2020 Winter Testing One

[Nitrodaze]

Formula One has started in earnest today. And every team has demonstrated incredibly excellent preparation for the season. The most impressive observation was the incredibly high level of reliability of the cars. It was particularly great to see the Williams doing over 100 laps on day one bearing in mind how difficult it was for them in 2019.

[Jag_Warrior]

I'm getting over the flu and they're calling for snow tonight. But in my world, right now, the sun is shining bright. The F1 season is upon us, friends!!!:bounce:

[Nitrodaze]

First controversy (sort of), the Mercedes Trombone steering wheel. It appears to be legit too. Thankfully, innovation in F1 is not dead yet.

Mercedes calls this thing; DAS, which stands for Dual Axis Steering. Nicknamed the Trombone Steering by Sky's Ted Kravitz. How it seems to work is this; in normal driving position, it keeps the toe of the wheels pointing outwards, which is supposed to give better corning dynamics. If the driver pulls the steering wheel towards themselves, the DAS turns the toe of the wheels inwards. Which gives the car better straightline dynamics.

It looks like one of those things that coulds be an edge over the rest of the field. And the moaning shall begin in earnest shortly as the news of this device sinks into the heads along the paddock properly over the next day or so.

That said, there has not been any indication of how effective it is at enhancing performance or driveability.


Racing Point is looking very promising. Renault seems like they might surprise everyone this year. The fight for fourth is going to be fierce this season. Williams is looking like they have made a step forward. How far forward we shall see in Melborne. Ferrari is looking pensive. Redbull are looking fiesty.

Haas and Alfa Tauri, still cautious. Alfa Romeo looking solid.

By the look of things so far, it is looking like the midfield is going to be even tighter this season.

Fastest lap of Testing one so far; Mercedes W11 (Lewis Hamilton) - 1:16:976s (Hard Tyres)

[airshifter]

I guess only time will tell if the DAS system is allowed. Personally I'm on the fence and think that it likely won't be legal. But they might have found enough loophole in the rules to get away with it. Being that the Renault mass damper and the drivers hand operating the F duct were deemed moving aerodynamic devices, I really can't see how a driver powering a steering change can't be considered powering a steering device.

Regardless of legality, I'd have to wonder if the stability of the car changes much. Since the intent seems to be simply to remove some toe out on the straights, I wonder if the steering input would change much for the drivers. This would likely take some getting used to in regards to high speed overtakes when jumping out of the slipstream behind another car. For that matter any high speed correction when the car is in reduces toe mode.

But I suspect that the other teams will be all over it if in fact they think it brings anything to the table.




As for testing overall, not a lot to be seen yet IMO. Just as with many years figuring out who is sandbagging and who is not is tough. Reliability seems to be up all through the field, which is promising enough.



The changes to the cars alone are interesting enough for me. The new RB has a load of aero work, as does the Merc. Ferrari have stayed with the fatter nose, but under the nose the car is really busy.

[Nitrodaze]

It appears Redbull have an innovation that is raising eyebrows. It is loosely called the double bulkhead. Apparently it is in the section after the nose of the chassis. Not sure what the point of it is. I don't imagine it is performance enhancing, but l might be wrong.

[Zico]

I'm unsure how efective Mercs DAS system will be but ..IF... it did prove to be a major 'must have' feature for Ferrari and Red Bull to have in order to be competitive. If they threw their maximum resources at it just how long would it likely take them to design and have their own version of it on their cars for evaluation?

[Nitrodaze]

I'm unsure how efective Mercs DAS system will be but ..IF... it did prove to be a major 'must have' feature for Ferrari and Red Bull to have in order to be competitive. If they threw their maximum resources at it just how long would it likely take them to design and have their own version of it on their cars for evaluation?

I think they have to redesign the entire front suspension and steering infrastructure. It would be hard to copy in a short time. If they start now, chances are about half way through the season. But probably unlikely before. That sort of change may also have some impact on the aerodynamic characteristics of the middle to backend of the car also. Hence, there is some risk associated with adopting it.

I think there would be enough moaning to force it to be banned. But l hope that is not the case. Teams should not be punished for clever innovation that is within the rules. Not unless the F1 establishment bend the rules in order to ban it.

Ted Kravitz of Sky was saying that the DAS must pass the scrutiny of two hurdles, namely; the Steering regulations and the suspension regulations which apparently are quite separate and different. If the trombone steering can be shown to comply with both, then chances are that it is here to stay.

There is talk also that it may not comply with the 2021 regulations, hence cannot be used next season. which is unfortunate also.

[Nitrodaze]

Bottas hammers in the fastest lap of Winter Test One with a lap of 1:15:732 [Supersoft]. I think Ferrari are reeling as they found they are not quite where Mercedes is on the readiness front. They also seem slower and not quite as planted through the corners like the Mercedes. Mercedes seem like they could start racing right away. Redbull are looking content but there is enough to suggest that they might be well behind Mercedes. How much behind, we would find out in Testing Two next week.

If the Trombone steering does not have an impact on the aerodynamic characteristics of the Merc, if they were to be asked to remove it, then we are probably set for another Mercedes dominated season. But to be honest, it is still too early to tell. We have not seen the Redbull or Ferrari driven in anger yet. It would be very clear at the end of testing two who is the top dog this season.

[Zico]

If my understanding of how the DAS system is correct then the aerodynamics benefit it brings is also brought by the steering by the front wheels being movable aero devices, the geometry changing the ride height and the effects that has on aero... so maybe they need to ban steering also?

I suppose they could ban it for it not being in 'the spirit of the regulations'. :/

[Nitrodaze]

If my understanding of how the DAS system is correct then the aerodynamics benefit it brings is also brought by the steering by the front wheels being movable aero devices, the geometry changing the ride height and the effects that has on aero... so maybe they need to ban steering also?

I suppose they could ban it for it not being in 'the spirit of the regulations'. :/

I suspect they may not ban it for this season as they were forewarned about it. But they were quick to update the regulation for next season to specifically ban it in 2021. There are multiple benefits from this Toe adjusting technology as we would find as the season progresses. It is definitely an edge over the competition.

[Zico]

I suspect they may not ban it for this season as they were forewarned about it. But they were quick to update the regulation for next season to specifically ban it in 2021. There are multiple benefits from this Toe adjusting technology as we would find as the season progresses. It is definitely an edge over the competition.


Agreed...


IF... it does offer as big an advantage as they think and Merc run up a huge lead in the first 4-5 months, if its going to take 5-6 months for the others to have it on their cars.. I see a real possibility that the others just write this season off completely and concentrate on putting all their resources and development into the 2021 reg cars instead of attempting to chase Merc down in the latter half of the season with no guarantees of success. For this reason 2020 could be Mercs most dominant season and the dullest one ever. :(

Heres hoping its not really a huge advantage... or the others have an unseen but equal development to ensure that wont happen.

[Nitrodaze]

Agreed...


IF... it does offer as big an advantage as they think and Merc run up a huge lead in the first 4-5 months, if its going to take 5-6 months for the others to have it on their cars.. I see a real possibility that the others just write this season off completely and concentrate on putting all their resources and development into the 2021 reg cars instead of attempting to chase Merc down in the latter half of the season with no guarantees of success. For this reason 2020 could be Mercs most dominant season and the dullest one ever. :(

Heres hoping its not really a huge advantage... or the others have an unseen but equal development to ensure that wont happen.

Possibly. But you assume that the DAS provides a significant advantage to put Mercedes far ahead. I think the competition may not need the DAS to catch up to and give Mercedes a good fight for the championship. The DAS is a good winter testing sensation but not necesarily a silver bullet. We don't know yet what advantages it gives. We also don't know yet if it is actually an edge. We also don't know how good the cars of the opposition actually are.

I think it is going to be a hard fought season. As all that is needed to make the season interesting, is for one or both of the main competition to be close enough to be a real bother for Mercedes. They don't necessarily need to be faster. They just need to harass Mercedes enough to rattle their cage. Especially if both Redbull and Ferrari can simultaneously do so.

It should not be an easy run to the finish line for Mercedes. Even Mercedes do not want that. They at least want to experience a good fight for the title.

[The Black Knight]

That Mercedes looks unbelievable. The main benefit to DAS is tire wear. I suspect it’s mainly for race mode. DAS isn’t a game changer but Mercedes’s appear to have found 3 seconds over the winter. That’s incredible. They switched focus to 2020 in July last year. Watching the onboard of Bottas fastest lap and how easyit looked. That car can do a 1.13 in Barcelona with the gloves off. I don’t think Ferrari or RBR can match that.

Mercedes will switch focus to 2021 early if they dominate this year. The speed the are carrying through the corners and the balance looks perfect, no under steering, the car just goes where they want.

Can’t wait for Melbourne but it seems ominous so far.

[Nitrodaze]

That Mercedes looks unbelievable. The main benefit to DAS is tire wear. I suspect it’s mainly for race mode. DAS isn’t a game changer but Mercedes’s appear to have found 3 seconds over the winter. That’s incredible. They switched focus to 2020 in July last year. Watching the onboard of Bottas fastest lap and how easyit looked. That car can do a 1.13 in Barcelona with the gloves off. I don’t think Ferrari or RBR can match that.

Mercedes will switch focus to 2021 early if they dominate this year. The speed the are carrying through the corners and the balance looks perfect, no under steering, the car just goes where they want.

Can’t wait for Melbourne but it seems ominous so far.

We said that for Ferrari last year, look how that turned out. This is testing info which may not be indicative of the true state of affairs. Melborne is a different situation. But you are right, if Mercedes turns out to reflect their testing relative performance in inseason racing, they would coast to their seventh constructors title with ease. Hence, would be able to afford to release resources to start the work on the 2021 car earlier than their competition.

In which case the drivers title fight would essentially be between Hamilton and Bottas. But truly hope that it not so easy and straightforward.

[airshifter]

We said that for Ferrari last year, look how that turned out. This is testing info which may not be indicative of the true state of affairs. Melborne is a different situation. But you are right, if Mercedes turns out to reflect their testing relative performance in inseason racing, they would coast to their seventh constructors title with ease. Hence, would be able to afford to release resources to start the work on the 2021 car earlier than their competition.

In which case the drivers title fight would essentially be between Hamilton and Bottas. But truly hope that it not so easy and straightforward.

At this point all we really know for sure is that the time Bottas set is about a half second quicker than times set last year. And that lap is short of the track record. Essentially, they are still not showing true pace, either short term or race pace. We know the cars have developed enough that all of them should be faster than their times of last year, barring any bad miscalculations. And last year the final fastest times between Seb and Lewis were almost identical, yet we all know that Merc had a much better car once we moved on to the races.

Did Merc simply advance more between testing and racing last year, or was it just good sandbagging? The problem is, we just don't know.



I do think Ferrari are on the back foot this year by all indications. I don't think they could fake their concern so well and be sandbagging on the issue. I'm also fairly confident that RB have not even attempted to uncork the RB16 and show any real indication of short term/qually pace. They have been quietly doing a lot of long run race pace testing, putting in almost as many laps as Merc, but staying out of the light as well. But their runs on the harder tires and obvious higher fuel loads have been very solid, and I doubt that takes place without improvements on the lighter loads and stickier tires.

The midfield appears to have been tightened up even more, though it might seem that Racing Point have made the biggest improvements. But once again, we can't be sure that they just haven't uncorked their full power modes and made more attempts at quickest pace earlier than the other teams. But indications are that RP, Mclaren, and Renault might all be fighting for a #4 spot, or possibly even higher if one of the big 3 falter too much as the season goes on.

But I could well be wrong as well. Until they start unleashing the cars in low fuel qually trims, we won't know for sure who is just sandbagging better than the others, and who is already showing their hand. We will find out for sure soon enough.




As for all the talk about DAS, after reading exhaustive arguments on both sides it's still up in the air as for legality IMO. Depending on which part of which reg you read, and more importantly how you interpret it, it could go either way. I tend to think it won't be allowed after protest, mostly due to the fact that when used it becomes a moving aerodynamic device. Changing toe on the straights greatly influences the wash over the car, but is not in the interest of steering the car, since history shows they have steered the car just fine without toe adjustments.

A brilliant move on the part of Mercedes to use the system, as I suspect they already have easily adequate parts available to disable it if in fact it is banned. They have essentially rolled the dice in hopes it can be used. Though simple enough to make by all accounts, the other teams would need major repackaging changes to implement it most likely, and Merc just smiles and watches. I would suspect the actual benefit of using it would be more to control tire temps as the primary argument, but in reality the actual use seems to favor aero improvements. Tire scrub would change some, but the benefit there in speed would not be great mostly due to camber angles and footprint of the tires on a straight. The aero wash changes would likely be of more real world use IMO. Though top speeds might not change much, fuel use and engine modes could be used at lower settings, which would be a large advantage in long term race pace.


However, the grey area which they have exploited is in fact a very deep grey. I personally thought the banning of the Renault mass damper on the grounds of moving aerodynamic device was insane. After all, they added overall stability to the car and essentially kept the aero devices from moving as much, yet it got banned. Then on the flip side we have had POU suspension which is intended to make the car squat more when cornering, improving aerodynamic impact especially in the front. The FIA set limits on that system, yet it is still allowed. So we have a governing body that leaves a lot of grey area in regs, and as well in enforcement of the regs.

As it stands now I'm thinking 51/49 that DAS won't be raced for more than the season opener. Maybe even 50.001 vs 49.999. But usually the FIA tend to take the grey and make their decision as 99/1 either against or in favor.





But regardless of DAS, Merc looks very strong, as do RB in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised to see easily a second to possibly even two seconds come off of final testing times once the gloves are off and the cars are released in anger. Though I suspect that Ferrari won't do much but pick up scraps in the early season, I hope the combination of Ferrari and RB can at least harass the Merc enough to make the WDC a fight. I'd hate to see Lewis coast to his next WDC, as so far they have IMO been harder earned than those of the record he is trying to match.