Pre-Season 2016 Car Launches and Testing.

[snowy]

Vettel (M) OUT 1:29.3 1:28.5 1:29.2 1:29.0 1:29.1
Sainz (M) 1:29.4 1:29.3 1:29.4 1:29.3 1:29.7 1:30.1 1:30.0 1:30.1 1:30.4 1:30.5 1:30.5 1:30.6 1:30.7 1:30.8 1:31.0 1:31.4 1:31.3 1:31.6 1:32.2
Ricciardo (M) OUT 1:31.0 1:31.4 1:31.2 1:31.3 1:31.1 1:31.5 1:31.3 1:31.9 1:31.8
Bottas (M) OUT 1:26.6 1:28.3 1:27.7 1:27.5 1:27.9

 

[snowy]

Perez (M) 1:29.6 1:32.2 1:30.5 1:30.7 1:30.9 1:31.3 1:31.0 1:31.4 1:31.2 1:31.4 1:31.2 1:31.4 1:31.6 1:31.7 1:31.9 1:32.4 1:32.2 1:32.2

 

[snowy]

Rosberg Race Simulation:

Rosberg (S) OUT 1:28.8 1:28.9 1:29.5 1:29.8 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:31.0 BOX
Rosberg (M) OUT 1:30.4 1:29.9 1:29.5 1:30.2 1:30.3 1:37.5 1:30.4 1:30.1 1:30.3 1:30.0 1:30.2 1:30.6 1:30.9 1:37.6 1:30.5 1:31.2 1:31.4 BOX
Rosberg (M) OUT 1:28.7 1:30.5 1:29.9 1:28.9 1:29.0 1:28.8 1:28.6 1:29.0 1:29.1 1:29.2 1:29.0 1:29.0 1:29.6 1:30.2 1:29.5 1:29.8 1:29.6 1:29.6 BOX
Rosberg (M) OUT 1:26.2 1:27.7 1:27.7 1:27.8 1:27.3 1:27.5 1:27.8 1:28.4 1:28.4 1:28.8 1:35.1 1:28.4 1:28.3 1:28.4 1:28.6 1:29.2 1:29.0 End of Simulation

 

[snowy]

Magnussen Race Simulation:

Magnussen (S) OUT 1:31.6 1:31.6 1:32.1 1:32.0 1:32.9 BOX
Magnussen (Μ) OUT 1:30.7 1:31.0 1:31.6 1:31.3 1:31.6 1:31.5 1:31.4 1:31.7 1:31.9 1:31.4 1:31.6 1:32.9 1:31.9 1:32.0 1:31.7 1:32.0 1:32.0 ΒΟΧ
Magnussen (M) OUT 1:31.3 1:29.5 1:30.5 1:30.1 1:30.0 1:30.0 1:30.0 1:30.1 1:30.3 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.4
Magnussen (M) OUT 1:27.5 1:28.6 1:28.7 1:28.4 1:28.5 1:28.8 1:28.7 1:29.1 1:29.4 1:29.5 1:29.7 1:31.0 1:31.4 1:31.4 1:30.8 1:30.6 1:31.2 1:30.8 1:31. 7 Red Flag

 

[snowy]

Vettel (M) 1:29.9, 1:30.1, 1:30.0, 1:30.1, 1:30.4, 1:30.4, 1:30.2, 1:30.9, 1:30.8 and 1:31.0.

Ricciardo (M) 1:29.9 1:30.5 1:29.9 1:30.4 1:30.3 1:30.2 1:30.2 1:30.4 1:30.4 1:30.7 1:30.3 1:30.5 1:30.4 1:30.6 1:30.6 1:30.7 1:30.6 1:30.5 1:30.9 1.31.1 1:31.2 1:31.2 1:30.9 1:31.2 1:31.4 1:31.6 Box.
Ricciardo (H) OUT 1:28.3 1:28.5 1:28.3 1:28.7 1:29.3 1:28.7 1:29.3 BOX

 

[snowy]

Ricciardo (M) OUT 1:27.7 1:28.6 1:28.7 1:28.4 1:28.5 1:28.8 1:28.7 1:29.1 1:29.2 1:29.6 1:34.8 RED FLAG

 

[olegg]

I have compared the today race simulation (w/o in/out pits) for Hamilton and Rosberg:
Hamilton - Rosberg
1.03.2016 - 2.03.2016
01:30,0 - 01:28,8
01:30,0 - 01:28,9
01:30,1 - 01:29,5
01:30,3 - 01:29,8
01:30,7 - 01:30,2
01:31,9 - 01:30,2
01:32,8 - 01:31,0
01:33,7 - 01:30,4
01:29,0 - 01:29,9
01:29,4 - 01:29,5
01:30,1 - 01:30,2
01:29,6 - 01:30,3
01:30,5 - 01:37,5
01:29,5 - 01:30,4
01:29,6 - 01:30,1
01:29,7 - 01:30,3
01:29,8 - 01:30,0
01:29,3 - 01:30,2
01:29,8 - 01:30,6
01:29,6 - 01:30,9
01:30,1 - 01:37,6
01:30,0 - 01:30,5
01:29,9 - 01:31,2
01:29,8 - 01:31,4
01:30,1 - 01:28,7
01:30,4 - 01:30,5
01:28,7 - 01:29,9
01:28,2 - 01:28,9
01:28,3 - 01:29,0
01:29,5 - 01:28,8
01:28,9 - 01:28,6
01:28,7 - 01:29,0
01:30,0 - 01:29,1
01:30,4 - 01:29,2
01:28,3 - 01:29,0
01:28,5 - 01:29,0
01:28,8 - 01:29,6
01:29,5 - 01:30,2
01:29,4 - 01:29,5
01:29,5 - 01:29,8
01:31,2 - 01:29,6
01:27,0 - 01:29,6
01:27,2 - 01:26,2
01:27,2 - 01:27,7
01:27,1 - 01:27,7
01:27,1 - 01:27,8
01:27,2 - 01:27,3
01:27,2 - 01:27,5
01:27,0 - 01:27,8
01:27,4 - 01:28,4
01:27,2 - 01:28,4
01:27,5 - 01:28,8
01:27,4 - 01:35,1
01:27,4 - 01:28,4
01:27,4 - 01:28,3
01:27,6 - 01:28,4
01:27,4 - 01:28,6
01:27,5 - 01:29,2
01:27,8 - 01:29,0
Total:
01:27:35 - 01:28:12

 

[racecub]

Lewis has said there is work to do on the soft tyres, they aren't in the ball park on the Softs. He also said he dislikes the new seaon Pirelli Softs and prefers last years.
Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes has work to do on softs, 2015 tyres better

I thought last years Pirelli tyres were pretty awful, going off too quickly and exploding. I was hoping they'd improved things so the tyres could actually be raced on hard, but it sounds like they haven't.
I really wish Michelin had the contract. ( that last paragraph was my views not Lewis' )

 

[sushifiesta]

Having Michelin as supplier would make no difference whatsoever if they were given the same mandate as Pirelli. I'm sure Pirelli could make better tyres if they wanted but they're specifically making tyres with certain degradation rates/lifetimes to fit what the powers that be want.

 

[snowy]

Not strictly so, the powers that be don't know what they want and are imbeciles and Pirelli are devoid of imagination, creativity and are also imbeciles.

 

[RasputinLives]

To be honest F1 is stuck with Pirreli. The regulations the FIA have set have made the tyres look so terrible and Pirreli have had such a pasting (see above) that no tyre manufactur in their right mind would want the contract.

 

[steveg]

Michelin stated that they were able to bring tyres that could be raced hard for an entire stint before suddenly degrading quickly. This was win win for the racing purists and for those seeking multiple pit stops. Surprise surprise Pirelli still bagged the contract despite I recall reading somewhere at the time that they were unable to do something similar but it didn't matter as it was not a requirement. IMO the whole bidding process was nothing but a sham and Pirelli was already a done deal and Michelin were just wasting their time. And since then there's already been reports about the original 2017 gains being 'revised' because of the tyres. Nice one Bernie - as usual.

 

[Kewee]

Looking forward to these last two days testing. I'm picking most of the teams will be testing outright performance as well as long runs, considering the next time they drive in anger will be in Melbourne. Hoping for some qualifying runs.

 

[snowy]

I know Barcelona is one of the more abrasive circuits but I just can't quite get my head round the fact that the soft tyre only last 6 laps....

So if the teams are being given an extra compound for Barcelona... If you're a top team you're not going to be that happy, being forced to use a tyre that is totally useless for your first stint. It is going to land you in traffic at a circuit that is notoriously difficult to overtake on even with DRS. What's going to happen if they have to race on unusually hot weekends and there are only soft supersoft and ultrasoft to choose from?

 

[sushifiesta]

In 2015 the Medium and Hard compounds were taken to the Spanish GP, Soft tyres weren't an option. They're only being used for testing purposes. In 2016 the teams have much more flexibility in the tyres they use, being able to select 10 sets from 3 different compounds in any distribution they choose rather than everyone being given the same number of sets from 2 different compounds like it was previously. So the Soft tyre almost certainly will go to the Spanish GP this year (along with the Medium and Hard), but it will be more of a qualifying tyre than a race tyre.

Everyone's in the same boat so I don't see what the issue is. A few cars will probably decide to not bother using the softest compound in qualifying to give them a better race strategy, but that can only make the races more interesting.

 

[snowy]

If you are driving a Mercedes or Ferrari a tyre that you have to use for qualifying and start the race on, that only lasts 6 laps on a cold day in March is an option from Hell. Pirelli decide which 3 tyres the teams can choose from for each race, they may well decide to bring ultrasoft, supersoft and soft to an unseasonably hot race.

 

[The Artist.....]

Remember snowy, the teams are tied in to their tyre choices for the first 3 or 4 races already... Also, with the new qualifying rules, this might have an impact on cars, especially if they have to circulate for the whole of Q1, Q2 (barring elimination)...

 

[sushifiesta]

The tyres they start the race on are the ones they used in Q2 so it leaves the Q2 drivers to decide whether they want to compromise race strategy for grid position. Making that a more difficult decision can only add intrigue to the races in my opinion. Plus there's a good chance Mercedes could get through to Q3 without using the softest tyre, the guys most effected will be those in the second half of the top 10. That, in fact, is probably the main downside we could see because a dominant team may be able to enter the race with a dominant strategy as well. And Pirelli are not total idiots, they'll bring the most appropriate three compounds, like they were when only 2 compounds were available and even if they didn't it would be the same for everyone.

 

[Greenlantern101]

So looking at Merc on mediums 4th and The Kimster in 1st on ultrasofts. 1.4 second gap.

If we assume the Mercs are 0.5 second quicker on the same tyres, Then the Ultra softs are 2 seconds a lap faster than mediums over 1 lap, presumably before a rapid drop off.

So stick the ultra soft on, get pole, pitstop lap 4. ?????

 

[snowy]

Kimi set a 1m23.009s on the soft tyre so the Ultra-soft time is possibly not representative of what can actually be achieved.