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

[Luscion]

[mendis]

Perez was significantly slower than almost anyone's race runs. Assuming RB were hiding a lot

I did not understand the point of today's testing from Red Bull. Perez barely ran in the first half and then did a unrepresentative race sim and didn't do a decent job on quali runs either. If the program was to simply learn the thermal effect on tyres in the middle of a day with a new car, may be they have got some data.

[AR3-GP]

Perez was significantly slower than almost anyone's race runs. Assuming RB were hiding a lot

I did not understand the point of today's testing from Red Bull. Perez barely ran in the first half and then did a unrepresentative race sim and didn't do a decent job on quali runs either. If the program was to simply learn the thermal effect on tyres in the middle of a day with a new car, may be they have got some data.

Perez said the morning was to test aero and the evening was to understand the tires.

[continuum16]

Michael Schmidt on Sky Germany said:

- Mercedes' engineers think Red Bull is ahead of the field by 1s
- Williams' engineers think Red Bull is ahead of the field by 0.5s

I know that's not what it says but I initially read this as Williams is 0.5s off Red Bull and Mercedes 1s off which would be the most insane turn of events.

[AR3-GP]

Michael Schmidt on Sky Germany said:

- Mercedes' engineers think Red Bull is ahead of the field by 1s
- Williams' engineers think Red Bull is ahead of the field by 0.5s

I know that's not what it says but I initially read this as Williams is 0.5s off Red Bull and Mercedes 1s off which would be the most insane turn of events.

That would have further cemented Hamilton leaving...

[AR3-GP]

I can't comment on the others but RB's DRS system looks to be as good as last year at minimum. Promising for them considering the changes to the shape of their car.

[RedNEO]

Red Bull being a second ahead of Merc with their tribute of the W14 is kind of hilarious especially if it’s even more dominant.

[Cs98]

Perez was significantly slower than almost anyone's race runs. Assuming RB were hiding a lot

I did not understand the point of today's testing from Red Bull. Perez barely ran in the first half and then did a unrepresentative race sim and didn't do a decent job on quali runs either. If the program was to simply learn the thermal effect on tyres in the middle of a day with a new car, may be they have got some data.

Unrepresentative for what? They will have to run in hot daylight temperatures later in the year. To understand the stint I think it's better to compare it to his morning race sim last year. This year he was around 37 flat getting faster towards the end of the stint, meaning he probably had more pace. Last year he was a high 37 with noticeable deg issues towards the end of the stint. I'd say RB20 has at least a full second on RB19 from one year ago.

[ali623]

@thomasmaheronf1

“Suspicions from within some teams that Red Bull’s advantage over the winter has actually increased, not closed up. Hearing talk that it could be as much as a second a lap advantage…”

[Zynerji]

We will not actually know anything until Q3 next week.

[organic]

We will not actually know anything until Q3 next week.

That isn't true. You can identify general trends and car characteristics very clearly

[Luscion]

For the sake of an entertaining season I hope it isn't the case. I do find it odd both Perez and Marko are saying it's relatively close but that could just be them playing mind games

[Zynerji]

We will not actually know anything until Q3 next week.

That isn't true. You can identify general trends and car characteristics very clearly

Meh. You don't really know yet.

You only know what we've been shown.

No one is fully dialed in yet.
No one is turned all the way up yet.
No one is driving in anger yet.
No team has admitted that we have even seen the race spec yet.

You can speculate all you like, but you KNOW nothing until Q3 next week. And even then, the European season is where it really settles the pecking order of teams.

I followed you on X today BTW..

[mendis]

We will not actually know anything until Q3 next week.

That isn't true. You can identify general trends and car characteristics very clearly

Meh. You don't really know yet.

You only know what we've been shown.

No one is fully dialed in yet.
No one is turned all the way up yet.
No one is driving in anger yet.
No team has admitted that we have even seen the race spec yet.

You can speculate all you like, but you KNOW nothing until Q3 next week. And even then, the European season is where it really settles the pecking order of teams.

I agree that it may take until European leg to find out who the leader is of the chasing pack.

[Rikhart]

Perez was significantly slower than almost anyone's race runs. Assuming RB were hiding a lot

Understandable, did you miss the hysteria here? F1 was doomed, etc. Their dominance will be considerably camouflaged from now on.

I predict we won't see any lightning quick stuff from them, unless in a race they are in need of recovering. They will probably win by just enough.