With 2014 now underway, focus turns to the up-coming season and the first winter test.
The Circuit de Jerez in southern Spain will host the opening test of the new season, which will kick-off on January 28th, but before that can happen; the cars have to be launched.
Pre-season testing is always one of my favourite times of the year as we get to see the new cars unveiled, with months of hard work being put on show for the first time, and developed over the course of the test sessions.
There is such a buzz surrounding the sport at the time. This season there will be even more excitement because the rules are so fresh and brand-spanking new. The cars will look and sound very different and will be a handful out on track.
In recent seasons, teams have hidden developments when launching their new machinery by using old front wings and rear wings, or leaving off key parts that will be fitted for the first time at the test track.
However, in 2014 we could see cars being launched close to test-spec due to the regulation changes that will come into force. We could even see the majority of the cars being uncovered in the Jerez pit lane, what with the tight deadlines for the teams and all.
Some have already complained that their cars won’t be ready for the first winter test due to the dramatic new rules, which include revised aerodynamics, the new ERS system and the 1.6 litre V6 Turbo power-units.
The regulations have remained pretty stable for the last few seasons and the sport hasn’t had a major regulation switch-up in some time, so I’m really intrigued to see how winter testing pans out.
The second and third winter tests will both take place under the warm and sunny skies of Bahrain, rather than the chilly Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, to aid car and tyre development in a climate that will be more representative of the ones experienced during the season.
"Winter testing is going to be hilarious in Jerez," Jenson Button told AUTOSPORT after trying out the 2014 McLaren in the simulator for the first time. "It will be cold, the tyres aren't going to work, the cars probably won't work either and when you do get a lap it is probably going to feel weird because you are running higher gears - you get into eighth gear before you get to seventh gear now.
"It is a very different way of driving and you have to forget a lot you have learned over the years in terms of the driveability of a racing car, the engine, the power output of a racing car and the way you put the power down. It is so, so different."
If this is the case, then lucky us because it means we have a dramatic and unpredictable winter and, possibly, year ahead of us. From what I have heard and read, drivers will have to make radical changes to their driving style to handle the new cars.
This could, in turn, help the rookies and less experienced drivers, as there are a lot of new things that the whole grid is learning. It will level out the playing field. The likes of Valtteri Bottas and Jules Bianchi had four seasons less running in 2009-2013-spec regulation cars, but now everyone will have the same amount of experience in the 2014 machinery.
I’m, like Button, expecting plenty of reliability issues as the teams tackle the new power-units, but not much more as it is so hard to predict at this stage. For all we know, Williams or Marussia could hit the sweet spot with their design and engine combination.
However, it must be said that the power-unit will definitely take centre stage in 2014. In previous seasons, aerodynamics has proved to be the most significant factor. Now the 1.6 litre, 15,000rpm rev-limited, 600bhp V6 Turbos will really make the difference.
We could even see one engine manufacturer dominate the early proceedings, or even the whole year as the others catch up. Drivers will then have an additional 160bhp boost from the new ERS system. There will be more on this in my 2014 technical regulation change piece, which will be up on the blog soon.
The three winter tests should be very interesting indeed and I can’t wait to see the 2014-spec cars on-track at the Jerez circuit at the end of the month. Of course, my blog will have updates on all the action ahead of the new season.
For more on the 2014 season, see my new '2014' page with the full calendar, all 11 teams and all the currently confirmed drivers.
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© Octane Photographic
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The Circuit de Jerez in southern Spain will host the opening test of the new season, which will kick-off on January 28th, but before that can happen; the cars have to be launched.
Pre-season testing is always one of my favourite times of the year as we get to see the new cars unveiled, with months of hard work being put on show for the first time, and developed over the course of the test sessions.
There is such a buzz surrounding the sport at the time. This season there will be even more excitement because the rules are so fresh and brand-spanking new. The cars will look and sound very different and will be a handful out on track.
In recent seasons, teams have hidden developments when launching their new machinery by using old front wings and rear wings, or leaving off key parts that will be fitted for the first time at the test track.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Some have already complained that their cars won’t be ready for the first winter test due to the dramatic new rules, which include revised aerodynamics, the new ERS system and the 1.6 litre V6 Turbo power-units.
The regulations have remained pretty stable for the last few seasons and the sport hasn’t had a major regulation switch-up in some time, so I’m really intrigued to see how winter testing pans out.
The second and third winter tests will both take place under the warm and sunny skies of Bahrain, rather than the chilly Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, to aid car and tyre development in a climate that will be more representative of the ones experienced during the season.
"Winter testing is going to be hilarious in Jerez," Jenson Button told AUTOSPORT after trying out the 2014 McLaren in the simulator for the first time. "It will be cold, the tyres aren't going to work, the cars probably won't work either and when you do get a lap it is probably going to feel weird because you are running higher gears - you get into eighth gear before you get to seventh gear now.
"It is a very different way of driving and you have to forget a lot you have learned over the years in terms of the driveability of a racing car, the engine, the power output of a racing car and the way you put the power down. It is so, so different."
If this is the case, then lucky us because it means we have a dramatic and unpredictable winter and, possibly, year ahead of us. From what I have heard and read, drivers will have to make radical changes to their driving style to handle the new cars.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
This could, in turn, help the rookies and less experienced drivers, as there are a lot of new things that the whole grid is learning. It will level out the playing field. The likes of Valtteri Bottas and Jules Bianchi had four seasons less running in 2009-2013-spec regulation cars, but now everyone will have the same amount of experience in the 2014 machinery.
I’m, like Button, expecting plenty of reliability issues as the teams tackle the new power-units, but not much more as it is so hard to predict at this stage. For all we know, Williams or Marussia could hit the sweet spot with their design and engine combination.
However, it must be said that the power-unit will definitely take centre stage in 2014. In previous seasons, aerodynamics has proved to be the most significant factor. Now the 1.6 litre, 15,000rpm rev-limited, 600bhp V6 Turbos will really make the difference.
We could even see one engine manufacturer dominate the early proceedings, or even the whole year as the others catch up. Drivers will then have an additional 160bhp boost from the new ERS system. There will be more on this in my 2014 technical regulation change piece, which will be up on the blog soon.
The three winter tests should be very interesting indeed and I can’t wait to see the 2014-spec cars on-track at the Jerez circuit at the end of the month. Of course, my blog will have updates on all the action ahead of the new season.
For more on the 2014 season, see my new '2014' page with the full calendar, all 11 teams and all the currently confirmed drivers.
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