F1 2019 Pre-Season Testing Thread

[dans79]

Oh My some humble pie and hat eating will soon need to occur.

Hamilton 1:16.224 on C5's only 0.003 off Vettel!

[Jozsusz]

And Lewis in C5 did 1.16.224 just +0.003 from Vettel's time
and he was 2 tenths off Vettel just in S1

Last sector is very good, but the other 2 are nothing special. He's slower on the speed traps as well.
Hmm.
Could be anything.

[NathanOlder]

Surely The first sector, engine power plays a massive part. And both Lewis and Valterri are slower than Mclaren, Toro Rosso, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, so it would surely be that the Mercedes is not using the same modes as those teams. Its not like Ferrari PU is better, as Merc are behind all 3 PU's in S1.

[dans79]

Last sector is very good, but the other 2 are nothing special. He's slower on the speed traps as well.
Hmm.
Could be anything.

Id rather he be faster in sector 3 than in 1 or 2.

[nevill3]

I think Hamilton was driving to a delta, Match Vettel but don't beat him.....

[Jozsusz]

Surely The first sector, engine power plays a massive part. And both Lewis and Valterri are slower than Mclaren, Toro Rosso, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, so it would surely be that the Mercedes is not using the same modes as those teams. Its not like Ferrari PU is better, as Merc are behind all 3 PU's in S1.

In the previous years on the free practices the Mercs were always in a lower engine mode and with more fuel.
Hope that's the case now as well

[siskue2005]

And Lewis in C5 did 1.16.224 just +0.003 from Vettel's time
and he was 2 tenths off Vettel just in S1

Last sector is very good, but the other 2 are nothing special. He's slower on the speed traps as well.
Hmm.
Could be anything.

Vettel S1 21.695 , S2 28.221, S3 26.124
Lewis S1 21.814, S2 28.395, S3 25.922

and yes he is low of top speed on all sectors....which shows he might be on low engine mod

[Phil]

Pirelli says that the C5 tire is quickest, but probably too soft for this track. In order to get a good S3 time, one needs to treat it well (e.g. go easy at the beginning). Go too hard at the beginning and you'll likely lose performance towards the end... But yes, fuel load and engine mode will probably mask who has the ultimate edge. IMO, Ferrari did the time first and I think Vettel did a few tries before nailing it, so I am thinking Ferrari maybe had a little more in hand all in all. Just my take. What speaks against it are the probably cooler temperatures now, although who knows - that could be helping Mercedes more than hurting them right now?

[siskue2005]

Pirelli says that the C5 tire is quickest, but probably too soft for this track. In order to get a good S3 time, one needs to treat it well (e.g. go easy at the beginning). Go too hard at the beginning and you'll likely lose performance towards the end... But yes, fuel load and engine mode will probably mask who has the ultimate edge. IMO, Ferrari did the time first and I think Vettel did a few tries before nailing it, so I am thinking Ferrari maybe had a little more in hand all in all. Just my take. What speaks against it are the probably cooler temperatures now, although who knows - that could be helping Mercedes more than hurting them right now?

Lewis has nailed it in just his first try in C5...guess he can go quicker with few more tries

and yes taking it easy on the first sector will surely gain time on the final sector

[FrukostScones]

Ferrari always sandbags in S3 since 2017.
Worrying if HAM sandbagged in all three S. S1 and S2 he surely sandbagged.

[Jozsusz]

Pirelli says that the C5 tire is quickest, but probably too soft for this track. In order to get a good S3 time, one needs to treat it well (e.g. go easy at the beginning). Go too hard at the beginning and you'll likely lose performance towards the end... But yes, fuel load and engine mode will probably mask who has the ultimate edge. IMO, Ferrari did the time first and I think Vettel did a few tries before nailing it, so I am thinking Ferrari maybe had a little more in hand all in all. Just my take. What speaks against it are the probably cooler temperatures now, although who knows - that could be helping Mercedes more than hurting them right now?

Well considering that Kvyat was able to match Ferrari's and Mercs first sector, these times still mean nothing.
Maybe Merc told Ham to just match Sebs time.

[Capharol]

Ferrari always sandbags in S3 since 2017.
Worrying if HAM sandbagged in all three S. S1 and S2 he surely sandbagged.

okay season 2019 is over.... Hamilton just won his 6th WDC

[dans79]

Hamilton out on C5s again.

[etusch]

Pirelli says that the C5 tire is quickest, but probably too soft for this track. In order to get a good S3 time, one needs to treat it well (e.g. go easy at the beginning). Go too hard at the beginning and you'll likely lose performance towards the end... But yes, fuel load and engine mode will probably mask who has the ultimate edge. IMO, Ferrari did the time first and I think Vettel did a few tries before nailing it, so I am thinking Ferrari maybe had a little more in hand all in all. Just my take. What speaks against it are the probably cooler temperatures now, although who knows - that could be helping Mercedes more than hurting them right now?

Well considering that Kvyat was able to match Ferrari's and Mercs first sector, these times still mean nothing.
Maybe Merc told Ham to just match Sebs time.

Come on

[siskue2005]

Lewis doing 1.16.3 in C5 now