Ferrari F2012

[raymondu999]

I don't think the baseline was all that bad to be honest. I think they had a few glaring issues, but once you tackled those, it was like someone switched the circuit breakers to "on"

[PlatinumZealot]

Ferrari can only show up with effectively a new car so many times. I think the baseline performance is there; it's just up to the team to refine it.

I'm staggered by how far the team has taken this car already. It's gone from being a pitch-sensitive nightmare that ravenously consumed its tires under slow acceleration to a low top speed to being as legitimate a contender as prevailing conditions during any given grand prix - "What are the tires gonna do this time?" - will allow.

Yes, it was clear the car had all the tools for the job at launch. The refinement are definitely bearing fruit. Even Massa was threatening the podium in the first few laps.

[bhall]

Actually, I didn't mean it that way at all. It was launched as the ugliest car on the grid, and even though that's just aesthetic and is neither here nor there, its performance in winter testing did very little to change the impression.

It had poor grip through all phases of cornering over nearly every type of corner; it was pitch-sensitive; it voraciously devoured tires; it was slow with a full fuel load and even slower on low fuel; it had no traction; and it probably would have lost to an elephant in a drag race. Worst of all, the team were completely caught off-guard by its atrocious performance. They threw everything at it but the kitchen sink to try to correct it, and nothing worked. It's very difficult to underscore just how bad the F2012 initially was.

When Australia rolled around and the car was no better than maybe six or seventh fastest, I was adamant that Ferrari should just call it a year and devote themselves to figuring out whatever the hell went on in Maranello that caused them to introduce a red turd to the world. It was wretched.

But, then, out of nowhere, Alonso won in Malaysia. I think that race single-handedly revived Ferrari's 2012 campaign. It meant that they wouldn't be completely out of the running before the Mugello test, which allowed for a calm and apparently very thorough analysis of the car. And it worked. I've never seen a turnaround like the one engineered by Ferrari this year.

Granted, a lot of that may be down to the tires. In hindsight, I think one of the biggest reasons why Ferrari was miffed by the F2012's substantial teething problems could have been that they simply never entertained the possibility that the tires could be as unstable as they've subsequently been proven to be. That sent them on a wild goose chase around the car to look for answers that would never be found and probably initially compounded the matter for the worse.

But, again, the win changed everything. I think it transformed into precision targeting a development path that had previously more closely resembled a shotgun blast.

Fan loyalties aside, and with apologies to Sauber, Williams and Lotus, I think Ferrari's performance this year has easily been the most impressive.

[techF1LES]

According to David Lloyd, member of Scuderia Ferrari test and development team, F2012 ride height is around 80mm in the rear and 20mm in front. Every 10mm down = 0.5 sec faster laptimes.

[hardingfv32]

According to David Lloyd, member of Scuderia Ferrari test and development team, F2012 ride height is around 80mm in the rear and 20mm in front. Every 10mm down = 0.5 sec faster laptimes.

And every 10mm shortens plank life by how many laps?

Brian

[FakeAlonso]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO4fxKad ... ature=plcp
Future development:
from min 4:30

1. Experimenting with front wing
2.Floor
3. Evolution of the exhaust
4. Rear Wing upgrades
5. DDRS not top priority at the moment.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Yeah it sounded like Ferrari isn't that worried about DDRS. Interesting Ferrari have found its benefits don't outweigh it's negatives. Maybe for Monza I might think but not before then. Also interesting will be these new FW's we'll see in Valencia.

[FakeAlonso]

Yeah it sounded like Ferrari isn't that worried about DDRS. Interesting Ferrari have found its benefits don't outweigh it's negatives. Maybe for Monza I might think but not before then. Also interesting will be these new FW's we'll see in Valencia.

I am wondering if they are working on similar system as Mclaren have on their brakes so they can warm up their tires faster. I wonder if Alonso had this system when he came out in front of HAM he probably would have kept the position.

[TheGkbrk]

Yeah it sounded like Ferrari isn't that worried about DDRS. Interesting Ferrari have found its benefits don't outweigh it's negatives. Maybe for Monza I might think but not before then. Also interesting will be these new FW's we'll see in Valencia.

I am wondering if they are working on similar system as Mclaren have on their brakes so they can warm up their tires faster. I wonder if Alonso had this system when he came out in front of HAM he probably would have kept the position.

McLaren had that system from the beginning of the season. They didn't even used it in some races. It is not a huge advantage I think.

[FakeAlonso]

Yeah it sounded like Ferrari isn't that worried about DDRS. Interesting Ferrari have found its benefits don't outweigh it's negatives. Maybe for Monza I might think but not before then. Also interesting will be these new FW's we'll see in Valencia.

I am wondering if they are working on similar system as Mclaren have on their brakes so they can warm up their tires faster. I wonder if Alonso had this system when he came out in front of HAM he probably would have kept the position.

McLaren had that system from the beginning of the season. They didn't even used it in some races. It is not a huge advantage I think.

I guess it played a key role for HAM passing ALO on colder tires.

[TheGkbrk]

Yes they may have some advantage over others 2-3 laps after pit stops

[F1.Ru]

Ferrari can only show up with effectively a new car so many times. I think the baseline performance is there; it's just up to the team to refine it.

I'm staggered by how far the team has taken this car already. It's gone from being a pitch-sensitive nightmare that ravenously consumed its tires under slow acceleration to a low top speed to being as legitimate a contender as prevailing conditions during any given grand prix - "What are the tires gonna do this time?" - will allow.

Bhallg2k remember after pre season testing nd Australian GP u announced that F2012 is a DOA, but now see how far they came. In F1 there is nothing constant rather the harder the quest the harder they will push for continuous improvement.

i didn't said this to hurt u rather i m telling becaz it is the believes that carry F2012 so far......... nd hope that it will continue like this........................... [-o<

[bhall]

Yeah, that was bound to come up sooner or later. I'll wear that egg on my face; I don't quite have a choice.

However, to be fair...

OK, I've got nothing.

[F1.Ru]

Yeah, that was bound to come up sooner or later. I'll wear that egg on my face; I don't quite have a choice.

However, to be fair...

OK, I've got nothing.

Whatever no hard feelings and Ciao to the Tiffosi.................. =D>

[hardingfv32]

Still the car is basically 3rd or 4th in the performance pecking order this season, the same as the last few seasons.

Brian