Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 2015 playing field

[Rick Moseley (ramosel]

It was a different world then.  Rules encouraged innovation.  Now the just want 
to restrict.  And that applies to many avenues of life, sadly. 

Rick




> On Jan 18, 2015, at 10:22 AM, Doug & Terri <dnt [at] dock.net> wrote:
> 
> 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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