Ferrari have reportedly made another key appointment this year as the team managed to sign Dirk De Beer, Lotus' current head of aerodynamics. He is expected to begin work at the end of the year.
Better PR would be Allison saying it was not good... but because of him moving there and his expertise, he will put things rightrichard_leeds wrote:Or perhaps he's simply in PR mode and would only say nice things?
Results.FoxHound wrote:Who's more qualified to make the judgement?
Who is more qualified to make that judgement? Results and a team leaving it's 'star' driver in the pits for half a session....or someone else? There's another valid opinion quoted on this thread from someone with concrete examples on where they're getting it wrong, not on an arbitrary opinion based on nothing.As Stefan says, Ferrari get it right more times than most on race weekends, "operationally".
Setting a record time once, which makes the headlines, doesn’t count as much as being able to do it over and over again with consistency in all conditions.
As to how low the times can go?“The most important thing is to do it repeatedly at a high level, rather than doing the fastest pit stop overall. Sure, if that happens we are pleased, but what matters is to always be consistently quick
Rest of interview in article below...“With consistent rules, I think we are close to the limit, ... One can gain something by overlapping the operations but I don’t think there is much to be done. It would be very different if we had total freedom, in terms of technology and human resources. Let me explain that: for example, if we could have automatic lifters that could start the process while the car is still moving, or if you could use mechanics whose one and only task was the pit stop, with a physical constitution specially adapted for each role, then the times would come down significantly.
It has been reported that Mercedes had stopped the clock during the Japanese Grand Prix at 2.02 seconds, which is 0.04 second faster than the previous pit stop record set earlier this season by Red Bull. But at almost exactly the same time, Ferrari was also claiming a 1.95-second pit stop in Japan.
"Who is right?" wondered Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.
"It's always a question of what you measure, and how you measure it," Mercedes' team manager, Ron Meadows, is quoted as saying.
For instance, Ferrari reportedly times pit stops with its own overhead cameras, while Mercedes uses the timing done by the British broadcaster Sky.
Schmidt said Fernando Alonso's "record" 1.95-second stop at Suzuka was actually timed as 2.11 seconds by the broadcaster.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013110 ... z2jhMCUcPY
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Yeah i agree. Alonso is typical egocentric F1 driver aka "attitude suited for multiple world champion". And many people doesn't like that (even me to some degree). His attitude is in some extend even to much narcissism, but this is his nature. If many people like that or not. We all need respect and congratulate ALL excellent F1 drivers expecially when they really impress.Kiril Varbanov wrote:More on Alonso's rift with SF while the 'insurance' RAI makes a seat test - http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/11/f ... 2014-seat/
Not to James Allen, who is usually quite fair, but I'm really laughing at the some bad journalism attempts to depict Alonso as the bad guy.
Ferrari aldredy work tightly with Gucci and Alpinestars on Implementation of super light and "smart" composite, Kevlar belt.Sombrero wrote:What will Ferrari do with two back injuried drivers in 2014 ?
Great relevancy for roadcar tehnology. FIA will love it. 
I would imagine that the, how shall we say, issues between Kimi and Lotus might allow him a little leeway there...Manoah2u wrote:just a question regarding driver transferring. How early will Kimi arrive to OFFICIALLY work for the Ferrari team?
If I recall correctly, Hamilton had to finish his Mcl work until late December before he could jump into the Merc team,
is it similar for Lotus>Ferrari or is this dependant on contractual agreements and eventual breaching of such? Does a driver sign for a calender year or a F1-season calender and is a 'free agent' in between? [without delving in Kimi not driving for lotus the final 2 races] ?
Is that your objective analysis?richard_leeds wrote:I recall it tends to be 1 Jan. Obviously Kimi's likely to stick 2 fingers to Lotus and head to Italy when he wants.
