2017 F1 general testing thread

[a1b2i3r45]

And he's back

That's a good lap from Vettel, given he's on softs. The Ferrari looks like it should be capable of that kind of pace given how good its balance and grip seems to be. On softs, 1m19.9s compared to other people is very good. And looking at Hamilton, his best lap on a race run is a 1m25.0s, so that would put him at about 1m20.0s in terms of pace attacking on soft tyres. So that's positive. If Vettel can do it right in the Ferrari, he could do a 1m19.3s on the ultra-soft. So we're still on target to get laps under 1m19s because these runs aren't being done on the sniff of an oily rag in terms of fuel.

[dren]

He should throw some more numbers out there:

Based on how good the Ferrari looks, and since the Ferrari is doing this, and if the Ferrari was doing that, and since the Ferrari looks good (did I mention it looks good), oh it looks consistent too; that means we should expect some 1.17s laps from Vettel with his eyes closed and a full tank of petrol when he decides to push on new tires.

[BosF1]

You jinxed it, Turbof1!

[Anthropolyte]

I do agree that the Ferrari crush is a bit annoying. He keeps stating how consistent the car looks going around the same turn. Well, ever think that the driver might be consistent? A good driver could make consistent lap after lap in a pig of a car.

Completely agree with this, and I was thinking the same earlier. Bottas in the Merc, relatively unseasoned driver; Vettel in the Ferrari, known and superb driver. No real comparison.

[digitalrurouni]

That Fezza pace is impressive! Go red! If I were a Mercedes driver boy would I be itching to max out the engine mode throw on some ultrasofts and do a low fuel max attack lap lol after seeing Vettel's lap.

[Sevach]

The best analysis i ever saw was Heidfeld during one of the Red Bull years, broke everything down beautifully and his predictions were right on the money.

Don't know about Gary Anderson, i think in the previous years he had a big hard on for Mercedes so it should be reasonably accurate.

[turbof1]

You jinxed it, Turbof1!

They just had to give him a reason .

I don't know. The times of Bottas and Vettel were done at different times. The track could either be faster or slower by now.

[ME4ME]

Don't know about Gary Anderson, i think in the previous years he had a big hard on for Mercedes so it should be reasonably accurate.

At the launch of the 2013 Mclaren, he without a doubt declared it a beast and a winner. Mclarens best car ever. He lost a lot of respect that season and had to eat his words. He crawled away into the shadows a bit after that. Now he has returned.

[dren]

The best analysis i ever saw was Heidfeld during one of the Red Bull years, broke everything down beautifully and his predictions were right on the money.

Don't know about Gary Anderson, i think in the previous years he had a big hard on for Mercedes so it should be reasonably accurate.

Heidfeld was always good. I liked his comments about following cars.

James Allen typically has some good input on his site. He has some good technical insight from ex-F1 engineers. They are more about the numbers and less about seeking hits on a website.

[BosF1]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

GA:
"Watching Vettel through Turn 1-3 is definitely my 'wow' factor of the day. The Ferrari is just planted and, even on used tyres, it doesn't budge one millimetre off line."

[dren]

Don't know about Gary Anderson, i think in the previous years he had a big hard on for Mercedes so it should be reasonably accurate.

At the launch of the 2013 Mclaren, he without a doubt declared it a beast and a winner. Mclarens best car ever. He lost a lot of respect that season and had to eat his words. He crawled away into the shadows a bit after that. Now he has returned.

That was comical, but as I have been saying, GA is a bit of a comedian.

[Restomaniac]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

GA:
"Watching Vettel through Turn 1-3 is definitely my 'wow' factor of the day. The Ferrari is just planted and, even on used tyres, it doesn't budge one millimetre off line."

Indeed he also seems to know exactly what kind of fuel loads they are running.

[turbof1]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

GA:
"Watching Vettel through Turn 1-3 is definitely my 'wow' factor of the day. The Ferrari is just planted and, even on used tyres, it doesn't budge one millimetre off line."

I have been saving this emoticon for occasions like this one:


Someone quickly give that man some paper towels, it looks like he is going to release a load.

[Restomaniac]

He now repeating himself so desperate is he to slag off the Merc.

[evered7]

Don't know about Gary Anderson, i think in the previous years he had a big hard on for Mercedes so it should be reasonably accurate.

At the launch of the 2013 Mclaren, he without a doubt declared it a beast and a winner. Mclarens best car ever. He lost a lot of respect that season and had to eat his words. He crawled away into the shadows a bit after that. Now he has returned.

Wasn't that the year when McLaren bolted the suspension incorrectly and went ridiculously quick in Jerez? Not saying the man could be completely wrong but Ferrari might have stumbled upon a good solution this year maybe.

They weren't bad in 2015/16 as well. Just not coping with Mercedes development rate.