1st Test 2017

[DS240]

Rick_1138 said:

Bit crap that there is no live tv of the testing, hard enough justifying sky with the wife now we have moved house and i am starting a small business, so cash is very tight. I have the legacy package but if i make any changes i lose F1 without the whole sports bundle, and seeing that a channel dedicated to the sport isnt getting to show testing is a bit poor.

I realise its the teams request, but i feel that after the covers are off, your in the wild now and folk can get to see.

Hasn't been covered on Sky F1 live before. They usually do highlights in the evenings.... is there not even this?

[Vaud]

Vocal Minority said:

To be honest - this first test especially - all you will be able to tell is that guys putting on good milage will be in ok shape with their package,

Maybe later in the week and the second test average lap time on longer runs could give some clues.

Out and out pace is neither here nor there in terms of giving clues sadly

This. It's all about installation, validation, temps, etc. Fuel levels will be highly variable. This is an exercise in seeing if it all works as it promised to in the factory.

I think all you can take from a first test is 1) did everyone show up 2) basic reliability

[Big Al.]

DS240 said:

Hasn't been covered on Sky F1 live before. They usually do highlights in the evenings.... is there not even this?

Yep half hour coverage tonight @ 21.30 on Sky F1, Teds note book.

[tommunster10]

Vaud said:

Vocal Minority said:

To be honest - this first test especially - all you will be able to tell is that guys putting on good milage will be in ok shape with their package,

Maybe later in the week and the second test average lap time on longer runs could give some clues.

Out and out pace is neither here nor there in terms of giving clues sadly

This. It's all about installation, validation, temps, etc. Fuel levels will be highly variable. This is an exercise in seeing if it all works as it promised to in the factory.

I think all you can take from a first test is 1) did everyone show up 2) basic reliability

All true, but if it ends with Merc up top and say Sauber at the bottom then i doubt that would swap. Even in cruise mode Merc will be comfortable, in fact they could do a season in cruise mode and still clear up.

[Vaud]

tommunster10 said:

All true, but if it ends with Merc up top and say Sauber at the bottom then i doubt that would swap. Even in cruise mode Merc will be comfortable, in fact they could do a season in cruise mode and still clear up.

True. Not like, say 2009 where Brawn didn't show to the first test and then...

[Otispunkmeyer]

Deary deary me McLaren. How'd they get this far without noticing an oil feed problem. That kind of thing should have been found on the dyno surely?

[MockingJay]

Over 50 laps completed now from Bottas. I really hope Ferrari and RBR can up their game.

[Bradgate]

tommunster10 said:

Yes, Lewis is the 2017 WDC and Merc WCC.
Thing i'll be watching is if Williams have any extra benefits from Merc due to the Bottas deal and if Bottas will just go full wingman to Lewis and just happily pick up 2nds.

2 schools of thought, Bottas has one season to prove himself, so is proving yourself racing Lewis hard and risking things like Nico, or is proving yourself just playing wingman and keeping the solid points coming in and not ever getting even close to crashing into your team mate....

Personally i think by race 2 we'll be missing Nico because at least we could pretend it was fun seeing Merc out front all the time..

Sadly, I think the powers that be in Stuttgart have seen enough of their highly-paid drivers crashing into one another then having a public row about it. Bottas has been employed to play the Barrichello role, not the Rosberg role.

[scubadude]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Deary deary me McLaren. How'd they get this far without noticing an oil feed problem. That kind of thing should have been found on the dyno surely?

Do F1 teams dyno whole packaged cars or just engines? I've never seen a whole car on a dyno. IME Things go tits up when perfectly working engines get crammed into vehicles :-)

I'll be dissapointed if the (once working) Honda hasn't made a massive leap forwards, they really have no excuse now.

[FourWheelDrift]

Currently Vettel fastest on the medium tyre , Bottas and Perez did their fastest laps on softs.

1. S. Vettel - Ferrari - 1:22:791 (m)
2. V. Bottas - Mercedes - 1:23:169 (s)
3. S. Perez - Force India - 1:23:835 (s)
4. F. Massa - Williams - 1:25:956 (m)
5. N. Hulkenberg - Renault - 1:26:319 (m)
6. K. Magnussen - Haas - 1:26.404 (m)
7. C. Sainz Jr. - Torro Rosso - 1:26:726 (m)
8. M. Ericsson - Sauber - 1:27:710 (m)
9. D. Ricciardo - Red Bull - 1:28:712 (m)
10.F. Alonso - McLaren - no time

[MockingJay]

FourWheelDrift said:

Currently Vettel fastest on the medium tyre , Bottas and Perez did their fastest laps on softs.

1. S. Vettel - Ferrari - 1:22:791 (m)
2. V. Bottas - Mercedes - 1:23:169 (s)
3. S. Perez - Force India - 1:23:835 (s)
4. F. Massa - Williams - 1:25:956 (m)
5. N. Hulkenberg - Renault - 1:26:319 (m)
6. K. Magnussen - Haas - 1:26.404 (m)
7. C. Sainz Jr. - Torro Rosso - 1:26:726 (m)
8. M. Ericsson - Sauber - 1:27:710 (m)
9. D. Ricciardo - Red Bull - 1:28:712 (m)
10.F. Alonso - McLaren - no time

Good stuff, hopefully Merc aren't sand bagging too much and Ferrari can give them a half decent fight this year.

[red_slr]

scubadude said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Deary deary me McLaren. How'd they get this far without noticing an oil feed problem. That kind of thing should have been found on the dyno surely?

Do F1 teams dyno whole packaged cars or just engines? I've never seen a whole car on a dyno. IME Things go tits up when perfectly working engines get crammed into vehicles :-)

I'll be dissapointed if the (once working) Honda hasn't made a massive leap forwards, they really have no excuse now.

I am sure at some point they do run on a hub dyno for R&D purposes and probably a crank dyno for production verification but this sounds more like a pump issue which might not be caught by the latter?

[FourWheelDrift]

Red Bull nose
https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/836136002263...
https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/836175672259...

Look like they channel (control) airflow straight out the back.

[FourWheelDrift]

Looks like everyone seems to be trying the tiny fin wing except Red Bull, Sauber & Renault so far as I can see in photos, or in Mercedes case the post and wing.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Monday 27th February 11:37

[BoRED S2upid]

MockingJay said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Currently Vettel fastest on the medium tyre , Bottas and Perez did their fastest laps on softs.

1. S. Vettel - Ferrari - 1:22:791 (m)
2. V. Bottas - Mercedes - 1:23:169 (s)
3. S. Perez - Force India - 1:23:835 (s)
4. F. Massa - Williams - 1:25:956 (m)
5. N. Hulkenberg - Renault - 1:26:319 (m)
6. K. Magnussen - Haas - 1:26.404 (m)
7. C. Sainz Jr. - Torro Rosso - 1:26:726 (m)
8. M. Ericsson - Sauber - 1:27:710 (m)
9. D. Ricciardo - Red Bull - 1:28:712 (m)
10.F. Alonso - McLaren - no time

Good stuff, hopefully Merc aren't sand bagging too much and Ferrari can give them a half decent fight this year.

I hope so. Just wait for Hamilton this afternoon to knock Vetel off the top. I hope not but it often happens.

[HustleRussell]

Mercedes might turn it up to 6 this afternoon...

[tommunster10]

Vaud said:

tommunster10 said:

All true, but if it ends with Merc up top and say Sauber at the bottom then i doubt that would swap. Even in cruise mode Merc will be comfortable, in fact they could do a season in cruise mode and still clear up.

True. Not like, say 2009 where Brawn didn't show to the first test and then...

Fine you believe there is a chance Sauber could be the new Brawn, i think you're mad, I have no doubt Merc will be the team to beat. No one has to agree on everything.

[Vaud]

tommunster10 said:

Vaud said:

tommunster10 said:

All true, but if it ends with Merc up top and say Sauber at the bottom then i doubt that would swap. Even in cruise mode Merc will be comfortable, in fact they could do a season in cruise mode and still clear up.

True. Not like, say 2009 where Brawn didn't show to the first test and then...

Fine you believe there is a chance Sauber could be the new Brawn, i think you're mad, I have no doubt Merc will be the team to beat. No one has to agree on everything.

You have completely misread me

I was saying the opposite. Hence me saying "True".
2009 was an exception.

[Vocal Minority]

On the other hand - historically testing has produced lap records for mediocre McLarens and Prosts that found themselves mid field for the first race.

You can never tell 100% other than broad indications of who is there or thereabouts and those who are catching up.

All we can positively tell is that Merc and Ferrari are there or thereabouts as they are both getting strong mileage done.

Anything else we decide on is extrapolating from last year - for now.

[HustleRussell]

Gary Anderson implying on Autosport commentary that tyre deg is still very much a factor, suggesting that Pirelli have not succeeded in significantly toughening up their tyres. This is a bad thing.