2015 Pre-season Testing

[Hail22]

Ted's Notebook Test day 3 Part 1/2:



Ted's Notebook Test day 3 Part 2/2:



Ted's Notebook Test day 4 Part 1/2:



Ted's Notebook Test day 4 Part 2/2:

[dans79]

Ted's Notebook Test day 3 Part 1/2:
Ted's Notebook Test day 3 Part 2/2:
Ted's Notebook Test day 4 Part 1/2:
Ted's Notebook Test day 4 Part 2/2:

Stop posting bucks videos, everytime someone posts them his account gets closed!

[kooleracer]

I have seen the 2014 Force India and the 2015 Mercedes and its clear that the 2015 is much louder. Maybe the change from log to a tubular exhaust system have increased the sound.

[iotar__]

I've been quite fascinated by how confident mclaren are about their eventual performance- it indicates to me that they're seeing extremely good numbers in the wind tunnel/dyno.

Of course, wouldn't be the first time a team has been confident of wind tunnel numbers only to find them missing on track, but the fact they're not setting expectations low in order to be sure to exceed them (given a first year with a new engine) makes me think they're very sure that they've got something good.
Mclaren do tend towards being bullish/maybe even boastful, so, as with everything else, I guess we'll wait and see

The answer may be numbers but mostly they need to cling to any positivity after disastrous testing. These are all similar, general and open statements with "ifs", "feels" and "looks". That's their PR program, nothing more. Not even consistent, firstly it was all great despite an extreme design, then the problems were because of an extreme design.

I saw Sky's Kravitz thing on YT and remarkably them not running engine/ERS at 100% was turned into some positive indication. As if no problems can appear at (let's say) over 80%, 90% and 100% while all the positive performance remains theoretical. They will not recover all the lost test time, not enough data, checks during pre-season = all sorts of problems, behind in aero development, rescheduling everything and performance/reliability uncertainty. Yes you can develop during the season but 1. Calendar is packed and meanwhile you need to perform on different tracks = lots of variables 2. Development rate is similar for all the big teams (Allison before last season). They may be fast at some stage but there was nothing positive about these tests for McL, four more days so we'll see.

I'm surprised Rosberg downplayed their pace yesterday, lap not that great: "Not according to our numbers when we look at times from other days," I don't know which times he's referring to but for a poor cross comparison, I remember Maldo couple of tenths faster on softs than Raikkonen on mediums on some shorter runs. Problem with comparisons is development of cars, especially Lotus, Williams didn't touch low fuel I think, they should be a good indication.

[danielk]

consider this:

1 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:25.232 16
2 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:25.400 19
3 3 Daniel RicciardoRed Bull 1:26.285 16

Those are the Q3 times from last year in Barcelona:

so Alonso 1:25:961 as done in testing doesnt seem that bad. This time set when we know that the Engine has problems, They have not run at full power, and they have done very little to set the car up. There problem is that they are a year behind. But Just imagine they entered last year? the time they set now, imagine when they sorted their engine out at another test and a 5 races in. They would of blown the field out of the water including Mercedes. The development rate is going to be massive, bigger than any other team on the grid as the engine is new! after the summer break I reckon Mclaren Honda will be at the very least able to qualify at the sharp end, top 4.

[turbof1]

I think we'll get a bit more clarity in the coming test. Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes look to have a good handle on pu reliability, which means they can now fully switch the emphasis on performance, both short and long runs. We'll also see them bringing aero upgrades.

[Neno]

I'm surprised Rosberg downplayed their pace yesterday, lap not that great: "Not according to our numbers when we look at times from other days," I don't know which times he's referring to but for a poor cross comparison, I remember Maldo couple of tenths faster on softs than Raikkonen on mediums on some shorter runs. Problem with comparisons is development of cars, especially Lotus, Williams didn't touch low fuel I think, they should be a good indication.

Wait wait wait is this true he said this? Does he maybe think Lotus wasnt on low fuel for instance? Williams also looked pretty good on long runs. I wonder what would give him reason to think that way.

[Vasconia]

I'm surprised Rosberg downplayed their pace yesterday, lap not that great: "Not according to our numbers when we look at times from other days," I don't know which times he's referring to but for a poor cross comparison, I remember Maldo couple of tenths faster on softs than Raikkonen on mediums on some shorter runs. Problem with comparisons is development of cars, especially Lotus, Williams didn't touch low fuel I think, they should be a good indication.

Wait wait wait is this true he said this? Does he maybe think Lotus wasnt on low fuel for instance? Williams also looked pretty good on long runs. I wonder what would give him reason to think that way.

Even if Lotus was a little bit more fuelled, the difference between both times were so small taking into account that the Lotus was running with super softs and the Mercedes with medium ones.

[kooleracer]

I'm surprised Rosberg downplayed their pace yesterday, lap not that great: "Not according to our numbers when we look at times from other days," I don't know which times he's referring to but for a poor cross comparison, I remember Maldo couple of tenths faster on softs than Raikkonen on mediums on some shorter runs. Problem with comparisons is development of cars, especially Lotus, Williams didn't touch low fuel I think, they should be a good indication.

Wait wait wait is this true he said this? Does he maybe think Lotus wasnt on low fuel for instance? Williams also looked pretty good on long runs. I wonder what would give him reason to think that way.

Last year pole time was set on the medium tire, so the W06 was 1sec faster then the W05. It's not a big step considering Spain is still early in the season. But you have to keep in mind that track conditions were bad yesterday. Also he second run was on 6 lap old tires ( 2 attack runs on that set of tires) and he was fueled on 6 laps. On new tires and on a 3 lap stint I think the W06 could do a 1.23.5 on fresh medium tires. So I kind off understand the reaction of Rosberg. But we will get to see a glimpse of their real pace on the 1st of March I suppose.

[Moose]

I think you guys are misinterpreting what Rosberg said. The impression I get is that what he meant was "pfft, that wasn't a fast lap. We did fast laps earlier in the week, on much heavier fuel. This one wasn't even close to fast".

[Vasconia]

I think you guys are misinterpreting what Rosberg said. The impression I get is that what he meant was "pfft, that wasn't a fast lap. We did fast laps earlier in the week, on much heavier fuel. This one wasn't even close to fast".

This is exactly what I think. I think that in 7 days we will have a clear picture of they true pace.

[f1316]

I think you guys are misinterpreting what Rosberg said. The impression I get is that what he meant was "pfft, that wasn't a fast lap. We did fast laps earlier in the week, on much heavier fuel. This one wasn't even close to fast".

I don't think that's what he meant at all - he meant exactly what he said. It may have been disingenuous (probably was) but definitely don't believe he intended what you are suggesting.

Still, raikkonen did a 1:25.1 on mediums day 1. I still maintain there was likely to be some track evolution despite the rain, and perhaps Mercedes has reason to believe Ferrari were running higher fuel?

I don't necessarily believe that, but I don't discount it.

[henra]

But you have to keep in mind that track conditions were bad yesterday. Also he second run was on 6 lap old tires ( 2 attack runs on that set of tires) and he was fueled on 6 laps.

This is the thing that is really most alarming when hoping the new season will be much closer than the last one.
No matter what Rosberg says, those facts speak for themselves. And they are not painting a very nice picture for those hoping some other Team will give Merc a serious run for the money.

[Mansell89]

I think every racing fan is concerned about Merc being 1 second + faster than anything. They had plenty up their sleeve last season and will eek out that further potential this year. It will take a monumental effort from the competitors to turn it around and I think a comeback from either Ferrari or McLaren would go down as one of the greatest of modern times. Unfortunately, I don't think it is realistic for 2015 but I hope they really begin to close the gap.

However, I think these ideas that McLaren are in a crisis are so far wide of the mark. They have come across similar issues to Red Bull, who remember were nowehere and then suddenly rocked up on the front row in Melbourne. This V6 technology develops fast.

Surely the promising thing for McLaren Honda fans is that when they have got some running, they have been in and around the pace and we know for absolutely certain that their engine is turned down. That to me suggests there is major potential but the unreliability means we don't know a) if they can unlock it and b) just how far that potential stretches in relation to the super-high benchmark set by Mercedes.

I'd be positively stunned if a customer team wins a Championship in this era but if you want a rock solid bet for a podium in Australia then Williams have done a great winters testing IMO. I think they have sandbagged almost as much as Mercedes. I'm hoping they can push the Mercs in Melbourne and make things interesting early on, hopefully taking some points of Lewis and Nico. if possible to give half a chance of Ferrari/McHonda/RedBull developing a title challenger, but that is hope rather than expectation.

[Harsha]

I feel Renault of 2014 and Honda of 2015 situations are different. Renault made a DUD of engine last year which forced the RBR to take off Downforce. Honda has some medium to big issues but they are not burning the engine like Renault and from looking at speed traps they did 325 or 326 which shows that they have out right pace but the issues are holding them up. Once they sort them selves out they can be faster and upgrade their car much better.
All of us are hoping of a RBR kind of turn out for Mc-Honda when they show up in Australia this year.