2014 Testing - Bahrain 19-22 Feb

[danielk]

so Hamilton just completed 17 Lap run with the first time out of the box being a 1:37.9 Bearing in mind that the pole lap last year (have to take in to account temperature variants and tire compounds) was only about 5.5 seconds faster than the start of a 17 lap run by Hamilton, taking in to account the cars are not properly set up for the track, are not at race spec yet and will not be pushing flat out. The car clearly had a decent level of fuel on board we may not be as far off last year as was originally thought.

[CHT]

FYI on that "F1 cars slower then GP2" speculation:

Pole Position in the GP2 2013: 1:39.427
Already in F1 *testing first day* 2014: 1m37.908s

I think we can put that - already spurious - claim to bed.

2013 Bahrain F1 Q3 1:32.330.

Its still about 7 sec off from last year.

[tranquility2k4]

Do Mercedes have tyre problems again? All of Hamilton's runs involve him dropping off the pace significantly, e.g. 1.37 down to 1.43/44? Compared with Magnussen who seems to be able to lap consistently during each run with just a small consistent drop off?

[turbof1]

FYI on that "F1 cars slower then GP2" speculation:

Pole Position in the GP2 2013: 1:39.427
Already in F1 *testing first day* 2014: 1m37.908s

I think we can put that - already spurious - claim to bed.

2013 Bahrain F1 Q3 1:32.330.

Its still about 7 sec off from last year.

Like danielk explained, it's still encouraging. Hamilton had quite some fuel aboard (17 laps) and probably this isn't the aero spec they'll be running when the seasons starts.

[turbof1]

Do Mercedes have tyre problems again? All of Hamilton's runs involve him dropping off the pace significantly, e.g. 1.37 down to 1.43/44? Compared with Magnussen who seems to be able to lap consistently during each run with just a small consistent drop off?

Right before he dropped off, Hamilton was speeding up by around 2 seconds. I think it was just cooling down.

[danielk]

Do Mercedes have tyre problems again? All of Hamilton's runs involve him dropping off the pace significantly, e.g. 1.37 down to 1.43/44? Compared with Magnussen who seems to be able to lap consistently during each run with just a small consistent drop off?

Hamilton has done much longer runs than magnusson, he only did 4-5 lap runs, Hamilton did a 17+ lap run

[Blanchimont]

Hamiltons 1:37,9 was done at the beginning of a 18 laps stint, this should mean he had about 18/57*100kg = 31kg of fuel in the tank when setting his fastest time. And in comparison with the weight of the cars during 2013 qualifying, which was ~645kg, the car was about 691+31-645 = 77kg heavier. Not bad!

Edit: Mercedes says the stint was "only" 18laps.

[danielk]

half way through the stint

Our current pacesetter is in the midst of another decent-length stint in the W05, nine timed laps, the first of which was that 1:37.908. Hamilton has now slipped back into the mid-1:40s, his last three laps less than two tenths apart in actual fact.

so dropped about 2 seconds over first 9 laps, take in to account always lose about a second after first lap anyways. but then 3 laps within 2 tenths of each other doesnt point to major drop off.

[majki2111]

What is Ferrari doing?! They haven't moved for a while now.

[mikeerfol]

1:36:9 for Hulkenberg, faster than 2013 fastest lap of the race.

[diemaster]

hulkenberg sets 1.36.9
teams are not pushing, this is only test

lap times will be good

[RZS10]

That's as fast as the fastest lap in the race last year (1:36.961).

[turbof1]

He actually did 3 consecutive laps in that region.

[danielk]

I predict by time this first Bahrain test is over someone will have done a mid 1:34 and by the second Bahrain test next week will be in the low 1:33s

You heared it here first

[erlik]

Ferrari sandbagged themselves