Not really for a new diff and (prob) new front wing + extras. They were also expecting 0.6 from the new diff (+ package?) so 0.8 is not too far out of range.

0.8 is enormous gain

0.8 is indeed huge. what would be really surprising is if the improvement is bigger than what they were expecting: I don't believe that ever happens. if it was true it would mean that they developed the new package according to an imperfect CFD model, but "by chance" the imperfection in the model lead to a solution which works in reality better than if it was on a perfect model ... that just so unlikely

It has been repeatedly shown that the CFD-models more than often are not working optimaly, eg the new parts have not been yielding the improvements the engineers anticipated. It is thus just as likely that there can be an upside risk as well as an downside disk, meaning an udgrade may yield substantially better results that initially anticipated.

I don't think 0,8s is abnormal. We compare what 2009 car to 2010 car? For now we only see their LEGO(interim) car. We see 2010 mechanics with 2009 aero. The car they tested in Rockingham have to be very different from tests car. The test car was having different problems because it runs with aero which was not design for 2010 car. But we will see on Friday. And even LEGO car was not so bad. This test in Rockingham was very important for the team, I can't explain otherwise this lack of pictures. The BBC people were there!

agreed, CFD models are imperfect (all of them). but at the same time the "space" of good aero solutions is much much sparser than the one of bad aero solutions, that's why it is very unlikely to achieve a good solution "by chance" if your development methodology has imperfections

Macca reportedly gained 1.0 from their upgrade brought to the last test and they experienced that more than once last season. I dont think that sort ofg gain for moving from an 09 diff to a 2010 diff + supporting parts should be that surprising IMHO.

You are absolutely right. The chance of an upside risk is no doubt very much smaller, but it is still there

an error is still an error, I don't think it's so hard to have one in your advantage

Well, just four days left and then it is Friday and we will see the true pace, and IMO 0.8 is not so unbelivable.

I reckon Ferrari will be the best. Interesting to see were Mercedes GP really is. Brawn usually doesn't show the true pace of the car, also not in practise sessions. So Saturday will be the real indication of where everybody is.

Some pictures from Schuberth: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4607...id=287409825228 and http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4607...id=287409825228 . On second picture they say is final version of the helmet. Why only MGP drivers have Bridgestone logo on their helmet? And also on their racing suits together with main sponsors and on the arms. Bridgestone is MGP sponsor? Other teams don't show to much Bridgestone logos.

wtf is this about? now Haug is saying that they wont even challenge for podiums

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_6009653,00.html

He's probably not lying. He did this last year with McLaren. I think he likes to protect Mercedes image by ensuring people have realistic expectations.

Last year Haug stayed quiet to begin with while McLaren said that there was no real problem, but the first time Haug made a comment it was at the point McLaren started to admit there were problems. I got the impression Haug and Mercedes forced them down this path as it is their preferred approach.

I'm not saying that this year's Mercedes is anything like last year's McLaren, of course not, but I do think Haug likes to be realistic and control expectations, in order to prevent Mercedes being seen to fail.

I don't believe they can say they have a 0.8 sec update by doing a straight line test..0.8 secs where....when the car is going straight?

Anyway we will see in a weeks time.

Is it reallly an error? The 0.6 rumour (that Merc itself probably released to the press) could have been overly conservative to keep expectations in check. They are now a corporate team with corporate bosses to keep happy.

I think this wasn't in the end straight line test. It was shakedown, also they used International Super Sports Car Circuit: http://rockingham.co.uk/about/circuits.asp . And they were doing fast laps(or laps) on the track.
Some F1 trailers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbwhUtm-gjw&NR=1
http://f1silverarrows.wordpress.com/2010/0...iler-in-german/

http://www.tvl.be/nl/nieuws/2010-03-07/mic...macher-in-genk/

schumacher went to the karting track to Genk in belgium, to do some last minute karting.

(according to rumors, the .8 sec/lap advantage was on the ISSC Circuit which is only about 3,1 km long)

you got it ivand911

So that should be more than a second improvement on a proper circuit?

well i don't thike there is any circuit in F1 nowdays which isn't 4 kms long at least

You should think like that if the circuit is longer, then the advantage is more.

lol

actually it should be more on a longer track indeed

What´s "lol"?

ISSCC

This track is nice, have everything in it. Fast, slow corners, fast straight. Good for "shakedown".

lol is for overreacting. come on, we will soon come to 2 seconds at a fast rate. 0.8 is 0.8 and it reffers to old package from testing in average (I assume - because, they didn't tested on this track earlier and it's mainly strait line test which it makes harder to draw conclusions). anyway 0.8 is very good (if of course it's true, because Haug's statements aren't so otimistic)

Sure. My expectations for Bahrain are not very high anyway at the moment so...

News

Brawn: Mercedes has the strongest pairing

Was Mercedes GP off the pace in Barcelona by 1sec? No. By 0.5sec? Maybe, but not more.

So considering RBR, Ferrari, McLaren won't have new big upgrade for Bahrain, Mercedes GP should win the Bahrain GP in a dominating fashion.

Schumacher was at least 1s off the pace in his race sim compared to Hamilton.

according to other boards they compared both of the diffusers (old->new), so the .8 sec/lap difference is specific for that short track

With the soft tyres which was not suitable to barcelona

i wouldn't jump to radical conclusions like that, it's testing after all

I think it is the time when everybody is saying they are not Favorites. When you read original Haug interview he is talking for 0,3s to the favorites. It is not so much, if it is true. And he is talking for attack in Europe. He is confident. http://translate.google.bg/translate?js=y&...sl=de&tl=en

exactly, SD was playing down chances a few days ago as well

Talks in McLaren thread about rear wing is so funny. Wait to see our new diffuser and all will forget their rear wing.

everybody thinks their wife is the prettiest

jokes aside, its a very strong pairing no doubt, especially if Rosberg can finally deliver on his early promise

Great read

Schumacher: Before the man became a king

As Michael Schumacher prepares to do it all again, Adam Cooper has unearthed a previously unpublished interview with the German from the winter of 1993 - when he was on the cusp of greatness. His views on his future, and his revelations about his competitors of the time make for fascinating reading

there are some fantastic pairings around...
fernando-felipe and lewis-jenson will be awesome also

exactly, first Ross and Schumi said that they arent challenging for victories and Haug says they arent challenging for podiums and Nico is always confident that they are front runners

Thanks..That was a great read.

Mr Huang has spreaded the news that MGP won't be on podium everywhere.

Source:ESPN

Poor translation. There is no mention of "not challenging for Podiums in the first few races" in that FAZ interview.
http://www.faz.net/s/Rub8C6F3503328B4FC284...n~Scontent.html

But Huang has mentioned they won't challenge for win until the races come back to Euro, of cause if I don't misunderstand the content of google translator. Could someone translate the content of that original version?

Has he really? I don't know where these quotes come from, but anyway:

Norbert Haug, vice president Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"The Bahrain Grand Prix as the first race of the 2010 Formula One season marks the beginning of a new era for Mercedes-Benz. 55 years after the last race of the Silver Arrows works team, Mercedes GP will start to continue this tradition. In preparation for our first season, we have covered over 6300 kilometres during 15 test days from the 1st to the 28th of February. Judging our competitiveness for the first couple of races, my impression is that we are not quite where we want to be and I would not see our team in the role of favourites. Having said that, I am fully convinced that the whole team and our drivers Nico and Michael are fully prepared to get on top of our job and fulfill our targets which are winning races and fighting for world championships."

Why the panic?

Just because the poor translation version(maybe) has been republished so many times today and you can see the similar things everywhere in the main F1 media. OK, relax, I just hope they can have a good start in this exciting season.

motorsport-total.com

Sky offers a second onboard channel, which only shows Schumi

I am not disputing the quote, but based on the excerpt, I am not sure who and why they were all over MS a few days ago. Norbert merely expressing what Michael already said, I think.

On another level, Bahrain might be therefore not so sure thing, even if all upgrades (we heard about for so long) will be mounted on.