2022 Barcelona - Catalunya Testing

I do think the development would be fascinating but I assume the racing would suffer...or not? I guess with controllable suspension more scenarios would open up when attacking.

 

Quietly optimistic here, but I do think Ferrari and Red Bull are the fastest. Marco has a point that Mclaren is doing low fuel runs. The car steers very direct since the first session on Wednesday, and they are lacking a serious amount of sponsors.

Rumors that Mercedes is bringing a completely new car to Bahrain (race?) as their concept is dogshit are circulating. I've got my doubts on this as how are they going to have a car ready in a month time designed from scratch? And not only that, budget contraints will leave the team begging others for food and water as they're not allowed to spend a dime more.

 

Well, the F1 folks missed a chance at having BWT or Perrier water sponsoring the water trucks in Spain!

 

Mercedes had a car ready in 2019. The first shown now might be a development tool for the one for Bahrain. Major teams front loaded development 2 years before this. DO I think Mercedes have another car? No. Will I be surprised in Bahrain if something a touch more different arrives - No lol. Its F1!

 

And just like that, Merc and Redbull bang in the fastest times in testing…. with Ham at the top of the sheets. Maybe the Merc isn’t quite as bad as originally thought?

Ferrari seem content to potter around today. Not engaging in the quest for fastest lap bragging rights. Decent performance all test.

McLaren disappointingly slow. I think they are in trouble.

 

I was very much hoping for a stronger McLaren. Possible still yes............maybe lol. I would like to see 3 or 4 teams up front. Maybe not this year..............

 

I don't want to spoil the party, but Ferrari is always at its best at the pre-season testing. Mercedes and RB now, as 2021 WDC, are specialists in importing loads of sand these days.
We all know better.... But I hope I am wrong.

 

1. Hamilton: 1m19.138s, C5
2. Russell: 1m19.233s, C5
3. Perez: 1m19.556s, C4
4. Verstappen: 1m19.756s, C3
5. Vettel: 1m19.824s, C5


Merc fastest on supersoft tyre. Max set his time on mediums

 

True and so for 'sand' all teams do this. All not just Mercedes etc. No poker player is showing a full hand at all.

 

Access could be major problem given its position. Now that high nosed cars are a thing of the past, packaging the system is could be easier but then you could use up essential area around the keel for aero work.

Both control wheel rate and both have problems, depends on the pick up points, packaging and your requirements. With push rod the loads are opposing, with pull rod the forces are in the same direction. Both systems suffer compression bending but pullrod does that in rebound and not bump as with the push rod design.
Rebound is less critical to suspension tuning IMHO.

Just my POV - There is a reason why teams for many years have shyed away from pullrod suspension!

 

Mercedes always plays this game. They put on a big show that they are struggling, then make a miraculous recovery, only possible because of their great Mercedes will to win.

 

Nope, Italians are not very good with sand! Too much pride!

 

Good point on the budget but have they released their final design. Is this just a mule car?

I certainly hope not or the others are screwed.........

 

If anyone it's Ferrari that is not showing their hand. Not a single even semi push lap with the softest C4 or C5 tires. Charles was actually testing lot of the hard C2 tire this morning. Most laps of any team during the 3 days, not a single problem with the engine and it seems fast too; driver's confident with the car.

They should be disappointed in Maranello if the red cars aren't fighting for wins in most races.

 

What’s the point? You test what you want to test and post those times. They’re not trying to psych anyone out, not bragging about it or not getting lulled into a sense of superiority. If the others want to play games, so be it.

 

When everyone is on equal fuel on equal tires then we will see what’s up. Again this is all about gathering data. Anyone who listens to what MB and their drivers say at this point is a complete fool.

 

Not sure this time, if anything looks like Mercedes having to make some glory runs here

 

LOL, and treating its tires in equal form?

 

This is a perfect opportunity for Haas to reference the classic NART Ferrari livery of 1964.

 

Very interesting that Ferrari seemed to have no interest in any headline runs, while Mercedes couldn't control their drivers to not reveal the true speed of their car.

Yes, Mercedes are sandbagging, but it's very clear RBR and more importantly, Ferrari, are doing the same.

 

A disappointing lack of pictures today. All the cameras get the boot or something?

 

Depallier. I recall reading that the Alfa had a skirt stick in one of the high speed corners at Hockenheim.

 

Both Mercedes drivers going out for glory runs is a good tell that their car is not where it was for them in simulations, and the drivers are pushing.

 

Couldn't control their drivers to not reveal the true speed of their car? Where do you come up with this stuff?

 

Every team is just shakedown and sandbagging. Mercedes love playing possum in the media and on the timesheets, and were for two days, before they looked like they had a few issues, and they needed to start problem solving in doing some flat out runs.

Whether they solved their problems or not, IDK, but you can see the drivers didn't like the way the car was behaving the first two days, particularly Hamilton.