1st Test 2017

[Vocal Minority]

I think people are viewing a lot of what they see through the lens of Mercedes being a country mile ahead...and then adjudging it to be impressive probably because of Mercedes representation.

They are obviously at the sharp end, but I don't see any reason to be totally blown away in relation to their competitors, so far anyway

[37chevy]

bobbo89 said:

One of the most experienced drivers on the grid against a young rookie in his first year! I somehow doubt it'll effect his career at all if Massa were to beat him!

well....Theres a few good rookies that did well against their experienced team mates....Hamilton, vettel, max...

[entropy]

[quote=Vocal Minority]I think people are viewing a lot of what they see through the lens of Mercedes being a country mile ahead...and then adjudging it to be impressive probably because of Mercedes representation.

They are obviously at the sharp end, but I don't see any reason to be totally blown away in relation to their competitors, so far anyway[/quot]

I never said I was blown away by their pace its their testing program.

Merc normally don't run ultrasoft tyres until the very last days of testing. So why would they run them this early?

[RobGT81]

Vettel 0.247s behind Bottas now, without using super or ultra soft tyres. Merc will be concerned about the Ferraris if anything.

Edited by RobGT81 on Wednesday 1st March 14:33

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

The trouble is - we don't know what fuel level the cars have or what power level the powertrain is set at. If the ferrari is on a 1/4 tank and the engine's turned up to 11 and the merc is on a full tank and 6 then we're all in for a booooorrrrrrrinnggggg season!

[thainy77]

I don't think Mercedes are concerned about anything, they are running their own program as per the previous few seasons.

Come Melbourne they will have pole and the victory.

[RobGT81]

Hamilton is doing 1m24s at the moment on a long run on new medium tyres. At least on the long runs you can have an idea of the fuel load.

Worringly for Mclaren they are 2.8 seconds slower than Merc on the same tyres.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Agreed Rob - think the mchonda is a dog again. I have no empirical proof of course (they might be full of fuel and the engine turned down) - just gut feel.

[HustleRussell]

Stroll is in the wall

[PhillipM]

Someone ought to tell him Daddy's money can't buy extra testing time.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

HustleRussell said:

Stroll is in the wall

They must have really needed the money - I still think Jenson would have been a better choice. No money to come across with him though.

[anonymous-user]

At this rate McLaren will be working on their 2018 car before Melbourne 2017.

[Vocal Minority]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

The trouble is - we don't know what fuel level the cars have or what power level the powertrain is set at. If the ferrari is on a 1/4 tank and the engine's turned up to 11 and the merc is on a full tank and 6 then we're all in for a booooorrrrrrrinnggggg season!

As Rob says - with Mercedes doing GP simulations, we can easily assume they are going from full down to near enough empty. They don't go into the garage at any point.

So we can make an educated guess on fuel.

Equally to the fact they are running their own program, Ferrari appear to be as well. granted they have not done anything like the stints of the Mercedes - so fuel is more of a gamble.

However they are running conservative tyre choices. Draw what conclusions you will from that. Gary Anderson is purring about how it looks on the track.

However, many on here are basically saying 'they won last year, so they will be miles ahead this year' without much recourse to the evidence.

Granted it is one mans opinion but...

Anderson said:

15:07
As Hamilton's race stints progressed, Turn 3 has becoming increasingly like a hairpin for the Mercedes. He's having to take bigger and bigger lifts to get it to bite on turn-in.

Alternatively

Anderson said:

Watching Vettel through Turn 1-3 is definitely my 'wow' factor of the day. The Ferrari is just planted and, even on used tyres, it doesn't budge one millimetre off line.

There is plenty of interest out there if you are willing to look beyond 'Mercedes will probably win because they're Mercedes.

Things we do know for sure

- Mercedes and Ferrari out front so far (Red Bull have yet to show much of a hand at all)
- Stroll is struggling a little
- McLaren, sadly, looks poor again

[Vocal Minority]

I assume Button is relaxing at home in Monaco(?)

Glass of something in his hand enjoying the glow of not driving that McLaren

[PhillipM]

Anderson has been contradicting himself all day, I wouldn't read too much into that.

[fcuk1_6]

It looks like Stroll may be out of his depth going by his continual offs at testing, heres hoping he settles down and finds his feet before the season starts but Williams aren't like Red Bull/Torro Rosso so doubt he'd be dropped regardless especially with the funding he brings.

[coetzeeh]

HustleRussell said:

Stroll is in the wall

take off your mask Pastor, we know it is you

[C2996]

fk1_6 said:

It looks like Stroll may be out of his depth going by his continual offs at testing, heres hoping he settles down and finds his feet before the season starts but Williams aren't like Red Bull/Torro Rosso so doubt he'd be dropped regardless especially with the funding he brings.

No point in bringing funding if it's all spent repairing the car, he's not even at racing speed and had three offs. Could just be the days of 18 yr old rookies jumping in f1 cars are over though.

[Bradgate]

Daddy's boy looks well out of his depth, despite all the coaching and set up work done by Gary Paffett over the last few months...

[KevinCamaroSS]

Stoll should go for a stroll, away from F1.