2014 Testing - Bahrain 19-22 Feb

[NathanOlder]

Merc vs McLaren vs Ferrari (i think they are sandbagging)

All the footage I have seen so far, I saw Kimi and Alonso struggling coming out low speed corners. I have a feeling that Ferrari lacks a lot of rear downforce at the moment. Button did 2 interviews one with SKY and one with BBC and everything hinted to that Mercedes had a big advantage even comparing it with his own McLaren.

I wonder what odds you can get on Mercedes winning every race this year. Or a Mercedes Engine winning every race

[thedutchguy]

Wow, with Rosberg putting in a 1m33.283s, they are now within one second of the 2013 pole time (also Roberg, 1m32.330). According to Gary Anderson on Autosport.com, it looked like a qualifying simulation:

"I don't think there was much fuel in the Mercedes when he was doing that qualifying simulation, but the team has dissected the new regulations for 2014 and made major progress over the winter to achieve these lap times. That's a credit to all in Brixworth and Brackley." Source: http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/699

[motobaleno]

well, from all the pieces of the puzzle it really seems that mercedes has sorted out some kind of traction control...

[iotar__]

All I have heard, is the tyres are a lot more durable. Paul Hembery said they will last longer. So surely this means the tyres this year will be slower over a single lap. Im not sure yet what tyres Rosberg used this morning to do the 1.33.662 but im sure we will find out. Plus you have to factor in we are only at the 2nd test, where as last years Bahrain GP was at the end of April. In 2 months time the cars will be faster than today, So id go as far as saying the W05 will be faster than the W04 on a single lap. and the W04 was a single lap specialist

That's what I thought as well but it may be in terms of F1 and previous seasons as a comparison. I read Bottas (and Hulkenberg) saying that there's going to be a bit of tip-toeing with tyre management because of engines, plus fuel of course. On the other hand if they are expected to last they may be (big assumption - with temperatures and so on) pushed more over one lap, with set up, technique. Less connection between qualy-first stint-race overall - comparatively less time lost because they're harder (excluding other factors - downforce etc)?

[diego.liv]

Hembery said this year specifications are a bit harder then last year ones, so Rosberg's soft tyres are similar to last year pole lap time's medium..we don 't need to wonder what time he can do with supersoft, or be cautious about a SS lap time

[FrukostScones]

Ithink 2014 will also habe a tyre controversy. Those PU's and their power delivery will kill the rear pretty quickly. And with Renault having a not very smooth power delivery app. atm I see problems after problem arising for Renault teams.

[NathanOlder]

Hembery said this year specifications are a bit harder then last year ones, so Rosberg's soft tyres are similar to last year pole lap time's medium..we don 't need to wonder what time he can do with supersoft, or be cautious about a SS lap time

Last year they took Soft and Hard to Bahrain. So Pole would have been on the soft tyres ?

Edit. Scrap that, maybe they did have the Medium and Hard tyres. My mistake.

[321apex]

well, from all the pieces of the puzzle it really seems that mercedes has sorted out some kind of traction control...

In the past TC meant obvious and audible engine misfire or interruption. This time, software and current interruption to MGU-K and you go fast and save tires to boot.

[diego.liv]

Hembery said this year specifications are a bit harder then last year ones, so Rosberg's soft tyres are similar to last year pole lap time's medium..we don 't need to wonder what time he can do with supersoft, or be cautious about a SS lap time

Last year they took Soft and Hard to Bahrain. So Pole would have been on the soft tyres ?

Edit. Scrap that, maybe they did have the Medium and Hard tyres. My mistake.

Yes medium..but (in Merc's favour) keep in mind that Rosberg had high tyre deg; so, if they went for a race set-up he would have been some tenths slower (actually, HAM had a more quiet race preserving tyres, qualifying in 1'32"7xx): this would mean that today's effort is impressive for Merc.

Btw the following long run doesn't seem so good 1'39 to 1'41-'42

[darkmninya]

Mercedes power unit is on road cars also amazing, all my mercedes cars in my family could go 200.000km without problems.

So the rumors that mercedes are 100bhp stronger than ferrari and merc was the truth after all.

[diego.liv]

Do we feed him?

[thedutchguy]

Mercedes power unit is on road cars also amazing, all my mercedes cars in my family could go 200.000km without problems.

So the rumors that mercedes are 100bhp stronger than ferrari and merc was the truth after all.

Too early to tell... Rosberg clearly did a qualifying lap on soft tires, so that's probably a good benchmark time. Have the others done the same so far? At the moment, ferrari is about 3,5 secs slower than mercedes for today, but I woundn't draw any conclusions about the engine based on that. Williams - running the same Mercedes engine - is 5,8 secs of the pace at this moment and only 0,5 secs fasther than the Renault powered Red Bull.

[k.ko100v]

Niko Rosberg's stint: (soft tires)
1.39.0
1.39.2
1:39.8
1:41.3
1:40.4
1:40.6
1:40.5
1:41.2
1:43.4
1:42.1
1:42.2
1:42.5
1:42.5

[321apex]

Mercedes power unit is on road cars also amazing, all my mercedes cars in my family could go 200.000km without problems.

So the rumors that mercedes are 100bhp stronger than ferrari and merc was the truth after all.

This is not the right place to share dreams. Just facts and reality.

[Blanchimont]

AMUS: Second stint of Rosberg was also done on soft tyres and lasted 16 laps. First lap in this stint was a 1:38,7.

The lap times for the 2nd stint:

Outlap - 1:38.7 - 1:39.6 - 1:39.7 - 1:39.5 - 1:39.9 - 1:39.8 - 1:40.9 - 1:40.3 - 1:40.0 - 1:40.4 - 1:40.7 - 1:41.3 - 1:41.6 - 1:41.8 - Inlap