2015 Pre-season Testing

[Vasconia]

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.

If there is team who can do it is Mclaren, I stil remember their great comeback in 2011 after a terrible winter testing.

But this situation is more complex with the new engine, I think that they will need 2-3 races to make a lot of laps and solve some of their problems.

[bauc]

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.

If there is team who can do it is Mclaren, I stil remember their great comeback in 2011 after a terrible winter testing.

But this situation is more complex with the new engine, I think that they will need 2-3 races to make a lot of laps and solve some of their problems.

I agree with both of you, and I have faith that by Monaco, we will see competitive Mclaren Honda fighting for podium and if all good maybe a victory here and there during the season.

[miguelalvesreis]

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.

I tend to agree with you on this one. Maybe I'm wrong and I really don't have the fastest times of each driver with both compounds at hand but, the feeling I've got from this test is that the difference between the mediums and the softs or SS, in this test was not so big. And, of course, we do not have fuel levels or any indication of the fine tune made to any car regarding a fast low level set of laps. No doubt the Merc is fast. Is silly to think otherwise but I don't believe that that lap was neither that much better than others could do nor the fastest they can go.

[dren]

From reading Button and Alonso's comments to date, the Honda PU and Mclaren chassis is very driver friendly. They just need to work out the reliability kinks. That's a great position for Honda to be in. They have the ability to work out reliability issues through the year. It should also put Button close to on par with Alonso. I am expecting good things from Mclaren, but nothing great until midseason.

Driveability is one major area Ferrari and Renault made strides in over the season. It sounds like Renault still has driveability issues even though they have improved power output. Ferrari looks to have much improved driveability, along with output.

Williams needs to improve their racing team. There were times last year that they should have finished better in the race than they did. I expect them to be 2nd best if they can improve the race team to the level of Mercedes and Red Bull.

We should see some good representative race stints in a few days.

[Leo West]

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Williams needs to improve their racing team. There were times last year that they should have finished better in the race than they did. I expect them to be 2nd best if they can improve the race team to the level of Mercedes and Red Bull.

We should see some good representative race stints in a few days.

I think second will be a fight between RBR, Ferrari and Williams. Give Alonso 10 races to destroy McL

[Vasconia]

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Williams needs to improve their racing team. There were times last year that they should have finished better in the race than they did. I expect them to be 2nd best if they can improve the race team to the level of Mercedes and Red Bull.

We should see some good representative race stints in a few days.

I think second will be a fight between RBR, Ferrari and Williams. Give Alonso 10 races to destroy McL

To destroy Mclaren? why?

Williams didnt win any race in 2014 because of a poor strategy and lack of ambition, they need to improve this.

[atanatizante]

Could someone tell me what's the influence of car mass increase (if I'm not wrong we are talking about 30kg, from 671kg last year to 701kg now) regarding test times from 2014 vs 2015?
Some said (until 2013) that each 10 kilos worth almost 3 tenths a lap, but from 2014 there was another increase in car mass and in 2015 we have another too ..

[XRayF1]

Could someone tell me what's the influence of car mass increase (if I'm not wrong we are talking about 30kg, from 671kg last year to 701kg now) regarding test times from 2014 vs 2015?
Some said (until 2013) that each 10 kilos worth almost 3 tenths a lap, but from 2014 there was another increase in car mass and in 2015 we have another too ..

Minimum car mass in 2014 was 691kg, and was increased to 701kg for 2015.

But I guess this still does not answer your question, right?

[XRayF1]

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Williams needs to improve their racing team. There were times last year that they should have finished better in the race than they did. I expect them to be 2nd best if they can improve the race team to the level of Mercedes and Red Bull.

We should see some good representative race stints in a few days.

I think second will be a fight between RBR, Ferrari and Williams. Give Alonso 10 races to destroy McL

To destroy Mclaren? why?

Williams didnt win any race in 2014 because of a poor strategy and lack of ambition, they need to improve this.

But what makes you think McLaren can make it better than Williams?
I mean, they should, but for a BIG 'but'.

McLaren will most probably not start in the first 4 rows for the first few races. My best guess is 8-10 races.
Which means they will have to fight their way through the field by strategy and infights (which I believe Alonso will excel at). With all the risk they will have to take doing that.
But McL with Boullier at the box (or whoever made their strategy) was not that too good at strategy last year as well.
Otherwise you can't explain why Williams got actually almost double points than McLaren - with the same PU, regardless what Dennis tells the press. And McL should have had a better chassis as well considering their budget.

All in all, it will be struggle for them all year through.
Currently, they simply do not know what their car is capable of.
May be the PU will never be able to show its full potential thus making it that much harder for the chassis to shine.
May be the car will be a star and consecutively win podiums or even more.
Right now, I am unfortunately a little pessimistic.

[Spoutnik]

Clearly, last year Williams missed one or two win, at Abu Dhabi and Montreal.

And guys, last year Williams had a good chassis if you considering the track where they are dominant (behind Merc obviously). McLaren had, Mobil 1 fuel/lubricants who give them a poor Top Speed for exemple at Monza the two McLaren are only on 11/12th place, behind some Renault powered team and Ferrari. After, it's not a secret, Mercedes was not as attentive with McLaren than the others team especially Williams.

Anyway, with Mercedes, McLaren in long term prespective will never fight for a Championship..

[Cale24]

Despite some reliability issues, unsurprising considering Honda is debuting this year, everyone at McLaren has said the car and engine package show great promise and the numbers all look good and in line with predictions (which they have been excited about for a long time already). In fact they seem to be confident that the car will at least be on the podium this year, and if you look at the ingredients it seems likely. They are also known for their relentless development pace.

And their issues I'm sure will be a lot more resolved come Melbourne, Red Bull last year proving just what is possible in that sense, after a dismal testing phase. Its a waste of time speculating grid positions especially because all the updates the teams will bring will also vary, but my bet is McLaren will be inside the top ten on the grid for the 1st race. Gut says 6th / 7th or so.

Side note- Does anyone know if Martin Whitmarsh's corpse has washed up along the Thames yet?

[spadeflush]

Could someone tell me what's the influence of car mass increase (if I'm not wrong we are talking about 30kg, from 671kg last year to 701kg now) regarding test times from 2014 vs 2015?
Some said (until 2013) that each 10 kilos worth almost 3 tenths a lap, but from 2014 there was another increase in car mass and in 2015 we have another too ..

Minimum car mass in 2014 was 691kg, and was increased to 701kg for 2015.

But I guess this still does not answer your question, right?

Technically speaking, heavier car means a slightly slower one. I think the primary reason for the increase in minimum weight was to help heavier drivers, especially after what happened to Vergne (if I am not mistaken) last year.

[Miguel]

Side note- Does anyone know if Martin Whitmarsh's corpse has washed up along the Thames yet?

It's either been corroded by all non-water stuff on it or been eaten by the wild carnivorous swams in Kingston, 20 miles down river from Woking. I haven't seen it around...

[XRayF1]

Clearly, last year Williams missed one or two win, at Abu Dhabi and Montreal.

And guys, last year Williams had a good chassis if you considering the track where they are dominant (behind Merc obviously). McLaren had, Mobil 1 fuel/lubricants who give them a poor Top Speed for exemple at Monza the two McLaren are only on 11/12th place, behind some Renault powered team and Ferrari. After, it's not a secret, Mercedes was not as attentive with McLaren than the others team especially Williams.

Anyway, with Mercedes, McLaren in long term prespective will never fight for a Championship..

Do you really believe that - Merc not being attentive enough?
This is just Dennis speaking, hiding his own butt.
The only source of this allegation came from the horse's mouth, and nobody else.
None of the other Merc-powered teams even hinted any lack of support from Brixworth at any *point in the season!

Having said that RD HAD every reason to do as such.
For one, Force India, good heavens, were almost able to be on par with McLaren, who are spending a lot more money on F1 than FI. Has a much bigger design department. Has a much bigger engineering. Has a much bigger ... everything.
He had to build a defensive argument for his sponsors, because why should any new sponsor go for McL if they may get the same marketing exposure for surely much less money judging from the amount of points FI got?

No, I really believe that McL has to ramp up their quality levels quite a bit if they want to compete for the pidiums or even a race win. In every dimension.
Blaming someone else for your own shortcomings, is just bad.

[Del Boy]

Clearly, last year Williams missed one or two win, at Abu Dhabi and Montreal.

And guys, last year Williams had a good chassis if you considering the track where they are dominant (behind Merc obviously). McLaren had, Mobil 1 fuel/lubricants who give them a poor Top Speed for exemple at Monza the two McLaren are only on 11/12th place, behind some Renault powered team and Ferrari. After, it's not a secret, Mercedes was not as attentive with McLaren than the others team especially Williams.

Anyway, with Mercedes, McLaren in long term prespective will never fight for a Championship..

Do you really believe that - Merc not being attentive enough?
This is just Dennis speaking, hiding his own butt.
The only source of this allegation came from the horse's mouth, and nobody else.
None of the other Merc-powered teams even hinted any lack of support from Brixworth at any *point in the season!

Having said that RD HAD every reason to do as such.
For one, Force India, good heavens, were almost able to be on par with McLaren, who are spending a lot more money on F1 than FI. Has a much bigger design department. Has a much bigger engineering. Has a much bigger ... everything.
He had to build a defensive argument for his sponsors, because why should any new sponsor go for McL if they may get the same marketing exposure for surely much less money judging from the amount of points FI got?

No, I really believe that McL has to ramp up their quality levels quite a bit if they want to compete for the pidiums or even a race win. In every dimension.
Blaming someone else for your own shortcomings, is just bad.

Have you got a short memory? The engine that Mercedes delivered to McLaren in February 2014 was a different shape to the one promised. It had a completely different exhaust layout. So different McLaren had gaps between bodywork and PU that you could fit small children into! The whole philosophy with the car was based that they would be rear end limited, when they left Bahrain they knew they were front end limited and some of that was the shape of the engine being changed. Mercedes knew their relationship with McLaren was over and they acted as such.