2024 Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Feb 21 - 23

[SirBastianVettel]

On a positive note - tomorrow is Perez in the car.

Awesome, can't wait to see if there are any innovations on the RB20's floor!

[Shaddock]

The cost cap was envisaged to save the smaller teams in the sport, yet it might turn out to be the downfall of the whole of F1 if it becomes impossible for teams to close the gaps. Engines are frozen, ECU's are locked down, trick suspension is banned, testing is limited, spending is capped, so the only avenue to compete is via the most expensive route in aero. RB have the best aero guy on the planet in Newey. With all other performance avenues effectively cut off or locked down, the rules are gifting RB the championship each year. There has to be some other performance differentiator other than aero to make the championship competitive again.

[organic]

[taperoo2k]

Please, I beg you... Start another thread, I even agree with you all but can we discuss the test here instead of how bad perez is?

I think it's premature to be talking about 2024 being dull. It's day one of testing, teams have different run plans, different fuel loads etc. You can look very impressive on day one and then not look as good by day 3. I'm looking forward to seeing how all of the teams do in testing. I'll save the doom for next weekend.

[AR3-GP]

On a positive note - tomorrow is Perez in the car.

Awesome, can't wait to see if there are any innovations on the RB20's floor!

There's nothing to hit on this circuit...you would think....

[mendis]

1st day of testing last year.

RB - 326
Ferrari - 325
Williams - 323
Haas - 322
Alpha Tauri - 322
McLaren - 321
Mercedes - 320
Alfa Romeo - 317
Aston - 317
Alpine - 314

[organic]

https://i.imgur.com/cJQiway.jpeg

1st day of testing last year.

RB - 326
Ferrari - 325
Williams - 323
Haas - 322
Alpha Tauri - 322
McLaren - 321
Mercedes - 320
Alfa Romeo - 317
Aston - 317
Alpine - 314

They might've shortened the drs zone?

[DChemTech]

The cost cap was envisaged to save the smaller teams in the sport, yet it might turn out to be the downfall of the whole of F1 if it becomes impossible for teams to close the gaps. Engines are frozen, ECU's are locked down, trick suspension is banned, testing is limited, spending is capped, so the only avenue to compete is via the most expensive route in aero. RB have the best aero guy on the planet in Newey. With all other performance avenues effectively cut off or locked down, the rules are gifting RB the championship each year. There has to be some other performance differentiator other than aero to make the championship competitive again.

The situation is no worse than when Mercedes was dominating the sport, or when Ferrari was dominating the sport with Schumi. In fact, things look better now - the gap between the no.1 and the rest is smaller than in the most dominant MB years (but the reliability of the no. 1 car/garage/driver combi is such that still consistent wins are being booked), and that is the outlier - the rest is closer together for sure.

[JordanMugen]

The cost cap was envisaged to save the smaller teams in the sport, yet it might turn out to be the downfall of the whole of F1 if it becomes impossible for teams to close the gaps.

This premise is just patently incorrect. McLaren improved by almost 3 seconds a lap from the start of 2022 to their 2023 upgrade package, likewise Aston Martin from the start of 2022 to their 2023 launch package. It is absolutely possible. Demonstrably so.

There has to be some other performance differentiator other than aero to make the championship competitive again.

So Mercedes can withhold their superior power unit from Red Bull who are willing to pay on time and in full and supply insolvent Manor Racing instead? Far from making the sport more competitive between 2016-2020, it made it less competitive for race victory. The exact opposite of your claimed goal for a closer competition.

[DChemTech]

The cost cap was envisaged to save the smaller teams in the sport, yet it might turn out to be the downfall of the whole of F1 if it becomes impossible for teams to close the gaps.

This premise is just patently incorrect. McLaren improved by almost 3 seconds a lap from the start of 2022 to their 2023 upgrade package, likewise Aston Martin from the start of 2022 to their 2023 launch package. It is absolutely possible. Demonstrably so.

Not only that, the fact that RB seems to be set to dominate once more, is because they changed their design radically to something even better - not because it is impossible for other teams to catch up with the concept they had last year(s). In fact, the other teams seem to have managed that quite well.

[mendis]

https://i.imgur.com/cJQiway.jpeg

1st day of testing last year.

RB - 326
Ferrari - 325
Williams - 323
Haas - 322
Alpha Tauri - 322
McLaren - 321
Mercedes - 320
Alfa Romeo - 317
Aston - 317
Alpine - 314

They might've shortened the drs zone?

They did that ahead of the race last year in Bahrain. It only reduced the quali top speed by a couple of kph compared to testing.

https://www.racefans.net/2023/03/01/bah ... rand-prix/

[Cs98]

RB take inspiration from Merc, move the game along, and now we are treated to sob stories about the unfairness of the rules. They aren't better because of alien technology, they are literally using solutions pioneered by others (but executed poorly) to develop. It's called being better, understanding the regulations better, and pushing the boundaries. It's F1.

[Cs98]

1st day of testing last year.

RB - 326
Ferrari - 325
Williams - 323
Haas - 322
Alpha Tauri - 322
McLaren - 321
Mercedes - 320
Alfa Romeo - 317
Aston - 317
Alpine - 314

They might've shortened the drs zone?

They did that ahead of the race last year in Bahrain. It only reduced the quali top speed by a couple of kph compared to testing.

https://www.racefans.net/2023/03/01/bah ... rand-prix/

It's wind. Big headwind into T1.

[JordanMugen]

What makes you think that Perez, who got many podiums before ever driving a top car like RB, is inferior to, say, Bottas, who never did anything remarkable without a rocketship Mercedes?

Bottas is good (relatively) at qualifying, Perez is good (relatively) at racing, they are different types of drivers.

Fair play to Red Bull for bringing a significant evolution with the RB20. It seems like a great bit of kit!

Redbull has one of the worst drivers on the grid as their number two.

Perez has 35 podiums, 8 before RBR IIRC, he is not that incompetent. He is highly rated, even.

Of course it would be great if Leclerc drove the second RBR, but I don't think RBR are willing to match the $60m USD per season that Ferrari settled with Leclerc for his 2025-2029 contract. That's just outrageously expensive. It's way too much for the second driver, that's possibly more than Verstappen's salary...

RB take inspiration from Merc, move the game along, and now we are treated to sob stories about the unfairness of the rules.

Obviously Alpine-Renault, Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren etc all similarly had the opportunity to push development to the limit. Any of these teams may still dominate the championship.

The Alpine might go out there on the third day of testing and go "bang" 9 tenths clear of the rest on the qualification simulation, well on route to a dominant Bahrain Grand Prix victory and maiden Gasly or Ocon world's driver title. (With the budget cap precisely bringing the level playing field that Alpine-Renault so craved, by the way!)

[Luscion]