** Possible Spoiler** Ferrari were aware of potential problems

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4051453,00.html



Ferrari admit they were aware that Kimi Raikkonen's engine was at risk of blowing up during the European Grand Prix.


The Scuderia believe the same con rod issues that troubled Felipe Massa during the Hungarian GP is to blame. Massa was just three laps away from a win at the Hungagoring when his engine blew up.


Raikkonen suffered the same fate during this weekend's race around the streets of Valencia, and initial analysis of the Finn's car confirmed the breakage of a con rod.


"The engineers were aware of a potential risk in general terms with the 056 engine fitted to Kimi's car, which was on its second race, given that the con rods were part of the same batch used on Felipe's engine," said a statement.


"Changing the engine on Kimi's car would have seen the Finn start from far down the grid at a track where it appeared that overtaking was impossible, proving it's not enough to bring Formula One to a street circuit in a fantastic location to produce spectacular racing."

 

So that confirms what I wrote in the "cooling problems" thread:

 

Looking back now, They should have changed the engine and taken the penalty. But now they will have a fresh engine for Spa.

 

There was a certain chance that the engine would last, I guess... and if he had started from the back, he would have lost any chance for a win at that track.

 

I said that two days ago:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210374&page=16, post #316

 

So this is the company that makes the con rods:

http://www.pankl.com/en/

and this is the company that makes the pistons:

http://www.mahle.com/


Apparently pankl makes the rods for all F1 engines for the most part so it could have been a Mercedes with the same problem..

 

I loved the look of the circuit but was really really disappointed with the lack of passing. There really was none. I agree, Ferrari were looking ahead, and Kimi got the shaft cause they know Massa had a good engine and Kimi's had a really good chance to pop. Everytime he picked up the pace too much, it seemed like he backed off. Meh. Lets hope that a fresh engine for Kimi at Spa will turn things around.

 

I think SF would have taken the penalty if they knew the engine would perform 100%. Which leads me to believe that Ferraris engines are prone to blow at this point in the season(that point is obvious). If the rods are all the same for all the cars then you could deduct that the stress Ferrari puts on those rods at this stage are greater than other teams. IMO Ferrari has tweaked their engines to a point where they don't have a good idea of reliability. Ferrari clearly has a huge grey area in development at this stage.

 

Toro Rosso not destroying engines. Customer motor a bit less power on hand?

 

Rumor is that STR has about 25 less BHP than Ferrari but they now also have the new seamless shift transmission which looks to be better than Ferrari's.

 

Read the statement! Manufacturing errors on a batch of rods, and Ferrari wasn't able to change the rods, otherwise they had received a penalty.

 

Too bad for Ferrari that they already used their "one free engine swap with no penalty" for the 08 season (after they swapped Kimis motor following Massas prior failure)

 

Does each driver get a freebie or is it just one for the team? Kimi got his freebie after the exhaust decided to pop off and if I'm not mistaken Massa hasn't used a free swap?

I'm surprised we found out so soon what the failure was tho everyone did have a good idea that it would turn out to be the same fate as Massa's.

 

I imagine the con rod sticking out of the engine block was the giveaway.

 

The rods are built by the same manufacturer for almost all the cars, but that doesn´t mean that they build the same rods for everybody, each engine may use different rods.

 

Blame Lewis...................................

 

Haha Steve, actually, I think Kimi would have been better to start off in 14th place with a new motor then lose points no matter what against not only the WDC but more importantly the WCC.

 

Very true in retrospect Tony, I suppose they were hoping for the best, I'm sure it will be sorted ASAP..

 

I would like to say that Mahle is one of the finest metalurgists in the world. They have produced some of the finest engine components for world champions for decades, from F1 to Rally, as well as all sorts of high performance street engines. Ferrari could pick no better.

 

+1 Tony.

With a healthy engine Kimi could have easily finished in the points and most likely podium'd. - (is that a word?)

 

Another example of how the stupid rules ruin the spectacle of the sport. Ferrari KNEW Kimis engine was potentially a problem yet the asinine rules that Mosley implemented made it so they couldn't change the engine.

How is that in any way good for the spectacle of the sport?

Oh, I forgot - it saves money right?

Except during the last Racing Per Matchett segment, the McLaren guy said they cast around 100 engines per year. Since there are 18 races, 2 drivers, one engine per 2 races, that's 18 engines per year. I am sure the cost of 18 engines (out of ~100) is not that big of a savings for the team, and would be *dwarfed* by the cost of switching from V10's to V8's, as well as the costs or R&D and inspection to make engines last 2 races.

Good job Mosley!

 

"355" shut the Fcku up, everyone is tired of your stupid ****ty posts on here. Learn something besides posting garbage. Franco you for one is someone who has been always on my Ignore List, but your are the Biggest Ass Hatt on this site, with your stupid posts.

 

+1