Fiorano Circuit and Ferrari

[CHT]

Somehow I am having this feeling that Ferrari is not going to win another championship for sometime to come due to the testing restriction. In the past, Ferrari was able to use their private test track to test all the bits and pieces before bringing to the track, and now they can only rely on CFD and windtunnel model, which is probably their weakest link.

I am actually not surprise that Alonso is feeling it.

http://www.planet-f1.com/news/18227/626 ... creativity

[ISLAMATRON]

boohoo.. Ferrari have to play on a level field with the rest of the teams... we should all feel so sorry for them

[WhiteBlue]

In the past, Ferrari was able to use their private test track to test all the bits and pieces before bringing to the track, and now they can only rely on CFD and windtunnel model, which is probably their weakest link. I am actually not surprise that Alonso is feeling it.

It is difficult to invent new things without testing. There is very little room for creativity, our technicians have their hands tied.

The fact is that resources in F1 are now restricted by a legally binding agreement reaching at least into 2011 that Ferrari have signed. The objective of the agreement is to limit the resources to a level that allows thirteen teams to participate in the world championship and fill the grid with cars of thirteen genuinely different constructions. The restrictions are the same for all they are democratically defined and signed by Ferrari.

Alonso is wrong to say that there is no room for creativity. It is fact that the creativity does not happen in Ferrari but in McLaren and Red Bull. Those teams have pioneered the F-duct and the blown diffusor as genuine examples of creative performance enhancers. As A result those two teams are better than Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault. The three other teams do nothing but copy the two leaders. It is natural that they take more time because the inventors have a head start on them.

Ferrari and Alonso should not moan and politick but work harder and be more inventive in order to have a better car in 2011. As it stands they are being bettered a second year in a row and there is no sign when this trend can turn.

[raceman]

I do not agree completely with WB here.

In some way, Alonso was correct in saying that there is no room for creativity in F1 (in fact, there are more restrictions than room for creativity in today's F1). You say Red Bull pioneered the blown diffuser and McL the F-duct and Ferrari simply copied it, but Ferrari also invented wheel rims and this can be called invenetion as it's an added advantage of some tenths at least!

Take the blown diffuser and F-duct, both things are banned from 2011; what's the use of the creativity then - just for a single year?? The technology is of use only when it is invented and mastered to perfection through testing and continuous usage. You invent tyre warmers, FIA bans it; you invent traction control, FIA bans it; you invent outboard mirrors for better airflow, FIA bans it; you invent movable floor, FIA bans it; you want to make better engines, FIA has freezed it for five years (ridiculously ridiculous to use the same-spec engine for five years; we don't even use a damn mobile phone for five years); etc. This list will go on and on and on..... How much and how many things will you ban under the cute name of 'cost control' every now and then?? What the FIA wants to invent by putting restrictions, a $100 tech piece that is used for F1, the pinnacle fo motorsports??

So, today's F1 highlights the restrictions more than the creativity as the rules are very stringent. When FIA and FOM wants millions of dollars in entry fees and deposits, the participation costs are bound to go higher and higher to overcome the initial spent amount to FIA and FOM as fees.

Anyways, the more we talk about this, the more will evolve. My point is - FIA should look at F1 as a pinnacle of motorsports for inventions and not for making strict rules! Let the creativity bloom, you will see amazing things!

[vall]

Alosno is right on that! What he says is that the in-season testing ban is a hurdle for the development of the cars. I think that is right. If you look, McLaren could not get their blown diffuser working right, despite all they high-tech facilities!

BTW, I think that the blown diffuser has been used in the past, so it is not a new thing really...

[Just_a_fan]

Ferrari aren't happy because they have historically used track testing for development. Others have gone a different route and are now 'lucking in' because of the restrictions.

Had the restrictions gone the other way - you can't use wind tunnels or supercomputers but only track testing then Ferrari would have 'lucked in'.

That is the 'luck of the draw' and Ferrari can either moan about it or get on and develop other avenues for improving their car.

The fact is that the current rules are a more level playing field than ever before.

[Confused_Andy]

Thing is, as soon as "creativity" is found it is immediately banned for the next season for financial reasons... I dont think testing comes into it.

[WhiteBlue]

Some good points raceman. Indeed too many avenues of development are currently closed, but this is the same for all. The stagnation is going to change this year with the 2013 power train formula. According to Cosworth the development race may start as early as September when the next regular WMSC meeting may finalize the rules for the new formula. Ferrari will need a lot of resources and development then.

Testing restrictions make sense because test teams are very expensive for the average F1 team. No other team has a private test track that is usable all season long. Ferrari enjoys that advantage due to their geographic location. Other teams will often have to drive down to southern Europe and maintain a test team to have equal opportunities. This is why the FOTA decided to abolish test teams and reduce testing in season dramatically to make it the same for all. I still find that policy correct because it will stabilize F1 at the moment when many teams are threatened by the financial crisis. Perhaps in some years the testing restrictions can be released as the technical restrictions are being somewhat released for the power train.

The advantage of a relatively tight technical regulation is the closeness of the field with an exciting championship that we see now. So bottom line for me is. It is fair, it is the same for all, others are doing better than Ferrari. Ferrari should simply be better inside the rules.

[FW17]

Lydden circuit, Kent, Owned by McLaren since 1991 but never used by the F1 team

[vall]

As far as I know F1 is the only sport where measures for artificially equalise the field are introduced! Go tell Real Madrid, Barca, ManU, Liverpool, Juventus, Inter, Bayern, Milan, and the other big football clubs that they cannot spend more than 50MEuro/year? What is going to happen?

If you think of it, those clubs beat >70% of the others by far more than 107% and people still enjoy football. I think F1 fans want to see battles between Ferrari, McLaren, Willaims, Renault; others are just to make the grid. I think that if MrM idiotic budget cut of 40 MEuro/year was introduced, this woudl havce killed F1 and turned it into a slight more advanced GP2 series.

[autogyro]

You cant compare motor sport with grollyball.
One is a grown ups sport using the best technology available, the other is a childrens ball game blown up out of all logic by the media.

[RH1300S]

Ferrari are at least able to test road cars there.

As for F1, I think they should be applauded for agreeing to accept the ban when they invested so much to gain an advantage (ok they were dragged kicking and screaming to the ban, but they did agree to it).

I think they need to slightly lift the testing ban soon - restricted in season testing isn't a bad thing as long as the scheduling doesn't force teams to need a separate test team. On a separate level something needs to be done about giving new drivers seat time in a current car - it's too much to ask of a young driver to chuck them straight into a race situation (having said that this year's crop haven't disgraced themselves).

[WhiteBlue]

I agree with RH1300S. More testing should be done on Fridays and if not possible on Monday after the race for very restricted occasions. It is hard on the race teams.

Re the football comparison it would make sense to look at professional sports leagues in the US where the salaries of the players are capped. It is a direct evolution of the distortion that huge income differences for the teams have on the sporting side.

[flynfrog]

Ferrari are at least able to test road cars there.

As for F1, I think they should be applauded for agreeing to accept the ban when they invested so much to gain an advantage (ok they were dragged kicking and screaming to the ban, but they did agree to it).

I think they need to slightly lift the testing ban soon - restricted in season testing isn't a bad thing as long as the scheduling doesn't force teams to need a separate test team. On a separate level something needs to be done about giving new drivers seat time in a current car - it's too much to ask of a young driver to chuck them straight into a race situation (having said that this year's crop haven't disgraced themselves).

I kind of miss the testing spy shots gave us something to talk about between races. I think the trying to even out resources will be the end of F1 as we know it. I think it is heading down the Indy/Nascar road. I guess if you want to watch a bunch of slightly larger GP2 teams duke it out. Id rather watch the big teams fighting tooth and nail with amazing updates every race. As it stands now the winner of the season is some one predetermined as the others don't have much of a chance to catch up. See Brawn last year and RBR this year. (yes I know they are not leading the car is still bloody fast)

It seems more of a waste to not use resources you have. How is it green to let a track you have already built and paid for go to waste. /rambling

[mx_tifoso]

Ferrari are at least able to test road cars there.

...

Mainly/only because they are not so loud. The area surrounding the Fiorano track has imposed stricter noise restrictions so F1 testing is much more limited now. Mugello, their other track, is a better option now as it's outside of town.