Formula 1: Red Bull is feeling the heat in pre-season testing!

Motorsports’ technological showpiece and a modern marvel, Formula One, begins in Australia in three weeks (March 14-16). The 2014 season for all teams is a clean slate. Nothing they knew before will apply. The 2014 season will be governed by rules and regulations which when examined, have the potential to destabilize the Red Bull dynasty! The changes were numerous, addressing myriad areas including – power, fuel, Energy Recovery Systems (ERS), gearbox, minimum weight, exhaust, nose height, front wing rear wing, points and testing.

V8 Rockets

It requires no stretch of the thought process to decipher that the most discussed of the rule changes would revolve around the new power unit.The teams said goodbye to their previously, used and abused 2.4 litre V8 rockets, which would bellow harmonious notes at 18000rpm and welcomed 1.6 litre V6 boosted beasts! If you are a fan of F1′s turbo era you can celebrate because your Christmas this year is actually all year!

But, when turbo-chargers are around, effective and efficient cooling becomes your motto! Will they all have the correct formula? Those two sexy exhaust pipes we were used to seeing which the ‘aero people’ capitalized on and used to secure an unforeseen advantage, were all sent to the scrap metal center! For 2014, the machines will be dressed in a single tailpipe which will angle upwards thus negating any advantage planned. How will all this be packaged and still achieve optimum performance?

The teams have not slept since October 2013 and the 2014 machines have been revealed to the public long ago. And if you just returned from your chosen hermit zone, I will inform you, pre-season testing has begun! If you are interested in slaying Megatron aka Red Bull Racing, this is your happy time! Red Bull struggled at the first pre-season test at Jerez – the team actually left early!

It was felt that the second pre-season test in Bahrain would be more fruitful, but apparently, a trend is developing! The team continues to experience turbulence and to add fuel to the existing flame, Vettel had a minor fire incident on-track! Adrian Newey who creates the machines that mate with the air and produce countless victories, admitted that some of the problems which arose may be blamed on ‘aggressive packaging’.

When Red Bull falters, other teams/drivers soar. Lewis Hamilton is hungry and there are many more waiting for their slice of the F1 World Champion cake. Hamilton, according to reports, is maintaining a ‘furious pace’ and he is at P1 on the time sheets! Red Bull is feeling the heat in pre-season testing! Australia is rapidly approaching. Will the guard change in 2014?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer