New Ferrari requires lots of work, Massa says

Whatever it is, i won't be looking into testing times now. Now its the chance for Ferrari to sort their stuff out. As long as the car is reliable and fast from Australia onwards, i couldn't care less about the suspension!

 

The aero advantages are minimal though.

As I said before, confidence in a car will go a long way; you can throw as much aero as you want at it, if the driver won't have the confidence in the front end, that's that. It's also very hard to set up so there's that issue.

 

All the teams managed to handle the pull rod suspension at the back, so I suppose Ferrari can do the same at the front.

But how and when is the question.

 

Today´s Alonso interview, rough translation:

"Pull-rod suspension has not given us any problem yet... We understand the suspension and have the right set-up since the first day".

 

you guys really believe you are able to give a diagnose from this distance and think you have a better understanding of the F2012 than the guys who designed it? You really think Ferrari haven't studied the concept before designing, fabricating and using it?

 

Well, there you have it. Either Alonso is lying or, contrair to the believe of some, the concept is actually working.

 

I'm sure they studied it well, but it still doesn't help that people standing at turn 1 say the Ferrari turns in poorly and eats front tires. I think there is a good reason other teams have not used this system at the front. Arrows and Minardi used it last and we all know how well they did. Also, some Indy teams used it years ago.


As for Alonso, his answers are every bit as washed down as every other top driver's answers are. It's a lot like a Presidential speech, lots of words but nothing really being said.

 

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+1.

All you have to do is draw the angles and you can see it is massively compromised compared to a push rod system. Ferrari must have decided that aerodynamic advantages out weigh having the front wheels contacting the ground.
Pete

 

The car is so bad Alonso lost his lunch!

 

Another quote from Alonso´s interview:

"If you (the journalists) think that you can evaluate the handling watching the car in a few turns you´re being quite optimistic."

Of course, he could be lying.

Right now he says that their main concern is the lack of grip at the exit of the turns.

 

I don't listen to what the journalists watching on track have to say, I listen to drivers and former drivers commentary. They predicted it last year like it was a science before the season even started.

 

True, but again quoting Alonso, for example these days they often were running on old tyres becuase they are only doing straight line runs, so the behaviour of the car is not always significant. And we all know cases of drivers and ex-drivers with no clue about what´s happening.

And just for the record, I do believe that Ferrari is facing a tough season: new people, new car and a lot of ground to regain. But I don´t give too much attention to pre-season testing. Last yeat they looked good and they weren´t.

 

Zo has always been known as a particularly good development driver.

 

yes, but massa is in the car now and testing is very limited...if testing were unlimited I'd have faith that ferrari would reel in the competition but under the current rules they are screwed. Reliability issues, albeit minor ones, don't help either. Other teams have run more laps and are doing race simulations and ferrari is doing straightline speed tests...I know its only testing but thus far the signs don't bode well...

 

Still too early to hang crepe.
Past years show how deceiving preseason tests can be.

 

Agree...IMHO there are storm clouds on Ferrari's horizon-lets just hope it doesn't rain...it will take a couple of races to establish the true pecking order...

 

Should know that at the first Q
By race 3 the season may be over

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97660

Massa thinks they are making progress.

 

Nice to hear. Its not all lost Im sure the team will get it sorted. Early days yet.

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97662

 

I may have missed it since I didn't read the entire thread, but does anyone have a link to a good write up that can explain the differences between push and pull rod suspension? I'm totally lost here.

 

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/39

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9345

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/groups/f1/forum/topic/push-rod-or-pull-rod-suspension/

 

Yes and yes.

Not being able to test during the season really cements the status quo of the first race.

 

Agree. Testing ban is rediculous. Contending teams are handicapped. New teams are crippled.