Tag Archives: 2011

Mar201130

Rob

0

Australia provides an appetizer for the 2011 F1 season

Melbourne took on the task of staging the first GP of the 2011 season and did a pretty good job. Sure it’s a street circuit and doesn’t show up some of the real pace of the cars, and the new DRS systems couldn’t be used to their full potential but it was a good, interesting, and lively start to the year. I’m not sure that Bahrain would have offered the same experience.
So Vettel took his first win of the year and started his title defence in the best way possible, Hamilton showed that he’s not going to let Vettel get away if he can help it and Alonso showed that he is top dog at Ferrari. Button, Webber and Massa all had weekends that they would rather have gone differently but they all scored points which was important last year so they shouldn’t be as downhearted as guys like Kobayahsi [...]

Mar201118

Rob

0

Testing over, Australia is approaching

So testing for the 2011 season is done, the teams have their data and we have the times. There isn’t many surprises within the testing times though I would have expected more from McLaren – not another year spent catching up? If Red Bull stop throwing away points McLaren don’t have a chance. Ferrari should push them hard and expect Alonso to want that title.
Australia is an odd place, it doesn’t seem to be that indicative of the season and doesn’t always show the true pace of the cars. We also know that you can win by being clever here as Jenson Button has shown. Don’t expect the Red Bull to be off the pace though, or for the brakes to explode, they will be hard to beat.
The tyres will be the great unknown in Melbourne as there isn’t really anywhere to use the new rear wing or Drag reduction device, [...]

Feb201128

Rob

0

Testing times in F1

Three tests down and the last about to start before the 2011 season kicks off two weeks late in Melbourne after the cancellation postponement of the Bahrain GP.
2011 looks to be a stellar season in F1 – did I just use the word ’stellar’? – with Red Bull continuing their position as the team to beat and Ferrari showing good form. McLaren will have a fast car too, they always do and they have a well earned reputation for improving their car throughout the season.
The tyres are likely to play a key role this year too with the Pirellis not lasting as long during testing as last years Bridgestones. It will be an interesting year as during the tyre war a few years back it took teams nearly a whole season to effectively make the switch from one supplier, now all the teams are doing it together but will that [...]

Jun201024

Rob

0

Next year heralds more tech changes

So 2011 won’t only include a new tyre supplier, it will have new technical regulations because of the F-duct. McLaren’s innovation of the F-duct seems to have caught a lot of the other teams on the back foot and has given them a huge advantage in terms of development time this year and from the results it looks like they’ve put it to good use. This new device although banned for next year is surely behind the new regulation that the drivers will be able to adjust the top flap of the rear wing.
With a similar effect to the F-duct a movable rear wing will effectively be a boost button on long straights and will enable the cars to run with more down-force at places like Canada and Silverstone. It will come down to who can design the best system but I’m not sure that I like the whole idea. [...]

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