Scuderia Ferrari 2012

[TheRMVR]

It's the same car with the same problems. You can still expect them to be a second off the pace here.

I don't think they're a second off the pace. Certainly not race pace. If you compare Alonso to the McLarens and RedBulls who also were in traffic unlike Rosberg, it's nowhere near a second.

Average laptimes China (ex.pitstop)

Alonso: 1.44.003

Button: 1.43.706
Hamilton: 1.43.803
Webber: 1.43.837
Vettel: 1.43.882

Sure he was almost 7 tenths down on Rosberg on average but again he had clean air all the way through and wasn't stuck in any traffic.

[Forza Ferrari]

As myself and Crucial have stated via various sources these are what you would call, Entree sized updates before the mains update for Barcelona followed by the deserts upgrade around the period of the SPA race.

I think we all realise that. Having a test at Mugello obviously means that's bound to be the focal point of the upgrage, but I'm still very interested in these incremental updates being brought race by race.

Which updates? it's only a few bits here and there on the car, as it only adds a few hndreth of a second...

I'm quite surprised they don't seem to be able to speed up their development rate, I mean, each season, whether they win or not, they still have the same rate.... they should be trying a lot of new pieces at every race, considering they're far from others, they have nothing to loose by trying unconventional techniques

[banibhusan]

There is no point in coming up with lots of updates when you are not sure whether they are going to work or not. We are talking about a significant change in the rear of the car, which ideally will take time to design and implement. As Fry pointed out earlier, they are taking all measures in redefining their design philosophies and processes for better long term results.

With all these small, but subtle changes, they are setting the stage for the major update to be launched at Mugello.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Wow the car is quite bad in Bahrain. Sad. It's actually embarrassing as a Ferrari fan for the car to be so bad. Yes Mugello is coming, but I don't think they will make up the gap to the leaders. I think cutting this large gap in half is reasonable. With the possibility of cutting it even more in Hockenheim maybe.
More importantly I hope Pat gets these changes made so we don't start next year off as bad as this one.

[amouzouris]

Wow the car is quite bad in Bahrain. Sad. It's actually embarrassing as a Ferrari fan for the car to be so bad. Yes Mugello is coming, but I don't think they will make up the gap to the leaders. I think cutting this large gap in half is reasonable. With the possibility of cutting it even more in Hockenheim maybe.
More importantly I hope Pat gets these changes made so we don't start next year off as bad as this one.

well..i.m not finding the car worse than last week..and both China and Bahrain are circuits clearly not favoring the car because of its low top speed...lets wait for qualifying and we'll have a better picture of how much time will need to be covered...
i'm very hopeful and pretty certain that they will reduce the gap a lot in mugello and we'll see the results in spain...im not implying that they will be able to fight for wins..but podiums for sure... the car's race pace is not as bad...

[f1316]

Wow the car is quite bad in Bahrain. Sad. It's actually embarrassing as a Ferrari fan for the car to be so bad. Yes Mugello is coming, but I don't think they will make up the gap to the leaders. I think cutting this large gap in half is reasonable. With the possibility of cutting it even more in Hockenheim maybe.
More importantly I hope Pat gets these changes made so we don't start next year off as bad as this one.

well..i.m not finding the car worse than last week..and both China and Bahrain are circuits clearly not favoring the car because of its low top speed...lets wait for qualifying and we'll have a better picture of how much time will need to be covered...
i'm very hopeful and pretty certain that they will reduce the gap a lot in mugello and we'll see the results in spain...im not implying that they will be able to fight for wins..but podiums for sure... the car's race pace is not as bad...

I actually think Alonso could be in a very good position for strategy. I think if they start on the primes and only use the options at the end of the race when the track's rubbered in, we could be in for a surprise. I actually wondered why they bothered with Q3 in China and thought this would have been their best bet - but we'll see.

If they leave Bahrain in a respectable championship position, I think we can be optimistic.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

I actually think Alonso could be in a very good position for strategy. I think if they start on the primes and only use the options at the end of the race when the track's rubbered in, we could be in for a surprise. I actually wondered why they bothered with Q3 in China and thought this would have been their best bet - but we'll see.

If they leave Bahrain in a respectable championship position, I think we can be optimistic.

Let's see how the GP goes. I hope Red Bull finish 1st & 2nd with at least one Mercedes in 3rd(I'm not sure podium is possible for Fer). This would limit Lewis & Jenson's points no matter where Fernando finishes and we could come away still in the top 5 in the WDC.

As for Mugello I'm not sure how much time we'll make up. Then there's the Spain updates, so I'd say roughly half the gap. We can't forget others will have updates too although I don't think the current leaders will be able to find much more time due to this years regulations.

We'll just have to wait and see, but I hope everything goes to plan.

[Italiano]

Well, seeing how Alonso and Massa too actually kept up with Mclarens today, looking at the points tables...a good Mugello and Barcelona update could just prove the key point in Ferraris 2012 campaign. Cut down 3/4 of a second with better aero stability and Alonso WILL pounce.

Forza Ferrari.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Marc Gene said that Ferrari wouldn't bring all the updates to Mugello, that some would be tested Friday in Barcelona as Domenicali alluded to. Also as Jose Luis said yesterday, Gene confirmed there will be another large update in Canada if the Barcelona updates work as the team is expecting.

[Forza Ferrari]

Marc Gene said that Ferrari wouldn't bring all the updates to Mugello, that some would be tested Friday in Barcelona as Domenicali alluded to. Also as Jose Luis said yesterday, Gene confirmed there will be another large update in Canada if the Barcelona updates work as the team is expecting.

So, what will they test in mugello?? engine for 2014 ???

[Vanja #66]

Marc Gene said that Ferrari wouldn't bring all the updates to Mugello, that some would be tested Friday in Barcelona as Domenicali alluded to. Also as Jose Luis said yesterday, Gene confirmed there will be another large update in Canada if the Barcelona updates work as the team is expecting.

First one exhaust, as is well known, second one, DoubleDRS maybe?

Goes with the "if the Barcelona updates work as the team is expecting" logic, if those updates work, no need to turn full attention to them any more, just refining things, next big thing should definitely be DDRS...

Positive from today is that Alonso hadn't lost ground to Hamilton in the end, even though at last races, he started lapping slower last 10 or so laps... Could be that this was also the case in China, but running of the track could have compromised it.

I strongly believe that exhaust could bring up to 0.5s per lap, plus additional time gained from loosing Acer ducts, raising rear suspension and using different engine cover for optimizing monkey seat, which is at least 0.2s...

Anyone agreeing with me or am I too optimistic?

[Crucial_Xtreme]

So, what will they test in mugello?? engine for 2014 ???

Considering the car needs so much work I'm sure they'll be testing many different things. Personally I think it's a good thing they're using all available time to bring updates.

The Gazzetta today said the F2012 had slots in front of the rear tyres but I've looked through dozens of pictures and haven't seen any. Anyone else seen any slots?

@Vanja Ferrari said no double DDRS in Spain.

[Gerhard Berger]

Well, seeing how Alonso and Massa too actually kept up with Mclarens today, looking at the points tables...a good Mugello and Barcelona update could just prove the key point in Ferraris 2012 campaign. Cut down 3/4 of a second with better aero stability and Alonso WILL pounce.

Forza Ferrari.

That's what we hope for!

I would have said as long as we are within 25 points of the championship lead, then our damage limitation will have been successful. Now we are only 10 points behind - Alonso has done his job and we can be happy that 4 different drivers won the first 4 races. Just to have to pray that these updates will work for once!

[Vanja #66]

@Vanja Ferrari said no double DDRS in Spain.

I meant it as a "large update in Canada", as Gene said...

[Crucial_Xtreme]

@Vanja Ferrari said no double DDRS in Spain.

I meant it as a "large update in Canada", as Gene said...

Oh maybe, but I don't think it's worth too much outside of Monza or Canada. Waste of development? I'm not sure either way but they better focus on getting the basics right before they think about DDRS.