2014 Testing - Jerez 28-31 Jan

[iotar__]

Are Lotus the only ones NOT at this test?

Some of the teams are in spirit only

So as not to pollute car thread - Ferrari engine no-cover-engine-sth solution is apparently approved (despite safety AND reliability concerns from Renault/Mercedes). There's a shocking and against the trend development let's see if the trend continues after hard work behind the scenes with this and Lotus nose.

[i70q7m7ghw]

No he's saying Lewis was possibly pushing too hard. It's possible they could have picked up fatigue on the component during one of the stops, but Lewis may have been pushing so hard that lap that it failed suddenly without warning.

I would understand that if the problem was the engine or the gearbox, but a problem with the front wing? It has nothing to do with pushing hard, it is a problem with the front wing that fell off

Higher cornering speeds will increase loads on the front wing etc. We don't know what speed he was doing etc. so it's all speculation. What's being suggested is that teams down "shakedown" runs which are basically 1-2 low speed laps where the car returns to the pits and is checked over for any problems. Something like this should have showed up, usually as fatigue on the component. It is possible the failure was very sudden, but if it happened at low speed, that would be very concerning.

[CBeck113]

No he's saying Lewis was possibly pushing too hard. It's possible they could have picked up fatigue on the component during one of the stops, but Lewis may have been pushing so hard that lap that it failed suddenly without warning.

Do people just type randomly on their keyboard these days or does this above actually make any sense?

I don't know, is the guy suggesting that in the races they will just cruise around and never push hard to avoid structural failures

No, what he's trying to say is that a car is not real-world tested at the factory, but at the first tests. I highly doubt that they built the car and put it on a shaker table to see if something falls off. That is what the tests are for: to prove if the calculations, assumptions and experience have been implemented correctly. Based on this, Lewis probably should not have been pushing that hard.
If this was a manufacturing problem then they'll inspect the second wing and have it on the car tomorrow, no problem. If it is a design problem, however, then they have to find the root cause and develop a new solution - which takes much longer. I hope that they have a Plan B somewhere, although these usually don't exist for such "elementary" components - they get designed and are expected to function. "Lean" is the term used to save resources for the important stuff, but if the simple things fail then it's a simplification error, such as a frequency stacking causing a resonance fall.

[Rikhart]

Half a day gone, and 3 cars on track, massive number of 3 timed laps. This is little more than a joke.

[Vanja #66]

Raikkonen - Ferrari - 1m33.131s +5.311

First car without previous filming tests put's a timed lap...

[i70q7m7ghw]

Have you guys never heard of installation laps?

[Del Boy]

The teams are only allowed to run 1,500km in testing

Are you sure of this? I don't think there's any restrictions on distance driven in testing.

Oops my bad I mean't 15,000 km. it was mean't to be sarcastic it doesn't work at 1,500!!!

Here's the regulation from FIA testing regulations
22) TRACK RUNNING TIME OUTSIDE AN EVENT AND WIND TUNNEL TESTING
22.5 No competitor may carry out more than 15,000km of TCC during a calendar year.

[CBeck113]

Could also be that the team wanted him to push - that we will never know.

[ecapox]

Are Lotus the only ones NOT at this test?

Yes, Marussia is on the way...
all other team are at Jerez.

So much for the "We wont be the only team not at Jerez test" statement.....

Based on what we are seeing today, this is a big loss for Lotus.

[diemaster]

AMuS: "Reason for Ferrari stopping earlier: false telemetry data"

[Richard]

The point is that all these hours in the garage are about checking everything. Then do another lap then double check. Repeat ad nauseum until you get to racing speed without any signs of failure eg cracks, movement, etc

Clearly Merc's checks didn't identify the problem in the wing (maybe it was impossible to detect) What it does show is why these teams are checking everything possible after every installation lap. Those checks can't be done in the factory hence long hours in the garage

[Rhodium]

Are Lotus the only ones NOT at this test?

Yes, Marussia is on the way...
all other team are at Jerez.

So much for the "We wont be the only team not at Jerez test" statement.....

Based on what we are seeing today, this is a big loss for Lotus.

the question is: why ?

problem on the car ?
they want to protect her secret ?
crash test is not ok ?

wait and see...

it's sure they lost time, and they never get it in future.

[McG]

Are McLaren even there? Any pics of the car on track?

[danielk]

Im confused why people appear to be Blaming the failure on Lewis lol. He shouldnt be pushing, he should of taken it easy at first, other teams have been wise by not rushing.

Hamilton was on his 17th Lap, more than any other driver, they had done a number of install laps today and had done a number of install laps last Friday. as part of a cars shake down you are supposed to push the car in anger. If you go the whole test not pushing how will you know it will work?

In any case none of you know how hard Hamilton was pushing. at this stage what is known is that the front wing failed, on his 17th lap in the braking zone. He was on a very short run up to that point. 1 or 2 laps max.

As much as things can be tested in a factory their can never be a true simulation of what it will be subjected to on the track. Mercedes didn't plan for this to happen you know.

and as for taking a leaf out of other teams books by taking things slow like others. So the answer is not to run like everyone else? Coz of course that is how we check all the components work as they should. my bad...

[FoxHound]

The wing failed. It did not fail "because the driver pushed too hard".
It failed because it was either not bonded or mounted correctly.

@Richard
I'm going to guess it was something that did not require constant checking. Once it's mounted and on, it is supposed to do 300 odd kms.
Or maybe there was a cross thread or a faulty part....could be anything at this stage.