circuit...

Yesterday they did run out of fuel on purpose which is a standard systems checks, any news on what happened today? The Mercedes twitter is really useless...

they're just calling it a mechanical problem, imma look for further details but hot damn..he was on a roll...but i guess it's better to have these problems in testing rather than in the season....they don't call it testing for nuffin.

This video made me realize we'll see pit crews wearing t-shirts again for the first time since 1993! Nice nostalgia from the 80's and 90's.

Schumi has gone out again.

OfficialMGP: Car's fine and Michael's back in the garage getting ready to go out again.
OfficialMGP: Too quick for me! He's just gone out :-)

I hope the failure was nothing major. Good to see him back out so quickly though.

Some Google translations from F1today.nl :
Mercedes Problem
13:29 - The reason that Michael Schumacher drove just 11 laps due to problems with the car is. The SSC team not happy with some responses from the car and there are technical problems. The seven-time world champion will next be run within 10 minutes and run a lot during the afternoon.

Battle between Schumacher and Hamilton

14:29 - Schumacher and Hamilton fight on the track a nice duel. Hamilton is to Schumacher, but the German is faster. He managed not to his new car past the McLaren of Hamilton to get! It does have pretty pictures and images!

Schumacher stopped by possibly empty tank

14:25 - The red flag that Michael Schumacher may have been caused by his car without gasoline has come to represent. The Mercedes W01 rolled out, and after the car was back in the pits, Schumacher has already driven a few minutes ago on track.

Nothing much of note today. I'd like to know what the conditions were like when Michael did his lap on fumes,though.

If FA can bring 0.6 secs...then MS can atleast bring 0.5 sec right?

good to see you here, my friend

BRK, thanks for posting the quotes!

I saw Ross Brawn in Henley-on-Thames today, doing some shopping.

This puts in perspective for me how we shouldn't get too concerned with testing, because if we were Ross Brawn we would be in Jerez obsessing over every timing and detail!

Michael's thoughts on the hierarchy:



Just thought it'd be good to have some perspective for quick reference as testing continues.

Despite the last hour time changes I thought it was a good day. MS kept banging out fast laps (in the 21s to 23s). Assuming the stoppage was fuel related we can guess that the reliability is acceptable also.

What was that thing about SCS not being confident and so no early morning running?

sephiroth -This was translation from Dutch to English(http://www.f1today.nl/live-update/2010/02/13/circuito-de-jerez/ ). I don't speak Dutch, but this was only information that I found about not running in the morning. But I don't think they was just sitting there and playing cards. And as usual there is no word from Mercedes. Everything is OK. Their test reports a funny. Even red flag is never mentioned. Other teams are more open. Yesterday Nico missed hour and half dry time. From the MGP report rain started after he make 4 laps, but other teams make up to 30 dry laps. Rosberg in this period was looking from the box what other drivers do.

"The suspicion doing the rounds is that Mercedes has miscalculated the weight distribution slightly, with the weight too far forward. They are working to solve this with new suspension solutions."

Source: From James Allen on F1 blog (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/)

Just as dillusional as your ridiculous rants against Senna. Thanks for putting things into perspective.

The part with the weight distribution sounds not good.
Would have thought the problem was solved for this week, now even more modifications at the front suspension
I hope it kicks in once everything (new aero stuff and mechanical parts) is put together.

Exactly what I predicted a couple of days ago.

Some stints from today: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=EVK4Z8NA

Going by what you wrote before, a shorter front has the effect of increasing weight to the front, I presume, the weight center is shifted forward? so the are going to have either shift or devise a longer front which is what Hunny mentioned last week as a fault with the new Merc

I don't think it has as much to do with the length of the front but the width. Having a wider front allows gives more space or room to place balast in there which was what Brawns did and presumably what Mclaren may be doing this year in the MP4-25. This is my understanding anyway. By the front, I mean the nose.

Anyway, I think that quote from JA I've posted is slightly out of date. I believe that's what some engineers were talking about in Valencia. The team itself admitted some weight distribution issues on the first test which would be easily fixed for Jerez.

And from what we've heard from both drivers this week the car balance issues were indeed fixed and the handling was quite good this time.

Yup, yup and yup.