We all looking forward to testing tomorrow? I am but sure my expectations for the season will be over by lunchtime when it's obvious Red Bull are a second clear of the rest
Be good to have the F1 Season back... Think the battle for P2 in the WCC and WDC will be the interesting fights this coming season, lets just pretend Red Bull dont exist
I try never to really read too much into testing but if McLaren are looking good tomorrow I won't be able to not get a bit excited. It's like a preseason friendly when a young player looks really good and you wonder if they're going to break through.
Unless the accusations against Horner have somehow caused Red Bull to replace their engine with one from a 1987 Ford Fiesta I don't think the championship is going to be too exciting this year.
I would say with Mercedes that there is the possibility they were working on other things rather than speed. I don't know of course, but it is too early to form a definitive conclusion.
I've read a few things suggesting We will see a different Red Bull, to the one in Bahrain, from Japan onwards. Supposedly a refined version of the Mecr zero side pods concept. Would be ironic if Merc have moved to make their car more like last year's Red Bull, while Red Bull have moved to make their car more like last year's (original) Merc only for Merc to make no real progress and Red Bull to get even faster.
Wouldn't be the first time they've done something like that either. Would be similar to them picking up Honda as an engine suppler after McLaren gave up on them, only for Honda to start getting good almost as soon as they joined Red Bull.
Depressing seeing Verstappen likely to be so dominant again. Is a 1.1+ second gap in testing unprecedented?
He set his fastest time late in the 2nd session when the track had cooled a bit and was faster. Those that set times in the moring were in the heat and the track was slower...but I think it still looks ominous...let's see how Hamilton does tomorrow.
I recall Brawn hid the speed of their car in testing for fear of other teams challenging their legality. They were quick but were suspected of doing glory runs (running on fumes to look better to attract sponsors) when they were actually trying to slow the cars down. I think the most controversial development this season may be the Mercedes front wing and if I was them I would want to be hiding the pace of the car if it is exciting. It is controversial as it may meet the written rules but not the spirit of them. Not saying it is, but it feels like an unknown still.
I am also minded of 2019 (I think) when Ferrari looked the fastest car in testing and Hamilton was saying how much they had to do to catch up etc... Then Mercedes got 1-2s in the first five races. Basically we can't jump to conclusions apart from logic saying the Red Bull will be up there and the team to beat again.
Agree with all that above. Quite a few F1 journalists and pundits saying that the car Red Bull will roll out next weekend will look significantly different. Some saying similar that Mercedes and Mclaren already have improvements ready to be rolled out. Think theres been a bit of hiding potential going on.
Agree with all that above. Quite a few F1 journalists and pundits saying that the car Red Bull will roll out next weekend will look significantly different. Some saying similar that Mercedes and Mclaren already have improvements ready to be rolled out. Think theres been a bit of hiding potential going on.
Makes you wonder what they really get out of testing these days. If they weren't driving their actual race cars the last few days, then true testing starts in FP1 on Friday anyway.
Agree with all that above. Quite a few F1 journalists and pundits saying that the car Red Bull will roll out next weekend will look significantly different. Some saying similar that Mercedes and Mclaren already have improvements ready to be rolled out. Think theres been a bit of hiding potential going on.
Makes you wonder what they really get out of testing these days. If they weren't driving their actual race cars the last few days, then true testing starts in FP1 on Friday anyway.
I think it's a reliability thing mostly, and they do a lot of running at certain speeds to get drag coefficients and downforce levels at a set speed.
I watched a bit of the live testing and Leclerc in the Ferrari in particular would drive almost an entire lap at 100mph, especially down the straights, as they know they can draw a baseline number from that
Grievance into Christian Horner dismissed by Red Bull. Complainant has the right of appeal. I suspect that no appeal will be made and a nice pay off has been made.
Someone from within the sport told me this afternoon that a significant 'six figure sum' was paid to the complainant.
With no knowledge of the truth behind the matter (never mind what the matter even was) why do sums of money have to pass around if there is nothing to it?
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Got to try and get to Brands Hatch a couple of times this season for the British F4 or GB3 Championship
Wouldn't be the first time they've done something like that either. Would be similar to them picking up Honda as an engine suppler after McLaren gave up on them, only for Honda to start getting good almost as soon as they joined Red Bull.
When Merc use to dominate they were sometimes well off the pace in testing as it's all just programme runs and data gathering.
I am also minded of 2019 (I think) when Ferrari looked the fastest car in testing and Hamilton was saying how much they had to do to catch up etc... Then Mercedes got 1-2s in the first five races. Basically we can't jump to conclusions apart from logic saying the Red Bull will be up there and the team to beat again.
The colours on the cars are easier to differentiate than people thought.
The FIA are still really good at ballsing up Ferraris with drain covers
Everyone is playing poker with their max pace and long race runs
Let's hope the Ferrari and Mercedes have closed the gap a bit and maybe we can dream for some RBR powertrain gremlins for once
I watched a bit of the live testing and Leclerc in the Ferrari in particular would drive almost an entire lap at 100mph, especially down the straights, as they know they can draw a baseline number from that
I suspect that no appeal will be made and a nice pay off has been made.
With no knowledge of the truth behind the matter (never mind what the matter even was) why do sums of money have to pass around if there is nothing to it?
Whole saga is another mess in F1s recent history.
They need to sort their setups out ahead of the season, thats terrible for them