Brought to you by TheJudge13 contributor Mattpt55

-the best in Scrutineering, Stewards’ Decisions, and other assorted FIA documents looked at slightly irreverently

 Slag the FIA all you want for the wretched excesses of the stewards, hopeless lack of transparency and a level of condescension rarely found outside of Royal circles, one thing is true. They put documents up on their website that anyone can see. Looking back at the race weekend, here are some of the stories that could have been found by anyone willing to have a look.

Australia – Special Would’ve looked like a Genius Hindsight edition

Race Director’s 2014 Tech Session

Fuel flow/fuel consumption

All cars are fitted with an FIA-homologated fuel flow sensor. It will not limit the flow, it will only monitor the flow. 100kg/hr is the maximum allowed fuel flow and I’m sure that teams will be close to that whenever they can be.
 100kg of fuel can be used from the moment the lights go out to the point at which cars cross the line to finish the race. It is a maximum.

If the limit is exceeded, there is no tolerance [and drivers will be excluded from the classification]. We are confident in the meter’s accuracy but it will always be correlated with data we have from injectors to ensure there isn’t a wide divergence. From what we’ve seen so far, that won’t be the case.
 Any potential over-use would be investigated after the race. It will be no different to any other technical check.

No hint of any controversy here. Interesting to note that they will correlate the data with injector’s to ensure accuracy, and to settle the dispute somewhat it is also clear that the black flag will not be used during the race. Also, Whiting clearly implies there has not been a wide divergence thus far in the data they have seen, though this was before the the Friday Practice that caused all the tears for Red Bull.

A driver is allowed to leave the track and rejoin without penalty, providing he does so safely and providing he does not gain an advantage. It is up to us to decide whether he has gained an advantage from being off track. 
Circuits are designed so that going off track should always be slower – or at least not faster.

Clear as mud. Guess Red Bull won’t have a problem with this either.

Thermal stickers

The rules state tyres have to be operated within the limits the manufacturer prescribes. We have been monitoring tyre pressures and end-of-straight cambers. This [temperature in the tyre blankets] is another parameter they have asked us to check this year.

There are limits set by Pirelli, they want minimum starting pressures and maximum end-of-straight cambers and for this year they do not want to see tyres heated in the blankets above a certain temperature. They have added temperature [sensitive] stickers to the tread that change colour if the specified maximum temperature is exceeded.

Guess we’re not done with interesting ways to abuse tyres after all

Research

This year each driver will have a three-axis, in-ear accelerometer fitted in each ear. This will give us information about exactly what is happening to a driver’s head in the event of an accident. This will be correlated with the high-speed video that we’re going to use in the onboard cameras. This is research being done by the FIA Institute in order to better understand the mechanisms of accidents.

The easy gibe is they couldn’t afford crash test dummies, but the reality is this is a good thing that will eventually help more than just highly paid, highly insured drivers. The more that is learned about TBI, the better we will all be.

Malaysia-Singin in the Rain Edition

Wonder where all this great stuff came from? Right Here

 

Let the race to break your car slowest begin!

Count the bits Thursday

Number        Car                      Driver                       ES used

13          Lotus Renault           Pastor Maldonado   2
10         Caterham Renault    Kamui Kobayashi      2
09        Caterham Renault    Marcus Ericsson        2

Number        Car                       Driver                         ES used

13         Lotus Renault            Pastor Maldonado     2
21         Sauber Ferrari            Esteban Gutierrez     2
17         Marussia-Ferrari        Jules Bianchi             2
04        Marussia Ferrari         Max Chilton               2
10         Caterham Renault    Kamui Kobayashi       2
09        Caterham Renault     Marcus Ericsson        2

 

And count them again Friday

The following drivers will start the second Event of the 2014 Formula One World Championship with a new energy store (ES):

Number           Car                     Driver                          Previously used ES

19         Williams Mercedes     Felipe Massa                       1
10         Caterham Renault      Kamui Kobayashi               2

The following drivers will start the second Event of the 2014 Formula One World Championship with a new control electronics (CE):

 Number          Car                     Driver                          Previously used CE

19         Williams Mercedes     Felipe Massa                       1
10         Caterham Renault     Kamui Kobayashi                2
09        Caterham Renault     Marcus Ericsson                  2

And even more counting

The following drivers will use a new control electronic power supply unit (CE PSU) for the remainder of the Event:

 Number       Car                       Driver                       Previously used CE PSU

01         Red Bull Racing Renault   Sebastian Vettel                  2

The following driver will use a new engine (ICE) for the remainder of the Event:

 Number       Car                Driver                       Previously used ICE

13          Lotus Renault           Pastor Maldonado               1

 The following driver will use a new turbocharger (TC) for the remainder of the Event:

 Number       Car                 Driver                       Previously used TC

13          Lotus Renault           Pastor Maldonado               1

Scrutineering Highlights pre Quali

Lots of tyre pressure checks for the whole field and special scrutiny for cars 44 Hamilton and 19 Massa

Car numbers 44 and 19 were weighed.
Car numbers 44 and 19 were checked for the following:

1)       Bodywork around the front wheels
2)       Front wing height and overhang
3)       Rear wing height and overhang
4)       Front and rear wing width
5)       Rear wing configuration
6)       Rear bodywork area
7)       Rear winglet height
8)       Stepped bottom
9)       Overall height
10)      Overall width

The front and rear brake air duct dimensions were checked on car numbers 44 and 19.

Post Quali- That sounds like way to much work edition

During the qualifying practice session:

Car number 21  (Gutierrez) was weighed.

 The weight distribution was checked on car number 21.
 Car number 21 was checked for the following:

1)       Bodywork around the front wheels
2)       Front wing height and overhang
3)       Rear wing height and overhang
4)       Front and rear wing width
5)       Rear wing configuration
6)       Rear bodywork area
7)       Rear winglet height
8)       Stepped bottom
9)       Diffuser height
10)      Diffuser width
11)      Overall height
12)      Overall width

  

The tyre starting pressures of all cars during the qualifying sessions 

were checked.

Fuel samples were taken from car numbers 17 and 26.

 After the qualifying practice session:

Car numbers 01, 03, 44, 06, 14, 07, 22, 20, 27 and 25 were weighed.
Car numbers 01, 03, 44, 06, 14, 07, 22, 20, 27 and 25 were checked 
for the following:

1)       Bodywork around the front wheels
2)       Front wing height and overhang
3)       Rear wing height and overhang
4)       Front and rear wing width
5)       Rear wing configuration
6)       Rear bodywork area
7)       Rear winglet height
8)       Stepped bottom
9)       Diffuser height
10)      Diffuser width
11)      Overall height
12)      Overall width

 

The chassis identification transponders have been confirmed for the top ten 

cars. The profile of the prescribed front wing section in Article 3.7.3 of the 20

14 Formula One Technical Regulations was checked on car numbers 01, 03, 

44, 06, 14, 07, 22, 20, 27 and 25. It  was confirmed for car numbers 44, 06, 1

4, 07,  22, 20, 27 and 25 that any vertical cross section of bodywork normal t

o the car centre line and situated in the volumes defined in Article 3.8.4

 form one tangent continuous curve on its external surface 

with a radius no less than 75mm.

 The concave radius of sections of the two rear wing elements which are in 

contact with the external air stream was checked on car numbers 

01, 03, 44, 06, 14, 07, 22, 20, 27 and 25.

 A horizontal rear wing deflection test was carried out on car numbers 

01, 44, 14 and 27.

 The front and rear brake air duct dimensions were checked on car numbers 

01, 03, 44, 06, 14, 07,22, 20, 27 and 25.

 It was confirmed for all drivers taking part in the qualifying session that they have 

used their sealed power unit.

 The units locking status was checked on all cars.

 The session type has been confirmed for all cars.

 Software version checks have been carried out on all cars.

 Chassis parameter checksums were checked on all cars taking part in the 

qualifying sessions.

 Gear shift data checks have been carried out for car numbers 44, 06, 

14 and 07.

 The torque control was checked for car numbers 44 and 07.

 The torque coordinator demands were checked on car numbers 03, 44,

 07 and 20.

 The rear brake pressure control was checked on car numbers 03,

 44 and 07.

 During qualifying it was verified for car numbers 01, 44, 07 and 

25 that the limits for electrical power and state of charge for the

 MGU­K and ES were not exceeded.

 The maximum MGU­K torque was checked on car numbers 01, 44,

 07 and 25.

 The maximum MGU­H speed was checked on car numbers 01, 44,

 07 and 25.

 It was checked that all cars did not exceed 15000 rpm during the 

qualifying practice session.

 The logged pressure within the engine cooling system during the

 qualifying sessions was checked on all cars.

 The tyres used by all drivers during the sessions today have

 been checked.

The fuel flow of car numbers 01, 03, 44, 06, 14, 08, 13, 22, 20, 27, 

11, 99, 21, 25, 26, 19, 77, 17,04, 10 and 09 was checked.

 The fuel temperature was checked on all cars.

 Fuel samples were taken from car numbers 01, 44 and 14.

 All the fuel samples have been checked for density and analysed

 by gas chromatography.

 

This time the numbers match edition

 

The following software versions have been used by the teams during

the qualifying session

Team              FIA Standard ECU system version

Caterham       SR626
Ferrari         SR626
Force India    SR626
Lotus           SR626
Marussia        SR626
McLaren         SR626
Mercedes        SR626
Red Bull        SR626
Sauber          SR626
Toro Rosso     SR626
Williams        SR626

Sat on the Naughty Step

 N° / Driver 25 – Jean­Eric Vergne

Competitor Scuderia Toro Rosso
Time 17:35
Session Qualifying
Facts Pit Lane Speeding – 102.6 km/hr
Decision The competitor (Scuderia Toro Rosso) are fined €1,000

Apparently TR feel that their measurement of speed is more accurate than the FIA radar gun and they are confident they can prove that Vergne was actually not breaking any regulations. They will be taking their case to the Court of Appeals. 🙂

Even Naughtier Step

Bottas of course, who got 2 points and 3 grid positions for making Ricciardo stop smiling in Q2.

 Yes they said it edition

From Thursday’s presser:

Q: (Heikki Kulta – Turun Sanomat)  Kimi, did you have any temptation to go to drive the simulator to get better settings for you?

KR: No.

See, Kate Walker gets it edition

From Friday’s Presser:

Q: (Kate Walker – crash.net) Carrying on with the theme of young people engagement and what can and can’t be done, to what extent do you think that broadcasting rights issues coming from the commercial rights holder, the inability of people to discover Formula One on Youtube, to use the sources that they use in their everyday lives, is preventing Formula One from growing a youth audience?

FG: That’s an interesting question. I think, again, we have to be careful what we say to the youngsters. But I think if we put together the right tools – you mentioned Youtube – this is a sport, we just need to have the right package to show to the young people, to be an example for them, so that’s my point of view

Saward, not so much

Q: (Joe Saward – Grand Prix Special) You were talking there about making the drivers more promotable – surely it’s the team principals who are the problem here because they block the drivers from saying things and make them characters? Would you say that you’re culpable in this respect because you’re protecting your sponsors from some lunatic driver?

FT: First of all, at Toro Rosso the drivers can say what they want. We don’t tell them what they have to tell to the press.

Face it, Joe, not even Lotus will admit to employing a lunatic driver. Even if Red Bull *can* prove it with a mathematical model

From the is that noise in my head bothering you department

Lewis Hamilton attempting to answer a question about the historical importance of his 33rd pole, is unable to continue as Rosberg and Vettel try to sort out who actually kept Vettel from having one more go in Quali

Q: (Yassmin Abdel-Magied – RichardsF1.com) Lewis, you’re now the best English qualifier and equal best British, how does this make you feel and were you surprised by how close Red Bull and Mercedes were in terms of times?
LH: Yeah, definitely. The thing is in qualifying so much is going on so sometimes you forget… you don’t forget but you’re caught in situations and you wish you had another lap. For sure, I don’t fully understand exactly why everyone closes up, particularly Red Bulls get a little bit closer to us when it is wet. That’s something we have to work on but naturally I think, they’re always quick in the wet. [Hey guys, I can’t even hear myself talk.]

SV: We’re still figuring out who it was…
LH: But very very proud to be representing the UK and to be amongst the names like Nigel Mansell and James Hunt, James Clark, sorry, Jim Clark, is really really a real honour to be there.
Ends

There’s a word for this….

The You Broke It You Bought it Department

****UPDATED*****

-Latest and Greatest from Parc Ferme´

The following parts have been replaced during the Parc Fermé yesterday and today:
 
Red Bull Racing Renault:
 
Car 01:         MGU­K shaft
                    RHS rear wheel speed sensor
 
Car 03:         MGU­K shaft
 
 
Mercedes:
 
Car 44:         LHS and RHS rear brake drum
                    LHS and RHS rear barge boards
                    Rear brake friction material
 
Car 06:         LHS and RHS rear brake drum
                    Rear impact structure heat shield
 
 
Ferrari:
 
Car 14:         Exhaust manifolds
                    Spark plugs
                    LHS front lower wishbone
                    LHS front top wishbone
                    LHS coils line
                    Power steering rack
                    Parameters for steering rack change
 
Car 07:         Exhaust manifolds
                    Spark plugs
 
 Lotus Renault:
 
Car 08:         HIU
                    LHS exhaust primary bellows heat shield
                    MGU­K shaft
                    Engine rpm average segment count default value
 
Car 13:         Live lock receptacle in floor
                    MGU­K shaft
                    Fuel Rail pressure sensor
                    Parameters for fuel rail pressure sensor change
                    Engine rpm average segment count default value
 
 
McLaren Mercedes:
 
Car 22:         Throttle pedal damper
                    RHS brake disc deflector and gurney
                    Forward floor mounting and load cell
                    Grip tape on steering wheel upshift paddle
                    RHS front brake drum
                    Resample throttle pedal after repair
 
Car 20:         Steering wheel
                    Slip sensor lens
                    Starter shaft flap
                    LHS exhaust gas temperature sensor
 
 
Force India Mercedes:
 
Car 27:         Water pump assembly
 
Car 11:         Rear brake friction material
                    Gearbox hydraulic manifold
                    Parameters for gearbox hydraulic manifold change
                    Disable faulty backup brake pressure sensor
 
 
Toro Rosso Renault:
 
Car 25:         MGU­K shaft
                    T­tray mounting brackets
 
Car 26:         Nose / front wing assembly                    RHS front track rod
                    MGU­K shaft
                    Power steering rack
                    Parameters for steering rack change
 
 
Marussia Ferrari:
 
Car 17:         LHS rear brake caliper temperature sensor
                    LHS rear brake wear LVDT
                    Default lap distance setting
 
Car 04:         Rain light AV grommet
                    Default lap distance setting
 
 
Caterham Renault:
 
Car 10:         RHS sidepod to floor turning vane
                    MGU­K shaft
                    Anti stall over speed setting
 
Car 09:         MGU­K shaft
                    RHS front corner assembly
                    RHS internal suspension
                    LHS internal suspension
                    LHS front brake duct
                    RHS rear external suspension assembly
                    Front and rear brake friction material
                    Nose / front wing assembly
                    Rear wing assembly
                    Nose cam locks and dowel pins
                    Floor
                    Power steering rack
                    Parameters for steering rack change
                    Parameters for suspension repairs
                    Anti stall over speed setting

 

Wow, think Ericsson’s deductible might be going up?