As pre-season winter testing has come to an end, McLaren looks back on a troubled 12 days, admitting the team will face a difficult start to the season.
Testing times are almost always better than actual race weekend times. Colder temps -> more power, more downforce -> better laptime.Mattyw wrote: If merc were 1 sec faster last year, have just beaten the old p1 by 1.2 on mediums they are potentially 2.5 quicker than last year which means there is a 3.5 sec gap for the others to eat in to, i cant see them getting anywhere near!
To answer my own question, I looked at the fastest lap of the race last year.tomazy wrote:Bottas did a 1:28.164 on hard tires on the first timed lap of a 27 lap stint, how do you guys see that time?
These are different conditions. In the past we've seen on multiple occasions that cars were faster during testing then during the race itself, due the colder weather. Last year was an exception.Mattyw wrote: But we have a benchmark of last years p1 qualy time
If merc were 1 sec faster last year, have just beaten the old p1 by 1.2 on mediums they are potentially 2.5 quicker than last year which means there is a 3.5 sec gap for the others to eat in to, i cant see them getting anywhere near!
For sure, but thats against last years p1 qualy time not race time so optimal time possible last year. Shows how much mercedes have improved on last years epic car, mental really considering the aero restrictions, engine must be a monsterJuzh wrote:Testing times are almost always better than actual race weekend times. Colder temps -> more power, more downforce -> better laptime.Mattyw wrote: If merc were 1 sec faster last year, have just beaten the old p1 by 1.2 on mediums they are potentially 2.5 quicker than last year which means there is a 3.5 sec gap for the others to eat in to, i cant see them getting anywhere near!
Though cars seem to have made lots of progress nontheless
Yep, agree with all you say im just saying based on the benchmarking we can do shows how much faster they are. Just think if that car was dialled in, running on empty on softs or supers, that time could be 3-4 secs quicker than last years pole!turbof1 wrote:These are different conditions. In the past we've seen on multiple occasions that cars were faster during testing then during the race itself, due the colder weather. Last year was an exception.Mattyw wrote: But we have a benchmark of last years p1 qualy time
If merc were 1 sec faster last year, have just beaten the old p1 by 1.2 on mediums they are potentially 2.5 quicker than last year which means there is a 3.5 sec gap for the others to eat in to, i cant see them getting anywhere near!
I wouldn't be too concerned also with trying to deduce relative performance between cars based on last year's time. We only know they ALL are quite a bit faster (duh!). It's certainly not like the 'competition' has been standing still.
In all honesty, I personally do expect Mercedes to be front in Melbourne. However, as I said it's better not to feed into that single sensational bite. I seriously doubt actually Mercedes even showed their hand there. That's right, I think and believe they have even more, BUT so will the others have!
Maldonado in a horrible e22 went 0.5 quicker than the pole in last year's post race test. So yeah, like what turbo saidMattyw wrote:Yep, agree with all you say im just saying based on the benchmarking we can do shows how much faster they are. Just think if that car was dialled in, running on empty on softs or supers, that time could be 3-4 secs quicker than last years pole!turbof1 wrote:These are different conditions. In the past we've seen on multiple occasions that cars were faster during testing then during the race itself, due the colder weather. Last year was an exception.Mattyw wrote: But we have a benchmark of last years p1 qualy time
If merc were 1 sec faster last year, have just beaten the old p1 by 1.2 on mediums they are potentially 2.5 quicker than last year which means there is a 3.5 sec gap for the others to eat in to, i cant see them getting anywhere near!
I wouldn't be too concerned also with trying to deduce relative performance between cars based on last year's time. We only know they ALL are quite a bit faster (duh!). It's certainly not like the 'competition' has been standing still.
In all honesty, I personally do expect Mercedes to be front in Melbourne. However, as I said it's better not to feed into that single sensational bite. I seriously doubt actually Mercedes even showed their hand there. That's right, I think and believe they have even more, BUT so will the others have!
I just hope Grosjean didnt really pushing it that far on car limit. And that others are still didnt show much and they still have pace to go at least second faster (including Grosjean). Because if this is real pace of Merc, season is maybe over before even beggining of the same. Ferrari show they are not that far, but it's still half second if we take some times on mediums. But the rest of grid...Mattyw wrote:Mercedes are unreal. 1.2 secs faster than last years p1 time, on 6 lap old mediums.
Bet they were not on empty or 100% power or fully setup for a 'qualy lap' - speaks volumes
Pretty ominous
Ah ok, 2 tenths behind the lotus on supersofts vs merc on 6 lap old mediums is a better indication!f1316 wrote:
Maldonado in a horrible e22 went 0.5 quicker than the pole in last year's post race test. So yeah, like what turbo said
The E22 was fast last year in Barcelona. GRO qualified 5th with it.f1316 wrote: Maldonado in a horrible e22 went 0.5 quicker than the pole in last year's post race test. So yeah, like what turbo said
Yeah, on a 1:26.9Blackout wrote:The E22 was fast last year in Barcelona. GRO qualified 5th with it.f1316 wrote: Maldonado in a horrible e22 went 0.5 quicker than the pole in last year's post race test. So yeah, like what turbo said
AndWhen asked about the "impressive" pace on mediums, Rosberg said: "If you say so! Not according to our numbers, not so much when looking at times from other days.
"We are confident, yes," he said. "We have a great team now, and we are keeping a close eye on the opposition because there have been some quite strong times from other teams.
"It is not clear cut at the moment, but we are still in a good position."
If I hear this word again... Can you please stop it already?Mattyw wrote:Mercedes are unreal. 1.2 secs faster than last years p1 time, on 6 lap old mediums.
Bet they were not on empty or 100% power or fully setup for a 'qualy lap' - speaks volumes
Pretty ominous
