2013 Testing - Barcelona 2: 28 Feb - 3 Mar

[paipa]

I stopped reading all these predictions, assumptions, etc. a couple of weeks ago. They're overdoing it at BBC/SKY tbh. They spend tons and tons of time analysing and predicting the times/order, while they have absolutely no idea what the teams REALLY do. I used to like the winter testing to see the technical evolution in F1, but this year it's been absolutely hilarious.

I love how every February, like clockwork, half the posts on F1 forums are about how hilarious everyone else is for wasting their time speculating on F1 forums. It's like calling brothel visitors losers while zipping up your pants leaving

[korzeniow]

I stopped reading all these predictions, assumptions, etc. a couple of weeks ago. They're overdoing it at BBC/SKY tbh. They spend tons and tons of time analysing and predicting the times/order, while they have absolutely no idea what the teams REALLY do. I used to like the winter testing to see the technical evolution in F1, but this year it's been absolutely hilarious.

I love how every February, like clockwork, half the posts on F1 forums are about how hilarious everyone else is for wasting their time speculating on F1 forums. It's like calling brothel visitors losers while zipping up your pants leaving

I bet there are way more pople getting fooled by those kind of wild predictions rather that people that warn about them

[xDama]

I stopped reading all these predictions, assumptions, etc. a couple of weeks ago. They're overdoing it at BBC/SKY tbh. They spend tons and tons of time analysing and predicting the times/order, while they have absolutely no idea what the teams REALLY do. I used to like the winter testing to see the technical evolution in F1, but this year it's been absolutely hilarious.

I love how every February, like clockwork, half the posts on F1 forums are about how hilarious everyone else is for wasting their time speculating on F1 forums. It's like calling brothel visitors losers while zipping up your pants leaving

I'm not saying that people are wasting time on speculating the pecking order, but I do say that the speculation is becoming a bit ridiculous. Fuel corrected times, speculation about the Melbourne starting grid down to 0.001 of a second, predicting a car's performance based on 10 lap stints in conditions that'll never occur during the season... I just get the distinct feeling that a lot of channels/people are trying to keep 'us' busy with information that's based on nothing solid.

My 2 cents of course...

[stefan_]

Be patient guys, don't let yourself sucked into useless discussions based on some people's wild gueses about pace, who is where and things like that, because if testing is irrelevant by nature, this year is more irrelevant because of the mixed conditions that forced everyone to adjust their testing programme accordingly.

Just 11 more days until qualifying in Australia and we'll see who is where for the first couple of races.

P.S.: I find that predicting the gap between cars to the tenth of a second is pretty funny.

[Neno]

Be patient guys, don't let yourself sucked into useless discussions based on some people's wild gueses about pace, who is where and things like that, because if testing is irrelevant by nature, this year is more irrelevant because of the mixed conditions that forced everyone to adjust their testing programme accordingly.

Just 11 more days until qualifying in Australia and we'll see who is where for the first couple of races.

P.S.: I find that predicting the gap between cars to the tenth of a second is pretty funny.

well, i am not sure gaps are that small, but let's say you right, drivers performances will be more important this season then ever, in that case Kimi is favorite for me. So i will say Kimi will be on pole in Australia.

[CjC]

Has anyone considered that Merc may have looked good in testing because they are working the tires harder, getting them up to temp and therefore avoiding the graining that has plagued almost everyone?

Good point, last year the Merc was competitive with cold track temps but they never looked this good..... and it is winter testing

[Ferraripilot]

Has anyone considered that Merc may have looked good in testing because they are working the tires harder, getting them up to temp and therefore avoiding the graining that has plagued almost everyone?

Good point, last year the Merc was competitive with cold track temps but they never looked this good..... and it is winter testing

Last year this time everyone knew they were having tire deg issues. Testing was good for something, we all knew it, we only hoped it would be fixed by melbourne

[dren]

Has anyone considered that Merc may have looked good in testing because they are working the tires harder, getting them up to temp and therefore avoiding the graining that has plagued almost everyone?

Good point, last year the Merc was competitive with cold track temps but they never looked this good..... and it is winter testing

Last year this time everyone knew they were having tire deg issues. Testing was good for something, we all knew it, we only hoped it would be fixed by melbourne

Yes, very true. This year they look right in line with the norm. I expect more from Mercedes this year.

[kilcoo316]

Has anyone considered that Merc may have looked good in testing because they are working the tires harder, getting them up to temp and therefore avoiding the graining that has plagued almost everyone?

Yep. Rewind the thread about 10 pages.

[kilcoo316]

Has anyone considered that Merc may have looked good in testing because they are working the tires harder, getting them up to temp and therefore avoiding the graining that has plagued almost everyone?

Good point, last year the Merc was competitive with cold track temps but they never looked this good..... and it is winter testing

Last year this time everyone knew they were having tire deg issues. Testing was good for something, we all knew it, we only hoped it would be fixed by melbourne

Don't forget the year before (2011).... when they also had issues with tyre wear during the season - but that didn't stop them having fast times in the colder weather.

http://www.crash.net/f1/results/166635/ ... bined.html

http://www.crash.net/f1/results/166833/ ... bined.html

http://www.crash.net/f1/results/167342/ ... -_5pm.html

Schumi's 21.2 being the fastest lap of the winter testing at Barce... by 4 tenths of a second from Alonso.


Sound familar anyone?

[Mika1]

I wonder how hard it is for some people to admit Merc has improved their car.

[kilcoo316]

It wonders me how hard it is for some people to admit Merc has improved their car.

Listen. I have friends that work in the Merc aero dept. I want to see them do well.


But at the same time, I'm not going to stick my head in the sand and blissfully ignore reality.

- They were over a second off the pace last year, they will not make that up over one winter.
- They have a history of over heating the tyres.
- The temperatures at Barce were very low, other teams had problems with graining due to insufficiently high tyre temperatures.
- The drivers/team are greatly downplaying their chances (relative to the times they are putting in).


Of course they have improved their car - the guys working on it are unbelievably smart and dedicated. Improved to the degree that they are contending for pole? Nope, not a chance (unless by freak of weather it is cold in Aus).

[Nando]

So what happens if they now happen to have ticked all the boxes.

[Matt Somers]

It wonders me how hard it is for some people to admit Merc has improved their car.

Listen. I have friends that work in the Merc aero dept. I want to see them do well.


But at the same time, I'm not going to stick my head in the sand and blissfully ignore reality.

- They were over a second off the pace last year, they will not make that up over one winter.
- They have a history of over heating the tyres.
- The temperatures at Barce were very low, other teams had problems with graining due to insufficiently high tyre temperatures.
- The drivers/team are greatly downplaying their chances (relative to the times they are putting in).

Of course they have improved their car - the guys working on it are unbelievably smart and dedicated. Improved to the degree that they are contending for pole? Nope, not a chance (unless by freak of weather it is cold in Aus).

At last someone who has rationalized the Merc situation in the same way as I believe it to be. Merc have improved, no doubt but to think they are ready to win the Championship is ludicrous IMO

[Neno]

So what happens if they now happen to have ticked all the boxes.

Nothing, others discover extra vip boxes, they are not concerned about boxes who discovered a YEAR ago. Let me spell it Y-E-A-R A-G-O. Next one?