Pre-Season 2018-2019 Winter testing and car launches

[FB]

Sky seem to have forgotten to show any of the cars going round on their show about the first Barca test. We had three (yes, three) presenters, a couple of interviews with monosyllabic teenagers and pretty much naff all else except opinion and speculation. If I want that I'll come here.

 

[FB]

Italian cars don't break. They just stand there to be admired; a candy for an eye.

I have been to the Alfa Romeo museum and can confirm that there is lots of candy to admire.

 

[F1Brits_90]

either way racing point are in a better place than last yr. i listening to the f1 podcast & otmar (not even going to attempt surname) talking in detail now he could the dire financial situation they were in. & how they had so little funding for the 1st half of the season they were still racing with car from winter testing in catalunya. & so no surprise perez brought administration as i doubt they wouldve been on the grid this season or if they had. competitive

that 2019 might not be a great start as the chassis was already been manufactured before takeover & injection of funding. late 2019 & 2020 is main option

 

[BradMan]

Pirelli’s estimation:
C1 to C2: 0.8-1.0 seconds
C2 to C3: 0.7 seconds
C3 to C4: 0.6 seconds
C4 to C5: 0.6 seconds

 

[cider_and_toast]

Andrew Benson's analysis on pace after the first tests, correcting for fuel and tyres he has:

Ferrari fastest

A gap of perhaps 0.3secs to Mercedes and Red Bull, with differing views on who might be ahead, although it seems that Mercedes may well be a smidge in front.

it's about 0.7secs back to Renault who are perhaps 0.2secs or so ahead of Alfa Romeo and Haas, the two Ferrari customer teams, with Toro Rosso, McLaren and Racing Point very close behind them, and very difficult to choose between.

There is then a sizeable gap to Williams, but how much is impossible to know, owing to their lack of running following the late arrival of their car.

 

[RasputinLives]

So looks like we'll have six at front, Renault going round on their own, a massive midfield scrap and then Williams a few laps down.

What I'm really interested in rather than times is can that Merc follow other cars. They've always had issues when in dirty air more than any other team and if they are not in the front and struggle with it this year it could really effect how races are run.

Predicted grid for Australia:

Hamilton
Vettel
Leclerc
Verstappen
Bottas
Gasly
Hulkenberg
Ricciardo
Magnusen
Giovanazzi
Grosjean
Kimi
Norris
Albon
Kvyat
Perez
Stroll
Sainz
Russell
Kubica

 

[F1Brits_90]

There is then a sizeable gap to Williams,

but how much is impossible to know, owing to their lack of running following the late arrival of their car.

but that was always going to happen this considering they had 1 & half days. this was about checking it all works. performance will come in 2nd week & wouldnt surprise me if after FP2 1 of williams drivers says "yeah went well, just catching up on stuff from barcelona/winter testing"

 

[Titch]

Are you serious F1Brits_90 . You really think that the Williams is going to be in any other position but last ?

 

[Chasz]

One can hope

 

[F1Brits_90]

Are you serious F1Brits_90 . You really think that the Williams is going to be in any other position but last ?

its not so much the being last, because they been pretty dreadful aerodynimally this decade. but its the gap between last & 2nd last which would be horrible because i can't imagine a time when a Williams would be a backmarker hypothetically 3/4 sec or a second off 2nd last. like a HRT or a Minardi

 

[RasputinLives]

Minardi were rarely that far off the pace. I'm afraid the writing has been on the wall for Williams for a while now.

 

[BradMan]

What on earth????
https://formulaspy.com/formula-1/three-members-of-mclaren-team-treated-after-garage-fire-59437

 

[BradMan]

Andrew Benson's analysis on pace after the first tests, correcting for fuel and tyres he has:

Ferrari fastest

A gap of perhaps 0.3secs to Mercedes and Red Bull, with differing views on who might be ahead, although it seems that Mercedes may well be a smidge in front.

it's about 0.7secs back to Renault who are perhaps 0.2secs or so ahead of Alfa Romeo and Haas, the two Ferrari customer teams, with Toro Rosso, McLaren and Racing Point very close behind them, and very difficult to choose between.

There is then a sizeable gap to Williams, but how much is impossible to know, owing to their lack of running following the late arrival of their car.

Pirelli data suggests Ferrari 0.5s ahead of rivals

 

[Radical F1]

That's the slowest Ferrari can afford to do....

 

[BradMan]

Welcome Radical!!!

Forum, please extend warm welcome to Radical,
all-round general great F1 fan

 

[F1Brits_90]

I thought I would do my annual testing leaderboard of all every drivers 1st test fastest lap time to try & give some kind of sense in secrecy. it obviously fuel load can still affect this

Hard (C1) > (C2) > (C3) > (C4) > (C5) Soft

1) Hulkenburg (C5) 1:17.393 - day 4

2) Albon (C5) 1:17.637 - day 4
3) Kyvat (C5) 1:17.704 - day 3
4) Raikkonen (C5) 1:17.762 - day 3
5) Riccardio (C5) 1:17.785 - day 4
6) Bottas (C5) 1:17.857 - day 4
7) Hamilton (C4) 1:17.977 - day 4​

8) Leclerc (C3) 1:18.046 - day 4
9) Vettel (C3) 1:18.161 - day 1
10) Norris (C4) 1:18.431- day 4
11) Giovinazzi (C3) 1:18.511 - day 4
12) Sainz (C4) 1:18.558 - day 1
13) Grosjean (C3) 1:18.563 - day 4
14) Magnussen (C3) 1:18.720 - day 4
15) Gasly (C3) 1:18.780 - day 4
16) Verstappen (C3) 1:18.787 - day 3
17) Fittipaldi (C4) 1:19.249 - day 3
18) Stroll (C2) 1:19.664 - day 4
19) Perez (C3) 1:19.944 - day 1
20) Russell (C3) 1:20.997 - day 4
21) Kubica (C2) 1:21.542 - day 4

 

[gethinceri]

Go Daniil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Izumi]

I thought I would do my annual testing leaderboard of all every drivers 1st test fastest lap time to try & give some kind of sense in secrecy. it obviously fuel load can still affect this

Hard (C1) > (C2) > (C3) > (C4) > (C5) Soft

1) Hulkenburg (C5) 1:17.393 - day 4

2) Albon (C5) 1:17.637 - day 4
3) Kyvat (C5) 1:17.704 - day 3
4) Raikkonen (C5) 1:17.762 - day 3
5) Riccardio (C5) 1:17.785 - day 4
6) Bottas (C5) 1:17.857 - day 4
7) Hamilton (C4) 1:17.977 - day 4​

8) Leclerc (C3) 1:18.046 - day 4
9) Vettel (C3) 1:18.161 - day 1
10) Norris (C4) 1:18.431- day 4
11) Giovinazzi (C3) 1:18.511 - day 4
12) Sainz (C4) 1:18.558 - day 1
13) Grosjean (C3) 1:18.563 - day 4
14) Magnussen (C3) 1:18.720 - day 4
15) Gasly (C3) 1:18.780 - day 4
16) Verstappen (C3) 1:18.787 - day 3
17) Fittipaldi (C4) 1:19.249 - day 3
18) Stroll (C2) 1:19.664 - day 4
19) Perez (C3) 1:19.944 - day 1
20) Russell (C3) 1:20.997 - day 4
21) Kubica (C2) 1:21.542 - day 4

Vettel on C3 tire and first day of testing has done solid job, as it stands. Le Clerc is also good, but only fourth day after a lot of work was done on car to improve it. Not too bad guys.

 

[Izumi]

Le Clerc only 29 laps this morning? What's up??? Looks like there was some major change on the car (probably).

 

[BradMan]

Le Clerc only 29 laps this monring? What's up??? Looks like there was some major change on the car (probably).

"12:56 We should see Leclerc in the Ferrari imminently. After such a strong first test, that ended with everyone and their mothers declaring Ferrari had the edge, week two has started bluntly for the Italian team.

Leclerc has just six laps to his name after three hours of the second test. Ferrari said it needed time to perform some checks – which it has now revealed to be regarding the car's cooling system.

We've been told to expect Ferrari back on-track "very soon"."
Scott Mitchell