While A-L-L of the eleven F1 Constructors
have launched their 2014 challengers by now - and the first test's teething
problems are well-known, nevertheless I'm ARSE-sumin' that le 'Reggie,
(Renault) Red Bull and its 'lil 'Seester Toro rosso and all of the Renault
runners will get their engine troubles sorted - which was the major talking
point of the season's first winter test, nonetheless, I highly doubt I'd be
going too far out upon a limb by proclaiming that all competitors are feeling the strains of the 'Mega rule changes
for 2014, most notably the switch to 1.6-liter V-6 turbocharged engines vs. the more robust 2.4-liter naturally
aspirated V-8 lumps and the new turbo's 'Uber sophisticated Energy Recovery
Systems. (ERS) As many have noted how much MORE it'll cost to race in F1 this
year - as Toro Rosso's (Team Principal) Franz Tost claimed a 25% increase in
budget just to go racing!
Yet I found the unexpected announcement of
Eric Boullier's
appointment as McLaren's new Racing Director most
surprising, as supposedly Gerard Lopez, chairman of GenII Capitol will take
over the vacated role of Team Principal, albeit rumours suggest that axed
McLaren head honcho Martin Whitmarsh could be in the frame, as I must admit
this is the team I feel most in doubt about for 2014 with critical key staff
members having made their exit us from the apparently cash strapped Formula 1
team. Yet its radical front nose apparently is making waves in the F1 Paddock
and hopefully the team will at least retain its fourth place seeding in the
Constructor's Cup, although they'll probably be hard pressed to stem McLaren's
intended advances...
Yet I suppose somewhat that I wouldn't have
been so surprised if I hadn't been in a virtual Vurld de Motorsporten, Achtun
Baby! Blackout the past two weeks and thus read the news that thee Ronster' was
returning to lead the charge as the McLaren Group's CEO - effectively freezing
out Martin Witmarsh...
CARS LAUNCHED FOR
JEREZ
Teams: Caterham, Ferrari, Force India, Marussia,
McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Williams; as only
Lotus has failed to appear so far.
As the beginning of the return to
turbocharging hasn't been exactly spectacular with the host of reliability
issues the teams are facing with the myriad of technical changes, with Renault
apparently suffering the most...
Red Bull supplier Renault admits early2014 problem
While apparently one F1 Pundit has even gone so far
as to describe the new V6 turbo era as embarrassing!
Embarrassing start to F1's brave newera
Ah, and to think it's
still that warm, fuzzy, fresh we can conquer anyone feeling time of the season...
