Alfa Romeo C39 Speculation Thread

[Thunder]

This is the speculation Thread about the 2020 Alfa Romeo C39. Rumors, articles, ideas and fantasies about the car can be posted here. Once the car gets officially launched, this thread will be closed and discussion continues in the official Thread.

[DivebombDerek]

Should see the Alfa money make a big difference. End of season tail off suggests a move to 2020 dev early, could challenge mclaren for BOTR if they found something big, hoping Kimi gets a podium

[Scorpaguy]

Should see the Alfa money make a big difference. End of season tail off suggests a move to 2020 dev early, could challenge mclaren for BOTR if they found something big, hoping Kimi gets a podium

While I hope you are correct...I fear that Alfa's midseason slump was more systemic in nature than it was strategic....eg limited resources, sophomoric team execution ( I will never get over that tyre call), Kimi losing the Ferrari hone, etc. As for the Brazil resurgence, that would have been an 8th/9th place finish had it not been for the complete self-destruction from those ahead. IMHO

[Wouter]

https://www.motorsport-magazin.com/form ... zerstoert/

Alfa fails crash test: chassis destroyed.

After the chassis passed the static crash test in Hinwil last Tuesday, it went to Italy on Wednesday. [Milan]

Chassis number one of the Swiss was completely destroyed there in the dynamic frontal crash test.

Alfa now has to work hard on chassis number two.

Experts assume that the failed crash test will throw the team back in the development plan for about three to four weeks.

[Scorpaguy]

https://www.motorsport-magazin.com/form ... zerstoert/

Alfa fails crash test: chassis destroyed.

After the chassis passed the static crash test in Hinwil last Tuesday, it went to Italy on Wednesday. [Milan]

Chassis number one of the Swiss was completely destroyed there in the dynamic frontal crash test.

Alfa now has to work hard on chassis number two.

Experts assume that the failed crash test will throw the team back in the development plan for about three to four weeks.

...and so it begins

[astracrazy]

How could the team make this sort of mistake? Trying something different? Over did it with the weight saving?

[Just_a_fan]

The chassis will be designed to just pass the test so as to be as light as possible. Get it 1% wrong in your design and the chassis will fail. If it fails, it'll fail such that the chassis is unusable. It's doesn't have to be a pile of shards to be classed as "destroyed", just significantly cracked will be considered "destroyed".

[JordanMugen]

The chassis will be designed to just pass the test so as to be as light as possible. Get it 1% wrong in your design and the chassis will fail.

And *that* is why race teams shouldn't be responsible for safety specifications...

[aral]

Really, it is no big deal. Expensive yes, but every year, there are a number of crash test failures with all the teams

[Scorpaguy]

Failing the test is no big deal for a well running, solidly resourced team. Alfa/Sauber on the other hand does not seem to have the cerebral faculties for this type of setback to not be problematic...IMHO. I am not saying they are a bad team, rather their adaptation speed and engineering nimbleness is slower and less adroit than most (cannot use "all"...thanks for that Claire). I would have thought they would have been conservative and designed to a 110% spec...pushing the envelop at this stage seems a gamble (and the only gamble of theirs that comes to mind is that tyre fiasco).

[FrukostScones]

Is Frontal test 1 still done with the chassis attached?
In 2015 it still was done, now I can't read it in the regs.
If yes, they might build a nose that is too weak and failed and then the ram destroyed the chassis.
If not, the they failed Frontal test 2. Which would mean the chassis is too weak.
Maybe it was damaged by the nose push off test...?
No matter what, now they need to build a new chassis (that will need to pass all load tests) and then to go in time to Barcelona testing 19. Feb. 2020.
I think it is not a great situation.
Let's see how it will pan out.

[DivebombDerek]

Whatever the reason and nature of the failure, it's not good for them. The chassis would have been defined a long time ago and a lot based off that, if it's a big change it could change the whole concept of the car, worrying times.

[Just_a_fan]

It's not going to affect the overall concept, it just needs a bit more material added to the lay up. It'll add weight but that's about all.

[saviour stivala]

Really, it is no big deal. Expensive yes, but every year, there are a number of crash test failures with all the teams

I couldn't understand the fuss about this crash-test fail. its not like its happened for the first time.

[Big Tea]

Really, it is no big deal. Expensive yes, but every year, there are a number of crash test failures with all the teams

I couldn't understand the fuss about this crash-test fail. its not like its happened for the first time.

The important thing is 'how' it failed, which we are not being told. If it is simply outside the limit of deflection, not a problem, but if it involves 'curves not meeting the calculated strength' or similar, or shattering of some sort it could be very time expensive.
The two ends are probably a month apart in damage.