In Mugello, the formula one season begins again. What can we expect from the three days of testing in Tuscany? Maybe even a new pecking order? Especially Ferrari is on the test bench. The team keep pretty much covered about details of their configurations. We tell you what you need to know.
Mugello is the dress rehearsal. The premiere followed ten days later at the GP of Spain in Barcelona. All formula 1 teams will then compete with more or less large configurations. The majority of tests in Mugello. It is the second major development phase after the presentations of new cars. The first was the start of the season in Melbourne, Australia. For Barcelona is to be even bigger.
Hope at FerrariFor Ferrari, Mugello is to the test. Fernando Alonso has high hopes in the technology package: "Barcelona is for us the most important race of the year." "I hope the World Cup begins there again for me." Engineering head Pat FRY added: "We are working on all fronts." I hope we will soon see the results for that. This will not be easy, because also the competition will make progress. "We must be better than they."
Much is puzzled about the extent of retreading everywhere. Ferrari denies most of the rumors that zip through the paddock. No, there will be no new chassis. No, the Pullrod front axle is maintained car. No, also in the arrangement of the heatsink remain unchanged. What is certain is that Ferrari completely converted its exhaust system. Thus, the side outriggers in the page boxes will disappear. Yes everywhere, it was suggested that they interfere with the incoming flow to stern. The angle of the side boxes to be even more extreme. In addition, there will be a new nose together with new front wing. We are told that Ferrari is one of the teams who have recently completed a nose crash test.
New exhaust and wing solutionsRed bull has adopted a Mammutprogramm. The team travels with the double manpower to Mugello. "We have not only many new parts in the luggage," promises the team Adviser Helmut Marko. "For the first time for a long time we are pay again more attention the vehicle vote." "There are still gaps in understanding."
McLaren MP4 27 in China and Bahrain preferred part of facelifts. New front and rear wing, modified underbody. The data pointed out progress four tenths. Not everything arrived on the line. "Part two follows in Barcelona", promises team boss Martin Whitmarsh. The new front wing was apparently not quite the desired result. Lewis Hamilton was switched to an older model in Bahrain.
Mercedes announces a "large" package. Part of it will be a new carbon gearbox. This reduces not only the weight in the rear to relieve pressure on the rear wheels. It creates even more freedom in the aerodynamic design of the rear end. There are also the biggest changes to expect. The Mercedes engineers have played through new exhaust solutions, but not one hundred percent convinced whether the McLaren variant of wisdom is last. "We see still the risk that the exhaust gases are heating up the rear tyres", tells Ross Brawn. There may be some other invisible developments on the silver arrow. Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug do in any case quite mysterious.
Also Lotus was one of the teams that had already appeared in China with a stage. Initially, all new parts had to be withdrawn on the rear wing and the rear track rods because the forecast output gain not wanted to adapt. In Bahrain, the modifications to the lead plates, the underbody and engine cover came off again. Only the new front wing remained in the box. Technology Chief James Allison wants to push more news at Mugello. Also a new exhaust? "We are very conservative with our exhaust." "Of course we have the variants of Red Bull and McLaren tested in the wind tunnel, but came up now on no green branch to." This may change but still.
Also the small teams set afterClean will at Mugello with 90 percent of the evolution ride, which is planned for Barcelona. Technology Chief Matt Morris speaks of satisfactory wind tunnel data. "We can keep the pace of our opponents in any case." Force India must catch up, even if Paul di Resta in Bahrain has driven eight points to the team account. Most of the changes are expected in the rear. We hear that the exhaust modeled after of Sauber, McLaren and Red Bull will blow outside. Technology Chief Andy Green had decided at the base car for the conventional way. "We can not choose how the major teams parallel projects go, but must a solution", explains Nico Hulkenberg. Doubts are however applied whether the exhaust is indeed important. Williams holds good with a find version aimed inward at the lower rear wing element. ToroRosso wants to slide to a second package despite new page boxes, baffles, and wing in Bahrain. Which shows that you not can rest in midfield.
Even at the end of the field will be diligently developed. Marussia pushes for further modifications. "It is not yet clear how much we we get ready our Barcelona package." "We must not forget, that we are still a small team", explained Timo Glock. The policy of small steps of development has proven itself even if the baffles in Bahrain presented have apparently brought not the desired success. Glock: "when the major upgrading, you do not understand if something does not work risk." At Caterham, Heikki Kovalainen hopes that the work in the wind tunnel by Williams finally strikes. "We lack still output." I'm losing too much time when braking and give up. The understeer was reduced although, but only through mechanical tricks. "There still some of the aerodynamics must come." HRT F1 missing in Mugello. Nevertheless, the Spanish team in Barcelona with a stage wants to participate. "The move to our new factory, test at Mugello and the completion of the new parts would have been too much for us", said team boss Luis Perez-Sala.
auto motor und sport will be like when the winter tests every three days in Mugello this and provide you with our Live coverage and all the news. Also, we will inform you about any technical updates.
