F1 Testing
 

Looks like Maldonado was fastest at Barcelona testing today. Kimi 2nd. Sauber looking good also with new guy Nasr.

Might be a competitive year. Hope Pastor can keep it going, with fewer crashes
this year. Less than a month to Aus. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1424378091.jpg

I thought it was supposed to be another mop-up year for Mercedes, given the engine freeze. What happened?

This is what was said today, re Merc. Hamilton is sick and Rosberg is outta shape.
"Not fit"??

Pastor was on low fuel with sticky tires. It's called "fishing for sponsors" ;-) Others were doing long term runs. Yet others were busy crashing into one another (Mrs Wolff). But it's a good sign, the car will definitely be more capable this year !!!

^^^ LMAO! I couldn't agree more.

Aero devices
 

Sure awkward looking. Good thing they're only testing.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1424453224.jpgcouple

^^^ for pressure mapping the front wheel wake^^^

Roseberg
 

Has Nico got the Tony Stewart look going on? Looks like he might have put on a coup[le of pounds. Maybe just me.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1424454206.jpg

It's the newlywed 15.

i think Mercedes is sand bagging quite a bit, but it also looks like ferrari and several other teams might be able to make a go at it too. williams wasn't too far off the mercedes pace last year, and ferrari is dealing with them quite well. all smiles in the ferrari pits too, vettle and kimi both gushing about the car. kimi ... gushing ... i mean thats something. he didnt even gush about the lotus when he was 3rd that one year, and that was a nice car.

there are a lot of teams looking FAR better than they did last year, and if mercedes do win, at least its gonna be a pretty honest fight.

mcclarren honda ... eek

why would you ever get married as an F1 driver ... :rolleyes:

It is called love. Normal human thing.

Yeah, but love can still happen after you've slept with all the supermodels in Europe (and maybe a couple threesomes with french twins). His wife is OK, but nothing too special.

Today, Alonso crashed hard enough to be airlifted but said to be OK. Lotus fast with Grosjean, so maybe Lotus might have a better year. I know most think all the big guns are sand baggin' but lets hope some of the smaller teams can have a bit of success for a change this year.

Anyone know yet why Alonso crashed (no Briatore jokes please)?

Second test is still about data collection and tire and suspension setup. Not outright speed. Times really don't mean that much

lots of guesses

some think he was shocked/passed out/seizure before the car hit the wall

no official explanation

That makes sense. Vettel says he veered across the track and smacked the wall, and a photographer says that he bounced along the grass while scraping the wall and came slowly to a stop. That sounds like he was knocked out or perhaps was being shocked, hence the seizure. Pictures afterwards show him lying on the ground. It's just creepy and all bad.

My first thought was driveshaft or suspension failure.

No more Alonso at Ferrari, is going to help them a LOT. I've been saying it for years.

Ferrari, with Kimi, and has engineer from Lotus are going to give them a car that can get back on the podium.

The engine differential was mostly with cooling. Mercedes opted for more aero drag in exchange for higher engine efficiency(power).

The freeze allows a gradually limiting amount of changes each season. The 2014 design is not locked in, about 40% of the engine could be changed if so desired IIRC. It reduces each year.

Based on previous history, it would be a safe bet to say gross-jean ran into him ;)

http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/33015/Vettel-Alonso-crash-looked-strange

McLaren are blaming the wind, and denying any fault with the car.

And why do the British drop the articles (a, the, that) when using the word "hospital"? It makes the word sound more like not a physical noun, but a state of being like Nirvana or Heaven or Hell. You don't say "the Nirvana" or "the Heaven". But we say "the hospital" because it's an ordinary noun, not a title or name.

Reminds me of the old days when a piston or rod would shoot through the side of the engine block and the team would say "we just lost oil pressure...":D

Quote



We are pleased to confirm that, having been involved in an on-track incident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain) on February 22nd, Fernando Alonso is making a solid recovery in hospital, and is chatting to family, friends and hospital staff.



From the scene of the incident he was driven to the circuit’s medical centre, where he was given first aid and, as per normal procedures, was sedated in preparation for an air-lift to hospital.



In hospital a thorough and complete analysis of his condition was performed, involving CT scans and MRI scans, all of which were completely normal.



In order to provide the privacy and tranquillity required to facilitate a peaceful recuperation, he is being kept in hospital for further observation, and to recover from the effects of the medication that successfully managed his routine sedation yesterday.



We intend to give him every opportunity to make a rapid and complete recovery, and will evaluate in due course whether or not he will participate in the next Barcelona test.



Over the past 24 hours, we have been carrying out a detailed analysis of the damage to Fernando’s car, and its associated telemetry data, in order fully to understand the cause, or causes, of his accident. Even at this early stage, we have been able to reach some firm conclusions.



His car ran wide at the entry to Turn Three – which is a fast uphill right-hander – allowing it to run onto the Astroturf that lines the outside of the track. A consequent loss of traction caused a degree of instability, spitting it back towards the inside of the circuit, where it regained traction and struck the wall side-on.



Our findings indicate that the accident was caused by the unpredictably gusty winds at that part of the circuit at that time, and which had affected other drivers similarly (eg, Carlos Sainz Jnr).



We can categorically state that there is no evidence that indicates that Fernando’s car suffered mechanical failure of any kind. We can also confirm that absolutely no loss of aerodynamic pressure was recorded, which fact indicates that the car did not suffer any aerodynamic loss, despite the fact that it was subjected to a significant level of g-force. Finally, we can also disclose that no electrical discharge or irregularity of any kind occurred in the car’s ERS system, either before, during or after the incident.



That last point refutes the erroneous rumours that have spread recently to the effect that Fernando was rendered unconscious by an electrical fault. That is simply not true. Our data clearly shows that he was downshifting while applying full brake pressure right up to the moment of the first impact – something that clearly would not have been possible had he been unconscious at the time.



Our data also confirms that Fernando’s car struck the inside concrete wall, first with its front-right wheel and then with its rear-right. It was a significant lateral impact, resulting in damage to the front upright and axle.



After the initial impact, the car slid down the wall for about 15 seconds before coming to a halt. All four wheels remained attached to the car, but no damage was sustained by the bodywork or crash structure between the front and rear wheels.




We wish Fernando a very speedy recovery. As and when we have further updates to share, we will of course do so.

for some reason the quote is fine
but the link with not post

Here's the link. And McLaren needs to hire someone who knows how to write, not to dictate un-proofread colloquialisms in a blathering obfuscation of the fact that they are basically saying "it wasn't us".

McLaren: Fernando was not rendered unconscious by an electrical fault | Grand Prix 247

"In due course" is supposed to mean that something happens in a predetermined amount of time. It does not mean "whenever it is appropriate so be patient", which is how it's being used.

F-1 fans are familiar with that
it is known as ''RON SPEAK''

Lol no kidding!!!

Alonso, looks OK
 

Fernando Alonso Injury: Updates on F1 Driver Following Crash in Barcelona | Bleacher Report

How much is Fernando Alonso Worth?
Net Worth:$170 Million
Fernando Alonso's Annual Salary$40 Million

Fernando Alonso net worth: Fernando Alonso is a Spanish race car driver who has a net worth of $170 million and annual salary of $40 million. Fernando Alonso has earned his net worth over the years as a driver for Minardi, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari. He has competed in Grand Prix's around the world. Fernando Alonso Diaz was born in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain in July 1981. He started racing go karts at just three years old. From 1994 to 1997 Fernando won karting championships in Spain, as well as becoming World Champion in 1996. He debuted for Formula One in 2001 with Minardi before moving to Renault as a test driver. In 2003 he became one of Renault's main drivers. Alonso won the Formula One World Driver's Championship in 2005. He was 24 years old and became the youngest Formula One champion. Fernando won the title the following year and became the youngest double champion. In 2007 he joined McLauren but returned to Renault in 2008 and 2009. He joined Scuderia Ferrari in 2010. Alonso has been nicknamed El Nano and is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. In 2013 he took the record for most championship points in a career. In 2006 he married singer Raquel del Rosario, but divorced in 2006. In 2012 he started dating Russian model Dasha Kapustina. He won the Sports Prince of Asturias Award in 2005.

Alonso
 

Alonso not going to compete at Aus. Must be more to that accident. McLaren not
giving out much info on this, a lot of smoke and mirror talk.

Maybe he's too busy "recouperating" with his GF ...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1425401967.jpg


you know the old saying:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1425402235.jpg

Conspiracy theory.... Alonso wrecked on purpose so he doesn't have to drive a slow car.

Hard to believe that the risk of sustaining another concussion would be that high... the car probably won't even make the grid!

I've heard of that in other sports (football comes to mind). Not a good idea to have 2 concussions in a short period of time (or ever, for that matter). The car is currently not competitive, the track in Australia is surrounded by walls, Magnussen is ready and competent, what's the rush ?

Personally if I was managing MacLaren I would not risk my most expensive asset for what will be a test session until he's 100%. Makes sense...

LOL!

It's not surprising that he's going to miss Australia though. His docs undoubtedly are up to date on the latest regarding head trauma. It's a wise move. He might have some marginal swelling and/ or clotting that needs to clear up. And it can take weeks for him to get the reflexes back and be clear headed again.

As it turns out, there is more to the story...
When Alonso regained consciousness, he was asked some routine questions. Apparently he had no idea where he was, that he'd been driving an F1 car, etc...

There are reports now that quote him as having replied to the emergency responsers' questions "My name is Fernando Alonso, I'm 13 and I'd like to drive an F1 car someday". He'd temporarily lost 20y due to the concussion! Can't vouch for it personally but it's on many news sites now and that would explain why he stayed 3 days in a hospital for "nothing at all" per Ron Dennis and is avoiding another hit so soon after that one. Ron Speak, indeed (the art of not lying, exactly, but also not telling the truth).

There are also (unsubstantiated) rumors flying around that Alonso's condition was not due to the accident, but causal.

IOW some people are speculating he had a "spell" that caused him to loose control and caused the impact and they're worried it might happen again.

I have no idea, I just hope he comes out of it all OK.
He's one heck of a driver.