Sergio Perez set the fastest time on day 2 at Barcelona. Unofficial Wednesday test times from Barcelona: 1. Sergio Perez, McLaren, 1:21.848, 97 laps 2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:22.197, 84 laps 3. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:22.697, 43 laps 4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:22.726, 121 laps 5. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:23.247, 76 laps 6. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:23.561, 98 laps 7. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:23.718, 70 laps 8. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:23.971, 62 laps 9. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:24.205, 88 laps 10. Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:25.115, 67 laps 11. Charles Pic, Caterham, 1:26.243, 102 laps
Indeed they would. Factor in the increased chance of mishaps with every additional stop and it looks like an awful idea. I really hope that we don't have yet another season where the tires have such disproportional effect.
The tires apparently have been figured out by quite a few teams today. Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus look best on them today. Red Bull doing a race sim today. It actually doesn't look spectacular. Great tire useage though. Lotus doing a race sim and are actually looking quicker than Red Bull. Nico banged a 1:22.611 onused mediums earlier. Then did a few more laps. Later Nico did 17 laps on medium tires and lost zero time. They're playing their cards close to the chest on this one. His stint started with 1:30 laps and ended in the mid 1:29s, weird. Then another stint started in the low 1:27s and ended mid 1:28s after 10 laps. I suspect teams will be looking for as much performance as possible today as there is an 80% chance of rain tomorrow. Alonso did a 1:22.144 today as his fastest lap, I don't know where the 1:21.875 came from because it's not showing on his lap chart. I'm sure he did it but I've no idea where it is..... The Ferrari hasn't done much longer running today, but from what they have done it's easy to see the car is still munching tires. the hards are about .800 slower than the mediums here.
The field will be very tight so it's difficult to say regarding anyone. If the Merc is reliable I believe 3rd in the WCC is possible. Red Bull, Lotus, and Merc look best right now though.
Indeed. I'm still thinking 4-5th for Mercedes in the WCC (leaning towards 5th). But we may be surprised.
I think Vettel has said that it will be even tighter than last year. Things probably won't start to shake out until after the first half of the season. In defense of your Mercedes thoughts, the commentators on ESPN F1 have been making similar statements about their lap time results this week and their tire performance today
I have an interesting prediction, Sergio Perez will outscore Button. Jenny is really fighting that Mclaren today, and at Jerez too. F138 is absolutely scorching its rear tires though. I'm antsy to see their revised exhaust system next week. Nando went for low 1:24s to high 1:27s over the course and scope of just 5 laps.... Grosjean should have beaten Kimi last year, he's such a fast driver, but clumsy during races....... Lotus looking great today. In others: Force India looks slow. Williams too looking reasonable. Sauber looking like it's not quite as good on tires as it was last year and it's pace is similar to Williams.
Ted Kravitz has really been heralding them lately, and he is a pretty good barometer. I wouldn't expect a huge difference in pace come Australia though. Small things here and there but nothing massively different. Grosjean just completed an impressive race sim. 4 stops. Very near RB
Mercedes has given Ham a limousine this year. A little longer, a few girls in the back and the champagne won't be needed on the podium. I think it was MS to want a shorter car
More info on Alonso's quick on earlier, it's said he had a bit fuel on board but obviously very difficult to say how little, I suspect enough for at least 5-6 laps although he never did more than a couple. Anyway reports from the long right-hander out of turn 2 was that he was quite ginger on the throttle. Alonso was on softs
Jenny saying the new Mclaren is difficult to understand, performance is hot and cold. One thing is for sure, the new Macca is not playing nice with the tires.
I think F138 is very fast in high downforce areas but struggles in the medium and lower DF areas. Alonso set a purple S3 this afternoon during an out lap, the car is capable but for some reason it's like F2012 in a sense that it's very track dependent.
Given that FA was blunt early on about it being like a car in Brazil Im not too confident they will get the fast start LdM wants. Ted today on the day 2 debrief on Sky said he felt FA was not that pleased with the car so far. I see Red Bull then Mclaren, then Lotus. Mercedes I dont know yet. Testing of course and all analysis is subject lol!! Fun to speculate with all the fans here of course!
Man, some of you guys are eternal pessimists! Clifford was actually pretty darn good by the end of last year. I read it that Fred was saying "we've got a good starting point". [Something that was never said of Clifford in testing of course!] A development from last year, ala Red Bull, which all the (Ferrari) naysayers claim is the way to go for them, but not the Scuderia...... +1 Should have a much better feel by the end of next week. Cheers, Ian
High risk right there! Should at least wait till the end of testing IMO..... Anyway, I believe the "old" Fchat tipping site has gone away. No idea if anyone's going to do another. Then we have Tillmans fantasy league (See the sticky above). I don't know if he's fully subscribed as yet (?) but bear in mind it's a little more "complex" than a simple tipping league. Great fun though!..... Cheers, Ian
rosberg : "the tires are not a problem for w04" Looks like Costa is doing his job. http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/8514314/
I am one hoping for a fast RED start to the new season. I fear the tires will need more sorting along with the car. They might have a better starting point but the average grid start last year was 6+.
