Bahrain

I'd bet a case on that, but would have to define "close"

 

a rookie in an MP4-29 going that much faster against the rest of the field worries me.

And also the fact that everything faster than a Ferrari is Mercedes-powered worries me too.

i know laptimes do not matter in testing but the same argument can be said that if nobody is trying then nobody is really testing anything.

 

Magnussen was testing super-softs on a light fuel load. The other cars were doing endurance runs on mediums.

Ferrari is happy with their testing thus far...

 

Ferrari had light fuel runs.

 

Exactly. The configurations are not set and testing is actually going on. No one has any real idea what is the potential of any team at this point. Mercedes are so far reliable. Fastest? NO data supports that at all.

 

+1 Fernando had the best overall sector 2 today but backed out of the lap. No doubt he would have beaten Magnussen's time

 

They're all sandbagging to a certain degree. We will know nothing until FP in Australia at earliest.

 

Only it's not possible to really sandbag as these cars are just barely down to minimum weights!

 

McLaren are assuring all the sponsors that they aren't dead.

 

True, but they have a bit of a swagger to them in social media, similar to Mercedes. They like where they are currently.

Times don't usually tell the whole story in testing, but completing their programs for the day and maintaining reliability are critical. Teams can tell if they're on the right track or not, and those two seem to feel really good about where they stand.

Ferrari seems positive also, but not quite as effusive in their self-assessments

 

That's a good point. I guess then, lopez @ lotus is trying to reassure all the existing sponsors that they didn't buy into a crapchute =) "goes like hell" in the tunnel sim, but goes like sh!et in reality.

 

Are the Mclaren rear suspension 'flaps' determined to be legal? Haven't heard much on that
Kevin

 

Yes, 100% legal.

they are within the width-to-height ratio (3.5:1 actually) and are symmetrical. so no question of its legality.

 

Last I heard it was legal until someone protests it to race stewards.

 

Sort of. Lots of debate on this. They meet the suspension requirements, but not the requirements of an aerodynamic device which they very clearly are. All other suspension arms are designed in a way to have air flow around them with as little affect on flow as possible, these are the exact opposite and are directly meant to positively affect diffuser operation. I believe they will be banned.

The formal protest will be in Australia, that's the first time it can happen. Serious arguments lined up for this one.

 

Thanks.

Won't be long now.

 

All arms generate aero effect just in case you didn't know...just because the McLaren generates more doesn't make it illegal.

Same can be said about brake ducts not being "aero", yet you see every team employing some form of winglet(s) carving wind in a certain fashion.

 

Andreas said the same thing about Brawn in 09 lol.

 

No one knows who is fastest. It's testing. I doubt that RB are going to be screwing up all year. Again, when the green flag drops the bs stops.

 

It's just testing. As long as Ferrari are setting competitive times and are reliable, i'm good with that.

 

None have ever been this outwardly aero is the issue. All other suspension arm designs are such that they are designed to affect airflow as little as possible. It's also my understanding that there have been discussions regarding these sort of ideas in past technical meetings and they have been forbidden. The arguments will line up for this protest and most technical experts believe they will be banned.

There is a good thread on this elsewhere too.

 

During his recent run of McLaren with Super Soft was underway (1.34.976 for button was on the supersoft). We now also have confirmation from Pirelli that Hamilton this morning has turned his best time (1.34.263) with the slightly harder soft tires.

 

+1

There's just no way that their arms have to look like that. Nice trick but very unlikely to stay...

 

Terrible day for Ferrari.

 

Telemetry issues kept Kimi off the track for most of the session