Barcelona Testing 2019 (Circuit de Catalunya)

It calls to mind the "4 litre" engines of yesteryear

 

The fuel loads are different, the track conditions are changing through the day, the tyre compounds are different, and without talking about trying different set-ups, there are plenty of variables in testing that often make the times unrepresentative.
Also the teams mask their potential by asking their drivers to push in different sectors, and slow down in others, just to have a picture of the "ideal lap".

 

Correct lots of variables. My thought is the cars will be developed more before the first race and even more when they get to this track again, so should be comfortably faster

 

Well that's what MB hope

 

Leclerc Image Unavailable, Please Login Ferrari 1m16.231s

 

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Well, slightly out of topic, but makes a really good reading...
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-2010/132/doug-nye

Rgds

 

Bottas looking really good on long run pace, probably several tenths or more ahead of Leclerc thus far per the motorsport live reporting page. :/

 

Thanks for pointing that. Pedro's driving at Spa was one of those glorious exploits I recall reading about as a kid. I keep hoping Mr Nye will someday issue a volume 4 to his fabulous multi-volume BRM history.

 

Let’s pray that the Scuderia is faster.

 

Pretty ominous runs on the C2 tires. Times were wickedly consistent

 

I don't think that's true. Assuming as appeared to be the case, that both Bottas and Leclerc were doing race sims (now interrupted by Gasly's accident), Bottas started somewhat earlier and was on his third stint, Leclerc had only just done his first stint (and possibly not finished it) but it seemed as if his times (with a first stint on C2s) were a little faster than Bottas' (with a first stint on C3s). Hard to tell without having a printout of all the lap times though. Bottas's second and third stints were faster, as you'd expect with the fuel load getting lighter.

 

Scary consistent. Eyes wide open there

 

Assuming Leclerc is continuing his race sim where he left off before Gasly's accident, his second stint is much faster than Bottas'. Bottas started his second stint with a low 1m22 and gradually his lap times increased from there. Leclerc's started with a low 1m21 and he did about ten laps in the 1m21s and is now in the 1m22s so averaging towards a second a lap faster a least for the first ten laps or so. Of course, that assumes Leclerc is continuing his race sim from where it was interrupted...

 

BOT 1st stint (C3) 1:22.8 1:23.2 1:23.4 1:23.1 1:23.2 1:23.4 1:23.8 1:23.8 1:23.7 1:24.0 1:24.1 1:24.3 1:24.1 1:24.2 1:24.0 1:23.9 1:24.1

LEC 1st stint (C2) 1:22.7 1:22.6 1:22.5 1:23.0 1:23.1 1:23.2 1:23.3 1:23.3 1:23.4 1:23.6 1:23.4 1:23.6 1:23.7 1:23.4 1:23.5 1:23.7 1:23.7


On pace the Ferrari is faster.

 

Brilliant! Thanks for posting those times.

 

We just need to know the fuel load...and if they are going slowly, but i reckon they are doing what they can, otherwise it's hard to take conclusions...

 

If, as seems to be the case, both Bottas and Leclerc are/were doing race sims then they both started with the same sort of fuel loads - enough to complete a race distance. Leclerc is now on his third stint of his race sim and his laps are also quicker than Bottas managed for his third stint.

 

Funny how things work....last year Red Bull had the strongest driver pairing of the field, this year hardly so. I don't think Gasly is top team material. He's there for the same reason Bottas is...not disturbing the #1 guy (not that Max needs it but beside the point). Ferrari now has the strongest driver pairing by some margin of the top teams. If this car as good as it seems, it shouldn't be an issue.

 

Ouch! Glad he's up and okay.

 

its looking GOOD guys

Very optimistic for this season. FORZA FERRARI

 

They'll need it!

 

Well, that's the problem with Ferrari. It rarely is what it seems.