Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 2015 playing field

[Doug & Terri (dnt]

Don't fool around with Honda - I liked their early 60's solutions to the
engine problem - just bolt a bunch of motorcycle engines together - of sorts
- and they had a screamer.
DOUG


-----Original Message-----
From: Ferrari [mailto:ferrari-bounces+dnt=dock.net [at] ferrarilist.com] On
Behalf Of francis newman
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2015 9:37 AM
To: DOUG
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] 2015 playing field

Hi Rick

Honda will be allowed the "average" development tokens available to the
other teams after 2015 homologation. See here for full details
http://www.pitpass.com/53198/Honda-free-to-develop-PU-in-2015

Seems a fair compromise to me.

As far as 2015 goes. The crowds at Silverstone are still very strong - great
attendance last year. The sound of the cars is far better in the flesh than
on TV. Sure - not as good as the old days which made ear protectors a
requirement. But without ear protectors the sound is now roughly equivalent.
It was better than I expected.

Sadly Ferrari are in a complete mess and Marchionne is completely the wrong
man to be in overall control. Read this article.

http://www.pitpass.com/53189/Maranello-Mumbo-Jumbo

I count the author, Mike Lawrence, as a friend and although I don't always
agree with him I think he is bang on with this one.

I hope Williams continue to improve. Mercedes need some competition. Red
Bull? Let's see what Newey's pretty much departure means. 

McLaren - who knows? Two great drivers (really pleased that Jenson retained
his seat) but new engine. Could be anything.

I suspect it will be another Lewis Nico fight with Lewis coming out on top
again - but I could well be wrong.

F1 is not what it was but I still love it.

F




On 17 Jan 2015, at 13:12, Rick Lindsay wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> Just read that the FIA has agreed to allow Honda in-season engine
development. Could this be the first sane FIA decision in recent years? The
article didn't say specifically if Honda would be afforded the same
development opportunities as the other teams. Only that they had won their
appeal with the FIA. That alone is a quantum change!
> 
> What are your thoughts regarding the 2015 season? I know some of you, like
many in the general public, feel that F1 is living on borrowed time. I too
have noticed the half-empty grandstands and the increased frequency of TV
commercials, in the States anyway. But it seems that the message may have
gotten through to the organisers. Healthy changes may be coming. Often it
takes a bit of time plus a significant financial hit, to overcome an owner's
arrogance. Only then do they learn that one can't just force feed their
customers silliness for very long before those customers are no longer
customers!
> 
> Counter to trend, I expect McLaren to come on strong and stay strong. The
chassis last year, wasn't bad. And this isn't Honda's first rodeo. Jensen is
a very smooth driver. As such, he doesn't add a lot of 'noise' to the data
stream coming off of the car. Same with tires. One might even view his
drives as in-season testing, while still capable of gathering up points. And
of course, Fred is good.
> 
> I hope to see Williams continue the progress they showed in the later half
of 2014. They too can be strong. Massa may have lost that chip from his
shoulder by now, so the whining may subside. I hope so. He's a good driver
but I fear his championship aspirations are behind him. Still, good for
points.
> 
> I believe Ferrari's public statements about hoping to win two races this
season, is an 'under promise, over deliver' scheme. That psychological
approach rallies the fans around the underdog. But, "Have no fear, Underdog
is here!" Below are my thoughts on the 2015 season for the red cars.
> 
> Kimi will just keep on doing whatever he does. But, what will Seb do in a
red fire suit? Personally, I care very little about the drivers. I like the
cars - but you know that. What I do follow is how the driver influences car
development.
> 
> Seb's self-described driving style is 'point-n-squirt'. That works great
in a chassis that handles the rest of the issues. Witness the earlier Red
Bulls. But make the chassis a pig to drive, like most of the cars last last
season, and that go-kart style of driving doesn't work. One has to actually
drive the car from braking point through to exit, rather than just ride it
out. The big question in my mind remains: Even if Ferrari can build enough
power into the hybred abortion energy system (or whatever politically
correct name chosen), can they build a chassis, within the current formula,
that fits Seb's point-n-squirt driving style? That, my friends, is what will
define Ferrari's performance in 2015. Remember, Adrian Newey couldn't do it
last year and he is arguably the preeminent designer. That said, I feel that
the key element in the instability is that stupid rear brake-by-wire, not
aerodynamics. 
> 
> Mercedes will be strong, no doubt. The chassis is a work of art and the
engine is excellent. But this season, it may not stand out so far above the
crowd. What they made work is the braking. That let them take full advantage
of the power available.
> 
> And the other teams? Predicting their performance is as reliable as
predicting roulette. Well, except perhaps for Lotus. They may bring some
nice surprises for us.
> 
> Personally, I want Minardi and the innovative offerings of Ken Tyrrell
back. But alas...
> 
> -rick
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