Barcelona Testing 2019 (Circuit de Catalunya)

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/141643/ferrari-tries-mercedesstyle-wheel-concept -

Ferrari has given a new wheel rim design its debut in Formula 1 testing at Barcelona, taking inspiration from the much-debated rear wheel assembly run by Mercedes last season.

The new solution was trialled on the second day of testing, and the new wheel rim features a number of raised sections in order to control temperatures within the wheel.

These draw heat away from the tyre, ensuring that the heat distribution within the rubber is kept relatively even - cutting down the level of thermal degradation at the rears.

Mercedes' scalloped rims first appeared in last year's Belgian Grand Prix, after the team had found multiple issues with its tyre management capabilities during the season.

 

Russell will finally be on track 'shortly'

 

Franz Tost just said that under these conditions in Barcelona, atm the Ferrari is ahead 0.4/0.5s. Then Mercedes and Red Bull very close together.

 

we all know which direction Ferrari's development took in the last part of the season (singapore onwards)...backwards! Vettel wasn't solely to blame. The bad development route (thank you Marchionne) combined with Vettel playing catch up led to mistakes. IMO it basically accelerated the inevitable result: The bad development route taken pretty much meant Mercedes would win the title. Vettel's attempt to get ahead just ensured Mercedes won it a little bit earlier.

 

Exactly...when the Mercedes became faster than the Ferrari mid season the championship very much was decided. Had Vettel not been off at the Hockenheimring the decision might have come much later but I think the outcome would have been the same. The following berserk moves by Vettel were only the attempt to prevent the inevitable and did not make any difference at the end....

 

Horner so far sees this year it'll be more Ferrari v Red Bull than Mercedes. He sees Mercedes behind both teams so far.

 

Kimi sets a 1.17.7!

 

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Much was said last year along these lines. Melbourne was nothing less than a shock. No one knows if the Honda has power but yes is so far reliable. I can see Ferrari being very strong. Next week might make that observation more relevant when the cars start to appear as completed.

 

Let´s hope Horner is right this time and Mercedes is not just again playing with the competition to destroy them as soon as needed...

 

Teams spend about as much time learning their car in pre season testing as they do gathering information on their rivals.

I don't think Horner gains anything by ruling out Mercedes by saying Ferrari is their strongest rival...so, cautiously, I'm optimistic here.

 

https://racer.com/2019/02/19/honda-installation-is-red-bulls-best-ever-says-horner/
I hope Honda can back this up.

 

A colleague of mine is there covering testing for Renault just texted me stating...

"Leclerc is wooooooo!!!".

Damn right he is.

BHW

 

Fingers crossed. Ferrari v Red Bull, Mercedes trundling along hoping for a podium with Kimi diving underneath Elton pissing him off. It's like a wet dream. Maybe I'm too greedy.

 

Excellent....what's their synopsis on Ferrari/Mercedes/Red Bull so far? Doesn't hurt to hear from more internal sources....

 

I don’t know. Every year is the same with Ferrari. Great tests and great Fridays, the press gets all excited, we do too, but when it’s time to make it count we’re almost always a little behind.

 

Kimi’s time shows that lots of sandbagging going on which is fine. This is all about data acquisition first and foremost.

 

Until one day it'a finally true and we all get drunk and have a big party!!!!

 

A fair reason we have to be suspicious at least. But the car looks amazing stable on all tyres. Very planted. Consistently fast. Doesn't put a foot wrong. Reliable.

Yep.

 

Testing is a totally variable run. Until Australia, it’s conjecture. I think the only thing we can really get is a sense of reliability. If the car is stopping on track or not getting out of the pits, that says the most. Speed is fun but we don’t know what they’re really doing. Writing off Merc in any way is a huge mistake.

 

Finaly looks like Williams is getting out of the box....i'll be honest the only thing that makes me feel any sympathy for them is Robert....

 

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Support for Kubica .

Red flag as the Haas breaks down again. Lets see if Rich Energy will pointlessly gloat towards Red Bull again today?

 

Yep I want them to do well now but I can't muster anything positive to say about the whole situation. I want George Russell to have a proper attempt at F1 as well....Norris gets talked up all day long but he got completely outraced last year by Russell...Norris only 1 win. I was extremely disappointed in his season last year.

 

Agreed, but we do know that Ferrari are doing lots and lots of testing/information gathering laps faster than the speed at which Mercedes are doing the same kind of laps.
We know Sauber with its "Italian" front wing is going well too.
We know that seasoned observers say that the Ferrari looks good through all the corners.
We know, at least in clean air, that the different front wing design is working, we would have sen by now if it wasn't.

So yes, cautious optimism is the best we can allow ourselves, but it could have been a lot worse.

 

The Williams is on track ladies and gentlemen.