2013 Testing - Barcelona 1: 19 - 22 Feb

[Forza]

Beside the set-up/parts changes & reliability issues, the new software for TAG 320 ECU seems to have bugs by this hampering the track time for teams.

AMUS -McLaren software cause of problems for F1 teams

Reset to old software
The first vulnerability was not long in coming. The TAG unit could not received real time data from the car. It was like in the earliest days of motor racing. "We could not communicate with our car", expressed Williams team manager Dickie Stanford from the Formula 1 jargon.

Because all the teams were more or less affected, MES had to use the 2012 software in order that teams could continue with testing. When testing, nothing is more important than a permanent data monitoring. The new software is now being updated step by step. "Every day there are new upgrades," says Ferrari engine boss Luca Marmorini. "We are sure that everything will work properly to Melbourne."

Because the problems were so widespread, and data so crucial for F1 testing, MES had to revert to the 2012 software, and is now steadily updating the teams with the de-bugged versions.

GMM

Red Bull – were being the most vocal at the Circuit de Catalunya, saying the new software supplied by the McLaren company was causing frustration. “But I don’t think we were alone in that,” said race engineering chief Andy Damerum.

EDIT - added translation

[zonk]

Lotus and Red Bull had software problems also?

[Mika1]

Nico Rosberg back on track, maybe a race simulation.

[GrizzleBoy]

13:09 Multi-tasking has never been an issue though. Nico Rosberg heads by for his fourth lap on mediums. His run so far is:
1m24.728s
1m23.930s
1m24.275s
1m24.574s

[StrikeForceF1]

Are Williams and Sauber and for that matter Lotus sandbagging? .... just a thought from my side

[Mika1]

No race simulation for Rosberg at the moment. Maybe next week.

[Poleman]

Latest 12 lap stint from Rosberg:

45 1:27.420
46 1:27.093 -0.327
47 1:27.266 +0.173
48 1:27.696 +0.43
49 1:27.958 +0.262
50 1:28.459 +0.501
51 1:29.241 +0.782
52 1:29.096 -0.145
53 1:29.214 +0.118
54 1:29.439 +0.225
55 1:34.184 +4.745
56 1:29.510 -4.674

From: http://www.msfree.gr/ms.php?id=29679

[Roland Ehnström]

Are Williams and Sauber and for that matter Lotus sandbagging? .... just a thought from my side

This question comes up every pre-season, and I always reply: What would be the point of sandbagging?

Ferrari were dead slow in 2005 pre-season testing, and everyone said they were sandbagging. Until neither Ferrari made the top-10 in qualifying in Australia... Brawn crushed the opposition in the Barcelona test four years ago, and everyone said they were "of course" running light to attract sponsors... I, on the other hand, duly placed a bet on Button for DWC at 100/1 odds Ferrari were again nowhere in pre-season testing last year, and it took them half a season to catch up...

This being said, I don't think Lotus are slow this season. Actually they are looking pretty fast. Williams are excused for having a brand new car (and they need to find a proper driver). Sauber are the ones who concern me, they look genuinely slow so far (EDIT: Having said this, I see Hulkenberg has clocked a 1:22.1 today!).

[Juzh]

whats up with RB atm?

[StrikeForceF1]

Ferrari still on short runs... ....more aero work?

[andrewf1]

look at how the track looks now with these new pirelli, whoever gets off the racing-line is cursed.

[f1316]

Ferrari still on short runs... ....more aero work?

I think they're testing a new rear wing from the looks of some of the pics.

Grosjean's race sim seems quite slow compared to Vettel's first stint. It is on the mediums, which would make a difference, although he pitted after, what, 6 laps?

[godlameroso]

Are Williams and Sauber and for that matter Lotus sandbagging? .... just a thought from my side

Technically you could call it sandbagging, they drive to a target lap time with a certain amount of fuel onboard, and they use telemetry to see why the driver deviates from the target. It's one of the ways to carry out evaluations whether it be for tires or testing components. Remember testing means manipulating variables under controlled conditions, or in this case trying to eliminate as many uncontrollable variables as possible(you can't get rid of them all).

Edit: This is why you see drivers push like mad on two sectors and back off on the last, or vise versa and every combination in between.

[MuseF1]

look at how the track looks now with these new pirelli, whoever gets off the racing-line is cursed.

To be fair they won't be doing as much mileage at GP weekends as they are in testing. Still a lot of marbles though

[andrewf1]

look at how the track looks now with these new pirelli, whoever gets off the racing-line is cursed.

To be fair they won't be doing as much mileage at GP weekends as they are in testing. Still a lot of marbles though

well there are only 11 cars on the track now, instead of 22 and not all of them have done 60-65 laps so far, as you would expect in a race.

so we can expect even more debris on race day.

plus the tracks are cleaned at the end of each test day, so what we're seeing is only from today.