https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=27058&start=840 Hmm interesting tech on the car. Is wastegate being controlled by the driver allowed?
Ferrari has most powerful engine? April 18, 2018 Ferrari may now have the most powerful engine in formula one. For the whole of the 'power unit' era since 2014, Mercedes has clearly led the way and won every world championship. But Auto Motor und Sport claims that Ferrari has caught up in 2018. "GPS measurements show that in terms of engine performance, Ferrari has caught up with Mercedes," the report said. "Mercedes increased mileage from 5,000 to 8,000 kilometres (per engine), but Ferrari found even more power over the winter," Auto Motor und Sport added. Sebastian Vettel confirmed: "On the straights, we're not losing time to Mercedes." The German magazine claims Mercedes this year went back to an oil specification that it used in 2016, as the FIA clamped down on a rule about oil consumption. Boss Toto Wolff said: "The measurements are not precise, so if you're on the limit, you risk sometimes going over it." Auto Motor und Sport, however, said Ferrari is pushing ahead with a "full risk" strategy regarding the oil consumption rule. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My guess, with regard to speed trap readings, is that it has far more to do with the difference in setups between a cool damp quali, and a dry and much hotter race day. It appears that Kimi was running much less downforce.
I'm tifoso, so I hope this is correct! But, I just keep getting this uneasy feeling that Mercedes is sandbagging, or I just ate some stale farina . . . .
IMO, Ferrari and Mercedes are about equal in hp, BUT we don't eat tyres like the Mercedes....especially in the softer compounds.....which is why as of late, track contigent of course, Mercedes are doing one stopper's....ending in the mediums.
Ferrari will fix smoking engine says Whiting APRIL 20, 2018 Charlie Whiting says the FIA will not intervene over the issue of Ferrari's smoking engines. While arguably now with the most powerful engine in F1, Ferrari's 2018 power unit smokes excessively when it is fired up. "We suffocate in our garage every time they start it," Mercedes' team chairman Niki Lauda told Auto Motor und Sport. "The FIA should look into it." However, F1 race director Whiting said that despite the smoking, checks have shown that Ferrari's engine is not consuming more oil than it is permitted to. As for the smoking, he added: "I'm sure they'll sort that out."
[QUOTE="We suffocate in our garage every time they start it," Mercedes' team chairman Niki Lauda told Auto Motor und Sport"[/QUOTE] Good!
In other words: ''please FIA, tell Ferrari to stop beating us'' As far as I know, there are no rules in a smoking car. It's not defect. The engine confirms to all rules and regulations, therefore nothing FIA can legally do.
Charlie Whiting has made his views perfectly clear on the "smoking" issue. Sorry Niki, but only Charlie's view carries any weight.
So the goal is to built an engine that wins pole and uses almost no oil....Then you can use the saved oil to sprinkle the road Bond-style during the start to leave the cars behind you without traction I am sure Mercedes will find a rule somewhere that justifies their complaint
Peter, if it truly did sprinkle the track with oil to the point of reducing traction for those following, then it would be an open-and-shut case against Ferrari. So, the fact this hasn't even been brought up doesn't say much about your thesis. As I said earlier, Charlie Whiting has spoken. Case closed.
Sorry, that was ment as a joke, that is why I put in the smiley.... I know that this is not the case but if the only rule would be the maximum consumption of the oil then my suggestion would be the final step of development
2018 can be Ferrari's year says Prost MAY 7, 2018 2018 could finally be Ferrari's year in F1. The Italian marque has not won a title since 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, but for the first time in the new 'hybrid' era Ferrari now appears to have the fastest car. And former Ferrari driver Alain Prost thinks 2018 could be Ferrari's season. "I made a mistake last year when I said that every time there is a change of regulation, Ferrari was rarely there," the Renault advisor told Italy's Autosprint. "In the winter Mercedes and Red Bull seemed to be a little better, but it turned out that they (Ferrari) are there in qualifying and tyre management, and also Raikkonen is there at Vettel's level which will be a great help. "I think this year Ferrari can win," Prost added. The quadruple world champion said he thinks the biggest difference for Ferrari this year is the engine. "I think the engine has progressed more than the chassis," said the F1 legend. "The six drivers for Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull can be competitive in all circumstances," Prost continued. "It's more difficult for Hamilton, who has usually fought for championships against single drivers only. "Now he will not be able to manage races in the same way against four or five competitors, but for us it will be exciting."
And luck. Developement will be very key having all cars launch with all new updates and upgrades at Spain. So let's see if Ferrari can develope it further to be competitive still and made further progress.
I am curious whether the story with the Tires between Mercedes and Pirelli will have an impact on the rest of the season...If not all the fear upfront was unsubstantiated but if that might swing back the pendulum to the Silver Arrows and those points missed in the last two races might really hurt at the end.
