2018 pre-season testing thread

[the EDGE]

Ofc they don't want to show their hands, if other teams find out their car is fast they will also make a fast car to counter it. /s

I know every one dismisses lap times but if you compare the order of the fast laps in last years tests with the order in Melbourne you'll see they correlate pretty well

yes testing in the new Turbo era has generally gone like that, in the V8 era it wasn't however.

as you pointed out however, the correlation is with the fastest laps from test... not fastest laps after day 1, 2, 3 or even day 4!

[mclaren111]

Call me crazy, but I'm finally starting to like those engine sounds.

Wait for TV to spoil that

I thought exactly the same: the sound on TV is absolutely awful. Here in Brazil sometimes the broadcasts are so bad you can't even hear the engines, it's like they're on mute.

Same here in South Africa

[godlameroso]

Vandoorne isn't getting replaced, there's still a whole week of testing left. All of next week will have good weather, track temperatures will be high enough to get the compounds working as they should, ambients will be room temperature.

Week 1 is always systems checks and validation work, teams aren't trying to set lap times although they're not going slow. The first 2 days of next week will be tire work, then the last two days will be performance.

In other news, Go McLaren, and Gasley isn't doing bad, quite frankly I said it last year, McLaren shouldn't have left Honda, but that's water under the bridge at this point. I hope they both do well.

[the EDGE]

i read on 3 different Spanish sites that Alonso will soon replace Vandoorne but nothing official from Mclaren yet!?

would they really want to wast time today setting up the car for Alonso? i believe it takes around an hour. I doubt Alonso will be too upset he has done less laps, still 4 more days to go yet

[Bill_Kar]

Vandoorne isn't getting replaced, there's still a whole week of testing left. All of next week will have good weather, track temperatures will be high enough to get the compounds working as they should, ambients will be room temperature.

Week 1 is always systems checks and validation work, teams aren't trying to set lap times although they're not going slow. The first 2 days of next week will be tire work, then the last two days will be performance.

In other news, Go McLaren, and Gasley isn't doing bad, quite frankly I said it last year, McLaren shouldn't have left Honda, but that's water under the bridge at this point. I hope they both do well.

Out of curiosity, are you a fan of Honda in the sense that you'll back TR this year?

[Morteza]

AMuS reports Renault are changing the battery on the car before handing it to Sainz

[bauc]

And....100 laps for Vandoorne ... Finally!

[RZS10]

According to AMuS Ferrari was running with flo viz, couldn't find any pics so far though ... and they just wrote Vettel blew past Vandoorne on the straight

I think it's not appropriate to condemn McLaren's performance because they prefer a different tyre.

I think most of those posts are weak bait ... i'm surprised to see those kind of posts in forum sections with voting, they're usually more prevalent in race threads which don't have it ... it's really noticeable how certain forum members barely post outside the main season

[Morteza]

According to AMuS Ferrari was running with flo viz, couldn't find any pics so far though ... and they just wrote Vettel blew past Vandoorne on the straight

You mean like these?

[godlameroso]

Vandoorne isn't getting replaced, there's still a whole week of testing left. All of next week will have good weather, track temperatures will be high enough to get the compounds working as they should, ambients will be room temperature.

Week 1 is always systems checks and validation work, teams aren't trying to set lap times although they're not going slow. The first 2 days of next week will be tire work, then the last two days will be performance.

In other news, Go McLaren, and Gasley isn't doing bad, quite frankly I said it last year, McLaren shouldn't have left Honda, but that's water under the bridge at this point. I hope they both do well.

Out of curiosity, are you a fan of Honda in the sense that you'll back TR this year?

Of course, I only own a shop that specializes in Hondas, currently own 4 Hondas, going on 5. I like Honda, but I like McLaren too, not that I can afford one, hell I usually only drink water, but I tried a Red Bull cola just because I associate Red Bull with Honda now.

[gibells]

Wait for TV to spoil that

I thought exactly the same: the sound on TV is absolutely awful. Here in Brazil sometimes the broadcasts are so bad you can't even hear the engines, it's like they're on mute.

Same here in South Africa

I witnessed testing the cars in '14 & '15 in Jerez. There are so many sounds that come from the engine. Pops/wheezes/ bangs, caused from who knows what. It's such an interesting sound. And like we're all saying, they currently just can't do it justice.

It's like they need mics in different places in the engine bay to pick up what you hear from the outside of the car. I'm not asking for LM to artificially enhance the sounds, just replicate them properly

[Morteza]

From AMuS: Fernando Alonso will take over the McLaren MCL33 later for the last 2 hours of today's testing session.

[RZS10]

You mean like these?

Are those from their gallery? I quickly clicked through it and must have missed them if that's the case ... thanks

Unfortunately those are too low res to see anything

[bauc]

From AMuS: Fernando Alonso will take over the McLaren MCL33 later for the last 2 hours of today's testing session.

Yes, there is a confirmation.

Good news for ALO, I just don't like the fact that they will loose an hour maybe of running while making the needed changes

[the EDGE]

Vandoorne isn't getting replaced, there's still a whole week of testing left. All of next week will have good weather, track temperatures will be high enough to get the compounds working as they should, ambients will be room temperature.

Week 1 is always systems checks and validation work, teams aren't trying to set lap times although they're not going slow. The first 2 days of next week will be tire work, then the last two days will be performance.

In other news, Go McLaren, and Gasley isn't doing bad, quite frankly I said it last year, McLaren shouldn't have left Honda, but that's water under the bridge at this point. I hope they both do well.

Out of curiosity, are you a fan of Honda in the sense that you'll back TR this year?

Of course, I only own a shop that specializes in Hondas, currently own 4 Hondas, going on 5. I like Honda, but I like McLaren too, not that I can afford one, hell I usually only drink water, but I tried a Red Bull cola just because I associate Red Bull with Honda now.

I can see how that must have been hard for you. As a McLaren fan I once thought they made the wrong decision and should have stuck it out with Honda. However I know look at it like this...

Chances are, Honda will get it right this year, but I honestly think at best they will match Renault, not surpass. So for the same reward McLaren had a choice, take a risk with Honda or choose a dead cert with Renault. That means then the decision really came down to stick with Honda's resources and take the risk on having yet another wasted year or back a proven horse and do without Honda's resources

We could speculate we would have made different a different decision to them, but unless your in their position and the consequences are real.. you can not possibly know for sure