Ferrari have been attracting some high-profile engineers from McLaren and continue to boast about how successful their 2012 challenger will be. Ferrari replaced Raikkonen from 2010 with Fernando Alonso, with huge financial backing from Santander. Alonso is yet to deliver a championship. But as this video will show, Ferrari have developed a method of improving their 2012 challenger in the simulator. I'm sure they are not the only team doing it.. It's just a matter of the news getting to the general public.
Here's a video of the Ferrari Simulator. If you look closely enough: you can see the screen in front of the red simulator car in the middle of the vessel.
Alonso will return shortly to the simulator to continue to adapt the car to his style and try the best in the front suspension/steering. Apparently Alonso (and Massa) will have to drive differently to accommodate the new aerodynamics without EBD and get more out of the tires. Byrne has been in Maranello today, meeting with Pat Fry, Tombazis, Neil Martin and Domenicali. Most engineers on vacation.
The present day simulators are the teams method of 'in-season testing.' They have become so advanced that the teams actually work on car setup in the simulator prior to arriving for the GP.
But what Ferrari (and I assume other teams as well) are doing is novel. They are inputting data from the 2012 challenger that is being built and 'developing' the car in the simulator. The car may not even be built. I am speculating on this: but I believe the team can use data from the wind tunnel and CFD, then input that data into the simulator about the 2012 car. Hence, they can 'test' the 2012 challenger as it is being built. I have read articles where they say Fernando is all ready developing the 2012 car through this process..
If next season is not going significantly in recent years to better Ferrari, Domenicali will have to leave Ferrari team. Domenicali rumored to receive Ferrari kicks this season, but he was allowed to continue for at least one season.
Zitat von WolfieThanks for the information, Kurski
Ouch, Domi seems to be in the exactly same position he has put other drivers in for the last years... What goes around comes around
So the rumours were true, Byrne is back
He is. He was found in the back of the Ferrari garage at Monza 2011. I think it was around that time that he agreed to help the team for 2012. But for sure, he is back. I don't know what his official title is. Maybe consultant? But from what I have been able to gather.. He is having an impact on the 2012 Formula 1 car's design.
ZitatF1: Montezemolo Names Candidates For Massa’s Seat Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is eyeing potential replacements for Felipe Massa in 2013...
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo (Pictured) won't rule out a possible driver change in 2013. Luca di Montezemolo has defended Felipe Massa while conceding that a number of drivers at rival teams impressed him in 2011.
The Ferrari president is honoring Brazilian Massa's 2012 contract but making no secret that the Maranello-based team is keeping its mind open as to the identity of Fernando Alonso's next teammate.
"2012 is the crucial season for Felipe. We were not satisfied with his past season and neither was he," Montezemolo is quoted by Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
"What I cannot forget is the fact that Felipe was often faster than Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. He helped Kimi to his championship and a year later was a hair short of being champion himself.
"If the tires warm up for him better next season, we believe Felipe can cope much better."
Naturally, however, Massa's seat is highly coveted within the F1 paddock, while Montezemolo admitted Ferrari is also keeping an eye on its options.
"Jenson Button was just excellent," said the Italian, referring to the 2011 championship runner-up who currently drives for McLaren.
"Mark Webber is a good second driver, and Nico Rosberg has done well with a car that has not been competitive.
"It is also good to develop drivers within yourself, so while Sergio Perez is a Sauber driver, in fact he has developed in Ferrari's academy.
"(And) Jules Bianchi could develop further if he can test," added Montezemolo, a staunch advocate for more testing in Formula One.
Montezemolo did not mention the recovering Polish driver Robert Kubica.
ZitatHe helped Kimi to his championship and a year later was a hair short of being champion himself.
Sure, he did with being 2nd in the last race so Hamilton could be only 7th. That was the only way he helped Kimi because looking at those lap times he didn't slow down during Kimi's pit stop at all!!! So Kimi came 1st after the 2nd pit stop because he was simply faster than Felipe. " title="holy" />
Pat Fry seems to have discovered the solution to the balance of 663, have tried some modifications to the front wing and engine cover The result seems to have been good in the tunnel and simulations, so the production of parts pass immediately Byrne's new fund, is in 'queue' for the other parts test more urgent, but next week could already know something Alonso is optimistic about the way the 663 is the Pirelli and the new way of driving, concerned about the reliability The relationship between Alonso and Pat Fry is so good and strong already in Maranello jokingly says Andrea Stella is 'jealous'
According to MARCA, Felipe Massa will test the car on the first day at Jerez.
Zitat von indianapolismotorspeedway.comFerrari’s Felipe Massa was also in contact with GRAND-AM about driving in the great endurance race this year, but has recently gone quiet.
Zitat von WolfieKurski, what's the deal about testing the first day? There was an article in TS about Vettel letting Webber test first and something caught my eye:
Febryary 7.-10. Jerez test.
It's not a bad thing, although Alonso and Vettel leave between the tests.
Zitat von WolfieKurski, what's the deal about testing the first day? There was an article in TS about Vettel letting Webber test first and something caught my eye:
"According to German Auto, Motor und Sport -paper Vettel has already reserved the two last days in Jerez testing. This means that Webber has to take care of the possible so called children's diseases during the first two driving days. "
So it's a bad thing then, right?
The car is more likely to have problems in the first few days than the last.
Zitat von WolfieKurski, what's the deal about testing the first day? There was an article in TS about Vettel letting Webber test first and something caught my eye:
"According to German Auto, Motor und Sport -paper Vettel has already reserved the two last days in Jerez testing. This means that Webber has to take care of the possible so called children's diseases during the first two driving days. "
So it's a bad thing then, right?
The car is more likely to have problems in the first few days than the last.
Exactly. When you are first born.. There is about a 6month window in which the baby still has the proteins of the immune system from the mother.. Then the baby loses those proteins. As a result, the baby will actively build an immune system as they fight sickness. And as the baby ages, the immune system strengthens due to all it has encountered in the early days. That is the message. The team need to take a 'newborn' car and expose it to the elements (track). They watch and diagnose the car day-by-day. The more time the car has on track.. The more information the team can gather. And the more problem solving the team can do. Just as your immune system evolves to fight those new diseases it has yet to encounter.. The newborn car also has to fight the early problems of technical glitches before they can be diagnosed and fixed.