Word on the street is General Motors fixed up a massive chunk of their engines for this season. Apparently, they did such a good job that even Helmut Marko praised them ... 😲 It’s entirely possible we're looking at games being played for next season already. Red Bull Racing knows they aren't getting an engine from anyone else, so they've basically flipped the script. Either way, I think RB might actually pull off a surprise this year...
Aside from the aero, it looks like Ferrari made a huge leap forward with their power unit too. I expect them to iron out their own issues, but I’m genuinely worried about how Haas is going to fare—they only managed 24 laps in two days, which is an absolute disaster. By the way, that black dot in the photo with the Ferrari car is just some kind of connector...
Also, does anyone know if there's any actual difference between the medium tires this season compared to last?
Joshua Hill19 said:That would imply that at any given moment, there's only one car allowed on the track so they're basically testing with just a single unit
Does that mean if one breaks down, you aren't even allowed to test with a spare?
I’m fairly certain during these early preseason tests, teams only have a single chassis ready to go. In other words, if they wreck one, there isn't even a second car in existence... (even if the rules actually permitted having a backup)
On topic... I won't get into lap times, but I'm honestly a bit let down by how few laps Ford put in. It seems like every year, they just drag their feet during these tests🤔
After watching today, I’m feeling a tiny bit more pessimistic than I was yesterday. It all comes down to Force India looking dangerously fast, while Mercedes might just be even faster...🙄 I don't buy the idea that the gap between the ultrasoft and supersoft tires in Barcelona is actually massive, either. Last year in Barcelona, the difference between the supersoft and the soft felt pretty similar to this. Ferrari probably closed the gap by a hair, but honestly, it isn't enough. McLaren-Honda seems to be stuck with the exact same deficit, and if you ask me, Arai being let go is a clear sign that nothing is changing this year. The current engine regulations basically freeze any major progress. These tokens? They're nothing but a PR stunt designed to feed fans a little bit of hope. If anyone actually thinks someone is catching up to Mercedes, they're clearly looking at these tokens 😁
I honestly think the pecking order hasn't shifted at all. We saw this exact same setup last year, and we all know how that story ended. Not that it matters—we’re allowed to be optimistic about an exciting season, right? At least until we hit Los Angeles... 😁 As for the rest, Red Bull looks pretty solid; feels like they've pulled ahead of Williams. Horner is just talking nonsense claiming Toro Rosso will be faster than them. McLaren hasn't lost their edge, a genuine surprise there. 👍 Sadly, though, I suspect the gap remains exactly where it was. Renault feels a bit like a callback to what Honda was doing last year, but I expect them to show much more progress in future testing. I read somewhere that their wastegate design differs from Red Bull's, so the engine specs are clearly different. A strong debut for Haas. Personally, I think they might end up fighting Sauber for position...
I have to admit, I think Haas looks ugly, but honestly, who cares? Good luck to them—I just hope they don't end up being some backmarker outfit like Manor, but actually show up with something serious... 👍 Grosjean managed to test out three different engines in just three years. 😁 Out of everything we've seen so far, Ford's setup feels like the biggest departure from their previous direction. Even if the chassis turns out to be a complete bust, their engine will probably be enough to keep them fighting for second place...
Formula 1 is a constructors' championship. Period. And in that specific battle, Mercedes is the best.
It’s convincing, and it’s entirely earned.
Look, I'm not questioning Mercedes at all with this "anti-formula" nonsense—props to them. They earned it. Absolutely. 👍
I just don't see how even the most hardcore Lewis Hamilton fan would find any interest in this. This isn't racing news; it's just fuel for forum arguments. 😁
Ferrari might as well take some massive risks right now; there’s honestly nothing left to lose this season. What else do they have to gain? If I were in their shoes, I’d be using this year to run endless tests and just quietly gear up for 2017... I don't get how anyone can actually wish for another season of this anti-Formula 1 nonsense. Personally, I’d be thrilled if Fernando Alonso—who happens to be my least favorite driver on the entire grid—managed to snatch the championship, even if the odds were astronomical.
The idea of this race car being designed around a Mercedes engine just doesn't sit right with me when it comes to reliability, but hey, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out...
That’s the latest curse—praying that McLaren-Honda would actually turn out to be better than you 😁
Otherwise, Red Bull looked pathetic. In the end, all those empty threats about leaving were just as hollow as everyone expected. They probably ended up begging Renault for an engine at the finish line....
This is an incredible breakdown, seriously impressive work here 👍 And huge congrats to the absolute legend who walked away with the win at the end of the TBF1D 👍
1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Nico Rosberg 3. Sebastian Vettel 4. Valtteri Bottas 5. Kimi Raikkonen 6. Daniel Ricciardo 7. Felipe Massa 8. Sergio Perez 9. Daniil Kvyat 10. Nico Hulkenberg
The matchup between Tibjev and my guy isn't even remotely dramatic, but fine, let’s all pretend there's some high-stakes tension here 😁 Your pick involving krajinin is a bit more unpredictable, though I’m pretty damn sure I already know who's making it to the finals... Edit. I haven't even caught qualifying yet, and I just realized I'm looking at results where the driver standings have shifted, even if the finalists themselves haven't changed.
1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Nico Rosberg 3. Sebastian Vettel 4. Valtteri Bottas 5. USA 6. Felipe Massa 7. Daniel Ricciardo 8. Romain Grosjean 9. USA 10. Daniil Kvyat