Formula One 2014

[*Sam*]

It's that time of year again.... The F1 teams have started arriving in Jerez ready for the first test of the year.

The cars this year look different with an ant eater (nose down) front end to meet the new regulations along with a re designed rear wing, smaller capacity engine mated with a turbo and a new energy recovery system just mention a few of the changes.

I wonder who will come out on top?

In order to kick start the season in my house I pre ordered the Ron Howard film Rush which just dropped through my letterbox.

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

really curious to hear the new cars, will be interesting now they are v6 and turbo to hear what they sound like, kind of hope it doesn't take some of the pleasure out of it as I think it will mute the engine sound.

 

[*Sam*]

I think for sure that some of the engine sound will be superseded by turbo whistle, I expect there will be some trick engineering around the fitment of the new style engine given the change in weight allowed along with turbos and energy recovery.

I noted that Lotus have chosen a radically different front end to the other cars that have been released.

 

[Marvel]

I found this
[youtube]http://youtu.be/ebpkJXJ7CFo[/youtube]

 

[Supertramp]

I'm not really into F1 but going with my girlfriend to Barcelona in May to see it for her friends birthday.
Any tips?

 

[*Sam*]

Take some ear plugs

 

[Supertramp]

Take some ear plugs

Is it that bad? I'm quite looking forward to it as I'm sure being there is quite an atmosphere but watching it on TV is quite something else :msn4:

 

[*Sam*]

It all depend on how close to the track you are what part of the track etc but the old engines were very noisy at full throttle, also of you get go near a garage during a start up it's very loud.

I find often that is the amount of time you are there rather than the level of noise

 

[Marvel]

I find often that is the amount of time you are there rather than the level of noise

This is what I found last year at Silverstone, it was the length of exposure, but an amazing experience

 

[*Sam*]

The merc has a nice look to it compared with other released so far. Can't wait for the Red Bull

 

[*Sam*]

 

[gvee]

I think the changes are ace. 30% less fuel to complete the season? Brilliant!
So what if they will hit the rev limits 3K early - they're still going to be going as bloody quick! Give it two or three seasons and they'll be even faster than before.

I know that the purists will moan but to be honest I think this is a great direction for the innovation to take. In 5 years the technology will start appearing in normal road cars.

 

[*Sam*]

All good points gvee and this season will be very exciting as I expect there will be some under dog wins due to turbo failures and spectacular blow ups as the turbo lets go and the hot oil ignite, it's just a shame the cars are not as nice looking but then again I have been saying that since the 1990s

 

[gvee]

On a related note - 3 cylinder, 1.5L, 400HP engine that weights 88lbs (~40KG)?! Well done Nissan!

At a ratio of 4.5 horsepower per pound, the new engine even has a better power-to-weight ratio than the new turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 engines to be used in Formula One this season.

:shock:

 

[Guest]

testing was a total shambles, some of the cars couldn't even get out of the garage. last year teams completed more than 400+ test laps on first test day this year less than 90 :shock:

Sounded like a complete farce. The nose mod is being seen as seriously dangerous due to the chance of submarining the car in front on impact. Some of the teams couldn't even get their cars started.

 

[*Sam*]

Certainly sounds like it was a challenging time, a fair few all nighters pulled without a doubt.