2013 Testing - Barcelona 1: 19 - 22 Feb

[OppositeLock]

It´s a straight contrast to Nico who thinks they can win races.

My bet it´s Hamilton being humble and not wanting to eat his words later on if they did not win any races.

Hamilton was driving an excellent car last season while Rosberg was driving a back-marker . They have different perspectives on the new car.
Mercedes are still preparing the final aero package. If the base chassis is good enough, the team should be able to add performance throughout the season.

[CjC]

The reality for merc:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105674

Still think the merc is good on the long runs?

[Pup]

I think Merc and McLaren are in a contest to see who can downplay their car the most pre-season. Not that I'm predicting victories for either - it just seems that the "we suck, really" rhetoric has been turned to 11 this year.

Perez' tweet yesterday cracked me up...

Thanks to those who are always there in the bad times!!

If these are the bad times, I'll take them.

[Ferraripilot]

The reality for merc:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105674

Still think the merc is good on the long runs?

Lotus are downplaying testing form as well. Lewis is diverting attention from the team/car. Frankly, Lewis has an awful lot of faith in other teams if he believes some may have found a full second over the winter. If any other top team found a half second I would be amazed as the top teams are pushing the limits in a huge way as it is.

Merc have found a couple seconds because they had far more to gain, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mclaren, Lotus are scraping for some clever gurney tab, vortex generator, air diverter, something to yield a tiny bit more. Any more 'big' gains, half second, couple tenths etc are just not there with the top guys. If anything believe Mclaren may have gone backwards for now, and Ferrari have gained nothing with this clever car simply down to its tire useage.

[Maelstrom]

The W03 seemed reasonably fast in winter testing (though everybody commented on the tyre degradation) and when they won in China everybody thought that they would only get stronger from there. But the tyre situation and the total focus on DDRS ruined any chance they had. The second half of the year they almost didn't seem to be even trying. So many DNF's from Schumi through the year didn't help either.

The W04 seems to have worked on the tyre degradation. It seems reasonably fast and consistent. Except for the first two days there doesn't seem to be any problems. The design also will allow them to develop through the year.

I think Lewis' statements can be taken with a pinch of salt. Merc was definately not two seconds off the pace in the beginning of the year. They had the fastest cars in China and Monaco.

I think that they could definately get a win or two this year.

[dren]

I fully expect Mercedes to be in the mix at some point this season. They look reasonably strong in testing. Everyone is playing down their chances.

[korzeniow]

I fully expect Mercedes to be in the mix at some point this season. They look reasonably strong in testing. Everyone is playing down their chances.

It's the exact opposite. Everyone is hyping them up. Media, fans, Rosberg with his PR.

But Hamilton is new there and can compare performance to McLaren's. He's the most reliable in this situation

[dren]

I fully expect Mercedes to be in the mix at some point this season. They look reasonably strong in testing. Everyone is playing down their chances.

It's the exact opposite. Everyone is hyping them up. Media, fans, Rosberg with his PR.

But Hamilton is new there and can compare performance to McLaren's. He's the most reliable in this situation

I meant everyone is downplaying their own team's chances, not everyone is downplaying Mercedes's chances.

Mercedes looks reasonable, as has been pointed out by several observers, yes.

[Maelstrom]

I fully expect Mercedes to be in the mix at some point this season. They look reasonably strong in testing. Everyone is playing down their chances.

It's the exact opposite. Everyone is hyping them up. Media, fans, Rosberg with his PR.

But Hamilton is new there and can compare performance to McLaren's. He's the most reliable in this situation

Hyping how? Rosberg is saying the car feels better and the rear tyre degradation is a thing of the past. He's not claiming thats it's a championship winner. The others are only commenting on the lap times. Nobody is making any tall claims.

[Shrieker]

But Hamilton is new there and can compare performance to McLaren's. He's the most reliable in this situation

I think this is the most reasonable comment about the subject. They might not have a bad car as they did last season, but they still need to beat Lotus + Ferrari + RBR; which means they very well might not win any races.

Edit: Oh, and I forgot McLaren lol. Anyway, you get my point...

[Ferraripilot]

But Hamilton is new there and can compare performance to McLaren's. He's the most reliable in this situation

I agree Hamilton is the best barometer they have coming from such a strong car. That said, there's no possible way even if W04 is as good as MP4-28 he's going to say or allude so to anyone in the media, ever. We're going to have to figure that out for ourselves later.

One thing to remember here is, no one on the grid has found a new DDD or EBD, and even those aren't worth a full second. Most everyone is evolving from Brazil and there is no way Lewis' commentary that top teams have possibly found a full second is accurate, the innovation is simply not present. However, MB had much more to gain with their 2013 contender therefore them finding 2 seconds is far more believeable. MB has a big evolution of their front wing, exhaust, rear end treatment, sidepods, it has more signicant gains in place that makes sense when they claim they found a couple seconds. Now, if someone were to tell me 3 tenths or so was found over the winter by someone at the front of the grid then I would certainly believe them, because that's not unbelievable. A second? Come on now.

[Dyanxx]

I fully expect Mercedes to be in the mix at some point this season. They look reasonably strong in testing. Everyone is playing down their chances.

It's the exact opposite. Everyone is hyping them up. Media, fans, Rosberg with his PR.

But Hamilton is new there and can compare performance to McLaren's. He's the most reliable in this situation

I think you'll find most Mercedes fans are not hyping them up, if anything the total opposite.

[ForMuLaOne]

1.19 is realistic. He ran a 1.23,282 with fuel for minimum 17 laps. Supersofts and quali mode will push some cars below 1.20.

[Juzh]

One thing to remember here is, no one on the grid has found a new DDD or EBD, and even those aren't worth a full second.

You're right. Forget 1 second, DDD is worth 2 seconds at least. and judjing by the melbourne 2011 to 2012 pole comparison, EBD is worth 1,5s easily.

[Juzh]

1.19 is realistic. He ran a 1.23,282 with fuel for minimum 17 laps. Supersofts and quali mode will push some cars below 1.20.

There's no way anyone will go below 1:21 in qualy come gp weekend. zero chance. Lower temps = air more dense -> higher engine power + more aero. Something you will not get in may wih 30+°C