More details here: http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/ferraris-2014-secrets/ Must be noted that these articles are somewhat speculative as it differs from other ones about where Ferrari put the compressor.
Hmmm I think that it is sensationalism and worries me. That is the sort of comment we on here make. Lets face it the car is probably the 4th best car on the grid with 2 of the better cars having the same power plant and we know that Ferrari engine engineers joined their local library and checked out books relating to Otto cycle engine development from the turn of last century. But more seriously the car has obviously not got that terribly bad aero because it is competitive with the RedBull's who usually are the leaders in aero thanks to Newey. If I was Mattiaci I would be concentrating on starting from scratch with the engine only and designing a F1 engine for this century and not one to compete for the Gordon Bennett races. If he spreads the resources of the team too thin they will achieve only small improvements in each area. Surely now, as they can copy intelligent people, they can leap frog and make an even better engine. Pete
The aero is bad. They are just lucky to have Alonso with his otherwordly handling skills. Look at how much he is working with the car. Ferrari's aero dept. has been behind for a few years. Yes, they've had wind tunnel problems, but there is also a weak ess in the design team. I have for a long time believed that Tombazis should be replaced with someone who has a totally different mindset and design philosophy. This year they've done a poor job with the engine too, which has added to their troubles. I can easily see them designing a competitive engine for next year, I think the engineers there are aware of their mistakes and where the rooms for improvement are. But there needs to be a serious change in the design team. It doen't have to be Newey, but it needs to be someone with a fresh philosophy and different approach.
I've read that article posted above and it reads like their aero direction intentionally compromised the engine performance, but I still think locating the turbines together was simply stupid ... Pete
Hmmm ... he was even closer to Ferrari back in the recent good days. And before everybody jumps in and said he broke up the dream team those people could not go on forever, changes had to happen ... Pete
But according to that article (with all the caveats, we all know that 99,9% of the stuff we see in internet is BS), the problem with the aero is that it´s not enough to be on par because the engine was compromised for that: it should be miles ahead. I guess that the Renault engine is a bit worse than the Ferrari. It´s true that if you removed Mercedes-Benz from the game, Ferrari would be in the fight, but the same could be said about Red Bull the previous year.
Ferrari Formula 1 team splits with engine chief Luca Marmorini - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com So it begins....
Completely agree with Mister Maranello: Ferrari's aero dept. has been behind for a few years. Yes, they've had wind tunnel problems, but there is also a weakness in the design team. I have for a long time believed that Tombazis should be replaced with someone who has a totally different mindset and design philosophy. I would take him and Pat Fry out as well, as they were joined at the hip back at McLaren.
When you put on terrible front suspension simply to get a minute aero benefit you'll know your aero dept is not being clever...
It began when they replaced Domenicelli. Step two sack underperforming dept. heads. Step three hire competent replacements. That they're promoting from within has me a bit worried but I remain hopeful.
FA came second with tyres that were finished 10 laps earlier and Kimi was shafted in qualifying .... I'd say they're not doing too bad, some of you have forgotten the 21 year streak ... I haven't Where is Toyota, BMW, Honda and other ***** teams ??!! Dan had better tyres and went past LH and FA in the last 5 laps leaving FA to hold off LH with the rims, a crap car will NOT do that
Fred wouldn't have finished second in a Caterham, Ferrari is not a crap car but is not a top tier car either. If Lewis and Nico hadn't suffered mechanical issues they'd have finished one-two.
I agree there. How can they blame the car when they had several podiums this year? It's the management I blame. That "cock-up" with Raikonen in Q1 in Hungary was the last straw I think. Very demoralising for Kimi, I would have thought. Ferrari has to do better in qualifs if it doesn't want its drivers to struggle during the race.
True enough but this year it seems that a bad Q isn't the kiss of death it once was. Why that is I dunno.
The Mercs seem to have brake issues, RB has vettel Ferrari reliability is good , the brakes are good, the drivers are good, engine power is down and straight line speed is variable. I think Rosberg was unlucky the SC came out when it did to wipe out his massive lead but it played right into DR'd hands .... I was happy for both outcomes
Nico's car didn't seem to be running right after the SC. Before the season there were dire predictions of the new tech cars failing en masse. That didn't happen but we are seeing quite a few reliability issues. Particularly with MB who appear to have oted for a less conservative design. They're faster but their ERS seems rather more fragile.
+1 During the SC he had smoke coming from his rear brakes . Had to move brake balance forwards for the rest of the race IIRC.